#yet more conversations I’ve heard at my dnd table

[sgt-tombstone]

Ghost: I’d never cut in line, that’s so disrespectful

Soap: Ghost… you’ve killed people

Ghost: yeah, and?

[kellanved-ammanas]

Matching Chapter Three: Party

Made up from various things found in one of Spy’s disguise chests – the one that didn’t contain clothing from the enemy team – it was the perfect costume. The fancy mask with a decorative border that looked a like a dragon breathing fire would cover all of his face and most of his head, the high brimmed embroidered hat would cover the rest. Gloves were a given and full body jacket had fancy buttons to keep it closed and cool shoulder things. Other than the mask, which was predominantly white, it was various shades of red, the primary shade being dark and mysterious looking.

“See? I told you Spy probably had stuff like this in his closet,” Scout said. They’d scrounged up a similar costume for him too. At Pyro’s request he’d even gone with one of the two other complete face masks they’d found; it had a snake on it. “He goes to balls and carnivals and all sorts of fancy events all the time. And he’s too much of rich snob to ever borrow anything he needs for those kinds of events so he buys stuff, wears it once, and then throws in into his closet. It’ll be a bit big on us but who cares?”

“We have to ask him again first though, right?” Pyro had only been sort of paying attention to their conversation but he had heard that part. … As well as the uncomfortable exchange that had come before it.

“Yeah, but I’m sure he’ll be fine with it as long as we promise not to damage or stain it. And he’ll probably make you promise not to play with fire while wearing it because he doesn’t trust anybody ever not even me, his own son. Though, I guess he does kind of have a valid reason for that, I may have accidentally gotten a bit careless and broken or destroyed a few of his things in the past. But I’ve learned my lesson, I’m trustworthy now… right? Do you think I’m trustworthy?”

“Yes!” Pyro trusted him more than he’d ever trusted anyone before.

“Good! But uh… anyway, yeah, he’s probably going to want you to promise to not play with fire around his stuff. You can of course break that promise if you need to so…”

“It’s fine,” Pyro interrupted. “I don’t mind making that promise.” It’d be for the best. He’d started wearing the fireproof suit all the time – before he’d grown the illogical need for the protections it gave him from other things, like people’s eyes – so he’d stop burning himself every time he got careless when playing with fire. Which naturally only made him more careless, meaning there was a high chance he’d hurt himself and possibly other people if he played with fire while not in his suit. “I can go one night without fire.” Once upon a time that would’ve been difficult but he had friends now and Scout so it would be okay.

Scout gave him a surprised look that morphed into a proud smile. “All right, that’s cool then.”

 -

Just as Scout had predicted, Spy okayed their borrowing what they’d picked out after extracting promises not to stain it, burn it, or ruin it in any other conceivable fashion and to hold each other accountable for keeping those promises or they’d pay the worth of the costume in cash to Spy. Which was a lot of money. According to him anyway; it was just clothes, nice clothes sure but still just clothes. But regardless, they were all easy promises to make and keep. Which left them with nothing more to do than wait for Halloween.

Finally, the big day came. Warmth flooded Pyro’s chest as he looked at himself in the mirror in Scout’s room. The jacket and pants underneath were a bit baggy on him but not too bad. He looked fancy and cool, like someone who belonged in medieval times at a royal ball. And it was comfortable – compared to his fireproof suit anyway – soft and not heavy, while also covering his whole body. Maybe… there were other things he could wear that would have the same affect so he didn’t have to wear his suit all the time. … That was a thought to file away for later consideration.

“You look great,” Scout said, stepping into the mirror’s frame next to him. “We look great.” The clothes were a bit baggier on him but he didn’t seem to mind. “We look we could be going to one of those… mask party things with the weird name, you know the ones I mean. We look like we’re going to one of those together.”

“We do!” Pyro hugged him. “I like it.” And they were both completely covered and hidden. It was nice that Scout was doing that for him.

Scout chuckled, hugging him back. “Me too.”

“We’re going to be the coolest dudes a the party,” Scout said as they stepped back from each other a few seconds later. “Everyone’s going to be jealous.”

“Let’s go.” Pyro was excited to see what the others would think of their costumes, Spy should be the only one who knew what they were doing.

Holding Scout’s hand, Pyro led the way out and down the hall to the common room. They’d been in here a few hours ago, helping put up all the decorations: a Happy Halloween banner, some orange and black ribbons, fake cobwebs in the corners, a few fake spiders within them, and a whole skeleton that was donated by Medic - meaning it might be real – that hung from the ceiling. There was a table dedicated to Halloween themed snacks next the drink table, most of them alcoholic. Separate from them, on the other side of the room, was the table meant for games.

They arrived second after Spy who was always either the first one to arrive at a team event or the last one. His costume was fancy as always, made up of an extra fancy suit with a pretty pattern and a feathered mask covering the upper half of his face, underneath which was his usual ski mask.

Pyro skipped right up to him, bringing Scout along too. “Thank you again for letting us borrow stuff,” he said.

“Oh, Pyro?” Spy sounded almost taken aback. “I have never heard you speak without your gas mask on before. Your voice is… not what I expected.”

“Oh yeah, uh I didn’t even think of that,” Scout said. “Your voice is like easier to understand now. That okay? You don’t have to speak much if you’d rather…”

“It’s fine,” Pyro interrupted. Actually, it was more than fine, it was great. Being hard to understand was how he preferred it sometimes but he wasn’t in that kind of mood right now. He was with his friends, he wanted them to understand him. “I like it actually!”

“Well uh… okay, cool.”

“Yes,” Spy agreed. “You are very welcome by the way. Just remember no fire or anything else that might cause damage to my stuff.”

“Got it.” Pyro gave him a thumbs up. He was too excited to need fire right now anyway.

Miss Pauling was the next to show up. She was dressed as a witch. Pyro skipped right up to her to say, “Hello,” and wave with his free hand.

“Oh uh… who are you?” she asked. Was his voice really that changed by the gas mask?

“It’s Pyro,” Scout answered for him. “He doesn’t have to wear his gas mask because we found these super cool party masks instead as part of our super cool costumes. And we match, isn’t that awesome? We’ve got the best costumes this year for sure. If there was a competition we’d be all over first place.”

“Yes, I suppose they do look cool. But Pyro,” she looked at him again with a fond smile, “it’s nice to hear your voice unmuffled for once. I don’t think I ever have before. I… actually didn’t think you’d be okay with that kind of thing.”

“No, I like it.” It was wonderful to be understood without having to enunciate. “You guys are my friends so I don’t mind.” One day he wanted to show all his friends his face too but… he wasn’t quite ready for that yet.

It wasn’t long before everyone else started filing in. Pyro went up to each and every one of them as they entered to greet them. The realization that he could be understood easily through the party mask was too exciting to pass up the opportunity to make sure all his friends knew what his voice actually sounded like. Before this only Scout had known. They were all pleasantly surprised by it too, even Soldier who didn’t normally seem to care about that kind of thing.

And it meant he could participate in Miss Pauling’s Halloween DnD campaign this year without the usual hassle that came with being hard to understand. It also meant he could drink. Getting a straw up underneath the party mask without revealing anything was much easier than with the gas mask. Drinking alcoholic beverages through a straw was a bit weird but who cared? It was fun and he’d never gotten to actually drink with Scout or the rest of the team before.

 -

“Hey Py,” Scout slurred as he sagged into Pyro’s side. “I ever tell you that I looove you?”

Pyro leaned his head against Scout’s. He felt heavy and even while sitting at the drink table, dizzy.  He’d fall over for sure if he tried to stand. He nodded. “Love you too. Lots. More than fire.” He reached into pocket for his lighter, he had to show Scout how pretty it was. But... it wasn’t there. With not words to describe that disappointment, he let out a whining sound instead.

“I think you two have had enough to drink,” Demo cut in as he pulled the punch bowl across the table towards himself.

“No,” Scout said, hugging Pyro’s arm now. “We’re fine, we can keep going.”

“Yes, fine,” Pyro agreed, trying to give Demo a thumbs up but the world rocking as much as it was made it hard. It made him feel sick.

“Nah, that’s like the fourth time in the last half hour, you’ve checked your pocket for you lighter Pyro. Thankfully you don’t got it or we’d all be dead by now and thankfully Scout’s clinging to you like a barnacle or you’d’ve gotten up and gone looking for it until you found it and again we’d all be dead by fire. It’s making me nervous. And I feel like, I should probably cut you off before you do something you’re going to regret in the morning. I’ve already gotten an accidental peek of your part of your face because of how careless you’re being with adjusting your mask for the straw.”

That… was bad but Pyro couldn’t exactly remember why right now. He used his free hand to reach for his lighter again before being reminded it still wasn’t there. If Scout wasn’t leaning into him and holding onto his arm, he would’ve gotten up go looking for it even if it meant falling over a few times. Fire was good for burning away things he didn’t like.

“So,” Demo continued before rising his voice, “Spy get your ass over here and help your son and future son-in-law get off to bed before they drink themselves into a coma.”

“Wait, what?” Scout said, stiffening a bit. “Did you just suggest…” he trialed off. “Eh… I guess I ain’t against that idea.”

Pyro wasn’t sure what they were talking about, nor did he really care. He wanted a refill of his drink but… it was empty and Demo had pulled the punch bowl all the way to his side of the table. How was Pyro supposed to get to it over there without standing up? And his lighter still wasn’t in his pocket; he wanted to set something on fire, damnit.

“I should be cutting you off too.” Spy had snuck up behind them. It wasn’t the enemy Spy though so it was okay.

“Nah, I got a liver made of steel.” Demo took another large drink, finishing off what was in his cup. He slammed it down on the table before standing up, only swaying a little bit considering how much he’d had to drink, more than Pyro and Scout had had for sure. “But help me get these two off to bed before something bad happens. They’re making me nervous, ‘specially Pyro.”

“Very well then. Scout, Pyro, it is way past midnight and almost everyone else has headed off to bed so it is time for you to do so as well.”

“Nah, I don’t think…” Scout began before cutting off with surprise as Pyro stood up, bringing him up with him.

Right away the sway of the world increased tenfold. They would’ve both toppled over if Spy hadn’t caught them and steadied. Pyro closed his eyes and clung onto Scout, fighting the urge to vomit. He’d promise not to ruin his costume. Thankfully the urge passed after a few seconds.

“Let’s go,” Demo said, standing on one side of Pyro and Scout now. Spy was on the other. Together, they guided Pyro Scout out of the common and down the hall to Scout’s room, not letting them fall over or stray. Spy even unlocked it for them and guided them in and onto the bed.

“I will be expecting my clothing returned to me tomorrow, whenever you finally wake up and have worked through your hangovers enough to be at least halfway functional. Have a good night.” Spy backed out of the room, pulling the door shut behind him. There was small click as it locked.

“Good night,” Pyro said with a little wave even though he was already gone.

Scout huffed before starting to undress, throwing everything onto the floor. Pyro followed suit. Normally he’d want to hang it up but… couldn’t right now. He felt a bit better once he was down to just a pair of boxers, the cool air on his bare skin had a slight sobering effect.

Scout flopped over onto his back with a contented sigh. Pyro lay down too, making sure to cuddle up close to him, not bothering with the blanket bunch down by their feet.

“Fun night,” Scout said with a yawn, snuggling into Pyro.

“Yes, best Halloween ever, thanks.”

“Yeah, it was, huh? Best ever, knew it would be. Love you, good…” he trailed off as he fell asleep.

“Love you too,” Pyro replied before letting himself drift off too.

Previous

[yurtletheturtlehenderson]

S.T REWRITE - S1:E7; Chapter Seven, The Bathtub - [Pt. 1]

A Will Byers x Reader Series

While on the run, Y/n uncovers a startling truth. Eleven struggles to contact Will and the party joins forces with Joyce and Hopper.

Warnings: Dangerously unedited. Cursing. An It (2017) reference and a series of unfortunate events reference :p✌🏻

||Reader's POV||

My leg bounced intensely on the ball of my foot as I sat at the DnD table, hunched forward. My fingers were intertwined together to keep from fidgeting and my stomach felt uneasy.

A lot just happened and I haven't quite processed it yet. I remember running into Troy in the woods and being chased all the to the quarry. I remember a sharp blow to the head and everything is fuzzy from there. I remember barely being able to stay conscious before blacking out and the next thing I remember is seeing Mike jump, only to be saved by El of course.

"Here, let me help."

Dustin's voice tears me from my thoughts. I look up and see him walking over to me with a wet washcloth. I perk up in realization and pull my hair aside and out of the way.

I hiss in pain when I feel the cold washcloth touch my open wound at the back of my head.

I feel his hesitation. "Oh, sorry."

"It's okay. Thanks for helping." I say quietly, taking hold of the washcloth and applying pressure. Dustin let's go and sits across from me at the table.

"No problem. Are you sure you are feeling okay? How's your vision? Any light-headedness?" I can hear the worry in his voice escalate with every question he asks.

Sighing, I let my hand that holds the washcloth rest on the table, I give my brother a small smile.

"Dustin, I'm okay."

Dustin sighed, and the room filled with silence. The only sounds were coming from the sink in the bathroom. Mike was helping El clean up.

Dustin soon broke the silence.

"I, I was really scared for you. I mean, how the hell are you even functioning this well? That rock should have done some serious damage."

I give him a slight frown, even though I know what he is getting at.

"You know what I mean,"

It's silent again, but we both begin to chuckle softly. Enjoying this fleeting moment of peace, not knowing the next time we will be able to laugh like this.

I frown at the thought. I take a deep breath, contemplating whether or not to voice my paranoid thoughts that have been festering in the very farthest corners of my mind.

"Dustin, I think," I shift in my seat a little. "I thi-"

Defining static erupts from the comms as it bursts to life, causing Dustin and I to jump.

A panicked voice begins shouting incoherent words.

Lucas.

My head whips around to the device and then Dustin and I look to each other in understanding.

Dustin runs to the bathroom door, alerting Mike and El while I grab the comm and begin fiddling with it, desperately trying to fix the static.

Dustin came running back over with Mike and El in tow.

"Do you remember how he said he was looking for the gate?"

"Yeah," Mike said confused.

"Well, what if he found it?" You said in a questioning tone fiddling with the device.

"What's he saying?" Mike asked.

"We don't know! He's way out of range."

I hurriedly put the device up to my ear and I hear more muffled words and manage to make out a very muffled "son of a bitch!"

I shakily bring the comm up to my face and begin speaking into it.

"Lucas? Lucas, it's [Y/N]. If you can hear us, slow down. We can't understand you. Over." I release the button and meet my friends' gaze as we all wait for a response.

Suddenly his voice bursts through the comm loud and clear.

"Yes, I copy! Do you? They know about Eleven! Get out of there! They know about Eleven! The bad men are coming! All of them! Do you head me? The bad men are coming."

My heart stops at his words and I look to El in fear while Dustin rambles on.

"'Mad hen.' Does that mean anything to you?"

"Bad men." I croak in fear.

"What?"

"Bad men!"

I waste no time in springing into action.

I grab Mike by the arm and begin to drag him towards the stairs.

"El, we're gonna need you to stay here for just a moment. We'll be right back. Dustin, stay with her." I give her a fearful yet pleading look.

She shares the same look of fear in her eyes, a kind I have never seen before. Though she seems to trust me. 

Dustin speaks up. "Uhh, sure okay."

To be completely honest, I thought it'd be a better idea that if anything were to go wrong she could protect him, rather than the other way around.

Heart pounding we make our way to the nearest window at the front of the house. We are running so fast we are barely able to stop ourselves from slowing down before we reach the window.

"Umm" I trail nervously as we both spot the same sketchy man in a very sketchy van parked just across the street.

"What's that guy doing?"

"You don't think..." I trail off once more, my stomach plummeted and I looked to Mike worriedly.

He returned the same terrified look and he dashed off to the kitchen.

I hear Mike's footsteps pound against the kitchen floor and I can't help but overhear snippets of the conversation. 

"Mom!"

"Well, is he home?"

Although not much time passes before it begins to fade out. My attention focuses on the van outside.

Alarms are going off in my system, everything is screaming danger and my suspicions are only confirmed when I turn my head to see a fleet of identical vans parade down the street.

My heart begins pounding against my ribs to the point it hurts.

The fleet of vans slow to a stop in front of Mike's house and one man in the passenger's seat of one of the vans give me a curious glance.

I want to run and hide. I want to whip the curtains closed and run away and never come back, the look he gave me... it struck a fear in me I have never felt before. Everything inside me was screaming for me to run.

But I was frozen.

It was like a nightmare. I want to run, but my legs won't carry me. I'm paralyzed. I'm frozen with fear and they seem to become intrigued with me.

Too intrigued.

My brain finally reconnects with my body and I quickly jerk the curtains closed and run for the kitchen.

I realized I've only wasted seconds but it felt like minutes staring out the window.

I stumble into the kitchen, almost out of breath, too scared to even remember going the short distance to the kitchen.

"Mike!"

Without even looking at me, he holds out a finger to me.

"One second."

I have no time to roll my eyes, scoff or even be offended.

"Mike!" I roar, grabbing his and his mother's attention.

He immediately whips around.

"We need to leave... right now!" I enunciate every word, making sure I'm getting through to him.

I waste no more time and run for the basement.

I hear the distant scolding of Mrs. Wheeler.

"Michael!"

I practically fly down the stairs and jump to the ground with a stomp that rattles a nearby lamp when I reach the third to last step.

"They're here," I say frantically, grabbing my things.

"We need to leave."

I grab my jacket and threw it on.

"What?" Dustin asked frightened.

"I said, they're here. We need to get El out of here now. Mike will be down in a second, there's no time to explain. Just be ready to leave."

I say hurriedly, scrambling around the basement and snatch up my compass and shoving it into my jacket pocket.

Soon enough, Mike was downstairs with us and we all made our way out the back door. We all grab a hold of our bikes and begin running them across the grass.

We all freeze when we see the men striding towards us.

We all climb onto our bikes and I see the fear in El's eyes and I turn back to see one man in particular that she had been staring at.

He had stark white hair and his slightly wrinkled face and surrounding him was an aura of menace.

It was him.

The same man struck fear into my very soul only minutes ago through the window.

His cold eyes bore into El, but then he turned his attention to me.

Something about him and the way he looked at me... it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My blood ran cold.

Finally coming to my senses, I peddle away with my friends in a frantic splurge of energy. The adrenaline was finally kicking in.

I eventually heard the faint sounds of a cluster of car doors slam followed by tires squealing and I knew they were already close on our tail.

"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God." Dustin moaned fearfully as we raced down the street.

Thankfully he had brought his headset and connected it to our shared comm so that we could still communicate with Lucas.

I hear a muffled voice coming from the headset before my brother responds.

"Yeah, Lucas, they're on us."

More static.

My heart is pounding harder which I never thought was possible.

"Cornwallis!" He shouts into the mic.

My lungs are beginning to burn.

"Copy! Elm and Cherry!" My brother orders.

Mike and I respond at the same time.

"Okay."

"On it."

We head down the road when I hear the frightening sounds of several vans approaching.

The ringing in my ears is now deafening. Panic has completely taken over now.

"Shit."

"This way, come on!" Mike orders.

My limbs have grown tired and I start to fall behind. This only makes my heart pound faster.

They begin to head toward one of the houses and I begin to follow them. Only then, I hear the sounds of an approaching vehicle. I whip my head back and see one of the vans approaching me. They know I've fallen behind. They know that I am as good as alone.

Separated from the group.

Vulnerable.

And that's exactly what I am.

There was no time. It was a snap decision that did not allow me time to alert my friends. My brother.

Needing to throw them off my trail, I jerked the handlebars of my bike to the left at the very last second. I knew it had worked and had gotten that van off my tail because it had no time to turn. I cast a glance behind me and smirked knowing I had succeeded, but I also saw my friends disappear behind the house as they took the shortcut.

Hopefully, if I can time everything right, they won't even know I was gone. The last thing I want them to do is to worry about me and compromise themselves in the process.

I returned my gaze to the road, but it was too late. A van had swerved out of nowhere and cornered me. Trying my best to avoid it, I swerved my bike to the side and I lost my balance and tumbled to the ground, and I rolled across the pavement.

By the time I stopped rolling, I laid there, the wind knocked out of me. Tears escaped my eyes. I had survived, but my bike had not.

I heard the opening of car doors and I came to my senses. I saw men approaching me and I scrambled backward. Tears began to fall.

"Ple-please. Stay away from me." I blubbered.

Another van began approaching and slowing to a stop behind the other. Another man stepped out.

It was him again.

He knew they had me cornered.

The men who had cornered me began circling in on me and I panicked.

I don't know what happened next.

All the sadness I had felt these past few days for Will. The heartbreak. All the anger I felt towards Troy. All the pain inflicted on me, all the fear. Every emotion washed over me as I relived the most intense moments in the past week flashed before me and I felt everything at once. And it exploded. Like a violent force of nature, I erupted.

"I SAID STAY BACK!"

I threw my hand up to protect myself and suddenly I felt a powerful warm wave of energy surge off of me and the air around me blurred, the windows of the van shattered and the men circling me were thrown back and slammed against the vehicle.

They fell towards the concrete and laid there, unmoving surround by shards of glass.

Shaking, and at a loss for words, I looked to my hands realizing I had been the cause of this sudden occurrence. My hands were bright red. I felt the blood pump intensely through my veins and I looked to the man with white hair and to my own surprise I smirked slightly at him. 

I jumped to my feet and begin backing away, not before giving the damage I had done a quick once over. I then broke out into a sprint and cut through the trees.

A smile broke out onto my face. A new wave of power and adrenaline was pumping through my veins and I was beginning to feel invincible.

A now undeniable, beaming smile found it's way onto my face when I saw my friends gather up just around the corner.

I leaped and bound and I waved my hands up in the air calling to them.

Even from a distance, I could tell they had just figured out I wasn't there and were beginning to panic.

"Over here!"

"[Y/N]!"

"Oh, thank God!"

"Where were you? I thought you were behind us!"

"Where's your bike?"

"No time to explain! Lucas, I need a ride."

"No problem, hop on."

I quickly took a seat on the back of Lucas's bike, knowing he had a similar model to Mike's.

"They are not that far behind. We need to go. Now!" I explained frantically.

Sure enough, a few seconds later the roaring of engines came from down the street.

"Go, go, go, go, go!" Mike cried.

I held on tight to the Lucas as he began picking up speed. I shared a worried look with El and then we both looked behind us to see the vans gaining speed behind us.

"Go, go, go, go, go! Faster, faster!" Mike shouted desperately.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!"

Lucas casted a glance behind us and much to my dismay, I saw one more van just up ahead and it was heading straight for us.

"Look out!" I couldn't help but shout.

I held on tighter to Lucas and I looked ahead frozen in shock. It was just a few feet away.

And then everything happened in slow motion. I watched in amazement when the van tipped forward and it was thrown into the sky. It hurdled over us and I watched in amazement as it flew right over our heads.

"What the fuck?!" I shouted in awe.

My gaze never left the van and my heard turned to see it crash on it's roof blocking all the remaining vans and allowing us to escape.

I began laughing in relief and I looked behind me as we made our escape. I met eyes with the man with the white hair and I couldn't resist.

Keeping one arm secured around Lucas's torso, I turned around as much as I could and have the man the finger. A proud smile on my face.

||3rd Person POV||

Brenner got out of the car and made his way toward the wreckage. Not bothering to check for survivors he stares at the fleeing children.

He wanted to be mad that they had escaped. That his beloved Eleven escaped once more.

But he was too impressed.

And he was thrilled to have witnessed the incredible feat only minutes ago.

The tremendous effort showed by the young Henderson girl. He had had his suspicions for some time now. She was all too familiar to him. But seeing her amazing abilities.

Abilities that had been inside her all her life, hidden, lying dormant inside her. It was brought out in a complete state of emergency. Acting as her body's natural defense that she didn't even know she had.

All that untapped potential mixed with the unpredictable attitude could do great things. 

No, today was not a loss. Today was a victory. He had finally found her after all this time.

His missing experiment.

Number 009.

+++

Tag List: @fuckwaad @aimee-lucass @iblesstherainsdown-in-africa @miscellaneoustoasts

DM me if you want to be added!

[defunctblogtobedeleted]

8/30/19 11:39pm SU 14/? - Andi, A Fated Encounter

I had the urge to name this one Dating Start! but I’m saving that title for the next post, because we’re not going to get that far tonight. But in that context, then Bonetrousle could’ve been an wildly appropriate name for this story :3 Maybe it’d also be little less cliche, but I don’t want to pigeonhole all my posts about her into Undertale references, that’d be silly lol.

So as I was saying in my last catchup post, Jared, Storm, and I started going to boxcar most sundays. This was a sunday, must’ve be 6/24/18 based on my previous journal entry and my next one (I’ll post it later in this entry), almost immediately after having the nice acid night with Manu and reflecting on my love life and how I thought things were really shaping up for me. 

As per usual, we grabbed a table to ourselves and began to drink up some mimosas and smoke some cigarettes. It was late in the evening before we even made it out there. I think the sun was close to going down if it wasn’t dark already. I think I remember that it was one of the nights Boxcar had a live band playing.

While Jared and I smoked and shot the shit as usual, Storm started to flit around the patio meeting people. Exceptionally outgoing. I always loved that about her; it was why I was happy to spend time with her regardless of any attraction to her. She had a way of just gravitating people into the group and creating new opportunities to meet people all of the time, though admittedly it was usually guys who were attracted to her. Still always made for great conversation, though.

Tonight was a little different though. Storm caught the attention of a tall brunette, wearing short shorts and had a bright colorful tattoo of a cock (lol rooster) on her thigh. I could hear them gush to each other about their tattoos as I talked to Jared and smiled at Storm’s propensity. I believe the brunette wanted to take a chair from us to make enough places for her and her friend (a husky guy) to sit, but Storm said no, and told them to push the tables up together so that they could sit with us instead. She set a chair next to me for Andi to sit down at and introduced her to me. Andi, with an i. To my recollection looking at her I thought, “Huh she’s actually really cute. Tall. Skinny. Great body. Cute face. Kind of a big nose, but definitely fucking Cute.” and then I remember the way she shook my hand, lingering for what seemed like an eternity in just a moment or two. In my head I noted it and was like “oh really?” Then she said she loved my Ash Ketchum hat, and I explained how I had just gotten it to celebrate my speedrunning accomplishments. She thought that was incredible. I began to elaborate to Jared about how one day I’d actually follow through with speedrunning House of the Dead 2 now that we’d been playing it a little.

House of the Dead 2?! She exclaimed. I love that game! Now, mind you, I’ve literally never heard that from anyone. Even with Jared it was something like “oh yeah THAT game! So good!”  So now this cute girl has commanded my FULL attention. I start asking her about her other favorite games, and we talk about Portal for a while. We talk about DnD for a second and I say I play a tabaxi rogue, and begin to explain the catpeople race and she says “please. I Know what a tabaxi is.” Huge nerd boner lmao.

I get excited, ask if anyone wants to do tequila shots with me, she’s the only one who takes me up on it. We start to walk inside and her friend decides to join us. We’re arm in arm I think? She puts my hand on her ass, and we gallivant off towards the bar talking about DnD plots. 

I order the tequila shots, her friend insists on paying for them even though he’s visiting from Ohio. I’m like “really? what?” but at this point I’m much more accustomed to people buying me shots from my past year in Greensboro so I happily and graciously accept. We do the shots and he walks off to the bathroom. I make a quick doublecheck that they’re not dating, and then Andi and I start full-on making out. I can’t remember what even triggered it. We just looked at each other in that way like “go on, do it already,” so we did lol. 

Honestly I think she’s got the record by far for landspeed hitting it off-to-making out time (and landspeed to hookup time, but hold up on that). Like we just fucking clicked.

We’re waiting for a While to come back, so after making out for a while longer I go to check on him and he says he’s fine but he’s in a stall and I’m pretty sure he’s puking lol. Everybody has those days.

So Andi and I run off to the House of the Dead 2 cabinet to start playing, we both imitate the voices of the first scene perfectly, giggle and start making out again. And made out during every single cut scene after. I’m shooting zombies while kissing her instead of looking at the screen, it’s adorably gross. At least to me. I don’t know how You feel about it, and I don’t much care lmao. Also I don’t know if you know much about the first few levels of HotD2, but there are a smorgasbord of cut scenes with the greatest dialogue ever. You really ought to check it out.

I think we barely killed the hierophant in lvl 2, but Andi died during that boss and I only had one life left so we just let it go when I get hit on lvl 3.

We start to walk outside to our friends when I ask her if she wants to take a little detour to my car first. She says she doesn’t do anything in cars, but yes, definitely. We’re giggling like little kids meandering around trying to think of a suitable place that’s not a car. There’s a parking lot behind Greensboro’s boxcar that’s kind of tucked away in some trees. It’s not private by any means, but it’s out back and not really used since the main one is so big. There’s a little shed next to it, too, and we decide hey I think this is as good a place as any lmao.  I convinced her that I really did have a vasectomy, she made me agree to pay for her abortion if I was lying, and we laid down in that gravel parking lot right then and there and fucked the shit out of each other lol. Started with me on top, but had to shift positions a few times since she was LAYING IN GRAVEL LMAO. We did it doggystyle, and then gave up on the gravel completely and I bent her over somebody’s car. Mmm. It was fantastic. While I waited for her to put her clothes back on I excitedly stood there pantsless, swinging my dick around in public, and luckily after giggling with me for a second she told me to put my clothes back on Right before the people who owned the car we just fucked on walked up to leave lmfao. That could have been the worrrrrst. 

But it wasn’t. It was the fucking best.

We share a cigarette and smile at each other walking back to the bar. Promise not to make a big deal about it when we get back lol.

When we get back, Storm has made some more new friends. An older lady. Not old, just older, and I think some other guy are there and it’s them Storm, Jared, and Andi’s friend Brian who’s made it back from the toilet. We sit down and Andi starts talking to Brian and I’m talking to this lady who starts telling me to not make a move on Andi, how I know that she’s here with him and that I really shouldn’t. And I’m like well I mean I heard that they’re not together or anything, and she was like “yeah, but come on. You know.” And I was like honestly I do know but regardless of if he has a crush on her and drove all the way down from fucking ohio to profess his love or whatever, she’s clearly not about it. But I decide not to say any of that and just say “well it’s a little late for that advice, but thanks lmao.”

We all stayed and chatted for a while. Andi and Brian left to go home. Storm and Jared made me spill the beans on what I’d been doing, and at first I tried to play coy and act like I wasn’t going to tell because nothing happened. But that just meant they knew something HAD happened, so they pried harder lol. Sooo I excitedly told them that we fucked out in the parking lot in the back and they stared at me mouths agape like I had never seen them before. Storm was doubly excited because she thought we looked cute talking together. Jared was proud lol. High fives all around. We had another smoke and finished our drinks and had to part ways though, Storm could never stay til closing because of work and Jared had to drive her home. 

And so I went home with Andi’s number in my phone, a grin plastered to my face, a story I couldn’t wait to tell everyone I fucking knew about, and just amazingly elated to have met someone so fucking cool. 

This is the only paper entry I ever made about Andi. 

It’s funny, I had called every crush I had ever had in college “the love of my life.” Not even real crushes like Lexi, but like if I’d ever even met a girl at a party hahaha. I’m sure I got Manu absolutely sick of it. But I hadn’t called anyone the love of my life in years. Definitely not since I started fasting and shit again. I meant it to be tongue-in-cheek still, of course, but she definitely made me want to bring it back.

As far as later writing goes, from later to do lists you’ll see that I had meant to do a whole andi-stats thing that we had drunkenly(?) talked about once, but it never happened. 

I guess reflecting on everything now, I was only writing sexy paper journal entries way back when me and kailey were first dating and I was really fucked up on drugs and enjoying the sex so much. I’d roll over in the middle of the night to jot something down about caressing against her back or something. But after she cheated on me that first time with pinelli those entries stopped. And since moving out of Coolidge I’ve really only been passionate enough to write when things were going rather poorly, and when they were going good maybe I also felt like I didn’t want to jinx it. Like Rachel and Mary I clearly only felt like writing about when it was already over and I wasn’t quite ready to admit it yet. 

I definitely regret not writing more though. I also regret not saving vods of us playing games together. I don’t know why I thought things would just stay when they’re not meant to last, but that definitely sounds like me.

Alas, so this is it from the notebooks. Hope you weren’t looking forward to more of my handwritten journals. After this rather insipid post about my teeth I never made another paper entry. I suppose I was too busy texting Andi and sharing all my thoughts with her rather than keeping them to myself. 

So I guess we’ll see if we can deep dive into some texts next time. It’ll be harder to motivate myself to do a post that way (feels a little stilted and I hate doing all the scrolling back through my phone), but I think it’ll turn out cool. We’ve still got a lot of ground to cover.

💕

[docandprof]

In Which Childhood Most Certainly Ends

Pleasant greetings, friend!

Where to begin after so many weeks of silence? Much has happened, but in a way also very little has happened. I’ve settled in to my new place and my new job in this new chapter of life. Yet despite what sound like big changes, it’s all already become my new normal. I get up in the morning, go to work, come home, have dinner, do something game or video related, go to sleep, and repeat. And I only want to say that with a hint of pessimism, because if you were to ask me how I’m doing, I would say life is good! I have a roof over my head and a great job under my belt for at least another year, great friends, girlfriend, family, and to top it off I play DnD twice a week now instead of once. I guess the only thing that’s really got me down is the solemn realization that there’s no going back to simpler days. Being an adult comes with so many perks, but also so many challenges, hardships, struggles, whatever you want to call them. I don’t think that I want to go back to childhood, but I do want to do what I can to make adulthood more...whimsical. Don’t get me wrong, most of my evenings are full of games, Netflix, or something recreational, but it’s the evenings where I have to remind myself to call the dentist, refill that prescription, take the car in to Discount Tire, or have hard conversations with my girlfriend that I stop and think “This is it.” I’ve made it to the long awaited adulthood! And then I stop to wonder what it was I was so excited about. Like I said, I do think I’m happy right now, just enjoying my musings while I can about the loss of the rose-colored glasses I wore for so long in my lovely world where everyone got along, I had everything I wanted, and didn’t have to spend a dime I didn’t want to. And I’m so grateful that that was my childhood experience, because it’s not for so many others. But that’s not something I thought about back then, as a kid. I thought about when I could go to the park, or who to text until the wee hours of the morning, or what video game to play. I still do some of those things, but my entire perspective has shifted up, and now I look down on the world around me and see all the ugly parts, responsibilities, and sorrows. It’s hard not to think about it all.

I am sorry that your family is going through a hard time, but I know you will all make it through it. I know you’ve always been close with your family, and it’s important that you all lean on each other for support in times of need. When the physical distance gets you down, just remember to give thanks for the tools and technology we have now that can make us feel close to the ones we love. I know that you all trust in His plan, just like I do, so I’m confident you will make it through this, just as my family did when my dad was out of work a few years ago. Your mother is an awesome, warm, spunky woman who I know will land on her feet, and I bet even if she didn’t would make the most out of falling over before she got back up again. Just like I know you could. I hope things are looking up for you all, and am here to support all of you however I can.

As John Green (at least I think I heard it from him) so often says, one of his favorite things about humans is that we are resilient. In the face of terror, tragedy, and tribulations, we move forward, and we remember how to enjoy the small things. So what small things do I enjoy, you ask? I enjoy a cold beer on a hot day at a brewery that probably serves cheese fries, but doesn’t call them cheese fries. I like to play a game where I take on the role of a lone samurai trying to free his island from a Mongol invasion, all the while struggling with tradition and adaptability. And of course I like to see what my wacky friends come up with as we sit around a virtual table and write one of my favorite stories to date involving mystical goats, magic bricks, and sexy glasses. On top of that I do have those zoos to keep managing too. However, if you’re looking for something more concrete, I would highly recommend The Dragon Prince on Netflix. It’s by the creators of Avatar The Last Airbender and was a fun show to binge these last couple weeks about a few kids trying to save the world with a dragon’s egg. I think that show is really what moved me to use the word “whimsical” a couple paragraphs up. That show, and Avatar, have inspired me much as a world builder with their worlds that subvert the ordinary, while also employing rule sets on top of them that I unquestioningly accept as true, despite the elves, dragons, and magic before my eyes. I haven’t begun work on anything concrete yet, but that show really did get me excited about world building and I am eager to start concepting a new world that takes some twists on the usual DnD campaign setting and employs a lot more whimsy.

Hopefully you’re enjoying what you do, who you spend time with, and where you live, because we’ve hit adulthood and - for now - this is it, so make the most of it! Despite everything bad, sad, or what have you, we have so much to look forward to. At the very least I take solace in the fact that my college years were definitely not the greatest years of my life - one of the biggest lies we are told. Though I digress. Thanks for being my main man, and keep the music recs coming! There is so much good music out there we have yet to discover. With my last recommendation I leave you this: read! Pick up a book and start scanning those lines with your eyeballs. I’m not doing a great job of practicing that right now, but I am slowly trying to make my way into The Fellowship of the Ring - a must if I’m going to call myself a nerd. Keep on vibing my friend.

With all the good farewells I can give,

Le Prof

9.17.20

[dndfuckhouse]

session 17 & 18 - close calls and calculating plans

SESSION 17 - 2/22 🩸🔮

> 🎵  DND Ambience - Evil Temple / Michael Ghelfi 

> 🎵  A Stray Child / Silent Hill 3 OST.

Returning again we zoom back to the group's exploits skulking around the letterheads barracks, invisible Han and Finn in bat form watch on. Theyord’s second and thirds converse with one another around the main chamber in front of the blood pool, having just rejoiced among themselves before conducting a small ritual in front of the pool.

In the meantime the rest of the group shuffle down to one of the unexplored rooms in the base they saw the human man exit earlier. Keva follows the rest of the group afterwards as they check if they can hear anybody inside.

Watching on, Han and Finn continue to eavesdrop on the conversation within the chamber. 

Emruz: after cackling to herself she turns to the other three and speaks “Haah that perked me right up … well you all heard our grace, it's time to begin preparations. I’ll go inform our acolytes of the glorious news before seeking further instruction in my chambers. Ida and Bravk come with me while i inspire the crowd and conduct them afterwards, Olst you ought to go find our assassins outside, you must assure with your own eyes they've carried out their objectives or they’ll be hell to pay” Olst: The human man shifts under her gaze and his eye twitching, seemingly annoyed “I am well aware, they’re aren't so dim as to have forgotten their own damned orders. I'll return within 4 hours either with them or with news that I've found their corpses. Not a total loss either way, though their bodies would be more annoying to cart back individually than the cargo they ought have organised, a larger amount of bodies is always preferable”  Olst: He turns and walks down the corridor you all entered the base from, staring at the door at the end of it he turns his head back towards the tiefling “Do not forget among your many other duties to go and gather the additional brood should they be outside the barracks with the acolytes as well, and look for the slacking guards wherever they've snuck themselves too, we cannot risk to falter now so close to our goal now”

The tiefling seems to fluster attempting to come up with some sort of retort about responsibilities, but Han and Finn hear the man walk off and the sound of the heavy double doors opening and shutting behind him from where they originally entered the chamber from, seemingly gone.

Emruz: she sniffs, rubbing her nose “Always prefer it when hes out, makes the air smell less dour” she turns back to the other two with a wicked smile “well then after me you two” 

Turning, she heads up the left set of stairs followed by the other two, Han and Finn see her at the top of the stairs before she turns downwards and out of sight with the other two following behind her. As they walk off they hear the tiefling mumbling to himself “you dont suppose our grace will also honour us with an inspection…” at the drow before the group finally leave earshot.

Finn: I transform back and suggest to han we should meet with the others Chip: do you just say that at the air. since shes invisible Finn: i say it to the air and pretend i know where exactly she is Chip: finn slowly turning in a 360 degree circle Han: finn tposes

Meanwhile the group at the door examine the door to see if its locked, seeing that it isnt, keva opens it slightly to peak inside along with rokka, the other members of the party standing behind them. Inside they see a small chamber, a set of 3 stone slab tables with leather straps attached to the tops of them, on the ground beneath them are carvings of some sort.

Rokka: those bed dont look comfortable

Standing over one of the tables they see an acolyte cleaning blades or daggers of some sort with a rag and a bottle of clear liquid. Next to them the two spy what looks like an old looking book, bound in a red cord, also laying on the table.

Han: han taps finn and says "ill follow the guys that went up, 5 minutes tops” and i follow the 3 Finn: WHAT

Han already out of the main chamber room, Finn stands around at a loss, deciding to rejoin the rest of the party in the other corridor. As he does they quickly decide to take out the acolyte in the room as fast as they can before they notice their presence.

Finn: we found a torture chamber youre just in time Cimmorro: jez thinks torture is cool, cimm not so much Rokka: hi my name is rokka and i do not approve this (killing) message

Keva, Psalm, Cimmorro and Plum all make ranged attacks, though Psalm’s eldritch blast ends up missing. A combination of Keva’s arrow, Cimmorro’s sacred flame and Plum’s alchemical fire ends up quickly dispatching the acolyte. The arrow sticks him in the side while the vial explodes over his head, the flame seems to worsen the liquid's effect, he thrashes in the flame shocked and confused but quickly hits the floor soon after.

Cimmorro: psalm (fail) Chip: psalm (epic fail)

Rokka: rokka is just watching in horror Finn: finn is next to rokka now. also watching in horror. Cimmorro: is he still burning? LOL.... you guys might wanna put him out before the smoke GOES EVERYWHERE  Rokka: i'll uh..........stay out here.........and keep watch......yeah...............

Keva quickly stalks into the room and grabs the book on the table, tossing it to psalm with a “catch” he grabs it from the air easily enough. Plum in the meantime notices the room seems to have a trough of water in the corner and quickly moves to attempt to put out the burning corpse, though they stop and stand around thinking when they realise they dont have anything to put the water into. Psalm sees them struggling and walks over to hand them his enchanted empty mason jar while idly looking over the tome hes just been thrown.

Cimmorro: everyone's just watching plum in the most mundane conundrum ever whilst this man is burning in this room Han: no one fuckign helps them either

Across the base Han quietly follows after the three cultists that stalked off. Heading up the left stairwell she spys the three at the end of the long corridor enter the room the party heard prayers coming from earlier, shutting the door behind them she stretches her ear to see if she can hear anything.

After a minute she hears sounds of yelling and cheering come from the chamber but it doesn't seem anyone's about to leave the room yet. She moves down the corridor halfway through to check the door the party didn't investigate earlier, listening if she can hear anyone inside. Thinking the coast clear she slides into the room shutting the door behind her.

Similarly to the others current snooping, the room appears to be quite similar, immediately she notices three slabs looking like tables in the centre. Taking in what she can about the rest of the room, she sees a hearth in the corner, lit and burning, nearby on the ground is a cylindrical container housing what look like metal rods, there also seems to be a large wooden tub of water near the far end of the room. 

Along the other side of the room she sees a counter and storage cupboards, housing a manner of smaller metal rods and cloths, among papers and candles. Squinting she also also spy's some glass vials and bottles filled with something in wooden cupboards.

She makes to investigate the vials in the cupboards, examining them all she can really tell is that most of these smell bad, a majority of them being a dark green black colour. A few in the back stand out colourise however, she sees a small bright green vial topped with a cork that smells faintly like the wind as well as a round bulbous vial filled with an almost gaseous red liquid, as well as 3 smaller vials of bright silver liquid. Han decides to grab one of each type before slipping out of the room again.

Heading to the end of the long corridor she presses her ear against the double doors the three went down and listens in if she can hear anything, All that comes through are the sounds of a woman's voice towering over the conversation, it seems shes giving a sermon of sorts, rejoicing as if shes trying to enthral a crowd to action. it seems kind of like gibberish, 'praising the day of reckoning' and whatnot. She gets the feeling shes going to instruct the various people inside to get to work on something soon, backing off she decides to go back to where the others are.

> 🎵  Save Theme / Silent Hill 3 OST.

At the same time Keva investigates the other room the party are standing inside. Similar to the room Han was just in she sees a hearth burning in the corner and a big tub of water, with small metal rods littering the place. the cupboards in here seem filled with the things. She also notices a chest near the ground however, seeing it locked she attempts to pick it, successfully she cracks it open though it takes her a few minutes, the sound of water splashing behind her and corpse smoke somewhat distracting.

Psalm: better hope that chest isn't enchanted Keva: @ psalm after i open it "my lucky day i guess"  Rokka: rokka gets nauseous from the smell

Opening the chest she examines the contents inside, a large group of daggers lined up neatly, they remind her of the one the group picked off of greenie’s body that psalm currently holds. They all appear pretty much the same in shape and make. Examining them now they all seem to have small runes engraved along the bottom of the hilt.

Plum: why do you have a mason jar  Psalm: i found it back at rickert's lair, didn't feel the need to throw it away Plum: just a regular jar? 🤔 Psalm: i wouldn't say regular. If you fill it and close the lid, it always appears to be empty  Plum: [i close the jar w water in it] 😲 "were you gonna use it?  can't think of anything useful except for drinkin’ alcohol on the sly" Psalm: i haven't gotten a chance to really take a look at it, but i doubt i'd need it for anything. might use it for hiding money Plum: oh exactly

Keva takes one of the daggers from the chest as the two chat, Psalm opts to grab a couple as well. Soon after Keva asks Cimmorro if he might have any insight into what the tables are for.

Keva: what do you think these rods and tables are for Cimmorro: "i don't think you'll actually like to know what it's for : }"  it's for skiing keva Keva: i haven't liked anything about any of this, so.  Cimmorro: "let's say you can lie down on a table like that and have a one last good time of your life. fun at parties"  anyone wanna demonstrate table torture with cimm so keva can get the education Psalm: tempted to say yes honestly Han: wow my cimm/psalm yaoi becoming real

As the conversation ebbs on Han reaches the other corridor seeing Finn and Rokka standing outside, she decides to sneak up and scare Finn for a laugh while still invisible. She gets close before saying a deadpan ‘boo’ in his ear.

Finn: finn is like. super startled and swiftly turns around and huffs "h-han! thats! that was very uncalled for!!" hes like visibly going through the heart attack still Han: han doubles over invisibly Chip: b-baka! Finn: H-HAN BAKA! FINN LIKE. IS STILL POUTING EVEN IF HE CANT SEE HAN HE DOESN'T LIKE SHES LAUGHING. "its not funny!"

Cimmorro: yeah okay "ANYONE WANNA VOLUNTEER" Plum: volunteer for? Cimmorro: show keva what the table is for  Rokka: i would but the corpse smell makes me want to vomit" @ cimm  Cimmorro: it's ok rokka u can sit outside and watch  Rokka: okay 🥺 Plum: "maybe a hands on demonstration works best" [gestures to keva] Psalm: i think keva should do it, you'll learn better that way Cimmorro:  "alright miss keva, the honor is all yours" Keva: i walk out Cimmorro: booooo don't be such a party pooper miss kev  Rokka: wait keva I want to learn this  Plum: yeaah miss keva get back in here  Keva: she flips you all off

Han: "what are we learning here" says a disembodied voice Plum: [yells] Cimmorro: we're learning about the usefulness of tables Plum: oh its just you, fuck you scared me Han: oh, this room is the same on the other side, i found some potions in there Finn: potions? then plum should probably look at them right? Plum: potions?????? Psalm: psalms like oh hi han Rokka: oh god oh no han is a ghost Han: han walks around touching everyone shoulders

Han hands the vials over to plum for them to give em a quick look. The most they can tell without tasting them is that at a glance, the silver one is quicksilver aka liquid mercury. Sells for a good price. The dark green one looks like a poison of some kind but that’s all they can tell immediately. The red and green ones they aren’t sure at all. Cimmorro also goes about attempting to read the runes on the metal rod and the knives. He cant quite read the runes themselves but it seems the spells effecting them are different. Whatever the rod effects has something to do with death, the knives relate to something about the mind. 

Plum: so the rods are for killing people and the knives are for killing people, got it Rokka: is this how they make zo0o0o0o0ombieEeEeEEs? 0_0

The group start discussing their next course of action as Keva swipes the jail keys off of Plum, moving to drag the now burned corpse into the corridor and stuff it in a bag like they did all the other acolytes. Han brings up the idea of perhaps poisoning them while theyre all in the same room but they dont seem to have the items at hand to do so. 

Cimmorro brings up it might be bad plan anyway as it might give them time to signal for their boss, Han says it might be useful though as it could draw him out into the open. The group seem opposed to starting any sort of fight in the base for the moment however, prefering instead to sneak out as soon as possible. Han also brings up the idea of trailing Olst but they arent sure where theyd begin tracking him.

Han: hans like, chill here btw, not accusatory or aggressive Finn: finn is also chill Psalm: psalm is never not chill Chip: party passive effect is chill rn

Han: i dont know, we dont know what your uncle has at his hands Finn: i mean. why do you think we hired you? theres not much we have at our hands Han: han inside: damn this vorde dude sounds desperate Psalm: hot

Keva: why are you after the red letterheads anyway? what's any of this have to do with your family Finn: finn looks at keva with a pretty neutral gaze "the letterheads are a thorn in our side. take that as you will." Keva: all the way in vargonia? Finn: all the way in vargonia.

Psalm, Keva & Han: [failed insight checks] Finn: finn: opens his mouth | everyone: CAN I ROLL FOR- Cimmorro: i like how everyone in this group is like we don't care bout what yall do do not speak to me. but when someone is a little bit sus or shifty eyes suddenly everyone is rollin insight checks

Plum: damn finn that kinda sucks, being mixed up with this gang somehow Finn: finn closes his eyes for a second longer than necessary. "yes. that is one way to put it plum." Plum: [a little shocked] Rokka: wow we joined a gang...... Finn: my family isnt a gang rokka.... Rokka: right........... Keva: not that we would know Finn: KJDFGUIDMGFODFG, OOOKAY A BIT OF ATTITUDE HUH Chip: finn: [whipping off his noble gloves]

The group decide the best course of action is to leave for the moment, they quickly review the evidence they've gathered to preset to Vorde amongst themselves.

Plum: we have the book, knives, i can collect some blood in psalm's little mason jar Psalm: psalm is a bit displeased at that plum but says nothing

Psalm: i have parchment and an ink pen Plum: for writing your plays? Rokka: psalm’s parchment... Psalm: that’s none of your business Plum: [plum giggling] Chip: [Han making a successful insight check] she gathers that he does like to write fiction in his spare time, but they're mostly for letters and journal entries on the go Han: WOW THANK YOU (EATS PSALM ALIVE) Rokka: PSALM DO U WRITE FANFICS

The group spend a while discussing their next move, before anyone moves off from the middle of the hallway Rokka’s ears pick up sounds off movement from across the base. He hears numerous sets of shuffling feet and grunting, as well as a voice speaking but he cant make out what it saying. It seems to be coming from the main chamber and the left hallway.

Rokka: i halt and t pose "guys i hear something from the left hallway" Cimmorro: are they done w their orgy

Han moves to investigate the main chamber whilst Keva moves down the corridor’s other end to see if she can spy whats going on from the bottom. The rest of the party quickly scuttle their way back to the room with all the beds to hide for the moment. Keva doesnt get a view from anything from her vantage point however, she decides to quickly slink back to the room everyone hid inside of as well.

As han slinks on over still invisible, she looks down the stairway into the main chamber, across the way she sees a few acolytes walking up and down the stairs, carrying some of the heavy burlaps sacks between them into the main chamber. Standing nearby she sees the tiefling and drow watching over the proceedings, the tiefling seems to be muttering to the drow about something.

Observing them, the acolytes dont look too emotive in one way or another, she gets the same sense of community coming off them watching them walk as she would looking at a bunch of people build a barnhouse. The tiefling looks somewhat nervous as he typically does, the drow stands stoic. Han decides to head into the chamber again to eavesdrop but informs the party in the room first. They see her off before discussing what to do once leaving.

Cimmorro: 

Plum: HHFUUGH

Finn: ... fine. let us regroup with my uncle. Psalm: it would only be to convey what we've learned, no doubt he'll send us right back here to take care of things Finn: certainly Plum: wow aren't you nice 😲 Psalm: well...i'm a firm believer in customer satisfaction. let's put it that way Finn: finn raises a brow. but chooses not to question that statement. Plum: got other mercenary-like work experiences under your belt there? Psalm: yes actually, you were there. searching for cats and body-guarding wizards. y'know the deal. Plum: oh right that happened! and that was only a week ago. good god

Now in the main chamber Han watches the acolytes move the bodies to various spots on the ground around the pool. 

Bravk: he quickly pipes up "ah-ah wait did you bring those down before examining them? you need to check them over first, be sure none of the symbols aren't completely clear"

The acolytes nod in response and move some of the bodies back up the stairs as he sighs to himself, Han quickly decides to head back to where the others are to inform them they're about to get busted.

While they wait Psalm gives the tome of his a quick flip through, it appears to be a spellbook of some sort, filled with inscriptions and runes. He recognises a few of them from around the base, he supposes it details how to write the various enchantments.

Chip: disembodied han returns Han: hi yall. so remember how we hid the bodies with the other bodies, well theyre about to check the bodies to see if theyre marked properly xP Psalm: oh we we need to leave is what you're saying

The group quickly smack their heads together to decide on a way to distract the cultists in the main chamber long enough that they'd be able to escape through one of the 3 portal doors in the room.

Finn: a distraction huh? Han: how about you baby boss Finn: OMG, finn scoffs at that.

Keva suggests using Amos as a distraction, running around with the keys but Han suggests that she can act as the distraction as she’s invisible, making a commotion and drawing them close to the main entrance the group initially entered the base from. 

Keva: i pull myself out from the bed and pull out amos and the keys Plum: "wait, when did you get those?" [plum pats themself down] Keva: i ignore plum's question "i can have amos give em a chase for a bit, any other ideas for getting out?"

Finn: what. do we do if one of us doesn't make it? Psalm: well i'm sure those torture rooms need someone right? ha. Finn: i snort at psalms comment. Rokka: save them? Psalm: i'd almost rather get left behind myself than deal with your uncle if you were to get left behind Finn: ha. i was about to say if anyone were to be left behind i would be the best option. im the most likely to get out of here alive. i will trail behind all of you to ensure this. so don't worry. you won't have to deal with anything unpleasant. probably. Psalm: somehow i'm not reassured  Finn: i hope i dont have to prove you wrong then.

Keva: no one is getting left behind can we just focus on getting out at all Rokka: agreed Finn: we have to accept that its within the realm of possibility. better to discuss it than act rashly in the moment.

The group decide to go with the plan of Han acting as distraction while invisible and then run like hell. As the group discusses and decides on this she stays at the top of the stairs watching the goings on in the main chamber, attempting to read their lips, staring as hard as she possibly can. She sees one of the acolytes come up to the tiefling and say something, she read the word ‘keys’ on their lips and see the tiefling sigh exasperated before shooing them off, seemingly ordering them to do something, they head back up the left staircase.

As she continues staring she suddenly sees the drow jump a little and tilt her head upwards, next to her the tiefling pauses and stares. Suddenly the tiefling becomes very flustered, she hears him shout a “w-what now?!" he babbles something else before the drow cuts him off quickly moving her hand. She watches the tiefling quickly fumble over himself trying to make himself presentable messing with his hair and dusting his robes as the drow slowly opens her eyes, all white. She blinks before her posture changes to become straighter. 

Deciding now’s the time to move into position Han notifies the group to get ready to run, she snags the quicksilver from Plum and moves across the chamber silently, heading to the entrance corridor as far back as she can. She eyeballs the drow and tiefling speaking amongst one another in hushed tones as she goes before heading as far back as she can, against the metal double doors.

> 🎵  The Final Combat / Darkest Dungeon OST.

She quickly ties the vial to the arrow and shoots it off, aiming for the centre of the blood pool structure in the middle of the chamber in an attempt to draw attention and perhaps defile the pool. The vial however makes the shot wonky and weighs it down, lopsided, the arrow sinks. Instead of the pillar in the centre it crashes into the stairs in front of it, it doesn't appear to splash into the blood pool and instead drip down the front of the stairs.

The two cultists immediately whip their heads at the structure, the tiefling shouts outloud, throwing his hands to his face. The drow turns her head, her arms folded behind her, immediately alert. She hears the tiefling babble as the two run over towards the front of the structure to inspect it.

Han stares as the drow quickly whips her white eyes in her direction down the corridor, hearing her say “we've an intruder, it came from the corridor” She immediately rounds and starts stomping down the corridor in Han’s direction, while the tiefling rushes up the stairs to stare at the mercury, thinking to himself hysterically.

The rest of the party take this as their cue to run, bolting from the right staircase down to the closest portal on their right. Rokka picks up plum to carry them a further distance.

Rokka: WHATS THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? WE DIE? LOL Psalm: useless action but psalm pulls his hood up

Han runs loudly while invisible as fast as possible, heading south she bangs past the black metal double doors leading into the corridor beyond. The drow chases for a few feet up to the door, moving to hold it open then stares at the corridor watching, as if shes waiting for something. 

As the rest of the party zip through the main chamber they see the tiefling look up his eyes widening in shock, he almost bites clean through his lip. He reaches a hand into his cloak and whips out a small book before shouting "I-NTRUDERS!" and whipping one of his hands forward in the direct of the tail end of the group, targeting Psalm, Finn and Cimmorro.

The three of them hear a sudden loud ringing sound, painfully intense, erupt in their ears staggering them briefly. Finn seems to brace against it easier than the other two. The group dont stop running however and continue moving forward as fast as possible.

Cimmorro: ouch Psalm: OUCHIE Finn: OUCHIE

Han decides to run back an extra 25 feet before knocking an arrow and aiming directing for the drow, using an ensnaring strike on the arrow in an attempt to root them. Though this actions drops her invisibility.

Psalm: why dawg i'm never using invisibility on you ever again Cimmorro: u either die a hero or u live long enough to see yourself become the villain Rokka: han will never stop being the bitch in charge

Han: IS IT SMART? I THINK IM INCHES AWAY FROM DEATH Psalm: IS IT SMART? IT'S SOMETHING Han: ITS SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Psalm: i don't think anything we've done in the latter half of this expedition is smart Rokka: before we all die anyone wanna confess they have a crush on me lol Finn: chris rokksworth i-

Rokka holding plum arrives at the door first, whipping it open he sees a clear purple aura, he regards it for a split second before diving in headfirst as the others follow one after another as fast as possible. Passing through they all feel a swimming sensation in their heads for a moment before they find themselves running directly into one another as they pile into a wall. They quickly whip their heads around, seeing that they’ve been teleported to some alley, aboveground in the city from the looks of it, in the middle of the night.

As they hurriedly contemplate their location, Han gets the arrow off striking the drow in the shoulder, she sees her whip her hand up quickly to catch it, grabbing it she seems to stem the damage but it still strikes her. Before she can react the ensnaring strike bursts off of it, spiked vines and thorns quickly wrapping around her rooting her to the spot.

She grunts with effort shooting Han a look with her white eyes. Behind her Han faintly hears the tiefling yell 

Bravk: “AHHH, y-y-y-your grace i couldn't-stop them they b-burst through the right portal-!” He quickly scampers down the stairs dodging the quicksilver dripping down the front, skidding around to face the corridor with the door. Ida (Theyord): The drow stares at you han, and flexes her arms but doesn't seem to break free from the bindings, she shoots you a look “Hmm, good to see you all again, your friends ought to have stuck around though.”

Han flips her off sticking out her tougne and runs as far down the corridor as she possibly can dashing off in the opposite direction as the drow watches, she gives a laugh before saying something outloud to to tiefling behind her.

Ida (Theyord): “I only came for a quick look, but this ended up much more entertaining.” she flexes again breaking free from the vines holds. Before calling out “Bravk, ignore the rest they'll be spotted quickly aboveground” before she runs at full speed towards with with an inhuman speed. Getting nice and close. Bravk: The tiefling quickly flusters before running over towards the portal door “r-right” he slams it shut and traces his fingers across the wood, muttering something outloud.

Up close and personal again, Han stops running and whips out her glaive deciding to strike at the drow, once again successfully ensnaring her to the spot with vines. She's bleeds clearly now from her right shoulder, dripping onto the floor. Han quick runs backwards again preparing herself.

Ida (Theyord): The drow stares at you again, she grunts frustrated “-do you only know one trick?” she flexes her arms and tries to break the hold again. She squints her clear white eyes pausing “tch, I’ve no time to play with you now of all times accomplice.You shall fail finding me until it is too late, til then” You watch as her eyes close while she stands in the hold of the vines, her body suddenly going entirely slack. Han: THEY CAN JUST HOP BODIES AUAUAGEHEJSGHFR 😂😂😂😂😂BITCH WHAT THR FUCK

Down the corridor Han listens hearing the distant sounds of commotion and shouting, she quickly pulls out a torch and lights it, sticking into the mass of vines, setting the now unconscious drow aflame before running out as fast as she possibly can. As she goes she chants something to herself "as the blood is the power, and the blood flows through me, the power is mine" 

Plum: just gassing herself up

Cimmorro: https://twitter.com/rihanna/status/164587590828298241

In the meantime party aboveground look around attempting to figure where they are exactly, as they do Cimmorro quickly offers Psalm a heal before chugging a potion for himself.

Cimmorro: just fucking slaps my hand on psalm like yeah brother (+5 hp) Psalm: .. thanks i think Cimmorro: give me a break that charismatic guy blew up my eardrums Psalm: i'm just messing, you're worse off than me though at the moment, might want to do something about that Cimmorro: yeah im about to. dont worry tho i wont die that easily

Whipping their eyes around, the group don't recognise much aside from the fact that they’re somewhere in the city. Finn however immediately realises that they’ve been dumped somewhere within the government ward. The upper end district of the city, he knows his way around here after time past spent walking around with Vorde and skulking about with Orin. They quickly discuss their actions while they look at their surroundings.

Keva: what about han? she wont know how to get here Rokka: we have to find her Psalm: well, we were planning on heading back regardless, and she should still be invisible... don't think an hour's passed yet. Rokka: thats...good to know.. 

Plum: we don't know if that guy's gonna come after us, so we better get moving. I'm not too keen on the idea of going back while cimm and psalm are bleeding out their mouths though Psalm: i'll be honest, i don't think we have the time to worry about han right now, whether or not she can find the base isn't a major concern. We can decide what to do after we find somewhere to hide, and i don't think splitting up is the best idea either. Rokka: rokka kind of grunts a response mostly expressing his concern for han's safety

Finn: finn turns to rokka and keva "this is why I wanted to discuss the scenario of someone falling behind. whatever shall we do now hm? I'm sure you two have a good plan on hand already"  I don't have it on me but finn would look like sandalphon when he has that bastard smirk Rokka:  "i dont............ unu" ears r down its sad town Cimmorro: cimms just like this the whole time 😐 Keva: keva bristles "try that one again" Psalm: psalm steps in front of rokka and frowns @ finn "can we save the infighting for after we leave this alley, maybe?" Plum: yeah can we be dumb fucks some other time Finn: finn snorts at that and shakes his head. "whatever." and begins to lead the way to base  Rokka: damn finn said ive had enough of this circus Cimmorro: dont blame clowns for doing their job ask your self why u are in the circus instead

The group follow Finn’s lead as stealthily as they can, the district appears to be on high alert. Down every street they spot a set of royal guards patrolling about, no doubt this would be more difficult were Finn not with them. The jovial feeling of the ward has died down since the evening they were all here, though the buildings around here still look large and intimidating.

They head down a few side streets before Finn stops in front of a large stone building, it stands about 5 stories high. There's a stone fenced garden at the far end, trees and hedges peppering the grounds, as well as a small pool of water in its centre. It appears the back of the building has small balconies from its rooms overlooking the view.

Finn knows that one of the rightmost rooms close to the stone wall of the garden is where Vorde and his rooms are. He relays this info to the others stating that theyll need to climb their way up. It shouldn't be too difficult for the others as his balcony is within reachable distance of the top of the stone fence.

Cimmorro: im gonna break my hip

The group make their way up scaling the fence, Cimmorro and Psalm teeter uneasily on the way but Rokka carefully steadies them as they go behind them. Making their way onto the balcony one by one they quickly move further in to obscure themselves from view from the ground. The group sidle against the large curtained windows and to the glass balcony door, giving the handles a shake, they appear locked.

Finn unlocks it with a key easily enough. He clicks the door open and everyone quickly wanders inside, peering about they find themselves in a large sitting room of sorts, somewhat fancy looking lounges and furniture lining the interior, a shiny clean floor under their feet. As they turn your heads they suddenly see a figure in their peripheral vision, quickly they recognise it as Orin, holding a dagger up ready to strike before he recognition flashes in his eyes.

Orin: He quickly drops the weapon and heaves a deep sigh “oh yeesh, you guys scared the daylights out of me, you sure came back quick huh master finn” he rolls his shoulders and gives you a smile as he sees you as well Keva. He seems to mentally count you all up in his head as he observes you... 

The party split for the moment, the night ebbs on with the close call pounding in the back of the groups minds.

SESSION 18 - 2/23 🗨🛁

> 🎵  (Yume Nikki) Ghost Town -Downtempo Remix / Jessica Robbins.

We pick back up following the parties escape from the Letterheads’ barracks. Han having dashed out, sneaks her way back through the corridors and rooms to the initial cave tunnel the group entered the base from. 

On her way back through she notes that it appears the rooms are as the party left them, but the magics and traps have all been disabled. This allows her to trek back through easily enough until shes finally in the tunnels once more. Back out at the cave she stands near the water, quickly spotting the boat where the party left it, strange to her though are the series of large crates now piled up next to it.

She spots about 4-5 of them, the height of Plum and about twice as long, they seem nailed and boarded shut. She pulls out a crowbar, cracking one of the crates open to investigate. Inside, similarly to what they saw in the letterheads base, are large white sacks. Some appear to be stained with blood at either end, she also spots a few mundane trinkets among the bags, a locket shines in the dim lamplight as well as what looks like a torn set of prayer beads. She grabs a couple before hopping on the boat, beginning her effort to row her way out of the cove.

The rest of the group peer about the large sitting room they’ve just wandered into, Orin standing close by gives them all a sympathetic once over, before quickly moving to shut the balcony doors behind the group and draw the curtains. The group quickly shuffle in and sit down around the room on the lounges.

Cimmorro: cimm's just gonna find a spot and stay like this for a while

Keva: upon looking at her orin can immediately tell that keva is upset abt smth Plum: is keva visibly upset Keva: ya her face has not, unscrunched since the brief convo with finn Plum: i just roll my eyes at her

Orin: “You guys look terrible, you oughta sit down” he walks off to a small dining table on the far end of the room to grab something.  Finn: finn follows him Chip: [pictures finn as a cat]

Finn: orin wheres my uncle? i need to speak to him. its urgent. Orin: you watch orin grab a jug of water and walk over to the lounges “Boss man- er, Boss Vorde’s out right now, told me stay behind to keep watch in case we have any more unfortunate break ins” he kinda winces as he says that “I think he went out to see if he could find any trace of that wizard your big friend brought up, should be back pretty soon i think" he places the jug on the end tables in front of where you've taken your seats, he shoots a :( glance at you keva Finn: finn just sighs and covers his face with his hand. then he looks at orin. "no need to be so formal with me orin. i told you before. i trust nothings happened in our absence?” Orin: he kinda scratches his neck "y-yeah i guess sorry. And no its been pretty quiet over here for the moment"  Finn: "i see. thank you orin." just. leans against a wall or smth

The group take the moment to scrutinise the room somewhat, though Plum and Psalm fail to notice much, the former getting an eyelash in their eye and the latter feeling woozy from blood loss. 

The rest of the party glance around the room, they can tell this is the living area, a set of plush lounges and end tables are strewn about near a fireplace. A small dining table is positioned in the back, the various tables are littered with books and papers, though neatly stacked. 

There are a few doors off to the sides leading out of the room and a large set of double doors at the other end of the room. They assume that's the main entrance to this area. The fireplace currently sits slowly burning, and a lit lantern sits upon the dining table. 

Orin: he keeps staring at keva "find something worse than expected?" Keva: i look at orin but i don't respond, and i'm gonna try going into one of the doors leading out of the room Plum: is there somewhere we can rest until we come up with a sort of plan to go get han Orin: as you walk to a door you hear orin kinda go "ah- uh head into the left one if you want to rest" he turns to you plum "uhh yeah one of you can take my bed, and finn's unless he is going to be using it? i can bring out some bedding for the rest of you, hopefully the lounges are alright?"

Plum: what about......... a bath Psalm: Is now really the time? Orin: he raises a hand to point at a door plum Plum: well im not hearing any other ideas, you're dying unless you want to go trekking around the city like that. I'm just saying we can rest up now that we're here so whatever we do next doesn't kill us Finn: i will await my uncles return. until then my bed is ... available i suppose Psalm: I guess we have no choice but to wait for him then. Getting spit out above ground wasn't what I was expecting. Plum:  i was expecting us to enter into some kinda weird dimension, but this makes sense,  wonder where the other doors go Psalm: We can always go back and check. Plum: sure lead the way Psalm: ha

Walking off into the sideroom, Keva looks about noting that it appears to be a bedroom with two beds, near the foot of one of the messier ones she see a brown bag on the ground, and what looks like the brown cloak orin wears bundled up. The other bed looks slightly less used, leaned against a wall near it looks like a large brown wooden box, tall. there doesn't appear to be any windows in here. 

She takes a seat on the messier looking bed and roots around in the bag seeing whats inside, actively trying to breathe slower to calm down as she does.

It seems mostly filled with essentials like water and rations, some spare clothes and oil to clean a sword. She sees the symbol of the Barvottes he usually has clasped on his cloak inside as well. She notes a few little trinkets inside, a worn looking deck of cards and a set of matches with a curious looking design of a black cat on its front. She takes the deck of cards, putting the bag back, and leans back against the wall shuffling the cards mindlessly while listening in on the chatter in the main room, the door ajar.

Rokka’s ears perk up over Plum and Psalms conversation, though they tell him that they're sure Han is fine, theres no point rushing back in if they dont have a plan. Plum also hands Pslam back his mason jar since they didn't get a chance to use it to grab some of the blood.

Psalm: oh well, not sure if that's a bad thing, but alright Plum: woulda been some good evidence >:-/ Psalm: i think the best evidence we could probably get is taking a few hostages 🤔 Plum: that seems a bit difficult to go about doing now

Finn: i just like kind of tug him (Orin) aside a bit and speak quietly. "would you be so kind as to prepare my coffin? maybe you can align it next to your bed or wherever else it fits in the room." I DONT WANNA SLEEP IN THE CORNER... ALL ALONE Psalm: 

Orin: “oh yeah sure master finn" he gives you a reassuring pat on the shoulder and heads off to the room

As he walks in, Keva turns up and sees him leaving the door open behind him.

Orin: seeing you he musters a sunny smile while walking over to the large brown box. He shoots a glance down to the cards in your hand and laughs "picking through my stuff again already?" he starts moving the box.

As the group continue speaking amongst one another Han continues making her way belowground. The tunnels around her glow in the lamplight, looking wet and mossy. The sound of the water echoes around her as she rows through the cavernous tunnels at a below average pace.

In about the the same amount of time it took the party above to get to Finn's place, she seems to finally make her way back to the towering cavern of the Withered Bone and onto the cove lake. The sounds of creaky wood in the distance and hushed conversations fills her ears as the small dots of the light in the distance come close.

She rows her way back to the pier that the group first got the boat from, coming close she soon spies the same dwarf, Bren, still seated on that barrel, his gaze half on a book and half on an elf standing next to him. Han soon recognises the elf as the goonie Psalm messed with back at Rickert’s, Henrick. He looks to be sighing about something and scratching his head, he looks over at Han once she bumps up against the pier, before shuffling to stand behind Bren's barrel nervously

Han: han takes a sec to wash the blood of her hands and stuff and jumps up to the pier and just goes "brought your boat back" and walks off Bren: he waves you off "hope you didnt eat the rest of your friends haha" as he says that henrick eyeballs you as you go nervously.

Han decides her next order of business is to head back to the Dark Blues’ main storefront to make some purchases. She makes her way to the busier looking docks area, also seeing if she can spot any other obvious shops on the way. She is largely unsuccessful in her roving, she gets the sense most people down here like to keep their work on the down low, hard to find unless you know where and what you’re looking for.

> 🎵  Tristram Village / Diablo OST.

Soon she spots the same familiar looking wooden building and the large tented area attached to it. She pokes her head inside the tent, seeing the familiar looking interior. Nickel once again appears sitting at his rickety looking desk piled high with paraphernalia. Crates and an assortment of bundles of strange items lie stored around and hanging around him on shelves, a lantern swinging nearby lighting the room from a wooden pole.

Nickel: He looks up as you enter and kicks his feet off the desk “Hello hello what can i do for y-” he pauses a beat “ahhh back already? Do love us some repeat customers, maybe i'll start offering your little group a discount for being so loyal” and he chuckles, standing up. “Not with them this time? Han: han musters a smile "ran into some trouble. and sadly i wont be buying anything, but i wanted to ask for future...  would you happen to have oil?” Nickel: "hmm well that's unfortunate" after he says that you hear a bump behind his rickety desk. You see him shoot a glance behind him before saying “Friend of yours just came by Sammy, should i be thanking you for this windfall of good fortune?” Sammy: You hear a grunting sound before a head peaks itself up from behind the desk, Sammy’s face staring at you all brows furrowed. He mutters an ‘augh…’ before sliding back down behind the desk, Nickel: he barks a laugh in reaction before turning back to you "plenty of oil madam, what kind are you looking for? want me to reserve something for you?" Han: i lean over the counter to check out sammy and "i need something that burns well, or something i can throw easily that explodes in fire.. i dont have money to pay right now though, but hopefully later... i wouldnt take your stock without paying" Sammy: sammy looks at u like >: | as you stare at him 

Han ends up purchasing a bundle of arrows and few flasks of oil, she then bids the two adieu and heads out, Renny’s bar her next destination.

Nickel: nickel gives you a cheery wave as you go "come back with your friends next time!" you hear sammy grumble in the background. Slowly as you walk off you hear nickel say "not that bad for business are you huh?"

> 🎵  Null Moon / Silent Hill 2 OST.

Cutting back to the group aboveground Finn sits and asks the group if they've any plans on what to do next so far to which they reply with a resounding ‘not really’. They decide aimlessly wandering around looking for Han would be somewhat pointless as they aren’t all that familiar with the city in the first place. They also ponder if going back and nuking the hideout would be a good idea before alerting the authorities, though they wonder if the traps would be reset when they return. Cimmorro also offers up the idea of moving around the city in disguises should they decide that’s what they want to do.

Finn: finn gives a laugh "we wont make the same mistake as to give psalms or my blood again at least." Plum: I AGREE. I'LL OFFER UP MINE. Psalm: well now that you know all my tricks i'm sure you can take me in a fight, right? Plum: fuck no

Psalm: oh but regarding han, i honestly think that if she manages to get out, she won't get too far. Well let me not be pessimistic, WHEN she manages to get out Plum: i mean she's huge, i feel like someone would spot her Psalm: 🤔 Rokka: rokka squirms @ psalm's comment Plum: i'm sure she's fine rokka

The group briefly consider where she might head, Finn bringing up Sammy’s place as perhaps a good place to hide out. If need be they could charm him or bribe him to keep quiet about their presence. Plum wonders if they should tell him about the extent of the situation if they seem him again.

Plum: if i were him i'd just want to know is all Psalm: i wouldn't Plum: you already seem haunted, i get it Psalm: “maybe ask first before dumping it on him" psalm just frowns and sighs Plum: i wouldn't just dump that on someone, c'mon Psalm: colour me surprised Plum: yeah yeah tact's not my thing blah blah Psalm: i never said anything 🤐

Finn: back to our plan.... lets say han made it out, yes? then i bet shes already devising a strategy. or at least has an idea. i haven't known you all for as long but she seemed to have it together in the hideout at least. thats not enough to rely on but... Plum: i feel like she made it out, i'm sure if she doesn't we'll hear about it anyways and then... do we bust her out? to be honest i'm not sure what the conditions of this group really are Psalm: conditions? Plum: i mean... we're not working together out of any sense of camaraderie but because we have to right? Psalm: regardless, it would be in bad form to not help her out after she stayed behind to help us. I'm sure everyone here agrees with that at least. Cimmorro: absolutely Finn: [finn nods]

Plum: i'm not saying we should leave her. i'm just wondering what yall think about this situation. i mean i'd definitely go help her, but it feels like we have no logical obligation to, i just wanted to make it clear...... that i don't really care about that kind of stuff Finn: if you're saying you'd go help her, then its pointless to discuss the logical aspect. we're all in agreement. Plum: i'm only discussing it because i didn't know where y'all stood until i brought it up Finn: my bad Plum: no it's okay ?_? that's why i want us to have a team meeting when han gets back. i feel like we're going to keep having useless misunderstandings if we're not all working on the same page Rokka: that makes sense...I wouldn't want to have another incident like this again Finn: “yeah. sounds good to me." plum won the discourse

In the other room Keva continues chatting with Orin as he moves Finn’s coffin for him, keeping an ear on the conversation going on in the sitting room the others are in.

Keva: i soften a bit and give a tiny smile for a moment "what do you have to hide from me?" Orin: "true enough i guess, who knows maybe you've completely changed in the past month. You might have randomly starting loving the taste of oranges" he lays the box down on the ground and starts sliding it across the ground closer to you keva with a huff 

She asks him briefly while he moves the coffin if he knows any entrances to the withered bone from here since they're currently missing Han, he replies that he knows of one in this ward and the business district.

Orin: he shoots a quick glance as you speak "yeah yknow i was gonna ask about that but the mood felt a little tense as you came in." he finally slides the lid off with a thunk, inside you see a plush interior belying the somewhat rickety looking wooden exterior, he steps up and moves to a nearby closet "itd be easier for me to show you, though master finn knows the same entrances. its pretty close to here"  Keva: keva presses her lips together at his wanting to ask comment and sighs. "had to leave without her, with the way things were going. she should be fine but," keva watches orin for a bit in silence as she thinks, starting to bite at her nails a bit before realising and stopping. "....did it bother you at all? when i just, left? or, i guess, does it bother you"  Orin: he turns back to you as you say that and he furrows his brow "...right" and sighs grabbing a blanket from the closet before walking back over to the open box, he turns his head up to you as he crouches on the ground "...the last time we spoke? or you mean uh.." he scratches at the scar on his arm a little "if its the latter then. no. you did what i told you to do, im sure if you stuck around you'd also have...and i wouldn't even be able to talk to you right now.." he gives you a sad smile 

Psalm: (continuing off the groups current conversation) “-eh, that's true in one way or another we keep getting stuck with each other so it's worth discussing that in the greater scheme of things” psalm says loudly "Keva are you listening? We're having a team meeting whether you like it or not." Orin: orin turns his head as you say that psalm and snorts at you when he looks back to you keva Keva: "mm." she twists her lips in a sort of weak smile "still feels pretty shitty though." she looks down at the cards as she shuffles again "and i did it again. she's fucking annoying but, she got us out of there. not that we had much of a choice but. doesn't feel good" @ psalm interrupting their convo she rolls her eyes and calls out "do whatever you want" Plum: she's the one who i wanted to talk to anyways Psalm: oh really? what for Plum: because she keeps fucking stealing from me

Finn: finn thinking about the fact that shes in his and orins room rn 😐

Plum:-especially because UNFORTUNATELY i have to trust you guys to some extent and i haven't known you for very long. not personal by the way Psalm: none taken if i had it my way i'd have left shorewater a long time ago but alas, here we are Plum: me too

Rokka: you don't have to worry about me taking your things plum Plum: "wow thanks" [sounds really dry but they mean it genuinely]

Orin: he shakes his head at your comment keva and finishes arranging the box below him "then you'll just have to find her again like you did me right? got a good record going so far, 100 percent success rate in fact" he stands to his feet and turns to the open door calling out "master finn the coffin's all ready for ya'" he stretches a little and looks at you keva "wanna stay in here and shout things between the rooms or head over there? Finn: finn rolls his eyes at orin still calling him master finn but smiles Cimmorro: yall really just yelling at this time of night Han: cimm clocked OUT Psalm: we had er, matters to discuss. Finn: my apologies

Keva: keva lets a real smile crack and kicks orin playfully. "yeah yeah" as she gets up and hands him the deck she says "i don't know if i said it last time or if i was too busy beating you up, but i'm glad you're still kicking. i know i said i thought you were dead, but i hoped." and i jokingly go for a punch in the gut "you never let me down" and then i join the others Orin: he holds the deck and smiles until you punch him in the gut and goes oof, overreacting dramatically "dont put me on too high a pedestal now dear madam keva!" laughing he walks out with you and goes to idly stand next to finn, he starts shuffling the cards out of habit. Psalm: psalm just watching orin like 👁👁 just cuz

The group decide to idly keep chatting while eating some of the food in the room, soon after Plum moves to get up and head to the bath and clean themselves up. Though they quickly come back out of the bathroom however to find a stool so they can actually get into the bathtub once the waters drawn.

Cimmorro: cimm holds plum up like baby simba then dumps them into the bath

In the meantime Han belowground makes her way across the withered bone over to Renny's, hiding between the shadows and the buildings, the bar eventually comes into view in front of her looking as rickety as it usually does. There she see a figure crouched down on the ground outside of it in the dark. She squints at them quickly recognising that its ol' boss Vorde. 

Though he’s somewhat differently dressed, he wears darker clothes and his cape seems to have a hood now, He carries a satchel over his shoulder and she notices a sheathed sword buckled to his belt. He seems to be examining the ground, Han strolls over and knocks on the building walls to get his attention.

Vorde: he looks up at you as you knock, crouched on the ground still “Thought that might be one of you. Not alot of people with your silhouette madam" he stands dusting himself off "I was out investigating the trail your wizard charge left, tracked him to a small run down building but i think he's gone back aboveground for some reason..” he thinks to himself “you said he had others with him? I think he went alone judging by the footprints” Han: "yea, this would be where we last saw him, actually" han looks genuinely impressed ;LKASDLKF Vorde: he turns back to you changing the subject for the moment “might I inquire into my nephew's whereabouts?”  Han: your nephew is (waves hands around) hopefully somewhere above ground, frankly we're kinda fucked" finger guns at him

Han tries to also examine the ground vorde was staring at but cant make out much... she assumes Vorde has some good peeprs on him, she also confirms that Vinny did have people with him when he and the party split.

Vorde: he folds his arms, squinting when you mention finn's whereabouts and furrows his brows staring at you "it would nice if you could elaborate, though if hes aboveground hes most likely gone back to our base of operations. I was going to head there soon myself. I dont appreciate the sound of the hopefully there miss han"

Han explains the portal deal and how the party split, softening Vordes’ glare ever so slightly. He decides to head back aboveground, asking her to follow him, as he does he hands her cap to use to disguise herself once they reach the surface. Han begins detailing what they saw on their way up and through the tunnels and the sewers, being careful to not say names in case someone is watching them.

Vorde: he keeps quietly mostly making hmm sounds. He seems to be mulling it all over. Psalm: like snake

Eventually the two make it out into the sewers, Vorde leads her through and up to a grate, he realises its locked when he attempts to open it however and sighs. Han offers to bust it open, pulling out her crowbar again it snaps easily, she manages to keep the sound to a minimum as well, Vorde next to her looks pleased.

Han: all i wanted, daddys approval

Back in the room with the group Psalm gets about to reading and making copies of what exactly is inside the tome they took from the Letterheads base. As he does Plum gets out of the bath and joins the conversation, Cimmorro hoping in right after them. 

It seems he was right in his assumption earlier about it being filled with the runes of the enchantments, he recognises most of them visually from the various places they were littered about in there. He gets the sense that someone who could read the arcane and write spells might be able to reverse engineer the effects of the runes given enough time with this.

He continues flipping through until he reaches to the end, there hes sees a number of other parchments stuck inside. Pulling them out and reading he finds a list of names and locations scribbled out with the word unsuitable scrawled next to them, they seem to be the names of storefronts? The one at the bottom of the list is circled, ‘Fey Luxuries - Carter. S’

Keva: i look on curiously even tho i have no idea what any of it says Orin: as you peer over orin does as well, shuffling over to you, he mumbles a little "....you can read it?" confused Keva: i make a face and shake my head a bit to say, i don't know a fucking thing my guy

The group confer on where they’e heard the name before, realising Shelly Carter was the name of one of Vinny’s colleagues at the ball, her store is also named Fey Luxuries. Cimmorro now done with his bath hops out and joins the conversation and sees if he can help with recognising any of the people or stores listed in the book.

Finn: "yeah we heard of shelly she was in the fashion magazine psalm and i got hired for-" Psalm: ooh that's why i've heard of her. makes sense now Cimmorro: the simulation

Cimmorro: i gotta shower good if i gotta fuck Finn: are you going to fuck my uncle cimmorro 😐 Cimmoro: KLFJASDKLVKLDSBSFBS??? Finn: WHO ELSE YOU GETTING READY FOR- Chip: GOD Finn: OH OKAY Cimmorro: YOU THINK I’D FUCK ANYONE IN THIS ROOM begone devil Finn: VORDE ISNT IN THE ROOM Psalm: oh jude is right about that one actually vorde aint here LOL

The group dont see Vinny’s store listed in the scrawlings, what they do gather is that it seems all the stores listed were ones located in the Arcane District of the city. Psalm asks Orin if theres any news on the ball-goers or Shelly’s whereabouts since the ball.

Orin: he hmms wheres hes standing "last news we learned is that most of the ball-goers were kept back at the palace and questioned before they were allowed to leave. Far as i know miss Carter should have gone back to her shop recently." he scratches his chin and takes a seat next to Finn "Theres been alot of goings on the past two days, i think the archmage has also returned to the city, they've blocked off travel between the districts and outside, Vorde said that's only possible if she's here to cast the enchantments."

The group wonder if they should pay her a visit as their next course of action, considering it some kind of lead for the moment.

Cimmorro: vampire boy, do you guys have anything we can use to prepare disguises with here? Plum: do you not remember his name or something? it's finn Cimmorro: after everything today? i really don't want to think how i got associated with any of you at all frankly i'm just going with this Finn: finn looks perplexed at the odd way hes being addressed “ with that attitude, feel free to look around church boy” Plum: wow like the rest of us! I love almost dying every day personally Cimmorro: oh totally it's like a HUGE hobby of mine. we have so much in common Rokka: are we using code names now? Plum: no cimmorro is being grumpy Keva: keva looks at orin like look at this shit i've had to deal with Orin: as you look over at orin he seems distracted looking at the funky mouse in your hands Psalm: psalm just like yall done being children now? anyways

They discuss the possibilities of preparing disguises if they're to roam about aboveground. In the meantime Vorde and Han move to head out onto the street, Vorde moves first climbing up through the grate before casting a spell on himself to become disguised, his appearance completely alters to that of a younger man with short cropped brown hair, wearing a clean looking cloak and suit. He pauses and waits for Han as she climbs out.

Slapping the hat on she changes her appearance to that of a half orc fighter in an attempt to look like his bodyguard of sorts. Satisfied Vorde walks off leading the way with Han trailing close behind.

Vorde: "follow close now, the guards are patrolling and we'll still look a little strange if we loiter around in the middle of the night, they've upped the amount of patrols since the assassination"  he leads the way walking down the darkened streets Han: han follows suit and regards vordes illusionary form for a sec and goes "i dont think you answered this last time, but what is your trouble with those red guys" Vorde: vorde walks with his hands clasped behind his back, he looks over at you "hmm, its not a personal grudge if thats what you're wondering. Though ive a great distaste for their actions and deeds the more i learn of them." He pauses a moment as you keep walking, thinking “My family back in Antessa enjoy...meddling in affairs is the way to put it i suppose. I was tasked by them to look into the group after they learned of something nefarious brewing here" he grimaces "and eradicate them. i cannot openly go against them so that is what i am doing, your group was involved quite heavily in the on goings. it seemed prudent to offer you a hand in exchange for a job later" he continues walking Han: "... i suppose that is nice purpose, even if you are forced" Vorde:  he stares ahead with a grimace "....if you want to look at it that way i suppose...." he finally seems to stop walking in front of a large stone building "we've arrived then”

Finn: VORDE TIME VORDE TIME V HZDFBGSJKLDMSGFLKDSFMGDFSG 🥺 Psalm: OMFG Cimmoro: no 1 fanboy

After seeing if the coast is clear, Vorde leads the two of them into the building. They shuffle through what looks like a fancy looking lobby and up a set of stone spiral stairs to the second floor. He continues walking down a stone corridor past numerous sets of double doors, turning once before stopping. He twists his hand and drops the spell over him and tells Han she may do so as well before pulling out a set of keys and unlocking the door.

> 🎵  Pianissimo Epilogue / Silent Hill 2 OST.

The rest of the group hear footsteps outside and then the sound of the door’s lock being opened up, Orin gets up and stand to attention seeing Vorde followed by Han stroll in through the doors. Han whips off her hat immediately.

Cimmorro: https://tenor.com/view/toystory-woody-fabulous-fab-gif-4551129

Han: oh! you lot made it out alive! Cimmorro: OH HAN Plum: YOU’RE ALIVE! Psalm: same to you Han: duh im alive Plum: duh Keva: keva lets a out a sigh of relief Finn: Han! Uncle! Rokka: rokka rushes over to han and gives her a tight hug "YOU MADE IT OUT!! THANK GOODNESS i WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU"  Cimmorro: i instantly check up on han if she has any visible injuries "are you good, you big oaf??" Han: im unkillable duh Plum: yeah i believe it 😳

Han:  HAN GIVES ROKKA A HUG BACK BTW its less energetic but still Firm.......

Orin: as you all speak with han, vorde continues walking further into the room, stopping by the dining table. Orin jogs over to him "boss vorde welcome back! things go alright?" Vorde: he hmms while removing his cloak and satchel "no setbacks i suppose, i see the rest have found their way here as well then" he turns his head over to you Finn "hello Finnian, i am glad you appear unharmed" Finn: finn cant help but smile more than he wants to and nods. "it is as you say uncle. i'm fine. im relieved that you appear to be as well." Cimmorro: finn is more harmed emotionally and mentally after spending his first day with us (editors note:its been more than one day)

Vorde: vordes : | turns up like one pixel at each end into a barely noticeable smile Finn and Cimm: (do we percieve it) Chip: @ finn - you know this man...u know hes smilin... @ cimm  you think....he smiled.....but perhaps it was just a trick of the light............ Cimmorro: i whisper to the rest of the group "i think that man has emotions" Plum: "ew" [plum is jk]

Finn inquires if Han told him of the groups findings on the way over to which Vorde nods that she did. As he walks over Orin grabs his deposited bag and cloak and moves to place them in another room. 

Vorde: "I admit I'm surprised, i expected it to be smaller, an outpost if anything, but it appears you walked into their base of operations. I am impressed you made it out with your wits about you" he looks at the work you've been doing psalm with the tome "-with evidence no less, hmm" 

Orin ambles back over and takes his seat next to finn once more as the party deposit the evidence they've gathered onto the low end table in front of them. 

> 4 knives, one of the metal rods used for branding, the other 3 vials, 4 letterhead tokens and the red tome. 

Psalm informs Vorde of Shelly’s name being in the book, Finn also brings up the blood in the pool and that while they weren't able to bring any back he tasted it, feeling the blood of many and it being enchanted.

Cimmorro: finn deadass be like [offers blood on an unknown altar without question] cimm called me smelly i will never forgive Finn: UINFDIUFDG;OGDF;GDF cimmorros whole attitude is so clownish. the things that come out of his mouth. Cimmorro: ill be honest with yall i dont remember anything cimms says afterwards so whatever sticks in your heads is really funny to me bc he really just haunts yall

Rokka: sitting in quiet and hearing nothing but chip typing nonstop https://tenor.com/view/awkward-stare-dog-stare-dogbrows-funny-gif-12521793

Vorde examines the items with interest. He picks up the knives and looks them over one by one, he seems to be weighing them in his hands. He tells Keva he’s not sure the knives are coated in poison just yet. When holding the last one he hmms and shakes it slightly. He flips it upside down examining it before clicking something, opening the bottom. 

Vorde: “This is how they apply the poison. There's a chamber here that leaks it on the blade.The other two were empty” he puts it down looking back up '' I'm not too sure I'm able to identify it myself however.”

He turns to Finn as he speaks of drinking from the pool, while looking over the vials and the poker. 

Vorde: His eyes widen a fraction “you drank from it?” he thinks for a moment “enchanted blood fits with the devil worship, i assume whoever it as the other end of their enchantments draws power from it and uses it as they wish.” You can tell he has become slightly worried but he continues speaking “The poker is no doubt what they use to brand people, living and dead. I cannot read the runes upon the metal but there is also infernal, I do not think whatever power is in the brands effects the living” Finn: you dont think its gonna affect me or anything...right? i just wanted to discern whether it was truly human blood or not... you know me uncle. i wouldnt... Vorde: he looks over at you "...i dont think so but perhaps drinking it was somewhat unnecessary, try and bottle some next time you come across something like this. Id rather you not accidentally suffer from something"

He lifts up one of the knives again and looks at the group telling them that the knives in question can be laced with poison but also enchanted. He points out that the runes are much smaller however, he assumes It must be an attempt to be covert, thinking back to blood. He posits the theory that something activates when the weapon is stabbed into someone, perhaps the poison is a distraction from its main purpose before he sets it down again.

He asks the party if any of them can identify the contents of the vials while Orin remarks on the amount of tokens the group all snagged while roaming about. Plum takes the opportunity to grab the vials and begin ritual casting identify on them while the group continue speaking.

Plum: i said im identifying the potions by tasting them which i am putting in my lore without chip's express permission

He then listens to Psalm remark on the contents of the tome, he leans forward and uncrosses his legs, clasping his hands together.

Vorde: “so we have proof and records of the infernal runes they use? That is better news than I could have expected” he eyes them “If we have an arcane practitioner look them over we may be able to use this to destroy the enchantments. But it is mostly good as evidence as well, proof of the cults activities. Excellent.”  he turns back to you psalm “you said a list of storefronts? They may be staking out an external location for some purpose, a place to use to enhance the magic they were already using. Han spoke to me of things she overhead the cultists saying.” his face looks graver than usual “by the looks of things we have a limited amount of time to find Theyord, or Ansam as he was previously known” he taps his finger on his leg Keva: vinny probably would be able to read them. did you happen to find him? Vorde: i did not find him no, but i know he has gone aboveground again. The others with him did not go with him from what i could discern Orin: Orin pipes up after him "Oh boss Vorde, ya' said something about the city before you left didnt you? what came of it?" Vorde: Vorde looks over at him and continues "yes, with the return of the archmage and the sectioning off of the city it seems residents about are agitated, they cannot come and go and exports and imports are being heavily monitored" he taps his finger again on his knee again Keva: huh. where would ezra and cole go even?

Psalm takes the moment to look over the rod and knives, reading the infernal carved amongst the runes to see if he can get some idea of what the enchantments do. From what he can read from the infernal on the rod vorde seems to be right, the writing speak of something about raising the dead. The knives are a bit harder to read but he manages to discern the words "puppet" and "mind"

Psalm: 0__0) < after reading it Keva: keva raises an eyebrow @ psalm Psalm: >perhaps the poison is a distraction from its main purpose 🤔

Han:  ......... oh lol

Psalm expresses the thought that perhaps Vinny is now currently under Theyord’s control, hence his sudden disappearance, citing the knife as the item that allows for the group to control people.

Cimmorro: theyord making him streak naked out there Han: HADS;KLKHHFKLWESGGFH Finn: hmm theyord stab me and control my mind 😳 Rokka: not vinny!!

Keva: they stabbed a cleric of the church of heiron or whatever too Finn: NOOO GINTAMA

The group remember the other stabbing victims mentioned at the ball, Panaver Silversoul of the Hieron Church, The Mayor Augustus Harrin and a member of the city’s merchant guild. The wonder if its all the more important for them to pay a visit to Shelly now as well. 

Vorde also brings up the subject of Vinny’s being scryed upon, stating that if it was the wizard the Berryl Accord sent, that should she scry on him again she may ascertain something about the red letterheads. If he has been compromised then the royalty may soon catch onto the cult as well, but he isnt sure if they can wait around for that possibility. 

The group then discuss if they should go to the guards and government first with the information they have or head to Shelly’s storefront first.

Vorde: “I was going to speak with the guards and request an audience once you had all returned with the assumption youd bring with you said evidence. and you have." he stands and begins pacing behind the armchair slowly "bringing you with me would be a good excuse to get close quickly but it is not entirely necessary with the information i now have. I may even be able to convince the mage to scry again on this Vinny as proof."

He stops "Unless you've something further you wish to investigate, coming with me would not be a detriment i believe in this case. Either way my next plan of action is to inform the reigning dignitaries at the very least so that they may be on guard if whatever theyord has planned comes to pass. We will still be able to investigate Madame Shelly's lead after we speak with them as well"

Han: han looks worried "and you dont think they will take us were we stand if we go with?" Psalm: under his breath "that's part of why I dont want to tag along..." Rokka: me neither.. Han: vorde give us diplomatic immunity LOL Psalm: psalm's like [plum face] bc he forgot rokka had super hearing

Vorde: he looks at you "we could put up a brief farce, i tell the guards ive brought with me the supposed assassin's already bound and ask for an immediate audience. Then once i am before them the governors and royals, i can reveal the truth as it stands. At worst i imagine you will be separated from me and have a brief stay in a holding cell for a half hour. At best they cart you along with me immediately for the audience. If we approach the palace directly that may be the most likely outcome" Psalm: "if that's what you deem necessary i have no objections.” 😐 Keva: how will they know you're someone they can trust? aren't dorrin and vargonia on bad terms Finn: finn looks at keva like this [plum face] Vorde: @ keva - "what you say is true but my family was invited to the gala nonetheless. i am under the assumption the current royals are attempting to smooth the relationship between countries over. Were a bit of a lesser known noble family so perhaps they felt it might be less audacious to invite a member along, whether they're fostering this bond successfully is up for debate however" Han: han zones out of politics talk Rokka: zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Vorde: he continues "i do not doubt my ability to convince the guards to give me an audience, with the information ive at my disposal currently especially. It is hard to ignore the proof i hold"

The group decide to go ahead with Vorde’s plan of informing the guards of the cult first thing come morning tomorrow.

Han: han mutters to herself "still think we couldve killed them all there then" Cimmorro: bruh Psalm: ^_^ Rokka: idk about that.... Keva: i throw a grape at her face [ han successfully catches it in her mouth ]

After a moment of bickering about the odds of them not getting destroyed in a fight in the cult base psalm asks Vorde who the audience would be with specifically.

Vorde: watching the grape shenanigans unfold before him he sighs and folds his arm behind his back again "a plan it is then. We should leave at first light for the palace, you all ought to gather your strength in the meantime" he pushes an errant strand of hair behind his ear. "i shall go about organising all the information and evidence in the meantime" he turns his head and looks at Orin "be sure to provide them with bedding if they need it, walk downstairs and wake up reception and raid their linen closet if need be" at that Orin hops up and salutes heading over to a neaby cupboard and starts rifling through.

Vorde turns to you psalm looking visibly tired from watching the bickering "i assume the mayor, the archmage, the kings and members of local government. The guard captain as well as the royal guard will be a heavy presence in the room." 

The party grow uneasy at the mention the same mayor who was stabbed could potentially be reviewing their case. Vorde seems to take the fact in stride however. 

Han: oh lordsss i should've stayed travelling the lands Psalm: You're telling me

Vorde walks over to the dining table and grabs a few grapes while Orin piles out the sheets and blankets from the cupboard.The party watch him shuffle some papers together, before heading to the room they saw Orin deposit his items before. He informs them he shall be in his quarters for the rest of the evening should they need him before morning before heading inside.

The group yawn and stretch, Psalm decides nows as good a time as any and gets up to go take a bath as well. At the same time Plum finally finishes identifying the vials at hand. Keva gets up to help Orin spread around the bedding.

Han: describe psalm fantasy bath Psalm: poki you are detrimentally horny dawg

Cimmorro: wanna take a bath han Han: han snores pointedly Cimmorro: nods Han: ;HA;KDSFAEF

The light green one seems to be that allows the user to float above the ground for a period of time, the red one seems to tinge the drinkers hair and tongue the same colour. The dark green vial however appears to be filled with a poison commonly known as Ventra’s Rot. The same poison that Vinny had been affected with when he was stabbed at the ball. 

Despite plum’s strange identification methods the poison doesn't seem to effect them, though the red one does ever so slightly tinge their hair a faint red.

Keva: keva watches plum's hair turn a little bitty red and squints at them Plum: "what? i'm fine” [plumface] Finn: "perhaps you should seek a mirror plum..."  i try to say this as politely as i can Plum: a mirror? something happen to my face? Cimmorro: plum rn https://twitter.com/Veggiefact/status/1227638218977423365

Plum gets up and stretches before climbing up to a nearby vanity, observing their tinged hair in the mirror. They tell the others what the potions effects are and that they might be useful for disguises. In the meanwhile in the bath Psalm hears Ghester speak to him now that hes alone, Rokka listens at the door once he hears him speaking to himself but he assumes hes just singing in the bath.

Rokka: rokka chuckles to himself and mutters "how cute" so to not let psalm know I can hear him Han: LKHHKLLJGHJLKH Cimmorro: IMC RYING HJKDSHGS

Ghester: you'll be brushing up against the shoulder of royals once more hmm? an interesting development Psalm: i can't even take a bath in silence with you around huh? and it's not like i try to make a habit of buddy buddying with royalty. you could say it's just coincidence 🙂 Ghester: "youve been around others for a bit now, i missed our old chats where you'd actually respond in kind" you hear a chuckle "either way it is a rare experience, i know you love to keep to the shadows, not as fun to observe lets say" Psalm: i'm surprised me being around people's actually managed to shut you up for once, not like you to be considerate. And i'm also surprised to hear that from a literal shadow. surely you can't grudge me wanting to lay low as a wanted man can you? Ghester: he laughs again "when the moment calls for it i can be quiet, you seemed to have other things to focus on, not much my help called for" he pauses before continuing "hmmmmm begrudge you? no, you staying alive is more important, that close call back there had been dangerous, i wondered if i needed to step in" a beat "but so long as you live, its good to see all you can, our dear patron enjoys it quite a bit. the sights you see." Psalm: hmm well not to besmirch his good name but i'm not sure what there is to enjoy from that cult back there, but let me not be the one to judge his taste.

Psalm: wish i had high rolled that fucking CON SAVE PSALM TALKING A BATH AT HALF HEALTH RN Finn: damn i didnt even have to go out hunting huh psalm why didnt you say so Psalm: BRO DON'T SAY THAT

As Psalm and Ghester chat, Plum takes the free time now available to them and pulls out their Brewer’s Tools and start getting to work on concocting a mixture for alcohol. Deciding on rum they take the next 45 minutes or so whipping it together. Finn also decides now would be a good time for him to leave to grab a snack and replenish his thirst, walking out onto the balcony he spies a few birds perched in the garden and begins sneaking over.

He quietly scales a tree and grabs one, sinking his teeth in, the other birds in the tree quickly caw and fly off into the night. Inside han, cimm, keva and plum all hear the sound of birds cawing outside. Orin takes a seat next to keva and perks his head up before looking around the room 

Orin: oh right...suppose hes thirsty Plum: [no clue what orin is talking about] Cimmorro: should i be worried Orin: he looks at cimm "oh yknow the uh, vampire thing, blood and whatnot. He's as hungry as the rest of ya, doesn't like drinking from people though he usually finds a rat or something, didn't like it the last time i offered" and he rests his head on his hand Finn: ORIN?? 😳 Cimmorro: oh? Han: he offered? screams lmao Rokka: ORIN ALRIGHT ALRIGHT Psalm: ORIN YOU DOG Cimmorro: hmm first he incessantly calls you master even if u tell him it's not obligatory and now we learn he tries to offer his blood to you huh hmm i think he's just a bit hornyt Psalm: orin gave up everything to live his ultimate bdsm fantasy

Cimmorro: quite generous are you Keva: you what? Orin: "well he needs it to live right, i wouldn't like walking round on an empty stomach especially with the work we do" he looks at you keva "aha... i just offered a little! you know a bite on the arm or something.... he can control how much he takes, lot of woozy rats out there he never kills..." Keva: she grimaces "you ever think that you're too nice? it's amazing that you're still alive"

As they chat about Finn, Psalm continues in his conversation with Ghester, finishing up soon quickly.

Ghester: “hmmm its not that he delights in such views particularly, the variety of your world is quite interesting wouldn't you say?" a low chuckle echoes in your head "ive seen things ive not seen in some time and weve been together a mere few months... i wonder if perhaps you were chosen for this reason. You delight psalm, and so long as you do i'll keep you alive as ive been told"  Psalm: “it's not all that different to what i was up to before. well, minus the blood. and a few months... has it been that long already? well either way i'll try to do what's asked of me if that's what's on the line, although i wonder why he even cares so much about me." psalm stops to think. "actually nevermind. forget i said anything." Ghester: “yes quite some time together now, how my heart aches over the bond we share, were i to have one anyway" a beat passes "you were interesting i believe, is there always a reason why beings are drawn together? sometimes fate is a fickle thing, always fun to see how coincidences can pave a path" another laugh "you ought to work on building more of those bonds yknow" and you hear a tut tut

Psalm:

Cimmorro: STOP, GET RIGHT TO THE FUCKING Chip: picture that as ghester Psalm: no NO Cimmorro: rokka starts to hear something else in that bathroom 😳 Psalm: nNHGJRJG Han: ;LKHALKHSFDD Finn: ZUBTFKDILGMÖFODGPFDGMPFDGH

Psalm: * rolls eyes * "well i suppose if it had to happen somehow... and i don't want to be hearing about making bonds from someone that admitted to not having a heart first" Ghester: you hear a loud laugh "hmm true ive may not have a heart but ive feelings like you, though i admit they are a bit more subdued in nature” Psalm: psalm snorts "no wonder you like to mess with me."  he gets up, "well i think i've been in here long enough." Ghester: indeed it is one of my many vices Psalm: psalm coughs under his breath in infernal "bullshit"

Psalm finishes his bath and gets up, clean and refreshed he leaves the bathroom re-entering the room with the others at the same time Finn also enters from the balcony, making sure he cleaned the blood off his face before he presenting himself before them. Rokka quickly nabs the bath after Psalm, Like Cimmorro, Psalm also moves to lay down and get some shuteye on the lounges

Rokka: [rokka gives a knowing smile at psalm as they pass by each other] Psalm: psalm just looks at rokka waiting by the door

Orin: - orin takes a bite from an apple "...hmm i suppose i just wanted to pay them back a little for what they've been doing for me... and hey if im still alive maybe i make great choices in fact" orin looks over as you enter finn and gives you a smile since your staring at him Finn: i pass by and stop in front of orin briefly, also smiling gently. "would you close the coffin for me when you return? thank you" and also disappear into mine and orins shared room to knock out. Orin: he salutes you as you go

Keva: once finn's out of the room keva asks "why are they helping you anyway?" Orin: he shrugs a little and speaks quieter "....ill be honest i think i was probably easy pickings, a runt with nowhere to go looking for someone? pretty easy to convince to accept a job offer if you need extra hands" he leans back in the lounge and thinks for a moment "maybe it has something to do with this magic or something i can do now too. I dunno, but honestly i dont mind that much, the two have been... through some things i think. Not alot of people they can trust, but theyre not cruel, boss man still kind of intimidates me a bit but finn's word is one i trust and respect. This is a better life than the one i had, minus the fact you were gone course" and he kinda bumps your shoulder "any stories to tell me about how you spent the past month ol keva?" Keva: keva crosses her arms. "what, are they so desperate for help they're just picking up urchins off the streets?" after a pause "just.....be careful, okay?" @ the stories comment "you gonna tell me yours in exchange?" Han: yesss spill ur backstory yasss Chip: everyone pretending to sleep 👀 Rokka: 😴👂

As they chat Rokka in the bathroom begins singing in the bath much to the chargin of everyone currently trying to fall asleep. 

Orin: he stares at you "...yknow i dont not believe that first statement but i understand" he makes an exaggerated thinking face "hmm, dunno that might confidential information miss" Cimmorro: cimm starts shuffling under the sheets and mumbles "i cant fucking sleep here" Orin: orin looks over when cimm grumbles that and whispers "time to turn in i think, another time" he stands and stretches "im going to sleep, you wanna take finns bed or sleep out here?" Keva: keva takes orin's apple from him and takes a bite "hm you're not as good at bargaining as ramas" Orin: he makes a <:/ face Keva: keva glances at the room "i'll stay out here" and she tosses the apple back to him "g'night" Orin: he catches it and takes a bite out of it "sweet dreams, big day tomorrow” and walks into the room with finn, closing the door slightly but leaving it ajar.

Rokka: (singing) 1000 max vol Cimmorro: ISNT IT LIKE 2AM Rokka: AND WHAT ABOUT IT? Cimmorro: fair enough

As Orin heads into the room, he shuffles over and crouches down where finn is asleep in his coffin, adjusting one of the blankets on top of him before silently sliding the coffin closed. Sitting on his bed after with an oof he settles in and sleeps. Soon after Rokka finishes with his bath and Han switches out with him, Keva opts instead to head straight to bed and cosies up on one of the lounges.

Han:  han proceeds to spend like a solid 10 minutes just staring at her reflection in a mirror then goes to take a bath

Han finishes up quick enough and soon everyone's settled in, sleep taking their consciousness. Their thoughts and dreams wrought with all the things they’re to accomplish come morning

-- Notes

💀6 acolytes were cut down - 👁Ida’s body was burned in flames

「  4 Poison Daggers ✨ 」-「 a Branding Rod ✨ 」-「 a Red Tome ✨ and -「 4 Letterhead Tokens ✨ 」 were handed over to 🍷 Vorde as evidence

🍺 Plum obtained -「 A Vial of Ventra’s Rot ✨ 」 - 「 A Light Green Potion ✨ and a「 Red Potion ✨ 」

🍺 Plum prepared - a brew of Rum, it should be ready in about 3-4 days time.

🏹 Han purchased - 30 arrows and 10 flasks of oil for 25SP 

🏹 Han grabbed - a few mundane trinkets from the corpse crates, a worn metal locket and a torn set of prayer beads

- ITS 2AM - 43 HOURS UNTIL - 📜🩸 The Reckoning 🩸📜 -

---

👛Nickel’s noted wares (updated)

Amulet of Non-Detection - 750gp Hat of Disguise - 800gp

Potion of Healing - 50gp Potion of Greater Healing - 150gp Demondrug - 50gp Potion of Sleep - 50gp Potion of Darkvision - 75gp Potion of Euphoria - 60gp Potion of Disguise - 120gp Alchemical Fire - 50gp

Bundle of 20 arrows - 1gp Oil (flask) - 1sp Oil (barrel) - 4gp