The Bleeding Spike Tavern

[Sunbringer he/him]

9 hours ago, Sorana said:

Snake hissed angrily, surprised at the roots, growing over Mike's feet. She tried to wiggle free, but feet were no snakes body and so she withdraw. Mike jumped into the opening she left and looked at the new person.

"I'm Mike." He quickly introduced himself, before one of the animals could do it and cause ever more confusion. "May I ask who you are?" His voice shook slightly, while he tried to look around, to grasp the situation. He had lost grip on himself, even more than before. He hadn't even understood what happened, while he had sat in the darkness, the night slowly pressing in on him.

"Jacien." He replied, still on guard. "Don't worry about those. I'll let you all out, soon as I figure out exactly what is going on. So, why exactly are you attacking this man?"

@Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

19 hours ago, FatherTiempo said:

In the space of a few seconds the snakewoman turned into a snake, the frozen man was still frozen, a new combatant had walked through the door, and the sea lion had found a map.

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I feel like I need to explain a little more, sorry

Mike is one of the 'experiments' of the DA. He was spiked with seven animals, granting him the ability to change parts of his body into the corresponding animals. As he never learned how to control his powers, it happens instinctively, leading to him morphing parts of his body quickly and not always with a real effect. But he always stays more or less a human boy at 15.

The interactions between him and the animals all happen in his mind of course, what you can see I describe as "his arm changed in that way". And of course you can notice the different choice of words, or how he acts differently.

His legs were still trapped and Mike felt sewat on his forehead, when he couldn't free himself. Trapped. The smell of  the antiseptic, the androgyn face above him. The animals in their cages. Unable to move his hands and feet, nothing to do but to listen to the last breath of the animal, the air cool on his bare chest. And the whole time the man, it had been a man, maybe a woman, he wasn't even sure anymore, he only saw their face, unable to place a label on them, unable to do anything else but watch the spike come closer.

Swallowing he tried to convince himself, that everything was fine, that Jacien was going to help, that this was nothing but a missunderstanding. "He is part of, or he knows about the Uninvested. The assassinated several people in Oasis, and we are trying to find the origin, we try to find out why they did it, what they did." He blurted out, hoped that Lusk would help him as well, that he would say something.

Trapped. Mike hugged himself, felt Fox on the border of his mind again, he pushed forward, wanted to take over, to get them out. Something cool touched his hand and when he looked down he saw squid. Squid. Mike liked squid, always calm and nice, gentle. Fox was moving closer and he stared at his dark, mean eyes, fox would kill him, fox would - He tried to move, to get away, but his legs were still trapped and there was nothing he could do. Jacien, Fox, the strange one behind Jacien, they would - Squid took control and Mike gasped at the gently coolness that came with her. Squid had never taken control, had been content to stay back and to comfort him in silence. Mike stared in awe when he watched her take his place, when she left him down in the darkness where he stayed when one of them took control.

Squid changed her legs into arms, or tentacles however you wanted to call them, easily freeing herself from the vines. It left her on the floor, but then she didn't really care, human's were strange with their walking on two legs anyway. Carefully she removed her arms from the grip on the vines and then morphed them back. Mike was cute, but he tended to freak out easily.

"The organisation are called the Uninvested, and Vio has been there during the attack. We have reasons to believe that he belongs to them, helped stage the assassination." Her voice was still Mike's, but it was a little softer than before. "We also have some hints regarding a warehouse, so we can go there, and check that place out to see if we can find some clues."

@Sunbringer

==========

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Should you want to write something for Lusk, if not that's fine

@I think I am here.

Edited November 13, 2019 by Sorana

[That Violin Guy he/him]

Vio cursed as the vines grew up his legs. "Please can we just talk?" he yelled. Then blasting tensor power tword the celiling he lashed himself upward about ten times ripping himself free from the vines and also taking a good chunk of the floor with him. @Sorana @Sunbringer

[kenod]

8 hours ago, Oduim’s Chmapion said:

Vio cursed as the vines grew up his legs. "Please can we just talk?" he yelled. Then blasting tensor power tword the celiling he lashed himself upward about ten times ripping himself free from the vines and also taking a good chunk of the floor with him. @Sorana @Sunbringer

Mari suddenly felt Vio rip upwards, her grip on him faltering. Suddenly remembering something she wanted to curse at herself, and started burning her Iron, looking for any lines pointing to Vio.

[little wheel he/him]

Talas reached his hand out to grab the man who, very inconsiderably, was flying through a hole in his room. “Should’ve just stuck down there with them, old man,” he said as he wrapped his arms around Vio, letting himself be dragged upwards. “I don’t like people who interrupt my meditation, and you’ll find it hard to have a good time while I’m attached to you.”

@Oduim’s Chmapion

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One of the many (unplanned) benefits of having a second story room.

 

Edited November 14, 2019 by bees?

[FatherTiempo he/him]

        Cumbert Swishysword had waited for the glowing, bitten man to make his move. In an unholy burst of power he shot through the roof. Cumbert stared after him. "I really, really hate this place." He said.

 

 

[+Sorana she/her]

4 hours ago, FatherTiempo said:

        Cumbert Swishysword had waited for the glowing, bitten man to make his move. In an unholy burst of power he shot through the roof. Cumbert stared after him. "I really, really hate this place." He said.

 

 

Mike looked at him for a moment, then got back to his feet, impressed by Squid. She had done a great job freeing them. "You could leave, sir, if you want to, that is." He offered slowly, unsure why the stranger was here at all.

"Then let's talk!" He shouted up to the hole in the ceiling. "Where are the others, what do you know about those that killed Mr. Itiah?"

@Oduim’s Chmapion

[Sunbringer he/him]

Storm it, Jacien thought, now thoroughly confused, but also convinced there was a murder involved somewhere. He reached into his pack, pulling out something he hand't needed to use since he left, his dual swords. Crafted to resemble shardblades, one emblazoned with the Edgedancer glyph, the other with the division glyph. He pulled them out, and cut the roots off of the other who had been caught. 

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I am also thoroughly confused.

 

[I think I am here. he/him]

Lusk stopped tapping atium until he was an old man again. Silently he looked up, heard Mike call out to Vio. Stepping back he made sure to keep an eye on everyone in the room, watched to see what the group would do next. If they could do something without his leadership, well... he’d have to re-evaluate his notes on them.

[+Sorana she/her]

On 15.11.2019 at 11:25 PM, Sunbringer said:

I am also thoroughly confused.

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You could ask Mike for details. I'll gladly explain IC. I mean I can ooc, but if you ask IC, then both you and your character hopefully understand what's going on.

 

[Darth Woodrack he/him]

Kevin walked in looking around. It had been a rough few months, but he had survived. He was doing what was right, his way, not the way Walker and the Precursors wanted it. If that meant a lot of killing, so be it. He had his assault rifle and helmet in a bag slung over his back, along with all of his gear except for his knife and pistol. He just wore a kevlar vest under a leather jacket, and his kevlar pants. He came here because it seemed to be a hotspot for homicidal maniacs.

Dusk walked past him, oblivious to his status as a former Precursor and walked over to a cadre of finely dressed men and women in the corner. 

Edited November 18, 2019 by Darth Woodrack

[FatherTiempo he/him]

On 11/14/2019 at 10:33 AM, Sorana said:

Mike looked at him for a moment, then got back to his feet, impressed by Squid. She had done a great job freeing them. "You could leave, sir, if you want to, that is." He offered slowly, unsure why the stranger was here at all.

"Then let's talk!" He shouted up to the hole in the ceiling. "Where are the others, what do you know about those that killed Mr. Itiah?"

@Oduim’s Chmapion

 Cumbert sighed, letting his beard droop to his chest. "If only things were that simple lad." 

Edited November 18, 2019 by FatherTiempo

[+Sorana she/her]

10 hours ago, FatherTiempo said:

 Cumbert sighed, letting his beard droop to his chest. "If only things were that simple lad." 

Mike turned to him. "What else should we do? They just break into our festivity, kill people and we are supposed to allow them to just go?" He asked, his voice dark, his head twitching a little from one side to the other.

"Vio was there, we need to know, if he knows them, or did you hear of the Uninvested before, know where they meet?" a pleading tone entered his voice. "We had a hint regarding a factory, so we could go and search there, but -" Mike shook his head again, it was such a mess."

Quote

The events Mike is referring to happened in Oasis city.

Basically the plot is to find the Uninvested responsible for killing some GB NPCs and to find a solution. How we find them and what we do with them, is up to us. If you want to place a little hint you can, but if you don't want to, there is no need to. We have the factory as a backup, since Oduim isn't online regularly anymore.

 

[FatherTiempo he/him]

5 hours ago, Sorana said:

Mike turned to him. "What else should we do? They just break into our festivity, kill people and we are supposed to allow them to just go?" He asked, his voice dark, his head twitching a little from one side to the other.

"Vio was there, we need to know, if he knows them, or did you hear of the Uninvested before, know where they meet?" a pleading tone entered his voice. "We had a hint regarding a factory, so we could go and search there, but -" Mike shook his head again, it was such a mess."

 

        Cumbert paused, confused. But realization dawned and he smiled at the conversational misunderstanding. "No, I was referring to when you said that "I could just leave, if I wanted." Ahh what awkward, yet humorous, situations does our language place us in."

        Cumbert looked up to where the glowing, bitten man had flown through the ceiling. "Aye, humorous it is. Should someone go after that glowing sky demon, or are we letting him off on good behavior? I still be confused at the justice system here."

Edited November 19, 2019 by FatherTiempo

[That Violin Guy he/him]

11 hours ago, FatherTiempo said:

        Cumbert paused, confused. But realization dawned and he smiled at the conversational misunderstanding. "No, I was referring to when you said that "I could just leave, if I wanted." Ahh what awkward, yet humorous, situations does our language place us in."

        Cumbert looked up to where the glowing, bitten man had flown through the ceiling. "Aye, humorous it is. Should someone go after that glowing sky demon, or are we letting him off on good behavior? I still be confused at the justice system here."

 

On 11/14/2019 at 9:33 AM, Sorana said:

Mike looked at him for a moment, then got back to his feet, impressed by Squid. She had done a great job freeing them. "You could leave, sir, if you want to, that is." He offered slowly, unsure why the stranger was here at all.

"Then let's talk!" He shouted up to the hole in the ceiling. "Where are the others, what do you know about those that killed Mr. Itiah?"

@Oduim’s Chmapion

Vio walked through the door. "I agree lets talk."

[FatherTiempo he/him]

13 hours ago, Oduim’s Chmapion said:

 

Vio walked through the door. "I agree lets talk."

Spoiler

"Arrrgh!" said Cumbert. "It's the glowing, bitten, flying man. We don't need to catch him after all." Cumbert Swishysword raised his sword, and fell into a battle stance. "Have-at-ye, fowl fiend!"

Pending Respsonse

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See what he did there? Fowl. Because Vio was flying. Ha, Cumbert's so clever. I wish I could come up with things like that.

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by FatherTiempo

[little wheel he/him]

On 11/13/2019 at 10:48 PM, bees? said:

Talas reached his hand out to grab the man who, very inconsiderably, was flying through a hole in his room. “Should’ve just stuck down there with them, old man,” he said as he wrapped his arms around Vio, letting himself be dragged upwards. “I don’t like people who interrupt my meditation, and you’ll find it hard to have a good time while I’m attached to you.”

@Oduim’s Chmapion

 

 

5 hours ago, Oduim’s Chmapion said:

 

Vio walked through the door. "I agree lets talk."

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Did you not see this? Or was it chosen to be ignored? I’m fine with either one, just give a little acknowledgement next time.

 

[+Sorana she/her]

8 hours ago, Oduim’s Chmapion said:

Vio walked through the door. "I agree lets talk."

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Waiting with my reply, until the part with bees? is sorted out.

 

[FatherTiempo he/him]

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Right. Yeah. Sorry, I forgot about that. I will bracket my previous comment and wait for resolution.

 

[Silva]

On 11/18/2019 at 1:12 PM, Ookla the Wine Shelf said:

Dusk walked past him, oblivious to his status as a former Precursor and walked over to a cadre of finely dressed men and women in the corner. 

Aderet ignored the other people there, preoccupied by the laborous task of preventing her dress from dragging on the floor. So much filth lay all over and coated the ground. A place like this tended not to have the nicest clientele, she figured.

Dusk stood in a corner. She presumed the people with him made up his business partners. For a moment, she considered simply walking away. He needed to come to terms with all his deficiencies on his own. Though, she mulled, he'd told her where to go to continue giving him a guilt lecture. If that wasn't an invitation, nothing was. Aderet resolved to stay.

She carefully made her way over, going around any warring masses in her path. Places like these invited all sorts of trouble. The fact anyone walked out of there alive without food poisoning amazed her. 

"Strange place to meet with business partners," she said to Dusk, tapping him lightly on the shoulder to get his attention. Then she moved away to a nearby table to leave him in peace till the end of his meeting. She understood the need to take care of quarrels in one's business.

[Darth Woodrack he/him]

1 hour ago, Silva said:

Aderet ignored the other people there, preoccupied by the laborous task of preventing her dress from dragging on the floor. So much filth lay all over and coated the ground. A place like this tended not to have the nicest clientele, she figured.

Dusk stood in a corner. She presumed the people with him made up his business partners. For a moment, she considered simply walking away. He needed to come to terms with all his deficiencies on his own. Though, she mulled, he'd told her where to go to continue giving him a guilt lecture. If that wasn't an invitation, nothing was. Aderet resolved to stay.

She carefully made her way over, going around any warring masses in her path. Places like these invited all sorts of trouble. The fact anyone walked out of there alive without food poisoning amazed her. 

"Strange place to meet with business partners," she said to Dusk, tapping him lightly on the shoulder to get his attention. Then she moved away to a nearby table to leave him in peace till the end of his meeting. She understood the need to take care of quarrels in one's business.

Dusk nodded to her, then a few moments later came over to her, saying, "True, but they're on the savory variety. There import is a highly addictive drug that, while technically legal, is not of the healthiest alignment. So I put a ten thousand percent tax on it, obliterating their profits. So they called me over here to try and threaten me."

[Silva]

On 11/20/2019 at 8:45 PM, Ookla the Wine Shelf said:

Dusk nodded to her, then a few moments later came over to her, saying, "True, but they're on the savory variety. There import is a highly addictive drug that, while technically legal, is not of the healthiest alignment. So I put a ten thousand percent tax on it, obliterating their profits. So they called me over here to try and threaten me."

"Interesting strategy," Aderet said. "But quite faulty. Now, instead of selling it legally, they'll use black markets to distribute their product without paying taxes. And now, as an illegal item, they'll likely gain even more buyers because people migrate to what they aren't able to have. Meaning that while at the moment they might be angry at you, in the long run you've really assisted them. Unless they are complete idiots and don't realize how to navigate the underground."

She glanced back at the stragglers from Dusk's meeting. "They seem somewhat intelligent and I would wager they've been expecting something like this. Likely they're already involved with some black market dealers despite the fact that what they sell is legal. So," she tapped her fingers against the wooden table, "you actually have hurt their business. Now they'll either have to keep up a charade of trying to sell despite the new taxes or completely drop the act and turn fully to illegal distribution. In which case you ought to have someone follow them to track down that dealer. If suddenly everyone who does business with them ends up behind bars, no one will and they'll have nothing left to gain by selling drugs. They would be forced to turn to more savory means of income

"Or you leave them be and let them sell their technically legal item illegally by doing nothing. This way no one begins to get the impression of a dictatorial government presence and decides to revolt. You see how nothing is clean cut? Every decision has so many different results, some good, some bad. Nothing can ever be determined lightly while still be intelligent about it." She shrugged.

"Most of the world doesn't even acknowledge that, yet it continues to run. So, again, is even deciding whether or not to think through decisions worth it?"

[Darth Woodrack he/him]

1 minute ago, Silva said:

"Interesting strategy," Aderet said. "But quite faulty. Now, instead of selling it legally, they'll use black markets to distribute their product without paying taxes. And now, as an illegal item, they'll likely gain even more buyers because people migrate to what they aren't able to have. Meaning that while at the moment they might be angry at you, in the long run you've really assisted them. Unless they are complete idiots and don't realize how to navigate the underground."

She glanced back at the stragglers from Dusk's meeting. "They seem somewhat intelligent and I would wager they've been expecting something like this. Likely they're already involved with some black market dealers despite the fact that what they sell is legal. So," she tapped her fingers against the wooden table, "you actually have hurt their business. Now they'll either have to keep up a charade of trying to sell despite the new taxes or completely drop the act and turn fully to illegal distribution. In which case you ought to have someone follow them to track down that dealer. If suddenly everyone who does business with them ends up behind bars, no one will and they'll have nothing left to gain by selling drugs. They would be forced to turn to more savory means of income

"Or you leave them be and let them sell their technically legal item illegally by doing nothing. This way no one begins to get the impression of a dictatorial government presence and decides to revolt. You see how nothing is clean cut? Every decision has so many different results, some good, some bad. Nothing can ever be determined lightly while still be intelligent about it." She shrugged.

"Most of the world doesn't even acknowledge that, yet it continues to run. So, again, is even deciding whether or not to think through decisions worth it?"

“Oh, I’m fully aware of them selling illegally. All I need is proof. So, once a drug that they have admitted to producing and openly said that nobody else could possibly know the formula to, shows up in the black market, I will have all I need to arrest them. Then I can burn down the rest of their operation, taking, by my estimate, at least a half dozen other illegal drugs off the streets, and cracking open the criminal underworld for a series of Precursor raids, lawsuits, and sting operations that should leave the drug trade obliterated, at least for now. No doubt it will rise again, but that’s the nature of life.”

[Silva]

1 hour ago, Ookla the Wine Shelf said:

“Oh, I’m fully aware of them selling illegally. All I need is proof. So, once a drug that they have admitted to producing and openly said that nobody else could possibly know the formula to, shows up in the black market, I will have all I need to arrest them. Then I can burn down the rest of their operation, taking, by my estimate, at least a half dozen other illegal drugs off the streets, and cracking open the criminal underworld for a series of Precursor raids, lawsuits, and sting operations that should leave the drug trade obliterated, at least for now. No doubt it will rise again, but that’s the nature of life.”

"But why wait?" she said simply. Aderet meant the question in a very specific way. Why wait for them to slip up? Why give them the illusion of getting away? Why be dependent on them? 

Why not do something yourself? 

It was the point she was trying to drill into his head over and over again. The only way to get something done properly is to do it yourself. Aderet's resolution to get Dusk to understand followed that very logic. It was very possible time would teach him, but it was also possible that he'd learn that too late. And as she lacked anything better to do, she might as well be the one to--one priveliged person to another.

She watched him, lightly burning cadmium to cut down the time spent waiting for a response. 

[Darth Woodrack he/him]

1 minute ago, Silva said:

"But why wait?" she said simply. Aderet meant the question in a very specific way. Why wait for them to slip up? Why give them the illusion of getting away? Why be dependent on them? 

Why not do something yourself? 

It was the point she was trying to drill into his head over and over again. The only way to get something done properly is to do it yourself. Aderet's resolution to get Dusk to understand followed that very logic. It was very possible time would teach him, but it was also possible that he'd learn that too late. And as she lacked anything better to do, she might as well be the one to--one priveliged person to another.

She watched him, lightly burning cadmium to cut down the time spent waiting for a response. 

“Are you aware of what an authoritarian regime is? The difference between justice and tyranny? That is why I wait. I am running a city, and to maintain that, I need to follow the rules that I set. If I do not wait to have proof that they are actually breaking the law than any could do that same thing to any other.”