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Post by Vazad on Nov 10, 2018 8:36:39 GMT
As each of you reaches the city a faded sign can be seen slightly off-kilter beside each of the overgrown paths winding up to the mid-sized city.
“Welcome to the bustling burg of Türschutz. Please ignore the subharmonic wave phenomena and feel free to visit the gift shop before you go.”
While at one-point Türschutz was a major trading point in the lower leftmost point of Germany it has since fallen into disarray, the local Junker family was at one point filled with brilliant Sparks that were major players on the world field but they were succeeded by slowly weaker and weaker progeny until the present with the advent of Ernst Klein. A Spark of middling gift and vacillating attitude he mostly locks himself in the slowly moldering mansion that marks his families former glory while the townsfolk mostly keep to themselves, mostly farming and scavenging the surrounding wasteland to keep themselves provisioned. This is the atmosphere you have found yourselves in.
Hikoneko
Your search for "Lilim Helsing" has lead you to this city. You've only managed to scrape up a few tidbits but you think you're on the right track. Maybe there's someone in the city that can help you?
Graesen
Your search for information on Groudon has led you to lower Germany, you've stopped over in this burg as traversing the surrounding wastes at night is unwise. You'll have to find some place to bunk up for the night.
Salem
With the recent death of your master you left town, you've had no luck in finding new employment yet but perhaps you might find someone here?
Lithal
You've worked your way through the countryside methodically in an attempt to not draw the attention of the Baron. As it's dangerous to travel the wastes at night you'll have to find somewhere to stay here for the night.
Vladimir
Your wandering has led you to a small burg, it seems pretty rundown but it looks better than sleeping in the wastes.
Through happenstance and luck, each of you ended up in the market square during the late afternoon. At first, there was nothing really amiss, a slightly greasy texture to the air as if a storm was coming in, a feeling a mild pressure. Before anyone knew what was happening the old run down clocktower on top of the Klein mansion had begun flaring off purplish-green energy from the bent and burnt lighting rod atop it. The sagging and disheveled clock faces spinning wildly. Bursts of shadowy flame that did not burn began to arc through the stiflingly still air as a rent in reality ripped its way through the air. Gnashing yellowed fangs could be seen beyond the tear, gnashing they strained at the bonds of their prison. A long dark blue tongue covered in slaver began snaking out of the mouth stabbing at the air, waving back and forth as if searching for something. For a brief moment, it moved toward Hikoneko, tasting the air in her direction. Suddenly the entire great bulk of the thing turned toward Vladimir. It redoubled its efforts to escape, throwing itself at the gap teeth tearing and clacking as it tried to chew its way out. Two umbral sinewy appendages snaked out, two smaller mouths topping them. They reached out, grasping for their prey as the crazed bulk tried to escape. As quickly as the rend in reality appeared it snapped shut and was gone. The clocktower in the background continued to vent the strange energy in the air and the cloying air continued to thicken. The bursts of ethereal fire slowly became more and more frequent as smaller cracks began to appear. The five of you find yourselves alone in the square.
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Apr 22, 2019 22:15:31 GMT
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Post by eltrou on Nov 10, 2018 9:02:25 GMT
Vladimir Viktorovich Rurikid made a Occult Ed Check! | dLfplDOS4d6 |
4d6
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Dec 31, 2023 21:54:10 GMT
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Post by Infynis on Nov 10, 2018 9:45:58 GMT
Germany. Not exactly the location one would expect from a man from Florence heading to London. But that was the point. Swinging the long way around the Alps would mean it was unlikely he'd draw the attention of anyone in Ashdown's employ. Far better than taking an airship. Still, Lithal did draw other attention. With his clockwork clothing and bright, revolving cane, his appearance was not subtle. Not to mention the towering automaton that clanked along behind him, bearing quadruple bladed arms and insect-like wings. He was very clearly a Spark, and very clearly not from around here.
The rhythm of his steps was interrupted, and the rhythm of his clothing was drowned out when the otherworldly entity burst from the clocktower. He barely had time to react before it was gone, and though he was surprised, he was mostly not bothered. Considering, he took off his top hat, spinning it between two fingers to inspect it from the top. No, it did not seem that this display had been some insane scientist's idea of chiming the hour. Perhaps this was worth investigating. While he didn't fancy meeting the creature he had just seen, that had been a portal, and that kind of technology could be quite useful. His hat compressing his hair once more, he clicked his way up to the man that the aberration had seemed to take interest in, heels loud on the cobblestones. Following his gestures, Sickler clomped over to the girl that had been inspected as well, bowing and indicating that she should join its master.
"Salutations," Lithal said, planting his cane before him and effecting a flowery bow. "If you don't mind my asking sir, have you any idea as to the origins of this phenomena?" The cane pointed at the still flaring tower, the whirling red and white stripes only distracting slightly for the ethereal flames.
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Post by ventix on Nov 10, 2018 19:09:05 GMT
"Huh...? Oh...Right." Hikoneko follows the Clank over to its master. It's really, really tall master. For the nth, Hikoneko cursed the 12-year old body she seemed to be stuck with. It made it very hard for people to take her seriously and she hated having to resort to unnecessary violence against non-combatants. Walking over to the Clanks tall master and his even taller associate.
"So...what do you two Mad Boys make of what just happened?" Hikoneko asked them, trying not to sulk over her lack of height.
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Post by Veinexes on Nov 10, 2018 19:41:02 GMT
nGraesen blinked a few times to confirm his eyes were indeed working. The momentary loss of reality from the scene had caused him to question whether this was all a dream he was having or not. After the brief confirmation made he spotted the only other living things around him. Wondering how they all made it anyways was an after thought at this point. Slowly making his way over, as to be less conspicuous, Graesen joined the small gathering of people
"So... yeah we all saw that too right?"
He studied his new surroundings to see if maybe anyone else was hiding.
Perception zQdbPX4k3d63d6
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Apr 22, 2019 22:15:31 GMT
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Post by eltrou on Nov 11, 2018 2:04:30 GMT
This city certainly looked worse than what he'd seen in those old booklets that'd been circling around the area. Well, from the very few stores that even sold the damn things anyway. It was a shithole for sure, but at least it was better than the wastes that he had been travelling through to get from place to place.
He did learn that there was a Spark here, but warnings about subatomic phenomena aside he didn't think he would encounter much given how run-down this entire shithone was.
As he looked up and saw the strange tear in space forming as the world started to go mad, a small voice in his head snarked shows how much you know. Like he ever did, really, considering that this shitshow wasn't registering to his sixth (or was it seventh?) sense at all. Showed him what-for for assuming shit again.
He'd seen that... Thing turn its attention to something before it then started to focus on him. He instinctively took a step back as his own eyes glowed at it warningly, preparing himself to engage, a hand reaching down to one of his storage units....
...and then it was gone as suddenly as it came. Vladimir exhaled sharply and his shoulders reamined tense as he continued to eye the cracks that continued to spread up on the clocktower air. He remained that way until three others addressed him. The red faded him his eyes as he turned around to them.
"I do not know what it is, exactly." He frowned darkly, his accent clear as day. "But I know what it is not."
He crossed his arms as he looked over the clock tower again. "What that may be is a thing I will probably have to address, given that it tried to go after me for whatever reason. What do you all plan to do about this?"
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Post by ventix on Nov 11, 2018 2:12:32 GMT
"Eh...To me it looked like it was trying to escape, so it was probably just trying to follow the path of least resistance, kinda like electricity, ya know the shocky stuff." Hikoneko said, leaning back and putting her heads behind her head. "As for what I plan to do about it...I ain't gotta do shit. I've got my own Sparky business to worry about, so unless it's related to this 'Lilim Helsing' I'm looking for, Imma just going forget all about it after a good night's sleep.
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Post by eltrou on Nov 11, 2018 5:20:24 GMT
Red eyes flickered over to her once more when she spoke, hidden by the shades he wore. He eyed her for a moment in silence before he uncrossed his arms to put them in his coat pockets. "Were you not also considered by the creature? If perchance he gets through with me, he would go after you next."
He then shrugged. "However, if you still wish to ignore the issue then I will not bother to stop you. Feel free to do as you please in this town as long as you don't get in my way."
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Post by ventix on Nov 11, 2018 5:44:48 GMT
"Eh, I could've taken him. If you recall, he did consider me for a moment, before scurrying off in a different direction." Hikoneko says, with absolute confidence in her voice. "Buuuut, it would suck if my only lead died before I even figure out who they are...So guess it's in my best interest to nip whatever the hell's going on in the bud."
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Dec 31, 2023 21:54:10 GMT
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Post by Infynis on Nov 11, 2018 8:42:46 GMT
"Young lady!" Lithal exclaimed, hand to his chest in exaggerated shock. "That is no way to speak! Certainly it is disappointing that we do not know more about this strange creature, but that is no reason to resort to profanity," He said the word as if it was the most horrible thing the young girl could have been involved in, though the corner of his mouth twisted upward in a smile. Behind the inventor, the needles of the gauges that made Sickler's eyes swept from right to left, pausing at the top to imitate an eye roll. Lithal had designed it to do that.
"Here," with a deftness quicker than the eye could see, the Spark had tied a red ribbon into the girls matching hair. "I'll let you keep that bow, but you have to promise to speak more politely from now on." He smiled truly then to show he wasn't actually angry at her. Anger didn't work with children. As he stood before her expectantly, a single gear was carried by others in a complete circle around his collar.
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Feb 15, 2022 22:22:17 GMT
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Post by drallore on Nov 11, 2018 19:26:45 GMT
Salem had taken some newfound liberties since losing his last master. In 72 hours, the kind of boy has since learned how to bury a body . . . or multiple pieces of a body (he got tired trying to dig one large grave, so he just made 7 tiny ones), he accidentally pushed a nun into a river of poison water, and ripped the tag off a mattress. Now he's arrived in a brand new town, with an obscure phenomina going off in the sky, that didn't seem to be the result of him dropping numerous chemicals that he promised his former master that he definitely wouldn't drop. But potentially apocalyptic events were going to take a back seat for a minute, because right now, there were more pressing concerns . . . . a lot of dudes around who looked like potentially cool new masters. The walking clock person in particular (Lithal Abella) intrigued the young poison boy. Salem skipped his way to the gent's side.
"Hey! You look important! Are you hiring right now?"
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Post by ventix on Nov 11, 2018 19:33:25 GMT
Hikoneko blushed. "I-I'll try..." She took the ribbon and used it to tie her hair back into a short ponytail.
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Post by Veinexes on Nov 11, 2018 22:22:06 GMT
The three others were so full of energy and vim, Graesen both envied and hated it. Taking the time to pilfer an apple from a nearby now abandoned stall he returned to the group as the conversation was winding down.
"It's going to be a pain, that much is for certain. Especially if it wasn't just a mass hallucination we all shared."
The small girl in the group seemed to be the trouble at the start, though he could not tell if that was due to upbringing or her surroundings. Either way where were this girl's parents during all this, had they been swallowed up too? Coughing to make himself known as he tended to disappear in such high energy bunches Graesen decided to add his own two cents in.
"Whatever it was, it is obvious of a few things from that initial encounter. Firstly it is angry, second it is powerful, and third it is, for the time, trapped in some place it wishes desperately out of. Taking that into consideration we have a few options. Like the little one said we can leave and ignore it, or we can tell the authorities and ignore it, the last is we find away to either reinforce it's prison or stop it all together."
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Post by ventix on Nov 11, 2018 22:56:37 GMT
"L-Little?! Are you calling small you piece of shiiiiiiiiingle! Shingle! That's what I meant...Yeah...Eheheh..." Hikoneko said, barely remembering the promise she just made.
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Post by Infynis on Nov 13, 2018 0:34:24 GMT
Lithal patted Hikoneko on the head, smiling, then addressed the adult that had approached them. "I hadn't considered it could have been some form of hallucination," he said, considering. "As for the authorities," he glanced around at the dilapidated state of the town, "I don't think they've concerned themselves with the town for some time. It would likely be best to investigate ourselves."
"As for you, young man," Lithal added, looking at the boy that had joined the group, "are you asking to be my assistant? I did a bit of that in university. It's tough work," he stroked his chin and looked up at the clocktower, "I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling, but if we're going the same way, I wouldn't mind you tagging along." Frankly, he was concerned that these two children seemed to be travelling alone, or at the very least, had been separated from their parents. "Maybe you can help us with this," he continued, gesturing to the clock, "as a bit of an audition." Lithal was obviously a Spark, so if the boy was asking to apprentice to him, he likely had capabilities beyond those of an ordinary child.
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Post by ventix on Nov 13, 2018 0:53:53 GMT
Hikoneko purrs as she's patted, then realizes what she's doing. She proceeds to blush again and draw away, hissing at Lithal. "D-D-Don't do that, b-baka!" She says, stuttering, obviously embarrassed.
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Post by drallore on Nov 13, 2018 1:09:16 GMT
Salem's eyes widened with anticipation
"I'd be PERFECT at this audition!! Yes! Thank you so much! My name is Salem! And this is Sprout!!"
Salem holds up an especially rancid smelling gloom to Lithal's face.
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Post by Veinexes on Nov 13, 2018 19:31:59 GMT
Graesen looked at the others and decided to introduce himself as well. "Well I'll help if need be, I'm more in tune with the ancient world then the supernatural one though. The name is Graesen by the way."
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Post by ventix on Nov 14, 2018 3:51:05 GMT
"I'm Hikoneko! At least, that's what Sensei named me when he found me. No idea what my original name was. Anyways, if you need something punched, kicked, or burnt into oblivion, I'm your girl!" Hikoneko says, forming a ball of fire in her palm and holding up for the group to see, a confident smirk on her face letting everyone know that she has full confidence in her ability to exactly what she says.
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Post by eltrou on Nov 14, 2018 4:21:53 GMT
Vladimir exhaled slowly as the other man bluntly listed their options. Most of them weren't really options -the actions of that creature and the state of the town told him as much- so it really only left them one option. Or him, at least - the others still had other options, but the two other men had the vibe of a Spark just like him....
...and besides, that quirky-looking gentleman with the clockwork fetish introduced himself as one already. He watched quietly as the others interacted for the moment, his eyes flickering occasionally to the widening cracks in the sky.
He kept at it until the others spoke up, with the strange animalistic girl proving to be the most curious one of all. A pyromancer of some sort with feline features and a name that clearly wasn't on this side of the continent. Japanese if he could remember his lessons right. How curious.
His face remained as serious and guarded as he was as he finally spoke up again. "I am Vladimir." And that was all they needed to know for now. "If we are in agreement that we need to investigate that phenomenon, perhaps we should get a move on?"
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