Author Topic: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid  (Read 16400 times)

Offline Geigan

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #60 on: August 28, 2014, 03:18:11 PM »
The angel blinked in surprise at her lord's anger. Clearly this mortal was not to be underestimated if he was capable of causing this much exasperation.

"Aside from difficulties with this illithid, is Walesti particularly difficult to navigate? Are we likely to find any trouble securing passage, entry, or lodgings before making contact?"
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Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #61 on: August 28, 2014, 04:12:05 PM »
"The city itself is a hotbed of activity.

You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. You must be cautious."
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Offline oslecamo

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #62 on: September 17, 2014, 08:24:05 AM »
Claudia grinned at Death's words. A hive of scum and villainy meant a lack of organized pesky law enforcement and plenty of isolated people desesperate for attention and quality entertainment. A great place to gather friends for one such as the gray jester, and the vampire.

What's the city's policy on, ahem, supernatural-induced talent recruitment?
It would probably be best for me and Elizabeth to gather some amusement.


Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #63 on: September 17, 2014, 10:10:27 AM »
"It doesn't have one - near as anyone can tell there is no such thing as an organized leadership. Too many factions, too many interests at play. It's not just information, either. Walesti lies in the middle of a strategic spot for no less than seven different underground races. Though hotly contested, committing forces to holding that position would weaken any of those individual armies too much, and they cannot trust each other, so alliances are unlikely. Thus, it remains as peaceful a point of contact between those races as could be expected."
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Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #64 on: September 17, 2014, 11:08:34 AM »
"Sounds like my favourite type of city."

Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #65 on: September 26, 2014, 06:45:24 PM »
It doesn't take too long for Muramasa to be done with Claudia's scepter.

As an intelligent item it likely has all manner of delightful things to say regarding its treatment at the spirit-blacksmith's hands. Which means it might be advisable for Claudia to shut it up.

"For tonight, you are all guests in the Lord's Castle. Rest well, even for those of you not dependant on it. The trip will no doubt prove exhausting, considering we cannot teleport you to the location. You will have to take the Phantom Train."
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Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #66 on: September 27, 2014, 12:07:55 PM »
"I shall appreciate the accommodations, then, especially given the journey ahead. Thank you."

Maeve's calm demeanor remains static as she seeks to recall information on the Phantom Train. Besides draining her powers, Dracula had also stolen memories, which are power all on their own. The return of some of her former abilities also restored some knowledge, though not all.

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Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #67 on: September 27, 2014, 12:13:53 PM »
Equally curious, Elizabeth wondered if she, too, knew anything about this 'train'. Like, for instance, what the hell a train was.

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Offline oslecamo

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #68 on: September 29, 2014, 03:05:19 PM »
As soon as Claudia grabs the scepter it starts to say something and then both tool and jester are gone from your sight before it can finish.

For the next hours you can see her popping up and then again disappearing all around the castle while stranging the scepter and shouting:

*pop*Kitchen. Several kinds of undeads do get hungry.
You stupid rod!
*pop*Bathroom. Dracula's servants have to clean up somewhere.
This is how you thank me for an upgrade!
*pop*Gardens. The assassin vines are lovely at this time of year.
So we no longer would need to plod!
*pop*back to the room where it started.
But by you I shall not be played!

Eventually Claudia manages to reign in her boosted scepter, and then crawls all the way to her allocated bed to rest, not wanting to risk any more teleportation until she got a good rest.

Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #69 on: September 29, 2014, 06:16:10 PM »
Ironically, each one gets a bed that's appropriate to their own personalities.

Elizabeth gets a big, comfy coffin.

Claudia gets a king-sized cushy bed that she practically sinks into. And makes a slightly funny noise as she plops about.

Silva gets a simpler, more 'spartan' bed - albeit a comfortable one - with a portrait of Dracula hanging above the headboard.
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Offline Geigan

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #70 on: September 29, 2014, 07:45:36 PM »
Silva having received her assignment and the necessary information is fairly silent. She knows that now is the time to rest before her next mission and so she will. Having no need of sleep, she merely kneels on her bed and prays to the portrait of Dracula while meditating to refresh her powers.
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Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #71 on: October 10, 2014, 12:11:03 AM »
The next extraordinarily cloudy day, the party is taken to a set of underground chambers underneath the castle. A skeleton in formal uniform  bows before the ladies... and loses his head.

It's Yorick, again.

"If you'd be so kind to wait a moment. The train will be coming here any minute. Miss Elizabeth, your homunculus is awaiting inside your cabin."
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Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #72 on: November 15, 2014, 04:31:02 PM »
"A pleasure to see you again, Mr. Yorick." Maeve dips her head down in acknowledgement, then picks up the skull and hands it to the skeleton.

While stepping back into place, Maeve vaguely cocks her head to the side, and appears to whisper to thin air, before returning to her perfectly pleasant, proper, and ever-changeless façade.

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Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #73 on: November 15, 2014, 04:38:06 PM »
"They are? Excellent," Eizabeth stated, floating and looking pleased. Walking, as ever, was for the peasants.

Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #74 on: November 15, 2014, 05:30:48 PM »
The coming of the Phantom Train is preluded by the hissing and literal screaming of some of the damned souls that are burnt for the sake of stoking its furnace; pre-heated, as they were, for their eternal seats in Hell. Why, yes, there is a literal, physical Hell, and it's unlike either the Abyss or those silly places where Dispater and Co. make their abodes. Hell - the real thing - is not for amateurs.

Those of you aware that this is one of the destinations of the Phantom Train are suddenly reminded of the grave carriage you are all to be riding in, and most likely thank the fact you cannot fall asleep and miss your stop. You're also suddenly reminded what manner of decayed man-god you're fighting for. Yes, soon as you arrive in Walesti you will be the talk of town, and that manner of arrival will ensure only the most foolhardy will come to mess with you. Some might claim that subtlety would be called for, but when you're working for someone whose second-in-command is the literal embodiment of the inexorable decay of all life, that ship has no doubt sailed long ago.

Yorick helps escort your number to your respective rooms. They are conveniently located close to each other, and very spacious at that, should you wish to convene together.

A single boy of dark, short hair and dull grey eyes, no older than twelve years of age and dressed in formal, seemingly funereal garb (complete with a tophat) awaits inside Claudia's room. At the moment, he kicks idly at the air, looking down and apparently being very, very bored.
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Offline oslecamo

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #75 on: January 09, 2015, 12:33:02 PM »
Claudia makes little jumps of joy when she sees her ride.


Yay we get to ride in Deaths's train!
Walking would've been such a pain!


When the jester arrives at her room she makes a surprised face:

What have we here, a cute little boy!
Yet despite young has such a sour mug.
I can't stand seeing such lack of joy.
Come give big sis Claudia a warm hug!


The jester then pounces upon the kid, laughing with outsretched hands ready to tickle him!

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Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #76 on: January 09, 2015, 02:49:27 PM »
She will find the boy a dry meal. He has no joy to give her!

...Though she can taste snark. A lot of snark.

"I was told to wait here for some bitch named Elizabeth. Is that you?"
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Offline oslecamo

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #77 on: January 10, 2015, 06:58:08 AM »
The jester girl pouts a bit. It had been quite some time since she's met up such a challenge.

No, I'm Claudia, a friend of that bitch
There seems to have been a mistake
I could keep you for myself, that'd be rich
But I don't want to put a friendship at stake.


Claudia then picks up the kid in her arms, making sure to tuck him confortably in order to don't damage what seemed like Dracula's present to her companion, and starts running with him through the train in search of the vampire girl while screaming:


Miss Bitch Elizabeth! Look what was in my room!
He called your name, while being deep into gloom!
I can't make him laugh, not even a smile!
Perhaps you can suck out his black bile?

Offline VennDygrem

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Re: Chapter the Second: Meet the Squid
« Reply #78 on: January 10, 2015, 11:18:19 AM »
Maeve enters her room and closes the door. She surveys the interior, finding it acceptable; not long after she decided to dismiss the shouting in the hallway outside.

The once-and-future Faerie Queen stands with her back to the spacious area of the room, and speaks but a word.

"Sith."

Not a moment later, a voice answers.

"At your service, my lady."

The voice is deep and gravelly, with a somewhat unsettling raspy quality. Maeve turns, finding a huge cat of pitch-black fur but for a small patch of white on its chest. It ias roughly the size of a mountain lion, pacing about in the room, and its solid-golden eyes stare unblinkingly at the Fey.

"I am pleased to know that even in my reduced, disguised state, that you answer my summons as swiftly as ever."

"Ever am I at your heed, Queen Mab. Do you need someone's spine sliced into coasters?"

The slightest grin creeps into the corners of Maeve's lips.

"No, my dear Cat Sith, not yet. I am currently traveling to a place of unscrupulous nature, under the employ of the man who cast me down. I need you to keep an eye on things. Perhaps, should things devolve, a bit of spine-slicing."

"As you wish."

Maeve turns her back again, a sign of confidence that showed she was unafraid of Cat Sith attacking her from behind. After all, not only is he the Queen's most loyal servant, but for any Faerie noble to show weakness would be to admit defeat before any attack could take place.

The giant malk then disappears into the shadows from whence he came.