Multiverse Crisis MUSH - User contributions [en]

4711/Out of the Way

2016-10-24T05:05:28Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/10/23 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Returning to the Spider's Den of the Izzet Sector, run by the yokai spider O-Hiko, has turned..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/10/23
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Returning to the Spider's Den of the Izzet Sector, run by the yokai spider O-Hiko, has turned into a shanty down for yokai in hiding from the Magic-Eaters who hunt through the other sectors of Ravnica for the fugitive Yunomi Stadler. Investigations and niceties are had until the Guildless break into the party...
|Cast of Characters=272, 325, 707, 711, 215, 300, 714, 19, 750, 42, 1037
|Tinyplot=Moeru
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     BELOW THE IZZET DISTRICT: Yokai Shanty-Town.     Bordering on the Gruul lands, abutting the broken, scarred ends of sidewalk and rough, unfinished buildings was the realm of O-Hiko, Namamura's own Spider Queen, and the now unofficial guardian of its yokai.     This is a place where pipes that drain from the steam works provide warmth and moisture, water cascading from unintended cascades over a milieu of broken pavement chunks. Grasses and trees have been growing here, green in spite of the chill outside.     Wanderers would be greeted first by the magnificent spiderwebs, from which hang all sizes of brightly colored spiders, orange and red bellies and spindly legs ranging in spread from one feet to nearly eight, and below, between roughed out avenues, there are buildings -- though that may be a generous word.     Tents, temporary shelters thrown up to protect from constant rain or provide privacy. A little building appearing to act like a little shrine, and among them walk Yokai -- the spirits of Namamura, flesh and incoperal alike. A young boy with no face sits on a bench, kicking up the heels of his geta as he watches a lone, grumbling old lady made of clay and straw wander past. Above them loops a long strip of linen cloth, eyes looking dazed and listless.     And stopping through, on a single leg, is Takai, the umbrella ghost, and from his long tongue he holds a latern who is croaking "Woe, woe is me -- has anyone seen our tanuki?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     While the spires of the Izzet are full of magewrights that have been allowed to stay, or are awaiting their moment with the Guildmaster, someone had to be sent out to check on the growing village of Yokai that O-Hiko seems to have inherited. Ryxinel, likely with Yu and Mi in tow, has decided to venture down to this place like her sister did. Perhaps he could set up another district like the one farther above. He had hoped the original Namamura district would be enough for all from Namamura, human and spirit alike. If that couldn't be, perhaps a second place was in order. The red dragon ventures down in simple Izzet attire, easily called armor since most dragons can't wear normal fabrics. Mostly red, only a little blue, but nothing so gaudy as what his father would have worn. Any that draw close would receive a friendly welcome from the Red, and a question on where to find O-Hiko. He had sent out invitations to Izzet allies if they cared to join. After all, members of the Izzet League know one thing. Most often? Very -random- things happen around them.. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' After last night's conversation on the radio, Xiaomu has decided to take a look at the situation in Namamura and Ravnica. Protecting yokai and humans from each other is kind of her job, and since the situation in Wakayama doesn't need her involvement until Shinra can figure out what it's doing about that old gourd geezer, helping elseworld - and assisting the Union (and the Izzet League) in the process - seemed like a good use of her time. That, and she managed to run down the batteries on every game system and controller she'd brought with her to the Wakayama office. The only reason her phone wasn't ALSO recharging was that Reiji forced her to uninstall the streaming apps while they were on a field assignment. "If you don't count that they're basically living in exile here," the sage fox remarks to Ryxinel, "it's actually kinda homy ..." She wanders over to Takai, bowing politely (and letting out a little 'eek' as if she's scared. Which she isn't actually, but it's the thought that counts). "People have been looking for her," she answers. "There's a lot that's been going on up above, we were wondering if any of the answers might be hiding down here." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite had come by Ravnica to drop off the rest of the materials she had picked up during the lab investigations so Rhapsody and others could continue examining them. Of course the Guildmaster is really busy, so they had to be dropped off with someone else. Which is fine, she wanted to stop to see Ryxinel while she was there and check on the work for Thianel since there had been mention of an issue with misfitting parts. So to cut a long story short, the big red pretty much just pulled her along for the trip down into the depths. Not that it makes a difference, she would of responded to the invitation anyways. She just happened to already be there. "Kinda reminds me of some of the boom towns that go up when a new vein is discovered. But more..." the fox waves a paw as she's not entirely sure of the terminology she should use. ".. orientally." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria's been spending a lot of time in this area, partially due to the situation involving Yunomi, so she's in the area when the others arrive and nods to those she knows. The scowl she's got on her face isn't anything personal, it's just frustration from a lack of answers regarding Yunomi's whereabouts and what's truly happening. Of course, with strange things happening involving supernatural stuff, Iria's really on edge. She doesn't believe that this is just some bitter coincidence, she strongly suspects this has something to do with what's been going on. Despite not being skilled with supernatural things, Iria's intent on finding out what's going on here and dealing with it! She looks to the frog and says, "I can assure you, we're gonna find her and bring her back safely!" She cracks her knuckles. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The small team, about 8 people, dressed in various mixes of clothing and battle dress. walk down a main avenue. This hadn't been the proper place for uniforms themsleves, Stadler had decided. The people, the politics of Ravinca were, frankly, a gorey mess at the moment. Sharks circling the water, excited by the blood of people who were scared and crying out for answers and vengence and blood. And the sharks had simply promised them that. So Rick had all the paper work covered to show that he was in Maryland right this very second, and anyone shooting out here was probably some oppurtunistic mercenary unit, drawn from the greater multiverse with the promise of carnage and fortune. It wouldn't hold up very well, but barely legally, and that was fine with Rick. If any of those Magic Eaters got in his way, he wanted that bastard to know who had killed them. Rick, M50 mask sealed over his face, stood in the covered deck of one shanty that no one had been in for a while. The story there, of the objects around, was probably a sad one he didn't have time to deal with at the moment. Intead, he watched the streets, flicking over to a local comm band. <Ernie, I don't see anything but the orindary over here. Anything you've got?> The call comes back quickly. <Whole lot of nothin', boss. Just the wandering spirts and those- Fuck! Sorry, sorry, nothing, just... siper the size of my chest on this wall. Jesus Christ, you sure we can't do this outside?> 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' There's been many a muttering about the Izzet league and a certain tanuki over the past few weeks. Even though it might not be the sort of thing that would concern the Confederacy's assets directly, the political situation surrounding Namamura and Ravnicaand its allies can't be ignored. That's why a certain white-coat-wearing Confederate is wandering the shanty-town's streets tonight, keeping her eye open as she takes in the sights and sounds around her. There's something oddly nostalgic about it all despite the locals looking very much unlike the people she's known back at home.      Alas, Sanary can't just sightsee tonight. She's got a job to do! Spotting a familiar face amid several unfamiliar and out-of-place faces, it doesn't take much even for her to put two and two together to figure out that something's going on. She tries to stay out of sight for the time being, but gives up on that about three seconds later before just approaching the group with a lazy wave.      "Hey, Xiaomu. Something going on out here?" She glances over at... Actually, she's not sure who to even focus on. The fox? The team of agents? The dragon? The talking umbrella? "... Big party?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     SUDDENLY FROM ABOVE RYXINEL: A spider drops down! Its legs are spread out wide, its fangs glistening, its eight eyes focused squarely on the dragon as it drops down on the dragon's head!     "RHAPSODDEEEEEE--eeeeee---you are not Rhapsody." Meeko halts, scant inches from touching Ryxinel's head with one of her legs, and just sort of hovers there for a moment.     The eight people walking down the main way through the shanty town are regarded... warily at best. A few yokai seem to move away. A very human looking woman turns, a cow's tail sticking out of the back of her kimono ushers a small child away. The large spider eyeballs the rather scared looking Ernie, and gives a hiss of <Watch where you're stepping, asshole!> and slowly trails up its web.     THe latern ghost, Chiisai, blinks a moment, pausing his wailing before Takai puts him on top of his own head, resting the long tongue.     "We assuredly do not know. We have been seeking her out."     "Yes, yes!" Chiisai adds, hissing between torn paper, "we've checked every restaurant, waffle house, flop dodging, and even inquired politely at the local constibulitory station. WOE TO US!" he wails, "Has /anyone/ seen the tanuki?" 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' So here Maya was in the Izzet District the information from the coverstation ion the radio last night had her thinking on the matter of Yunomi even more than she was. She'd rebound Yu and the others to the park. Yunomi knew something might happen to her but why? What? She has ot figure out what's going on something is so strange here. She's come to the Yokai shanty-Town to do what she can to help and she would see there's a lot of work to be done but then comes the Yokai speaking of Yunomi in all likelyhood but what could this mean? "I'm afraid I haven't seen her..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Hearing the call for his sister, Ryxinel's gaze turns upward to regard the rapidly decending spider. "Hello, Meeko. I'm Ryxinel, her brother," he informs, hoping to disuade any concern the spiderling may have. "I had heard that many Yokai have moved down here, out of the district, and decided to visit to see if there's anything that can be done to help you all feel more comfortable. The comforts of the district were made for humans and similar, I apologize if such things were not fitting for the Yokai," he offers rather matter-of-factly. "Do you know where O-Hiko is? I wouldn't mind speaking with her to assist here further." He doesn't seem to be asking about Yunomi.. though he shares his sister's concern. It shows when his gaze shifts to take in what Chiisai and Takai are saying. "We will not give up looking for her," he tells them both. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Xiaomu straightens up, turning to look at Sanary. This is potentially more than a little awkward. Not in the usual sense of the phrase, either - but there's a valued Unionite missing, the enemies in the scenario *aren't* known to be Confederate-aligned, and here comes a Confederate Elite who might or might not be inclined to leverage the situation to the Confederacy's advantage, or at least to the Union's *dis*advantage (which is kinda the same thing in the long view). "Let's just say this is not necessarily the place for an unwary human to be hanging out," Xiaomu says mildly. "I suppose most of Ravnica technically counts as neutral territory, but you linger here at your own risk. I don't encourage trying to take more of a chance than you're already doing just by being here - how'd you find your way this far below the main city, anyway?" As she's talking, Xiaomu makes her way back towards Ryxinel and the others, leaning in to whisper a question to the dragon, with a thumb jerked at Sanary in the middle of it. Other than that, Xiaomu does nod to the yokai in agreement with Ryxinel's statement. Xiaomu may not be personally involved in the search for the tanuki - at least, so far - but she's developed a relatively pointed interest in the case. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite cranes her head back a bit to look at the voice speaking to Ryx from overhead. But she doesn't really have anything to add since he's already pretty much explains why they're here. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' You know Rebound has totally been here the whole time really. This whole place is a little bit on the creepy side..But these yokai, they're just as much victims from everything that's been going on, at least that's what Rebound understands about the situation at hand. She's not extremely well versed on the situation as to why they have come down today...Honestly she just usually likes to follow Corona around since her foxy friend is great at getting into trouble and needing Rebound's special skills to help her get out of those crazy situations. So she hangs out next to Corona for now, leaning in towards her, "So why are we down here anyway?" 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Estano, from his perch on a second story (if you could call it that), simply stares at the spider crawling back up it web. At least he was only about to step on it with his regular foot, and not the clanky metal one that would have caused damage. And, in what must have been a small miracle, neither Estano (or his other people) let out a burst of panic fire at a large spider hissing demonically at them. The wonders of a world that translates /everything/ sentient. He's back on the radio. <Boss, call me crazy, but I don't think people down here like us very much.> Stadler moves with his people, giving a slight glance to the cow-tailed woman rushing away a child. <Since when do people like to see un-uniformed people walking around their streets with guns? Even if it is a boom town, no one wants to get caught in a cross fire.> He says, before spying Ryxinel inquiring about a few of the demons themselves... with a friendly spider about his head. <Prince is walking around his kingdom, apparantly. I want to say dragons are only fearful when it comes to legacy or heartbreak.> Rick mutters over the net, before making sure to keep an eye on the red dragon. Wherever he was going was bound to be the center of action. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren is here too! For once, given they're visiting a civilian settlement and not some lab full of traps, he dares go without his armor. Time will tell if he lives to regret it.     The spiders everywhere is a smidge creepy. Once he hears one talk though, he's put more at ease. The wide variety of beings here... it's comforting to see such different people getting along, and reminds him of Lazlo, even if the specific species are different.     "We're still looking for her." Staren nods as Rynixel speaks.     He looks a bit confused and worried as the cow-lady leads a child away. Being feared is different from in Lazlo. Oh well, you can't please everyone... 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' Xiaomu's suspicion is understandable, at least. Sanary hasn't exactly proven herself to be concerned with the Union's well-being in the past, although she still manages a light sigh at the sage fox's reaction. "I know, I know... Just lookin' around. The comms have been pretty loud these past few days, so I figured I'd... You know. Take a look around. Find out what's going on out here."      She pauses for a moment and glances around, then sighs again while lowering her voice and slumping just a bit. "... The main city's above here you said?" That's good information to have. Not that she'll ever admit to getting lost, of course, since she was just... Scouting!      Definitely didn't get lost on the way.      "... So what's all this about a tanuki, anyway? Is that the one that jackass was whining about last night?" There's a hint of venom in her voice, but at least it's not directed towards anyone here. Chiisai's wailing draws a blank look from the healer, though, and Sanary responds with a more relaxed (and almost reassuring tone) in her voice. "Er... Hey, hey! I'm sure she'll turn up sooner or later. Just need to be patient, alright?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Someone's set up a ramen shop, far below and underneath an overhang. A cat with two tails is beckoning other yokai in, waving a paw with the pad down to greet them. Questionable meats float in bowls of noodles, alien vegetables and familiar smells. A badger is huffing his breath as he shoves past Richard Stadler, grumbling about the quality of the broth under that roof and grumpily saying back in /his/ day they had real fish and it tasted better. The long strip of linen lazily floats past the other side, towards the ramen shop and seems fascinated momentarily with the group, and then procedes upwards. and a figure in a brown hood crossing the avenue behind the retinue, giving a pause and then continuing on their business, ducking into another tent. A few children -- a one-eyed monk boy and a girl who has no feet beneath her kimono toss an inflated bladder, tied with a string, back and forth in a game... life is as usual down here for the refugees who fled not only their homeland, but their adopted home as well.     Meeko blinks three of her eyes at once, and then makes a quiet 'eeee' sound, patting Ryx on the head once, and then retreats back up the thick webbing.     To the side of Richard, a woman wearing a dark red and orange kimono appears, her arms folded in front of her, hidden in the sleeves of the robe.     "... why you deem it needed to come so armed, friends, I do not know." The Spider Queen greets them, seeming apprehensive.     Meeko then descends from the level above. "OKASAMAAAAA~" <Mother~> she cries out, pausing and hovering above the spider woman. "Rhapsody's brother is here and would like to talk to you~"     The latern blinks up at the others, looking at each in turn, and then gives a soft, pensive 'hrrm', and approving 'harruuum'... and then a disappointed 'hum...' before continuing. "She does not want to be found. if she had wanted to be seen, we might have seen her. Or she could have come back and spoken to us! We miss her! She never visits us anymore and... and... and... she /forgot my birthday!/"     "Chiisai. You don't have a birthday. You're a lantern."     "Oh. Yes. I remember." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A blink, then a glance is sent toward the others in the area. Weapons? He turns back to O-Hiko, "I assure you," he begins, bowing to the Yokai, "That I have brought none, myself. There are some that are unfamiliar with you and may have felt aprehensive, but if they had," He clears his throat, speaking a little more loudly, "ASKED ME," back to normal volume, "I would have assured them that weapons are not necessary,". A helpless shrug is given, "I apologize for any concern that is caused. I was visiting, simply wanting to know, if there is anything I can do, or the Izzet can do, to provide comfort for you all here. I'm sorry that the Namamura district doesn't feel safe anymore. Concern over the Guildless has risen quite a bit and once the situation with Yunomi is taken care of I assure you, we'll be looking into this.." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "Seein' if these folks need any help down here. They're kinda hidin', y'know," Corona replies to Rebound. "After what happened last time, not really blamin' 'em. either." The fox pauses, turning her head in the other direction. Her nose isn't quite as strong as her ears, but it's still strong enough to pick up the aroma of food from the ramen shop. "Ah know just wait needs 'investigatin'." Considering she hasn't eaten since leaving Brimsteel earlier in the way. At least being a humanoid fox she blends in well with the local crowd as Corona ambles over to the ramen stand after stepping out of the grumbling badgers way. "Hey miss! Miss..." cat with two tails? Huh. "Ah'll take a bowl, miss. Of" Her tail flicks at the 'questionable meat', 'alien vegetables' but 'familiar smell'. "Whatevah it's made outta." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The problem with gas masks is that, while they protected you from harmful chemical and biological agents, it was hard to smell anything but filters and rubber. And From the way those people pressed in for it, that does look like it would actually be decent ramen. And probably more authentic than the trendy ramen shops that dotted Frederick's main drag, like every other small city. Stadler takes some time to pause there, eyes flickering past the various signs of life you'd see anywhere. The residents look a bit different, but a town was a town. And this one was under a certain matriarch. Stadler keeps himself casual for a moment, inclining his head just slightly, tilting the mask's vocalizer to her. "Two reason. One, I still don't know what those fucking Magic Eaters are going to do, but I can't rule out a false flag operation." He says, before looking over at the red dragon as he walks over. "And second, I don't go anywhere without a gun. People with the purest spirit and nobliest intentions are the same as pyschopaths... in certain situations." He says. He carries in hospitals for a reason. "And I do not know you but by reputation, sir. I'm just a simple mercenary that came down here, seeking fortune and action and all of that. I've all the documentation to prove it." He says. The tone of his voice indicates that he knows no one here beleives that. All right. Stadler disliked large spiders, just like the rest of them, but Meeko dropping to mother... well, that was adorable." 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' "Kind of a long story," Xiaomu asides in reply to Sanary. "But yeah, same one the jackass was talking about. We're still trying to figure out where she is before he does. Presumably the answer might be hereabouts." Then the Spider Queen turns up, in a decidedly non-arachnid appearance. Xiaomu does something that she RARELY does in response: she bows. Deeply. Doesn't go as far as kneeling, but a sign of respect is at least in order. "Paranoia and an excess of caution are an asset in their normal line of work, and to some extent in mine," the huli jing says. "And considering that one of Yunomi's enemies - and yours, as I'm given to understand - may be hunting her even here, I don't know that I blame them for anything except how close their fingers may be to the triggers." Honestly, Yunomi has THIS many mortal human friends - including an adoptive father, of all things - and NONE of them know how to deal with youkai on their home ground? At least Ryxinel seems to know the first rule of paying a friendly visit to youkai: Don't act like you expect to become prey if you let your guard down. (At the same time, don't be careless.) Not that Xiaomu's walking around unarmed: she has her staff (and its concealed sword), she has her handguns (holstered under her vest), but she doesn't LOOK like she expects things to dissolve into a general free-for-all. Same way you don't do the open carry thing when you're dropping by a friend's house for a casual unannounced visit, unless your friend is VERY comfortable with you sporting a 9mm at your belt. At Chiisai's talk about birthdays, Xiaomu looks to the lantern with a faint smirk. "Well," she points out, "technically lanterns have a day they were made .... or you might start counting from the day you became more than just a mundane lantern," she suggests further. "But if you haven't been worrying about it this long, not a lot of point now." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren answers the Spider Queen plainly: "Everywhere we go is dangerous. Enemies could strike at any moment. Not being ready gets you, and anyone you need to protect, killed."     "...I don't think Yunomi is going to come do anything friendly right now, alas. It seems she's posessed by an evil force, or something, at the moment." he shakes his head sadly at the lantern. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' Sanary furrows her brow as the yokai chatter about, listening closely and trying to parse out the details. A tanuki named Yunomi, apparently beloved by the people here and even enough to get the Union involved so much in defending her against... What? Something big enough to risk the safety of some people even Sanary knows outside of the Union, apparently! The healer's still missing quite a few details, but things are starting to make a little more sense now.      Turning to the Spider Queen, she raises her hands to show that she's not carrying the axe, although it's still quite obviously strapped across her hip. "Sorry, sorry. I take it everywhere I go, but don't worry. I got no plans to touch it as long as I'm here." As if trying to show that she's not here to fight, she even squats down on the spot! Sanary does give Stadler and his shoulders a brief look at that, but turns back to the lantern shortly afterwards.      "But.. Er. Yeah, I don't think now's a good time for her to come back here. I mean, I know she's not going to... One other place, maybe 'cause she doesn't want whoever's after her to turn that place into a warzone." She nods at Xiaomu in turn, the logic of trying to find information on the missing tanuki not lost on her. "Sounds like this is an important place for her, so... Might be the same case here." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' It's a good thing Fujikuro isn't here. If there's one thing he hates, it's spiders. He'd be fleeing as fast as he could the moment that giant spider appeared. Of course, Iria would try to stop him, but would more than likely fail, because Fujikuro is... well, you get the general idea, right? Iria doesn't show the least bit of fear at this spider, though. She's hunted things worse than it, and she's not about to assume it's an enemy just yet. Instead, she simply stands attentively, a neutral look on her face. As they talk to the spider, it appears that this spider does not mean any harm, so Iria waits patiently... a rare occurrence for Iria. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya seems to be on her way and it doesn't take long for her to end up falling in with the others at this point Rick being here is no shock. It's his daughter that's in ne hell of a mess one way or another. Richard was many things, an uncaring father? That was one thing he certainly was not. She was glad he was here and shenotes about the weapon she has across her back. "Law and order isn't secure on my home world and I travel the multiverse a lot. I want to be ready to protect myself nothing more. I like not having to use it honestly. She doesn't say a thing to blow RIck's coer as she moved to sit downa nd she took time to listen to Xiaomu for the moment. She's also trying to be respectful of things but Maya does not have the most experiance what she does have teh sense to do however seems to be trying to follow Xiaomu's lead and nods in agreement to the latern. "I think the idea to count from the day you were no longer a normal Latern works." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "POSSESSED?!" the latern squeaks. Chiisai seems shocked! Taikai equally alarmed. "What could have /caused/ such a thing?! Possession, against the guardian? Hrmm, very serious business indeed." the latern ghost's paper-thin voice croaks, and its lone eye waggles a bit at Staren. "What is your theory on it? You seem to be the smartest of the bunch, talking to us."     "Mhmm! Mmhmm!" Taikai gives a nod, and brightly replies "Because of course, /we/ know where Yunomi is! It's our business to know, after all."     O-Hiko pointedly looks at Richard, seeing as this human appears to be their leader, and she glances in a quiet expression up in Estano's direction -- because of course, she knows what her children see, and she turns, and in turn gives a small bow to Xiaomu and Sanary, and a slightly deeper one to her 'host' in Ravnica, Ryxinel.     "I am aware that Ijiwaru, this very moment, is searching for our home here. It is foremost that I protect the others." O-Hiko states quietly: "In a proper guardian's absence, it appears to fall to me to pick up where the former left off -- but here we are crowded. My sentries report that the Gruul stalk closer, and not wanting to risk trouble between the guilds -- we have been... living tightly." O-Hiko explains, and motions with a slender hand, blood red nails cruely pointed, to the shanties and tents. "Temporarily, this is fine. Many older Yokai remember the wars. Some of the younger, though... they are finding it..."     "OKAASAMA! LOOKIT ME!" Meeko cries out, and she's being whisked about by one of the children with no faces, waving her legs in the air. The body language of the faceless child seems to indicate they're not comfortable with the situation.     "-- ... trying." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Meanwhile, Corona is served a big, steaming bowl of noodles and vegetables, shaved meat floating on the top, fresh green onions stirred in just before service. There is a little spoon and a large pair of chopsticks for her use. Just before she can dig in, a wizened little man cracks a very small brown egg over the bowl, and the egg folds in on itself as it cooks in the boiling hot liquid. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Xiaomu has to work HARD at it, but she manages - just barely - to suppress the impulse to roll her eyes at Staren. Possessing is something that spirits do to *humans*, and as a tanuki, Yunomi is hardly mortal enough to worry about getting possessed. Generally speaking, at least. There could be exceptions - there are some beings which can subjugage youkai to their will too, after all. But then again, Chiisai takes the mention of 'possession' seriously. So maybe Xiaomu ought to follow suit. It certainly helps keep her from rolling her eyes. "The magic-eaters are your ancient enemies, aren't they?" Xiaomu asks as O-Hiko brings up Ijiwaru. "I hate that you've been forced into hiding like this, in tight spaces no mortal or youkai should have to endure. Perhaps, if you do not know where to find Yunomi, you might help us prepare to fight against Ijiwaru and his ilk." *Now* Xiaomu gets down on one knee, thumping the butt of her staff against her ground so that the rings let out a loud jingle. "I am Xiaomu, huli jing, pledged to the service of an agency called Shinra," the sage fox introduces herself formally. "It is my privilege and honor to meet you, O-Hiko, queen among the spiders. If I may be of assistance to you without breaking my pledges to others, ask what you would need of me, and I shall do what lies within my power." She looks up from genuflecting, then rises smoothly back to her feet if it seems appropriate to do so. "What the magic-eaters and their ancestors stooped to ... preventing those kinds of excesses is the greater part of Shinra's goal in the Japan where I make my home," Xiaomu continues. "While youkai in my world still conceal their true natures, Shinra makes its goal to prevent human or youkai from coming into conflict, and even now, there are youkai who wish to tear down the society that the humans of Japan have built. To intercede and end a similar conflict, even from a world far from my own, seems to be part of my promises to Shinra, in spirit if not in word." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Thank goodness there's a spoon, because Corona has no idea how to use the chopsticks. Expect maybe to spear veggies in the broth, but she's pretty sure that's not the right way. She plops some money on the counter and takes the bowl in her hand, and the spoon in the other. That's pretty hot if the egg cooked right then and there. But she's accustomed to eating hot things. So twirls the spoon a few times to get a bit of everything of noodles and meat and veggies on it before scooping it into her mouth. "MmmMmm. Though Ah don't reconize all the fixins..." Corona looks down at the bowl for a moment. It occurs to her that they didn't see any sort of 'livestock' on the way down. The girl over there with the cow tail definately doesn't count. She starts getting another spoonful even as she looks back up to the nekomata waitress. "What kinda meat did ya say this is?" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren blinks, surprised that the lantern and umbrella are taking him seriously. "Well... I think that someone killed the guardian spirit in Namamura... so when Yunomi tried to pull the guardian spirit through to Ravnica, something /else/ hitched a ride instead, and posessed Yunomi. I'm not sure what, though... I don't really know much about Namamura... except that the afterlife is a terrible place. If any spirit escaped from there, they'd probably be mad with anger and hatred for the world." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Upon seeing Xiaomu kneel down and introduce herself, Iria does the same as well. "I am Iria, bounty hunter 9979-5. It's an honor to meet you as well, O-Hiko." She speaks with respect to this spider queen, without thinking it strange in the least bit. Still, there is a hint of uneasiness within her, as if something doesn't feel right about her speaking with a giant spider. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Rebound probably blends in well enough herself, as she follows Corona up to the food vendor, "You know that's probably, uh.." She shrugs, "You know who knows what it is. But it's not steak, that's for sure." She looks back over her shoulder at the situation going on behind her, all the noise and stuff, "These people are just innocents in all of this, forced to live underground because of that asshole Ijiwaru. I shoulda just punched him in the damn face when I had the chance." 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' Oh, right. Bowing. Hopping onto her feet and nearly toppling over in her haste, Sanary somehow manages to return O-Hiko's bow with a formal one of her own. Just because she came from the countryside doesn't mean she hasn't learned proper manners over the years!      "Why would that guy be looking for this place? From what I heard, didn't he already cause enough dam...?" The healer scowls a bit before taking a breath to calm herself, an irritated grumble escaping her throat before she crosses her arms. "... Typical... Ech." Another grunt, and the healer straightens up to give O-Hiko a practiced salute.      "Sanary Rondel, healer and captain for the Confederacy. Pleased to meet you..." She pauses, taking a cue off of Xiaomu's introduction. "... Queen O-Hiko. Can't promise the Confederacy's assistance in this mess, but... If that Ijiwaru comes around to cause trouble, let me know. People like him piss me off, so..."      The healer hesitates for a few moments as she glances around at the Unionites gathered around, then turns to them properly and holds a hand out to nobody in particular. "... I won't get in your way if you don't shoot me in the back. Deal?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "If the Gruul are breaching the border, it is very much a situation we need to address. I'll see about getting some weirds down here, if it won't bother the folk here. The Izzet feel it is very much our responsibility to take care of anyone from Namamura that was displaced due to Gohan's influence, so, if there is anything we can do, we will do it. In regards to Ijiwaru, well, he's probably about to try and have our whole guild dissolved. I'm fairly certain it won't work.." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler gives O-Hiko a bit of a look through his mask to her. He doesn't need a bow; really, he was expecting a more narrowed glance to himself and Estano up on his perch, so he'll /take/ pointed. "I don't like the sound of any of that. Esspecially things in the night stalking closer. I assume a miltia or a Search and Destroy team is out of the question, but I'd be glad to sweep some of your main routs once our job here is done." He says, following the Spider being taken away by children at... play? And really, that little spider was making the best of it. "As for Ijiwaru... To be honest, that's part of why I'm here. If any of you have seen him, or his people, let me know. And I'll see if I can't lessen some pressure." The way his hand tightens on the grip of the HK416 hanging in front of his tactical vest shows what he means when he wants to lessen pressure. Stadler looks over to Staren, for one moment, talking to the latern and mentioning things about how Yunomi was possessed. "I doubt she was possessed." He says to the small group. "Doesn't seem like her style from what we've learned. She has a plan, and to my increasing frusturation, I can't see what it is." One can hear it in his voice, before he stares at the latern. "Oh, do you. Where, then?" In a deadpan that shows he doesn't beleive much of it. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya listens to hear topic of Poession and Yunomi her rebinding Yu and the rest may have been Yunomi stuggling against such control to save them. She looks to the Latern for a moment and nhumms and she looks back to Taikai for a moment then settles in for listening to what o-kiko has to say. Then Meeko burst sin so to speak as she waves he legs in the air and just tries to not laugh which she's able to do she knows they have to focus on the situation. Staren just has no reaction from Maya will place anorder too of the food she has some anti toxin herbs if something doesn't agree with her right? "It's not right you have been forced to hide like this. Your people do not deserve this either." She pauses at Xiaomu and does omething as well. "I wish to offer myself to aid your people int his time of crisis O-Hiko. So long as it does not interfear with any oaths of service I currently hold." While Maya doesn't know /everything/ she is following Xiaomus lead and does kneel. It's very rare for Maya to kneel very rare and Rick might notice that. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' And Sanary gets a look from Stadler, as well. "Don't act stupid, and I won't spend bullets trying to correct it." He says simply. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Hrmm... yess. the afterlife. Very terrible. Whoever is in charge of it should be ashamed of themselves. Very shameful. Very nasty. No one likes nasty afterlives." Chiisai agrees quite seriously with Staren, nodding his fat head. Takai's eye rolls in his canopy, which half-flaps. "Though what could have hitched a ride? ooh! You don't think it's a yurei, do you? Oooh! LIke the girl in the well in that documentary! What was it called? 'The Girl in the Well Who Haunted People to Death', I think." the umbrella recalls.     Chiisai looks up at Richard. He blinks his eye. And then he hops! "OOH! OOH! I KNOW THE ANSWER! Has anyone checked in the cupboard, that blue one? With the vending machines that move around!"     O-Hiko gives a small smile. "My people are used to hiding; the Yokai have never been so out in the open as they were before the wars, when there were more... apparent issues." the spider queen replies, and shakes her head, drawing her hands upwards. "Please, here I am simply a very busy mother, no queen. Not royalty. My titles were for a battle fought many, many years ago." she almost blushes, and she draws herself up a bit, and as the faceless boy rushes past, a hand reaches out and draws Meeko up and off him, and the little spider flits about over her mother'ss arm a moment, before settling at her shoulder.     People continue to mill around, there's some cross words grunted at each other as a pair of kappa fight for water. A woman's head with a long, long, looong neck snaking behind her appears to poke over all of the armed mercenaries' forms. A figure in a brown hood, stooped over draws awayf rom the grouping, shifting weight with a sack under one arm.     "Oh. We found some loosened, floating animals off one of the markets when we foraged. It's very fresh, very light tasting!" the little wizened man replies to Corona, and beside her, a man whose eyes are far, far too big for his face and whose mouth hangs open like a fish taps his chopsticks, lifts his bowl, uses his chopsticks to pull his bottom lip out and pourl the bowl -- contents, noodles, broth, bowl, and spoon -- into his lip. It stretches like a pelican's. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite pauses in lifting another spoonful to her mouth. "Just.. random animals?" Looks down at the bowl of noodles and veggies in broth with.. mystery meats. "Mystery meat ramen..." The people down here are rather out of the way of easy supplies other than scavanging, though... Then again, Corona remembers what it feels like having to just scrounge whatever you can living off the streets. Corona stuffs the spoonful into her mouth even as she turns away from the stand to return to the rest of the group. "Still the best damn ramen Ah've tasted in a long time." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "True, of course, O-Hiko, but even in hiding, you can be comfortable. If you would like us to try and expand the area, just so you have some more space, we can at least try. Better security, more access to whatever you need, just ask," Ryxinel offers once again. A light sigh, then he starts to look around, just forming ideas in his head, visualizing things that could be built. His gaze settles on someone rushing along, head tilting a moment, before the gaze moves on. Back to O-Hiko, then. "Have you heard anything, then? Maybe a place to look or information overlooked? I realize the chance is slim, but there is no reason not to ask. Rhapsody insists to search even in vain, if needed, so since I am here, I may as well ask." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren blinks. "Really? I thought... you were all happy with the afterlife. I mean... Yunomi doesn't think it should be changed..." His ears splay a bit at that sad thought. "...Wait, 'The Ring' was a documentary in your world?" He'll take some ramen too. As long as the mystery meat is tasty, right? "So... is that a thing that happens? If it /was/ a ghost, how do we exorcise it?" 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' "'Mother' is no less a title than 'queen,'" Xiaomu points out respectfully. "Titles notwithstanding, though, the ancient war threatens to return in the present day, and I would not see you, nor any of your people, nor Yunomi herself fall victim to misguided mortal bloodthirst." Her ears flatten against her hair, her expression going from 'serious' to 'somber'. "We have to stop the magic-eaters. If their lives can be spared, all the better, I suppose ... but they may not permit us that option. And Yunomi's friends are dead-set upon helping her however they can. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria simply stands by idly as Xiaomu does the talking, since Iria's more about action than words. She doesn't want to risk saying the wrong thing and getting everyone in trouble. It's quite a contrast from the normal Iria, who's usually all about action and excitement. But when it comes to Yunomi, it seems Iria's willing to adapt herself as necessary. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya says "Just because you must hide does not mean you should live in misery O-hiko." Maya notes. "We didn't have much when I was ... young but it wans't a bad life for the most part even iof we lived in anotehr people's shadow." She now lleans back. She pauses "The ring waqs a documentary in your world?!" She's got no issue about the food and she now goes quiet to think. "I admit I don't take well to predaction Xiaomu but I'll respet your wishes regarding them. Still Yuomi's life and any bystanders comes before theirs." 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' Eventually lowering her hand, Sanary lets out a light sigh before turning to STadler with... A grin? "Could say the same to you. Good enough for me." She chuckles lightly in approval, then turns back to O-hiko and watches her curiously as she handles Meeko.      "Still... These kids deserve better. Hiding out like this..." She trails off and hums to herself for a moment, then steps forward and peers at the spider-child with a smile that's only slightly awkward.      So many eyes. "We're gonna take care of this, alright? Just sit tight and be good for your mom, huh?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Looked enough like beef." the man shrugs at Corona, and goes back to chopping.     "What? Oh! OH no, we don't have movies. Our Japan is still in the Fuedal Era, even the United States is still at war and these two huge giants called Jefferson and Abraham are battling over a boat in the atlantic and they shoot great balls of steel and light fire out of their eyes and lightning from their--"     "Chiisai!" Takai interrupts, "He is probably American, and from the future, he knows all about Giant Abraham Lincoln and his horde of zombie vampires named Roosevelt!"     The little old man at the counter looks at Chiisai and Takai... and then gives Staren not only a bowl of ramen, but pours a little cup of sake for the cat-boy.     O-Hiko gives a small smile at Ryxinel, and gives a nod of her head. "I still hope the situation will be temporary, and that all of us may return to what we have called nor mal since leaving Namamura."     Estano is not alone. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "As for your question, Ryxinel -- I cannot think of a place that my children have not checked for her presence. It deeply saddens me that she continues to hide from all who would see her restored." O-Hiko adds quietly. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Well, she supposes it looks okay. Rebound takes the chopsticks and then snatches up some of the noodles from Corona's bowl, "I suppose as long as strange alien meat and veggies doesn't make you sick." She says, with a bit of a laugh, "You'll be good to go. Plus if it does, now we can be sick together." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler gives Chiisai a look. A long, unblinking stare, for just a few seconds longer than is comfortable, before nodding. "Well, I'm sold. Why don't you go check and see if she's there. You find her, tell her her father loves her." Hey, why not hedge your best on the off chance they knew what they were talking about! And Stadler, again, had enough self control to stay still and simply regard the head as it worked all over their forms, giving the barest of nods at it, before pointedly looking in other places. If they were curious, let them look. If they got dangerous, so would he. Though... The man with the hood, he gets another look. <Estano, brown hood. Track him from stationary. Let me know where he goes." He says. That's all, as he turns to the Spider Queen. "Members of the community can stand up in times of trouble, you know. Whatever your title was then, it is what it is now. Do what you can for however long you can, and then pass it on to someone else." Then /back/ to Chiisai... and steeps forward. "Are you implying that President Abrham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator and saviour of our great Union, would embark upon unholy magics to raise a horde of vampire zombies? And if they did, he could base them on Theodore Roosevelt? The /Rough Rider/ himself?" His tone is silightly omnious, though most here could probably see he needed to blow off a /bit/ of steam, and this seems to be a decent way to do it. Estano nods tothe order himself, tasking his people to the edge of the roof they were on, attempting to follow... before pausing for a moment. He doesn't speak on the radio, doesn't talk. Just lets a gloved hand drift down to the M1911 holstered at his hip, removing the holster snap slowly, cocking the hammer. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite shrugs a shoulder in response to Rebound. Only one, as she doesn't want to disrupt the bowl in her hand. "Ah'm part fennec. We eat all kindsa bugs and lizards and other small desert critters." ... It's really hard to tell if that's a serious answer or not. Well, the part fennec part is. Her father was basically a anthro space fennec fox. Part of the reason she's kind of short. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Despite the answer, Ryxinel still offers a smile, "Had to ask, just to be sure, O-Hiko. Thank you," he offers, going back to visualization of the area. A glance is sent over toward Corona and Rebound, then the ramen bowl. "The local fare? Good, is it?" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren listens curiously. He wonders how much of that is misunderstandings and how much is just the world being different. "America's not a country anymore in my time. I'm from one of the further-ahead futures. I'm from the Free City of Lazlo. It's built on the site of Toronto, Canada, if you're curious." He takes a couple bites of his ramen. "Seriously, what do we do if she /is/ posessed by a ghost? I have no diea how ghosts work on your world. Or mine, for that matter." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Chiisai looks up at Richard Stadler. And then his eye goes wiiiide. So wide that his other eye opens slightly and then he gives a hearty nod!     Then he shakes his head.     "No, no, the one with the mechanical legs whose main attack is NNUUUUUUUU DEEAAAARRUUUU!" the latern ghost says, and gives a very affirmitive nod.     Nope, not Teddy. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Xiaomu just blinks a few times at the discussion of Lincoln fighting Roosevelt, or whatever was going on. "Okay, I think your world's history is officially weirder than my world's history," the sage fox says with a wry grin. The 'NUUUUU DEAAAAAARRRUUU' part almost makes her crack up laughing. But the sage fox gathers herself again, nodding to O-Hiko. "As I said, whatever I can do to help with that. Best if you all could return to Namamura ... I doubt that Yunomi was possessed," she admits, "but from what I know of the situation, it doesn't make sense that she would do what she's been accused of out of her own free will. So if nothing is compelling her, the next most likely explanation is that except perhaps for what reliable witnesses who trust their senses *saw* Yunomi doing ... it must not have been Yunomi who committed the deeds she's been blamed for, that *haven't* been directly witnessed." 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya comments on the matter of meat "So long as it wasn't a person? Meat is meat." She notes then leans back a bit and can't help but smile as they talk about America, the picture that is being painted about America it's a bit of lightness she needed but it doens't last long. "You mean someone weaved a powerful illusion is what your thinking Xiaomu? 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe figure in brown seems to pause. IT glances behind, away, over a shoulder, a little bit of dark brown hair slipping from beneath the hood.     The dark brown briefly turns to an Izzet Scarlet.     And then the figure passes behind a wide support pillar -- and is gone from the sniper's sight. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     -- just as the back of Estano's body might pick up the heat of a sudden fireball.     "So, is this where she's been hiding all the /fun/ people?" comes a slithering voice, and above, on Estano's perch, a brilliant light illuminates the Spider's Den and Shantytown, blinding white followed by orange-red!     And mad laughter echoes. "ALL HAIL THE DRAGON'S FIRE!" cackles an unhinged laughter. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     It figures that while Ryxinel is visualizing things, the massive light basically blinds the red dragon. It was like looking into the sun! "AGH!" he staggers, he shields his eyes, but he also hears what is said, and what the radio blurts out, "No no no.." he fumbles for his radio, and then blurts out, "I need Petra-Hydrox deployed down here! NOW!" It would still be a few minutes, but the air-earth elementals would be the best things to try and keep everything from collapsing. "And a rapid construction team as soon as possible!" He adds, realizing the supports would need reinforced, "AND DRAGONAUGHTS!" to get whoever was responsible! 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Xiaomu's ears prick up even before she consciously notices the sounds of trouble starting up ... and when the slithering voice, followed by the mad laughter, break out? Oh, it is so TOTALLY on. The rings on Xiaomu's staff jangle as she slams its butt on the ground hard enough to *embed* the staff an inch or so into the rock - just enough to keep it standing upright while she needs her hands for something else. The jangling hasn't even faded when she reaches into her vest, drawing out a pair of handguns, one ready in each hand, safeties already clicking off as she draws a bead on the source of the laughter. And then she actually opens fire, a hail of bullets - standard ammunition, no magic or even particular anti-spirit effects - racing towards the maniac with the fireballs. Or are those just pyrotechnic shotgun rounds? Well, either way, he's about to have too many holes in him to keep laughing. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "..." Corona takes a moment to lick some remaining broth from the bowl before tossing it aside with a surprising amount of calmness. "Knew this was going way too quietly," she remarks towards Rebound, before yanking her goggles up into place and sprinting off towards where the fires went off higher up. One hand drops to her tool belt... But instead of a weapon drawn she yanks up her Matter Manipulator. Though she does give it a fancy gunslinger twirl just the same before pointing and activating it, the horseshoe-like shape clicking open and starting to flicker subspacial energy. "Don't worry 'bout construction, just get after whoever did that!" The engineer must of been thinking the same lines of reinforcing as Ryxinel, as she generates several stone blocks from the device's inventory and stacking them up into extra pillars of support under the upper level. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The people watch the figure move around, one of the troopers spying the brown hooded figure through the glass of a scope, just to see that different hair collor. "SarMajor, I think-" He calls out, turning... but not able to report before everyone's turning to the feeling of heat and flames behind him. His eyes shut tight as he whirls around, tracking where he though the voice was coming from, pulling the trigger on the .45 pistol again and again, seven times to empty the clip, as the rest of his team spray the area behind them with gunfire fire. And this isn't something lost on Stadler. As the fireball goes off, Stadler's people on the ground seem to go with an automatic reaction, hitting the deck and covering their eyes, rolling toward where they saw cover. "Targets!" He yells into the radio. "Find me targets! Do /not/ engage with explosive or incendaries!" He yells out, managing to take a position behind a pillar and point his weapon up toward the roof. He didn't have a target yet, and he wouldn't unless Estano was able to draw him off of that rooof. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Trouble's here, and Iria's on high alert. In fact, when she hears that strange voice and then the laughter, Iria's really in her worst mood now. It's obvious someone laughing like that while talking like that is here to cause trouble. Xiaomu isn't going to bother with warning shots and neither is Iria. She draws her assault rifle and aims in the direction that Xiaomu is aiming and fires off several bursts of gunfire. "You're gonna regret messing with the best!" 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' Straightening back up, Sanary looks up at the sudden outburst of someone... Laughing? It's not the friendly sort of laughter, that's for sure, but with the sound of the explosion rocking the air, sit's not hard to figure out that defenses are needed sooner rather than later.      "Watch your heads! Get the kids inside!" She shouts in warning, looking over at O-Hiko and Meeko before focusing her energies outwards. Large bricks of gray... Something or another made of magical energy and looking not unlike distorted plastic start to form in the air, slowly gathering into a makeshift wall as Sanary starts glancing around rapidly to see where the maniacal mage might be targetting his attacks next.      Also, trying to figure out who the kids in this place even are. Sanary's not used to identify yokai ages by appearance alone, but at least she can provide them with cover in the form of a magical brick wall! 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya is not going to get to enjoy her food right now but that's not so imporant anymore. The entire house may be comming down here She can't do the sort of barrier work that somecan but she can do some warding to protect people more. She will channel blue fire from her body she'll try to ward the people she can but she's going to not delay for long they need to find who did this or find a way to keep it from /going down/. She has an idea but it would be final resort if she had to summon Humbraba the elemental lord of earth... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yu and Mi tumble out of Ryxinnel's bag, and hit the floor running, each holding onto their sister's hand as they go through the flotsam and Jetsam of falling rock and trampling feet.     "You saw, right?" Yu asks, and Mi huffs     "Don't say anything and keep running!"     The two disappear into the crowds.     Below the fire, a pillar rises from the ground, spreading out thick, oaken boughs in order to support the burning platform -- atl east temporarily. Plenty of limbs to climb down, almost as if someone custom-grew that tree right there, its greenery shuddering slightly beneath the weight.     There are screaming yokai. Bellowing yokai. Yokai who are cowering away from yet another threat to their lives -- and they all begin to run. They all begin to flee as more combatants show up in the form of brown-cloaked mages, unguilded -- Guildless -- who begin to sling spells not at the Yokai -- but some at each other as well. A fireball. AN ice ball. A counterspell that causes a bolt of lightning to fizzle out as it arcs overhead!     Pandemonium! 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     And up above, the mage hwose fireball had engulfed the sniper's platform was laughing, a sheild had gone up -- but not quite fast enough. He's been shot. His head is half shaved, the other half shaggy and long, matted and caked with dirt. He has one eye. He has scars covering his torso, and he stumbles backwards, giving a toothless, croaking laugh.     "Oh, oh, you're fun ones, aincha? You're fun to play with. You got tech that bites." he grins, and he reaches out, his hand crackling with fire again. "I've got fire that bites. Wanna see a bite, prettyboy?" 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' More attackers?! Gritting her teeth, Sanary's quickly regretting not bringing her usual shields along as she's forced to split those brick piles around, scattering them around to try and intercept at least some of those spells being slung at the Yokai. She can't get all of them on her own, but she can at least hope that between her own and Maya's efforts, they can at least mitigate some of the immediate harm to a good number of the Yokai. But with so many Yokai scattering and running everywhere, it'd be too hard to keep defending them like this for long!      Unless... "Gather around me, yokai! We'll keep you covered, so stick close!" Sanary shouts, trying to get both the screaming yokai's attention as well as Maya's while redoubling her efforts on generating and maneuvering those makeshift magic brick shields. She just has to hope they actually cooperate quickly enough before her reserves are drained. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "Sigh." Rebound actually says it, not just making the sound. She was kind of hoping they could just get through the night without anything crazy. But she's wrong. Whatever is attacking, she's not sure yet, but it's something she'll have to deal with. Hopping down from where the food shack was, she looks up at where the fire wielding creature is, "Who the hell is this guy?" She asks. Oh well, no big deal who he is. She plants her feet and leaps up, intending to plant herself between that attacker and everyone else, "Hey, jackass!" She points one of her fingers at him, "You just show up here, start blowing shit up, no regard for anybody. Well now you've gotta deal with me." She's not going to do much to give him a chance to respond, as she drives forward to kick one of her feet at the fireball flinging foe. Doesn't matter to her who he is, she's going to plant him like crops in the spring. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren just wants to know how to exorcise Yunomi! But instead...     "See, THIS is why we carry weapons everywhere!" He tries to find some cover, activating his protoabstractum armor for some amount of protection. Plates and crystals cover his body. From his bag, coconut-sized camera drones and smaller, insectlike drones take to the sky, or what passes for it here, scanning for targets.     Except... He can't use missiles right now when the shelf is in danger of collapsing. "Rrrrrgh... Why can't they all JUST DIE?!" His support AI tags any mages that attack his allies or the youkai, and Staren engages in cover shooting. The drones let him know where he'll need to aim before they can see him, at least, and his double-barreled laser pistol is nothing to sneeze at. "The future is better off without you! Get out of my light cone!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Once called, the Petrahydrox show up faster than anything else the Izzet could send out. The elementals are hard to see except for the rocks that are trapped in the swirling vortexes that make up their bodies. They move -very- quickly to collect any loose material they can, and then surge to support any platform they feel need more support. They do this by expelling most of their air, form pillars, and basically do all they can. The Dragonaughts come flying in next. Magwrights and even a few goblins surging through the air on crackling electrified wings that somewhat resemble dragonswings. They -are- spellslingers, however. A pair break off to head for the one hurling fireballs while the rest move to hold off the Guildless. At least one projects their voice, magically. "THIS IS IZZET TERRITORY. THE GUILDLESS WILL DISPERSE OR BE REMOVED FORCEFULLY!"     Meanwhile, in the Namamura district, a familiar soldier just kicked down the door outward from her home again and is -running- for O-Hiko's domain. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Oh hey, loose chunks of concrete and pipe. Staren pulls stored animation spells from his bag and sends a half-dozen rubble golems out to attack as well! 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Wait, mages? Actual Ravnican mages are here too? Not just magic-eaters? Xiaomu shakes her head briefly, finishes emptying her clips at the Guildless, then grabs her staff and - "XIAOMU BLIZZARD!!!" - goes sledding. More accurately, she conjures a big, fairly smooth-bottomed block of ice, plants her feet on it, and uses the same magic that conjured the ice to go skidding along the ground. She's building the ice up to make a protective 'wall' along one side of her conjured ice platform, too - and she's gonna need it, because she's hurtling straight towards the Guildless. Xiaomu takes advantage of the protection and speed she's created for herself to reload her handguns - anti-spirit rounds this time: she may be fighting humans, but with any luck the anti-spirit rounds will carry an extra punch against the Ravnican mages. She cringes at an incoming fireball -- "HIGH SPEED XIAOMU!!!" And just JUMPS off the ice-sledge before the fireball blows it into ice-water and snowcones, hurtling through the air and aiming to come down practically in the middle of the magi. She won't be there long, though: a speedy delivery of kicks, chops, sweeps, and close-range gunfire should do a number on the Guildless - probably not deadly, certainly not to ALL of them - and then she just runs the hell away, dispensing more bullets in her wake and grabbing her staff from where it landed. She needs to hide behind something more durable than a tent while she sizes up the situation. She'd just as soon not depend on the already-abused architecture of the cavern for that. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' There's no time to really question who starts springing up trees and vines to help support the flaming upper levels, Corona is just going to be glad someone did. Doesn't help matters that now all the other no-guilds are showing up, and catching the Spider's Den in the crossfire. "What do they think this is, a battlefield?!" Or at least they're trying to make it into one. "Buncha pissy son of a--" A chunk of something falling loose from the upper levels to the street bearby drawns her out momentarily. "Just keep holdin' it up so folks can get down!" she shouts to the weirds comin' in to help support the supports, as well as whoever was conjuring up the greenery. The fox actually sprints for the broken section that fell, using it as a rampway to get up higher instead of disrupting the precarious supports they just got up by climbing on them. From the top of that she hops off and bounds across a rooftop edge to get back towards where the worst of the flames are roaring on the upper level. The Manipulator is switched for the Terminal Viscosity, which Corona lock and loads a canister of flame suppressant into. At the edge of the rooftop the nimble vixen jumps off, only to start parkouring across one of the larger lengths of pipe, while shooting her liguid projectile gun loaded with suppressant at the fires in an effort to get them doused before they burn through more infrastructure crashing down. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' On the ground level, Stadler and his team seek cover with the sudden blast of magic and destrictive forces swirling around them. And grimaces. No one was showing their face out here, and no party was acting out in the open. It was just mages that didn't belong to anyone... and who killing would cause more harm then good in terms of politics. "Cameras on." He says, flicking on a body camera at his vest. "Record everything, and let NSA go through it later. Go LTL." He says, letting his rifle hang on the sling, and popping a pistol gripped taser out from a holster. One of the mages is aimed at, and gets a cartiridge full of darts and wires. Similar shocks go out from the rest of his fire team, before they're reloading. "LTL, he says." Estano mutters, as he sees this half shaved, crazed man in front of them. And he's reloading his pistol with another clip. Better to ask for forgiveness than beg for permission, as more .45 rounds fire forward. Potentially slamming aganist that shield as he yells. "The edge! Get to the edge! The platform suddenly becomes more stable, but no one had seen whatever guardian angel had done it. Estano just knew his people had a few more seconds to get to the ground before the town collapsed around them. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Things have fallen into madness, Sanary does help with more barrier work, this allows Maya to switch out what she's doiong herself ot better aid in the defnce to tyr and stop this madness from happening. The attacker is well in hand by her allies she's going to start working on more magic she starts moving cast a spell to curse and hopefuly weakne those people who are going mad on eachother like a form of riot control she's tryingto settle the guildess down before things become /even/ worse. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     Madness?     THIS. IS.     ... an oppertune moment.     Those who feel magic may feel a strange, sucking senation.     And those who know what it feels like when Ijiwaru is nearby will recognize the gravity of his presence.     Clad in tactical armor, the leader of the Magic-Eaters is taking the field, and he draws his sword. There's a hush that seems to follow him as he moves through the crowd, taking blows for mages and yokai alike, the sword absorbing lightning, fire, ice, splitting magic into particles of light as he goes, seeking to try and disrupt the fight.      -- yes. He's helping. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     More attackers!     Sanary plays shield, and Yokai gather around her, the faceless boy and one-eyed monk alike, reaching out and holding hands, afraid. The woman with the cow's tail and her child, her eyes wide as she wraps her arms around him.     Then a very, very large section of wall picks itself up, grumbling, rumbling, and parks himself in front of Sanary, wheezing in Japanese: "I, too, shield."     The food shack was, indeed. It is a was, smooshed. The cat and the old man appear to be safe though, fleeing away with a bowl of ramen held over their heads!     No, they can't just die. These mages, these guildless, were caught up in their own turf battles against each other, though they seem... surprised when their spells fizzle out on the blade of a sword!     Xiaomu conjurs her ice, and goes sledding along, hurdling twoards the Guidleess and -- goodness gracious -- strikes a group of them, they go flying with the sound of a bowling ball striking the pins followed by gunfire?!     What a day to be a Guidless. There is plenty of cover in the form of upturned chunks of concrete.     The fires are beginning to die down! Corona's efforts are rewarded with fire control as the flames supress really, really well, in spite of the half-cocked halfbald.     The Weirds arrive, extra mages. The figure in a brown robe slips among some f the ruins, pausing for just a moment before disappearing again, leaping into the fray.     More fires are supressed. The tree remains.     The two little Kodama are trying their best, tending to the tree with hteir own little bits of magic, keeping it strong and re-enforcing creeking boughs as the weirds arrive to help, as more supports go up! Mi looks exhausted, her face yellowing again as Yu's bright rosepetal pink hair seems to dim. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Oh, there's a chunk of rubble big enough to use for cover. Xiaomu dives over it before hunkering down, then - You know that sensation when you're inside a heated house and somebody opens a door to the cold outside and leaves it open? How heat just saps away from the whole house, leaking away to leave a chill that doesn't belong indoors? That's kind of how it feels for Xiaomu when a magic-eater walks through in full magic-eating splendor, and the sage fox quickly reaches out from behind her cover, drawing a bead on Ijiwaru. The only thing that stops her from pulling the trigger right the hell *now* is that he's sort of ... trying to stop the Guildless from tossing more spells around? She ducks back under cover, grabbing her staff again and setting up a warding circle. Normally she'd do that to try to contain another threat, but in this case, at this point, she turns it inside out and sets it up as a protective warding barrier - surrounding *herself* to keep that magic-eater from casually leeching HER magic away. He might still gnaw away at the barrier itself, but if so, she'll deal with that shortly. For now, she's fiddling with her radio - and looking around to see if any other youkai need shelter. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Izzet reinforcements start to pour in. It seems someone else insisted any non-fire weirds were to head down to assist against the Guildless. Dragonaughts continue to strafe and counterspell the guildless as needed. Ryxinel starts to gain his eyesight back and begins to move in the direction that he saw Yu and Mi going, desperate to find them. And then one more person shows up. White hair, armored, former Boros, and looking -truly pissed off- about what is taking place. "I think someone forgot to gimme my invitation!" she yells before marching right into the foray. Her sword is drawn, she leaps, she jams it into the ground in the midst of them all, and then it lives up to its name, sending out a shock to those near her, and it. Not to kill, but to incapacitate. Its during this that she spots A CERTAIN SOMEONE and her gaze somehow turns even more angry, then steadies. "HEY! Yer actually helpin' these things? I thought you didn't like'm!" No one else was going to ask why.. not nicely at least. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite pauses for a moment to perch on a stable piece of structure so she can eject the empty canister and load a new one. In doing so she catchs sight of a certain someone wading into the fight soaking up the magic being slung about as a means of dispelling it. Ugh, showing up at times that would be convenient to him in some way seems to be an Ijiwaru trademark. From her perch Corona could switch to one of her long-range weapons and easily snipe a shot at him and move before anyone could notice she had stopped to do so... ... But as much as she didn't trust him, or didn't doubt he was still somehow tied to these things... he apparently helping... And doing so would draw her effort away from the stopping the fires from destroying what town these misplaced folks had. And because she also notices the tiny spirits starting to faulter despite their efforts. Priorities win out. Helping allies comes before smacking jerks she has very little patience for. With her weapon reloaded Corona hops off her perch and resumes her spray-n-dash effort, though in doing so starts maneuvering back towards where Mi and Yu are. If nothing else so she can scoop the tiny faes out of harms way if they exhaust themselves. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' The good news: the Yokai are gathering! That's definitely going to make things easier for Sanary as far as not having to spread her self thin. The bad news: Holy crap they're actually relying on her. That's definitely not going to put any pressure on the healer to perform or anything like that as new bricks move in to replace others that are blown apart by spells flying around. Just how long is this going to keep going? She squints a bit at the armored figure of Ijimaru wading through the mages, luckily not recognizing him through appearance alone. Still, if he's stopping some of those attacks from doing damage, he's probably on their side.      And then there's the big wall coming to help! "You're with me, then? Alright... Let's keep everyone safe, big guy!" Maneuvering those magic bricks around some more, the healer braces some of those magic bricks against the wall Yokai to create a makeshift house-like barrier for the yokai huddling nearby. Focusing even more energy outwards, Sanary even links herself with the wall Yokai with a bright green light beam to feed healing energy into him should the worst hit him.      "We got ya. Just hold tight, okay?" Despite her bravado, however, the nearby Yokai might notice that Sanary's sweating and straining quite a lot just to keep the shield in place. She doesn't evennotice that her energy is getting drained in the process, apparently chalking it up to just fatigue. She's not going to pass out on them, is she? 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "I--" Ijiwaru blocks, a blow with his sword. The edge glows an angry red "told you all..." he whips around, crossing weapons with another, kicking them away --     "I was willing to /live and let live/." he growls, and he pants the tip of his sword down, concentrating and with a swipe of his hand, there's an explosive force outwards, sending guildless mages flying backwards, out of the hole to the Gruul Clan territories. "Act now, you can all cynically call me names later!"     and he continues on, sweeping through the battlefield absorbing magical attacks for others, even though his hands begin to sizzle as the weapon gets hot.     Meanwhile, Halfbald's sheild holds up pretty well. He cackles evilly, and begins to charge lightning, his hand crackling as he raises it, drawing it to Estano.     "Are you one of the outsider's favorites? Tell me, how shall I deliver you to her when she's captured? Oooh, such a hunt, such a hunt has never been seen! I will br ing GLORY to my clan again!" he cackles madly, in spite of the wounds covering him now. Red drips down his arm from one shot, rendering his left arm useless -- until he's kicked in the side by the kangaroo!     "AARUGH!" the lightning fizzled! "ACCURSED CREATURE! I'll have ye hard head for a teapot!"     and he flings a chakram at Rebound! 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren doesn't know who the Guildless are. He assumes these mages are just yokai haters or something. Yokai haters who he will make EAT LASER. When the giant wall arrives, he uses the opportunity to manifest wings and fly closer, using it as cover. As he sees Halfbald turning to fight Rebound, he points and shouts, "You two! Stop him!" Two of the golems plod over, too slow to protect Rebound from the chakram, but trying to get in the way of further attacks, and grab and restrain the guy talking about putting Yunomi's head on a platter. He's actually talking, maybe he can explain why these mages are here! 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler's people are still attempting to take down whoever they can, but there was a steady influx of soldiers from around, both Elites and Rhapsody's troops. Estano's people hold their ground, attempting to take out that shield... or weaken it as much as they can. "You can burn in hell, you son of a bitch. That's what you can do. I'll /send/ you there, along with your fucking glory-" He says, before being cut off by a kicking Kangroo. Well, that was an oppurtunity. <Things are getting bad, boss!> Estano gets on the radio, reloading his pistol, and advancing again on the distracted mage, as Rick's people continued to tag people on the street with a dwindling stock of tasers. And then, of course, there was Ijiwaru. Stadler knew he was there, see what he was doing. And not for a second, not for a /second/, did Stadler beleive this wasn't part of the plan. Some false flag to get into the refugees, both to gain moral credit, the high ground, enough to work in his own work. Just like he did before. And it frusturated Rick that there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He wanted to look right at them. To shoot, snap necks, and /end/ them. But... He couldn't. Not now. So he smiply gives Ijiwaru a disgusted nod, and works past him with his men, bypassing as pulls the pin on a tear gas grenade, tossing it. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya's riot control attempts don't go well as Ijiwaru is while stopping the guildless? Her spells are going off so close tht it does little now. She's going to turn to focus on something else but she can't help supress a shudder given all life sapient or not has some level of magical energy on her world. So she turns her attentiont to casting barrier spells on those caught upin the madness once more and doesn't holdback. Still she's more than a little scared Ijiwaru would likely wreck her in a fight given almost everything she does is magic but for now she keeps moving and casting spells to heal and protect. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "My head would make a terrible teapot!" Rebound replies, shifting one foot back as he moves to throw his weapon. Okay, bladed disk. She has dealt with stuff like this before, but she's way too close to dodge it. She brings both of her arms up in front of her, letting the gauntlets take the impact from the weapon. Corona is going to be pissed at her. But at least she's not hurt...Well okay, it does hurt, blood is dripping from the wound where the chakram is lodged into the gauntlets, "My turn." She yanks the chakram out of her arm after wrenching her right arm free, and tosses it on the ground. Then she pushes off of her back foot and dives towards Halfbald, aiming to strike him with a solid blow from her right hand, and then come around with a blow from her left hand to his abdomen. Then of course, she'll swing around and kick him with one of those oversized kangaroo feet, trying to take him out with a powerful kick. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     As quick as they had arrived, the mages seem to turn and flee, leaving behind the wounded -- and possibly the dying.     O-HIko herself appears to have caught several in her webs, where before there had been a woman, now there was only a massive spider, legs sp anning almost fifteen feet across, black leggs, yellow red and balck abdomen, ichor dripping from her fangs, three or four mages harmlessly bound in webbing, arms and lips pinned to their sides and shut.     <<A most unpleasent surprise.>> the spider chitters from her place on her webs. Her hundreds of children begin to surround her, creeping menicingly above the grouping, spiders ranging from one to eight feet across now around her.     Little Meeko limps to Stadler. One of her legs has been snapped in the fighting.     While Skara arrives to represent the Boros, Yu is helpimg Mi off the tree.     "Ryxinel!" Yu calls out, waving her hands. "Mi's... Mi's not doing so well."     Mi is pale yellow, her skin dulled and the blue of her hair nearly gray. She's shaking.     "It took more out of me than I thought..." 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Well, if nothing else, Ijiwaru at least SOUNDS serious about being on their side. Xiaomu's not about to shake hands with him, though - he might not need that sword to drain magic, and she doesn't want Reiji to have to avenge her or something. That guy who's halfway bald seems like a much bigger worry at the moment. Xiaomu drops her barrier and leans out of cover, raining bullets on the freshly-kicked lightning-slinger - basically giving Rebound some cover fire that might turn out to be necessary - and quickly taking in the rest of the battlefield situation while she tries to end at least ONE threat. Fortunately, that seems to be about the last of it. The Guildless are bailing out en masse, the Namamura youkai are sort of pulling themselves together; however, there are casualties - one of them an imminent fatality, it sounds like - and Xiaomu doesn't really have anything as reliable first aid for Mi. Things could have been MUCH worse - but they're a far cry from optimal. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     Halfbald McLightning Fist, had given a laugh, and he had began to advance on Rebound when suddenly -- BOOM. One strike!     CRACK! Strike two!     WHUMP!     Strike three, and Halfbald is out -- and sent flying-- blood and spit (and what remains of some of his teeth) trailing behind him before he goes sliding into the dirt, giving a low groan... drawing upwards.. and then falling back down.     Ijiwaru exhales. His hands are sizzling, but he slowly returns the swod to its saiya, before drawing upwards, hands and palms raw, and giving a stiff bow to O-Hiko -- and without so much as a word to anyone else (but he does cast a look to Skara, as if to question /her/), he goes to exit from the area. He'd already done what he'd set out to do -- why remain for their ridicule? 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' As she had been heading back to their position Corona drops to the ground not long after Yu speaks up. "Reckon she looks paler than a polecat dipped in whiteout." She holsters her sprayer and kneels down to pick the Komadas up gently if allowed. "Com'n, lets get ya somewhere sheltered... An' that someone that actually knows magic can take a look at 'er." She's too busy helping the weakened faes to bother slinging any sarcastic remarks at Ijiwaru's backside. 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Ijiwaru's departure is noted by Xiaomu, and mentally filed as one more piece of provisionally-good news. At least he won't be making things worse. For now, the sage fox sets about reloading her handguns, holstering them (safeties on, thank you), and getting back to her feet. Time to see if she can do any good, despite her lack of proper youkai first-aid supplies. 

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:''' The worst of the fighting is over! Sanary lets out a tired cheer that barely goes above her usual talking volume, then gives the wall Yokai a pat on the... The...      ... She's hoping it's high enough on his back. "Hoo... Ah... Good job, everyone! Let's.. Alright. Who..." She raises a hand and hunches over for a moment, taking a few deep breaths before straightening back up with a louder shout and a noticeably dimmer-looking eye. "Okay! Where's the injured? I still got energy to go around."      If it wasn't for the fact that Sanary's still somehow getting some healing light clouds moving around, it'd probably be easier to just call her a liar with how exhausted she looks. At least she's got enough strength to shuffle over towards Meeko and Stadler to try and get some of that healing energy into the tiny spider child.      "Holler if you got someone in critical condition1 I.. Uh. Hoo boy... Gonna take me a bit to get around!" 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Estano looks over to Ijiwaru after the attack, peering down in dis belief. Weapons are grabbed, and Estano's team moved to the edge. <Boss, I have the HVT in sight. Are we engaging?> He days, rifle scopes moving up to play over the figure as it retreated. Stadler's people form up just slightly, before he shakes his head. <No. HVT is to leave unmolested. Form up on me, and we'll get out of here.> He says. He had only the most cynical notions of why Ijiwaru did what he did... but that didn't change the fact that he had /done/ it. So he got to walk out of here without dodging gunfire. And it wasn't like this place needed another fight... Admit the wails of the wounded and dead, Stadler looks down, and sees the limping Meeko, one of his limbs snapped. He presses his lips together, under the mask, thinning, before kneeling down, and placing his hand, back first aganist the ground. "Come on, now. Almost there. I'll take you back, okay?" He said. Meeko did remind him of Fleece if she was a spider and didn't have all those guns, and he could swallow instinctive fear for at least a few minutes. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Hearing Yu call out, the dragon zeroes in on the pair as Corona does the same. He gives the woman a pat on the shoulder, "Ask O-Hiko, no one better here to ask, I would guess," he suggests before slumping down under the tree. His vision wasn't 100 percent and he wasn't going to stumble around looking like a drunk infront of the Izzet as well as many of their allies. What he does begin to do is coordinate the weirds and other Izzet that have arrived in the area. "Stablize the area, and set up guard patrols." That said, the radio is set down, and the departing Ijiwaru is given a scowl. "Don't come down here again!" There is no need for an 'or else', its clearly evident what would happen if he did. Skara just peers back at Ijiwaru, motions at the utter chaos, and gives a look that says, "Why me? Why YOU? before marching further in. "Well that was a right -mess-," the soldier mutters, emphasis given by Halfbald shitting the ground. "Oooh, what's all this..?" she muses before moving over to the man, drawing a blade, and pointing it at his neck. The blade crackles for a little emphasis, "What'sa little Gruul doin' in Izzet lands, eh? That's trespassin' and you know it.." 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "We both chose to come here, Skara. It is fortunate that we cross paths on occasion." he states quietly, and he gives a pause, looking up at Ryxinel for a moment as he gives a curious look to him.     "Yes, yes, 'thank you, Ijiwaru, for putting yourself in danger even though we hate you on principle' 'no, no, you're welcome, I do try to protect the innocent.'" he states dryly. and he runs his hand over his hair, and goes to walk out the way he came in.     Ingrates.     Halfbald is not shitting, but he is sitting up, looking dazed for a moment before he blinks, and then points. "That over there, is Gruul lands. This here is contested. I hunt. Bring glory to my clan, bring back right to hunt in better places." he states, and crosses his arms. "What better way to hunt than to use her favorite things as bait?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Meeko is gingerly lifted, curling slightly into Stadler's hand before she shifts.     And in lieu of a spider, which may have caused some concern... there is now a young Japanese girl, eyes red from crying, holding a wounded, bleeding arm, wearing a bright pink kimono. Snot and tears run down her cheeks. "I didn't want to hurt them." she whispers, "I was trying to help."     Yu and Mi are lifted up and recovered, Yu supporting Mi.     "It's okay, Mi, once we get back to the lab, you'll be able to relax and get better, just stay with me, okay?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Skara shakes her head, "Nah, fella. You see, there's this lil' thing called a border. And it's inna very specific place. It is a line. There's nothin 'contested' in Ravnica, you can take it up with the Senate or the Legion, you can decide, though," she smirks, looks to Stadler, then looks back, "I'm thinkin I have a better idea. Ya sure the only reason ya came here was ta hunt? Ain't an easy place to get to, jes how'd ya find it, hmm?" Ryxinel just stares at Ijiwaru, "Oh thank you, Mister Ijiwaru, for coming to help with a situation we didn't ask you for. Thanks for sayin you -eat- sentient creatures! We sure did need your help here! Just come every time we don't ask! Its so wonderful when you JUST DROP IN WHEN WE DON'T NEED YOU AND IT SERVES YOU BEST!" He was nearly roaring by the end, but once done he heaves a breath, sighs, and slumps against the tree again, "I hate that man.." a glance at Yu and Mi again, then to Corona. "You know where the Overgrown Lab is, right? We moved it into Thirix. Could you take them there? I'd ... rather not move further until I can see just one of everything.." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Being in the proximity of that final roar, it's little surprise Corona's ears slick -all- the way back. Yeah, this is why you don't piss off dragons of any sort. Even if she'd probably do the same, if she cared to even waste words on that man. "Yeah, Ah saw where it was before." Corona nods a bit, and turns to head out. "Just keep her stable, Ah'll get ya up there lickity-split." 

:'''{{#var:707|Xiaomu (707)}} has posed:''' Xiaomu WAS walking over to try and help with triage or post-battle recovery. Up until Halfbald runs his mouth about 'bait'. Cue the sage fox turning around and stalking towards the Gruul, her staff thudding against the ground hard enough to jingle the rings which hang from its headpiece. "Never mind contested territory," Xiaomu snarls. Jingle. "Never mind your clan. Jingle. "Never mind your crap-assed sense of *GLORY*." Jingle. Xiaomu reaches down to grab the Gruul by the collar and haul him bodily to something vaguely resembling his feet, her eyes *burning* as she snaps, "THESE YOUKAI ARE NOT *BAIT*, YOU IDIOTIC FOOL OF A MORTAL MORON!!!" She flings him in the direction that he pointed out as Gruul lands - more of a spectacularly violent shove, truth be told, opening her hand when her arm is just hitting full extension. "And they are not *things*," the furious sage fox adds, "any more than *you* are a 'thing,' as much as I'd love to call you an 'it'. Crawl back before your useless blood taints this ground any further, and expend your fetid brains on a strategy that might stand a feeble chance of actually working better without getting your dumb ass eaten alive." Her grip on her staff is white-knuckled, and she looks ... well, if anyone besides the Gruul (or maybe Ijiwaru) could see her face? She looks as close to feral as she could *get* without reverting to her true vulpine form. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Well, that wasn't fair. For a moment, Stadler's holding a spider, and the next, a wounded, crying Japanese girl, and, of course, he can't help but think of Yunomi, and what she might be doing, what trouble /she/ might be in, reflected in this crying girl's face. He swallows, unnoticable in the mask, and gingerly picks her up. "Hey, there. It's okay, all right? I know, you were trying to help. You did what needed to be done." He says, standing up from a kneel, looking around for O-Hiko. "You shouldn't be sad about that, okay? See, they're gone, and everything's going to be fixed. Let's find your mother and she can take care of you. Okay?" Skara gets a look for a moment, and then a whisper to Estano. "Get him after their done. Nothing rough. Get the information you need." He says, before going off to find O-Hiko. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' A little nod is given to Stadler when he realizes that the woman was handing the Gruul over to Stadler. She wasn't sure he -had- any information, but, it was worth looking into, right? Well, now that everythin's all done with, I think I'll take a walk around the area then head back home. Ya'all be careful, aight? Keep some patrols down here or somethin'. Heck, I may pull some strings and get the Wojek to get a few folks of theirs down here. It wouldn't hurt, and they'd probably keep outta sight.." that said, the soldier gives a bow toward O-Hiko, regardless of her current form, and then turns to slip out. Is it a trick of the light, or did some shadow dart out ahead of her as she turned to leave? Hard to say... Ryxinel, meanwhile, notices the rapid construction team he called for coming down. He starts to climb back onto his feet and waves them down, and starts to suggest what needs done. Reinforcing the platforms, and possibly getting a few more nicities in for the Yokai. Anything they can do to make things less stressful for the spirits. That would probably go on the rest of the night. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The giant spider descends from her webbing, where the other guildless attackers are being roughly removed by some of her older children to be turned over to the Izzet, her long legs reaching out and with the utmost delicacy, taking the child from Stadler. "Thank you. I know you to be a parent as well..." the spider chitters, taking the small Meeko up and into the shadows of the web-warded ceiling. "Until we meet again, my friends. Should we see anything, we will send word post-haste."     The Yokai within the shanty town are left wondering if there is a safe place in all of Ravnica for them, even as other spiders work to expand their webs and network, filling holes that had been snipped close to allow yokai better access. The yokai themselves nurse their wounds... though the little faceless boy wanders over to Ryxinel, and 'exmaines' everything he does with what looks like the utmost interest... minus...t he no face. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren wants to help the poor spider, but he has no idea if anything he has will even /work/ on yokai. He watches sadly as she's carried off, then turns to the halfbald. He's tempted to just kill him, but people seem to be sparing the man for some reason, and he doesn't want to just piss off his allies. He steps forward. "Remember this. Remember how we beat you, and know that we were /holding back/. If we /ever/ catch you or anyone else hurting these yokai again, we /won't/ hold back. The /only/ reason we're letting you go is so that we don't have to explain this all to one glory hound after another. Seek your glory elsewhere. If we see you here again, you're /dead/." He says it in as intimidating a growl as he can muster, with his laser pistol aimed at the halfbald's head for emphasis. 
}}

4636/The Butchery

2016-10-23T07:12:59Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/10/05 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Exploration and investigation of "The Butchery" Yunomi's second lab |Cast of Characters=272, 3..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/10/05
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Exploration and investigation of "The Butchery" Yunomi's second lab
|Cast of Characters=272, 385, 215, 325, 19
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Far beneath the hallowed halls of the Azorus senate, the second site of Yunomi's labs lay beneath its deepest archives, through winding passages.     Dispatched by the Izzet, the small security drone named 'Pidge' is happily beeping and flashing its red and blue lights, hovering at the front of the group who would seek to know more about Yunomi's reasons, her methods -- or to see if they could track her down.     THe entrance to the Butchery is disguised, its form hidden carefully against a pile of rubble beneath a collapsed house. This section of the undercity was only vaguely beneath the control of the Senate, in so much as as long as there wasn't too much noise, it would be left alone. Murky blue lite filters down through a single window located high above this street, withhouses shrouded in mold and slick wetness, dark stone and the pale blue of gas lights the only light this low.     Pidge hovers near a collapsed pillar, a beacon for those in the darkness, flitting nervously. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' While Yuna wasn't able to draw the connections which led to the 'Butchery' (and in all honesty, it sounds like the kind of place she'd prefer to stay well away from), she's still committed to finding Yunomi and helping to resolve the situation - which means, she heads for the rendezvous point, aiming to be there at the appointed time. The sight of Pidge's hovering form is rather welcome to Yuna, and she actually waves to the drone; she's already outfitted in her Light Suit, and Elner is flitting along next to her as usual. The remainder of the Matrix of Light is in the general area - but rather than converging on the Butchery with Yuna, the three androids are scouting some of the nearby passages. They may be looking for alternate routes into or out of the Butchery; they may be keeping watch for any sign of the Magic-Eaters or other bounty-seekers who don't have Yunomi's own interests in mind. Or they might just be keeping an eye out in the general area, not *with* the group but close enough to respond if a fight develops and Yuna needs some extra firepower or the like. As usual, while Yuna is in her battlesuit, she hasn't produced a weapon yet; she just doesn't want to be caught defenseless if something hostile shows up. Not that it takes Yuna more than a second or so to transform, but still. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Unlike Yuna and maybe some others, no place is off limits to Iria when it comes to finding a friend or loved one. The sound of something called the 'Butchery' is more than enough to pique Iria's interests as well as her possible suspicions. Namely because recently, she was on a hunt in Italy-927 and heard of a place with a similar name and... oh wait, we're getting off-track here, aren't we? Unlike the usual attire she has on, Iria has ditched her cape and is instead wearing her armored bodysuit instead. The sight of Pidge is a welcome sight to her as well, and she gives a slight smirk and a nod to it, giving a bigger smile to Yuna as she waves and then does a flipping of her hair as if to say, "Let's do this!" And like Yuna, Iria doesn't have any weapons out either. She's skilled in martial arts so she can fight unarmed as well as armed, but she has a few weapons on standby if need be. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     There was no excuse given this time. When Skara showed up, it was entirely because she was interested in helping this little group, and not because she was just on a random patrol or just wandering the city. Besides, wandering around in Azor territory was about as entertaining as watching paint dry. Supression fields and all other manner of 'magical control' kept the place more orderly then the most strict of beuracractic offices. Beneath the upper city though? Not so bad. As long as everything LOOKED nice and the people ACTED nice, they could care less what went on underground. Is it any wonder some of the more 'dirty' guilds were located in the undercity? Probably not.     Spotting Yuna, Iria, and anyone else around, the gruff ex-soldier offers a wave, then eyes the drone for a long moment, and then turns back to the others. "So, 'nother lab? somethin' else?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THere doesn't seem to be too much to worry about. This is a quiet area.     Maybe even too quiet.     Pidge beeps urgently, fluttering about before giving a soft 'blaaaat' and a little red light lights up, blinks twice, and then dies.     Pidge is drawn down slowly, and the exposure to Izzet tech makes a little symbol glow blue.     It's Japanese, far earlier than Yuna's time b ut recognizable. It says: "Open"     and has a little button that looks like a Q with a fat tail and two ears over it. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya had a history with this city and both the Izzet and even the Boros. She'd also known Yunomi for other a decade and had been very concerned since everything went to hell. She'd however not made much head way on or own, or flare ups of issues with the Chosen Noblity back home had also aquired her attention as well. This thankfully has been settled and here she was following just a bit after Yuna Rifle slung across her back and a deck of fate cards at the ready as she went onwards. She's not pulled the rifle her cards were danger enough if she needed to use them. She kept moving along with Yuna. "Humm any idea what that says Yuna?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Pidge?" Yuna queries as she sees the red light come on, blink a couple of times, and then go out. "You okay ... ?" She crouches next to the descending drone - and is perfectly situated, as a result, to see the symbol that's lit up blue. And while some kanji may grow outdated with time - just like any other language evolves over the centuries - this one is still quite recognizable, and Yuna can't help but grin. "Yeah, it means 'open' - and this looks kind of like a stylized tanuki, doesn't it?" she replies, indicating the shape drawn on the button. "Clever as ever, Yunomi - only someone being guided by Pidge would find this ..." She pushes the button, just once, relatively firmly, and gets back to her feet. "Elner, full scans," she instructs the robo-faerie. "I don't care if it blends into the surroundings, look for *everything*." "Noted," Elner replies, hovering by Yuna's shoulder and beginning to run full sensor sweeps of the area. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' It's times like this that Iria is glad she has people like Yuna on hand, since while Iria has a good recognition of some languages, Japanese was always harder for her. She's competent with katakana and hiragana, but don't ask her about kanji. Since Yuna seems more interested in investigating the kanji, Iria decides to take a look around the nearby area to see if she can come up with anything herself. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Well if it means open, may as well open'er up and take a look, eh?" Skara suggests, moving up to the group. "Haven't seen an Izzet Drone as nice as that one there. I'm guessin' the friend yer lookin for upgraded it?" Just small talk for now. She didn't seem to be on guard, and certainly didn't expect anyone else to show up down here unless they were friends to the group or the saught after. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Pidge circles the group, happily chirrupping like a bird before it comes to Skara. He turns, he flits, and then circles her head again, the unfamiliar woman earning a discouraged 'blaaat' sound before it orbits Yuna's head, then Iria's, Maya's, and then back to the front.     The gate gives a shudder before it sinks into the ground, then slides to the side, creating a narrow door -- maybe five feet tall, two feet across, but inside the rooms are brilliantly lit with blue-white lights. A few bystanders look curiously in the direction of the light, hands coming up to shade reptilian eyes. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria lets Yuna do all the talking for the time being. Sometimes Iria herself is a good talker, but this is one of those times where she believes that if she says anything, she might say the wrong thing and mess up royally. Her eyes are narrowed and darting from side to side, though, as if there's something bugging her. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna blinks at Pidge's odd little flight. "Huh ... Does that mean you don't think Skara should come through with us?" she asks the drone. "Because I think she'd rather stick with us and keep helping as best she can ..." She looks at Skara with an apologetic shrug. "Yeah, Pidge is a custom job Yunomi put together - but if he thinks you'd better stay behind ... well. Stay towards the back of the group, at least - Yunomi will recognize the rest of us, but she might mistake you for an enemy or something. Assuming she's through there." She looks at Elner, "What're you picking up?" "Not much," Elner replies. "And not very much intact. Something of a junkyard, as best I can tell - but if there's anything in there that's operational, it's not showing up on my current scans." Yuna nods to the robo-faerie. Maybe that's why Pidge wanted Skara to stay back, but there's no real way of knowing. "All right ... stay alert, everyone," she says to her allies, then heads through the doorway with Elner right behind her. She'll keep going so she doesn't block the doorway for anyone else, too. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' A puzzled look is given Pidge for a moment. The former soldier almost asks what that may have meant, but Yuna is able to answer the question first. "Ah, sure. I wouldn't wanna scare your friend," she says before letting everyone else enter first. She'd stay by the door, keeping a wary eye on the scaled folk outside, likely Viashino outside. "Move along, fellas, nothin' to see here fer ya," she calls over to them, just to emphasize the point. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya takes a look at Pidge for a moment and tils her head a little bit at it.Tht thing was pretty cute she had to admit but now was the time to focus 0on the mission and she follows right after Yuna through the door keeping alert and then bowing for a moment as she doesn't want to pick a fight if she can helpit. "My name is Maya and I'm a long time friend of Yunomi's." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Or it could be that Skara is new.     Inside the room it is less a junk yard and more... a graveyard. Minor magical artifacts, given basic sentience dispatched around the whole. Clay pidgeons lay strewn like leaves, heavy and brown against the floor. CLockwork gnomes are broken, re-assembled and wound up, and broken again, pieces and gears scattered over the floor.     While the Forest was organic, this palce was clear of most other distractions. There was a cot in hte corner, its blankets shoved aside. A pair of gloves hang on a hook. A meal, apparently forgotten was left half-eaten. A rat nibbles at some degrading fruit, sees the group and hisses, then makes a swift exit out through a hole.     There is a desk, covered wiht schematics, notebooks, and it is over here that Pidge sails, over the silent graveyard of like artifacts. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' New or not, after she wards off the bystanders outside, her eyes turn to take a look inside. The sight of so many broken artifacts seems to surprise her. "... Well, that's not something ya see everyday. Why would she have all them scrapped items in here?" Though in the back of her mind something far darker causes a frown to appear across her face. Hopefully her theory isn't right, and it won't be one she'd speak out loud.. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Skara may be new, but Yuna doesn't see that as a reason to keep her from helping the group out .. not that this lab seems like it's going to need THAT much help. Yuna's nose wrinkles - partly at the general mess, but particularly at the stray rat - and picks her way across the floor to the desk, trying not to step on anything. "Looks like she's not here right now either ... and," she glances at the remnants of that meal, "probably hasn't been for a while." She's probably not a good enough detective to calculate how long it's been, though. Still, maybe the desk has some kind of clues - and that's certainly where Pidge is looking. "Elner, stay alert, if anything moves that isn't one of us -" She gestures quickly, 'counting' herself, Pidge, Iria, Maya, and (if she's coming in) Skara. "- call out, okay?" "Understood," the robo-faerie replies as Yuna starts looking over the desk. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' As they enter the lab, Iria draws her handgun, just to be safe. It looks quiet enough in here, save for that rat which doesn't bother Iria in the least bit. Still, something about the place bothers her as she takes a look around, trying to see if there's anything around here that might serve as useful. She notices the desk and goes over there, attempting to look at the notes on there to see if there's anything she might be able to figure out. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya hs ome ideas she can look into things for a moment asshe pulls out a fate card things seem to have been well? Left idle for a while Maya starts to try and go over the Schemtics to see if she cna find anything or the notes. She does't like where this is going though. "I have a bad feeling about this but lets see if there's anything I can look over. She could be trying to use them as salvaged material for something else. My people have salvaged magictech for over a mellenina...I'd see others seeing the worth in doing the same." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The lab is empty now, save for the adventurers and the humming of lights.     The desk where Pidge is flitting is covered with notes -- in this case, though, it's diagrams of the NExus itself.     There are tabs. MAIN NEXUS WIRING ARRAY, SUMMONING MATRIX, WINDOW and one marked "NIV" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' The tab marked 'Niv' is probably the most relevant one to Yuna's interest, *and* the most recognizable in text form whether it's in English lettering or katakana. "This is it ... this is what Yunomi was working towards, I'm sure of it. Maya, how much sense can you make of these schematics?" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' The moment Iria spots the tab saying 'Niv,' her eyes widen. She tries to look over it alongside Yuna as best as she can. "There's something about this one. I can't quite place my finger on it, but... Hmmm." She frowns a little. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' After a few more moments, the soldier lets herself inside. She'd continue to occasionally look back at the door, but Skara seemed as interested in things as everyone else. "Oh tha's right, one of ya mentioned yer friend was tryin' to bring the ol' dragon back." While Yuna focuses on the 'NIV' notebook, she seems a little more interested in the WINDOW one first.. SUMMONING MATRIX second, if no one else glances at it. "Lesse what we got, if anythin'.." more codes, maybe...? 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe tab marked NIV shows what Yuna might recognize as a shrine-like set up of holy objects. A carved wooden box with offerings from Niv. Scales. A signet. A scroll. It seems very plain, something built as a keepsake box. There's a note written down that says: "I remember his whole name, but does it have to be phonetically written, or in a certain script?"     The WINDOW tab was pure schematics, written in coede b ut anyone who's worked with Yunomi long enough might get the gist of it. It was a small, one-way portal that was powered by the Mana Nexus.     The SUMMONING MATRIX was the array that experienced blastback and failed; utterly. It appeared to have been built with failsafes, but were overridden the day before (according to a note written in Yunomi's shaking English). "When did this happen?" There are more notes along the margins, coordinates, shopping lists 'Don't forget to get R chocolates tomorrow.' 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' There's a click of Skara's tounge, and then the woman waves Pidge over, "Hey, little fella... you should take some images of these," she notes, motioning mostly at the schematics and such things. "I'm thinkin if you know a -really good- artificier back in the Izzet, maybe they should take a look at all a these.." why not take them herself? Well she's not very Izzet, now is she? "As fer this one.." she reaches for the last notebook about the main wiring nexus.. "Prolly this one too. Let someone comb over it in some better light'n all that.." 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya is going to chekc one o the tabs now she looks over the tab that has SUMMONING MATRIX on it which catches her attenion she's a good summoner by her world's standads and what she sees makes her raise an eyebrow. "Wait ... is she's trying to .... summon Niv?" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria scowls as she looks at the notes. She grits her teeth and looks away for a moment, shaking her head in frustration and disbelief. "No, I just can't believe it!" She says. "Someone has to have planted this! Yunomi wouldn't do something like this!" She clenches her fists, seething visibly. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Elner is capturing images of the schematics and other drawings, whether Pidge does so or not. "That's ... I'm pretty sure she's been trying to figure out how to do that for a while, Maya," Yuna replies to the Junker; her tone is more subdued now, even somber. "She misses him as much as anybody does, and more than ... well, maybe more than anyone outside of his family. That's part of why I don't understand why she attacked Rhapsody, except if she was *that* desperate - for Niv-Mizzet's sake and for Namamura's sake. Maybe just one or the other, but ... for both is quite likely. And transferring Namamura's guardian kami into the Namamura District could have been a test run for summoning Niv-Mizzet back from wherever he is now." Her gaze goes back to the layout sketch of the 'shrine'. "I don't think this is a matter of necromancy, either. Not the way we'd normally think of it. As far as we know, the only evidence for him 'dying' is just that he isn't *here* any more - there was no corpse, no physical remains, nothing to suggest that he was killed." She looks over some of the other drawings. "... Elner, study out the wiring designs. I want to consult with some of the Izzet League's magewrights - just find out whether this is feasible as designed." Granted, Skara's taking the notebook itself - but, well. If something *happens* to that notebook, better if there's a backup copy, right? Yuna lets out a breath, looking around now for something to write with. "Skara? Do you know if the Izzet League has any kind of internal written language? Or would I have to ask Rhapsody or one of her siblings?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' As she's flipping pages for Pidge to take pictures, the woman glances up to answer Yuna, "Ah, far as I know they don't. I mean, engineers always have their own crazy code fer things, but that's just what I hear from the ones in the Boros tryin' ta make sense of the stuff the Izzet send over. I don't try ta make sense of it. S'prolly a question better asked to one of the three if ya know where to talk to'em at." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The drone appears to look at Skara, then orbits around her a few times, as if unsure, then obeys. It tkaes some pictures, clicking images to be stored away and sent back to the master wright of the Izzet. He clicks pictures, draws back and around, and transmits out to the Izzet towers, beeping happily.     The shrine is not a matter of necromancy, simply a box with artifacts. Focus. Notes on how many scales she has, how much power each one might have and one note including that they TASTE terrible.     Outside, there's a bit of a scuffle going on. "Patrol's coming! Close up shop, lads!" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Patrol? "Pidge, how do we close that door from the inside?" Yuna asks, looking around the lab. If the door already closed behind them, then that's one less worry - but she wants to make sure it's sealed up. She's not worried about being able to tell when the coast is clear; if Yunomi didn't have some way of confirming that when she was holed up here, then Elner's sensors *should* be able to confirm it even through the walls. At least, Yuna assumes that'll work. She may be finding out the hard way if it won't. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Rather than get pictures of the last of the notebooks, the MAIN NEXUS WIRING ARRAY, Skara instead tucks it away, "Honestly folks, I think these notebooks are as much as we're gonna find here. It may be better to slip out, hit the button, and scoot along. Hopefully one of ya will figure out where we can go searchin next, I don't know this person nearly as well as the rest of ya." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Patrol coming? Damn it!" Iria swears sourly as she hears that news. "Is there another way out of here? I don't feel like being busted today!" She looks around for a possible hiding spot as an alternative instead. "Or at least can we figure something out fast?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Pidge beeps, flitting around between camera work and looking for a button that should be there, but he appears confused. He peeps, beeps, blips, and then hits the roof! He beeps, bloooooooops, and then tumbles down, rolling a bit on the desk, lights flashing. Something's wrong. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' That did not look or sound good. "Elner, check Pidge for damage," Yuna instructs the robo-faerie, darting over to do her own search of the area where Pidge was looking - probably but not necessarily near the door. Her own attention is divided, though - Yunomi's voice is on the radio, for the first time in too long. And gods help them all if the magic-eaters have a way to home in on Yunomi's signal. Elner's got enough to handle, and there's no telling where Yunomi might be transmitting from this time, so tracing the signal isn't really one of Yuna's concerns - at least, not yet. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya seems to have mis spoke as she thinksabout her next words. "Sounds like our time is over but there's certainly something to it just her Betrayal of Rhaps and everything else? Also that 'man' from her world. He reaks of poltical games." Maya has little love for that sort of thing. "We shouldn't hang around any longer we should go over what we have somewhere else safer. I can cloak us from sight so we have a chance to get out of here unoticed...." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria gets into a battle stance. She has the strong sense that something's not right here based on what just happened. She cracks her knuckles and waits somewhat impatiently. If someone or something is waiting for them, Iria's got an unpleasant surprise. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There's a small proximity alarm. There might be a feeling, to those who are sensitive to the flows of magic, of energy being sucked out the door. There's a muffled cry and a moan. The sound of magical flames extinguishing as the patrols approach.     It is not a Senate patrol... it sounds as if it may be Magic Eaters. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Without another word, Skara actually scoops up Pidge and simply bumrushes the door, "Less talking and more moving already! You," A finger is pointed at Maya, "Do what you just said and lets move. -now-. And someone close the door on the way out!" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Yuna," Elner says quietly, "ambient energy levels are plummeting outside. Temperatures aren't shifting much, but -" "Magic-eaters," Yuna says quietly, putting the pieces together with what else she's hearing, and possibly seeing. "Shugoseiheki!" Her kite shield materializes on her left arm, followed by a sword manifesting in her left hand. She'd rather have the Matrix Divider, but she's not sure how well the magic-eaters can suck away its power. The Light Suit itself ... well, she's PRETTY sure they can't leech away its power reserves. For now, she just steps back out into the 'street,' visibly ready to fight if necessary. That might not be a good thing, all things considered - but dammit, Yunomi is STILL her friend and the magic-eaters are a threat to her, if not to others among Yuna's circle of friends. That's a recipe for Yuna to make less-than-smart moves. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria comes out not long after the others do, still in her fighting stance. She looks around, waiting to see if anyone might be waiting to ambush them, before looking to the others. "They'd better not mess with Yunomi! If they do, they're answering to me!" She narrows her eyes and sneers a little, revealing gritted teeth. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya at the thought of magic eaters? That has Maya really damn worried, given she'smade of maguic and she can't /hide/ that. Oh hell shes basically a all you can eat buffet of magic for beings like that.She attemps to pushdown the actual fear andnosto Yuna she moves to ready to make for their escape. Maya's moving now at this point she'll grab the plans and get the hell out of here with everyone else or attempt to do so. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The group escapes, just as the Magic-Eaters round the corner to find a closing door! What is this madness?     Pidge is carried along, but the further he gets from the magic eaters, the more he seems to perk back up, soon circling around Skara happily, birbling before zipping back up to the surface, heading towards Nivix.     The next site: At the boarder of the Golgari area. The most dangerous lab site of all, found only on Pidge's memorybank.     ... what would they find there? 
}}

4629/The Forest Below

2016-10-23T07:05:49Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/10/02 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=The various notebooks recovered from THE REDFERN FLAT and from Rhapsody's meeting with IJIWARU..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/10/02
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=The various notebooks recovered from THE REDFERN FLAT and from Rhapsody's meeting with IJIWARU have been translated! Coded notes from Yunomi's personal studies, secreted away from the Izzet and prying Magic-Eater eyes both outlining not only the plans for the Mana Nexus's components and the Mana Vine network planned to cover much of the city of Ravnica -- both above, and below. The notebooks pointed to several locations within Ravnica, possible secret labs of the tanuki's work. The first of these was called The Underground Forest, and it is true to its name.
|Cast of Characters=272, 172, 42, 481, 711, 215, 325, 750, 385
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THE SIMIC COMBINE LANDS -- UNDERGROUND     The various notebooks recovered from THE REDFERN FLAT and from Rhapsody's meeting with IJIWARU have been translated! Coded notes from Yunomi's personal studies, secreted away from the Izzet and prying Magic-Eater eyes both outlining not only the plans for the Mana Nexus's components and the Mana Vine network planned to cover much of the city of Ravnica -- both above, and below. The notebooks pointed to several locations within Ravnica, possible secret labs of the tanuki's work. The first of these was called The Underground Forest, and it is true to its name.     Thewalls glow with their own soft light, the light of sunlight filtered through the green of early summer leaves. THe cobblestones and concrete of this part of the undercity give way to knobbly roots and leaf litter at this sttrange opening in the middle of one of the mid layers, sandwiched between the Simic Combine's territory and the undercity below. The sound of leaves whispering and the protesting moaning of boughs shifting around. Gnarled trees, impossibly old for how much ground has been worn away around them guard the entrance to this place.     There is a lot of green mana here; the air is thick with it, like a high humidity that makes the hair on the back of a mage's neck stand up with electricity. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:''' Sakura shivers slightly as she stands just on the 'threshold' to the Underground Forest. She pulls her cloak - white, with a red sash, and a large peaked hood currently not pulled up - closer around her, as if trying to ward off the cold that isn't actually there.     It's downright warm here, really.     "I knew there was a lot of mana in Ravnica, but... wow," she murmurs to the small 'plant fairy' perched on her shoulder. The Wood looks positively blissed out from all the Green Mana around. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     The Simic seem friendly enough, going by Staren's previous encounter with them. Although his own expertise is in machines and ocasionally magic, biotech is just machines made out of meat, right? So he can appreciate their work.     As they enter the cavern, he assumes the walls glow on purpose. "Hmm. Now that's /interesting/. Usually with glowing moss you see blue-green light, not the best for growing green plants. But they've managed to get it to glow with artificial /sunlight/. I wonder how they did that? ...And where the heck does the moss get the energy to glow from? Maybe it feeds on mana... Yeah, there's a lot of ambient magic here." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika more or less is here DESPITE her rather shameful actions the last time she was in this world. To say the least, she has a good bit to atone for in her mind.     The Kitsune carries her katana tucked on her hip as usual, prepared for the worst. She's been briefed on green mana, and also the sort of properties this land has as well. There is nothing Kirika likes more than not being consumed by some sort of horrible green mass of horror, so there is that.     Holy Crap. Sakura Kinomoto is here.     "Sakura!" Kirika doesn't take long before she notices the protector of Tomeda, and suddenly Sakura's given a hug. No more words, just Kirika wrapping her arms and tail around the little mage. "...I missed you." she murmurs sheepishly, releasing her. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite isn't really the investigating type. That was usually left to the Rangers, or the local law. She just showed up when something needed to be fixed, or broken for the better good. This sort of problem wasn't really in her usual foray. But she still didn't trust some of the people that were supposedly 'helping'. So she was mainly along to make sure other things don't turn this thing into a bigger mess than it already was going to be, even if the Simic weren't being as antagonistic as some of the other guilds. Not that she gave a shit about what the majority of the Council thought at this point. The fox tilts her head a little in the direction of Staren's rambling, and despite all can't help but snicker a bit. "Well there's one fella that CAN see the forest for the tree." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Primarily she's a bounty hunter, but sometimes investigating is also part of that work, which is why Iria's taking the time to look things over as she makes her way here. The Underground Forest might seem like an unusual place for some, but for Iria, she's used to just about anything, anywhere, at any time. She looks around from side to side, scowling a little as she does look things over. Not because she's got a bad feeling about this, but because this whole thing with Yunomi has been worrying her ever since it started, and the longer it takes to conduct this investigation, the more frustrated she ebcomes. As Iria makes her way into the cave, she looks to Staren and sneers a little as she narrows one eye, listening to him ramble. She's tempted to reply to him, but bites her lip since she figures that she'd make a sarcastic comment and end up causing more trouble than need be. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     In need of making sure folks don't consider this an Izzet investigation? That people are wandering through for a reason other than research? "Oy, whatcha all doin' on my patrol route?" If anyone had been in the Namamura District when the riot was being dealt with, they may recognize the former Boros Legionare wandering up on the group. She looks a bit bewildered to see so many people here at the forest's edge. "This isn't really a place folks frequent a lot, ya know? 'Course, I don't have ta patrol it either but, well, ya know, old habits'n all that, right?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The patrollers may get the feeling of being watched.     THere is movement in the rees, s omething retreating -- maybe even a flash of red among the foliage. On closer inspection, there is no real 'mossiness' to the walls -- the walls themselves are enchanting to glow -- as is presumably the ceiling above, obscured by canopy.     The ambient mana about seems to pulse, like a heart beat. There is a mechanical humming that kicks up, whirrrrring to life within. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura gives a faint smile as Staren begins to hypothosise out loud. It hadn't hit her until this moment how much she actually missed the huge nerd. But then, suddenly, fox hugs! "Gack!" She goes rigid for a moment, then exhales sharply and laughs. "...Hey, Kirika. Good to see you too." Awkward hair-ruffles ensure.     The mage that tries to extricate her from the fox, and close her eyes. She exhales slowly, concentrating... "I don't... sense Yunomi, but all the mana might be messing me up." She rubs the bridge of her nose. "And the mana is just coming from all around us, so no help there either..." She gives a short laugh. "Guess I should've paid more attention in tracking training." 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' It seems that wherever Corona goes, Rebound doesn't seem to be very far behind her. Even when they don't plan on doing it. The kangaroo had joined up because, honestly, she doesn't trust Ijiwaru, even if all he's done to earn her distrust is act like a smug asshole.     It's not really enough for most people, but damnit is ifor her. She's found herself following the group, not able to sense any magic or anything like that, so having to do things the hard way, with her nose and eyes. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika is not accustomed to hugs, but she makes an exception for close friends, and Sakura is definitely. Her ears wiggle as Sakura ruffles her hair, and she smiles faintly.     "I can track her." She says, growing more serious again. "At least I think, anyway." She produces her amulet, trying to focus for a moment as she attempts to hone on anything that resembles the tanuki's signal. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren turns around at the sound of a familiar voice. "Sakura! You made it!" He's next in line for hugging, although he keeps it brief. "It's good to see you again."     And then he waits to follow Kiriko, since it seems she has a way to track Yunomi. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' The mutant may feel out of place, but Corona feels better having more familiar faces around. She knows she can count on Rebound to watch her back, which means she can focus on what she does best if things do get messy. However for the moment she's distracted by a familiar but surprising voice chiming in to the group. Who expected her to be here? Patrol?.. but wasn't she... oh. Force of habit. Well that's understandable. "It's a long story," the vixen replies to Skara. "Story ya might not wanna get wrapped up in." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' As much as Yuna loves her work as an idol singer, it DOES occasionally conflict with the commitments she's chosen to the Union and to her friends - and when it runs up against the latter, Yuna gets unhappy. Not angry so much as disappointed - and not at others so much as at herself. Fortunately, once Elner has a chance to analyze the coordinates, it's not that hard for Yuna to rendezvous with the others, already in her Light Suit. Jiina, Marina, and Erina are with her, although they're hanging back for now. "Hey everyone, sorry I'm running late ..." If Sakura's busy hugging people, Yuna accepts one and hugs the mage back, followed by taking a moment to wave to the others as well, before she turns her attention to the forest. "Yeah, I can definitely imagine Yunomi hiding out down here. Green mana's one of her specialties, she could probably blend in perfectly." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Right, I getcha," Skara muses as she closes distance, giving the rest of the group a wary eye, but turning back to the artificer since, you know, she actually responded to her question. "Eh, I got time if yer willin to explain it," she offers before looking out toward the forest. "Kinda familiar with the area but things started changing not to long ago. I think there was an Izzet workin' down here on somethin'. Not enitrely sure what, though. Got something to do with ya'all being down here?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There /was/ an Izzet here. THey're gone now.     Leaving behind the forest lab. As the group enters in, there's another bit of movement in the trees. Flashes of red that do not belong to birds. SLithering sounds.     THere is a workbench off to one side, some notes flitting about in the golden light coming from the walls.     And the mechanical 'whirrrrrrr' gets louder. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura is being assaulted with hugs! But they distract her from her mystical senses enough to let her use her physical senses for once - and she spots a workbench!     Blink.     With a tap of her wand against a card inside a pocket sewn into her leg (she's... planning ahead?!), she suddenly superhumanly leaps over to the workbench. Let's check these papers! 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''     Rebound moves over towards Corona, "You ever get a bad feeling being somewhere?" She asks, "Like looking around. Like we're being watched." She frowns a bit, "I don't know if anything is gonna jump out at us, but be ready for it just in case." She's gonna look around as best she can in this strange place, but she's no detective, so she's not sure what to be looking for. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "Possibly," Corona replies. "With the way things are lately it's.. well, looking into some of the things that might of gone on away from the guild halls." On one hand, she doesn't want to say to much. On the other hand, she gets the feeling this former guard is okay. Gut feeling. Or maybe it has to do with that oh-so-familiar sword. And the accent. Not that she gets to ask about either, because that whirring buzz of machinery makes her ears snap upright. Izzet's may mess in magic and machines alike, but she wasn't expecting such a familiar buzzing noise around here. It causes her to tense, tail frizzling noticable as she slowly pulls her space blaster out of its holster. "y'all might be rawht, Hoppy..." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Where's that mechanical sound coming from?" Staren looks around, then starts pacing to measure the sound from slightly different positions and try to track it... Others are already looking at the papers, after all... 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Good question ..." Yuna comments to Staren; she heard that mechanical noise as well, and she's actively looking around the laboratory now. Not just in the obvious places, but under the workbench, upwards - if there's a ceiling, she's checking that out; if not, she's just looking among the branches as well as she can. "Elner, this might be an environment too high in mana for your sensors to work at their best, but are you picking up anything mechanical that isn't one of the people we know are with the group?" The robo-faerie sets about scanning. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Meanwhile, Iria takes notice of the notes on the table. She goes over to examine them, giving them a scrutinizing look. Even if she can't read what they says, she's going to try to examine them extra closely to see if she can figure out any other clues, like when they might have been written or who might have written them, the latter based on the style of writing while the former based on things like how cool or warm the papers are or if there's fresh ink on them. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "I'm gonna agree with that one," Skara says, looking over at Rebound, "Somethin's here. Ya'all look for what's makin the noise," she suggests, drawing the blade that Corona keeps looking at. Rather than look for the device or whatever is making the whirring noise, Skara's eyes go upward, trying to track the movement above them. "A lil' urgency might be helpful right about now.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The papers flitting over the desk aren't recent. A couple are sap-stained. They're technical drawings, done in Yunomi's hand. Multiple pages describe connecting generators, scrathed out ideas and reminders like 'Take Reximus to the vet' and 'Christmas Cards for Prowl + Optimus -- update on dad's health?' 'Make sure goblins finish welding greenhouse supports' fit into the margins. A few have sketches for what Sakura may recognize as scenes from Danger Tanuki specials, thumbnails for figure drawings. A drawing of a grumpy looking man in his early twenties, wearing a military style cap with a few sketches of a bulldog around him.     Some of these notes are years old.     One: 'Who Burned Redfern?' is quite recent, but still much older than a week.     The whirring, humming noises are coming from a generator! The mana generator appears to be powering the forest itself, producing green mana throguh a converter system marked 'CONVERTER MK II', attached to a turbine turned by a steam vent, contained and sent spiring upwards. There is a clipboard of notes here, starting with 'The array failed, and I lost Niv' as the very first page. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite's sharp hearing hones in on the source of the whirr, and she's off at a scamper. Oh now we're getting to things Corona can at least understand, machines! Even if it is machines dealing with magic. She's learned a thing or two thanks to all the time she's spent around Ryx and the Izzet lately. Almost immeadiately she notices the clipboard sitting nearby and picks it up. Peers at the first one, then her eyes widen. "Wait... wait a rootin' tootin' moment here!" She turns, holding up the clipboard. "Hey, Ah found somethin!" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika approaches the notes, where they're placed on the desk. "...hmm." SHe quirks a brow at the military dressed man. Could this be Lieutenant Stadler? It looks the part, at least, but it's too young to match Richard's age. Kirika frowns, before setting that picture aside. She also rifles through some of the other pictures, before she stops at 'who burned Redfern?' "Hnnnn...perhaps this might be a clue. It's older than a week however, seems less aged than the other notes, however." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     As a former Boros member, Skara's attention is going to stay on protecting these find folks, not sticking her nose in notebooks and sketches. She does glance over occasionally, but she's going to try and look for movement as often as possible. Corona's outburst does get the woman to reply, "Whatcha got?" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria scowls at the notes. They're written by Yunomi, sure, but that's just upon first glance in Iria's opinion. She puts them down and sighs, folding her arms underneath her cape. "OK, so what else do we have to go on?" She asks the others. "If you ask me, there's something fishy about this place and I don't like it!" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Just a generator? Not so much to worry about, then, but Elner keeps monitoring the Converter Mk II for a few moments, making sure that the power levels are remaining steady - not trending noticeably upwards or downwards. With that question answered, Yuna's attention shifts elsewhere. She can't read straight-up English without help, so if that's what Yunomi was making notes in, she'll be dependent on others to read. (Japanese, Yuna would be okay - she's not illiterate. And Elner *can* help her with English but the robo-faerie is otherwise occupied.) "What've you got, Corona?" is Yuna's immediate question. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren homes in on the source of the sound with Corona. "A generator-powered forest? Don't see that every day..." He looks at the clipboard with Corona, mentally wincing at the first page. So these notes are from then... 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "Good thing Ah came prepared," Corona murmurs as she walks back to the group, holstering her gun with the other hand so she can pull out her analyzer. Which she thought ahead to load a translation program after knowing Yunomi's mixed background. It's kind of hard to miss the Japanese influences by this point. It also works for bad scrawling English. Seriously, have you seen Corona's own handwriting? It has to. She sweeps the device over the clipboard. Then holds the device up for others to read the translation on the screen. -Array failed, and I lost Niv-. Corona goes from surprised to confuse. ".. Ah thought he was already gone?" 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "Niv..He was Rhapsody's dad, right? A bit before my time in the Union but I thought he was gone, which is why Rhapsody took over that place in the first place. You think she was trying to like..Raise the dead or something?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:''' Sakura chews her lip. "Technically speaking, I don't think Niv-Mizzet actually -died-. So... Yunomi might be trying to perform some ritual or procedure to bring him back from... wherever he ended up. But something went wrong?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "I'm pretty sure that's what Yunomi's been trying to do, yeah," Yuna chimes in. "Although 'dead' or 'banished from this plane,' it comes out pretty close to the same thing. Not exactly, but the effect is similar for the people Niv left behind. Does it say anything else, Corona?" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren nods to Sakura. "Yeah. We found evidence in another hideout of just such a plan. Doesn't help us clear Yunomi's name, though..." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The notes continue on the clipboard, but they are all highly technical. Connector notes, diffusers, samophlange materials, magical sourced vs. non-magical sourced. Boring, dry, the kind of stuff that you'd find hiding in the back of technical books that cost way too much at college bookstores. Maths, descriptions, places to source, lists, the occasional 'no, this mix is too volitile, back to plan b' notation, until the manavines are used more prominantly. It then builds up into the honeycomb.     This lab might have been the first step of the Nexus research.     Those at the counter would find that beneath the papers, there are books.     "PORTAL MAGIC FOR BEGINNERS: An Expert's Guide" property of the Izzet League. "Theories of summoning" notes, from the Senate. And not checked out. Sheafs that are unmarked, and written in strange tongues and odd, archaic handwriting, even for Ravnica. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     "Clear her name? Clear her name of what?" Sakura sounds genuinely perplexed. ... Does she not KNOW why they're even here? 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Treason. She attempted to wrest control from Rhapsody of the Izzet guild." Kirika says grimly. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "If she was... that would take a lotta energy. Thus the mana nexus... but then why would she...." Corona lets that trail off as she flips through the other pages on the clipboard to see if there's anything else relevant. "The rest of this looks to be technical notes 'bout the nexus... lotta trial an' error written here..." Corona's probably one of the few here that would actually understand that part of it, even if her engineering isn't the same. "Ah reckon this was one of the first places she was workin' on it." She turns her head to look up at the forest around them. "She succeeded in making green grow... but not what she was tryin' for..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Oooooh, that's what the vote a few weeks back was held fer, wasn't it?" Sounds like despite Skara's status, she's familiar with the headlines in Ravnica, at least. "To answer yer question, I guess there was an outsider brought into the Izzet League. Somethin' happened over at Presentation Day an' a Guild Council got called and voted to send some other outsider after'er." pause. "For not likin' outsiders, that logic dun make any sense ta me." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Yunomi was accused of trying to murder Rhapsody and take over the Izzet League by force, Sakura," Yuna answers quietly. "I don't think any of us believe that at the moment. God help anyone who DOES believe Yunomi was capable of murdering Rhapsody - particularly if they make the mistake of saying so in Yuna's hearing. Yuna still believes strongly in Yunomi's innocence - or at least, that there was some reason which made her desperate enough to try such extreme measures. Bringing back Niv-Mizzet would certainly count for that. "And then this jerk named Ijiwaru showed up while the Guild representatives were talking about what to do, and he persuaded them to let him and his fellow 'magic-eaters' join the search for Yunomi," Yuna continues. "We're trying to find her before they can." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "Yeah. Buncha hypocrites they were," Corona adds sourly in reply to Skara. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Not to mention that Ijiwaru explicitly admitted he has a grudge against Yunomi and would be willing to kill her out of hand," Yuna adds further, scowling. "He gave his word not to murder her on sight, but ... I don't expect him to be bound by that. If nothing else, he can kill her and claim self-defense - and he might not even have to lie; Yunomi probably *would* try to kill him or any other magic-eaters, considering she's as strongly magical as anyone I know." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:''' "Oh." There's a long pause as Sakura chews this over. "That's dumb." Yeah, she made her mind up quickly.     "...Wait. Magic eaters?" Sakura's eyes harden - and suddenly a flicker surrounds her, before her body is wreathed in a bonfire of magical energy. "They're after her again?" she practically whispers. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika quirks a brow. "Have they been about before?" She asks Sakura, concerned and worried. "Obviously, we believe there is more to Yunomi's actions. However, there is little doubt everyone else sees it a different way." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria still doesn't understand what's going on, since she's not versed in magic. Yet, the more she sees of this, the more suspicious she becomes. "Something's really wrong here. In fact, I think there's something here that's been planted. Call it a hunch." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "To clarify," Staren adds to Yuna's explanation, "She's probably posessed or something. So, everyone /did/ see her hold Rhapsody at spearpoint, shatter Thionel, and demand control of the Izzet league. It happened when she was trying to link Namamura and Ravnica, and bring Namamura's guardian spirit through, to protect the Namamurans living in Ravnica... but something killed the guardian spirit, so it didn't work. Who knows /what/ was pulled through instead..."     "...What do you mean 'again'?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura's aura slowly dissipates. "THe Magic-Eaters... I just remember they've been plaguing Yunomi for a while. They jumped her in the street one time, but we managed to fight them off... It was years ago though so I dunno if I can give you much info. I just remember, well, magic doesn't work on them very well."     "...Wait, wasn't... Yunomi's mother's the guardian of Namamura, isn't she? Or at least, she's... important to Namamura. Yunomi's Guardian powers were tied to her nature..." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Yunomi is the Guardian of Namamura right now, as far as I know," Yuna offers. "But there was at least one being from Namamura who's been murdered - Kaeruhime. And," she adds with a scowl, "they're trying to pin THAT on Yunomi too, the idiots." 'Idiots' is said in such a tone that Yuna would certainly like to use far stronger language ... but it wouldn't be ladylike, and it wouldn't really be like Yuna, so 'idiots' will have to suffice. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren looks at Yuna. "Wait, /seriously/? Well, I guess if anyone would believe Yunomi attacking Rhapsody and the Izzet, they'd believe that too..." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     "...Wait, Kaeruhime? ... No, that's a different spirit. ... That's still sad though." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Sounds like a right mess," Skara muses. After not seeing anything moving for a while, the woman puts the blade away and turns back toward everyone. "Sounds like ya'all really care for this Yunomi. If there's anything I can do ta help ya'all out, I will. From what I remember the Boros voted against allowing that fella to go after Yunomi. Can't believe they got overridden..." 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "Honestly I barely know her. I talked to her on the radio, she seemed so nice. Everybody else is so convinced she's either being controlled or doing it for some other reason...I might not always be able to see the best in people, but so many folks are behind her even after what she did, I can't help but at least...Give her the benefit of the doubt." Rebound says, "I mean that many people probabbly aren't wrong about her." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     It was a right mess.     There is, however, movement above them, and from the canopy, something reaches down, tendrils flecked with leaves in bright red drawing downwards, drooping against Skara's shoulder, before curling around, and then trying to draw her up in curiosity.     Anyone else might see that the flashes of red are a face, large blossoms making up the face of a dragonsnap flower -- a plant creature about eight feet tall.     With firebreathing. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     "...Maybe... Maybe we should go speak with O-Asahi..."     Suddenly, Dragonsnap!     "FLY!" Wings erupt from Sakura's back as she's already leaping into the air. "And.. SWORD!" Her wand transforms into a sword just as she swipes it at the tendril dragging Skara off the ground. Looks like she wasn't totally ignoring her! 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "GET BACK!" Kirika immediately draws her sword, attempting to cut Skara free from the creature's vines. She grabs hold of the ex-Boros, attempting to pull her out of the plant's grasp. "Hold onto my hand!" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "I still don't think Yunomi was literally possessed, Staren --" Never interrupt Yuna talking to somebody by trying to attack one of her conversation partners. With the dragonsnap trying to ensnare Skara, Yuna leaps back and conjures the Matrix Divider, the weapon's blade/barrel flaring with radiant power as she raises it rifle-like, and fires off a concussive blast. It's probably not going to punch right through the dragonsnap, but it *will* pack a significant amount of kinetic force - maybe enough to let Skara drop free without the vines needing to be slashed through. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Something on her shoulder. "... The moment I look-ACK!" She knew there wasn't going to be any time to actually stop what was coming, so when she's suddenly lifted, "LEGGO!" she yells, not expecting the plant to understand that. When everyone comes to her rescue, the ex-soldier reaches out for Kirika as best she can, depending on where the plant wrapped her up at. "Get me outta here!" 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' True to engineer form, Corona is so busy musing over Yunomi's notes that she doesn't realize something is happening until Skara shouts after being yoinked from right behind her. She turns her head a bit with a blink. "Ah knew it was a bit too quiet for findin' all this." That said, there's a lot of people going to help Skara out already... So she turns back to the notes. She's curious. They know the Nexus failed, but why? And how does that play into Yunomi going wonko and trying to deal Rhapsody death's hand? Some of these clues still don't add up in a sensible way. The answer probably isn't in all the technical notes, but the vixen is at least trying to apply her intelligence where it can help. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "Oh hell!" Rebound jumps back, of course when she jumps, she JUMPS. She leaps up into the air and lands on a nearby platform, balancing up there for a moment, "C'mon you stupid plant! Lets go!" She jumps off of the platform and drives towards the big plant, trying to slam her feet into it and take it down to the ground, "I hope somebody brought a weed whacker!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe plant had just wrapped loosely around Skara's shoulder and waist, pulling up curiously, taking a look as if something was familiar -- and then suddenly EVERYONE WANTS IN on Murphy! Murphyt he Dragonsnap gives a gurgling, hissing sound before it lets go of Skara, and retreats back to the canopy.     While Corona studies the notes, more of those red faces peer down from the canopy, giving low hisses, rattling leaves and eyeballing the group beneath.     HISSSSSSSSSSSrattle!     But they seem very, very awre that breathing fire in their home is a *bad idea*. There is a gnashing of bright red teeth in those 'monkey faces'.     The technical notes are very technical. THere is a page about potential blastback, and how one portal briefly was opened, immediately collapsed in on itself and sent Yunomi herself sailing into a wall, knocking her out 'for about eight minutes, as far as I can tell. Pidge recorded it, and I really, really hope neither Chuck or Rhaps ever see it. Chuck will laugh, and Rhaps will beat him up for laughing." -- a note in the margin lists possible operation names. SHELLBACK, HELLHIGHWATER, SHUTDOWN, GOAWAYGOHAN among the list. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' The moment Iria sees that huge plant, her eyes go wide in terror, before she goes for her sword, which solidifies from a chain-link blade into a solid blade. "Looks like we're gonna have to cut this thing down to size!" She looks to the others as she speaks. "Unless someone else has a better idea?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Oh, that's a lot of dragonsnaps up there. Yuna keeps an eye on the canopy, getting another shot ready with the Matrix Divider but keeping her finger away from the trigger. "We probably don't want to stick around here too much longer ... anything else that's useful?" she asks her allies. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     As quickly as she's picked up, she's dropped.. likely still holding Kirika's hand when she hits the ground. "Ouf!" wince. Sigh. "Bloody moment I stopped lookin--" she pauses, glancing up, seeing a whole lot more of the plants up there. "... Well then.." she starts, looks at everyone, then waves them down, "Hold on hold on hold on," she insists as she climbs to her feet. "Yer in Simic Lands. It's entirely likely plants here kin be as smart as people, so ah, ... maybe not threaten'm? Maybe they know yer friend?" With one hand still on the Sparkblade's hilt, the woman glances up to where 'Murphy' retreated, "Heya! Fella! You know a gal named Yunomi?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura lands back down on the ground, in a three-point crouch, then quickly glances up at the plants above! The plants that... aren't attacking?     Sakura gives a pause. She then glances over to The Wood - who's been just kinda chillin' this whole time - and points upwards with her thumb.     The little forest sprite swoops up towards the injured Dragonsnap, hands up in a nonthreatening position, before attempting to touch the injured tendrils. SHHH. THERE THERE. MASTER DIDN'T MEAN IT. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika notices the faces peering down at them, and she tilts her head. "WAIT!" She calls, before sheathing her blade. "...are you friendly?" She asks, before suddenly bowing in apology. "I apologize for our intrusion and actions, noble plant. We were here looking for Yunomi Stadler, do you know her?" 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite can't help but snicker a bit at the remark about Chuck and Rhapsody written in the notes. She knows the sentiment. After all the times Bucksaw has scolded her for being reckless, only for Miss C to swat the beaver and remind him of how often her 'recklessness' usually pays off. If unorthadoxly. Corona puts the clipboard back where she found it. So it'll be there if... WHEN Yunomi comes back finally. You don't mess with another inventor's stuff and leave it in disorder. That and she probably memorized most of the technical notes now anyways. Finally she turns her attention to what's going on around them. "Don't get all triggerhappy guys," that sounds weird coming from her, "they's pro'ly just locals watching over their turff. Don't do no unnecessary weed wackin'." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' And that's why Yuna is keeping her finger off the Matrix Divider's trigger, Corona. Still, Sakura seems to be trying to make amends, and Skara is actively trying to engage them in conversation ... keeping a readied weapon pointed at the dragonsnaps probably isn't going to improve the odds for talking it out to work. So Yuna lowers her weapon, the glow fading from the Matrix Divider's barrel/blade. "I'm sorry for hurting you," she calls out in a genuinely apologetic tone, then - well, looking away from them may be a bad idea, but Yuna doesn't have the kind of flexibility which would let her keep her eyes on the dragonsnaps while she's bowing. So she does indeed lower her head as she bows - essentially offering her back for a moment, during which the Matrix Divider vanishes with a subdued flash of light. After the bow, Yuna straightens up and looks canopywards again, glancing away only briefly - partly to prevent kinks in her neck, partly to see if there's a tree she can lean against if they'll be here much longer. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren turns as Sakura cries out, and then looks up at the array of... monkey flowers. "...Does anyone speak plant?" At Iria's suggestion to attack it, Staren holds up a hand in a 'wait' gesture. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There are a lot of dragonsnaps up there. One or two begin smoking at the mouth, tendrils of gray sweeping about their brilliant red faces as they hissss and grumble to one another, vines hanging down, curling against themselves before Murphy looks pretty surprised, drawing back from The Wood as he gives a grrrrrooooooowwwwwwl... then retreats. a moment, satisfied that the gathering will not be causing further harm.     THere is still an awful lot of books that do not belong here in this lab over by the desk -- but the flashes of red are studiously watching the group, the occasional hiss and mutter from above. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Go ahead and look around some more, I'll keep an eye on them," Skara suggests before looking back up at the plants. "You just surprised us, ya know? We just wanna find out if this gal is still around or needin' help or somethin! If ya'all can help us we'd certainly 'preciate it." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     The Wood continues to 'talk' to the plants - it's really more a sort of telepathy, although similar to the way plants communicate using chemicals too. MY MASTER IS SIMPLY PROTECTIVE OF HER FRIENDS. If allowed to touch, the Wood will promptly go about fixing Murphy's damaged flesh. Sure, she could do it at range, but this makes it more obvious she's the one doing it! MY MASTER IS FRIENDS WITH YOURS. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR MASTER HAS GONE? MY MASTER WISHES TO PROTECT HER. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Realizing she's gotten a bit hasty, Iria sheathes her sword and sighs. "I hate when I do that," She says, folding her arms under her cape again. Realizing she's not going to get anything accomplished standing around, she decides to take a look around one last time to see if she missed anything. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Well that's one extra confrontation seemingly avoided. Yay? Probably yay. They really weren't looking for a fight. Corona meanders back over to peek at some of the other books and stuff lying around. Though probably a little more hastily so they don't upset the natives more by lingering too long. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' In Yuna's experience, you don't have to be looking for a fight in order for a fight to find you when it's least convenient. For now, Yuna does indeed lean (gently) against a tree and keeps half an eye on the dragonsnaps; more of her attention is on her allies at this point. Some of it may also be on Elner. As far as Yuna's concerned, Elner should have detected that. As far as *Elner* is concerned, though, between the high levels of ambient mana and the fact that the 'monsters' are just more animate plant life, Yuna spotted it about as quickly as Elner could have. "Are there any clues about where we might be able to find Yunomi ... ?" Yuna wonders. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     If the Dragonsnaps know, they're not talking.     They retreat back into the canopy, the vines curling back, laying in lwo arches, but the figures below are all kept under a weary eye. Murphy gives a low grumble, but answers nothing before retreating, the place going quiet again before the generator kicks on, giving a loud WRRRRRRRR as the steam passes by its turbine, the area beginning to flood with green mana again.     The other books are largely diverse -- building, shielding generators, and a sheaf taken from the Izzet League, scant information on travel between planes, whether it was possible, how it could be done. Notes on summoning creatures, on creating weirds.     Notes of transcribed items, directly from Niv-Mizzet to a goblin scribe writing down a list of items, the paper beginning to deteriorate badly -- it was, after all, written only a few hundred years ago. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     The Wood soon floats back down to Sakura, giving a little shrug that seems to be saying 'I tried'. Sakura nods her head, then leans back slightly. "...Maybe we SHOULD talk to Yunomi's mother. Maybe she can try to divine her location? She's a kami and they're mystically linked, after all..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A helpless shurg is given to Murphy and company as they retreat before Skara glances back to everyone else. "I think they're done fer now. Lets jes focus on takin' a look around and seein what can be found, eh?" Here's hoping looking away doesn't bite her in the back of her head, now. The ex-soldier starts to look around herself, seemingly circling in on anything Izzet rather quickly for no apparent reason.. "I gotta wonder why she's doin' everything ya'all have been sayin'. I mean, I understand losin' someone as important as ol' Niv.. but .. well, I gotta wonder why she'd do it all on'er own. There's a whole guild that coulda helped.." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Yunomi really did her research, Corona will give her credit for that. Though that makes the mystery of what went wrong so more perplexing. There doesn't seem to be much else here, though. She's careful with the really old papers, though. And makes sure to get scans of them with her analyzer along with everything else. There may be more clues here, but she's getting that hackles on the back of her neck feeling they shouldn't linger much longer. "Dunno. It's like ev'ry piece to puzzle we find, there's two more missin'." The vixen shrugs a little. "Ah'll poke through more of this later. All the things starin' at us is making me a li'l uneasy." As she walks away from the work area she looks to Skara, and shrugs a little. "To prove herself? This was a big thing to her." Pause. "Or was worried she'd just be told to leave well 'nuff alone, maybe." The Guild all misses Niv... but how many of them would be worried trying to find him would cause -worse- problems? 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "It's okay." Staren says, to Iria. Then he goes to help look over the notes. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Muphy doesn't make things uneasy! He just stares.     And smokes.     and reaches down with a vine.     And just pats Skara on the head, as if in apology, b before withdrawing.     The remainder of the notes on the desk cover myriad topics -- magical travel, engineering, old lists from long bygone days of the Izzet ... and a little tract about The Planes, and how to travel them -- in theory. That book was supposed to be lost in a certain room in the Izzet League's headquarters. Presumably forever.     The easiest location provided by the Redfern Notebooks is now explored -- the next one, the Red Notebook lab -- would be The Butchery.      ... at the edge of Golgari Territory. 
}}

4477/A Spider's Teatime

2016-10-23T06:23:20Z

DangerTanuki:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/28
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Rhapsody, Richard Stadler, Eclipse, Kirika and Rebound drift down into the Spider's Den to ask O-Hiko, an ancient Spider yokai, what she knows about the missing Izzet mage
|Cast of Characters=272, 481, 325, 300, 750, 395, 947
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     IZZET SECTOR: THE SPIDER'S DEN     The Spider's Den hovers on the edge of Gruul territory and the Izzet sector, the juxiposition of pipe, concrete, and city abruptly ending to ruins. Run-off and vented warmed water keep the area in a hazy, high humidity. SUnlight streaks through a crevass in the abruptly ending pavement above as the pipes create a multitude of waterfalls and rainbows... but there was danger here.     THe whole of the area was covered in spider's webs. Bright orange, yellow, and red spiders, their legs black as coal range in size from the very small -- only a few inches across -- to their larger brothers, three... four... five feet across, their legs wide enough to envelop men, their fangs sharp enough to inject burning venom into their victims.     It was a very good thing, then, these spiders were on the side of the Izzet.     However, far below and nestled among the boulders of ruined street and discarded stone, other yokai have found protection. A kappa, its bowl on its head filling with water from run-off, vigorously scrubs its face. An umbrella ghost clops along on a single geta, and latern spirits hang from a thick spider's web, strung across the chasm.     The heroes would arrive to this yokai sanctum through a fifteen foot wide pipe onto a platform. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika feels like she owes the spiders one, after almost accidentally murdering the lot of them the last time she was here. Thus, she is here mostly to help try and make amends for previous mistakes on her part.     She's also been pretty damn busy trying to keep rioters and thugs from using the district as their own little fight club, having this morning stopped an attempted robbery of a small shop by outsiders whipped up by the recent hysteria.     Flashlight in hand, the kitsune is very careful to not get webbing stuck on her person, tail included. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And it was not a short trip down. Seeing as Rhapsody had only been here once before, remembering the way involved a few wrong turns, at least one dead end, and a bit of back-tracking, all with the Guildmaster looking extremely sheepish each time a mistake was made. Things had gotten far to worrysome in lieu of current events and this was one of the last ideas that Rhapsody had.     Now, finally arriving at the proper exit, the dragon heaves a sigh of relief. A few words into a -new- comms crystal records the location first, but activates a large number of security drones that come in from above, then spread out into a multitude of the pipes back into the Izzet Sector. She did -not- want to be followed here and she was going to make sure NO ONE ELSE was going to show up.         It was also extremely likely Sidonia was around. Somewhere.     After taking a long look around the webs, the dragon looks down, and motions toward the others that have come along. "Last time we had to scale down, ah.." the guildmaster's very NATURAL fear of spiders is creeping in. "If any of you have trouble with spiders, I would recommend steeling yourself for what you are going to have to do.." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody might have a bit of a fear of Spiders, which may or may not have been rational. Richard's fear, however... that was entirely rational. He'd been in too many forests with too many large 8-legged murderers, webs and toxin so thick you could swim through it if it wouldn't kill you first. It was probably why, on a social call, he was carrying an automatic combat shotgun. With the drum. And incendary rounds. It was not overkill if they needed it. Despite that, though, his mind was only partially on the sipders that occupied this area. As always, for the last few days, it had been on Yunomi. Probing at the events he had and information he didn't, trying to find a reason, some... /possible/ motive for what she did. Hoping in both paternal pride and desperation that this was a...plan. A long one which even he couldn't see the end of. It was really all he had. He follows behind Rhapsody as her points the shotfun forward, past her. "I'm trying. For my daughter, I'll head through this... Assuming none of them land on my back and start biting. Can't blame me for my reflexes then. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "So we're not supposed to punch these spiders, right?" Rebound asks, as she hops down from the pipe and to the ground proper. It pays for Rebound to verify orders a couple of times, just to make sure that she's perfectly clear on the situation at hand. No punching of spiders, only punching of tanuki and annoying guys who talk too much. 

:'''{{#var:395|Guest Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     It is a great regret of Amalthea's that it takes a disaster to get her attention back on Ravnica. It is with great shame that she returns, pulled by a tragedy, instead of on less nightmarish terms. But it is on her honor that she comes anyway, to aid Rhapsody; thanks to the bond of friendship she had shared with the guildmaster's father, and with the young dragon herself.     The truth is, she's been staying in Ravnica since the incident- all she had to do was strong arm the goblins that had been squatting in her summer home in the city back the hell out of the house Niv had gifted her.     There was much screaming, and many goblins were sent to the nearest simic healers.     But she is here now.     It does not matter to her if the spiders are sided with the Izzet, the territory is unknown to her, and she comes in her heaviest armor, prepared in case anything other than their hosts decides to surprise them, but also because her armor is her formal outfit anyway.     "I am well steeled already, Rhapsody. And I am sorry I come to you during these dark days but I promise you one thing..." She says.     "I am here, now." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There's not going to be much long to wait on the spiders.     Most of the adventurers come armed! That's not good! But they're being lead by Rhapsody! ... that /is/ good.     However, several of the larger spiders are acting as sentries. THey begin to descend from above, one five-foot-wide spider creeps quickly up from below the platform, fangs wriggling, blood red eyes kept on the armed Stadler. Another pair of three-foot-wide creatures draw down the wall from Amalthea.     But the only one who is suddenly attacked is the Guildmaster.     Rhapsody would feel a sudden weight on her shoulder as a foot-and-a-half wide spider drops down on her shoulder, its sudden weight not intending any harm, but its forehegs rise up to gently touch the back of the dragon's head.     "Guildmaster!" comes an adorable squeak of a voice -- Meeko has grown a little bit from her last encounter with a cage and the guildmaster. She's a brighter orange than most of her brothers and sisters. "What a surprise to see you down here! We heard about what happened and it's so awful we were concerned that you wouldn't want us but then Goji listened in and we're a bit afraid that you would side with the magic eaters and then we would never see you again and it would be /so sad/!" she squeaks excitedly, "But you didn't 'cause yo u're a wise and good Guildmaster!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon glances back over the rim of her Izzet-colored coat, "We're all trying, Stadler. It is all we can do at this time. And this, who we are meeting, is one of the last few people I can talk to about .. something I have," she notes. She'd reveal her little item once they found their host. When Rebound speaks, the dragon nods, and then watches her hop down. "Well.. at least it is easier for some," she muses before calling down to her, "Yes! Please don't harm the spiders!" Amalthea is regarded VERY warmly, and the fact she is in her old home was some good news during some rather dark days. "And so you are. Regardless of the reason, it -is- good to see you,".     When a spider drops, somewhat heavily, onto Rhapsody's shoulder, it takes 110% of her willpower to not SHRIEK out. Her eye turns, spots the familiar looking hues of Meeko, and the the panic that was screaming for release from her mind starts to cool down from its boiling-over point. "A-ah.. H-hi... Meeko... You've grown.." she stammers a moment, listening to the creature's energetic words. They help to ease her fear. "I.. I have no trust for them, and I have the utmost trust in Yunomi.. I would not side with them," she says, her speaking cadence clearly broken as her fear continues to slip back into the rear of her mind. "I.. am hoping to ask a few questions... once we're down. If that is okay with O-Hiko. I've done -everything- in my power to ensure we were not followed. The way down here is complicated enough as is.." 

:'''{{#var:395|Guest Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     Of course there would be sentries. But the unicorn displays a calm in the face of 'giant spiders' that is almost herculean in scale, when the massive arachnids lower to inspect them all. She is wholly unsurprised large and intimidating specimens would be the ones standing guard duty.     "It is good to be back." Murmured to Rhapsody as she steps into line, specifically to Stadler's side.     "Peace, Richard. We are not here to display force nor frighten the spiders, I believe you can put the gun down until after something has gone ploin shaped." She urges him gently as he holds the gun at the ready.     It is not a surprise to her. It is standard training for most soldiers to hold their weapon at the ready, and if there is anything she knows about Richard Stadler, it is that he is one of the oldest career soldiers present.     When the sentry spiders descend, Amalthea takes a half step back. But it is not out of suspect reflex nor fear. It is to better shift one foot forward, arm crossing her chest as she dips into a surprisingly formal bow, the unicorn displaying herself to be as non-hostile as possible in spite of her armor.     And then Maeko happens.     Amalthea's lips tug into a wry little grin, head tilting to better watch each and every one of Rhapsody's reactions /VERY/ intently. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika offers a nod to Amalthea before they venture, knowing the knight's presence is more than welcome. As is Rebound's for that matter. As she flanks Mr. Stadler, she seems content to let her sword remain sheathed and tucked in her obi, for the moment there is no threat here if she remembers right.     Of course, the sounds of skittering leave her off-guard for a moment before she is reassured Meeko is of no threat to them, and she bows her head in respect to the spider-girl. "Well met, Meeko. I hope we are not intruding, then? I understand times have been difficult for the district, despite our efforts."     She frowns briefly, shaking her head. The magic eaters. Ugh, hard to believe the council would even allow those jackals to this city. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler reflexively raises his weapon toward the five-foot-wide spider, almost as tall as some people, finger pressing on the trigger just slightly... but avoiding firing. Even if every trained reflex in his body is telling him to hold the trigger down and then go for the portable flamethrower slung to his back. "You put the gun down until something goes... pear shaped, and then you've already been stuck and in the midsts of being dessicated." Nevertheless, the weapon slowly lowers... before it pops up again as a spider lands with a /whump/ on Rhapsody's back. Stadler was clenching his teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't shatter. Thankfully Rhapsody seems to be on good terms with a rather cheery voiced spider (Good God, how was it talking). His weapon lowers slowly, as if the action causes him physical pain. "Of course it's at the bottom of a pit of spiders. Why not just add giant snakes? And a large plant that sucks blood from vines." He mutters. Granted, it's after a moment of thought that he realizes he couldn't shoot that spider, whatever it's sudden apperance. It reminded him if Fleece had 8 legs and was less frightening at times. "Please tell me he'll be a good guide to where we need to go." He says to Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Meeko gives a happy squeak at being recognized, and all eight of her eyes get the n_n look to them before she crawls off the Guildmaster, and scurries away.     And over to Richard Stadler. She circles him curiously, and then scurries away.     THe other spiders retreat, crawling back up to their own hideaways in webbing, where it's not obvious they keep watch. The webbing itself seems to tremble before a massive spider makes her appearance. Its legs span nearly twenty feet, brilliant yellow and blue stripes on her legs, with a green and reddish abdomen. Brilliant yellow fangs glisten with venom as she regally descends down a thread as thick as a man's wrist.     It studies the assembly with scarlet eyes, its vision settling on Rhapsody, then on Richard Stadler.     O-Hiko, the Spider Queen of Namamura, arrives in her true form.     (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Nephila-clavata-f-eating-and-2-m.jpg/800px-Nephila-clavata-f-eating-and-2-m.jpg_ 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika watches Meeko scurry about, a mix between wary and fascinated by the large arachnid. She has to admit, it's been some time since she encountered any sort of spider-yokai, even back home they and their insectoid cousins don't usually go about outside their dwellings.     And then she sees O-Hiko, Queen of Spiders, and she goes absolutely rigid with fear.     Her poker face is commendable as usual, but she is very very careful to not make any sort of untoward motions in O-Hiko's presence.     "G-g-gree-greetings...Lady O-Hiko..." She murmurs, struggling to find the right words. "W-we...arm...well..." Nope. Words fail her.     So she remains stiff as a board, her tail wrapping around herself like a child's security blanket. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     While not in the form from her last visit, there is no doubt in Rhapsody's mind that O-Hiko has just arrived, just in a form that doesn't hide what she truly is. The dragon makes a motion for everyone in the group to move away slightly. The dragon has had fears for years of showing what she truly is, but as she said earlier, she won't allow fear to dictate her allies OR actions. The Izzet Trenchcoat she typically wears is tossed aside and in a flash of light and a shifting form within it, the dragon shows her OWN true self in a show of respect to O-Hiko.     Once the form is taken, she lowers her head in a bow, similar to Amalthea, and then she speaks. "Good day, O-Hiko. I wish this visit could come on better terms. Things in the world above you, as you may have heard, have become testing at best. I am hoping to inquire about a few things with you in hopes that we can understand WHY these things are happening.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe dragon's form is appreciated -- and O-Hiko seems to melt away, leaving a woman with black as night hair, her red eyes catching the light. She is white as moonlight, a dark blue and yellow kimono on as she regards the assembly in a more... talkable form.     Other spiders arrive, one bringing up a long, low table, scrounged from somewhere in Ravnica. Another brings cups and sets them out, a third a little charcoal brazer that seems to glow to life as it's set down.     Others bring cushions for all to sit upon, made of fine silks and soft.     "There is much we have to discuss, Guildmaster. By the day, the hunt for Yunomi grows more desperate, and I fear that should the magic-eaters stumble upon my home... my family is not the only one that will be affected. What Yokai from Namamura made their way to Ravnica now make their way here." she announces, and she motions for everyone to sit.     She's much less intimidating as a human, but every bit as intense. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika is jolted from where she stands when Rhapsody nudges everyone to make way, and she recoils as the dragon reveal her true self, mostly due to the MAGIC EXPLOSION that ensues. She blinks, noting she doesn't have as many scales as most dragons tend to have.     O-Hiko mercifully turns into a human shaped form as seats and tea are brought out, and Kirika accepts a seat, leaving her sword laid out beside herself. "Thank you..." She murmurs, then accepts a cup as she sits seiza style. "I have noticed a grand exodus from the surface, aye." She muses. "The Magic Eaters have not helped matters, neither have those who seek to take advantage of the mass panic in attacking the district's establishments." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler tries his very best to keep his finger off the trigger while Meeko converses, crawls away... toward him. Tight lipped, looking over the spider, staring down with dour eyes... before... the rest of them leave. Move away. And that does /not/ make Stadler feel better. "This is about the time when- He's interrupted by the webbing shaking all around them... and a spider the side of a two story building slowly, gently descends from the thickest Webbing Stadler had seen before. He can /see/ the venom actually dripping down, and it takes every single /shread/ of self control he has not to fire, leave, and order this site bombed with the largest GBUs a Nighthawk could conceiveable carry. But he doesn't. He doesn't /quiet/ tighten his finger to do it. Thankfully, Rhapsody manages to suprise the need to shoot out of him, transforming into a form he'd suspected but had never seen. He can't quite help from craning up in a bit of amazement at the dragon that had long just been the same size as he was becomes... well. An actual Dragon. Thoughts of Fleece again. He at least manages to snap a few pictues with a smartphone, before moving in a proper position to flank her for security. The one good thing is, after seeing a spider /that/ large go in front of you, watching her change into a woman and then have a large amount of spiders scurrying around you bringing up chairs and everything for a calm tea time was slightly less disturbing. Still slightly, so Rick keeps his expression booden, before sitting down when invited. "There's a lot of flack aganist outsiders right now. If those magic eaters have some grudge, the council may not care what they do if they say it's in the name of results. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' The discussion on the radio had piqued Eclipse's interest. A hunt for a fugitive was just the job for a longtooth shifter. But others were coming to the tanuki's defense, and to Eclipse, something smelled off about the whole thing. She'd need to find out more about what was going on- and it seemed that this was an opportunity to do so.     And so, the shifter followed the small group down into the spiders' nest. She was actually a bit amused at the frightened reactions from some of the others. As a warden who lived in harmony with nature, she was fine with such creatures as long as they weren't a direct threat- some spiders were, of course, at least in her world, so she didn't let down her guard entirely. She watches with some interest as Rhapsody takes on her dragon form. From how the others are addressing her, the yellow spider seems to be their leader- and indeed, the lady takes on a different form of her own. "Many shapes are changing here," she notes with a grin. "My name is Eclipse. I heard over the radio-waves of some of the troubles here. I would like to lend my aid, but I know little of this world, or of the 'Yunomi' that is the subject of such clamor." 

:'''{{#var:395|Guest Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     "Richard, peace." Amalthea reminds again, much more firmly. Old and ingrained habits die hard, and she does not fault the man for training being so well ingrained, not doubting in the least how many times it's probably gotten him through some story-worthy scrapes and scraps..     But this is the spider queen.     For a long few beats the unicorn remains in her bow before rising. Now she well and truly takes a step back, an act symbolic of yielding wholly and entirely to Rhapsody when the young dragon reveals her True Self as well. Sitting is not easy in full plate mail. She opts to lower to her knees, a position oddly reminiscent of formal seiza style. She displays no fear. Certainly she knows well enough that these spiders could no doubt put up a fight and a threat if pushed, but she has no reason to fear them nor draw steel so long as this is all peaceful discourse.     She is silent for now. For now, she will listen. And learn. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     When O-Hiko turns back to the form Rhapsody is familiar with, the dragon follows in kind, quickly moving to collect her coat before slipping her arms back through its sleeves again. "I'm sorry they do not feel safe in the Namamura district. I built it to protect -everyone- from Namamura and now this entire scenario is spinning out of control. The last thing I ever wanted was for anyone, spirt or otherwise, to be afraid. For that I truly am sorry,". The dragon actually looks sullen as she takes a seat near the table. "I have my security drones everywhere around us, and I suspect Sidonia is prowling nearby to ensure our privacy.." yet that still isn't enough to calm down Rhapsody's paranoia. And if SHE was still paranoid, she could only imagine what was going through Stadler's mind.     "My one question is a simple one. I found something that, I am hoping, you can provide answers about. I have spoken already with Yunomi's kodama but they weren't able to tell me anything. It is in my coat. I will simply set it on the table as I am aware of how it can affect spirits.." that said, the dragon pulls from her coat a very long pin, two feet in length. She simply sets it down on the table. "Do you have an idea what this is, where it came from, or who could use it? Maybe even with senses sharper than our own.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "That is a concern that we have, but a moment for introductions."     THe Spider herself sits, and nestles into the cushion, breathing a little easier now that others are settling down. She would lose no children today. She draws her her fingers around the wooden handle of a pot, and lifts the sleeve of her kimono and begins to pour. The tea is red, dark in color, but fragrant with flowers and the warmth of a summer's sunshine.     "I am O-Hiko, jorogumo, and I hail from Namamura. I stood against the magic eaters in the company of the guardian O-Asahi, Yunomi's grandfather, The Walking Wall, and the Tengu of Kawashiyama. I have been a friend to Yunomi's family for centuries since the day we stood together." she finishes pouring the tea, and she purses her lips a moment.     "It saddens me to hear both of Kaeruhime's passing and Yunomi's betrayal." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon would be paitent. Already, just from O-Hiko's introduction, she felt like she learned something new. About how far back this 'bias' the magic-eaters had, goes. She doesn't look to ask further questions and had no doubt the others would have their own. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Kirika, of Kasun. I am daughter to the Kitsune Shukutou, the sixth Matron of the heavens and earth below." Kirika bows her head reverently to the Spider-Queen. "I have elected to act as a peacekeeper since Yunomi's actions left the district in disarray, as a favor to Rhapsody." She says, taking a sip of tea.     "It...it leaves me saddened as well of her actions, in their wake things have been nothing but chaotic, and we are no closer to finding out why than when we were before." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler is still, for the moment. As the tea is poured. Taking it stiffly, but with at least one nod, as he lifts the cup to his lips and takes a sip. It would be rude not to, and she wanted to kill them, there were /pleanty/ of spiders around here. Always easy to trust someone that had a gun up to your head and there was nothing you could do about it. "That is... a long time. To fight with someone, yes, but for someone to attack you. Can't say I've held a grudge that long... or knew the war went back that far." Another sip of the tea, and he keeps his mouth shut tight. He wants to qualify, to say 'yes, but' to the mention of betrayal, but he wouldn't fall into the trap of beleive what he wanted to despite the evidence. Instead, he puts his tea cup down. "We're all saddened by it. Confused, as well. Among other things. That's why we need information. My name's Richard Stadler. I'm Yunomi's father... well. One of them. He says, conceding a point another might make. "I would hope you'll forgive the.... desperation of the answers. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "So if you've been alongside her family for that long...You probably should have seen this coming, right?" Rebound of course is still operating under the assumption that Yunomi was corrupted or mind controlled or cloned or something, "I mean something should have stood out, right? She couldn't just suddenly go all cookoo for cocoa puffs without any warning, right?" 

:'''{{#var:395|Guest Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     "Amalthea."     That is the unicorn's introduction. It is the easiest and simplest, without pomp and fanfare. She does not list her titles, nor deeds, nor even homeplace. Though they are many, such things truly have no meaning to a unicorn. "I am a longtime friend to Rhapsody's father. My friendship extends to her and that is why I am here, and why I wish this resolved as much as any other. For both Rhapsody's sake, and Yunomi's" She says.     "I do not believe this to have been a wild act of whim and whimsy on Yunomi's part. Mayhap it was out of her control. Mayhap she premeditated her course of action on her own, I cannot say, but the results are disastrous. And the Magic Eaters stepped in to 'fix' the matter so conveniently swiftly... Naturally I am with many others in the opinion they are as trustworthy as well as they fly when flung." She says before pausing.     "Immortals tend to bear ill will and grudges over centuries, unlike mortals who's lives are too fleeting to carry them for longer than a single lifetime." She notes to Richard, before sighing. "I assume it stands to reason this grudge is still living. Would you put it above Ijiwaru or someone of his ilk to try and orchestrate something?"     Amalthea accepts the tea. She sips slowly, and does her very best to not complain about lacking sugar.     She likes her tea retardedly sweet. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     O-Hiko's eyes turn to everyone in the table in turn, though the other six, smaller eyes stay on the cold iron spike.     "That weapon is a curious one."     The folds the sleeves of her kimono over her hands, and uses it to pick up the spike.     THe spike is four feet long. Its front edge has dulled from being peirced throughs something hard. She balances it between covered fingers, and her eyes close. A dark look crosses her face, before she sets the weapon down.     "The murder weapon that killed my dear friend..." she breathes. She closes all eight of her eyes. "Darkness and pain are all I can sense from it... I apologize, Guildmaster. I know nothing more of this weapon, save that I can sense her death around it... but curious. I have not felt this sort of... darkness since I beheld a sword by Muramasa, the Ten Thousand Cold Nights..." she turns the four foot 'pin' over in her hands.     "Yunomi is... surprisingly wise for how old she thinks she is." The Spider replies quizically.     To Amalthea, the spider nods. "This is a grudge and war that has been... cold. The Magic-Eaters nearly took the valley of Namamura, and many of th e surrounding areas in Japan for themselves, eating the flesh of yokai to steal their powers, and burn us out like laterns gone long beyond their time. Many famlies of great yokai were wiped from the face of the land -- the Odanuki among them, reduced to one tanuki and his wife. My own children I sent to the wind to preserve them... not one spider among me here is older than a hundred years." she replies sadly. "Ijiwaru and the Magic-Eaters are an old foe, but for them to eliminate a kami?"     She shakes her head. "It would be a grave act indeed, and if Yunomi was even the smallest bit attached to Kaeruhime... she would have perished as well in the act." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And with no answers regarding the weapon once again, the guildmaster's form just seems to sink. For the -moment- it feels like there's nothing left for her to seek accept for Yunomi's -actual- father. Though the Magic-Eater's earlier words has caused her to think of at least one other. If it was even possible. "Thank you," she says, barely above a whisper as her mind races, trying to find some other thread to pull at while O-Hiko speaks.     There are a few things in her story that call for her attention. "How old she 'thinks' she is...?" she asks first. Then secondly, "And... the way she looked when we brought the spirit's remains.. I refuse to accept that was false. I just.. I cannot -believe- after all we have done and how long I have known Yunomi that it was false.." she catches herself, realizing she's about to keep repeating the statement and stops herself. "This war is so ancient, it is as clear as crystal that they have a bias and I still couldn't convince the council otherwise.." another statement. She mentally yanks herself back from spiraling out again. "If not Yunomi, and not the Magic Eaters... then who?" 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler watches as the spider woman moves the spike over in her hands. He simple leans forward to look at it, but... his eye isnt' practiced in seeing the metaphysical of an object. Just that it was long, dulled, and could probably slam through someone's skull with enough force. But that is all he can gleam from it, before he leans back. "It's a... strange weapon. But if it's effective aganist it's target, then strange doesn't really enter into it." There's a pause from Yunomi, before he looks over to Rhapsody. "How old she thinks she is, yes. Something happened... a while back. Might call it a rebirth... despite my studies, I've never been... that attunded to the metaphysical. But... she's a shapeshifting spirit. She can appear however old she feels. But I beleive she's... truely, at least, older than I am. Back to the spider. "So what does this mean? That if Yunomi was connected, she'd be dead too? Which means that she isn't... and could have truely done it?" He says, groping for meaning. It would be a hell of a lot simplier if Yunomi had simply said 'I'm innocent, don't beleive them', but she /hadn't/. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Okay, no one aparently digs Rebound's comment. That's okay, she'll just try again, "So okay, lets see if I kinda understand what's going on here. Somebody used that," She points at the weapon, "To kill somebody else. Dramatic Entrance McGee says it was Yunomi that did it, but you guys say it's not because that's not something she'd do. But you ALSO just said that she's not really what she appears to be, so how well do you really know her?" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Mm. He seems to be intent on making this an open and shut case, with Yunomi as the lamb to sacrifice." Kirika muses quietly, frowning. She inspects the needle, producing her pendant like it's a Tricorder to scan the murder weapon with. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     O-Hiko frowns. "No, what I am saying is that... it is possible Yunomi could have performed the act. She is one that KAeruhime would have trusted... but I cannot see her performing such a cold blooded act. If Yunomi was still connected to the Guardian's powers, which stem from Kaeruhime, the shock of suddenly losing them would have killed her. Even the idea that she did not know that something was wrong... is... terrifying." The Spider admits. "Someone used this spike, to essentially kill a minor god. My good friend, and the gentle guide that had brought many yokai fromt he brink of death."     She straightens, and shakes her head. "If Yunomi is the cause of this reprehenceable act, then she has betrayed more than the Izzet... she has betrayed us all."     She turns to Rebound then, and she purses her lips. "Yunomi herself is not who she remembers, but that is not what is important. What she does not remember should not be able to affect her now; and the acts she comitted against Rhapsody are... out of character. Even for a trickster. Not without some sort of sign... she often would come here, to speak with me and play with my younger children. This is a side of Yunomi... of Umehana Odanuki... that I have not seen in her life." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     In an instant, the Guildmaster is on her feet. It took a lot to not end up flipping the table. "WHY is everyone saying she COULD have rather than NOT.." she almost snarls, somehow maintaining some semblnece of civility thanks, maybe only, to some amount of control that Jeannette managed to instill into her. "I keep looking for ways to DEFEND her and all I find from the people important to her, that have known her, that have stood by her, all want to BLAME her instead. I can't TAKE anymore of this. She's been betrayed more times in the last week THEN ME! WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING ELSE?!" Holding back the 'red', as an old friend once said, has now become nearly impossible, but there are other emotions in play that are going to rapidly rush in. "I can't.. I .. I can't.." she wobbles, on the brink -again-. "I just.. I can't hear it -again-.." Speaking with real 'mom' and 'dad' may have just been wiped off the table. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Rhapsody. Sit Down." O-Hiko commands, her attention set on the guildmaster. "It is against the very fiber of her being to have killed her protectorate Kami. The very fact that she was working so hard to bring her to Ravnica, to essentially rip her from the home she has had for thousands of years is testimony to her love. Saying that she could have is not saying that she did. /I/ do not beleive that Yunomi killed Kaeruhime. I would bet my life on it. To hear her speak of you, of Richard, of any of her friends was to know the absolute adoration she had for you. I am in the dark /as much/ as you are..." she states, and she takes a deep breath. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' "Exactly," Eclipse agrees with Kirika. "Both sides have their presuppositions, it seems. But you all seem to be connected to her by the bonds of friendship and family... I'm more ready to believe you than those who are motivated by enmity." She waits for a moment after the spider's explanation and Rhapsody's outburst before turning to the dragon calmly. "So... Presuming that Yunomi is innocent, what other options are there?" she asks. "What sort of 'scent' are we to hunt down?" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     IMMEDIATELY, Kirika is up from her seat. She moves with lightning speed, and wraps her arms around Rhapsody's waist firmly but calmly. "Please..." She whispers, trying to usher the dragon to her seat. "None of us know the whole story behind us, but it will not do to lash out at one another. Please, do not jump to conclusions as Ijiwaru may have..." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler keeps the cup of tea balanced in his hand. It was a good way to keep his own emotions in check, to do something with his hands that required concentration on something other than his own feelings. It's what keeps him seated when Rhapsody jumps to her feet. The abyss never gets better to stare into each time you do, but you do get a bit more used to it with age. "Rhapsody. Sit. Down." He says, metering each word, mirroring the spider, looking over to Rhapsody with a face carved from granite. "You can have those emotions. Those feelings. But I suggest you turn them into armor and keep them at your core. Best way to handle these things." He motions to O-Hiko. "She just said she didn't beleive it could happen. What she didn't say is what you crave. You want proof. Some solid evidence, for her to say, 'But it is /impossible/ for Yunomi to do such a thing, and she can't. And I know that it's eating you up inside." He sets the tea down again. "I don't know why she did it. Why she went off the grid, right away. But I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that she needed to. That this wasn't planned. Weather someone forced her hand or she felt a bubbling hatred welling up for you is something I don't know. "But we have a murder weapon, and a target. That magic eater is hunting for her, and may do damage here. We don't know what crimes she's comitted, but we want her to explain them on our terms, not his. So." 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody's outburst makes Rebound tense up, just a bit. It's a subtle motion, but the fighter is just that, a fighter. She's always prepared for a battle, even when she's surrounded by friends, "Okay look, we're at like a nine right now, lets bring it down to a four or five." She moves from the position she's been standing in, "Listen, all we can do right now is operate with the information we have at hand. And what I have in particular is watching Yunomi try to stab the crap out of you." She looks at Rhapsody, "And the other information I have is that nobody has any freaking idea where she is, and I think that's bullshit. Nobody jsut vanishes. People even found the Invisible Man, and that dude's got invisible literally in his name." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The outburst was sudden. Even as she staggers, and Kirika catches the dragon, she's already regretting it. Being ordered to take a seat, twice, simply causes her to go silent and back to the cushon she was on a moment earlier. She was willing to just listen, now, but speak? ... No. Not now. Not unless asked to do so.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "There is a possibility, that Yunomi is operating with a paticular goal in mind, but I do not beleive that she is ready to share what that goal was. She did, however, ask us to watch over the guild should she not return, long before the nexus was complete." O-Hiko states, and she sips her tea calmly.     "She made it seem like she was preparing for a long journey, and asked us in her absence to ensure... other spiders would not wind their webs through the sector.. so far, I think we have been sucsessful."     And O-Hiko's eyes glimmer a moment, her lips, blood red, curling into a smile. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler takes a deep breath, at that revealation. "I've no doubt she has a particular goal in mind. And if anything's rubbed off, even if she /has/ been forced to take action quickly and messily, she may have set up failsafes, contingenies." He snorts. "Not that I feel any better that she could have stripped off every goddamn tracker I had with a thought, but that counter still leaves a bit of paternal pride within my heart." Another sip of the tea. The cup's almost run dry, now, and he doesn't look to ask for another. "I... fear about asking you if that's some sort of coached euphimism. So I won't, and assume you mean the odd brown recluse. I... should thank you for helping there. But... well. I suppose our only choice is to find her before this magic eater does. Get her plan, what she was doing, and why she had to do it, and... take what action we need. I wish I could do more to protect your sector here for the help, but I don't have a man to spare. Unless you'd like to add trip wires to these webs." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Something O-Hiko just said bears -weight- in Ravnica, and in Rhapsody's mind. She's certain no one else here would understand what was said, but 'spiders' in Ravnica never referred to O-Hiko and her kind. It is a way of speaking of a guild that isn't supposed exist. While events in recent years have broken them, they are never ever truly gone. As a result, and the spider's smile, she can't help but speak, now. "... Have they been active..?" who else would know, besides Sidonia? And even then, O-Hiko has numbers. She could have a map of the Undercity. ALL OF IT.     The thoughts shift to something else. To the journey. To what could be going on. It's simply to vague now. "I .. can't image where she would go." As for Richard's thought, the dragon has a simple answer. "I might.. though I don't know how well they will appreciate patroling a sewer.." 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' "So the theory, then... is that she is not 'innocent' as such, but rather was pursuing a greater good?" Eclipse questions. "Then why would she not tell someone of her plans? I am sure that in the greatness of the Multiverse there is some way she could explain herself in confidence to someone she trusts." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika frowns. Somehow she feels even more lied to, with Yunomi pulling this plan without anybody's knowledge ahead of time. Just what the hell is she playing at with this? And why wouldn't she trust anybody to keep a damn secret? 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' "Neither can I." RIchard says to Rhapsody. "But I know enough about my daughter. If... If she needed to, she could go dark easily. Which means we'd need someone find her that can do the same thing. I know someone who might be able to help. I'd tell you her name, but she doesn't appreciate me handing it out." He nods, slightly. "As for why she couldn't tell us... You've seen the hunters that have arrived to take her. How much do we truely know about them? About what they're prepared to do? Love and hate are two things that can make one do... irrational things. I'm sure one or the other is at play here. It's up to us to find out which." To the spider. "We might need to get around this area, and if I send people down here, I don't want them blind. How much do you know about this underground?" It seems he's on paralell thinking with Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "The weight against her being innocent is... somewhat troubling." O-Hiko admits, and she breathes out in a small breath. "She was especially secretive regarding the plans... she spent much time in the sewers -- my children have come across her in many places in the undercity where Izzet are not welcome." The Spider admits, and she taps her fingers against the cup.     "There is both love and hatred. It is no secret that Ijiwaru has hatred and darkness in what passes in his heart... and that Yunomi's love for her Guildmaster is... absolute. Whatever she was planning, it either will come to a head... or will explode and rain down destruction on /everyone/ involved...." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     With nothing else to really say, or ask, the guildmaster goes back to being silent again, her thoughts racing from one idea to another, trying ot make sense of it all. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler nods one final time, before standing up. "Well, then. The sooner we figure out /what/ she's planning, the sooner we can effect either one or both outcomes. Depending on what would be preferable. But we need to find her, first. You know you can trust us, O-Hiko, which is why I'm hoping we can trust you. If there's anything you can tell us about what hiding spots Rhapsody's drones or the Boros search parties /haven't/ checked, I'd be grateful to have it. And if that magic-eating son of the bitch asks the same question... I can't ask you to put yourself at risk, but I hope you'll help." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     O-Hiko gives a nod. "I will help where I can... I do doubt that Ijiwaru would come /here/ asking for the same..." she sips her tea. "And if we find him in the darkness, we will alert the Izzet to his location. Unfortunately... Yunomi has learned our ways very well. Even I cannot find her." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Feeling the trailing end of the conversation, the Guildmaster slowly rises after -finally- having a small sip of the tea. She nearly forgot. Once she's up, and steady, she does offer a bow to O-Hiko. "Thank you for your help.." she manages before looking back at the others. "If there are no more questions," she says, looking back, "I imagine we should take our leave." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler stands, and nods to the Spider. "With all due respect... I'm hoping everything you taught her won't be enough for who I'm sending. Lord know she's kept a hold of enough tricks. Thank you, ma'am." He says, before geasturing to Rhapsody. "If you would be so kind as to lead the way out... I don't think the spiders trust me enough with this thing. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Meeko, please go with the Guildmaster and ensure she reaches the surface safely." O_hiko gives a command, and the dimunitive -- compared to her mother -- little spider gives a happy sounding squeak,a nd plops right back onto Rhapsody's shoulder, crawling up a little and pointing. "This way!" she points to the main tunnel with two legs. "I know the quickest way up. Yunomi showed me, and you don't even have to fly!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The guildmaster actually manages a small smile. "Thank you, again," she muses. This time, she doesn't even flinch at Meeko and turns to follow the smaller spider's direction after taping on her Comms-Crystal again. It'd be nice to know the way better. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' "This has been an enlightening visit," Eclipse says. "I will do what I can to help you all solve this mystery. I am sure the spirits will be with us in this endeavor." 
}}

4316/FISTS OF LOVE

2016-09-05T15:51:57Z

DangerTanuki:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/07/14
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=A couple of trouble-makers raise a rabble, while Yunomi takes a crushing blow from Rhaps and reminds her that unless it's part of a spell, words are mostly harmless.
|Cast of Characters=272, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Namamura District -- a spot of happy green mana, set up in the mountains of buildings nad echoing subterranean chambers, lit by paper lanterns. A mixture of people live and work here -- some even joining the Guilds as non-magical helpers, testers, curriers. Some even showed a little talent for magic, children learning Japanese writing and the native Ravnican script.     And there are, indeed, a couple of people here who don't belong. Wearing tattered, brownish robes, one of them is using a deafening yell to shout that the outsiders need to go home -- that Ravnica is for Ravnicans.     Mothers pull their children from the streets. A disapproving old man is standing with a broom in his hands, eyeballing the three Guildless up as they grin at one another, and approach him. He's a small, wizened old man, wrinkles cover most of his tanned face, and his hands are slightly twisted -- the mark of a lifetime of long work. He wears an apron over his clothing.     "Didn't you hear us?" the ringleader growls, leaning down and getting into the old man's face. "We said: Get Out."     Far above, in one of the massive oak trees that help guard the district, Yunomi lands on a heavy branch, her goggles pulled down as she tries to guage what her reaction should be -- she had already been in the area when she had alerted Rhapsody of the trouble. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     This. Would. Not. Stand. Guildless were one thing, but to come into the Namamura district, created for these refugees by the Izzet Guildmaster herself? No. No no no. This would not -stand-. Guildless, Izzet, Guilded, or some other status within the city. At the moment, the dragoness -and- her siblings are still a ways out, but Sidonia is already reporting on what's been going on. Rhapsody is listening, and mostly wondering, how this may be handled by the Offworld Apprentence. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Offworld Apprentence, here among her people... the people she failed.     And it would not stand that she would fail to protect them again.     Yunomi leaps out of the tree, sailing through the air and drops behind the three guildless mages. She's wearing her full Izzet colors, red and blue stripes, brassy bits and leather, her goggles and the insignia at her shoulder with Niv-Mizzet's symbol, and just below it the symbol of the Three Siblings.     "Hey, Asshole. Why don't you pick on someone your own size."     The three turn, and one elbows the other, whispering something as the ring leader steps forward. "Ooh. I know your face. /You/ were the dragon's last little pet, weren't you?" he asks, stepping forward. His two cohorts follow in tow, and Yunomi looks past them to the aged man... who makes a rude gesture to the three, and hobbles back to his porch. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And a certain trio were going to make -sure- Yunomi didn't fail. However, as the group gets closer, and realize Yunomi had a chance to do well for her people, they move to opposite sides of the trio, at distance. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If They felt a need to move in, they would, but there would be -no- doubt left behind that these people were protected by the Izzet and rabble-rousers such as this would not be permitted or tolerated. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi takes a deep breath -- she thought they'd be here b y now. She feels her knees slack, an over-sold gardener. No longer the power hosue she used to be, but she wouldn't back down from this fight. The three other mages begin to circle her like sharks.     "What do you think, Tarren? Remember hearing how Niv-Mizzet's last apprentice let her engines blow up in her face?"     "I think I heard something about that, Nosth. Some apprentice. Maybe she just had a thing for lizards?"     "Ha! Lizards, I get it! Didn't think something that small could keep that big a bed warm though!"     "I'm warning you, /leave/." Yunomi states, her grip tightening, feeling red mana gather at her fingertips, her fingers arcing lightning between them. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Well, that was the plan at least. It was Ryxinel's plan, not Rhapsody's plan. As she splits off from her siblings, and hears the trio tearing into Yunomi verbally, well, the plan goes right out the window. There's a sound of metal against metal as a spell-blade is drawn free from its scabbard. "ENOUGH." The explosion of sound may as well have been from the Red Star in the air due to the amount of authority behind it. The other two siblings start to move in, allbeit slower than Rhapsody. "Another word, just one, and I'll use all six of the charges in this blade on all three of you." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "On what charge?" Tarren states. He pulls down his hood, and tilts his head back. "On taking a walk through your town? For having a verbal argument? You two saw it -- the Guildmaster of the Izzet just /drew a weapon/ on me because I made a comment. Oooh. Wonder what she does when she's not in her own little sector." he brazenly, flippantly states, running a hand through his copper colored hair. He's a tall, thin guy, missing teeth.     Yunomi's circled around, and putsher hand gently on Rhapsody's arm. "Rhaps, it's fine. He's just a blowhard with a couple of cantrips." Yunomi points out, "We'll grab the Boros and give a report, since we've already got two of their names..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Tresspassing. The Namamura district was created within the boundries of the Izzet Sector. If you are Guildless, as reported, then you are tresspassing on guild grounds. So. Again. I suggest you move along," the dragon growls before side-glancing to the Tanuki, "Oh, they are already on the way. That was the first thing Ryxinel did before we left," she muses, blade still pointed at the trio. "So. Again. Tell me. Why are you tresspassing here?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "The Guilds are a failing power. Ravnica should belong to /all/ Ravnicans... not offworld trash like her, and these people." Tarren motions to Yunomi, whose ear fuzz stands out and her tail curls into a slight upside-down U-shape. "You create an entire district for this garbage but leave everyone outside your walls to fend for themselves! Where's the fairness in that? Was that part of the dragon's big plans too, or did he only care about himself?" he snaps, and then touches his mouth. "Oooh. Sorry. That was your father, wasn't it? Best thing that ever happened to Ravnica was to /dump/ one of the formers of the guilds into the aether!"     "H-hey, Tarren, dealing with a guildmaster wasn't on the plan--" Nosth replies, and the third guildless decides then it's a great time to wisecrack: "Well, yaknow, like father like child, right? So how much ego does this place give you?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     What the trio expects is probably not what happens right away. Rather than slice and dice with the blades, the red blade, and the freshly drawn blue one, is held to her side. Both of them are handed off to Ryxinel who quickly slips away. Not allowing another moment to pass, the draconic guildmaster surges forward, pulls back, and heaves a hook that has far too much weight behind it for her size. More like her true-form's weight is behind it!     The Boros are passing through the gate, now... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     That's where Yunomi steps in, glancing to Ryxinel as he slips away, the temptation to use the blades, and the spells held in them gone, sh e almost heaves a sigh of releif. Just some punks who'll be dealt with by the Boros (and hopefully sentenced to filling out paperwork, that'd be grand...) -- but then Rhapsody moves forwards, and Yunomi's eyes go wide. She steps in, using her meager weight to shove Terran to the side as she brings her bracers up and takes the hit for Terran -- and SLAMS into a tree, breaking off a branch, and slumping down to the ground.     Comically, it rains acorns. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     It all happens so fast! The only reason the Guildmaster knows someting is wrong is she felt the fist on -metal- rather than flesh. The *CRACK*, the slump, the acorns... the eyes-wide expression that follows... the eye-narrowing, the absolute -snarl-, and then the insanity of two siblings holding back the third follows. Sidonia and Ryxinel -eventually- get her off to a side alley to talk her down.     The Boros, thankfully, seem to be sympathetic for two reasons. One) Izzet Grounds. 2) That was her -dad-. Jerks. Give it a moment, she'll realize just how hard she hit Yunomi's bracers and come -running. Just let the blood-boiling stop. She's still a red, it's just easy to forget.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yes. It was easy to forget that Rhaps was a Red, and Reds have tempers.     Meanwhile, Yunomi was seeing blue and red stars swirling around against the black of her vision. Terran had /no/ idea how lucky he was that Yunomi thought fast... that blow m ight have killed him. The three Guildless go quietly after not only an offworlder, but an /Izzet/ came to their defence (in pretty much open defiance of a Guildmaster!), and Yunomi stirs only when one of the Legionaires claps her on the shoulder. She had been prepared for the forward blow, but not the backwards strike, and it took a minute for her to realize she was being spoken to. People are poking their heads out windows and shops, and the little man with the broom is at the opening of his shop, looking concerned. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The three wander off, but there's no doubt the Boros will probably have someone tail them and deal out whatever sort of warning or punishment they are due. Rhapsody, and her siblings, would eventually wander back out, but the Guildmaster looks far more reserved instead of angry now. Is she actually scared to face Yunomi after that? ... Yes. A little. Sidonia is nearly pushing her sister forward at this point. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi just keeps leaning against the tree, looking a little out of it. She waves off the legionaire, embarrassedly before she notices that there's two Rhapsodys! ... or one Rhapsody, and she hit her head pretty hard.     Yunomi gives a slight grin, and a small wave. "Hey, remind me to /never/ make you mad. You have a hell of a hook, Rhaps. Right, Sid? Ryx?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The comment actually gets a rare smile out of Sidonia. "She's had very good teachers," she compliments. Ryxinel gives more of a nod than anything before moving to discuss what happened with one of the officers. Rhapsody takes a knee, finally glances up...     "Are you ok..?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No," beat. "I'm Yunomi." the tanuki offers a joke, and then motions for Rhaps to sit down. "Sit down, the both of you." she apparently finds this funny, and gives a laittle laugh before she winces, and picks an acorn out of her jacket.     "So... I'm pretty sure you have a burning question other than that to ask." she states, giving a kind, adoring look to Rhapsody.     Or it could be the concussion, but she does adore the dragon. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Considering that, despite appearences, Yunomi was Rhapsody's elder by YES amount of years, she wasn't going to argue. She just offers a nod, takes a seat, and only -then- does the joke and manages a little laugh. She reaches up to pluck another one of the acorns from above the goggles. "Why..?" she probably doesn't need to ask the rest. Sidonia already has an idea, but waits to see what Yunomi says in silence. Back to how she normally is, it seems. She DOES take a seat, though. Who's the guildmaster now?! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Words have power, mages know that. A magic spell can call up fire, lightning... large, flying hippopotamous." Yunomi begins, and she shifts her weight again. Oh, it'll hurt in the morning. "But those guys weren't using magic, other than to be loud. They were just running their mouths, those kinds of words only have power if you let them. Were they wrong? Yeah, on most of their points, but... they don't know us. They don't know him." she leans her head back. "They are butts. And you know what sound a butt makes when it gets noisty?"     And Yunomi grins, and just blows a raspberry at Rhapsody. "... and that's all you shoulda heard." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     There's a moment of thought, a moment to nod, then a follow up moment to snicker a little at the last line, "You're right," Rhapsody admits after it all, "Just.. that's still a very sore spot. I'm not trying to make an excuse, just, .. well you know.." she couldn't at all start to point out how well she knew her dad. Yunomi him as well, if not -better-. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No, I'm Yunomi, I keep telling people this." Yunomi states sternly, then reaches over and takes Rhapsody's hand, with a little difficulty. "Rhaps. I know it hurts." Yunomi says, and then just leans forwards and hugs Rhapsody the best she can, and then scoots over and attemps to wrap her arms around Sidonia too, for good measure. Not because she's dizzy and will fall over without support. That's an entirely different problem.     "You are my family and my heart beats for you, and as long as this heart beats, you know I shall look out for your best interests. Always."     There's a pause.     "I'm missing a dragon in my family group hug." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The third dragon suddenly comes in from behind Yunomi, "Are not," he quips matter-of-factly. The report was in, whatever the Boros would do would be their business.     The two sisters just settle into it, and Rhapsody doesn't protest for a moment. Then, after another moment, "Thianel's kind of difficult to hug," comes Rhapsody's attempt at a laugh. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a snerk. "I can invent a way to fix it, I'm sure. I /am/ Izzet." she replies, and she loops Ryx in as much as she can. One Tanuki. Three Dragons. SO MANY HUGS.     "... so... how... hard did you hit me?" Yunomi begins, and she loosens her armor as she pulls back from the hug, and shows off the heavy dents in the armor "... that might leave a mark." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Ah, I kinda put my weight into it. . . . My -actual- weight into it," the dragon admits. "So um... probably pretty hard? I've never really gauged it.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Albert sat on these and not a dent. I get punched by my girlfriend and suddenly I need new armor..." Yunomi siiiighs. "Such is the lii--" and then she realizes that Sidonia and Ryx are still there... and she purses her lips. "... I said that out loud, didn't I?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Oh please," Ryxinel starts.     Sidonia follows up. "You really think we didn't know?" she just smirks that smirk. She is the Izzet spymaster, after all. It says so on her door. Ignore the fact she made up the position!     "Ah haha, yeah, you did," Rhapsody confirms before giving a snug of reassurance. "I don't think they mind." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... more that the people around us, like the Boros, and the district didn't know... look, I'm from Feudal Japan, thigs like this weren't... common." she explains, and she looks terribly embarrassed, stands up -- teeters -- and immediately sits right back down.     "Apparently, I may have a concussion from smacking against the tree. Luckily, my head is harder than the tree." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Well thankfully, you know a lot of people that know a lot of other people that can make sure you're well taken care of," Rhapsody states as Ryxinel rises to give a call for someone from one of the spires' medical team to come help Yunomi with her injury. "Sorry, still.. Last thing I would want to do is hurt you.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "But it's still on the list." Yunomi jokes, and she gives a grin. "Rhaps, it's /fiiine/." Yunomi eases herself back up, taking her time this time. "Heat of the moment, but hopefully you'll remember this next time soneone decides to run their mouth. Sticks and stones may break bones -- but nothing shows up someone's bigotry like the very person they were making fun of saving their pathetic little ass." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Ah, yeah. Hopefully I can -remember- before I try to clean someone's clock of it's gears." Red. Impulsive. Gotta remember somehow! Hopefully. "I'm curious what the Boros will do, but they have their job to do and we have ours," the dragon continues before offering the tanuki a hand. "SCIENCE doesn't invent itself, right?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I hope you do." Yunomi states, and she begins to walk, teeteringly a bit before she crosses her arms.     "I'm glad that was resolved quickly, though... who knows what they could have done..." she trails off.     Meanwhile, the Boros who were in pursuit of the three ended up with a messy demise right outside Izzet territory. The alleyway they followed the trio into is now scorched and black, smelling of burning tallow that might be carried on the wind.     And there is no sign of the three guildless mages, other than a coin spinning in the air, and then falling with a clatter to the gorund. 
}}

443/The Wind-Up

2016-09-05T03:15:25Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/08/18 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=The Rangers of Striker Eureka get a briefing from Yunomi Stadler, and Chuck Hansen briefly is..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/08/18
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=The Rangers of Striker Eureka get a briefing from Yunomi Stadler, and Chuck Hansen briefly is a possum.
|Cast of Characters=272, 25
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     For a while now, human and goblin league mages and workers had not been able to visit the very large lab beneath Yunomi's garden-like Overgrown Lab. Those who had been confirmed for the Namamura initiative -- Operation Shutdown -- hae been invited to view the facilities that she would be using, one that would have been forwarded to the Hansens and Marshal Pentecost.      A courtyard was cleared with a large 'target' painted on it, currently being used by goblin test-pilots for splattering half-rotten fruit to the ground. Vines and flowers were growing from the ceiling now, as if the overgrown lab -- with its forced window to the 'outside world' had taken a keen interest in its downstairs neighbor.     And Yunomi was checking on the generators; huge equipment not too different from the ones in the Telescope -- the same generators that she had set up to try and save the Parun of the Izzet. Many showed where the glass and metal had been prepared. Some of the transport wagons still had scorchmarks from manaburn and fire scarred into their frames. She was floating in grease-covered worker's pants and an old 'FORT DETRICK' T-shirt, showing the Army coat of arms. She looks like she hasn't slept in a week, her hair akimbo and her arms covered with little bruises and burns.     The air here was abuzz, as if a lightningstorm had just passed through. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      It took Chuck a bit of cajoling to get his father out here. But now, Chuck and Herc step into the lab. They're both in their dark, military-green drivesuits - it's like some sort of high tech battle armor, helmets under one arm. The suits display their combat record, Kaiju skulls are replete across the chests. Maybe they had come right from some sort of simulation or battle?      Chuck calls out to Yunomi. "Oy, Stadler! We're here - me and the old man. What's up?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi pauses, a pretzel rod sticking out of her mouth (she was told to eat something right after the testing), and she brightens visibly seeing the Hansens stroll in. "Chuck! Herc! Hi!" she greets them as she hop down off one of the generators. On her approach, there is the slight smell of singed hair about her. She rubs the back of her neck a moment. "Ah, excuse the clothes. I've been going through workpants pretty quick this week." she explains as she settles on the ground. More pointedly, she has her ears and her tail popped -- she's seen no need to keep them contained. Her bare feet are resting on the singed tile as she brightly looks up to the rangers.     "All right, so, the plan is to shrink down all of the other combatants to fit inside of a magical-and-technological energy barrier made of thick ceramic in order to transport them into the battlezone." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Miss Stadler," Herc rumbles in greeting, regarding her with a friendly nod. Chuck gives her a hug, of course, but it's as awkward as ever. He's still just not very good at it. Herc, like any good parent, has a moment of willful blindness.      "Not gonna lie," Herc replies, "I only understood 'bout half'a that. What happens after?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi hugs Chuck, but it's made even worse between their height difference and the armor. But she has the grace to blush a little sheepishly at Herc.     "I'm shrinking everyone down to size to carry them in a booze jug that blocks the enemy from sensing you before I drop you in water near my home and cancel the spell." Yunomi explains a bit more laymans-termsly, and rocks a bit onto her heel. "The equipment you see behind me is my work with the Izzet -- basically it'll give me enough juice to shrink everyone safely, as long as I get a rest period between each event. Afterwards, we cancel the spell, take the PTO by surprise and take my homeland back. It'll... be messy. I'm not going to lie." and she takes a deep breath. "... and if you participate in this, they may not be cooperative to the PPDC." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Herc nods, but Chuck quickly jumps in with a question - the same one that his father was about to ask. "Well, no offence, Yunomi, but what can we do without Striker? That's kind of our thing. We get shrunk, and then that all happens... then what?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... well. That's why I cleared the courtyard for." Yunomi rubs the back of her head. "I kinda assumed you'd be in Striker Eureka." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi purses her lips a moment. "I missed something somewhere... I'm sorry. These last few weeks have been... I mean, it's not been easy. I lost my homeland, there's the concern that if the PTO destroys the shrine or kicks the calderaa into an active state I could lose a good portion of my power." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck grins at that, wide and roguish. "Hey, we can have Striker brought through the warp gate no problem - she was just gettin' a bit of maintenance work done. Look, Yunomi, it's all gonna go okay. You ain't gonna lose anythin', and we're gonna kick those bastards right where it hurts." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Still not as good as making Yunomi spittake. Herc's still got that one up over her. Yunomi blinks a minute before she realizes what was said, and she visibly relaxes, and rubs her face with her hands. There's a streek of something that leaves in its wake. Her ears prick up again. "I just want them out of my home. My biological father's still in there, along with many of my childhood friends." she states quietly, and she glances down, her arms folding in front of her for a moment. "... and I appreciate this. The both of you." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck nods and gives a bit of a shrug. "Well, sure, thanks. I doubt they'll have anythin' that can take on Striker. We've got this locked down, Yunomi. No sweat." He pauses, and reaches up to wipe at that streak of whatever-it-is with his finger. "You got somethin' there." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi blinks, and blushes again as Chuck wipes at the streak. "Ah, solder, or charr, or mizzium dust. Or lunch. Could have been lunch. If Lunch wasn't pretzels -- want some?" she inquires. "So, what's with the armor? Did the meat vendor scare you /that/ badly that you decided to come looking as tough as you possibly could?" she questions.     Pidge awakens, beeps merrily, and then goes to orbit Chuck once, making a rude 'blaaaaaat' sound, and then makes a happy 'whrr!' sound as he orbits Herc. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "I never say no to free food," Chuck says.      Herc grunts. "He really doesn't."      Chuck's lips purse in a thin line, but he says nothing. "Nah. It's just our drivesuits. We wear 'em for interfacin' with Striker. And they look badass, if I might say so." Chuck glares at Pidge as it orbits him, picking up on the feeling of that sound. Herc, for his part, gives Pidge a rather consternated look - like you would if a bee had begun flying around your head. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a wry grin. "Better be careful. Klingons will take /full/ advantage of it; that's how I ended up eating /gagh/." Yunomi gives a face, and then looks completely horrified, "And so will the Golgari. Don't. Eat. the Golgari. Food." she mutters "... more than mushrooms."     Pidge continues to happily whirr and float around Herc's head, a scrollwork metal ball with flashing red and blue lights about the size of a pommagranite.     Yunomi offers the bag of pretzel rods over to Chuck. "They do look badass." she replies cordially, "Do the helmets give you a Head's-up?" 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Yup," Chuck replies, around a mouthful of pretzel. "Latest model. Better than anythin' the Yanks, Chinese or Russians wear."      Herc idly swipes at Pidge, a little wave of his hand that doesn't even come close to hitting the flashing thing. "What's this thing doin'?" he asks, finally. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Pidge? He's an Izzet security drone that took a liking to me. He was retrofitted to carry my communications array and acts like my radio and cellphone. At the moment he's..." she pauses, and watches him continue to orbit Herc. "Espressing that there is a desire to defend you from aggressors." she holds up a hand, and Pidge pauses, and zips right into her palm, 'whrrrrrrrring' like an off-key mechanical duck. "He's mostly harmless."     Yunomi gives a look at the helmets, and then smiles, and plucks her goggles off her head. "Here, try these on." she offers. "Ryxinel, one of my mentor's children, repaired these /beautifully/." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Mostly harmless?" Herc asks, but he doesn't seem too fussed. "So he's like one of those smartphones, but he flies around." Something like that, sure.      Chuck eyes the goggles and extends his free hand for them. He passes the helmet over to Yunomi, too, and begins getting them over his head. "Alright, I'll bite. Whadda these do?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "He can emit a little electric shock, kinda like a cattle prod. It's mostly to stop them from being eaten in the lower levels." Yunomi explains to HErc with a small smile.     The red-lensed goggles with their soft leather cups and adjustable straps look like something from the late 1800's piloting gimmicks and early driving goggles. They're padded. Yunomi accepts the larger helmet, and she turns it over to take a look. "They're my goggles. They're UVA/B rated, give me in formation transmitted from Pidge, and can sense energy or mana flow. And they're stylish to boot"     Yunomi rolls the helmet in her hands a moment, and purses her lips, ears coming up again as she glances up to Herc with an amused expression. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      The drivesuit helmet is surprisingly light, thanks to its advanced construction. It's rendered in the dark green almost-camo that matches the rest of the gear the two Australian Rangers are wearing. Currently open, it seems like it can seal shut - invaluable when fighting in the ocean.      "What'd eat it- him?" Herc asks, quickly correcting himself. It doesn't seem like Chuck told him much at all!      Chuck, for his part, just nods. "Alright," he says, "Is there an on-switch somewhere?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi had some experience with deep water. None of it good.     She glances to Herc, and considers. "Rust monsters. Acid spiders. Really, really hungry goblins." she replies to the question of what would eat poor Pidge, who beeps from around her belt.     And Yunomi reaches up, up to her tip-toes on the bare ground, and brushes her fingers to the side of the goggles, feeding a little mana into them. And for Chuck, the world around would light up. The generators in the back where wheezing mana, swirling around in blue clouds. Pidge also left a trail in the goggles as he shot out from around Yunomi, and began a quick sweep of the room.     Yunomi was awash with magics, especially the omnipresent red collar around her neck.     And Yunomi, whose head is smaller than Chuck's, attempts to pop on the helmet. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Herc just nods. Rust monsters, acid spiders, sure. They sound nicer than Kaiju, really.      The drivesuit helmet was seemingly made to fit for Chuck's head. It is, of course, far too big for Yunomi and it doesn't seem like it does much without being connected to the rest of the suit and, presumably, linked with the control systems of a Jaeger.      Chuck grunts something when the world lights up, awash with strange colors. "And this is what you see all the time?" he asks, looking here and there. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Yep." Yunomi replies, though it's muffled through drivesuit helmet. The helmet is way too big. And smells like Chuck. She slides her head out, and shakes out her hair, wrinkling her nose a moment before she tucks the helmet under her arm.     "Pidge, replay the first Kaiju encounter we were in for Chuck." she asks. and Pidge seems to gleefully 'whrrrr'.     And hopefully Chuck doesn't get motionsick easily, because Yunomi operates in three dimensions at all times. Striker Eureka and Cherno Alpha are lit up, and labeled in English as STRK and CHRN. Allies are given four-letter signatures and the Kaiju is lit up red.     And after the initial sail over, Yunomi went down at a quick rate. It jumps after a teleport, and then through the Kaiju's legs to get a look at its legs. It's dizzying and fast, her head turning around to check behind her.     "That's the day we met." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Yep," Chuck says, "I remember." He doesn't get motion sickness - that would be disasterious inside the confines of a Jaeger drive harness! "Up near Vladivostok." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Paticularly cold. A group of Imperials came and helped..."     Yunomi gets a far-off looking gaze, and her ears prick up. She purses her lips, and offers Chuck's helmet back to him.     "... and I outdrank two Russians and some full-of-himself Australian. I always did wonder what happened to him." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck exchanges his helmet for the goggles, but scoffs at Yunomi's next remark. "Beginner's luck," he says, "Or maybe he let 'er win. Y'know, figure that makes a good first impression." He reaches up and rubs around one of Yunomi's ears.      Luckily, Herc is off staring at one of the massive generators. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Luckily, otherwise Yunomi would be completely mortified. Instead, she blushes. "Maybe. Strong constitution." she replies, but when his hand touches her ears, the fur on them stands out. Both ears pop up as if at some interesting sound. Her shoulders rise up a slight bit. Her tail curls into a slight upside-down U-shape...     And maybe she's just a little confused on how to properly react, because the first thing that happens immediately afterwards is a burst of blue mana escapes her hand.     And Chuck might see the world through different eyes. Or at least eyes at a different location, cone and rod density and ... elevation.     Yunomi now towers above him, and looks...     completely...         /Mortified/. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      For a moment, Chuck is very, very confused. He goes to say something and he chirps. That's weird, he's never chirped before. And how is Yunomi so big? Hell, why is /everything/ so different?      Oh no. Oh hell no.      At that moment, Herc turns around. He looks to Yunomi, but doesn't seem to catch sight of the Chuck-glider. "...did you scare 'im off, Miss Stadler?" Herc asks. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi covers her mouth, to try and hide the fact that she is going to either burst out into laughter or tears.     "I'm... afraid... that... he... is... now... a squirrel." she finally gets out, and she carefully gets down to her knees, and puts down a hand.     "... I can fix this. But... seriously... let me take a look." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Bless his simple Sydney-born and bred mentality, Herc doesn't seem too phased. "Well, you said you were gonna have to shrink us down, but I reckon this isn't what you had in mind." It's not a question. The Chuck-glider hops up onto Yunomi's hand and, even without the facial features of a homo sapien, she can feel the anger /radiating/ off the little animal. It chitters excitedly about something. Probably swearing. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Nothing phases Herc. Thank goodness, because Yunomi was already slightly panicky about having to explain 'I apologize, I turned your son into a possum'. And Yunomi gives a bit of a sad expression.     "Ah, no, this isn't what I had in mind. With all three mana generators running, I should be able to shrink down Striker Eureka to about fifteen centimeters tall... which means you two will be... very small. On the millimeter scale." she explains. "That's about as small as I'm going to risk going."     She holds the Chuck-Possum up, careful not to get her face too close to him. "I'm sorry about that, Chuck." she whispers quietly, and then sets him back on the floor. She takes a step back, and with a sweep of her hand, casts a counter spell.     Chuck would rapidly find the world back to size. He may be mid-swearing when he does so. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      May be? Definitely.     "-cking bullshit, this is! I'm gonna-" Chuck pauses, stops, and looks down at his hands. "T'hell was that? I've never been a possum before!" He sounds so petulant, so vaguely put-out by what he's been through, like he got slapped. He crosses his arms against his chest. "A bit'a warnin' next time wouldn't hurt!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi reaches over, and pokes her finger against his chest. "If I'd had a bit of a warning, Possum wouldn't have happened. You make an adorable, if furious, sugar glider." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "So, what?" Chuck challenges, barely rocking on his heels as Yunomi pokes his armored chest. "Someone touches yer ears, they get turned into a possum?" He looks like he's about to test his hypothesis... then thinks better of it, lowering his hand. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I haven't slept in a week, I've been shrinking weirds and test subjects all week and tomorrow I lead an assault on a bunch of plantary salesmen who hold my home captive that if I don't win, I might end up either dying of shock or stuck as a small furry forest animal. I'm a /little/ on edge right now, and you can't just reach out and rub someone's ears! Who does that! That's /weird/!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi looks rather peturbed, and her ears are pinned back, out of easy petting range. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck's surly expression doesn't quite fade, but he does mutter out a, "Well, sorry. I just thought it might be nice." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's expression softens, and she rubs the back of her neck. "It was," she admits, "I just didn't know how to handle it in that second."     And then she purses her lips, and gives a smile and a shake of her head. "I'll sleep better once this whole thing's over with and I cna focus on things other than getting Namamura back." she replies, and she takes a deep breath, and lets it out in an even breath. "Thanks for stopping in, I'm glad I got to show off what I do when I'm not fighting kaiju or writing comic books." 
}}

1253/Writing on the Wall

2016-09-05T03:14:21Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/01/03 |Location=Shatterdome |Synopsis=Yunomi and Chuck Hansen (Striker Eureka) spar in an emptying Shatterdome, Sydney Australia. |Thanks=I wa..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/01/03
|Location=Shatterdome
|Synopsis=Yunomi and Chuck Hansen (Striker Eureka) spar in an emptying Shatterdome, Sydney Australia.
|Thanks=I want to thank Striker Eureka, because he gave me some of the BEST RP ever, and I still laugh years later. -- Yunomi
|Cast of Characters=25, 272
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      It's funny, really, how quiet the Sydney Shatterdome has become.      They're down to three Jaegers now. Echo Saber, Vulcan Specter and - of course - Striker Eureka. There's less people in the 'dome, just just less machines. Ground crews are fewer in number, there's less people in uniform. The mood itself is positively subdued. The writing, it seems, for the Australian teams, is on the wall. Almost literally, given that the Sydney section of the Wall of Life is almot complete.      They're just on borrowed time now. Soon enough, the 'dome will be empty and the Jaegers will be decommissioned.      Maybe that's why Yunomi finds Chuck Hansen - shirt off, face set and mad - hammering away at a set of boxing targets in the large gym. There'd usually be so many more people in here. Now there's just a young man and his dog. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi was a staple around Sydney, if she wasn't in the Shatterdome, she was often out looking over the sea and the wall in a worried manner. She might not be the 'engineering' part of the Izzet, but she wagered with enough 'oomph' behind a spell, even she could take out the Wall of Life. It didn't instill her with confidence.     However, she flashed her ID and a smile as she went into the Shatterdome, making her way down the emptier hallways, and she could feel that the atmosphere was... heavy.     When she came to the gym area, she quietly poked her head in, and her eyebrows went up as she spied the Ranger, and she bites at the inside of a lip.     The pounding of fists on targets filled the room, and she was content to let him vent a little longer.     ... not that she minded the view. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Max the bulldog pokes his head up from where he's been dutifully watching his master beat on those red bags. He's not sure what they had done to make his master so angry, really, but he's reasonably sure they won't do it again. He gives Yunomi what sounds like a very half-hearted 'wuff' and then slumps his head and jowls back onto the floor.      Chuck turns, taking a moment to massage his knuckles with his fingertips. "So, come t'visit the graveyard, huh?" he asks. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi pushes herself off the wall, and meanders over to where Max was laying, and she scooches down, reaching to rasp her fingers lightly over the dog's head in greeting. She gives a wry little smile up at his master though before she straightens up.     "There's still life here yet," she remarks quietly, and brushes the fingertips of her other hand against Chuck's arm. "Might be a little thin... but there's still life. And you know what they say -- where there's life, there's hope, ne?" she tries to push a little cheeriness into her voice, but optimism is about as thin as life is. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Yeah, well, there won't be fer much longer," Chuck counters. "Life and hope don't do much against a goddamn Kaiju," he continues, folding his arms. "Prob'ly do more than that damn wall tho'."      He lets out a breath and focuses enough to uncross his arms, making himself look more like he's actually happy to see Yunomi. He's hard to read. "Well, ain't nothin' wrong with a bit of a morale boost, eh?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "You'd be surprised with what a young girl can do with a bit of hope. Remind me sometime to tell you about Madoka." Yunomi replies, and delivers a light punch to his arm as she goes to pass him. "Drinking buddy, designated driver, morale boost and subject of ear-tweaking. I'm /so/ multi-talented." she teases, giving him a bright smile that makes her eyes light up. She turns back to him, taking a few steps backwards. "So, what'd make your day, Chuck?" 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Gettin' in Striker and gettin' the old man to agree with me and kick a hole in that wall?" Chuck replies. He's serious but it's not a very helpful or constructive suggestion. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I think he'd agree with you, but thank goodness he has the common sense to not follow through." Yunomi replies dryly "And I'm not qualified to drive my jeep yet, let alone get into a Jaeger, so I'm right out. How long were you at those targets? I'm pretty sure I heard one whimper for mercy." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck scratches at his head for a moment, then looks up at the clock set above the door. "Uh, 'bout half an hour. It's better trainin' on a person, tho'. But the old man's all busy with the Marshall. You any good?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Awww, but I'm just a girl! You're going to have to go /easy/ on me!" Yunomi replies with a sugary-sweet voice, pressing her fingertips to her cheeks as if she were /scandalized/ at the idea of a bout against Chuck, and she gives a sidelong smile. "Considering the size of the bruise you left me with last time... but I've been brushing up." Yunomi gives a grin, and goes as if to brush off her shoulder. The clothes she's wearing change, from the loose jeans and T-shirt, tightening and reforming to a pair of gray fatigues and a red and blue tank top, and she kicks off her sandals. "We've got an influx of swordfighters and men with martial backgrounds at the Guild. Still not much of a brawler..." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck takes a few steps back, but not before he gives Yunomi a slight pat on the shoulder. "You don't learn anythin' if I go easy on ya," Chuck replies, with that strange sense that it's something he has heard before. Possibly from his father. "If you get bruised, then you better learn t'block better."      A few feet away, Chuck settles into a relaxed stance, fists balled. It's almost an exact replica of the fighting stance that Striker Eureka exhibits on the battlefield. Like father, like son, like war machine. "But I guess I'll go a bit slower for ya," he adds, grinning. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi purses her lips, and looks up at that pat on the shoulder.     Oh Yeah. It's on.     Yunomi gives a grin, and she pulls her hair back, rolling and twisting it into a bun behind her head, and she gives a small laugh. "Blocking? I'm pretty sure you could /bench/ a featherweight like me. I'll just have to not be there when you strike." And she brings herself down into a ready position, her stance loose and fluid, and she brings her hand up, palm forward, and curls her fingers to her palm in a 'come here' gesture.     "If you can keep your eye on me, you might learn something." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Yeah, yeah, bring it, Stadler," Chuck comments, stepping forwards. There's another advantage Yunomi might have. She's seen Chuck fight on a fair few occasions by now - and he falls into familiar patterns, because those patterns always work. So, Chuck steps close, and jabs out with his left fist. He follows that up quickly with a quick right cross! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's pretty familiar with Striker's fighting patterns; she's also about 30cm shorter than him and half his weight. Most of the kaiju's fighting patterns wouldn't work here, nor would she try to match him blow for blow in strength.     She leans back arching her back so she's below the jab, then comes in low and fast -- since he already so kindly stepped forward, she brings her heel down to try and catch his instep and put her elbow to his solar plexus. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      It's like hitting a brick wall! Chuck is a big guy and he's stacked on muscle. The elbow strikes directly into his solar plexus, but he seems convinced to power on through it. After all, he does have the size and weight advantage.      Still, he hasn't hit her yet. "If I didn't like ya so much," he says, "I'd headbutt you right here." Instead, he aims a fist low, trying to power it right into her abdomen! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     A quick side-step! Holy cow, he's not holding back a bit! Yunomi felt the muscle behind that stomach, and damn. She gives a laugh. "Lucky me; I'm pretty sure the only thing harder than your /Jaeger/ is your /skull/." she teases, reaching out to try and grab at his arm and pull him down, to off-balance himenough to tip him in her direction. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      She grabs his arm - all tanned skin and corded muscle - and pulls on it. Chuck pulls right back, pitting his raw strength against Yunomi's more skillful application of forces. The thing is, it only takes a slight miscalculation to upset someone's balance.      Chuck goes down. He immediately tries to push himself into a roll to the side, climbing back onto his feet. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's already on him. She dives for him, giving a low growl in her throat, the slightly competitive side of her coming out. Why? Because she wants to win!     She tries to plant her knees on the inside of his thighs before he can roll, and put her arm crossing the back of his neck to hold him down! IF chuck's quick enough, he might get away. Or be face up. That would be embarrassing. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Yunomi's quick, and she slams her knees down on the back of Chuck's thighs before he can get to his feet. The arms go across his neck and, for a moment, it seems like she might just have managed to pin him.      And then, after a moment or two, Chuck raises himself up onto his forearms. It's about as good as he can manage. With a terrific shout, he hurls himself to the side - so he has Yunomi on her back, facing the ceiling, much like him. He hops himself up, and them brings his weight down - attempting to shock Yunomi into letting him loose.      "Nice try, Stadler! But size and strength always win on t'ground!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "There's something to be said for tenacity!" Yunomi states, and she moves her arm, clinging to him, this time she tries to thread her arm around his neck, her knees coming up his thighs and her legs popping out to try and hook Hansen's legs into place, her other arm coming to brace herself -- and try and push Chuck's head forward into a sleeper hold! "As long as you don't suddenly grow /back spikes/!" she mutters breathlessly at his ear. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "Hrrrk!" Chuck grunts out, as Yunomi wraps around his head and shoulders for a sleeper hold. With his legs locked, he loses a fair bit of his ability to move - but he still has his arms. Again, Chuck brings himself up, practically living up to that assumption that he could lift Yunomi, and slams his back towards the ground again. He just needs one moment of weakness... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi can feel herself being lifted off the ground gives a soft hurk beneath him, pressed up against him, but she holds on. Even when she feels her body slam back down against the matts, with his full weight on her. One of her legs loosens from her hook hold, and she releases her arm, giving a breathless laugh from beneath him. "I... really shouldn't do that. You could be called up at any time. I'd hate to have to explain to Pentecost how I knocked out one of the best Rangers!" she laughs. "Truce?" 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck turns, bracing himself on his palms as he looks down at Yunomi, brow covered in a thin layer of sweat. "Yeah. Y'shouldn't. Dunno - what're the terms of this truce, eh?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi recovers the breath that was knocked out of her by the two slams, and she gives a small laugh, bringing her hands up and running them over her forehead and bangs. "First... are you okay? I shouldn't have... ah... tried so hard to win." she replies in embarrassment, glancing up to the ranger. "Well, what would you like outta the truce?" 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "'course I'm fine," Chuck replies, giving Yunomi a strange look. "It's not like I passed out." He balances himself on one hand for a moment, brushing his palm against his brow. "Dunno. Drink might be nice." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Drinks I can do." Yunomi gives a smile, and she slides out of the way, pulling her top a bit from her skin to air it out, and she sits up, giving a slightl pained expression as she curls her body to a sitting position, sitting with her legs underneath her. "Not bad for not having warmed up." she cheekily grins, assessing her own performance. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck gets to his feet, with all the slow momentum of some of grizzly bear. "Yeah, not bad. But I also didn't hit'cha with my forehead. That would've won me the match," he says, sounding cocky and confident. He goes to gather up his cap and then plops it on Yunomi's head. "There. Tribute." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "/That/ is provided I wouldn't have simply ducked under your big, hard head." Yunomi grins. "There's certain benefits to being small."     The large hat plopping on her forehead is not one of them, but she gives a grin all the same, and leans back a minute, watching him move. Every movement of muscle, the way the skin slides over the tendons and sinew, the folds and bends of his upper body, before she summons her sake bottle, and places T-Togi in front of her, and slightly to the side. She leans back, feeling the pain of returning breath against her chest, and her hands curled lightly at her side.     "Also: I throw fireballs and lightning. I totally let you win." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck finds a comfortable spot on one of the mats and, with a barked command to Max, summons the dog over to the pair. "Yeah? And I'm sure those fireballs and whatever are mighty fancy, but they've got nothin' on Striker. Y'move again, Yunomi." He holds a hand out - either for the sake bottle or a cup of it. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "The might of a Jaeger is nothing compared to the pure destructive force of a Yokai with a purpose, Chuck." Yunomi counters, and she pours a cup, and hands it over to Chuck. She draws up one knee, leaning her cheek on it as she reaches out to scritch Max. "... you know I'd go through hell to protect what I love." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck accepts the cup and takes a sip to start with. He grins roguishly and asks, "What, why're you tellin' Max that?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "He didn't threaten to headbutt me." Yunomi rakishly replies, but she glances up to Chuck with a grin. "... and you probably already know that, because you're /so/ great. At everything. No, really. The skill you have? Totally great." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "'course I am," Chuck replies. "I've gotta be. And I've got the record t'prove it. Chuck Hansen - best in the world. Youngest Jaeger pilot with the most confirmed kills. And b'sides, all's fair in love and war, Stadler," he challenges at that rakish reply, grinning around his cup. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Oh yeah?"     Yunomi's ears prick up. She gives a mischevious grin as they focus in, intent on Chuck. "Because if it's all fair..." she challenges, and she raises one hand, mana lazily swirling around her fingers. "Chuck Hansen, youngest Jaeger pilot, angriest little possum /ever/." 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck squints at Yunomi for that little comment. "Now, that was just unfair, that was! How was I s'posed t'know what'd happen if I touched yer ears?!" From zero to irate in under five seconds. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "How was I supposed to react to you reaching out and touching my /ears/? That's so /weird/. Do you do that to just every pretty girl in Sydney? Reach out and touch her ears?" she asks, reaching out and mimicking tweaking ears on the side of someone's head.     Her own ears flatten back a little as she purses her lips, and continues making that grumpy face right back at Chuck. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     ... and continues to wriggle her fingers, ridiculously, in the air, as if she were tweaking someone's ears. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      "I don't know!" Chuck retorts defensively. "It just seemed like the right thing t'do! I mean, pretty girls in Sydney don't have ears like /that/!" He gestures at Yunomi's head vaguely, as if to indicate her ears. He scowls slightly as she continues to wriggle her fingers in the air. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's fingers stop wriggling. Her grumpy, pursed lips melt away slightly, into a gentle smile. She scoots a bit closer, her own sake cup left empty as she slowly reaches to brush her fingertips against his arms.     "Hey." she whispers, craning her neck to look at him, some of her bangs falling into her face. "It's just one of the many qualities that make me 'not a pretty girl from Sydney' right? It makes me better." she adds, keeping her fingertips lightly on his skin, waiting to see if he'd pull away. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck doesn't pull away. His face splits in that casual smirk he tends to exhibit, however. "Yeah. Definit'ly better. Don't think there's many girls that aren't Rangers that'd go toe't'toe with a Kaiju either. But you did. That means somethin'." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Her fingertips trace upwards as she draws a little closer. Her eyebrows rise up, and she takes a deep breath. "... and what's it mean, Hansen?" Yunomi questions, curiosity piquing in her voice as she tilts her head slightly. Her ears are focused on him. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck just shrugs his broad, beefy shoulders. "Means there's no one else I'd rather have watchin' my back in a Jaeger on Kaiju slugfest, /Stadler/." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Good. Because there's no one's back I'd rather watch~." Yunomi grins, takes a deep breath, and presses a kiss to Chuck's forehead, up on her knees, holding her breath. 

:'''{{#var:25|Striker Eureka (25)}} has posed:'''      Chuck lets out a little grunt of approval and rests his arms around Yunomi's shoulders as she leans up to press her lips against his forehead. He doesn't say anything but, of course, he takes after his father in that sense. The Hansens aren't good at displaying emotion. Still, he doesn't move away, and he lingers there for as long as he can. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi smiles, and with his arms over her shoulders, she loops hers asround his head in a not-sleeper-grapple, and just smiles into his short hair, her fingers curling at the base of his skull.     Where there is life, there is hope. And a couple of badasses who go and fight giant monsters. 
}}

4432/TINDER: Kaeruhime's Shrine

2016-09-05T02:53:08Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/16 |Location=Spring |Synopsis=Rhapsody, Yang Xiao Long and Kirika investigate the Grotto Shrine in Namamura, to try and determine why the S..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/16
|Location=Spring
|Synopsis=Rhapsody, Yang Xiao Long and Kirika investigate the Grotto Shrine in Namamura, to try and determine why the Shrines could not connect ... and discover a murder.
|Cast of Characters=272, 325, 906, 481, 385
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     NAMAMURA, JAPAN     This is a valley formed in the caldera of an massive, but extinct volcano, long since tamed by frog-kami Kaeruhime, if Yunomi's tales were to be beleived. The main natural shrine, and the head of the 'shrine network' was behind one of the cascades at the caldera's North-East side, hidden amongst bassalt and granite cliffsides and through a thick part of the forest. There are steps leading down the cliff - narrow, meant for careful and revenant human feet.     THe opening was in a cave, its face guarded by what ordinarily would be an intact, white straw rope marking the area as sacred, whre the grotto within would be home to Namamura's own Kaeruhime-sama, the protecting kami. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' It was a place that Rhapsody had only seen from the sky. It was a day a long while back, where she wanted to help but instead stood down at the urgence of someone she truly cared about. Namamura was still a beautiful place to behold, but with its people gone, something didn't feel right to the Guildmaster. Still, after last night's difficulty with the Nexus, Ryxinel -insisted- a chance to visit the site in person to attempt to figure out what had happened. He had pondered if it was simply incompatibility between the magic types, or perhaps something to do with the area, possibly more blue then green, and then on and on his ramblings would go, trying to logic out all along the way. The trio, Sidonia included, were being transported by a massive creature known as a Stratozeppelid. Thankfully it was a much SMALLER one that was carrying their transport to Namamura. As it nears the location of the shrine, it would also start to descend to drop off its passengers. Yes. Rizix is driving. He is a goblin of MANY talents. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang's here. Somewhere.     In fact, she's climbing those narrow steps, reverent and careful as intended. Remnant isn't a very spiritual world, despite, or because of the fact that every warrior there uses their own Soul as a shield, but that doesn't mean she can't respect the traditions of other worlds. She arrives around about the same time everyone else does, uncharacteristically quiet and reserved. There's no grin, little bounce to her step, and a very hard and focussed cast to her lilac eyes. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika had been hoping for a relaxed evening at Dun Realtai when her presence was requested by the guild specifically. It was curious, Kirika hadn't known Yunomi that well that her guild would contract her on short notice, but that was enough for her to be concerned and answer the call.     She's also never rode a stra...stra...     Strato...oh hell. She's never ridden on one of these flying things to a mission before, today is full of firsts for the kitsune. "How much further are we?" She asks over the roar of wind, before her question is answered as the creature begins to land. Kirika opts to be first off the transport for security, and leaps over the side, gracefully landing on the ground with sword in hand.     She'll approach the cave mouth, insisting on protecting the others as she does so. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Ordinarily, Namamura feels magical, the birdsong seems a little more together, the sunlight a little brighter, a little warmer... but even as dusk starts to fall there is nothing.     Even the waterfall that typically bubbles up from the grotto is lazy, brackish water dripping down and leaving ugly, green stains against the wall. Indeed, something was very, very wrong here.     Yunomi herself had not arrived, insisting on working through and making sure everything was safe for presentation day. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     After Kirika steps off the Zeppleid, the dragons step off as well, and then Rizix turns the beast back to the sky until needed. Rhapsody moves to the cave entrance first, though Ryxinel is clearly taking in every little detail, jotting everything down in a notebook that he had brought along. He's the first that notices the different 'feel' to a place that should have seemed pristine. Sidonia brings up the rear, making sure nothing else would endanger anyone, though Yang would be welcomed should she arrive after the group.     Rhapsody simply looks confused as she goes. Even from the air, this place had looked far more bright, energetic, even mystical. Now? Something felt like it was missing. "Is it because no one is here, now..?" Should she have built the district? Should the people have came home? What was wrong here??? 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "It's quiet here." says Yang, coming up to join the group. "Too quiet. I don't like this." She reflexively deploys her Gauntlets. "This feels like an area infested with Grimm... stay close." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Should there be?" Kirika asks Rhapsody, looking confused and wary as she keeps a hand on her sword's hilt. She nods to Yang, before she tightens formation with the Huntress in training. Her ears remain perked and ready for threats, wherever they lurk. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     TClouds are beginning to move in, and there is the distant sound of a summer storm, the rumble of thunder as the winds turn cold.     However, the place seems... empty. Even the trees seem to be tired, moving their creaking boughs in the wind with the groans of old men as the wind pushes them. The open cave of the grotto has no more barrier, its straw rope having long since dropped away, trampled by feet unremembered. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "There was, once. Then someone stole the world out from under them. When it happened, I had the Izzet League construct the Namamura district inside our borders so they could have a home," Rhapsody explains as the group moves forward. "I seem to remember the world being left by them, but... now that I think about it, I never asked why they didn't come back,". Now she's wondering about that as much as why the land seemed in such a state. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "I see." It explains that colony of spider-people in the tunnels, Kirika thinks. She remembers that little misunderstanding well enough to bring a bit of embarrassment, with her almost slaughtering refugees over a mistake like that.     It's all the more reason for the fox to not make the same mistake again. She wanders towards the cave, heading in directly as she hunches over. "Remain close." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "The Aura of this place is weak... it's... Soul is almost completely gone." observes Yang as she walks closer to the cave entry. "I can feel it... It's like a Creature of Grimm, a void, but this one isn't malevolent." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     It is dark in the cavern, aside from the little light that the summer's evening brings in through the curtain of brackish water. There's a steady drip, drip, drip of water inside, echoing through the grotto.     There is also a smell. Sickly sweet, chemical, rotting. A mix of a riverbed, low in the heat of summer with the sink of sewage and heavy duty chemical cleaners, burning to the eyes and nose. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     At first it may seem pleasant, but after a moment when the rest of the scent gets to her, Rhapsody cringes a little. "This doesn't seem right at all.." A -lot- more scribbling goes into Ryxinel's notebook as the group moves forward, all eyes trying to take in whatever details they can. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "It smells like something died in here. Rotted to the bones then someone just dumped a whole vat of disinfectant in and called it good." states Yang in a deadpan, eyes weeping a little from the acrid stank. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Indeed." Kirika could tell that much with just a whiff, and she cringes with disgust at the stench. Ugh, this place doesn't at all feel appealing. All the more reason it'd be perfect if some nasty came out of nowhere. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THere is no nasty as far as they can see, which beyond the little circle of light from the mouth of the cave... isn't far. The darkness here seems supernatural, as if ashamed, hiding something. The smell doesn't get any better with exposure, but nothing comes out to try and attack them. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang grunts as Rhapsody quickens her pace. The Huntress follows suit... then tries something. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Her voice calling out into the darkness. THere's supposed to be something here, right? Maybe it's afraid of them, or thinks they're hostile. "We're friends of YUnomi." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika follows Rhapsody without hesitation, keeping pace with the dragon. She too is sick of this slow game, so here she goes following Yang and Rhaps. "Show yourself!" She commands, voice full of authority. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     After a few more steps, the Guildmaster seems to have had enough with the slow pace and moves forward at a faster pace. Impaitent? Maybe, but Rhapsody wanted to get to the bottom of this, and that meant seeing the shrine. The shrine in the Namamura district didn't look this bad, not a bit! Was she imagining it? Ignoring it? Did nothing come through the portal besides light? Nothing was adding up and the suspense was starting to get to her. Sidonia jogs to catch up. Ryxinel doesn't seem to notice and has flipped pages in his notebook at least 3 times since they entered the cave. He does, however, notice the increasing dark and calls a bit of red mana to to toss a flickering flame into the air just above him. It wouldn't keep up with the others, however.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Once the flame is up in the air, it's plain to see that something was very, very wrong.     Yunomi had once described the kami's grotto as a peaceful serene place, its crystaline waters gifted with healing properties with lilypads set with water lilies that smelled sweet and koi that shone like gems, the parents of sick children would ask the priests and keepers of the shrine for cups of water from this place to heal fevers.     She was not describing this grotto.     It is polluted. Black sludge has replaced the crystaline waters, a pollutant that nothing could grow through. Flies buz where koi fish had floated to the top of the sludge, bloated from rot. Maggots wandered along corrupted scales.     And the steady drip of water is oily residue, coming down from the ceiling. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Yyyyyep. This is a thing." says Yang as the grotto lights up and reveals its dark secrets. "What could have caused this?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There is a box to the far end, on the other side of the sludgepit. Ceremonial rope is stripped from the wall and left in tatters around it, but there doesn't seem to be a way to cross. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A frown forms, very quickly, as Rhapsody gets an idea, "I guess the Saiyans may have left their mark behind," she growls, voice full of venom. Sure, they left, but she's feeling that they left a scar behind that may be far too deep to take care of. "Ryxinel..?" she calls, snapping the red dragon out of his note-taking stupor. The moment he spots the sludge he's quick to move over, touch at, actually inhale at, and then pull out something akin to a magical tricorder to see what he can figure out. "This is -awful-.." obvious statement, but he probably hadn't heard anything that was said a moment ago. Sidonia is simply taking in everything, peering across the pit at what lays on the other side. Squint.     "Should I fly across for that?" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika shakes her head. The poor shrine must've been razed to the ground during this world's conquest. "Nnngh." She approaches the water, kneeling to get a close look at the dead fish with a frown. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe fish has been dead for a while, at least several days. Maggots are squirming about on its corpse. A fly lands, twitching this way and that.     This place is positively devoid of magic. A hole. Where as the outside had a dying soul, this place had nothing. No feeling, no spirit to it. How this place could be a shrine -- let alone the home of a minor god -- would be a mystery. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     For the moment, Ryxinel keeps trying to analyze the strange sludge that's dripping down from above. When Sidonia points out the box, the guildmaster glances over too. "Maybe.. do either of you have a way over?" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "I cannot cross water unless I swam but..." Kirika frowns, looking at the water before she shrugs a shoulder to Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "I could probably throw one of you... but I'm not sure you'd reach. I could probably use Ember Celica to launch /myself/ over." offers Yang, approaching the edge of the 'water', then looking slowly up to gauge the distance. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Hmmm..." Kirika decides after a pause. "Yang, toss me." She tells the huntress, without any hesitation. Yes, this is a logical decision for a fox. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' This gets a bewildered look out of the sisters. Ryxinel, again, is so deep in his analyzing that he probably didn't hear any of it.. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang looks over at Kirika, then nods. "Alright." she holds out her right arm for the fox to grab. "Going to have to spin up. Hold tight." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Without hesitation, Kirika wanders over and grabs Yang's arm firmly, before she braces for the throw. "WHen you are ready." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang nods to the fox, then looks to the dragons. "Stand back."     She then starts firing Celica, beginning to spin and gaining speed rapidly as the kinetic blasts ring out in the grotto. She signals to Kirika to let go at a specific point at the apex of the speeed she can gain, which should send the fox in a clean arc over to the box.     Should. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The sludge is a combonation of rotting biological materials, bereft of their magical properties. It's blood, rotting lillypads and water lilies, polluted, blood and flesh, festering and left to rot here. Formaldahyde, bleach, noxious fumes that are stronger on the other side, where the wind can't provide releif.     THe box is a simple wooden box, it's unlocked.     There is also what looks like a rusting, metal pin, about six feet above the box. There is something hanging from it. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     WHEE     Kirika sticks the landing, even fi she's pretty covered in sludge. Wiping herself clean, the fox grumbles while her tail swishes off mud and other unfortunate stuff. Kirika approaches the box, and she prods it with the tip of her sword before she tries to open it, prepared to leap out of the way of the pin in case it's a trap. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "If this is any indication, this place has been like this for a while. I'm not sure this is the fault of the Saiyans, Rhapsody.." The guildmaster sighs, well that's a dead end. She turns to watch Kirika get thrown over the pit. "Anything in the box?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The place has been like this for a while. The pin, which has something hanging from it, is not dislodged from its wall above the box.     THe box, when opened, is empty, save for a piece of paper, folded into the shape of a frog, Origami style. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika takes the frog, and begins to carefully unfold it, frowning with confusion. "What could this be...?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Inside the folded frog there are dried flower petals; the might have been pink at one time, but they have yellowed with age, and stir even with the slightest of breaths. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika returns, making a great leap as she returns to the others. "There is nothing I can imagine being worth much here, whoever attacked this place left nothing behind." She comments sadly, shaking her head. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "What is it?" Rhapsody calls out, wondering what Kirika has found over on the otherside of the pool. Ryxinel is trying to scan some other things now, but isn't sure what to really do at this point. Deciding to take a second look after Kirika comes back, Sidonia sprouts her wings, and then glides across to take a look for herself. Once across, the dragon peers at the pin and whatever it is that's attached to it.. "Mm.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The pin is plain iron, cold iron, rusting from the moisture.     Hanging from the iron, as if it was peirced through the eye...     Is the skull of a frog. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Considering what Sidonia knows about Namamura, and you can believe she researched it thanks to the Saiyans, this comes as a shock. It actually causes her to swallow a breath of frustration, "You don't deserve to still have that there," she rumbles before -carefully- trying to remove the iron pin. The other two dragons are oblivious for the moment, but Rhapsody can recognize her sister's irritation, veiled as it is. They're still siblings. "Sidonia.. what's wrong?" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "I'll go check the entrance... just in case something decides to sneak up on us." says Yang, turning on her heel and stalking away from the group, heading to the grotto entrance again. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe iron pin is slid from its hole in the wall. As it comes out, rust and more brackish water falls atop the chest... by the time the pin is drawn out, it's almost two feet long -- only four inches was outside the wall. The frog's skull is delicate, thin bone trembling in Sidonia's hand.     The enterance has gotten colder. The wind's beginning to pick up, but the chemical, rotting smell dissipates quickly once past the entrance. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' The pin is given a long, stern, glare by the azure dragon before she -carefully- makes her way back across the pit. When Rhapsody sets eyes on it, and the pin, she can easily put the clues together. Even Ryxinel quietly puts his tools away, saying only: "That solves that.." lowly. A rough breath is taken, and Rhapsody quietly turns for the exit, "The shrine is dead, for lack of a better term," she explains to anyone that needed it. "Damn blazes, the Jumpstart may not have worked cause there was no energy to begin with.." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika gives a mournful look, kneeling seiza style as she prays for the spirits of who lived here, if they're even still residing in this place anyways. Nothing more is left for the kitsune to say, all she can do is mourn. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The grotto remains dead. Its contents rotting, its magic dissipated entirely. IN a matter of weeks, even the flies will cease to visit, and all that will be left is a stain in the cavern's basin.     OUtside, the trees are creaking and groaning like old men. The wind has picked up, and become colder as rain is beginning to fall, covering stone, human, fox, dragons, and all creatures in its chilled embrace. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang mutes her radio. Yunomi's voice coming from it just brings a bitter sting to the blonde brawlers eyes... and in a fit of pique she slams her fist into one side of the grotto entrance, blasting a chunk of stone free with a bestial, wordless roar. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     What did that piece of rock ever do to y ou, Yang? 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SPIRES -- the IZZET SECTOR, RAVNICA     Yunomi is already there. She's in her brownish work clothes, looking concerned. She's pacing, on the supports. Over her shoulder buzzes the little Izzet drone, beeping in concern as Yunomi paces... she's not even pacing in the air. She's on the platform between the spires, pacing, a half-eaten bagel in her hand. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The Zeppleid can't be seen long before it reaches the span. When it settles into place, Rhapsody steps off, wordlessly, along with Ryxinel. The others would be allowed to disembark before Sidonia follows with a -very- somber look. It's matched by her siblings due to what she has cupped in her hands. It appears to be a frog's skull that has been gone for a very, very long time. The cold iron pin that was stuck in the skull, however, is not revealed. She was not going to bring a murder weapon with her. It was .... somewhere else. Her expression says everything as she removes her hand from the other,         "I.. I'm sorry.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi steps forward as the Zeppleid makes its landing on the span, and Yunomi strides forward. "Rh-Guildmasters --" she greets them simply, concern in her voice. "What's so important that it cuoldn't... it couldn't..." she begins.     And Yunomi feels a cold rush down her spine. She stops in her tracks. She looks at Sidonia. She looks at Rhapsody and Ryxinel.     And hesitantly, she reaches out for the skull, and then she whispers:     "No."     Her eyes well up with tears, Her hands shake. She can't bring herself to accept it. Her eyes close and the mage with the soft round ears and the fluffy tail feels her stomach twist and her legs turn to water as she drops to the span, clutching at her chest. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' At the span, the trio would likely stay nearby until urging Yunomi at least to her room, at which point the family would probably stay together as long as is needed. If anyone wanted to stay nearby, they would not be turned away. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna isn't as fast getting to the Space Between the Spires as she would have liked to be, so she arrives just after the three dragon siblings disembark from the airship - the Zeppleid. It takes her precious moments longer to close the distance ... and before she gets there, she sees, not so much the skull, but the impact which it has on her tanuki friend. "Yunomi ..." whispers Yuna, quickly walking up and trying to hug her furry friend close, cradling Yunomi's head to her chest. There's nothing she can really do except offer comfort, but she's going to do all she can for *that* sake - she won't leave a friend alone in her grief if she can help it. 
}}

4442/THE GRAND PRESENTATION

2016-09-05T02:52:36Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/19 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Yunomi officially unveils the Mana Nexus! AND NOTHING BAD -- everything bad happens. A coup, b..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/19
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Yunomi officially unveils the Mana Nexus! AND NOTHING BAD -- everything bad happens. A coup, betrayal, fighting -- and pain, so much pain.
|Cast of Characters=272, 985, 325, 528, 481, 711, 42, 385, 750, 639, 215, 670, 151, 300, 395
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' (https://youtu.be/-HgjSlyTJAA) RAVNICA, THE CITY OF GUILDS IZZET SECTOR: THE MANA NEXUS      The whole of the sector has been closed to heavy traffic: it is PARTY TIME.         The Izzet Sector hasn't seen this much foot traffic in centuries, throngs of people surge in the crowds in the atmosphere of a carnival. Costumes and balloons, members of the Izzet walking around in striped robes of brilliant blues and bright reds, brass polished to a brilliant sheen. Humans and brightly colored djinn talk with full glasses of sparkling red and electric blue liquids. MErfolk in watery robes of blues and greens stride proudly for their part in supporting the Izzet, and the odd Elf in green and white stops to admire the spires, alive with electricity around them. Vedalken in brilliant white robes stride calmly through the crowds, their azure skin eyecatching. Goblins laugh harshly, calling out insults to one another in garbled tongues and poking their noses into places that they might not belong.      The Boros are here as well, above the spires the occasional flash of a wing can be seen from patrolling angels, thought that this presentation was important enough to warrant their personal address. Human patrols walk the streets, sometimes enjoying samples from the vendors.      Food carts line the streets, everything from exotic meats on sticks, roasted freshly over glowing blue-hot coals to floating candies tethered by licorice rope strings to deep-fried cakes, candy, doughs and battered, delicious nothings that go right to the waist, and of course vendors selling everything from bagels to waffles to ice cream. A ferris wheel manned by a pair of diminutive fairies operates, spinning forty-seven cars around in a circle, while a huge, tripple-decker carousel spins with a menagerie of incredulous animals.      And in the center of this all was the massive honeycomb structure of the Mana Nexus, glowing in its pre-start up phase.      YUNOMI STADLER, clad not in her armors but a stylishly cut dress of red and blue, her hair curled and strewn with red and blue miniature roses is currently hiding behind a curtain at the grand podium, large enough for herself -- the Guildmaster, Rhapsody Mizzet -- and her tutor, the mechanical Soul-Twin of Niv-Mizzet himself. To say that she was nervous... would be an understatement. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Atmosphere is one of celebration -- NOTHING BAD COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN. 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' Nothing bad could possibly happen! That's why Nina is here. Nina heard about the Mana Nexus and thought she'd come to see it, or the presentation around it. What she understood of it - that it was a magic energy plant of some sort - seemed intriguing in a theoretical sense, and of course she's never actually been to Ravnica, so it had that going for it too. She didn't expect quite this much of a festival for something magic, though. At home, it would have gotten interested onlookers, and maybe they'd be able to spin a fair or a circus to come, but something like this? No way. Not what looks like the entire contents of a capital city. She may have misunderstood how important magic was to this world... Either way, she's here. She stands out a little less, though despite her wings she doesn't look that much like a Ravnican angel. Maybe an Orzhov angel, with her black-indigo wings and blue robe, but she has the wrong attitude for that and they probably wouldn't be in the Izzet sector anyway. She came alone, and is looking somewhere between curious and lost. Nina is currently trying to guess if it is legal for her to fly out of the crowd and sit on a rooftop or a streetlight or something, or if that breaks one of the laws of the city. She's never been in a city this large in her life - she's never even /considered/ a city this large. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     It was true, EVERY guild was in the Izzet Sector, in one form or another, tonight. Some for the festivities, some for information, some to present, some to protect, and some with alterior motives. However, on this night, even the Azor are actually enjoying themselves, the Gruul are behaving and the Rakdos are partying. It was spectacular.     Behind the curtain, a trio, a master, and an apprentence had been making sure everything was going perfect and thus far, it was! Such a turn around from days before where some magewrights actually feared being singed by dragonfire on this day. Now? Now it was a celebration of inovation, of the Izzet League, and of all the things they stood for, and showing that they worked for the whole of the city, and not just themselves.     Sidonia, for her part, was buried in a mass of red and white, organizing the security that was flying over, patrolling around, and even moving below, the whole of the Izzet Sector. Ryxinel was managing all the resources needed by the guards, the guilds, and maintaining the main concourse from the local Warp Gate to the main festivities. Thianel was at a distance, watching from the Span, a bridge that connected Nivix and Thirix far above. Flanked by Boros griffons and a pair of Steamcore Weirds, it was here he was simply keeping an eyein the sky.     And the Guildmaster? Simply behind the curtain with the #1 Offworld apprentice, helping in any way possible. For once, Presentation Day was the circus of both, and there were a LOT of monkeys to be kept in place. For now, however, until things got going, the curtain was down and each were out of view. After going through nearly a dozen checklists and getting GREEN statuses for all the reports, the white dragon slips over to Yunomi. "We are good to go," she says first before poking the tanuki in the shoulder, "And if you don't give me a go signal I'm gonna drop that curtain in a few minutes anyway." Smirk. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Although he is not part of the Izzet or the festivities, Bahamut has come in his best regalia to the Grand Presentation. A polished gunmetal grey cheshplate with cloth streamers of purple and yellow-orange gives him the look of wearing a robe himself, and golden shoulderpads emblazoned with the symbol of Bevelle Temple make him look even more regal and majestic than he already would. And strapped to his back is a two-handed sword of obsidian black, shimmering softly with grey and blue. It looks to be some sort of clockwork weapon, but the gears and knobs around the hilt could be decorative.      He has been enjoying the many foods on offer as well as the myriad of people moving through the celebration area. It is highly likely that more than a few vendors have had much of their stock purchased already by the mid-sized dragon, and so now he is standing near the Mana Nexus awaiting the beginning of the presentation as he enjoys a wooden horsecart full of food and drink as he watches the many different creatures mill about enjoying the celebration. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika is mostly here out of concern for the well being of all present today, so she's volunteered to assist in running security. The kitsune hasn't let this keep her from dressing fancy however, as she's donned her finest kimono to celebrate this occasion.     Being so curious as she is, Kirika can't help but linger close to the presentations, trying to get a look at what's been put on display while munching on a waffle snack of some sort. These are -bloody delicious- as far as the fox is concerned, so her tail swishes happily while she dines and strolls. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Partitioning off the sector to heavier traffic and vehicles was probably a good idea, considering how absolutely packed this place already was when Corona got here. Just finding a place to park was difficult enough in itself, if one didn't just take the warp gate. How was she ever going to get to where the actual demonstration/celebration was going to go down without having to wedge her way through dozens upon dozens of people, metabeings and otherwise? The answer comes not in voice, but in the sounds of hissing steam and click-clatter of cogs churning away. One 'chicken walker' style leg driven by pullys and gears steps over the heads of most of the crowd to find a safe spot to put down as people back up a bit to look up at it. The other leg soon follows, and while steampunks and clockworks were nothing new to Izzet, this was clearly not one of their design. The metal cube the walker legs were moving through the crowd was less magical and more greebly, with visible piping and bronze fixtures on the various sides that despite looking really complicated don't appear to really serve a purpose. On the front a trio of lenses are mounted on a rotary fixture: one for close vision, one for long range, and a third that is a wide-view to make sure it doesn't scrape up against anything. As it ambles by one of the many food stalls a gloved hand reachs down from the top to grab a meat-on-a-stick, and tosses a few gold coins down to the vendor without really bothering to count out a price. "Keep the change!" Corona settles back into her spot atop the automatron, sitting under an umbrella weged between two of the plates to give her some shade. "Now this is how ya travel," the silver-grey vixen muses with a chuckle before taking a chomp out of whatever roasted deliciousness she just picked up. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Okay, take II! Hopefully it will go better this time!     Staren's in high spirits, certainly! He swings by the food carts ('Okay, floating candy I have to try, but it doesn't have any side effects, right?') His attention is on the mana nexus and Yunomi, though, he doesn't want to get distracted by the rides! 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Between the demonstration earlier in the week, and being within something resembling earshot when Yunomi got some bad personal news, Yuna has made a point of being around the Izzet Sector as much as she can this week - when not studying or training or putting in public appearances elsewhere, pretty much. Fortunately the Izzet have very comfortablt guest beds. Yuna's in a casual but presentable sundress as she explores the party; Elner is alternating irregularly between sticking close to her and monitoring things from somewhere on high. Jiina, Marina, and Erina are blending in with the crowd - they look perfectly human, even if they don't look local, and as long as nobody gets too curious about what might be detected locally as ambient white mana, they should be fine. Danger is one of the last things on Yuna's mind tonight, and she wants to keep it that way. Maybe she should be dressed up more nicely, but she didn't know what was appropriate and didn't really want to *over*dress - and she didn't want to wear something that was going to be hard to clean if somebody spilled a drink or a plate on it. Given the carnival atmosphere and the prevalence of finger food, Yuna's *pretty* comfortable with her fashion choices for the evening. And of course she's saying hello to all the familiar faces she meets, from Nina to Corona to Bahamut. (There is a small but non-zero chance she won't recognize Staren outside of his armor ... although if that happens it might just be her teasing him.) 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''     Somebody said food vendors, and within a few minutes Rebound had mysteriously appeared in the Izzet sector. One has to wonder how the 'roo girl doesn't weigh a few hundred more pounds with how much she likes to eat. Must burn a lot of callories when you work like she does.     She has, at the moment, a funnel cake in one hand, a huge drink in the other, and a turkey leg in her mouth. Seems she's been busy. She is actually in line to get a meat on a stick when the clockwork walker comes up to the stall. She slips in behind it, taking a bite out of the turkey leg in her mouth as she looks at that gloved hand, head tilting a bit. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Monday was...interesting. Today should be spectacular. The wizard from Dun Realtai slips quietly through the crowd, turning down his usual uncontrollable aura of magnificence and sexiness. Instead he spends his time observing the equipment from afar, noting little changes here and there and reminding himself to inquire about them later. Merlin hadn't been able to talk to the insanely busy tanuki after the first demonstration, so he'd simply had a gift delivered and bided his time.     That she'd be wearing the band of undying roses woven into her hair is just an adorable touch, and it gives the wizard a smile. Oh, why not - a touch at his temple summons one of silver, duplicating the one she'd given him in the past. The language of flowers between friends, just a different dialect. And then the wizard simply settles in among the crowd to watch and wait. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' It's been a while since Iria has been here in the area. Granted, her recent bounty hunting exploits have been occupying her time, but with some free time on her hands, there's no time like the present to check out things here in Ravnica. Iria's even donned her classic attire from what she wore during her initial time here, as if attempting to get back into the mood of things! Even though she's usually a bit of a grumpy and impatient girl at times, Iria still has a spunky and playful side. She enjoys having fun in her spare time. She arrives in Ravnica with a smile on her face and a cheerful attitude, a contrast from the usually short-fused girl most might see. She walks around, nodding to people and stopping to admire things that are for sale, especially the foodstuffs. Once she arrives where the others are gathered, she gives a friendly wave to those she knows, especially Yuna. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "This is revenge for kissing you on the start-up, isn't it?" Yunomi counters to Rhapsody, and she reaches for the white dragon's hand, and glances behind to Thianel. "I can't tell you both how glad I am that you stand with me tonight." she gives them a smile, and glances to Ryx, and then far above to the Span, and she twists her fingers nervously around a little bit of green mana, letting the comforting color encircle her hand. She leans back on her heels a moment.     "I've never spoken in front of a crowd this big." she whispers, spotting a familiar unbridled pillar of attraction in MErlin, and she gives a small smile. She shakes her head, and lets the curtain fall back down from where she was peering.     She swallows, nervously.     "... I don't suppose cold feet is an option?" she jokes, turning to Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria has been here for the rests but now it's time for the formal boot up, if she understood it or at the very least it's a full on party. She's more than happy to get in on this, heck her mother's here Yoko Mason has a stall up and she's happily hawking things to the various party goers. Lyria was bright eyed happy and ready to see she and anyone who interacted with her have a good night! Merlin might find that Lyria was coming up upon him as she came to wish Yunomi the best to Yunomi. She did however take a long look at Merlin. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Maybe..." the guildmaster teases. "And well, to be fair, I don't think I've been in front of as big a crowd, short of the inauguration. I kinda cheated that day, though. Either find a person in the crowd, or a spot in the distance, and focus on that when you're talking. With such a crowd, no one really expects direct eye contact, so, you don't have to really look at them, just pretend you are." Smile. Handsqueeze. "You'll be fine. You'll have an amazing presentation that, to be fair, I feel bad for whoever tries to present after you." 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' Nina Windia figured a good robe fit in pretty much anywhere there was magic. If she'd thought ahead more she would have looked up what they wore in Ravnica and checked her closet to see if she had anything similar... but she didn't, and even if she had there's not a whole lot in her closet nowadays, so this will have to do. Nina has decided flying - or, rather, finding something high to perch on - is probably gauche even if it isn't illegal and taking someone's roof is definitely rude, so she's staying on the ground. She has nothing to eat but she did find something to drink... plain water, even if she had to conjure ice herself and wait for it to melt. She's smiled at the few people she recognized - not many, but Yuri counted. Other than that she's stayed out of the way, though perhaps surprisingly seeing Rebound is vaguely reassuring, if only because she looks a little like the Clans of her homeworld. Even if she doesn't recognize the exact Clan. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' It's nice to not have to wedge her way through a crowd that's probably big enough for even her to get lost in. Corona waves back to Yuna and others from atop her 'ride'. Then flicks back an ear as she hears familiar footsteps coming up behind the automatron. That's some hearing even by fox standards if she can pick out a familiar stride from the backdrop of muffled mechanical noises the construct makes. A moment after and the fox pokes her head over the back edge, ponytail falling down one side and over her shoulder. "Heya Hoppy. Ah'd say Ah reckon this ain't quite yer usual kind of scene, but guessin' by yer prize there ya came for the grub." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika wasn't too reserved to not say hi to Yuna, when she saw the Galactic Fraulein among the crowd. Grinning warmly, Kirika gives Yuna a hug, careful not to get crumbs all over her. "It's been so long, Yuna. How have you been?" Small talk for the most part, but Kirika hasn't been able to catch up with anybody for a while now.     Her ears twitch at the stomps of that massive machine Corona brought, and she tilts her head curiously at the techno-fox's walker-mech. "Did you build that?" she asks aloud, brow perked. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a smile, and she takes the spindle of green mana she was twirling about in her hand, and matches her own undying roses, brilliant in reds and blues with a loop of thornless roses around Rhapsody's wrist, the brilliant blue of a sky deep in the freeze of winter and the warmest rose reds of a summer garden's bounty. Satisfied with her little bit of working energy out, she releases the dragon's hand.     "This will be a Presentation Day that will be recalled in Ravnica for /centuries/." she smiles, brilliant and confident when she's caught Rhapsody's gaze, looking up to the dragon. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A long gaze is directed to the sudden accessory that's conjured onto her wrist. She would SO be making sure to keep it later on. Eventually she looks past it toward Yunomi, eyes meeting the eyes of someone she has known nearly all her life. She was proud, and she knew the names of the others that would be proud, and those that are absent that would agree.     "I have no doubt of that," Rhapsody muses, looking toward the curtain, toward the rope to pull it back, and then back to the tanuki again. "I think it's about time, isn't it?" 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Rebound waves her drink-filled hand dismissively, and then with a quick motion flips the turkey leg up into the air, catches it agian, and then pulls the stripped bone out of her mouth, chewing a bit before she swallows, "Yeah well, I know I ain't a fancy egghead but I can still respect folks who can do stuff like this." She bangs on the side of the walker and then grins, before tossing the bone into a nearby trashcan, "Plus I can't pass up fair food. Gotta keep my energy up." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "No, but y'all got some 'egghead' friends now don't ya?" Corona replies with a wink to the mutant roo. Then tilts her head a bit in the other direction. Another fox? Wasn't really expecting that. "Ya betcha Ah did. A few of 'em, actually. They do general work 'round the shop when Ah'm out doin', y'know," she makes a lazy twirl of vaguety with her unoccupied hand. "Cowboy shhotgun justice type stuff." And that's literal on the shotgun part. "Ah think this is a good spot fer seein' the show." Corona sits back up and gives the top of the construct a thump. "Down, fella." The automatron lowers itself to the ground, mainly by retracting the legs back into it's body to do so. She's still a good head higher than the rest of the crowd. Better than she'd be able to see on her own, she's not exactly tall. "Either of ya need a seat? Better vantage point up 'ere." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "I see. Most impressive!" Kirika smiles and bows her head. "Corona Arclite was it? I've heard you around on the radio time to time, it is good to meet you in person for once!" She says, finishing her waffle before she approaches the machine with less fear than perhaps the locals show of the big walking robot thing. "Do you mind?" She asks, indicating if she can join Corona aboard the walker. Since Corona offers anyway, she hops aboard and gets all prim, letting her katana hang along the side of the automatron where Kirika spies a nice nook. "It must have taken a lot of time to build them, I've not seen such things outside of a workshop back home. They're..." She winces, frowning. "'Tempermental', in my experience."     Now that she thinks about it, Ravinca does remind her a lot of Kasun, technologically anyways, a good mixture of science and sorcery that powers every machine and appliance. 

:'''{{#var:151|Ainsley (151)}} has posed:'''     Ainsley is actually here. At some point during all of the mingling, she had floated along and found a nice high up vantage point to observe Yunomi's big presentation. She has a gentle smile on her face for now, but her tail cannot stop wiggling. It just. Can't. Stop. Wiggling. Look at it go! 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' Corona has the right idea. /She/ gets to sit up high. Nina, on the other hand, goes for a walk. She doesn't know many of the people here and so she takes the opportunity to just... move around, explore in a way she wouldn't have been able to back in Windia or even when she was with the Magic School. This means she's spoken to a few of the people working what she thinks of as the fair, finding out a little more about Ravnica and, specifically, the Izzet sector; she comes off as a pleasant, if slightly distant, tourist. (She's very polite, far more formal than this situation really calls for on the part of a visitor.) Beyond that, she tends to wander, though she /is/ trying to get a good spot for the actual opening, or activation, or whatever it ends up being, which means she may run into a few other people who have the same idea. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' If Stadler wasn't going to miss the smaller pre-open, he certainly wasn't going to miss the big annoucement. Once again, it was a bit of a tough issue to get through the crowd itself, given how packed everything was. But Rick still knew how to plow his way through, with enough of a team and a group to flank and press through, flowing like water when they can and hitting like a hammer where they couldn't. It was like warfare, only more useful for getting into soccer matches. It helped that the unit was all wearing the standard Army dress greens with proper Union insigna; a regular recruitment visit, if there ever was one. It also made them stand out just a bit, so Yunomi would be able to see them with a quick scan of the crowd. Wise idea, as well, given how packed things were, and that was important to Stadler. As were... other things. Less lovely things, more paranoid things. It's why, despite how it looked, every one of Stadler's small, close-knit group, from the doctor to the spy to the quartermaster to the sergeant had side arms concealed neatly in holsters... and why there was a UH-60 idling a few world away, at a rather pastoral warpgate. Rick was cautious, and while Monday had it's accidents, Friday could have worse. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Hey Kirika!" Yuna answers the foxgirl with a big smile, hugging her back. "I've been all right! Busy as usual and then maybe a little more ... been taking classes at Beacon, it's the closest thing I've found to a college with a degree program in being a heroic magical girl." Which is actually nothing at all like becoming a Huntsman or Huntress, but 'train to do battle against creatures of darkness and destruction' is close enough to her non-idol day job. Her attention drifts over to Corona's automatron as well, and the blonde smiles, waving up to her and letting others talk mechanics for now, while Yuna takes a sip of her apple cider. Eventually, she starts drifting towards the area in front of the stage; she wants a front-row seat (or standing space, whatever) for when Yunomi takes the stage. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut had been so distracted with all the bustling and his food cart that he almost doesn't realize it as people he recognizes start appear. Well, at least one. He raises a clawed hand to greet Yuna when she greets him, then offers her something from his food cart. He has quite an assortment of things.      As a 15 foot dragon, he is trying not to move much in the packed area. And he is careful to keep his manners well displayed. It wouldn't be good for those around him to see a tall dragon in regalia scarfing down food like some Jund gorger. He continues to scan the crowd as the people go about their partying and socializing business. His sharp eyes spot Nina moving through the crowd, obviously looking for somewhere to observe the festivities, and raises his big clawed hand to try and get her attention. If he succeeds, he will motion to the big flat paulderon he is wearing. With his 15ft height it would be a good place to watch from. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria takes the time to get some cider as well, as well as some apple cinnamon donuts too. (Hey, she has a sweet tooth too!) After that, she proceeds to take a seat as well, next to Yuna no less. She smiles and offers a donut to her while waiting patiently for the presentation to begin. "This should be fun for a change!" She says. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "That'd be me, ayup," Corona replies, giving a polite tip of her stetson to Kirika as she climbs up and makes herself comfortable. "Machines can be ornery when they wanna. An' the more they can think fer themselves, the more ornery they can get." Pauses to bite off another chunk of her meat-stick. "But Ah ain't quite gotten 'em to that much calculatin' on their own yet. Most of 'em. Tinderbox can be a snot when it wants to." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Aye, that tends to be the case in most affairs involving technology. I can never understand half of it to be honest." Kirika nods slowly, her tail swishing softly as she produces a modern looking thermos from her traveling pack-of-holding. It contains tea, and she's more than happy to offer some to Corona if she wishes! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a nod, "It's time." she replies, and with an air of confidence, she throws her shoulders back, and rises to her full five-foot-almost-one height. Drums sound, calling the world to attention as Yunomi Stadler, Izzet Leage Mage, steps out from behind the curtain of striped gold, red, and blue. Each footstep was like an Iron Bell, the people who should be here to see this accomplishment.     Oya.         Chuck.             Kaeruhime. Sakiaro. Tadeshi.     Niv-Mizzet.     ... Niv-Mizzet...     THe drums roll like thunder, calling out in tremendous voices, and call for attention as Yunomi takes the small dais set up so her dimunitive form can be seen. Before her, the throngs and crowds, the shield generators to protect them in case of blastback -- the rapid ricochet of mana slinging away from its intended source, and protect Rhapsody from attack from outside -- and behind her the mighty spires of Nivix.     She looks over the crowd, thousands strong, and Pidge circling around her as she brings her hands up to silence the crowd.     "Ravnica, my brothers and sisters of the Union, my family -- please, lend me a few moments of your time between bites -- I'll try to make this short!" she calls out, her voice magically booming over the crowd. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''         So It Begins. Yunomi vanishes to the otherside of the curtain and Rhapsody moves over toward one side of the stage. After all, there were still things to be done! Especially when it came to dealing with the massive curtain behind the tanuki who was now startin her presentation! All she could do now is wait.. 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason beams as she gets near Yunomi and is bouncing onher feet a littlebit she catches sight of the guild master as well. This clearly is abig to do. She grins but thinks it might be better to leave her be for the moment. Lyria does however move to tap Merlin on the shoulder. "Hey there you got a moment to talk?" then the drums start the people are cheering and she now just settles in to listen to what Yunomi has to say she and Merlin may have to put a damper on whatever she wanted to talk about. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Normally after finishing her munchies Corona would go for her flask, but Kirika offers to share her own drink. "Much abliged." Tea isn't really her thing usually, but a friendly offer is hard to turn down. "Oooh, sounds like they're about to start." There's Yunomi coming on stage now. Corona has to resist the urge to whoop a bit. Save that for after the show. 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' It doesn't even occur to Nina that Bahamut is offering what he is, because - when she looks at him - he is a dragon. Dragons are... well, she's not about to go climbing all over them based on the small amount of information she has on them, that's for sure! That, too, would be rude. And Nina is nothing if not courteous. Which is why she raises one hand back, in slightly confused greeting. But she's found a place where she can see, at least, and it looks like it's starting. Nina stands up on tiptoes, which makes her wings reflexively spread a little until she conciously pulls them in to avoid getting in anyone else's way. Feathers in face is not a good way to make friends. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika nods with a grin, before she goes silent in respect to the speech about to be made. Tea is had between the foxes, and Kirika watches with rapt attention. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     And now the lady of the hour takes the stage and addresses the crowd. It's quite impressive, he must admit - and the event brings a shade of nostalgia to Merlin. Perhaps Camelot is but a memory, but in this case a good one. And seeing the diminutive engineer step forward and address the crowd, to instruct them and /lead/ them into a new future, he can't help but remember a very similar slip of a british girl who did the same once. At least Yunomi can celebrate being who she is, rather than forced to wear a guise for history's sake. With a nod of appreciation for the past in his memory and the future before him, Merlin leans forward to take in Yunomi's words. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Right on time, right as Yuna's staked out her place, the drums roll and Yunomi steps into view. Yuna smiles, applauding - probably drowned out by the percussion, but it should be *visible* even if it's not audible. And if Yunomi's not looking at Yuna's hands, then hopefully she'll still see the blonde's bright, warm, reassuring, reencouraging smile. 'You've got this,' is the message that Yuna's trying to project. 'Everything is gonna go just as you have it planned, so there's nothing to worry about. No tears today, no screaming, just showing off your creation the way it was meant to be shown off.' Whether even the sunniest of smiles can convey a message that complex - well, Yuna doesn't want to raise her voice and interrupt anything, so her smile's going to have to do the job. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut gives a good-natured chuckle at the confused look from Nina. He can't blame her. A strange dragon in purple and yellow offering a seat? Or perhaps some sort of confused message if his attempts at gestural communication failed. He nods his head lightly after she apparently declines, then turns toward the stage as Yunomi starts speaking. He sets down whatever he was gnawing on and gives the stage his full attention while his hands clasp behind his back in a respectful, venerable posture.      And he of course nods to Yunomi and Rhapsody if they happen to glance his way, his grin one of confidence in the both of them and their guild. He knows this is going to be amazing, and he knows almost nothing about the project. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' First Rebound grabs her own meat stick from the vendor, and then with a quick jump, she hops up through the air and lands on the walker, balancing on the edge of it before dropping her tail down and landing on it to gain a seat, "Thanks Corona." She says, having managed to not spill any of her food through the leap." She looks around and then spots Nina looking for a good spot, "Hey!" She calls out to Nina, "Come on up here, plenty of room!" She tries to wave the winged girl over. She really doesn't know if there is plenty of room, but why not? Corona won't mind, or Rebound wouldn't be offering in the first place. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi looks out over the crowd. Her eyes don't settle on anyone, familiar face or no. She smiles.     She feels the pressure and it feels like a heart attack.     "Some years ago, Niv-Mizzet, Parun of the Izzet Guild brought a scared, nervous creature from offworld into Nivix. He sheltered her beneath his wing. He taught her what it meant to be Izzet, and every triumph, every set back, every explosion -- and expansion of the fire control system -- he took pride in what he saw. Niv-Mizzet was more than just a teacher. He gave me so many gifts -- he gave me a home, in Nivix, among those who understood my spark of talent. He gave me a family in his three children. He gave me inspiration in his guidance, and in his patience, and tonight, I give a gift to Ravnica -- the gift of energy. The same energy I have felt all my life in the city -- the jolt of electricity in the air, the fire in the hearts, the peace of its green spaces and the wild, rolling thunder of its wild places -- and yes, even the fear, because that too is part of who we are as a city, and who we are as a people." she states, and she takes a deep breath.     "Tonight, Ravnica, with those two stars shining above us, I give you the MANA NEXUS."     And she motions backwards. The massive curtain tumbles to the ground, leaving Yunomi on the platform high in the air, above the humming of the shield generators as she begin to climb to life.     There is the feeling of electricity in the air. Long hair may begin to stand on end as the mana nexus begins to sing and hum, a whine that climbs to a throaty sound as it begins to light up the night. The lightning towers to either side, and in the distance, begin to crackle and pop, dispersing extra energy safely into the sky in a display of brilliant blue and red lightning. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     PULL The curtains fall away, the Mana Nexus is revealed in all its glory, and as the city of Ravnica, its allies, and its visitors, all set sight on the new creation for the first time, Rhapsody walks out from where she brought the curtain down to applaud the creation, and play the part of 'hype man' ... or would that be hype dragon? It doesn't matter. She starts to applaud, waves her arms in an upward motion toward the crowd, and probably sets the whole audience on fire. Magewrights cheer and clap, weirds boil up, goblins hollar, and all of Ravnica joins in a massive accomplishment!     After a few long moments, the guildmaster would call for quiet and move into a place a bit to the right (to the audience) of the dias, allowing the tanuki to continue her presentation. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Long hair would stand on end, but Merlin's been here before. And this particular bishounen is not quite going to let that happen again, since he does have a reputation to maintain! It takes him merely a moment to apply a cantrip that braids his hair, maintaining those eminently fetching looks while managing to keep from getting a little too staticked. That said, he also takes a deep breath, and readies various protections against potential blastback. Yunomi probably has plenty of defenses against it, but Merlin was caught by surprise and doesn't plan on letting that vacuum of life strike again. It's just in time, as the barrier manages to keep Merlin and those immediately around him from the over-wash of Rhapsody's (probably) unintentional mild pyromania. 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' Nina Windia understands that much better than dragon waving. (Sorry, Bahamut; she's not much of a dragon whisperer.) Nina is still listening to the speech, but she inches around as she does - and with one last bounce when she's in a clear spot, she does take to the air, momentarily. It's only a flight of a few dozen feet and it ends at the feet of Corona's... machine. Nina doesn't want to guess what it is more than that. "Is it all right?" she asks, still looking mostly at the mana nexus. Unfortunately for Nina, there are some... side effects. Nina has very long and very fine hair, and now parts of it are starting to drift outward. Worse, her wings are looking a little puffy as the feathers fluff out - nothing serious, it's as if she was about to wrap herself in said wings against the cold. She fusses uncomfortably with them for a moment, wings flicking open and then closed as a spark arcs out toward the closest bit of metal. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite's fur bristles a bit, both from the electricity building in the air and from the rousing speech of the event's star. And clapping. Lots of clapping, hollaring and what-not. "YEEEHAH!" Even if the cheering is lost in the mass of celebratory encourgement. Followed by a brief, "Yeah, plenty o' room. Iffen need Ah can extend out the sides, too." added on the side as if only now realizing Rebound was offering someone else. "Reckon it's time to get properly in the mood fer the show." To which, Corona grabs the goggles from around her neck and pulling them up onto her face proper. Seriously, it's an Izzet project. She's expecting explosions if this goes RIGHT. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Rebound cheers when the reveal comes to light, and then once she's done her cheering, shoves the whole of the funnel cake into her mouth. She wants her hands free for clapping, after all. She's never been to an Izzet show before, so she doesn't know what to expect, but so far she's pretty impressed. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' And there's the distinct (and slightly familiar) sensation of her ponytail starting to floof out from all of the magical static electricity. Much like what happened the other night, really ... Yuna just oooohs and ahhhhs, what she feels is an appropriate reaction to the unmitigated *spectacle* as the mana nexus cycles up and begins shedding extra energy. Elner, far less concerned with the aesthetics, decides this is the moment to teleport down to Yuna and make sure the airspace is vacant for stray mana to be vented without the risk of getting caught inside it. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut has no hair to stand on end, but he can still feel the energy in the air as that Mana Nexus rumbles to life. He raises his big clawed hands to clap as the crowd starts applauding, and his grin just grows all the more broad. Of course, he still doesn't know how this contraption does what it does, but as Yunomi promised it seems to be producing vasts amounts of power. So much the machine can't contain it all and has to divert some to nearby towers.      If harnessed properly, Bahamut suspects it could power everything from here to the horizon. Which is quite a gift to a city world. He continues clapping until the Guildmaster calls for quiet again. He returns his hands to their spot clasped behind his back. He does take a moment to look the crowd over, grinning lightly as he sees the enthusiasm there. He knows that the guilds here are often at odds, but it seems that for today at least they are all in agreement. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Ohhhh..." Kirika's eyes go wide at the big display, cheering when the device is revealed and demonstrated. She protects her eyes just before the lights are at their brightest, and braces herself for loud explosions as well.     Seriously. Izzet shows and explosions go together like chocolate and peanut butter. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Even with short hair, Iria starts to feel something starting up with it. There's something really interesting going on, and Iria's not sure whether she likes it or dislikes it. After a moment, she decides to simply wait and see what happens. "Quite interesting," She comments, not noticing Elner coming by for the time being. She's a bit mesmerized right now. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Mana Nexus reaches full start up. Yunomi can monitor it from the goggles around her neck, and she smiles, brilliantly. Her baby is all lit up. Every single fibre of it purring to life like a great, abyssal feline, and she turns to the audience, searching faces... and her smile falters. Just the tiniest bit. Her hands grip lightly at the railing, and she mumbles something to Pidge before she addresses the Audience again.     "Niv-Mizzet's legacy lives on in the Izzet League, in its creations, its dangers and its /wonders/. Every fire we have started tonight comes from his Spark of brilliance, every storm is decended from his lightning, every beat of this heart, in this chest," she motions to herself "... beats because Niv-Mizzet believed he could teach a small creature like myself to control that fire that I feared... and it has flamed into something so grand, that I can scarcely keep it to myself..."     She turns, and glances to the white dragon behind her, and the other dragon above.     "Rhapsody?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon didn't remember this being part of the presentation, but things tend to happen off the cuff rather often in the Izzet League. Curious, the guildmaster turns and glances up at Yunomi, waiting to see what she has in mind next. Would she really ask the Guildmaster to activate the Nexus? That would be quite the feat,"         "Yes?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     No, this wasn't part. Yunomi's eyes are shining. She looks like she might be close to crying. Pidge follows her as she steps off the platform, showing the size difference between herself and Rhapsody as she approached. "From the day I came to Nivix, terrified, alone, missing Maryland and all the trappings of my life before, your family has enveloped me with its endless love and support. From Sidonia's rescues, to Ryx's advice and his help on repairs --" she lifts the goggles, and sets them back down around her neck, "to your endless pep talks between rounds of paperwork. You have become my family, and should anything ever befall you, I fear my heart would break in twain, shattered for a thousand years of pain without healing. You have watched my work grow from my nervousness at a seedling, to speaking in front of a crowd of billions, from here to the furthest reaches of the Multiverse... so, Rhapsody Mizzet,"     THe shield generators hum to life again, crackling as they approach full power.     Yunomi plucks an undying rose from her hair, and it grows. Long. Sharp. A blade catching the sun and the lightning.     And Yunomi points the tip of the naginata in her hand towards Rhapsody.     "I ask that you hand control of the Izzet League to me." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''         Did... she hear that right? No, no. It couldn't be right. The crowd murmur simply dies. Thianel's head tilts high above. Sidonia's expression shifts away from a Boros sergeant back to the stage, bewildered. Ryxinel glances up from the gate near the concourse, confusion set across his face, wondering if a spell caused Yunomi's voice to go awry.         A red star winks out. "...W-what? The guildmaster's reply is stuttered, confused. Her eyes slip to the blade, then back to Yunomi again. "... What is this?" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren is secretly a romantic, and so as the speech goes on, he of course thinks Yunomi is going to propose...     No, no, that's not right at all! She must be posessed, somehow! Staren reaches into his bag, watching Yunomi as he slowly pulls out his phaser... maybe he can get a surprise stun-shot off... 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria does a double-take at what just happened, and what Yunomi's said. "What the hell?" She glances around to nobody in particular. "Has Yunomi gone insane?! Is this some kind of a joke?!" Now Iria's happy-go-lucky attitude has shifted into her usual grumpy self. "Whatever's going on here, I don't like it one bit!" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika blinks.     She blinks again. ANd then she exchanges a look with Corona, one that shows concern and confusion in equal amounts as she very slowly and discretely reaches for her sword. Just to be sure.     She doesn't say anything else, the fox just stuffs her thermos away and starts to hop off the mecha while she tries to maneuver through the crowd. 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' "Thank you," Nina says, hopping up with another quick beat of her wings. Fortunately, she folds them neatly before she actually sits down so she doesn't take up quite so much room. She gives Rebound and Corona a slight smile as she does. "It was hard to see over the crowd from down there." She's not that tall. "I'm Nina; I'll be happy to talk to you after the introduction." It really is fascinating to watch. Nina has a good grounding in the theory behind magic, at least /her/ theory behind magic, and she knows enough to know that she would never be capable of building something like this. It's a master's work and her skills don't lie in creation and enchantment and technology. That just makes it all the more impressive to her. She applauds, quiet and polite and almost certainly drowned out, for the second half of the speech. Until the end. Nina trails off, looking more confused than anything else. Now, granted, she doesn't know any of the involved people very well (read: at all) but she is pretty sure that this is not the time when you do something like - like /that/! She looks at the others on the mecha, the confusion showing on her face as her body tenses. This isn't right... 

:'''{{#var:151|Ainsley (151)}} has posed:'''     Ainsley's tail has stopped wiggling. She slowly pulls her mouth into a thin line. She stares at the sight of Yunomi pointing a sharp object at Rhapsody...     She looks so tense she might as well be a statue. She doesn't leap to act, because she's having trouble processing what's going on just this second. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Long vulpine ears snap forward. Wait, did she hear that right?? Corona's hearing is pretty damn exceptional, there is no way she could of misheard that, even in the crowd. "... Somethin' ain't right here..." Understatement of the night there, Corona. For a moment she cranes her head back to peer at the shields, suddenly wondering if those weren't meant to keep people -off- the stage rather than protect against any accidents... Forget maneuvering through the crowd. Corona bolts to her feet, followed by a stomp to get the construct to get up as well. Corona sighs softly, as this was not what she had intended when she brought it along, but pulls a bullhorn out of her inventory pack all the same. Holds it up to her muzzle as the automatron starts to step over the confused crowd again. "GIRL HAVE YA GONE PLUM LOCO?!" Corona... isn't one to keep her mouth shut in a crisis, for good or for worse. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' At first glance, Yuna doesn't really recognize what that is Yunomi's growing from the rose - maybe a staff, something ceremonial ... part of the show. Then she realizes that nothing ceremonial gets pointed at a living being like THAT unless it's the ceremonial part of a formalized assassination or something, and Yuna's heart leaps into her throat, the trailing end of her last 'oooh' abruptly transmogrifying into a squeak that can only be rendered along the lines of a 'wait what' kind of noise. "Wha ... Yunomi?" the blonde calls out, taking a step forward, then a second one - and then light swirls around her as Elner triggers her transformation, without waiting for Yuna's input. Yuna actually winces a little; a show of force, or even just of defense, was the LAST thing she wanted when she was trying to talk Yunomi down. But at the same time - "It's about the family you've lost, isn't it ... You feel that with the resources of the Izzet League, you could punch through the boundary between our world and the realm of the dead, find a way to bring them back ... is that what this is about, Yunomi?" Yuna asks. It's really more of an informed guess than anything, but - she knows as well as most people how much Niv-Mizzet's disappearance still tears at the tanuki, how much she grieves for the lives lost among Namamura's elder spirits. And she knows that Yunomi counts herself as a 'Guardian' by calling - one thing that the two girls have in common is how deeply they desire to protect everyone, especially those dear to them. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The shields go up, separating the dragon and the tanuki from the crowd below, only those up on the platform "This is a coup." Yunomi states, her voice losing its warm tones, turning steely as she takes another step closer. Her dress changes to armor, twisting reds and nearly blackish blues, organic in its form as ithugs her body closely, the Izzet Sigil not even making an appearance on her body. Her hair uncurls, tightening and twisting into a braid coiled like a snake at the back of her head. She can hear the crowd, she hears people calling out to her. She can /feel/ her chest get tighter...      "How long have I labored beneath someone who can't even use magic? Loved someone desperately only to have them stolen away from me? I'm not about to let that happen again. Not ever. Again. Do you understand, Rhapsody? I want you. /To Kneel./" Yunomi pauses, and her ears turn backwards, her striped tail curling into an upside-down U shape.     In the crowd, Boros are trying to contain League mages, white robbed mages are slinging counter spells to try and curb fireballs and lightning being thrown at wild into the audience. People are beginning to panic, turning away from one another. A food stall gets knocked over. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Kneel," she breathes, "And turn over the Izzet to my control." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Yuna's insight and pointed question speaks volumes of their relationship. It also gets overheard by Merlin, who then stares hard at the tanuki. So that explains it. There...had been a sense of /something/ in the girl, and there are secrets the wizard has. When she first looked at Rhapsody, the love was apparent - the second time...the half-incubus can feel a massive magical knot of emotion from here. Love, fear, and so much else - and then the crowd begins to panic. That, at least, the wizard can help with. A sense of calm settles over most of the crowd, those not Elites at least. 'It's time to leave quickly and carefully' whispers the wizard in a voice that echoes in a thousand minds. At least it's easy enough to reinforce what they want to do, just guide them to do it /calmly./     Once that is done, Merlin turns his attention back to the stage. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     That's it.     Kirika leaps into action, immediately running to the nearest Boros and flagging him down. "How might I assist?" She questions, before she immediately pulls out a handy tool of any Warden of Kasun.     Ofuda seals are produced, and Kirika slams one into the ground once she gets between a small grouping of citizens and an errant fireball, a field of holy Ki forming to dissipate the projectile while Kirika remains firm. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "Whoa whoa, what the hell?!" Rebound gets up from her seat on her tail, "Corona, we gotta do something. These people are about to stampede, and that's going to get a lot of people killed." She plants one of her feet on the top of Corona's mech, and eyes the distance between herself and Yunomi.     Can she make it that far? She's not even sure yet, she's probably made it that far before, when the stakes weren't as high, "Corona, I'm about to do something really dumb. I just want you to know that."     She just hopes Corona's invention can withstand the amount of downward force she's about to project. But it's Corona, if anything it'd probably be able to withstand a nuclear blast. Everyone else wants to try to talk Yunomi down...Rebound is just trying to think about how to land right on top of her. She wishes she'd paid better attention in math, oh well. She plants her second foot, and leaps into the air, flying towards the stage with all the force she can muster. She just hopes she makes it before Yunomi does something even more crazy. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut's grin fades as something in Yunomi's expression changes, then he is left shocked as she actually pulls or conjures some sort of weapon and brandishes it at Rhapsody. That shock is quickly replaced by a teeth-bared growl as she demands the Izzet League. "Yunomi! What are you doing?" he demands, his loud draconic voice booming through the streets.      A star winks out overhead, drawing Bahamut's attention for a moment. But, only a moment before he steps forward. He doesn't try to rush the stage, but he does make sure that Yunomi knows he is there, and that he will not hesitate to act. Yuna's words give him pause, however. He relaxes somewhat, but stays at the ready.      That is until the crowd erupts in chaos around him and Yunomi starts into some speech about her opinion of Rhapsody. He growls deeply and draws the massive sword on his back. "Stop this now, Yunomi! I do not claim to know much about the situation, but I do know from what I have read and heard that Niv-Mizzet was a wise, honorable dragon! He would surely not approve of this!"      He raises that sword, brimming with non-elemental power, and growls. "Do you think the Izzet will follow you if you do this? What can you possibly accomplish by doing this other than destroying all that you have worked for and losing the favor of the dragon you hold so dear?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     This is when the crowd goes bloody insane. The Boros will have their hands full trying to contain the mass panic brought on by Yunomi's coup. Izzet League mage wrights start firing basically -everything- at the shield in an effort to bring it down. Thianel, high on the span, has already risen and is making a direct -dive- for the shields. Ryxinel and Sidonia have already taken flight and are making a beeline for the barrier. About this time, the more 'surly' guilds decide that it's time to party in their own way. Rakdos and Golgari parties? They tend to include -violence- and won't likely care to be calm when there is 'fun' to be had. Inside the barrier, it appears that Rhapsody did, in fact, hear this right. There's a stabbing feeling in her chest that she has -never- experienced in her life before. Niv-Mizzet passing into the rift was a pain she was, in a way, prepared for. This was too sudden, sharp, and from someone too close. The sudden shock would have turned to despair, but the insults that are said strike a nerve so deep, so hidden, and so sensitive, that sadness vanishes and allows fury to rise in its place. She has a simple answer for Yunomi, and it is apparent as each of her spell blades are drawn. ( https://youtu.be/CYjW84zPCm0 ) "No." 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' It's increasingly a mess, especially when the spellcasters in the crowd - so many of them! - start to fire wildly. Nina isn't even sure what they're aiming at. Each other? Nothing? Anything? "Excuse me," she says to Corona and Rebound, before launching herself into the air, wings beating strongly. She begins to fly over the crowd, toward the shield. If she knew proper, defensive magic, like a princess of Windia should, she would cast spells to protect the crowd - But she doesn't. She can't cast any of that, not even the simplest defensive spell. And so she does what Staren suggests instead; she goes for the shield. She's not the only one, but she comes in hard and fast. Raising her hand as she flies, Nina gathers energy, so bright and quickly that her hand glows with an inner blue-white radiance. Energy dances around her arm as the magelight brightens, brightens - Nina snaps her hand downward, and lightning starts hitting the shield (off to the side, so that if she actually punches through it is unlikely to hit anyone directly). It's not one big bolt but a multiplicity of small ones, machine-gun rapid as they trace a line along the shield, trying to cut through. She would have started a second spell, but she had to swerve to the side to dodge a fireball. She doesn't even know if they aimed at her, saw 'something they didn't know flying' and fired at it, or it was just her own bad luck. 

:'''{{#var:151|Ainsley (151)}} has posed:'''     Ainsley furrows her brow as this all happens. She turns her attention around her slowly, and dodges away from an errant blast of magic as it happens to slice by her.     She squints toward the sight of Yunomi and Rhapsody. She processes what's happening in front of her in a way she didn't think she could.     She clenches her teeth until she feels like they're going to break.     She flees. She has no place here, and there's too much danger. She cannot get caught in the middle of this. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona fully intended to go ram her machine into that shield to break it if need by, but that kind of get sidetracked as a magic fireball smacks into the side of the metal cube, causing it to teeter to the side before stomping a foot back down to brace itself. Good thing the casing is made of brimsteel and this pretty fireproof. "Sunnova!" Corona skids a little with the jerk, grabbing the umbrella she had been using for shade. "Go, do somethin iffen ya can!" By which Kirika and Rebound are already leaping away. "Always a bloody riot..." Fortunately Corona is familiar with crowd control. She stomps a foot on the machine again, and this time part of the top opens around her. Braces snap over her boots and extend up to affix around her arms in some kind of manual control rig. The fox moves a foot, and the construct responds in kind, shifting its weight back and turning its cube body back to the crowd. A scowl settles on her features behind the goggles, for which she's now glad she put on. "Now, Ah don't wanna hurt no one." She throws up both arms and thrusts them out. In response the sides of the construct flip open, and out extend multiple flexible arms, whizzing over the crowd to grab up several of the frantic spellslingers. "But y'all need to calm yer butts down before ya make the dung hit the oscillator any more than it already is!" 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason is now standing back and watching the Nexus in all it's glory she seems quite in awe of such a feat of magi tech. She looks over the whole thing before. She watches spell bound for the moment. She listens intently to Yunomi's words and doesn't see that there might be some trouble going on for a moment. However something else happens Yunomi seem to be going nuts. She stares for a moment and she now stares she'd come to party she's not armed all she has is her Genomancey powers to do what she can to help with this what in the gods names is going on here? She snaps out of it and starts trying to help people get clear. She finds a dropped blade and is now moving to assist the forces of the Boros, this has got mad all she can do is try to keep things form becoming even worse, even if it's just in a small way she'll also be using her Geomacy to support allies at range mostly bolts of magma and high powered winds. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Shields up! So much for the phaser. Staren pushes through the crowd, hoping not to get blasted by a random spell, as he seeks out... an Izzet Mage? "Listen, if you want us to save your guild master, we need to get this shield out of the way! How do we do that?!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi has faced off against Rhapsody countless times in training.     She circles slightly, her head tilting as she examines the white dragon, looking up to her. That wristlet of flowers has not faded, blue as a frozen winter sky, red as the reddest summer rose. Her expression of love.     An expression of pain.     "So be it, Guildmaster." Yunomi replies dryly, and she presses into attack, swinging the blade of the naginata for Rhapsody's legs, knowing that there are no scales to protect her from the bite of its sharp edge!     People in the audience are going crazy, but Nivix is going insane. Mages are scrambling for combat. Goblins are spitting at the mention of her name, and deep within the Singing Garden has closed itself up in fear.     "What is she /DOING/?!" Yu calls out, the tiny forest sprite running as fast as her tiny legs can carry her. Mi is panicking herself, carrying a pocket watch as large as herself.     "This wasn't part of the plan!" she calls back to her sister as they duck into a mousehole, escaping to the safety of the green pool of mana within Nivix.     The crowd outside is getting rowdier. A Rakdos pitfighter gives an angry howl as he demands to be able to fight the dragons himself. A mage has slung vines around one of the shield generators in an effort to short out one of the shield generators. The Leaguemage turns to Staren, and she motions helplessly "If we can short them, one of the drakes might be able to get in -- or Rhapsody get out. If we don't -- we're gonna need a new champion /And/ a new Guild Leader! -- HAS ANYONE SEEN TIBOR?!" she calls out, iniritation. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' And Yuna's question goes unanswered - except that the way in which Yunomi doesn't-answer is an answer of sorts in its own right. And where Yuna's heart had leapt into her throat scant seconds before, now it sinks down through her legs and into the Ravnican bedrock. This is so much worse than just despair over those whom Yunomi has lost, isn't it ... Fireballs and lightning and magic missiles of too many sorts start hammering on the barrier; Yuna drops into a crouch and starts trying to get out of the way of well-meaning attacks not meant for her. There needs to be a way - some way, *any* way - to get past that barrier, if not through it then around. But her only options are to start hammering on it herself, or to try and find which way the barrier DOESN'T protect. She has a fair guess as to what's generating the force field, but if she's right, then it's still on the side that neither she nor her allies can do anything about ... and things are rapidly getting worse while Yuna's racking her brains for a way to make things better. Much, much, *MUCH* worse. "YUNOMI, PLEASE STOP!!" Yuna finally screams - not in anger, not even in desperation, but a plea of agonizing sorrow. "Rhapsody should be as a sister to you - the daughter of the mentor whom you respected and loved! She should be as close to you as your own kin! Please, don't fight her - or -" Her voice breaks, and she sucks in a deep, ragged breath before finishing, the only way she can. "- or you'll have to fight me as well! And I won't be alone! Please, Yunomi, for your *own sake*, PLEASE STOP THIS!!!" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' In the heat of the moment, one might look to where Iria was sitting and then do a double-take as they wonder where Iria went. Because her seat is empty now, not even her drink or snacks are still there. Apparently, she's not one to litter even in times of desperation. The reality is, though, she's still here, she's just taking care of something at the moment. Something that requires her not to be seen, or else it won't work, because you know how it is. Iria makes her way to a spot where she can't be seen, and then ducks out of sight for a few moments. When she comes back, her Ravnican gear has been replaced with her armored bodysuit. Apparently, she can do the infamous 'change in a flash' trick too, she just needs to be out of sight for it to work! But now that she's better suited for the occasion, she's heading back to the area. Using her acrobatic skills to her advantage, Iria leaps over people and others as best as she can, occasionally doing a somersault to give her some extra boost in her jumps, before she lands close to Yuna. Despite the aggressive look on her face, there is a hint of desperation in Iria's voice as well. "Yunomi, I don't know what's gotten into you," Iria yells, trying to keep the aggression out as best as she can, "But you're making a huge mistake! Please, control yourself!" She grits her teeth and clenches her fists, breathing noticeably faster than usual. "We don't want to have to fight you, but if you don't listen to us, we'll have no choice!" 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     Let it not be said, that when it comes to the people she has grown to love, Amalthea pays them no mind. No, such is not the case. Today was supposed to be a day of joy. One of celebration. One that Yunomi had been so looking forward to om such a manner that made even the haggard old knight cock an eyebrow. Rhapsody had always held a place in her heart, after the elder Niv Mizzet Moved On.     And then... This.     Amalthea had been silent for most of the revelling, though in her finest armor, it was worn for more ceremonial purposes. But now it looks like, with the tidings of the terrible announcement of intent.     For a moment, to see Yunomi draw blade-- against Rhapsody of all people.     For a moment. For a long moment, the ancient unicorn stood much like a statue; unmoving, drinking in the moment, and letting it wash over her. It would seem as though she would remain as such, for a long moment. Before she releases her breath.     She did not realize she had been holding it.     Amalthea makes not a sound as she moves; a slow approach. She had come to celebrate; to share joy with friends. And yet now this. The look etched upon the unicorn's countenance is one of purest weary woe.     She looks so old, as she strides through the crowds, a slow breath and her very presence; each light touch urging another person gently out of her way, radiating an aura of peace, calm... And hope, from her very core.     She stops, eventually, halting herself at the side of the great Merlin, that old, wild, eye looking imploringly to the grand wizard of Camelot for a moment.     She does not speak.     She merely stands where she is, looking so helpless and old. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Whereas Yunomi had probably been planning this, Rhapsody's heart is simply not in it. Rage is the ruler of the roost in her mind, but deep inside, something has shattered into a million pieces. When the strike comes, Rhapsody simply doesn't have the reflexes to avoid the attack. The dragon's leg is struck, she staggers back, and then with a cry, swings back with one of the spellblades. 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' Nina Windia's lightning fails to penetrate the shields. She didn't honestly expect it to; it must be meant to stand up to the best mages they have here, and those are very good mages indeed. Nina rights herself from her impromptu evasion. She's a strong flier; she starts to circle, getting a better look at the shield instead of striking wildly. She sees the mages trying to take out the generators, and she gets an idea from that. Nina lands nearish one of the other generators. She doesn't land on top of it, but she certainly gets as close as she can, trying to worry less about the sounds of violence around her - this is the first riot Nina has ever been in in her life and she doesn't like it. She gathers her power for another spell. But this one isn't destructive; it's one of the few non-destructive ones she knows, in fact. Meant to sap a bit of power from another mage for some last-ditch casting - or simply to stop them from doing it to you first - Nina builds the spell. But she builds it more powerfully than she would against another sorceress, because she's not aiming it at anything alive - she aims it at one of the shield generators, trying to desperately pull as much power out of it as possible to shut it down, at least temporarily. She doesn't even care if she gets the power - she's being wasteful, just pulling it as fast as possible from the shield generator, and through it trying to weaken the shield itself. It's not quite shorting it out. But it probably serves much the same purpose, if it shuts off momentarily... NIna doesn't need to get in. She just has to drop it for someone /else/ to get in. Someone who knows Yunomi and Rhapsody. Or maybe for Rhapsody to get out; that would work, too. Unfortunately, it's likely to leave her open. If someone comes to crack her upside the head, there won't be a lot she can do about it. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      With no response from Yunomi, Bahamut growls again. Unable to hear much over the rambunctious crowd, and with the danger stedily rising. Despite how much he wants to smash this shield himself and get to Rhapsody, he cannot let her safety outweigh the safety of an entire crowd of people. He brings his sword around, then 12-foot blade glowing with power, and in a rapid spin smashes it as hard as he can into the shield, channeling all his rage and might into that attempt to destroy the shield!      He isn't really expecting that to work, but it helps him get some of his rage under control. He then turns to the crowd before spreading his wings to present the most intimidating and draconic presense he can. Then, in his loudest, deepest, most booming voice he demands, "DISPERSE!! The revelry has ended, and if it does not end this instance, I will end it myself!"      But, rather than devistating attack spells, the dragon starts throwing around Stop spells. They can strike a wide area at a time, and any struck by them would be frozen as if time stood still. Bahamut tries to aim at the most troublesome of the Rakdos and Gruul that are likely causing most of the trouble so that the Boros can hopefully gain a foothold and bring order to the chaos. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren nods to the mage. "Will destroying it work?" he nods at the shield generator. If the mage says yes, Staren just starts blasting it with his double-barreled laser pistol. If they say no, he asks 'Does graphene conduct mana too?' and sprays the shield generator with something invisible, sending nanomachines to gunk up the works / take things apart / short it out.     He has to focus on the task at hand. What to do about Yunomi, will come next. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' The construct has its hands full, literally. And it essentially has several. Though even in this fracas Corona's sharp ears pick up various shouts for help or general distress from the crowd. She grunts, disengaging the control rigging. "Just... do somethin' to keep the fightin' from ruinin' the place!" she yelps, before turning and jumping off the contraption. Plenty of people are converging on the shields already. People who know both Rhapsody and Yunomi better. So we'll focus on doing something the insanity in the streets. Moments later Corona is proving that, despite her efforts to avoid doing so, she is quite apt at getting through a large ambient crowd. Mostly by ducking under attackers and bounding on top of toppled carts to get past the thickest of the melees. It's a little too much like the old days of her childhood as an orphan street rat, but she's too focused on other things to worry about that right now. Too dangerous to pull out any guns in a crowd. So instead, she unslings the hammer from her back, the pulsarium core is already churning with energy as it powers up. She skids past a Rakdos that's several times her lithe 5" 2' height, turns towards him, and replies to the demands of a fight with a simple "No." And swings the Corona Breaker with a uppercut arc at his center of mass, the energy charge giving the hammer what is likely a surprisingly LARGE impact in comparison to the size of vixen swinging it. But then again, it's not the size of the fox in the street brawl, it's the size of the brawl in the fox! Meanwhile, left to its own limited clockwork processing, the construct snatchs up several of the rowdier individuals with its manipulators, and makes do with what's around it. By tossing them into the cars of the massive ferris wheel, then plugging one of its own gear-drivers into the main gears of the ride to keep it spinning so they can't get out again. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika sees the generators, and she narrows her eyes as she heads straight for one of them. The rioters in her path will be struck down, not with blade but barehanded. Kirika will not kill mere civilians, no matter what, and so she will incapacitate at best. Nerve blows and kidney strikes are doled out like a firesale of asskicking, before Kirika returns to focusing on the shields.     She draws her sword, brow furrowed and blade blazing hot with holy flames. "RRRAAAGH!" she charges at the generator before taking a long leap to close the distance, trying to cut as deeply into the generator as she can, and if that doesn't work, she'll keep cutting until something breaks.     Yunomi is going too far with this, and cannot be allowed to act unopposed. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The approach of the armored unicorn-knight does not go unnoticed. At the very least, there's a aura of calm nearby, which gives Merlin and Amalthea a respite from the chaos - and hopefully enough for those Elites still trying to work.     He nods, recognizing a kindred ancient spirit. And suspecting much of her questions. "That...is indeed Miss Stadler. I do not know her true motivations...but she is doing what she is doing by what appears to be her own free will." Why...he doesn't know the details of, but it is one he has seen before.     It brings a sadness to the wizard's face as well. This...brings back memories, ancient and fresh. Someone had mentioned the very idea of tearing back the World to save one who was not truly dead, for love. This was not a lesson he wanted to have to teach twice.     Merlin returns his attention to the shields, trying to feel a way, somehow, into that barrier. All he can do for the moment is wait, especially as the others begin to attack the shield generators themselves. There's not a glance spared for Amalthea, as he waits for the right moment, but instead simply reaches a hand to her shoulder. "I will have need of you, I think. Wait for the moment, and then protect Rhapsody." Protect himself, well...he's Merlin. He'll figure something out. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''     The kangaroo undershoots the bubble and comes down near it, looking at it. Considering all the magic being hurled at it, she's not sure she's gonna be able to punch her way through this kind of thing. But then she gets an idea, a thing she saw in a movie this one time. She closes one fist, and the Impact Driver sparks to life, and instead of punching the shield with it, she wheels around, and drops to a knee as she slams her fist into the stage.     The shockwave tears the stage apart, and a BIG FREAKING HOLE opens up under Rebound. It's only now that she realizes her mistake, as the space between the stage and the ground below it is much further down than she had anticipated. Rebound vanishes into the hole.     Thankfully the kangaroo mutant has been able to survive falls like this before. She drops into the bottom of the stage area, tucks and rolls when she hits the ground, and then takes a few moments to look around. There's generators down here that are powering that mana shield thingy. She charges the second Driver, and leaps again, intent on slamming herself and her weaponized fists into the generators. If she can bring them down, she can maybe drop the shield and get to Yunomi 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     OUtside, the crowds are calmed slightly, some moving calmly to the exits, away from harm. Others are trying to rabble rouse. A group of guildless, wearing brown are protesting until they realize that there is, in fact, a fight going on... and watch in abject horror as a giant loooms out of the way with a great piece of a tree, ready to start smashing heads as he gives a grunt, helping the Boros try to contain the more... violent crowds.     An ancient looking mechanical cyclopes lopes down from the guild gate, Blistercoil Weirds decending in their slow fashion to defend the Guild.     Yunomi should know that she has no chance of winning, not against the combined forces against her!     Yunomi uses Rhapsody's rage to her advantage. She strikes the leg -- a glancing blow in truth. A clean, sharp slice -- should heal just fine.      And then Rhapsody answers. She turns her blade up, catching the spell blade against the shaft of the weapon, bracing herself as she's pushed back from the force of the blow.     "Oh Rhapsody -- if only you knew." Yunomi whispers in a soft hiss, her words tender and gentle, in contrast against the next attack.     Yunomi stands back, her hand raised up as she summons red mana. All the red mana. Her hand is a shining, angry beacon as if she stole the light from that red star.     To everyone on the outside, it may appear that the Guild Champion is planning on killing the Guildmaster.     Yunomi doesn't like to lose.     And thanks to the violence against the generators, one of the shield generators sputters and dies, opening up the top of the dome. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''         What could she do? Glancing up at the red mana, Rhapsody actually notices the blue star but the clear lack of it's partner. If she could go more pale, she would at this moment. Eyes widen, a step back, and then Rhapsody appears to actually fall back and away from Yunomi, entirely unable to attack again, unable to sputter even a sylable. What she -does- do, however, is pull the trigger on her blue spell-blade, activating a charge of the Mizzium Skin spell stored within, in hopes of surviving what would come next. Ryxinel and Sidonia are streaking toward the shield in hopes of finding some way into its 'protective' bubble. From above, streaking -straight down- from the bridge between the spires, a roar full of despair and rage echoes out of Thianel, a 'breath' being taken in. A precursor to something he thought he would never have to use against Yunomi.. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna's eyes go wide as she sees the red mana building up in Yunomi's hand. "Please .... I don't - !" Her voice breaks again, her eyes squeezing shut as tears begin streaming down her cheeks; somehow, she doesn't choke on the next inhalation.             "LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT *UP*!!! EL-LINE!!" Jiina of the Earth, Marina of the Sea, and Erina of the Sky had all taken to the air rather than try to keep dodging the general fracas at ground level; Elner took the further initiative of getting them into position - not all grouped together with Yuna, but arranged vertically above her - so that when Yuna calls out for El-Line, the pillar of light encompasses both her position and all members of the Matrix of Light. The pillar swells, light rippling against what's still intact of the barrier protecting the stage - And the Matrix Figure, El-Line, materializes in the sky above the stage, already aiming its right palm through the hole and squarely at Yunomi, left hand bracing the right arm. Yuna doesn't say anything from within the Matrix Figure's cockpit; she can't shape words right now, not even a syllable - but actions are supposed to speak louder than words anyway ... and if Yunomi has enough of her normal wits to remember who Yuna *IS*, and how she always reacts when a friend dies? Particularly given how obvious Yuna's distress has been so far, and presumably still is? Then Yunomi *HAS* to know what's going to happen if she follows through and slays Rhapsody, right where Yuna will see it. And if Yuna were thinking straight, she probably wouldn't have simply called El-Line - she would have stuck with something more direct, more straightforward, less likely to entail unnecessary collateral damage. The fact that she *did* simply summon El-Line means that either she's way past reason herself .... or she's suddenly playing a very savvy game of her own. What are the odds of the latter, though? Especially when she's already under this much stress? 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Hole in the shield! That's enough!     Glowing, stylized insect wings appear on Staren's back, and buzz like an insect's as he flies up to the hole, pulling a stun grenade from his bag and chucking it down at the pair. Hopefully it will make it easier for the others to subdue Yunomi! Or whoever that really is... 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     A slow breath once again. That old blue eye remains locked upon the tragedy occurring just out of reach.     There are few people in all the world that can touch a unicorn. Pure maidens may do so, yes, but aside from them, it is a small select cabal that are allowed, for each individual beast.     There is not one that would shrug the hand of Merlin off.     "Aye." Amalthea's response is barely a whisper, head dipping in a nod.     She is ready, when Merlin is to act upon his plan. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Dammit, Yunomi, don't do this!" Iria scowls at this whole revelation. "Please, we're colleagues, we're allies together! Get a hold of yourself!" Iria starts to reach for one of her weapons, but hesitates, deciding violence isn't the best solution just yet. "Someone, do something!" She yells in desperation, feeling like her efforts are hopeless. 

:'''{{#var:985|Nina Windia (985)}} has posed:''' Oh that was not easy. Nina nearly flies backwards from the outflow of magic from the shield generator where she tried to draw enough power out to weaken it. But it worked! There's a hole. Nina takes off again. She's a little wobbly at first but she rights herself quickly. She doesn't know Yunomi, but - "Please, stop it!" she calls. Compared to the others, it's nothing. She knows it. Uncertain, Nina hovers for a moment - before diving into the crowd. She's going to help keep them under control now. Hopefully that shield doesn't come back up - she's not sure she can duplicate the same trick twice to open it again, but the fact that people are summoning into it is promising. But instead she tries to break up the fight in the crowd, forming small walls of ice. They can be broken through, but it's often more trouble than it's worth, and she's hoping that simply physically breaking up the fights helps out. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The sense of the shield flickering is enough - the damage the others have done to the generators, and the preparations from those great beasts above, have given Merlin all the opening he needs. His way is to go where and when he pleases, and there are ways of doing so that elude all but the perfect defense. This defense is no longer perfect.     With his hand still on Amalthea's shoulder, there is but a whisper. "She will not fall today." Who? And then Merlin simply takes a step forward, slipping in and out of peripheral vision - out of Amalthea's, and into Yunomi and Rhapsody's, the knight with him.     The scarlet and azure power that swirls around them is something that needs to end. There's a deep breath from the wizard, and then he begins simply /absorbing./ What Yunomi is planning to do, what Rhapsody might be trying...the wizard doesn't know, but the only solution he can see is to quite literally draw the ambient mana into himself, and quite possibly out of Yunomi as well. It'll do nothing more than put her to sleep at most, but even Merlin isn't sure he can do that - there is a tremendous amount of power here. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Okay so the crowds are starting to thin out some. At the very least, the ones leaving are the ones that don't want to fight. Just as well to Corona, because she doesn't really want to hurt anyone that doesn't need to be. Unfortunately most of the ones that are staying are the ones from the two Guilds that think this sort of upheaval is a -good- turn of events. Which is bad for pretty much everyone else involved, especially if they try to interfer with the people trying to get through to help sort out the insanity on the stage. Corona is not about to allow that, though. And with the hapless part of the crowd thinning out, she can go back to more familiar tactics, letting the hammer rest at her side. In one fluid motion she sweeps a hand to her belt and pulls the modified nailgun out of its holster, turns and snaps off some quick shots. A nail into some mage's sleeve to pin his arm against a wall and keep him from firing more wild shots into the crowd. Another punchs through the shaft of wood as a would-be rioter lifts it to strike, causing the end to fall off and clonk the weilder on the head instead. A third just hits someone's helmet and, thankfully instead of penetrating hits at an angle with the right speed to just bowl him over backwards. With the other hand Corona pulls that 'shotgun justice' she mentioned earlier from its sling on her belt and flips it around in a one-handed 'cock' motion to fire up it's pulsarium generator. Flips it back around into a proper grip, and swings her arm towards another group of brawlers, krackle of green and blue motes already collecting around the barrels. There's a faint huff, tail flicking behind her. The angle her head is tilted at casts a shadow over part of her face from the brim of her cowboy hat, but it's not enough to hide the glimmer across the lenses of her goggles as she smirks eeeever so faintly enough to show her small vulpine fangs. "Go 'head, punks. Make make my day." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      With the crowd mostly calmed down, Bahamut figures the Boros can handle the rest. He hears the crackling from the generator and turns to see...Yunomi building what appears to be a VERY powerful attack. "YUNOMIIIII!!" he bellows, then that disc on his back starts to spin. Energy arcs between it and the plates on Bahamut's back as his wings spread and he takes to the air. He lacks agility, but he does have speed, and he rockets toward the opening before crashing into the shield with his taloned hands and feet. He is sure it will hurt, but it is the fastest way for him to reach the pair without causing anyone else any harm. He slides along it's surface before tumbling in through that gap.      Like a metal meteor, Bahamut falls through that gap in the shield and tumbles down, then his wings spread and he steadies himself before landing right behind Rhapsody. He quickly casts a Reflect spell, then wraps his arms and wings around Rhapsody, using himself as a living shield to protect her. He doesn't know if Reflect will be as effective as it is on his world, but surely it will deflect some of the spell that is about to hit him and/or the Guildmaster. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's shield flickers just enough for people to get inside. Kirika is certain between Merlin, Amalthea, and Bahamut, she would just be overkill for that group.     THe sounds of shotgun fire is enough to give her another option, and she takes it. She makes a run to flank COrona, her sword drawn and blazing hot as she joins the melee, slicing weapons in half and leaving superficial cuts on rioters left and right, leaving them alive but clearly dissuaded from continuing this melee.     However, she's more likely to dish out punches, grapples, kicks, and tail-strikes to neutralize hostile attendees. "Cease this violence and disperse IMMEDIATELY!" She commands harshly, making herself heard across the crowd as she and Corona stand back to back, weapons brandished.     Somehow, Kirika is pulling off all of this in a kimono and gets. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The mechanical dragon never gets the chance.     It seems like an instant. One moment, Yunomi is ready to kill Rhapsody -- her friend, her Guildmaster, one she swore to protect until the last breath left her body.     And in the next, Thianel would shimmer, a light from within glowing as his skin begins to crackle like molten glass, lighting up as brilliantly as a red dawn... except for this dragon, it is a sunset.     Thianel, Yunomi's teacher in Niv-Mizzet's absence perhaps feels the greatest betrayal from this student as she Shatters his form with a spell, breaking the dragon into thousands of tiny pieces, raining them down over the assembled crowds and heroes, her voice still magnified by the small Izzet drone accompanying her as she looks around. Amalthea and Merlin, with Bahamut protect the Guildmaster. Others take aim at her, the amount of suffering she caused was /tangible/ in the air as her gaze returns to Rhapsody. Her eyes focused on hers.      "When we meet again, it will be an Ending for the one of us."     The red light is gone from Yunomi's hand as she drops her hand to her side, and with the other she throws the naginata at Rhapsody, in apparent disgust. The weapon turning back into a brilliantly colored Undying Rose at the feet     "I am through with You All." she states, turning around, her eyes shining. Pieces of her mentor hail down around her. The "love of her life" was cowering in fear.     Good. She /should/.     "You saved the Guildmaster this time, but I will not forget this day. Search for me. /Find Me/. I dare you." she states, and the Mana Nexus crackles and pops, directing mana from the shieilds, curling it around whisps that form into spinning black holes.     Those magically inclined would feel like the breath is being lifted from their bodies again, as the black holes charge, spinning rapidly -- and Yunomi goes to fall into one. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''         A million pieces of metal fall from the sky, the shattered remnants of a tutor, a friend, a father figure. The majority of the red hot shards fall within the shield, crashing onto the stage. A small amount of them bounce down off of the shield around the front of the stage, but nothing more. A few moments after the shattering, a blazing blue crystal crashes into the stage, glowing frantically, as if the light inside was desperately trying to claw out of the gem it was trapped within. The light does not fade, in fact, it only seems to glow brighter as it protests its sudden inability to move.     Ryixnel slowly moves toward the bright gem, drops to his knees, draws it into his chest, and simply remains there in an utter state of shock, regardless of -anything- going on around him.     As Sidonia finally reaches the interior of the shield, the blue dragon can only stare at the aftermath of Yunomi's failed attempt at a coup. A shard of bounces off a blue scale, but no change in expression can be seen. An angry Azor trying to get to the Guildmaster receives a glare so sharp and cold that he visibly shivers, holds both hands up, and slowly moves back and away in the same direction he came from.     With it all said and done, Rhapsody remains on the stage after falling down to it, her back to the floor, staring up at the scene that transpires before her through the protective wings of another dragon she had met within the multiverse. The one that taught her to fly had now flown to protect her, but the damage has already been done. Directly below the opening, the majority of the pieces of Thianel rain down around her. What isn't deflected by Bahamut are deflected by the Mizzium Skin spell.     Each word that comes from Yunomi feels like a sword in her chest, her back, her heart, her mind, and her stomach all at once. The silvery spell gives way to her natural form as Yunomi vanishes through a portal. A choked up "S-stop.." is all the Guildmaster can manage as she fumbles forward, actually crawling a step forward before the tanuki is gone. Everything goes silent on the stage. The crowd is no longer heard, only the echoes of those last words are heard in the dragon's ears.         "THE IZZET SECTOR IS CLOSED!"     The words crash into every corner of Ravnica from the Guildmaster before she simply collapses and the sadness returns. It crashes down like the weight of both spires, and only those on the stage will likely hear the weeping of a dragon betrayed. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Stun grenades don't affect Yunomi OR Rhapsody. Staren will remember that in the future. Or... well, whatever this is. It /might/ be Yunomi, who knows.     Thianel shatters. Staren wonders if he can be rebuilt, but there's nothing he can do this second: Yunomi(?) is what needs to be dealt with now-- but she's gone too fast, before he can think of hitting her with a tracking device. Damn.     Staren lands next to Rhapsody. "...Do you want me to say anything, or just go?" he asks, a bit awkwardly 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     Were someone to ask Amalthea if she was ready, the truthful and honest answer would be 'no'.     For there is no simply being ready for anything of this sort. Yet it happens.     Merlin Moves. And the unicorn Moves with him.     Though she is placed within the dome, she takes no movement, hostile nor defensive. A simple step, at best.     Her sword is not drawn. She could not bear to draw Faith upon Yunomi.     Her shield is not raised. It would pain her to have to protect Rhapsody in this manner. She simply stands between dragon and Tanuki. Merlin will do as he will, but she stands there, lone eye upon Yunomi in silence; weary, tired, and old.     Her eye slides closed with a defeated sigh, as Thianel is... Shattered.     "Be still." She speaks, but a whisper to Rhapsody, watching as Yunomi takes her leave.     "Yunomi. I think there's another story for that one to tell." Murmured quietly. More to herself than anyone else. The unicorn falls to silence. And statue-like motionlessness.     She could do nothing here. She can do nothing right now.     Perhaps, at another time, she may. But that is not now. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' For better or for worse, the blow that El-Line was poised to deliver does not fall upon Yunomi. Partlty it's because Rhapsody didn't die. It may, partly, also be because Yuna clings to some vague hope that Thianel isn't as dead as it looked like. But if anyone here is empathically sensitive, the inward scream from Yuna reveals the truth - even in the midst of her own emotional maelstrom, she couldn't bring it upon herself to deliver a deathblow to one of her own close friends .... even if, from all appearances, Yunomi may be abandoning all of them. Queries and replies pulse back and forth through El-Line's systems before a beam of light is projected from its chest, and Yuna materializes on what's left of the dais, still in her Light Suit, but slumping to her knees. She doesn't stay there, though; Yuna manages - somehow - to force herself back to her feet long enough to go to Rhapsody's side. Then she collapses, half against the young dragon, and doesn't move ... not much, at least. She's breathing. She may be sobbing. But she's not going anywhere else. Not for a while, at least ... or not without help. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     As Yunomi speaks, Merlin listens - and speaks a single sentence to the tanuki. "We wish to save /you./" But he does not attempt to prevent her fall; a cornered and chased person like Yunomi must feel...and it is not as if she is truly suicidal. That portal has an anchor somewhere, and that is sufficient for the wizard. And then...there is silence, except for tears. Merlin reaches over, resting one hand against Rhapsody, and whispers a single word. "Rest." Rest and heal. It might put her to sleep, it might just take some of the worst away, but for now the wizard simply ponders what might have transpired so. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' After all is said and done, Iria rushes over to check on Yuna. "Are you OK? Come on, not you too!" She pleads, fearing that she may have lost more than one friend tonight. She figures someone else should deal with Yunomi, while Iria just does the best as she can. She then looks to Rhapsody and shakes her head. "Come on, snap out of it!" She pleads, tears welling up in her eyes. "Dammit, no! Why is this happening?!" Feeling like she can't win, Iria collapses to the ground and begins sobbing loudly, feeling like she's hopeless. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' The shattering of metal into millions of pieces. It doesn't matter if it's by machine or by magic, Corona knows that sound all too well to be comfortable with it. She lowers her weapons a bit as she turns her head towards the stage. Ears lay back to the point they practically disappear under the brim of her hat at what she sees. "Shit." Screw these punks. A breath is spared in a "Thanks fer the backup" to Kirika as she spins on a heel and sprints towards the stage as fast as she can. Even if deep down she knows it is likely too late. That was pretty finite termination. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika says nothing. Corona barely gets anything short of a nod, the kitsune is so shell-shocked by all of this.     She merely gives Yunomi a look that just says, "You lied to us all." before the tanuki escapes, falling into a portal and vanishing from existence.     She looks hurt, angry, confused, and worried all at once.     Sheathing her sword, the kitsune just sighs and hangs her head, eyes closed and welling up.     There is going to be Hell to -pay- when kitsune meets tanuki next. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut finds himself surprised as no spell hits him or Rhapsody. He raises his head, then his eyes widen as he sees Thaniel, the magnificent metal dragon, disintegrate. It offends both of Bahamut's sides to their deepest. The dragon in him mourns the loss of another dragon, and the Al Bhed in him mourns the loss of such an engineering marvel.      Those portals form, and Bahamut keeps Rhapsody protected. He would rather let Yunomi go than risk her causing any more damage here in the Izzet sector. But, he does growl to her. "You should know better than anyone not to trifle with a dragon. You will answer for what has happened here today. I hope you will return peacefully for your judgement, but I doubt that will happen. I cannot believe you would do this, Yunomi. Whatever happened...it can't have warranted this. If you are under some kind of spell, we will free you."      He then stands slowly, gathering Rhapsody into his arms, one arm around her back and the other under her knees. "However, whatever your reason behind this attack, if you return again and try to destroy the Izzet or try to take Rhapsody's life, I will not hesitate to take yours." the grey dragon growls menacingly, keeping a wing between Yunomi and Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason is unable to get to Yunomi she's doing her rito control work but she does /watch/ she wonders has Yunomi been planning this all along? Shje does what she can but there's not much more she can do she does hear the Izzet sector is closed. She has no idea what's happened with Yunomi and she's too late to help with the Yunomi betryal of the Union and of The guild. She will ccontiune to aid the boros in settingling things but she wonder what the hell is going on here. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Still sheltered by a wing, Rhapsody is tugged up, at which point she just turns into his chest and, well, honestly, you can imagine, right? She'll probably be sobbing until she falls asleep at this point. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Oh good, Ryixnel already made sure the core is safely retrieved. Corona isn't as familiar with how things work around here, but gut machinist instinct tells her that the crystal is something equivilent to the heart and soul of what was a fine draconic machine. She walks up next to the dragon, weapons already reholsters. Instead she raises one hand to the dragon's side in a moment of comfort. Thianel had been family to them, and she knows how much it hurts to lose family. "Iffen that's still in one piece, then there's still a chance.... Iffen y'all will allow me to help." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Sector is Closed.     Word travels quickly, and those who came from Namamura, lived in the Namamura District and had the misfortune of looking like outsiders began to band together, traveling quietly with their heads down. Outsiders to Ravnica, and now potentially branded traitors.     Quietly, they return to their district to await with anxious minds if they would be allowed to stay. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     No response. He'll take it that now is not the time to attempt to reassure her that it's not Yunomi and that they'll find a way to rebuild Thianel. Staren looks away awkwardly, then teleports to the warpgate. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika takes a sigh after everything winds down, and before the last of those from the Namamura district leave to head home, the kitsune begins to follow.     She is quiet and deft, an unseen protector of these outsiders. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     For the first time since he took hold of Thianel's core crystal, the red dragon glances up at Corona, offers a small nod, then slowly climbs onto his feet. "An extra pair of hands will be useful.."     Sidonia has, at this point, vanished. It is entirely uncertain when she left or how she did. She is simply gone. 
}}

4449/Yu and Mi

2016-09-05T02:50:50Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/21 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Rhapsody speaks with Yunomi's Kodama in Nivix. |Cast of Characters=272, 325 |pretty=yes }} {{P..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/21
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Rhapsody speaks with Yunomi's Kodama in Nivix.
|Cast of Characters=272, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THE CITY OF RAVNICA     IZZET SECTOR; THIRIX     The Overgrown Lab and its Singing Garden have been transferred to the spire for the protection of Nivix -- and for its denizens that live inside.     The Kodama had hidden, for the most part, retreating to the sanctuary and hiding within the foliage from investigators and the first, few angry magewrights who had come to demand answers -- the doors to the garden still had scorch marks where angry fireballs had been launched. While they had been promised protection, the little helper spirits were still some of the most timid creatures in the Izzet League, typically only coming out when they would not be noticed.     And in the last few days, there were mages, goblins, and weirds actively looking for them around Nivix -- especially the two organizers, Yu and Mi. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Word had come from Ryxinel, due to being acting guildmaster in the day since Rhapsody went into seclusion. Now, however, with a single puzzle piece that needed explaining, the white dragon had marched across the span to Thirix, looking for the same kodama, to see if they could shed some light on questions.     With the Overgrown Lab and Singing Garden so close to each other, it would be far easier for Union allies, and other hopefuls, to protect the innocent life contained within. In truth, with the Thirix spire acting as home to allies, and Nivix acting to the home of the Izzet, it almost felt like one spire had hope, and one did not. Carrying that hope with her, Rhapsody walks up to the doors leading to the garden and simply knocks. She was sure it was locked. She was sure she could unlock it, but trust was more important than power, now. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The doors were locked, scortched, cursed at and someone had scrawled out TRAITORS DESERVE DEATH across them... popularity for the outsider had dropped to an all-time low.     However, a knothole opened, and a little green face with bright black eyes peered out, rosepetal pink 'Hair" falling into the face. Yu near ly pulled back and away, seeing just who was at the door -- but a thin, nervous voice from above Rhapsody and to the right asks:     "... is... is there something we can do for you, Guildmaster? ... have they come to take us?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     After the knock, the dragon sighs at the scrawlings on the door. Likely the words were put there before being moved to Thirix. She sighs, pulls a rag of some sort from inside her coat, and starts to work to get the words off before the voice is heard.     Absolutley not. The garden and the lab are in Thirix where many of our Union allies are. You will be safe here. I simply have a question or two I want to ask, please?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yu glances down to Rhapsody, and then to the left and the right, and then retreats. The lock is undone with a loud 'WHUMP!' and the door shudders. It can now be opened, though the heavy door couldn't be pulled by any who are behind it.     Once Rhapsody passes through, the garden's usual tone of 'twilight in summer' has taken a decidedly more guarded feel. Where roses, raspberries and blackberries were blossoming there are now brambles. THe trees have begun to tinge their leaves yellow, orange and red, the grass and mosses that provide soft seating has turned dry, thistles growing.     In essence, the garden is trying to protect itself... or it is dying. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Once inside, the state of the garden causes the Guildmaster to wince. Note to self, get some of the more trusted Union members to guard and possibly bring in some water. If it would help. "Thank you," she says first. She'd take a seat but, well, that may be a problem. "I assure everyone in here that can hear me, you are safe and we will make sure it -stays- that way. That being said.." the dragon kneels, waiting. "Mi, Yu, I have a very important question for both of you." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     From beneath leaves, between foliage, and even out of the empty hole in an oak tree, faces are looking. They expected one of the dragons to come... but... not Rhapsody... not so soon, or in a peaceful manner.     And from out of the foliage Mi, her blue petals looking faded slips out, looking sickly greenish-yellow about her face. The back of her green robe is singed.     Yu appears off to the side, nervously shuffling her feet. Both of the little sprites, less than five inches in height, make their way over to the Guildmaster trepedatiously. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     She could understand their fear, and she also realizes what she may ask may be a little scary considering what she had with her. "Again, I am not here to harm anyone or anything here. Considering what happened, I may not be believed, and I can understand that. However, there is a piece of this puzzle that doesn't fit into .. what happened. I'm going to pull something out of my coat. It is -not- to harm anyone. I know what it is and what it can do and has done. I will just put it on the ground, alright?"     After a few moments Rhapsody produces the pin found at the Namamura Shrine and sets it down well away from the kodama. "Where this was found was tragic, but it doesn't make sense to me. None of you can use this, and if I understand correctly, Yunomi cannot use this. My question is this. Do you have -any- idea where such a thing may have come from?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yu and Mi look at one another, the healthier, greener Kodama with the pink hair giving a worried glance to the sickly one with blue, but it was neither voices who spoke up. as a voice as thin as crackling leaves in the winter said, "No, Guildmaster, she could."     Chuugi-Yo was precisely as old as all the other kodama, but acted with seniority. He steps out, a sharpened darning needle tucked in his obi as if it were a sword as he walked with a slight limp towards the guildmaster. His onyx eyes and straight lips gave him an air of gravitas.     "With the right shielding gloves, Yunomi could have used a pin like this."     He takes the needle, and taps it against the pin. "I doubt she would have used it on Kaeruhime, but to assume she /could not/ would be to discount all possibilities." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     While Rhapsody gives an acknowledging nod, she can't help but frown. That wasn't what she had asked. "A possiblity," is the dragon's curt response, "But that isn't what I had asked," she points out. "I am looking for other possibilities. Where this could have been made. Despite how much the Izzet League uses iron and steel, it is all processed in rather complicated ways. Cold iron such as this? As Ryxinel noticed? We do not use it here due to the number of specters and spirits that have resided within Ravnica before even the Namamura district was created. That being said, I will ask again."     "Do you know where this may have come from?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yu and Mi just keep back from the pin, Chuugi has no such fear. He keeps his gaze steadily on the Guildmaster.     "Anywhere." he replies, "Anywhere that deals in such things. Germany has monster hunters that could use it. The Americas. Other places in Ravnica that may have uses for it. Without marks of origin, and because of its anti-magical nature, finding out where it is from, or who could have used it would be difficult, Guildmaster."     He sets the large darning needles point in the ground, and he looks up at her. "However, a more pressing matter is at hand. Our creator betrayed you. We Kodama, however, are under strict orders from when we first arrived here to act in the best interest of the Izzet League, and our loyalty is to the Guild, and to Umehana Odanuki's wishes for us to remain. If we hear anything within where we are permitted to walk, Guildmaster... we will let you know... but..." he motions to Mi, whose yellowish complexion and burnt robe shows her fright and flight from something, "... we are not strong enough to do so alone." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The pin is retreived and put away. The guildmaster had others to talk to, but this was a dead end, then. "Thank you for your answer," she says, but makes no move to leave. The concerns that Chuugi has are valid. "My brother had an idea regarding just that. It is very common for him to carry a number of tools with him as he moves about the spires to retreive what he needs. Especially so right now during his reconstruction project. If anyone likes, they could stay with him, travel with him, and perhaps hear things that he does not. He has been traveling between Thirix and Nivix a great deal, creating Mizzium in both the forges, but I know how his mind works. He'll be distracted by the tasks at hand rather than listening to the murmur of the guild around him. Additionally, he will occasionally travel outside the sector for parts. He goes where he wishes and there is no one that will lash out at him. If any of you need something, he can go get it. If you want to go somewhere, he can go. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "We'll do it!" Yu and Mi cry out at the same time, Yu gripping her fist in a triumphant 'yes!' motion, and Mi being more reserved. "We're used to being away from the garden, it'll be nice to get some different air!"     "And Ryxinel has a cool head and mild demeanor; I doubt we would be placed into considerable danger for our size. He is also very appreciative of our help." Mi adds on to her sister's excited words, and glances up to Rhapsody.     "We heard second hand what happened." she states, a little more seriously, "she tried not to talk about Kaeruhime's death, but short of speaking with other yokai, we can not tell you what the effect will be outside of the singing garden, or the Namamura district. If someone could stop in with news every once in a while, the rest of the kodama here would be appreciative. Even if we are not seen, we hear very clearly."     There's a murmur of assent amongst the leaves as the rest of the little sprites whisper amongst themselves in agreement. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "I'll let him know, then. Please be paitent with him as he is coping with everything in his own way. The next time he leaves the forge he will come here to retreive you both. If you remind him to visit the garden on occasion, I'm sure he will, but he will be in the forges a great deal. Just give him a nudge if anything is needed and I'm sure he'll do what you'd like so you can stay safe." A smile is offered. "I thank you both. I assure you, I -will- figure this clue out. It is all we have, and I will not stop until I have an answer." the dragon rises, looking toward the door, then she stops to ponder, and glances back and down again, "Do you know if O-Hiko is still in the same area?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "O-Hiko?" Chuugi-Yo replies thoughtfully, and he rubs at his chin.     "I can see why she might attempt to move to a different area, if there has been trouble. Spiders seem t o have a paticular affinity here in Ravnica that she, and her children, do not share. She has likely been guarding the open wound leading to the Gruul lands with jealousy." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "I expect she would stay there, I was simply uncertain. If you do not know, I will simply have to go and find out myself," Rhapsody muses. "Last question, is Pidge hiding here? Or the Pheldagriff?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     At the mention, there is a rumble from the pond below the ancient looking tree, and Albert's ears wiggle, his nostrils open and he gives a huff of air before giving a watery bellow. His wings arc up.     And Pidge, poor little lost Pidge, is nowhere to be found.     "The last any of us saw of Pidge, he was frantically flying around Nivix. Is he lost again?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     To be honest, Rhapsody had thought Albert was somewhere else. When he presents himself, the dragon wanders over to offer to the edge of the pond, produces an apple, and tosses it toward the pheldagriff. The dragon wanted to prove, beyond any doubt, that she was on their side. That done, she looks toward whom answered, "I imagine he is trying to find Yunomi. I'll see if Ryxinel can get a recall signal to him," she reaches the doors, moves them open to leave, and glances back once more, offering a smile. "Don't lose hope." And then she's gone. She had a spider to talk to. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     CRRUUUNCH. Happy Pheldagriff eats an apple, and then happily disappears down into the water again, except his wings.     Yu and Mi look excitedly at one another, and then turn to Chuugi-Yo.     "... wait, Yunomi didn't order us to--"     "Umehana Odanuki ordered us to protect and serve Rhapsody in her absence." Chuugi replies calmly, then turns, slipping his darning needle back into his obi and stalking back towards the safety of the bushes.     "I did not lie; that means that, for now, we work for the continued protection of the League." 
}}

4459/The Guilds Meet

2016-09-05T02:50:11Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/24 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=The Guilds meet. |Cast of Characters=272, 325, 42, 711, 750, 385, 19, 317, 215, 528, 1037 |pre..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/24
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=The Guilds meet.
|Cast of Characters=272, 325, 42, 711, 750, 385, 19, 317, 215, 528, 1037
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Almost a week ago, the Izzet League experienced betrayal at the hands of a high-ranking outsider, someone who had joined the guild under the wing of its founder, the Parun dragon Niv-Mizzet.     And there were groups still in the midst who could be allied, those who may yet turn... and that disturbed certain members of The Guilds... so they had called a meeting, and Rhapsody had received her summons two days ago to appear as the Guild Leader.     The fates of thousands hangs in the balance.     The gallery above the meeting chamber is filling with people from all walks of life, some with a stake in what's decided tonight, others merely experiencing curiosity. A few wear kimono and have on little sigils that mark them residents of the Izzet sector. One old woman, her bun tightly wound, peers down with anxiousness, holding a young boy in her lap.     The round table here has a variety of seats in varying sizes, from humans to that of giants. Leonos II, the Grand Arbiter of the Azrorious Senate draws the meeting to attention with a rap of a gavel against the heavy stone of the chamber, his stern, weathered face looking over the gathered. A black-haired Angel clad in red and white armor takes a seat, her wings fanning out slightly. She looks nervous. An unkempt human, flies buzzing around his noxious hair sits next to her, clad in skins and a blood-stained tartan. A trio of religious fellows in white and black sit, glancing neutrally around the room, but whispering to themselves in hushed voices.     A merfolk member walks in, wearing green and blue robes and clad in cobweb-fine gossemer, looking curiously around and is tailed by a slender elf in green, brilliant green eyes peering up towards the gallery. Others are seated around the table, some wreathed in shadows, uncomfortable with the light. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The Guildmaster of the Izzet walks in shortly after everyone else, flanked by her brother, but with her sister clearly missing. The rap of the gavel causes the dragon to flinch, but she takes her seat without further incident. The last time all the guilds were together like this, well, at least Thianel wasn't in the center spotlight again. Any allies within the Union, or across the multiverse, were welcome to join as well. It was entirely possible they would be called on to answer questions regarding the events of Presentation Day. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren doesn't have much to say about policy, or diplomacy. His interest in this matter is investigating what has happened to Yunomi and returning her to normal. However, who knows what information might come to light here? Also, maybe he can help stop people being terrible to the refugees. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Let's be honest here. It's likely someone had to semi-forcably drag Corona out of the Izzet forges, pushes her through a shower, and at least get her in a presentable state of affairs. Someone who knows how stubborn the silver vixen can be about leaving in middle of an Important Project, even when she's already been working on it on little sleep and a -lot- of caffiene/booze for pretty much since the Presentation Day disaster ended. Fortunately, Corona knows her own habits well enough to plan ahead, and made arrangements to have someone here to help make sure she actually got to the council meeting. Not to mention know a bit more about politicin' than the engineer did. Which would be why the silver vixen is being accompanied/dragged in by a taller (not that it's hard to be taller than Corona's lithe 5'2" in comparison) woman resembling a humanoid collie. She's also a bit more properly dressed, like a western business woman. "I know you asked for help," she also has a much less pronounced accent than Corona's drawl, though it's still audible, "But I don't have much of an idea what is going on here." "Ah know, Miss C," said drawl almost makes it sound like Corona says 'Missy' rather than the affectionate nickname for Loadstar's administrator. "But ya do know politcs better than Ah, an' Ah'd rather not make an ass of muyself at somethin' so important. Cassie "Miss C" Cassavhan smirked a little, knowing that considering the state of affairs Corona probably had to pull a few strings as is to get her allowed in, so she just gives her young frined a good-natured ribbing. "I doubt you would any moreso than usual." "Har har, very funny." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Now that the representatives of the Izzet League are here..." Leonos begins, his voice thin and dry, like crackling paper and ancient ink. He pauses to look down his nose at the dragons, the youngest guildmaster in the history of Ravnica, and then around them, "We may begin this meeting." he sits himself down.     "Rhapsody Mizzet, Ryxinel Mizzet, would you care to explain, for the record, the reasons behind the three-day closure of your Guild's sector..." he pauses, and he draws out a slight disapproving tone to his voice. "And the location of your third sibling?" 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''     It was most likely Rebound who forced Corona to come to this. She'd been working almost non-stop since that day, and now she's gotta take a moment out of there, "Hey Corona, I know this ain't exactly your normal deal, I know it ain't mine, but I got a feeling this is gonna be important."     She looks up at two of the three dragon siblings. She didn't get a chance to really meet with them before everything went crazy, and it's been a bit too hectic to talk to them, but she still wants to support them in any way she can. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' In what capacity is Yuna here? That was most of her own question when she heard about the guild meeting; Yuna isn't a formal member of the Izzet League, and her connections with Ravnica as a whole are pretty tenuous as these things go. She *is* a formal member of the Union, of course, but she's not assuming that's going to carry quite as much weight with the other guilds as Unionites would like it to. And then there's the question of how to dress for the occasion. That was actually a little easier for Yuna to answer, settling on her Hikari Combined Fleet uniform - although the predominant scheme of black and white may associate her with a different guild entirely than the Izzet, she doesn't have a good red-and-blue ensemble handy, and too little time to go shopping for anything. At any rate, Yuna is here, ready to speak in whatever capacity she's able; the little robo-faerie Elner hovers by her right shoulder as Yuna sits, and Elner's colors of white and blue, accented by gold, echo the normal hues of the Light Suit which Yuna wore briefly during the incident. Jiina, Marina, and Erina are somewhere in the general area, ready just in case they're needed - but Yuna is actively hoping that words will be the most dangerous thing exchanged here; if she has to transform in the first place then something has gone horribly, awfully, calamitously wrong. (Then again, she doesn't know Ravnican guild politicking, either ... but still.) At least she's not the only Unionite here; Yuna keeps looking about, waving or nodding to the familiar faces she sees amongst the attendees. She's staying quiet until called upon to speak, though - or unless something is said to which she simply CAN'T remain silent. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya has come Maya didn't meddle in political affairs often. It was a threat on her home world to do so, a means for her to keep certain political factions on Septerra inline. Yet here she was she knew a lot of people might suffer for Yunomi's actions. Be they of her own will or they are not, either way she's going to do what she can to try and prevent that from happening. She sat there waiting. Maya sits down waiting but it's clear she's waiting she's watching and may have something to say at some point. 

:'''{{#var:317|Theo Morrison (317)}} has posed:''' Someone else walks right into the meeting chamber like he owns the place. He's dressed in browns and dark blues, tough clothes for adventure rather than politics. His hair's redder than it was the last time he was here. He stands taller, straighter, carries himself with more confidence. The three-foot bird robot is the same. No hat this time, though. Theo Morrison, Planeswalker (and ally to at least a couple of the Guilds), drops himself into a seat at the table. Kickotron takes up a position next to him, holding some kind of futuristic tablet. "Stenography, please," he says to the Myr. "Recording, too." The robot makes no indication that Theo's been heard. Theo settles in, hands folded and expression unreadable. He doesn't excuse himself, or make to provide any identification. There isn't a Ravnican in the room who wouldn't know who he was after last time. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria's also come here as well, namely since she's been friends with Yunomi for a long time, and knows that something's definitely wrong here. She wants to make sure she gets the whole story and has her chance to speak as well. Unfortunately, she's still a bit upset over what happened, so underneath the cape she's wearing over her armor (she doesn't really know what else to wear here,) her fists are clenched as she tries not to let tears come to her eyes again. She does give a slight wave to Yuna, showing her hands from underneath her cape as she approaches another friend, but other than that, she keeps her eyes down for the most part. It's obvious that she's really hurting here and is hoping this meeting will give some answers. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Glancing up and around the crowd, the dragon finds relief in some familiar faces. As Leonos begins, Rhapsody stands to address him, and the room in general. She had been preparing for this for days, so, the first question is entirely what she expected.     "The reason for the closure of the Izzet Sector is simple. It would have made leaving the area far harder than if the borders were open. The closure of the sector calls upon both the Boros Legion, as well as our Union allies, to secure all exits and prevent people from coming or going. This, in tandem with Sidonia's swift response to begin searching for Yunomi, is the reason the sector was closed and is also why she is absent. She is still searching and felt she would have nothing to offer to the council meeting. Additionally her name was not on the summons." The Azor wouldn't be able to argue the last bit. When around beuracrats, be beuracratic.     First question answered. A quick sip of some water that was on the desk leads the dragon into the response to the next question. "Presentation Day went as expected up to a point. All permits and paperwork was finished on time. Attendies were allowed through the main gates and were allowed to proceed up the concourse to the main stage where presentations were to take place. There was no restriction on access due to the organized security of the Boros, Union, and other allies. As the first presentation began, Yunomi began her speech, scanned the crowd, and then turned to address me." The dragon pauses, collecting her thoughts and her emotions cause she was not about to give the papers ammunition for their articles.     "She then proceeded to demand the Izzet League. At this time the Mana Nexus generated a shield and we traded words, and eventually fought. The actions of the Izzet League's allies caused a hole to form in the shield. Yunomi then cast a powerful shatter spell on Thianel and escaped as his remnants rained down." Breath. Continue. "That is what happened." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' And almost immeadiately Corona isn't sure she likes this guy's tone of voice. It's sublte, but it's hard for those sharp ears to miss, even if she hasn't gotten as much sleep as she should of before this sort of thing. "Ah know, Hoppy," Corona replies, giving a nod in the other direction towards, well, her boss as well as friend. "That's why Ah got her for." "As Loadstar's administrator this is hardly the first political council I have had to sit in on," Miss C chimes in. Then quiets down as the actual proceedings start, staring down at the central gathering of guilds with astute scrutiny. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Why is everyone so sure it was Yunomi?!" Staren can't help speaking up in the next silence. "How do you know it wasn't something posessing her, or an impersonator?" 

:'''{{#var:317|Theo Morrison (317)}} has posed:''' "Occam's razor," Theo tells Staren, perfectly levelly. "If she was spotted and identified, the simplest solution is that it was her. We'll do some digging and see if there are mitigating factors or outside influences later, but /now/..." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "It was Yunomi's project," Yuna adds quietly. "The Mana Nexus was very much her baby ... and the way she conjured that naginata was part of her plant-growth magic." She really, really hates being the one to help convict one of her own friends, and it shows on her face and in her voice - but she's still hoping to *find* Yunomi and start getting some answers out of her. If Yuna herself doesn't find her, maybe Sidonia will, or somebody else. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria has nothing to say for the time being, since she's not an expert on magic or things like that. Instead, she leaves that to the others for now. At the same time, she begins mentally preparing any statements she could use to defend Yunomi if she had a chance to speak up on her behalf. She begins to breathe a little faster as she looks down at the ground, tears starting to well up in her eyes. Reaching up with one hand, lifting her cape a little, she rubs her eyes. "Stay strong, Iria," She whispers to herself. "It's what Gren would want." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "No!" Staren shouts, looking shocked at Theo. "That's not how Occam's Razor /works/! It's not just the answer that sounds simplest, it's the simplest solution that /explains/ all the observed facts! And it /doesn't/ explain her change in behavior! At least posession or impersonation does that! I mean, she was doing something to connect to her own world? Her own world where the very nature of the spirit world tortures ghosts for eternity? I'll bet there's /tons/ of angry spirits there, maybe she contacted one! THERE'S the simplest explanation!" 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Although a situation at home demanded his attention, the great metal dragon known as Bahamut finally arrives at the council chambers. He first tries to join Rhapsody at the Izzet Guild table, but if he is turned away he would not object. He is a dragon, and a trusted friend of Rhapsody, but he is not part of the Izzet Guild and knows that meetings such as this are often tightly restricted.      However, he makes sure either way that Rhapsody sees him, wanting her to be able to draw strength from him in what is likely to be a very stressful hearing. He again is in his regalia, a thick armored chestpiece with cloth hanging from it that makes it look like a robe of sorts, with the metal being gunmetal grey and the clothing broken in stripes of royal purple and burnt yellow.      He looks around at the arguing Staren and Theo, but keeps himself quiet for now. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Theo Morrison." The Azorious member's lips pucker in thought a moment. "The Guilds recognize and welcome your wisdom and input." he offers as a simple greeting to the Planeswalker, and a small nod of his head.     "We /ALL/ saw what she did. Every one of us present -- otherwise must have been some magic to fake her attempting to kill the poor little dragon -- besides, who cares, she's an outsider. Why are we even allowing them to speak here? This should be a RAVNICAN counsel, for RAVNICAN protection!" comes a shrill hiss of a voice as another representative enters the room. She walks in, striding in a revealing robe in a dark harlequin's motley, and she sets a skull-shaped mask on the desk, her hair unkempt and her smile viscious. She has red eyes, and she glances up to Staren with a smug look.     The Bloodwitch Murleh, Cult of Rakdos, has arrived, and she settles into her seat.     "I say we gather them all up -- for our protection and theirs. You know that /SOME/ unsavory group is going to want to get their hands on those pretty people that the Izzet have stashed away under those trees~" she lilts, glancing over to Rhapsody.     "The outsider has also been skulking around in the Undercity." one who was wreathed in shadow says, leaning forward. She has a long scar, and is missing an eye. The empty socket simply is empty, the skin sunken in.     "A pity your sister did not let me take that creature's head. We could have avoided this... Guild Master." she hisses, greasy hair hanging in her face. Vlrash, the Golgari Swarm. 

:'''{{#var:317|Theo Morrison (317)}} has posed:''' There's a nod from Theo at the Azor member in the room. It's just enough to be respectful and acknowledge the acceptance of his seat at the table. "You're still guessing, Staren." Theo might as well be a robot for all the emotion he's showing on his face. Actually, that's insulting to the actual robots. (Sorry guys.) "Do you have any actual proof any of these are actually the case? Because it sounds like we've got eye-witnesses saying it was her up against emotional denials of the apparent reality of the situation, and I know which one seems more likely." A slow, deep breath. He looks to the person in the biggest chair. They're likely in charge. "Are we to discuss steps to take regarding the lockdown, or the situation surrounding Yunomi Stadler's outburst," that's a word for it, "first? I'd like to know when and if I should begin questioning." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna's right eyebrow starts twitching at the newest arrival - not that Yuna recognizes her off-hand, but the skull mask is enough to set her nerves on edge, if the way she was talking about Yunomi didn't do that all on its own. "The Izzet League has long opened its doors to the Multiverse beyond Ravnica's borders," Yuna points out, directing a practiced glower at Murleh. "And Yunomi herself had long earned her place amongst the magewrights of the League; doesn't Ravnica benefit by her development of mana vines to distribute energy where it's needed? And haven't the other guilds benefited from the League's association with the Union, saving your city from threats that could have sunk it beneath the ocean, or worse?" She's also entirely sure that Murleh herself is one of those 'unsavory groups' who'd love to get their hands on the people of Namamura. And whatever Yunomi may or may not have done, Yuna will place *HER* life on the line to protect the Namamurans, if it comes to that. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren sighs and tries to calm down. He presumes Theo is playing the crowd, but it still needles him. "There may be emotion involved, but people don't just /change/ like that. It still needs to be explained. And that explanation is important. Maybe, just maybe, she went crazy. Or maybe something else happened. Maybe some enemy of Ravnica, or the Izzet, /changed/ her, I don't know. Mind control magic can do that, right? Leave her in charge of all her faculties and skills, so she could still use her magic, but... change her priorities? If she were commanded to take over the guild... Anyway, I do have /something/: Her collar changed color after the backlash accident. I didn't notice at the time, but I've been looking for /any/ clue... What does that mean?" 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "Look you can't just up and off her just like that." Rebound snaps, "As much as I want to get my hands on her too, we need to find out just what in the hell is going on. If you kill her, and she was working with others," A pause, as she looks to Staren, "Or was being controlled or manipulated somehow," She turns back to the council, "Then that information dies with her." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Oh, I'm sorry, if not for outsiders dragon's would be extinct and your master wouldn't be 'napping'. Please do not tell me that you are sore about the fact I exist," Rhapsody jabs, a little irritation showing through at Murleh's reaction. Then she looks to everyone else, responding in general. She notes the argument that Yuna makes and pushes the point forward.     "We are not the only plane that exists. The 'capital' was seperated over a decade ago and broght here. This is the -multiverse- we now exist in. The 'outsiders' you all seem to hate so much are not limited to just Namamura. A count of ALL the immigrants from the multiverse reveals that the population has doubled by having many of them moving into the outskirts. The outskirts that -used- to be flooded due to unification which they -repaired- for the city. Each and every guild has benefited from 'outsiders' so if you want to speak against them? Return the positive influence they have given to each and every one of you. Every. Single. One." Rhapsody says in a stern tone. She got -that- arguement from her father. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' A faint snort emits from Miss C as she tries to keep up with the meeting already going into back and forth between guilds and audience members. "I almost need a program to keep up with who's who arguin' wha--" She stops as Corona holds up her C-PAD. "Took liberty of gettin' one of the Izzets to give muh the basics on which guild's what." "-- Well that is efficient. Thank you Corona." the collie woman takes the device in one hand, while pulling a pair of small brass frame reading glasses out of a pocket and slipping them on. A moment later Miss C lets out a low whistle. "And I thought Loadstar was a melting pot of strange people." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Arbiter -- the man in the biggest seat -- rises. His robes shine, and his pale, watery eyes turning and glancing first towards Rhapsody, and then towards Staren.     "Compose yourself. Repeated outbursts will not be tolerated... but... Murleh has a point..." he sits back down, considering a moment as he looks around.     "If an outsider can rise so quickly within the Izzet," Vlarsh purrs, her voice phlegmmy -- and she spits. Specifically in an Izzetly direction, but not oooobviously at Rhapsody, "... who is to say they can't rise elsewhere, and rob from ourselfs our autonomy?"     "Oh. The Swarm considering autonomy." coughs the merfolk, and Ishla rises to his feet.     "I have worked with the Izzet Mage Yunomi on many occasions in regards to the original Manavine Project. Her love for Ravnica, and for her Guild is without a doubt one of the most sincere forms of devotion I have witnessed. The constant burns on her hands are testimony."     "Hands red with the blood of her guildmaster!" Murleh interrupts, and the Arbiter raps his gavel again, glaring at everyone.     He hated it when the guilds got together. So much work for so little pay off.     "The point has been raised in regards to those who are from beyond Ravnica," he gives a curious look to Theo, and then to the rest of the gathering. "Murleh mentioned... containing them. I would reccomend limiting their activity within the guilds themselves until we can be sure there are no more... bad eggs."     That was not an intentional dig at Rhaps.     He then turns to Theo. "If you are not already questioning, then what are you doing?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "WITH NO MOTIVE," Rhapsody barks back at Murleh, "You're simply serving your master by trying to incite the anarchy you and the other 'black' guilds constantly try to incite!" The dragon's bravado drops when the Arbiter speaks once more. The dragon heaves a breath, sits back down, and re-iterates her point. "Again, each guild wants to put an end to 'outsiders' when the city as a whole has benefited from them being here in the long term. Being short-sighted will only drag us back down to a point where the DIMIR will try something again." Yes. She just mentioned the tenth guild, and despite how often they have recently been dealt with, the gallery still reacts with gasps and murmurs. "Twice broken, but they will -never- be destroyed, despite what any one wants to believe." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Apparently turned away from the Guild tables, Bahamut heads up into the Gallery and takes a seat in an appropriately sized chair, then sits quietly. He rumbles lightly at all the arguing, then hmphs at the supposed point about those outside of Ravnica. "It is either ignorant or arrogant to say that only those from outside of Ravnica may be trying to work against the Guilds. You cannot judge the many by the actions of a few. And while I do not claim to know much about the Guilds, it seems the norm rather than the exception that one guild is always looking for a way to weaken the other Guilds so that they might gain more power. This city seems to need integration and cooperation, not more segmentation and discord."      The Dimir. Bahamut has not heard of them before, but he has not had a lot of experience with the guilds as a whole, much less specific guilds. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya listens and tolts her head at Theo and Staren. It has another name on her world but she knows the theroy. She however listen and looks at the Bloodwitch she has not forgot the fights the Union had with Rakdos long ago. However she's not spoiling for a fight today. Maya makes a motion she'd like to speak when it would be a proper time for one such as her. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' After a few moments of browsing over which guild is primarily what thanks to Corona's notes, Miss C peers up over the brim of her glasses at the gathering below. "Stars above and sands below, I've seen more cooperation between parties at hostile ta--" And then stops herself as she realizes that would be a bad choice of words. Uh. "--investor meetings," she quickly amends. "What do you think, Corona?" Pause. No answer. "Corona?" Again no answer, mostly because the vixen has dozed off in her seat. Probably not really a surprise, betweem how much she's been working and that this is probably really boring to her. Miss C sighs softly to herself, but again, isn't really that surprised. "Look at this. Different people of the same city, unable to get along other than their blind hatred for something different from them. Yet these 'outsiders' manage to cooperate better when hard times come, and we're from -entire different worlds-. A terrible example for any leadership to set." 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "She wants power. Why do you think she killed Poor Kaeruhime?" comes a voice, and a man in a business suit stalks in.     Anyone with magical senses may know that this man feels /WRONG/. Every bit of him feels wrong. Every inch of his being, fiber in his clothing. Is. Wrong. A black hole walks into the room, clad in a charcoal suit with a red shirt, "why she built a huge, energy-sucking device right beneath the Izzet's noses... Yunomi wants power." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     While Rhapsody wouldn't be able to feel it, Ryxinel visibly grips the council table as this 'person' walks into the chamber with no announcement. Rhaposdy hears what is said, stares at the man, similarly clutching at the table, but leaving -visible- claw marks. "That has not even been reported. Who are you and how do you even know that happened?" She can feel that 'thing' that was found at the Shrine and the urge to ask about it at the council meeeting has suddenly lunged upward. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' When the mysterious man suddenly arrives, Iria looks up at him and glares at him. She narrows one eye and is about to ask who the hell he is, but thinks better of it. She's no magic user, but the way he just walked in like that and then made that statement out of the blue really has Iria feeling very suspicious about him. Her teeth begin to grit as she sneers a little, her breathing speeding up a little bit. 

:'''{{#var:317|Theo Morrison (317)}} has posed:''' "Investigating the scene and the suspects," Theo tells the Arbiter, still stone-faced. "In simpler terms: I am watching." Theo leans back in the seat. He looks at each of the Guild representatives, one at a time, fixing their faces in his mind. He doesn't need to, in most cases. He knows them already. He looks to the 'outsiders,' the friends and allies of Yunomi and the Izzet. Do they have something to gain, or to lose? The man in the suit enters. Theo's mask of calm cracks minutely. The corner of his mouth twitches. A little tension grows in him, barely perceptible. He feels it. It's impossible to miss. "And what do you suppose she intends to do with that power," he asks, voice still even and level. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' It's a testament to how sharp Corona's ears are that, even in a noisey council chamber with plenty of talk and argument going on, it's the faint screeching of claws on the table that snaps her out of her snooze. "whowhazzat?" She fumbles in the chair a bit, grabbing her hat to keep from dislodging it as she jerked upright. "What'd Ah miss?" "A strange arrival." Miss C's reply is composed, but she's raising a brow at Rhapsody's sharp response. "Apparently knowing this that should not be known." "That's kinda supicious..." Corona actually stoops a bit at her seat. It looks like she could be reaching for something hidden. But Miss C reachs over to lightly grab her arm before she can. "Let's not make this a bigger fiasco than it already is. He might give away more than he intends if he's confident in himself." 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Who the hell is this guy? Rebound doesn't know all the players in this game. Talk about playing without a full hand. Makes it kinda hard to keep track of everyone and everything and who's supposed to know what. She frowns as she looks at the new arrival, not enjoying the idea of him just showing up late, "We started a while ago, dude. Maybe next time try to be on time. Or would that have ruined your dramatic entrance?" 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "Hardly. I've only just arrived from finishing my own investigation at Namamura, though, suspiciously the murder weapon /was/ missing... considering she should not be able to call upon that pretty naginata of hers, it does make it all the more curious as to the /hows/... but the only one that the kami might have been showing herself to in all Namamura would be her erstwhile guardian."     He gives as charming a smile as he can.     "Allow me to introduce myself, esteemed Guild Leaders, Masters and Representatives -- and to Ravnica, and the Union."     The man gives a courteous bow from the waist before he straightens, and rebuttons a sleeve on his jacket.     "Like my quarry, I hail from the lands of Japan, the village of Namamura has long been my home, hiding among the people there, protecting them where I can from yokai -- from the spiders that murder men as they sleep, to roaving tanuki who murder children in cradles, and eat the flesh of humans...." he pauses, and his lips purse, and he turns to those who are glaring at him, hi gaze ending at Rhapsody. "Or did she not tell you about what secret wars she fought before she Unified?" 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "I," he continues, and he brings his hand to his chest, "am Ijiwaru." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' At the moment, Elner is not actually by Yuna's shoulder; the robo-faerie has taken notice of Corona's C-PAD, and takes the liberty of flitting over. "I don't suppose," Elner 'whispers,' "that I might pull a copy of that data for myself and for Yuna?" It won't even take physically copying the information; Elner can pull an electronic copy without interfering with the C-PAD itself. Yuna doesn't really notice Elner's absence, though; she's too busy hanging onto her temper, as the non-Izzet guild representatives dig in their heels and double down on their bigotry. Because that's what it comes to - xenophobia, automatically distrusting outsiders simply BECAUSE they are outsiders, and justifying it by the most prominent example of an 'outsider' wreaking havoc. Also, Rhapsody just mentioned the 'black' guilds as a category - which gives Yuna momentary pause, looking down at her Hikari Fleet uniform. Okay, so this is NOT a color scheme she wanted to wear here ... well, there's one quick remedy for that, except it means stepping up to a combat footing. And then somebody walks in who practically makes Yuna transform *anyway* - Ijiwaru's presence practically SCREAMS at Yuna's untrained instincts, and the Savior of Light is on her feet as soon as she can leap from her chair, the Light Suit flaring into existence about her in place of that classic, sailor-style uniform. There are two things she doesn't do, though: materialize a weapon or leap to attack ... because as much as she'd love to lash out at Darkness incarnate, particularly Darkness who's fanning the flames of others' hatred and fear, this is still a 'battlefield' of words, not arms. And as Yuna learned early on after Elner first came to her, words are a maiden's proper weapons (although a sword or rifle can be handy too). "Your logic needs to be re-examined," Yuna snaps at Ijiwaru. "I was there when Kaeruhime's skull was brought to Yunomi; it tore her heart to shreds just to see it. And Kaeruhime was of Namamura - one of the people whom Yunomi has been fighting and struggling to protect, to keep safe against the depredations of the Confederacy, or worse." The blonde looks around at the guild representatives, and if any of them dare to meet her gaze, she locks eyes with them, even if just briefly, before her attention shifts onwards around the table. "We won't know for sure why Yunomi went so far as she did until we find her and get a chance to talk to her ... but I can tell you this with near-certainty: if you would make Yunomi Stadler your enemy for all time, singling out the Namamurans - isolating their population, holding them prisoner, 'investigating' them with this kind of open suspicion - is going to make great strides towards turning her into a dangerous enemy. And Yunomi won't be the only problem you have to worry about. You're talking about, to all intents and purposes, a group of refugees for whom Yunomi was trying to make a new place of safety - and her village's people would have made Ravnica stronger, richer, for their presence. I will stake my own reputation, meager though it may be, on the premise that the people of Namamura will pose no threat to Ravnica unless you compel that threat yourselves. But lay finger, claw, fang, or spell against the people of Namamura, and even in Yunomi's absence, *I* will stand to defend them." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren's said enough, for now, so... he waits. And some dude walks in and says tanuki eat people. He's never heard a story like that.     Secret wars? He's known Yunomi since she was a little tanuki that slept in the Doctor's sock drawer. But... this doesn't seem like the time to put that card on the table just jet. He folds his arms and frowns at Ijiwaru.     Like Theo: Watching. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut doesn't have any particular magic sense without casting a spell, but he still takes notice of the strange man in the business suit. Even moreso when he mentions things that only a few in this room should know. Is he from Yunomi's world? Bahamut watches Ijiwaru with suspicious eyes from his seat among the crowd. He then sighs softly at Ijiwaru's words about wanting power. "That does make sense, assuming that Yunomi is still the Yunomi that you all know and hasn't been possessed or replaced. Or worse, assuming Yunomi hasn't been planning this event for a long while."      Bahamut continues to listen after that, and when Yuna speaks up he nods in agreement. "The people of Namamura were just as betrayed as the Izzet. After the event with the Mana Nexus, they came under attack from understandably irate guildmembers. None of Yunomi's actions on that day match with what she was apparently trying to do for years. We cannot ignore that all the information available points to Yunomi going rogue, but we also cannot dismiss the possibility that she was controlled or replaced. However..."      Bahamut stands at this point, then sighs. "I heard her say something that disturbed me, that suggested she -had- been planning this. She said to Rhapsody that she was tired of serving under someone who could not even use magic. Considering her history with Niv-Mizzet...it is unfortunately possible that she felt Rhapsody was not worthy of the Izzet Guildmaster title. I can only speculate on her motivations, but she seemed to be focusing on Rhapsody specifically, not on destroying the Izzet as a whole."      Having said his peace for now, Bahamut seats himself again, listening once more. There is apparently a lot of information to which Bahamut is not privy, and he can't make any more determinations without it. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The suited man causes Rhapsody's gaze to narrow as he speaks, but when the name is stated, her claws dig even further into the table. She knows that name, it shows on her face as clear as black ink on white paper. The few times -that- name had come up, it was with fear. However, rather than dignifiy the man's question with a response, she turns to the guilds, "I would like to point out," she begins, looking at each representitive in turn before looking back at Ijiwaru, "If you have so much hate for outsiders? Then remove this one or prove how hypocritical you are,". Then to Ijiwaru, "I know stories. Stories of men that kill spirits only made to protect. Harmless kodama that would rather give a begger a final copper for a meal. Your stereotypes reek of such bias that it is obvious all you care about is your hunt of these spirits rather than what the spirits actually do.."     Yuna's sudden transformation causes the Izzet Guildmaster to wince. While no weapon is presented, at least, the sudden transformation may cause people alarm, or give the newest person in the chamber additional verbal ammunition. She's quick to inject an additional point, "As for your claim of 'power' for a motive?" she turns back to Ijiwaru. "She could have easily had as much power as she'd like through the human military via Richard Stadler. She has passed up multiple opportunities to gain the 'power' you suggest. She has only now made this decision, so your motive is too vague."     When Bahamut speaks, however, Rhapsody goes -pale-, her gaze looking up toward the other dragon looking extremely distraught. At this point the gallery bursts into a much louder buzz and some of the Orzhova reporters start scrawling madly. What did he say..? 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Rhapsody can't use magic?" Staren mutters. He's surprised! Rhapsody says what he's thinking about Ijiwaru, though. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "-- can't use..." The Grand Arbiter blinks, and he stands, the crowd begins to buzz, alight with talk now as he bangs his gavel. "ORDER! /ORDER/!" he calls out, trying to gather the grouping to order as reports go out, whispers are said -- and maybe even a few spiders crawl their way to the underdark.     Up in the gallery, in the far back, a hooded figure leans a little forward, gathering a brown cloak around itself as if cold.     "Demanding he /leave/ Dragon, is to be hypocritial yourself. Don't let your /emoootions/ get all locked up." Murleh rolls her eyes. "I want to hear what he has to say. If she's off murdering people and eating the flesh -- heh. Might be she and I would become /real/ good friends!"     The other representatives pause, and turn to the bloodwitch with surprised gazes... and then one or two shudder.     THe Golgari representative just smiles.     "Very well. The others have had their chances -- some repeatedly. Speak." The Grand Arbiter motions. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "I get the feeling this man is specifically -trying- to rustle this gathering's collective jimmies," Miss C notes in a low, musing tone. She's seen the tactic used many a time for business negotations. And sure, NOW the council is actually willing to quiet amongst themselves. She tightens her grip a little on Corona's arm, just to keep the fox from doing something impulsive. "And doin' a fine job of it too," Corona retorts back in a sour whisper. "They are right though. Let's see what this mystery man has to say." 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya doesn't like the new arrival and she's a bit on edge as it is. This situation then comes Yuna Maya knows what it means for passions to take hold of someone. Maya has seen people of her own blood line go stark raving mad from power. She's not sure about what is up with Yunomi sadly yet? Should her people suffer? No they should not and the Junker's faces tenses, a bit she had planned to bring up the subject, yet. She's gong to have to speak now with how things are going but she will wait for a moment longer. "I request a moment to speak, when Ijiwaru's has been able to say their peace. She will become silent now and she shall see how it goes from here. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna's glare descends upon Murleh like a solar coronal mass ejection - but since she doesn't have enough magic to actually kill with a look, the worst the Golgari representative is going to suffer from is a very angry blonde girl in a holy/light-elemental battlesuit looking strictly-metaphorical daggers at her. She'd really rather not give Ijiwaru the chance to sow more lies and distrust here, either, but there's no way she can stop him ... at least, not without shining the light of truth on his lies, and he has to SAY them before she can possibly do that. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     In stark contrast to what was just said, Rhapsody quickly stands, holds an arm out, and a very -fast- lighting blast cracks out, charring the ground of the chamber, "I'd like to dispell what was just said!" she barks suddenly, desperate to stop any report of what was just said. "My spellblades are NOT with me," she quickly says before she's certain the Arbiter will probably have a heart attack considering the spell that was just cast into the ground. With her point proven, she just scowls at Murleh, "Don't twist my words. I didn't say to have him leave. I simply want you all to prove your own words," she mutters, going quiet as she has to let the man speak despite the venom she expects to drip from his words. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' By now, Iria's really scowling at Ijiwaru, clenching her fists underneath her cape. If it weren't for the fact she'd more than likely cause more trouble than need be, she'd be throwing that cape off and charging at him, trying to tackle him and administer an improvised interrogation. By now, though, her breathing is really rapid, and she's got her eyes really narrowed to avoid more tears coming to them. "Whoever this guy is," Iria says to herself, "He'd better watch himself!" 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut hadn't considered the repercussions of that information, as he himself had already assumed Yunomi had been exaggerating. And so after the room had erupted at his tidbit of information, he is relieved to see Rhapsody dispel the misinformation. He will have to apologize later, but he felt that all information should be analyzed before any decisions or courses of action were decided.      "I am glad to see that Yunomi was wrong." he says after the Lightning spell. And, with what little he could contribute to the proceedings contributed, Bahamut returns to the silent, regal statue he has been for much of the hearing. He does level a curious gaze on Yuna for her transformation. Is there something about this Ijiwaru that he cannot sense? The thought gives him something to ponder. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     Ijiwaru gives a little smile.     "Well. That would certainly add fuel to the fire, wouldn't it, Guildmaster?" he breathes as he passes behind her, and circles around the table.     "My logic is sound. Umehana Odanuki -- her birth name, the name of my enemy -- had her powers stripped because she failed to protect Namamura from an alien force. I watched, helplessly as she brought in her friends, and failed. Our people were under the rule of a foreign group... and without purpose, following the death of her mentor, the seeds of this incident were sewn. I was willing to let her go. TO let her live a life she had built... I had even considered that she was changing... until I felt a change in Namamura. After the Union representatives, including your guildmaster, here, left, I went into the grotto -- a place ordinarily I could not. I saw the result. I saw the poisoned waters, and felt.... nothing. The only person a weakened kami dare show itself to would be its guardian. It would have been Umehana."     Ijiwaru's face turns serious, and he looks around the room.     "But monsters do not change. This... creature wears the face of a human but throws her magic around to prove she is better than any of us, including our electrifying young guildmaster." he motions to Rhapsody, and then looks up and around.     "I ask of you this: Temporarily impose your sanctions on those who do not swear their fealty to a Guild of good repute, to a representative seated here, among you. Too long has this tanuki built herself up as a friend to you all... will you be able to strike true when it comes to fighting her, or will your words fall on her ears as her blades fall your allies?" 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "I will hunt with the dragons for her, and bring her to Ravnican justice for these crimes." Ijiwaru continues, his voice quiet. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren listens to the tale. Powers stripped? He doesn't recall that... then again, Posessed-Yunomi /didn't/ use her ability to make copies of herself when she attacked Rhapsody, and maybe that's why.     He frowns more as Ijiwaru describes Yunomi as some monster.     Still, he wants to make sure he's following this tale correctly: "So you are insinuating," Staren asks, "That before last Monday, she went back to Namamura and killed it's guardian, as revenge for her powers being stripped? Why did she bother continuing with the project, then? Why wait until presentation day and a crowd of witnesses, rather than assassinating Rhapsody in a private meeting?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Thinking. Constantly thinking. Both Rhapsody and Ryxinel are racking their brains on everything that Ijiwaru has said. Not the ridiculous parts that assume she killed the spirit of the shrine, but the rest of it. Much to her dismay, her brain can't find away around the man's logic. Ryxinel has plenty of ideas, but nothing that isn't insanely farfetched. The one clue they had, that metal pin, is starting to feel like false hope. Suggesting the sanctions, Rhapsody quickly enters in her vote, "Absolutley not. The majority of immigrants and refugees in the outer districts could still be making a decision on which guild they support, or are seeking merchant liscences. They do not deserve to be treated like criminals when they have done nothing wrong." That is her vote! Ryxinel nods.     "As for Sid--" the dragon pauses as a note simply manifests on the table in front of her. Rhapsody picks it up, reads it, and sets it back down at the center of the table so anyone can see it. Sidonia's signature rests below a simple message:         I hunt alone.     "I think you have her answer. And that said, I will not raise a finger against Yunomi because she has not been -convicted-. She is a suspect, but there is evidence leaning," a sigh, "In both directions. She has a right to a trial. Not to be hunted and killed by someone that would act as judge, jury, and executioner. That is not how Ravnica works." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "You couldn't enter Namamura while Yunomi was still around to protect it," Yuna states, looking levelly at Ijiwaru. "And you admit freely that she is your enemy. I'm not sure how this convinces any of us that you're trustworthy in this matter. Justice isn't served properly when the one who claims to serve it has a personal agenda in play." She looks around - at her allies and at the Ravnican representatives. "The 'foreign group' which Ijiwaru speaks of would be a gang of world-stealers, allied to the Confederacy. Yunomi staked everything she had to protect Namamura from their depredations ... and she lost. Yunomi doesn't take her failures very well; I can relate strongly to her in that ..." A wistful little smile flickers across her face. "I've been known to take it just as badly when the people I care about are wounded or killed. Possibly worse than Yunomi herself has done." Her gaze shifts back to Ijiwaru, her expression hardening. "I see no reason why the people of Namamura should be forced to bend the knee to a guild whose representatives openly distrust and hate outsiders. I wouldn't want to pledge my good faith to anybody who hated my guts, I'm not going to suggest that anyone else should suffer that compulsion. If it's agreed that you should help hunt for Yunomi, Ijiwaru, then know this: justice will *not* be administered by your blade or your powers. We find her ... we *arrest* her, and we bring her back to stand trial here, in Ravnica, under proper Ravnican law." She looks at the guild representatives. "I trust none of you are inclined to speak against the proper, open, and faithful administration of justice? If the Guilds would stand by and allow the execution of a girl whose guilt and whose motives are not yet known, then it bodes ill for your city." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Now Iria's stood up and is glaring daggers at Ijiwaru. She throws off her cape, revealing the armored bodysuit underneath as if she wants to fight or something. But she doesn't move at all. Instead, she just breathes faster than usual, fists clenched and eyes still narrowed. "Just who the hell is this person?!" Iria says through gritted teeth to no one, until Yuna finishes speaking, at which point Iria speaks up as well. "She's speaking the truth!" Iria cries out finally. "There's no way Yunomi could've intentionally been trying to do what happened! We know her too well!" She turns to face Ijiwaru more directly. "I don't know who you are or why you spew this crap about hunting her down like this, but we're not going to let it happen!" She points at Ijiwaru and narrows her eyes even more. "I don't trust you at all!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No. They can swear fealty to the Izzet, and it would be an acceptable compromise." the slender Elf swathed in green speaks up. Aeta's head tilts as she leans forward, her chin resting on her thin fingertips, her green eyes peering over to Rhapsody as she calmly replies: "At least while they dwell within Izzet protection, it is harmless..." And she leans in towards Rhapsody "... and we are behind a veto for the use of his... service." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut hmphs at Ijiwaru. "Yunomi must be found, but she will not be hunted like a fiend and slaughtered like a rabid dog. We will find her and bring her back so that we might get to the bottom of this. There could be more going on than simply a rogue tanuki, and if so she may be our only way to find out. If it was merely Yunomi acting alone, then she will face true justice, and not field justice at the blade of an unknown who we have no idea if we can trust."      Bahamut lets out a rumbling sigh after that. "However, I will join the hunt for Yunomi. Because she seems intent on ending Rhapsody, judging by her actions on Presentation Day, and the Izzet do not need to face the loss of another of their Guildmasters. Nor do the rest of us."      He is quiet a moment, then adds. "If the people of Namamura are not trusted to stay within Ravnica during this difficult time, I can offer them refuge at the Temple of Bahamut and Home. The Al Bhed were once an outcast race, and we know what it is like to be persecuted unjustly. The Namamurans will be well defended and among like-minded people." 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "I do dream of restoring my family's honor, but killing her will bring neither my father nor my brother back. Killing her will not restore Namamura to the land it was in my youth, nor will it heal the broken hearts of those who stand by her. I'm sure she would be pleased to see that she has tricked those around her -- Rhapsody." he begins, and he turns towards the dragon, "Can you say, with all honesty, Guildmaster, that you are without doubts of her innocense, given what she has done to you?" Ijiwaru replies mildly as he draws up, and he looks around. "My conscience, of course, would be clear if I had to choose between her taking my head or me taking hers, but as these crimes were performed in Ravnica, and she is likely here, hiding in Ravnica and waiting for a chance to show herself -- I will bear my blade for Ravnican justice, and return her to her guild for punishment -- /if/ that is the wish of the council." he states, and he gives a bow. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya looks at Ijiaru his demand is not as bad as she had feared but still it was not very good. It could be a lot worse however she listens to everyone else and has to remain silent for a moment as she moves to speak. "Fear of this city's own people, has no place in a city land that has been made strong by such a wide selection of races and people. To treat a portion of the population for the actions of one? Would only serve to spark. Additionally if she is acting not of her own will killing her would nicely bury any chance of finding out who or what was behind such a radical change in her behavior." It would not be the first time a Guild had acted against the best interest of this city after all. Though Maya wisely does not voice that. "Whatever disagreements we may have I feel we can agree that Yunomi must be found and the truth of this matter uncovered." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A thankful nod is given to Aeta as she supports the Izzet League's vote. When she's spoken to by Ijiwaru once again, the dragon scowls. "My thoughts are my own. I have many of them, swirling like a storm in my mind. "What is more important, now, are her thoughts. Until we have them, and we have -all- of the evidence, I will reserve providing my impulsive ideas, as should everyone here," the dragon notes as she begins to address the council room. "We have the tools and the resources, through the Izzet and our Union allies, to locate -Yunomi Stadler- so that we can learn the full story. We do not need assistance in locating her. When found, it will be reported and we will have a trial if needed. We do not need help from a man with a -clear- and -biased- agenda. That is all I have to say."         Slump.     Back in the chair again with a sigh. Again she can feel the pin in her jacket but showing it now? No.. he would just accuse the Izzet of having important evidence. She would continue her own little bit of research. She just had been having trouble remember exactly which pipes to roam down to find O-Hiko. After today? She'll make it a point to get down there. It was far too important, now. She only hopes that the spider can help since, well. She really doesn't want to have to try and find Sakiaro. She has -no- idea how that 'chat' would go.. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Miss C feels the tug that jerks Corona's arm from her hand, but is disinclined to try and stop the vixen from standing. She knows that posture, that twitch of the tail. The girl was much like boilers she often worked on; there's a point that the only way you're going to stop the build-up is to let the steam out. "HOOOOOLD ON A MINUTE!" .. Wow, who knew that small fox could get that much volume out of her lungs when she wanted to. "Ah can understand y'all bein' upset that yer city was threatened. BUT." That tail is still lashing even as she gestures a hand towards where the Guildmasters are gathered. "Nevermind the strange fella shown up, tryin' to tempt ya all just by claimin how evil the one most of ya are projectin' yer hate either fer outsiders or fer the other guilds ya ain't fond of on. Nevermind that this is a big knot of a mess that ain't gonna get sorted out in one sittin with too many pieces still missin' from the puzzle." Then her voice goes back up to -that- volume again, dripping with accusation as hot as any one of her forges. "NOT ONE OF YOU SHOWS A SINGLE BIT OF CONCERN FER YER FELLOW GUILDMASTER AND WHAT TRAMAU *SHE* HAS BEEN THROUGH IN ALL THIS? Yer all too worried 'bout yerselves and yer parts of the whole to at least have some consideration fer another person?!" The leather of her gloves can be heard crunching as she clenches hands into fists. Tail lashes again... but then slumps still, as that was apparently the 'steam' she needed to get out. Dips her head forward for a moment, to there her hat actually hids her face a bit. Exhales slowly. "Ah know some of ya might not like her. Or respect her. But at least have some courtesy for how much all this has gotta -hurt- her." And with that all said Corona turns on a heel and stomps for the exit, as if realizing a farther outburst would do no good. "Ah'm through with this circus act. Ah've got more important thin's to do. Like re'ssemblin' someone that act'ally cares 'bout the whole damn city." Which you can pretty much consider her swearing or whatnot with the Izzet lot. The last thing one can hear is a mutter under her breath of "Funny how a machine has more empathy than some of the livin' in the room..." Miss C... actually just sits back in her seat again, readjusting her glasses to finish reading while listening to the rest of the ongoings. "That went better than I was anticipating." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' And there Ijiwaru goes, basically admitting openly that he has a personal stake in fighting Yunomi. Even more openly than what he'd already said, for that matter. Fortunately, the elven lady in green seems to have spoken for the guild representatives - vetoing the use of Ijiwaru's 'services' - and Yuna breathes a little more easily for it. "I will gladly join the search for Yunomi, if I hadn't already stated my intentions clearly enough," the Savior of Light states. "If she forces us to fight her, I know that I can capture her alive." And then Corona blows up at the Ravnicans. Yuna winces a little, her butt plopping back into her seat (finally - yes, she's been on her feet ever since Ijiwaru showed up) and she reaches up to cover her ears, at least partway, against Corona's shouting. The foxwoman makes some really good points, though, and Yuna can't really argue about any of what she says. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "I'll help with that!" Iria yells. "We'll make sure she's captured alive and brought back for a fair trial! We're gonna see to it that everything's gonna be fine!" She clenches her fists. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren is... surprised at Corona's outburst. Even /he/ obviously got that the guilds don't get along. "I agree that she must be brought back to trial. Accidents happen... but this man with a pre-existing vendetta against Yunomi seems far too likely to have an 'accident' happen if he finds her first. While the guilds can consider his... anti-yokai expertise in making plans, I don't think he should be sent after her with the guilds' blessing." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Aeta gives a soft smile to Rhapsody from across the table, while she gives a small nod of her head.     "A /vote/ then!" calls up the Gruul representative, standing in his bloodied tartan. A night of firsts -- the GRUUL called for a vote.     Aeta, the Selysnea Conclave representative looks positively distraught. Ishla, the MErfolk from the Simic Combine looks suspicious.     The three cardinals from the Orzhov give a nod to one another. "We second the motion." one states; "We vote to let this Ijiwaru on his hunt. If he knows the quarry better than even her Guildmaster -- he should make short work. We also vote 'yes' to sanctions on any within Ravnica who have not claimed membership in a Guild."     Murleh stands. "The Culd of Rakdos votes to let him hunt, and for sanctions on any Guildless. ALl the better to protect them within custody, huh Wings?" the witch gives a toothy smile to the angel, who up to now has been quiet.     "The Gruul CLans vote for an /open/ hunt. Let any who want to hunt the creature down do so, open the boarders! Let /us/ hunt her!" he toothily smiles. "Bringing down a beast that bested a Guildmaster? What a hunt -- so says Grumsh!"     "The Golgari vote to let the hunt begin, and to impose sanctions on any Guildless." Vlrash croaks. "We will continue our duties in the meantime, and search for this Yunomi in our sector. /We/ will execute any tresspassers, as is our right."     The angel stands, and she sets her hands delicately on the table, and glances over to Rhapsody before up to the Arbiter.     "The Boros Legion will abide by any rule by the council of Guilds, but let it be known we are against sanctions, and against Ijiwaru's right to 'hunt'. This is a situation that merits justice, not just... vigilante chicannery. The Guildmaster of the Izzet was wounded... but there are still many questions we have yet to answer." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     After slumping into her seat, Corona's outburst comes as a surprise to Rhapsody. Hearing such words nearly causes her 'Guildmaster' mask to shatter into pieces, however, that would -have- to come later. The papers already had enough stories to write, she would not add more to it.     As the vote is called, the dragon looks around the table, counting as everyone speaks. The Orzhova vote causes a wince as they are VERY OFTEN the swing vote in a lot of things. Them, plus the 'dark' guilds all voting for Ijiwara's use results in her count reaching 5. Her body language says -everything-, at least for a moment. Even when the fifth vote for this man comes, she simply stands. "You're all bloody hypocrites," she says, nearly spitting the words before showing herself out. As -soon- as she's beyond the doors, her comms crystal surges to life. The Izzet League, or their allies, had to find Yunomi -first-. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Corona's outburst leaves Bahamut feeling a bit introspective, but he doesn't feel he has done anything wrong. Hasty perhaps, but not wrong. However, when the vote is taken and the unknown man gets a majority vote, he rises and growls lightly. However, he doesn't say anything. It seems the guilds have made up their minds, and his voice carries no weight with them. He stands once Rhapsody has gone and heads out of the council chamber. Once he is clear of the building, he searches out Rhapsody to make sure she is alright. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     Ijiwaru just gives a small smile, and bows. "I will happily begin immediately. I look forward to working with the Guilds of Ravnica..." he smiles, and he looks up to the gallery, and then to those the Izzet has gathered.     "I will bring her to you, alive, for justice. I would hate to lower your opinions of me further, goodness." he states, and turns to take his leave of the chamber. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' What hope Yuna was beginning to nurse - that the Guilds' representatives would see reason hand-in-glove with compassion - are not merely dashed, but detonated. More than half of the guild representatives seem to favor letting Ijiwaru join the hunt for Yunomi; the Gruul go so far as to declare it open season on the tanuki magewright, if mainly so that *they* can test their skills and their luck. And then Ijiwaru all but boasts of bringing the other 'Magic-Eaters' into the hunt ... and Yunomi herself finally speaks up on the same open radio band. For all that Ijiwaru says he'll bring Yunomi back alive, Yuna just doesn't trust that claim - because he's as much as SAID Yunomi is already his enemy, and he SAID that if it came down to a fight to the death, he'd kill Yunomi without hesitation. It's a race, with Yunomi's life hanging in the balance ... and Yuna barely knows where to start looking. She only knows that she can't let Ijiwaru or any of his ilk be the ones to find her - for Yunomi's sake, more than anything else. 
}}

4467/What Dreams

2016-09-05T02:49:09Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/26 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Merlin reaches out through dreams to an exhausted Yunomi Stadler, in order to find answers --..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/26
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Merlin reaches out through dreams to an exhausted Yunomi Stadler, in order to find answers -- and is left with enigmas, more questions, and a tired fugitive on the run.
|Cast of Characters=272, 639
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Undercity of Ravnica is a vast place, with secret niches tucked away into the dark.     It was in one of those niches that Yunomi sat, hidden away from the rest of the worlds. She dare not sleep in any more noticable places, and busied herself, scribbing in a worn notebook. The wound on her left arm had stopped its festering -- after cauterization. That scar was bubbling with blisters, painful, but she kept telling herself that the pain would keep her awake.     She underestimated exhaustion. Her head dipped, her eyes flagging as she leaned back against the wall, her only source of light clinging to her shoulder before the little ball of magic finally fades out.     She had been afraid of the dreams. Running through the underdark, the roars of angry dragons behind her, the hatred of those she loved like fire at her back. Thainel rebuilt, with razor sharp claws meant to tear his student to shreds, Sidonia, armed and ready to take her head and paired with the magic eater Ijiwaru who hunted her even now. Ryx.     Rhapsody.     And aboe her, booming commands and knowing exactly where she was was the memory of Niv-Mizzet. She hit a dead end, her hands spalying against a spiked wall, but her magic wasn't working. She turned, eyes wide as she backed up.     "THis is a dream, Yunomi, you're still hidden -- wake up. Wake up. /Wake. Up/!" 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Dreams. For most, a mere manifestation of the unconscious mind's random and pointless nature. For a few, they are a new world of mystery and danger, a realm of rules to be bent around whims. For Merlin...they're much more. A world of everyone, human and fae and more, all at the wizard's will to touch and share. The entire multiverse slept in some form or another, and it was Merlin's occasional pastime to share dreams with another.     Sometimes it was even useful, to find that which might be lost.     Waking up was not an option. Magic had failed the tanuki, completely trapped in her human form. The demands on her mind to rouse itself were equally useless. He had seen to that. The sounds above reach a crescendo, and then stop - the sound of an army about to pounce, the momentary pause of a blow readying itself to land. And in that silence, then...there is a sensation.     When Yunomi turns, the Undercity is gone. When Yunomi turns, there is a sensation of a soft breeze, and the sound of leaves rustling in a forest. When Yunomi turns...there is the feeling of something settling in her hair, tucked over her left ear - a rose, pink and softer than any she'd ever felt before.     If she turns again, she'll see a certain wizard seated on a tree root, simply observing her with a small smile. A matching silver rose sits in his hair, where she'd tucked one when they'd first met not so long ago."I admit...I do find that flowers suit you so very well," Merlin says. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi closes her eyes, trying to will herself to wake up, until she feels a breeze in her hair. Her eyes open, and she turns, seeing not the walls or Lower Ravnica, but forest. Peaceful serene and safe.     She turns forward again, and there, among the roots is the first friendly face to address her in what seems like a lifetime. She breathes out a confused sounding breath, and reaches up to make sure the rose was a rose... and not something that was going to hurt her.     Her attention goes back to Merlin, and she swallows, nervously, regarding the mage in her dreams with wariness undeserving of their strange friendship.     "Yours is not a face I had expected to see." she states quietly, keeping her distance from him. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Merlin himself is quite content to settle where he is. It's a dream-forest, so the thick root is quite comfortable and well-shaped for the wizard's well-shaped rear end. Pale eyes take in the tanuki's worn and dirty look, the stress of her real situation starting to settle in her own mental image of herself. That, and she /had/ just been running around in a terrible nightmare.     The rose is just that - something reminiscent of their first meeting. Their friendship...was new, a seed just recently planted, and Merlin himself was certainly willing to tend it and see what might grow. "I suppose not. Though, I must say that is not a uncommon reaction," he adds, thinking back. "For some time, I was...not a part of the world, and could only find those that needed me in dreams."     He looks her over, and points his staff at the ground. As if it were an octopus, the tree he sits on raises another root, this one in front of him - a chair, apparently, for her to sit upon. If she wished, anyway. The staff continues, finally pointing at her for a moment before dropping back down to the ground.     Nothing happens at first - but when Yunomi takes her next breath, there's an invigoration in her soul. It's as if a week of exhaustion no longer exists, and her skin and clothes - clean once more. "All just a dream, my dear. But I imagine it is a feeling you might have missed lately." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi feels the burden on her shoulders lift slightly as the staff if pointed to her, and she glances down. Clean, soft clothes. No grime, no threat of fungus... and she closes her eyes, gripping her hands into loose fists before she makes her way over to Merlin. She doesn't meet his gaze, however, the tanuki keeping her eeys firmly down to the ground, to his feet, to the side -- anywhere but the silver haired mage.     "So, you think appearing to me in dreams is going to be evidence that I /need/ you?" she inquires. She tries to sound tough, but there's no bite in her voice. Weariness. Pain. But no bite. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The weariness in her voice is palpable. The lack of teeth as well, but Merlin is as implacable as he is ineffable. A calm patience settles on him, as he watches Yunomi approach. He looks her over, eyes pausing where - in the real world - there's an injury to her arm. It's not really possible to tell /what/ it is, but a wound in reality can intrude into the land of dreams. It's clear there's something bothering her arm.     A simple shake of his head, but she wouldn't see it. "Not at all. I am merely here looking in on a friend." There's a short pause, before he leans back a little bit and continues. "A friend who /needs/ a little rest, it seems. Sit, you have nothing to fear from me. I am no nightmare to you, my dear."     There's a gentle smile, and Merlin's already heading off one thing that might worry her. "You are not in the world of men, right now. This is the world of dreams...and we can be anywhere. Or nowhere at all. I have no way to track you or find you, and I cannot do much more than...well, what I already have." He gestures to the clean and comfortable clothing she has.     "Perhaps you do. Perhaps not." Need is something that could go either way. "But for the time being...perhaps it is best to simply enjoy one peaceful night's sleep, with someone who might be a friend?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... I'm not safe." she whispers, and she draws her eyes up. Dark, blackened. Her ears pin down and she leans forward, her head resting on her hands, her elbows to her knees as she exhales. "I don't have the luxury of sleep while they look for what I've left behind and try to clear away the ashes I've strewn... but..."     She takes a deep breath.     "Did... did Thaniel's core survive? Do you know?" she asks, in a very, very soft voice. She tries to not let concern showthrough. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The change in her eyes gets noticed, but Merlin says nothing. "Perhaps not in the real world. But I'm sure you've noticed that time is...flexible, in this world. What might seem weeks lasts only minutes." As long as she's willing to stay, the real world will wait. "So you may stay a little while, and refresh yourself. In this, at least."     She asks her question, and Merlin thinks back. The shattered dragon had rained down everywhere...but there had been a particular large fragment that was quite important, it seemed. "I believe so. A great blue crystal was rescued, and treated as most important. I am afraid I am poorly educated, however, in the ways of the Izzet." And therefore, not one to be directly supporting them. Merlin's on his own, here.     As she folds up before him, the wizard can only extend a hand, pausing just over her hair. "May I?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There was releif in Yunomi's face. She hadn't outright killed her friend, just disabled. She lowers her head slightly, her hands rubbing into her face. Weeks could pass in this place. She could gather herself, make plans... but nothing was coming to mind. She was so tired of running...     And then Merlin raises a hand, and she feels it hovering over her. Her ears rise up, round, fuzzy ears poking up out of the hair, tuning into his voice like antennae.     And she gives a breath out. Her hair was tangled, matted in real life, hopelessly knotted in a braid that had gotten scuzzy over the last week. She had no idea what it looked like here, but figured it was in desperate need of a comb.     "Go ahead. Like you said, this is a dream, isn't it?" 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The expression says much, and Merlin nods. "None are dead. Even those in the...boisterous melee outside are convalescing well, from what I have learned. There was great attention given to Thaniel, as well. I suppose it is not what you might wish to hear about, but...perhaps you needed to know that much at least."     "It is. But in its way, it is also reality, is it not? Turn, and lean back." Fortunately, it being a dream, it's quite easy to summon a brush from nowhere. It's almost effortless, and a little less fun that way, but Merlin doesn't mind. As the tanuki gives him permission, he begins gently picking at the edges of things and slowly undoing the braid.     "There is nothing that prevents it from being a good dream, as well." Something to consider. "Meanwhile, the greenhouse's garden grows well. Inga and several of the others are looking in on it, making sure that your work is not left abandoned. Keeping Gawain away has been the hardest part, actually."     That hairbrushing continues, short strokes around the outer parts of her hair slowly easing in deeper. It wouldn't do to start catching in tangles. "He's been spotted around the herbs several times, and chased out each time. Have you ever heard of the stories of when he's found his way into the kitchens?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     She thought he was going to pet her. It wouldn't be the first time someone had tried to, but... she gives him a curious look, and then she turns, and feels him undoing the corona braid around the top of her head. Her dark hair falls. It's lost its luster and the brilliant reds and blues in the bangs, and is alla nearly uniform brown. Nondescript.     "I'm far too mentally drained to argue with you, Merlin." Yunomi replies truthfully, and she leans back a little, pursing her lips. The idea that they haven't totally gone and dismantled the greenhouse brings her a little sense of joy.     "To be honest, other than his curious choice of mount and his boasting, I do not know much about Sir Gawain... but it seems he and I share a similar culinary touch." Which means: None at All. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The wizard has slightly more respect for her than that - though perhaps a gentle pat on the head wasn't out of the question. "Well then." The words are said with a humorous delight. "I must be right as always." If she's not going to argue, then he wins!     And meanwhile Merlin simply gathers her hair, brown and dark as it is, and continues his work. "I can imagine. It was...not that different, once, long ago. When a kingdom fell, and those who loved it were lost. Myself, not as permanent as others...but I spent many centuries a part of the Earth itself. The World is a terrible prison to remain in. As can be one's own mind," he adds.     His fingers and hairbrush continue to straighten, smooth, and at least soften Yunomi's long locks. "But that is for the real world, and not this place. This is...a place of refuge, even for just a few minutes. And a place of good news." He grins. "Your greenhouse still remains, and it is still yours if you ever return to it. Those who tend it merely do so awaiting your return, because there is a magic to it that is entirely your own."     And then talk turns to Gawain. "He is...well. I suppose the term 'larger than life' might be accurate in some ways, but perhaps 'one who lives as brilliantly as they can.' He was known as the Sun Knight, once. And he does shine like the morning, even if...perhaps his pure hearted determination gets him into trouble sometimes." Grin. "Oh? I am surprised, but...only slightly. I suppose having such a talent for growth makes food easy to come by in a natural state..." He considers.     "Someday perhaps, if you would like to learn, one could teach you. It would not be too hard." Lesson one, boil water. That tends to weed out those who /truly/ can't cook. Meanwhile, he just keeps working on her hair. Even in a dream, there's so much to do. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "'Larger than Life' is a good way to describe Sir Gawain, I think. Yes..." she trails off, and considers the story behind her Kodama first, and then chips in with: "The last time I tried to cook anything, the macaroni leftovers came to life and attempted to kill me. I think I'll pass." Yunomi replies, trying to sound good natured as she listens about her greenhouse, and she gives a slight smile... and then her voice comes, injured, creaking:     "I don't know if I will be able to return. I did what I did. And I did it of my own will, Merlin. You can tell them that. You know that there was nothing to influence me in those moments except myself. Rhapsody must be furious. Sidonia hunts me. I imagine others do."     She stretches her fingers, glancing to her left arm again.     The pain was nothing compared to what she put Rhaps through. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Merlin nods at her assessment of Gawain, and then there's a snort of laughter at the thought of some kind of homicidal Mac&Cheese golem. "You are eminently wise, if that was your result. I suppose perhaps we'll simply have to have a good cook on hand. There is, after all, a reason I do spend so much time around Dun Realtai. The keep's chef is no slouch at all."     Her voice breaks, and the wizard pauses, listening. "At some point...perhaps in a future further away than we both would like, I believe you will. I will be waiting for you." The hairbrushing pauses for a moment, as Merlin assesses her words, and thinks back to what had happened that day.     Merlin simply nods. "I understand, and as it is your wish I shall. And that is all I shall say." He goes back to her hair, slowly working out the tangles some more. "If I may be permitted one question, I will ask it. I am sure it is obvious...if it is not allowed, then it shall remain unspoken between us."     Her hair is still dark, but the wizard has at least managed to smooth it out straight again. And this time he takes it upon himself to impose even further upon her, as he's started gathering that long hair...and begun braiding it? Sorry Yunomi, not going anywhere for a while. "As for yourself, though, your arm. You've injured it, haven't you? In the real world." The concern she's paid it, plus well...he'd dulled some of the pain away, so he'd have to know where it was coming from. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Ask, M erlin. I owe you at least to listen." Yunomi replies quietly to the mage as he toys with her hair, brushing it all out. After a while it's straightened again, and as he begins to plait it, Yunomi considers her words, and her injury, and she closes her eyes.     "I was wounded. I had to cauterize it." she dare not say from what infection -- it could give away her hiding place. She draws up one leg, setting her chin on her knee as her ears lean back and her tail curls beneath her.     "I deserve any pain that is visited on me, and none of your kindness." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     He is permitted, and Merlin takes the time to properly thread his question. Meanwhile, Yunomi closes her eyes, and Merlin slows his braiding some. It's not simply supposed to give her a proper hairstyle, but it's supposed to be relaxing as well. Pleasant, something she can enjoy for a time. His fingers are deft and sure, and the braid forms slowly. And, it seems, with lush thickness rather than a tight, constricting style.     "When you sought the power of the Izzet, Yunomi...what did you wish to accomplish with it? You do not strike me as one who would seek power for their own glory and vendetta...but to achieve a specific need. I do not believe it is your nature to simply rule. You tend so well to the plants at Dun Realtai, and you have such care even for those simple things. One who is consumed by merely a lust for power...would care not about them."     His explanation perhaps rambles a bit, but he's also putting out his vision of her. "We have met little, but I suppose I have learned much about you in that time. Your heart is strong, your soul is true to itself. I merely ask the question, what does that heart seek?"     And if she ever answers, he will return the favor. Meanwhile he simply nods. "I understand. I take it no infection has spread, then." If it was cauterized, there shouldn't be - but that's still a terrible and brutal way to go about preventing one. "The wound is not so great, I hope."     Then she utters words that give him a sigh. "Your heart...is filled with sorrow and self-hate. I knew another like that, once. Do you know the legends of Camelot?" Whoops, there's a tangle. Out comes the brush, to smooth out her hair some more. Gotta be sure it's straight; it would not do for a lovely young girl to end up so rough. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Why did she attack? Yunomi muses over the question, rolling it around her mouth for a few brief moments before she replies:     "I did what I had to do, to satisfy a promise made, this heart at least seeks rest."     And she leaves it at that, a quiet statement, enigmatic on purpose before she shifts her weight. She gives a small shrug of her shoulders as he begins to untangle her hair a bit. "I attended primary school in the UK... so I suppose as much as any British schoolchild may know. But... your version and the version adopted by Walt Disney may be a little different... the King being one glaring example." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Enigmatic indeed. But it explains much, and fits the young woman he's met and heard about. "A vow...can be a dangerously complicated thing. Many young knights sought the day of their vows with great passion, only to find themselves conflicted in the way they must fulfill them. I do not envy you your conflict...but I respect your determination." And that is all Merlin says about that.     "Oh, I suppose there are quite a few additions to the legend that have come and gone. I do still wonder why so many of them think I have a beard. Come now, is this the face of an old man?" And he leans around giving her a wink, actually meeting her gaze for a moment. Then it's back to work, brushing out the braid he'd started and making extra sure that it was smoothed out this time.     And then he continues, in a more somber voice. "I have read a little of what mythology has made of history, and...the end of Camelot is still close enough, I suppose. There were those who sought the destruction of, and revenge upon, Arturia herself. Mordred, the son of King Arthur...of Arturia Pendragon, yet lives." Now there's something that should give her a start.     "His was to bring down all of that around him, and...perhaps, in some way, I was responsible for his creation as well. Not long after, I was removed from the World, and Camelot soon struck down by what had been wrought. Sir Bedivere, the last survivor..." He sighs, then continues, fingers finally satisfied enough with her hair to begin slowly braiding again.     "For some time, Mordred has visited the castle. There...has been the occasional difficulty, but time has passed for us all - and forgiveness is a way of knighthood. It is not to say that all is as it was in the joyous days, but...he is at least accepted once more. Even if he can be, at times, a rather amusingly uncouth fellow." There's a laugh from the wizard, thinking of the Snark Knight's comments. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Merlin is chatty... but it's at least friendly words that reach her ears. The young mage gives a slight smile, remembering her own world's mythology and her place in it. She leans back a little more as he begins braiding anew. "Mordred, the betrayer..." she gives a huff of air through her nose, and her eyes close. Pain rises beneath her breast, and she brings one hand to her heart, gripping into a fist to try and cease the feeling inside, to grasp it and squeeze it out of existence.     "Forgiveness may be a way of knighthood... but honor, in my country, is everything. By all rights I should be dead of my own hand... who knows. Time may come yet, once things are finished... but every minute I live, Rhapsody is in danger. We will fight again, and one of us will fall." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     It is friendly, and perhaps a little educational. Maybe. "Indeed." And when she reaches her hand to her chest, Merlin stops - and then reaches forward to softly touch that hand. "You cannot crush your own heart, and even if you could the only thing you could squeeze from it is blood. Pain...remains deeper within." And with Yunomi leaned back against him, the wizard just slides both arms around her in a hug. Light, and easily pulled free of - but perhaps she'll accept it.     "I would rather hope not. Are you not also the Gardener of Dun Realtai as well?" There's a smile in his words, as he offers her one possible interpretation. "The Order of the Rose...may have been a simple jest at first, but those of you who came together are strong and interesting people. It would be a great loss if one of them were to extinguish their light so soon." Please don't, Yunomi, says the unspoken words.     And then she mentions Rhapsody's danger. "Danger you say. From yourself, then - you still seek the fulfillment of your promise, and can find no other way?" Just what is that vow she swore, he wonders. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "If I could squeeze the life out of it and extinguish the pain in hers, I would." Yunomi replies dourly, and she accepts the hug -- but it's begrudging. She doesn't give affection back, and the hair on the back of her neck rises, fearing it might be a trap.     "Every minute I still breathe I will fulfill the promises I am held to... no matter the cost." she breathes. "That much I /can/ say... but..." she turns to him, and then goes to draw herself to a stand. "There is no other way. I am bound by a promise cast in burns in flesh and memories. I shall do," she states, and her voice cracks, "... what I must to uphold it." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The only trap is that Merlin doesn't let go quite right away. The hug lasts a few seconds more, but nothing else happens. Eventually, the wizard lets go. It doesn't take long for him to finish her braid, as he can feel that the time for their dream is soon to end. It's finally worked into place, and tied gently, as she continues her explanation. When she stands, he lets her - and simply nods.     "Yunomi..." He pauses, meeting her eyes in an honest gaze. "One last question, if I may be permitted? What promise is this that has you so dedicated?" It's a simple request, and it's a true one. "I merely ask as one who would be a friend, one of our special Order." He raises his hand to his head, and gives that silver rose she'd placed into his hair a gentle touch.     And then he gestures to the chair-root before him. "It will not be long before you wake. I suppose the chances are low...but if you ever need rest, if you seek a friend...call my name in your sleep. I will find you once more, and perhaps I will tell you stories of the time I turned Gawain into a pomeranian." No really, he did that. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     She's heard legends of Gawain the Pom. The idea brings a sad smile to her face, and she reaches out, her finger sbrushing over the rose in Merlin's hair.     "I fear it may be a long time before I call to anyone but her in my sleep, my friend." she whispers back, and she turns away, and answers with honesty: "My promise was to do whatever I had to. I have failed in all other things... I failed my homeland, my family, my Kami, the Union and Izzet... Rhapsody... I cannot fail in this task... and pray pry no further, Merlin. There is only so much a heart can handle." she states, and she begins to walk away, her arms wrapping around herself. "Please... let me wake." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     "I understand. I will leave you with this, then." He reaches up, taking her hand, and brushing her knuckles against his lips. It's not a true kiss, but applying a spell that at least will give her the mental time she needs when she can find those fitful naps. "I pry no more - and merely give the boon of rest. I am aware of what a heart may take, and what may shatter it...let not yours find such an end." He raises her fingers to his forehead, kneeling down before her, before speaking one word - "Wake."     And Yunomi will find herself where she was, but...strangely refreshed. Much more than it seems the few minutes of actual sleep she had gotten could have provided; it is perhaps enough to clear a few cobwebs and help her think - and hopefully, it seems, remember him at least slightly fondly. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     She gives a momentary start when Merlin takes her hand again, and brings it to his lips. Her eyes narrow in suspision before he speaks again, her head canting to the side, ears pricking up before he raises his fingers, and speaks the command...     ...and Yunomi is returned to the tunnels, awake, her arm throbbing from the burns and blisters of her self-cauterization, the scarring twisting her skin tight. Her chest hurt. Her eyes burned, and when she cast her light spell, the tunnel was thankfully empty.     Yunomi swallowed the lump in her throat, and not giving herself the luxury of rest, shakily stands and slips out of the niche and back into the tunnels -- the Butchery, she thinks, may be her home tonight.     Tomorrow... who knows? 
}}

4477/A Spider's Teatime

2016-09-05T02:47:58Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/28 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Rhapsody, Richard Stadler, Eclipse, Kirika and Rebound drift down into the Spider's Den to ask..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/28
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Rhapsody, Richard Stadler, Eclipse, Kirika and Rebound drift down into the Spider's Den to ask O-Hiko, an ancient Spider yokai, what she knows about the missing Izzet mage
|Cast of Characters=272, 481, 325, 300, 750, 395, 947
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     IZZET SECTOR: THE SPIDER'S DEN     The Spider's Den hovers on the edge of Gruul territory and the Izzet sector, the juxiposition of pipe, concrete, and city abruptly ending to ruins. Run-off and vented warmed water keep the area in a hazy, high humidity. SUnlight streaks through a crevass in the abruptly ending pavement above as the pipes create a multitude of waterfalls and rainbows... but there was danger here.     THe whole of the area was covered in spider's webs. Bright orange, yellow, and red spiders, their legs black as coal range in size from the very small -- only a few inches across -- to their larger brothers, three... four... five feet across, their legs wide enough to envelop men, their fangs sharp enough to inject burning venom into their victims.     It was a very good thing, then, these spiders were on the side of the Izzet.     However, far below and nestled among the boulders of ruined street and discarded stone, other yokai have found protection. A kappa, its bowl on its head filling with water from run-off, vigorously scrubs its face. An umbrella ghost clops along on a single geta, and latern spirits hang from a thick spider's web, strung across the chasm.     The heroes would arrive to this yokai sanctum through a fifteen foot wide pipe onto a platform. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika feels like she owes the spiders one, after almost accidentally murdering the lot of them the last time she was here. Thus, she is here mostly to help try and make amends for previous mistakes on her part.     She's also been pretty damn busy trying to keep rioters and thugs from using the district as their own little fight club, having this morning stopped an attempted robbery of a small shop by outsiders whipped up by the recent hysteria.     Flashlight in hand, the kitsune is very careful to not get webbing stuck on her person, tail included. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And it was not a short trip down. Seeing as Rhapsody had only been here once before, remembering the way involved a few wrong turns, at least one dead end, and a bit of back-tracking, all with the Guildmaster looking extremely sheepish each time a mistake was made. Things had gotten far to worrysome in lieu of current events and this was one of the last ideas that Rhapsody had.     Now, finally arriving at the proper exit, the dragon heaves a sigh of relief. A few words into a -new- comms crystal records the location first, but activates a large number of security drones that come in from above, then spread out into a multitude of the pipes back into the Izzet Sector. She did -not- want to be followed here and she was going to make sure NO ONE ELSE was going to show up.         It was also extremely likely Sidonia was around. Somewhere.     After taking a long look around the webs, the dragon looks down, and motions toward the others that have come along. "Last time we had to scale down, ah.." the guildmaster's very NATURAL fear of spiders is creeping in. "If any of you have trouble with spiders, I would recommend steeling yourself for what you are going to have to do.." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody might have a bit of a fear of Spiders, which may or may not have been rational. Richard's fear, however... that was entirely rational. He'd been in too many forests with too many large 8-legged murderers, webs and toxin so thick you could swim through it if it wouldn't kill you first. It was probably why, on a social call, he was carrying an automatic combat shotgun. With the drum. And incendary rounds. It was not overkill if they needed it. Despite that, though, his mind was only partially on the sipders that occupied this area. As always, for the last few days, it had been on Yunomi. Probing at the events he had and information he didn't, trying to find a reason, some... /possible/ motive for what she did. Hoping in both paternal pride and desperation that this was a...plan. A long one which even he couldn't see the end of. It was really all he had. He follows behind Rhapsody as her points the shotfun forward, past her. "I'm trying. For my daughter, I'll head through this... Assuming none of them land on my back and start biting. Can't blame me for my reflexes then. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "So we're not supposed to punch these spiders, right?" Rebound asks, as she hops down from the pipe and to the ground proper. It pays for Rebound to verify orders a couple of times, just to make sure that she's perfectly clear on the situation at hand. No punching of spiders, only punching of tanuki and annoying guys who talk too much. 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     It is a great regret of Amalthea's that it takes a disaster to get her attention back on Ravnica. It is with great shame that she returns, pulled by a tragedy, instead of on less nightmarish terms. But it is on her honor that she comes anyway, to aid Rhapsody; thanks to the bond of friendship she had shared with the guildmaster's father, and with the young dragon herself.     The truth is, she's been staying in Ravnica since the incident- all she had to do was strong arm the goblins that had been squatting in her summer home in the city back the hell out of the house Niv had gifted her.     There was much screaming, and many goblins were sent to the nearest simic healers.     But she is here now.     It does not matter to her if the spiders are sided with the Izzet, the territory is unknown to her, and she comes in her heaviest armor, prepared in case anything other than their hosts decides to surprise them, but also because her armor is her formal outfit anyway.     "I am well steeled already, Rhapsody. And I am sorry I come to you during these dark days but I promise you one thing..." She says.     "I am here, now." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There's not going to be much long to wait on the spiders.     Most of the adventurers come armed! That's not good! But they're being lead by Rhapsody! ... that /is/ good.     However, several of the larger spiders are acting as sentries. THey begin to descend from above, one five-foot-wide spider creeps quickly up from below the platform, fangs wriggling, blood red eyes kept on the armed Stadler. Another pair of three-foot-wide creatures draw down the wall from Amalthea.     But the only one who is suddenly attacked is the Guildmaster.     Rhapsody would feel a sudden weight on her shoulder as a foot-and-a-half wide spider drops down on her shoulder, its sudden weight not intending any harm, but its forehegs rise up to gently touch the back of the dragon's head.     "Guildmaster!" comes an adorable squeak of a voice -- Meeko has grown a little bit from her last encounter with a cage and the guildmaster. She's a brighter orange than most of her brothers and sisters. "What a surprise to see you down here! We heard about what happened and it's so awful we were concerned that you wouldn't want us but then Goji listened in and we're a bit afraid that you would side with the magic eaters and then we would never see you again and it would be /so sad/!" she squeaks excitedly, "But you didn't 'cause yo u're a wise and good Guildmaster!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon glances back over the rim of her Izzet-colored coat, "We're all trying, Stadler. It is all we can do at this time. And this, who we are meeting, is one of the last few people I can talk to about .. something I have," she notes. She'd reveal her little item once they found their host. When Rebound speaks, the dragon nods, and then watches her hop down. "Well.. at least it is easier for some," she muses before calling down to her, "Yes! Please don't harm the spiders!" Amalthea is regarded VERY warmly, and the fact she is in her old home was some good news during some rather dark days. "And so you are. Regardless of the reason, it -is- good to see you,".     When a spider drops, somewhat heavily, onto Rhapsody's shoulder, it takes 110% of her willpower to not SHRIEK out. Her eye turns, spots the familiar looking hues of Meeko, and the the panic that was screaming for release from her mind starts to cool down from its boiling-over point. "A-ah.. H-hi... Meeko... You've grown.." she stammers a moment, listening to the creature's energetic words. They help to ease her fear. "I.. I have no trust for them, and I have the utmost trust in Yunomi.. I would not side with them," she says, her speaking cadence clearly broken as her fear continues to slip back into the rear of her mind. "I.. am hoping to ask a few questions... once we're down. If that is okay with O-Hiko. I've done -everything- in my power to ensure we were not followed. The way down here is complicated enough as is.." 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     Of course there would be sentries. But the unicorn displays a calm in the face of 'giant spiders' that is almost herculean in scale, when the massive arachnids lower to inspect them all. She is wholly unsurprised large and intimidating specimens would be the ones standing guard duty.     "It is good to be back." Murmured to Rhapsody as she steps into line, specifically to Stadler's side.     "Peace, Richard. We are not here to display force nor frighten the spiders, I believe you can put the gun down until after something has gone ploin shaped." She urges him gently as he holds the gun at the ready.     It is not a surprise to her. It is standard training for most soldiers to hold their weapon at the ready, and if there is anything she knows about Richard Stadler, it is that he is one of the oldest career soldiers present.     When the sentry spiders descend, Amalthea takes a half step back. But it is not out of suspect reflex nor fear. It is to better shift one foot forward, arm crossing her chest as she dips into a surprisingly formal bow, the unicorn displaying herself to be as non-hostile as possible in spite of her armor.     And then Maeko happens.     Amalthea's lips tug into a wry little grin, head tilting to better watch each and every one of Rhapsody's reactions /VERY/ intently. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika offers a nod to Amalthea before they venture, knowing the knight's presence is more than welcome. As is Rebound's for that matter. As she flanks Mr. Stadler, she seems content to let her sword remain sheathed and tucked in her obi, for the moment there is no threat here if she remembers right.     Of course, the sounds of skittering leave her off-guard for a moment before she is reassured Meeko is of no threat to them, and she bows her head in respect to the spider-girl. "Well met, Meeko. I hope we are not intruding, then? I understand times have been difficult for the district, despite our efforts."     She frowns briefly, shaking her head. The magic eaters. Ugh, hard to believe the council would even allow those jackals to this city. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler reflexively raises his weapon toward the five-foot-wide spider, almost as tall as some people, finger pressing on the trigger just slightly... but avoiding firing. Even if every trained reflex in his body is telling him to hold the trigger down and then go for the portable flamethrower slung to his back. "You put the gun down until something goes... pear shaped, and then you've already been stuck and in the midsts of being dessicated." Nevertheless, the weapon slowly lowers... before it pops up again as a spider lands with a /whump/ on Rhapsody's back. Stadler was clenching his teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't shatter. Thankfully Rhapsody seems to be on good terms with a rather cheery voiced spider (Good God, how was it talking). His weapon lowers slowly, as if the action causes him physical pain. "Of course it's at the bottom of a pit of spiders. Why not just add giant snakes? And a large plant that sucks blood from vines." He mutters. Granted, it's after a moment of thought that he realizes he couldn't shoot that spider, whatever it's sudden apperance. It reminded him if Fleece had 8 legs and was less frightening at times. "Please tell me he'll be a good guide to where we need to go." He says to Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Meeko gives a happy squeak at being recognized, and all eight of her eyes get the n_n look to them before she crawls off the Guildmaster, and scurries away.     And over to Richard Stadler. She circles him curiously, and then scurries away.     THe other spiders retreat, crawling back up to their own hideaways in webbing, where it's not obvious they keep watch. The webbing itself seems to tremble before a massive spider makes her appearance. Its legs span nearly twenty feet, brilliant yellow and blue stripes on her legs, with a green and reddish abdomen. Brilliant yellow fangs glisten with venom as she regally descends down a thread as thick as a man's wrist.     It studies the assembly with scarlet eyes, its vision settling on Rhapsody, then on Richard Stadler.     O-Hiko, the Spider Queen of Namamura, arrives in her true form.     (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Nephila-clavata-f-eating-and-2-m.jpg/800px-Nephila-clavata-f-eating-and-2-m.jpg_ 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika watches Meeko scurry about, a mix between wary and fascinated by the large arachnid. She has to admit, it's been some time since she encountered any sort of spider-yokai, even back home they and their insectoid cousins don't usually go about outside their dwellings.     And then she sees O-Hiko, Queen of Spiders, and she goes absolutely rigid with fear.     Her poker face is commendable as usual, but she is very very careful to not make any sort of untoward motions in O-Hiko's presence.     "G-g-gree-greetings...Lady O-Hiko..." She murmurs, struggling to find the right words. "W-we...arm...well..." Nope. Words fail her.     So she remains stiff as a board, her tail wrapping around herself like a child's security blanket. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     While not in the form from her last visit, there is no doubt in Rhapsody's mind that O-Hiko has just arrived, just in a form that doesn't hide what she truly is. The dragon makes a motion for everyone in the group to move away slightly. The dragon has had fears for years of showing what she truly is, but as she said earlier, she won't allow fear to dictate her allies OR actions. The Izzet Trenchcoat she typically wears is tossed aside and in a flash of light and a shifting form within it, the dragon shows her OWN true self in a show of respect to O-Hiko.     Once the form is taken, she lowers her head in a bow, similar to Amalthea, and then she speaks. "Good day, O-Hiko. I wish this visit could come on better terms. Things in the world above you, as you may have heard, have become testing at best. I am hoping to inquire about a few things with you in hopes that we can understand WHY these things are happening.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe dragon's form is appreciated -- and O-Hiko seems to melt away, leaving a woman with black as night hair, her red eyes catching the light. She is white as moonlight, a dark blue and yellow kimono on as she regards the assembly in a more... talkable form.     Other spiders arrive, one bringing up a long, low table, scrounged from somewhere in Ravnica. Another brings cups and sets them out, a third a little charcoal brazer that seems to glow to life as it's set down.     Others bring cushions for all to sit upon, made of fine silks and soft.     "There is much we have to discuss, Guildmaster. By the day, the hunt for Yunomi grows more desperate, and I fear that should the magic-eaters stumble upon my home... my family is not the only one that will be affected. What Yokai from Namamura made their way to Ravnica now make their way here." she announces, and she motions for everyone to sit.     She's much less intimidating as a human, but every bit as intense. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika is jolted from where she stands when Rhapsody nudges everyone to make way, and she recoils as the dragon reveal her true self, mostly due to the MAGIC EXPLOSION that ensues. She blinks, noting she doesn't have as many scales as most dragons tend to have.     O-Hiko mercifully turns into a human shaped form as seats and tea are brought out, and Kirika accepts a seat, leaving her sword laid out beside herself. "Thank you..." She murmurs, then accepts a cup as she sits seiza style. "I have noticed a grand exodus from the surface, aye." She muses. "The Magic Eaters have not helped matters, neither have those who seek to take advantage of the mass panic in attacking the district's establishments." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler tries his very best to keep his finger off the trigger while Meeko converses, crawls away... toward him. Tight lipped, looking over the spider, staring down with dour eyes... before... the rest of them leave. Move away. And that does /not/ make Stadler feel better. "This is about the time when- He's interrupted by the webbing shaking all around them... and a spider the side of a two story building slowly, gently descends from the thickest Webbing Stadler had seen before. He can /see/ the venom actually dripping down, and it takes every single /shread/ of self control he has not to fire, leave, and order this site bombed with the largest GBUs a Nighthawk could conceiveable carry. But he doesn't. He doesn't /quiet/ tighten his finger to do it. Thankfully, Rhapsody manages to suprise the need to shoot out of him, transforming into a form he'd suspected but had never seen. He can't quite help from craning up in a bit of amazement at the dragon that had long just been the same size as he was becomes... well. An actual Dragon. Thoughts of Fleece again. He at least manages to snap a few pictues with a smartphone, before moving in a proper position to flank her for security. The one good thing is, after seeing a spider /that/ large go in front of you, watching her change into a woman and then have a large amount of spiders scurrying around you bringing up chairs and everything for a calm tea time was slightly less disturbing. Still slightly, so Rick keeps his expression booden, before sitting down when invited. "There's a lot of flack aganist outsiders right now. If those magic eaters have some grudge, the council may not care what they do if they say it's in the name of results. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' The discussion on the radio had piqued Eclipse's interest. A hunt for a fugitive was just the job for a longtooth shifter. But others were coming to the tanuki's defense, and to Eclipse, something smelled off about the whole thing. She'd need to find out more about what was going on- and it seemed that this was an opportunity to do so.     And so, the shifter followed the small group down into the spiders' nest. She was actually a bit amused at the frightened reactions from some of the others. As a warden who lived in harmony with nature, she was fine with such creatures as long as they weren't a direct threat- some spiders were, of course, at least in her world, so she didn't let down her guard entirely. She watches with some interest as Rhapsody takes on her dragon form. From how the others are addressing her, the yellow spider seems to be their leader- and indeed, the lady takes on a different form of her own. "Many shapes are changing here," she notes with a grin. "My name is Eclipse. I heard over the radio-waves of some of the troubles here. I would like to lend my aid, but I know little of this world, or of the 'Yunomi' that is the subject of such clamor." 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     "Richard, peace." Amalthea reminds again, much more firmly. Old and ingrained habits die hard, and she does not fault the man for training being so well ingrained, not doubting in the least how many times it's probably gotten him through some story-worthy scrapes and scraps..     But this is the spider queen.     For a long few beats the unicorn remains in her bow before rising. Now she well and truly takes a step back, an act symbolic of yielding wholly and entirely to Rhapsody when the young dragon reveals her True Self as well. Sitting is not easy in full plate mail. She opts to lower to her knees, a position oddly reminiscent of formal seiza style. She displays no fear. Certainly she knows well enough that these spiders could no doubt put up a fight and a threat if pushed, but she has no reason to fear them nor draw steel so long as this is all peaceful discourse.     She is silent for now. For now, she will listen. And learn. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     When O-Hiko turns back to the form Rhapsody is familiar with, the dragon follows in kind, quickly moving to collect her coat before slipping her arms back through its sleeves again. "I'm sorry they do not feel safe in the Namamura district. I built it to protect -everyone- from Namamura and now this entire scenario is spinning out of control. The last thing I ever wanted was for anyone, spirt or otherwise, to be afraid. For that I truly am sorry,". The dragon actually looks sullen as she takes a seat near the table. "I have my security drones everywhere around us, and I suspect Sidonia is prowling nearby to ensure our privacy.." yet that still isn't enough to calm down Rhapsody's paranoia. And if SHE was still paranoid, she could only imagine what was going through Stadler's mind.     "My one question is a simple one. I found something that, I am hoping, you can provide answers about. I have spoken already with Yunomi's kodama but they weren't able to tell me anything. It is in my coat. I will simply set it on the table as I am aware of how it can affect spirits.." that said, the dragon pulls from her coat a very long pin, two feet in length. She simply sets it down on the table. "Do you have an idea what this is, where it came from, or who could use it? Maybe even with senses sharper than our own.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "That is a concern that we have, but a moment for introductions."     THe Spider herself sits, and nestles into the cushion, breathing a little easier now that others are settling down. She would lose no children today. She draws her her fingers around the wooden handle of a pot, and lifts the sleeve of her kimono and begins to pour. The tea is red, dark in color, but fragrant with flowers and the warmth of a summer's sunshine.     "I am O-Hiko, jorogumo, and I hail from Namamura. I stood against the magic eaters in the company of the guardian O-Asahi, Yunomi's grandfather, The Walking Wall, and the Tengu of Kawashiyama. I have been a friend to Yunomi's family for centuries since the day we stood together." she finishes pouring the tea, and she purses her lips a moment.     "It saddens me to hear both of Kaeruhime's passing and Yunomi's betrayal." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon would be paitent. Already, just from O-Hiko's introduction, she felt like she learned something new. About how far back this 'bias' the magic-eaters had, goes. She doesn't look to ask further questions and had no doubt the others would have their own. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Kirika, of Kasun. I am daughter to the Kitsune Shukutou, the sixth Matron of the heavens and earth below." Kirika bows her head reverently to the Spider-Queen. "I have elected to act as a peacekeeper since Yunomi's actions left the district in disarray, as a favor to Rhapsody." She says, taking a sip of tea.     "It...it leaves me saddened as well of her actions, in their wake things have been nothing but chaotic, and we are no closer to finding out why than when we were before." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler is still, for the moment. As the tea is poured. Taking it stiffly, but with at least one nod, as he lifts the cup to his lips and takes a sip. It would be rude not to, and she wanted to kill them, there were /pleanty/ of spiders around here. Always easy to trust someone that had a gun up to your head and there was nothing you could do about it. "That is... a long time. To fight with someone, yes, but for someone to attack you. Can't say I've held a grudge that long... or knew the war went back that far." Another sip of the tea, and he keeps his mouth shut tight. He wants to qualify, to say 'yes, but' to the mention of betrayal, but he wouldn't fall into the trap of beleive what he wanted to despite the evidence. Instead, he puts his tea cup down. "We're all saddened by it. Confused, as well. Among other things. That's why we need information. My name's Richard Stadler. I'm Yunomi's father... well. One of them. He says, conceding a point another might make. "I would hope you'll forgive the.... desperation of the answers. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' "So if you've been alongside her family for that long...You probably should have seen this coming, right?" Rebound of course is still operating under the assumption that Yunomi was corrupted or mind controlled or cloned or something, "I mean something should have stood out, right? She couldn't just suddenly go all cookoo for cocoa puffs without any warning, right?" 

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''     "Amalthea."     That is the unicorn's introduction. It is the easiest and simplest, without pomp and fanfare. She does not list her titles, nor deeds, nor even homeplace. Though they are many, such things truly have no meaning to a unicorn. "I am a longtime friend to Rhapsody's father. My friendship extends to her and that is why I am here, and why I wish this resolved as much as any other. For both Rhapsody's sake, and Yunomi's" She says.     "I do not believe this to have been a wild act of whim and whimsy on Yunomi's part. Mayhap it was out of her control. Mayhap she premeditated her course of action on her own, I cannot say, but the results are disastrous. And the Magic Eaters stepped in to 'fix' the matter so conveniently swiftly... Naturally I am with many others in the opinion they are as trustworthy as well as they fly when flung." She says before pausing.     "Immortals tend to bear ill will and grudges over centuries, unlike mortals who's lives are too fleeting to carry them for longer than a single lifetime." She notes to Richard, before sighing. "I assume it stands to reason this grudge is still living. Would you put it above Ijiwaru or someone of his ilk to try and orchestrate something?"     Amalthea accepts the tea. She sips slowly, and does her very best to not complain about lacking sugar.     She likes her tea retardedly sweet. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     O-Hiko's eyes turn to everyone in the table in turn, though the other six, smaller eyes stay on the cold iron spike.     "That weapon is a curious one."     The folds the sleeves of her kimono over her hands, and uses it to pick up the spike.     THe spike is four feet long. Its front edge has dulled from being peirced throughs something hard. She balances it between covered fingers, and her eyes close. A dark look crosses her face, before she sets the weapon down.     "The murder weapon that killed my dear friend..." she breathes. She closes all eight of her eyes. "Darkness and pain are all I can sense from it... I apologize, Guildmaster. I know nothing more of this weapon, save that I can sense her death around it... but curious. I have not felt this sort of... darkness since I beheld a sword by Muramasa, the Ten Thousand Cold Nights..." she turns the four foot 'pin' over in her hands.     "Yunomi is... surprisingly wise for how old she thinks she is." The Spider replies quizically.     To Amalthea, the spider nods. "This is a grudge and war that has been... cold. The Magic-Eaters nearly took the valley of Namamura, and many of th e surrounding areas in Japan for themselves, eating the flesh of yokai to steal their powers, and burn us out like laterns gone long beyond their time. Many famlies of great yokai were wiped from the face of the land -- the Odanuki among them, reduced to one tanuki and his wife. My own children I sent to the wind to preserve them... not one spider among me here is older than a hundred years." she replies sadly. "Ijiwaru and the Magic-Eaters are an old foe, but for them to eliminate a kami?"     She shakes her head. "It would be a grave act indeed, and if Yunomi was even the smallest bit attached to Kaeruhime... she would have perished as well in the act." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And with no answers regarding the weapon once again, the guildmaster's form just seems to sink. For the -moment- it feels like there's nothing left for her to seek accept for Yunomi's -actual- father. Though the Magic-Eater's earlier words has caused her to think of at least one other. If it was even possible. "Thank you," she says, barely above a whisper as her mind races, trying to find some other thread to pull at while O-Hiko speaks.     There are a few things in her story that call for her attention. "How old she 'thinks' she is...?" she asks first. Then secondly, "And... the way she looked when we brought the spirit's remains.. I refuse to accept that was false. I just.. I cannot -believe- after all we have done and how long I have known Yunomi that it was false.." she catches herself, realizing she's about to keep repeating the statement and stops herself. "This war is so ancient, it is as clear as crystal that they have a bias and I still couldn't convince the council otherwise.." another statement. She mentally yanks herself back from spiraling out again. "If not Yunomi, and not the Magic Eaters... then who?" 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler watches as the spider woman moves the spike over in her hands. He simple leans forward to look at it, but... his eye isnt' practiced in seeing the metaphysical of an object. Just that it was long, dulled, and could probably slam through someone's skull with enough force. But that is all he can gleam from it, before he leans back. "It's a... strange weapon. But if it's effective aganist it's target, then strange doesn't really enter into it." There's a pause from Yunomi, before he looks over to Rhapsody. "How old she thinks she is, yes. Something happened... a while back. Might call it a rebirth... despite my studies, I've never been... that attunded to the metaphysical. But... she's a shapeshifting spirit. She can appear however old she feels. But I beleive she's... truely, at least, older than I am. Back to the spider. "So what does this mean? That if Yunomi was connected, she'd be dead too? Which means that she isn't... and could have truely done it?" He says, groping for meaning. It would be a hell of a lot simplier if Yunomi had simply said 'I'm innocent, don't beleive them', but she /hadn't/. 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Okay, no one aparently digs Rebound's comment. That's okay, she'll just try again, "So okay, lets see if I kinda understand what's going on here. Somebody used that," She points at the weapon, "To kill somebody else. Dramatic Entrance McGee says it was Yunomi that did it, but you guys say it's not because that's not something she'd do. But you ALSO just said that she's not really what she appears to be, so how well do you really know her?" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Mm. He seems to be intent on making this an open and shut case, with Yunomi as the lamb to sacrifice." Kirika muses quietly, frowning. She inspects the needle, producing her pendant like it's a Tricorder to scan the murder weapon with. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     O-Hiko frowns. "No, what I am saying is that... it is possible Yunomi could have performed the act. She is one that KAeruhime would have trusted... but I cannot see her performing such a cold blooded act. If Yunomi was still connected to the Guardian's powers, which stem from Kaeruhime, the shock of suddenly losing them would have killed her. Even the idea that she did not know that something was wrong... is... terrifying." The Spider admits. "Someone used this spike, to essentially kill a minor god. My good friend, and the gentle guide that had brought many yokai fromt he brink of death."     She straightens, and shakes her head. "If Yunomi is the cause of this reprehenceable act, then she has betrayed more than the Izzet... she has betrayed us all."     She turns to Rebound then, and she purses her lips. "Yunomi herself is not who she remembers, but that is not what is important. What she does not remember should not be able to affect her now; and the acts she comitted against Rhapsody are... out of character. Even for a trickster. Not without some sort of sign... she often would come here, to speak with me and play with my younger children. This is a side of Yunomi... of Umehana Odanuki... that I have not seen in her life." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     In an instant, the Guildmaster is on her feet. It took a lot to not end up flipping the table. "WHY is everyone saying she COULD have rather than NOT.." she almost snarls, somehow maintaining some semblnece of civility thanks, maybe only, to some amount of control that Jeannette managed to instill into her. "I keep looking for ways to DEFEND her and all I find from the people important to her, that have known her, that have stood by her, all want to BLAME her instead. I can't TAKE anymore of this. She's been betrayed more times in the last week THEN ME! WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING ELSE?!" Holding back the 'red', as an old friend once said, has now become nearly impossible, but there are other emotions in play that are going to rapidly rush in. "I can't.. I .. I can't.." she wobbles, on the brink -again-. "I just.. I can't hear it -again-.." Speaking with real 'mom' and 'dad' may have just been wiped off the table. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Rhapsody. Sit Down." O-Hiko commands, her attention set on the guildmaster. "It is against the very fiber of her being to have killed her protectorate Kami. The very fact that she was working so hard to bring her to Ravnica, to essentially rip her from the home she has had for thousands of years is testimony to her love. Saying that she could have is not saying that she did. /I/ do not beleive that Yunomi killed Kaeruhime. I would bet my life on it. To hear her speak of you, of Richard, of any of her friends was to know the absolute adoration she had for you. I am in the dark /as much/ as you are..." she states, and she takes a deep breath. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' "Exactly," Eclipse agrees with Kirika. "Both sides have their presuppositions, it seems. But you all seem to be connected to her by the bonds of friendship and family... I'm more ready to believe you than those who are motivated by enmity." She waits for a moment after the spider's explanation and Rhapsody's outburst before turning to the dragon calmly. "So... Presuming that Yunomi is innocent, what other options are there?" she asks. "What sort of 'scent' are we to hunt down?" 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     IMMEDIATELY, Kirika is up from her seat. She moves with lightning speed, and wraps her arms around Rhapsody's waist firmly but calmly. "Please..." She whispers, trying to usher the dragon to her seat. "None of us know the whole story behind us, but it will not do to lash out at one another. Please, do not jump to conclusions as Ijiwaru may have..." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler keeps the cup of tea balanced in his hand. It was a good way to keep his own emotions in check, to do something with his hands that required concentration on something other than his own feelings. It's what keeps him seated when Rhapsody jumps to her feet. The abyss never gets better to stare into each time you do, but you do get a bit more used to it with age. "Rhapsody. Sit. Down." He says, metering each word, mirroring the spider, looking over to Rhapsody with a face carved from granite. "You can have those emotions. Those feelings. But I suggest you turn them into armor and keep them at your core. Best way to handle these things." He motions to O-Hiko. "She just said she didn't beleive it could happen. What she didn't say is what you crave. You want proof. Some solid evidence, for her to say, 'But it is /impossible/ for Yunomi to do such a thing, and she can't. And I know that it's eating you up inside." He sets the tea down again. "I don't know why she did it. Why she went off the grid, right away. But I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that she needed to. That this wasn't planned. Weather someone forced her hand or she felt a bubbling hatred welling up for you is something I don't know. "But we have a murder weapon, and a target. That magic eater is hunting for her, and may do damage here. We don't know what crimes she's comitted, but we want her to explain them on our terms, not his. So." 

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody's outburst makes Rebound tense up, just a bit. It's a subtle motion, but the fighter is just that, a fighter. She's always prepared for a battle, even when she's surrounded by friends, "Okay look, we're at like a nine right now, lets bring it down to a four or five." She moves from the position she's been standing in, "Listen, all we can do right now is operate with the information we have at hand. And what I have in particular is watching Yunomi try to stab the crap out of you." She looks at Rhapsody, "And the other information I have is that nobody has any freaking idea where she is, and I think that's bullshit. Nobody jsut vanishes. People even found the Invisible Man, and that dude's got invisible literally in his name." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The outburst was sudden. Even as she staggers, and Kirika catches the dragon, she's already regretting it. Being ordered to take a seat, twice, simply causes her to go silent and back to the cushon she was on a moment earlier. She was willing to just listen, now, but speak? ... No. Not now. Not unless asked to do so.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "There is a possibility, that Yunomi is operating with a paticular goal in mind, but I do not beleive that she is ready to share what that goal was. She did, however, ask us to watch over the guild should she not return, long before the nexus was complete." O-Hiko states, and she sips her tea calmly.     "She made it seem like she was preparing for a long journey, and asked us in her absence to ensure... other spiders would not wind their webs through the sector.. so far, I think we have been sucsessful."     And O-Hiko's eyes glimmer a moment, her lips, blood red, curling into a smile. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler takes a deep breath, at that revealation. "I've no doubt she has a particular goal in mind. And if anything's rubbed off, even if she /has/ been forced to take action quickly and messily, she may have set up failsafes, contingenies." He snorts. "Not that I feel any better that she could have stripped off every goddamn tracker I had with a thought, but that counter still leaves a bit of paternal pride within my heart." Another sip of the tea. The cup's almost run dry, now, and he doesn't look to ask for another. "I... fear about asking you if that's some sort of coached euphimism. So I won't, and assume you mean the odd brown recluse. I... should thank you for helping there. But... well. I suppose our only choice is to find her before this magic eater does. Get her plan, what she was doing, and why she had to do it, and... take what action we need. I wish I could do more to protect your sector here for the help, but I don't have a man to spare. Unless you'd like to add trip wires to these webs." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Something O-Hiko just said bears -weight- in Ravnica, and in Rhapsody's mind. She's certain no one else here would understand what was said, but 'spiders' in Ravnica never referred to O-Hiko and her kind. It is a way of speaking of a guild that isn't supposed exist. While events in recent years have broken them, they are never ever truly gone. As a result, and the spider's smile, she can't help but speak, now. "... Have they been active..?" who else would know, besides Sidonia? And even then, O-Hiko has numbers. She could have a map of the Undercity. ALL OF IT.     The thoughts shift to something else. To the journey. To what could be going on. It's simply to vague now. "I .. can't image where she would go." As for Richard's thought, the dragon has a simple answer. "I might.. though I don't know how well they will appreciate patroling a sewer.." 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' "So the theory, then... is that she is not 'innocent' as such, but rather was pursuing a greater good?" Eclipse questions. "Then why would she not tell someone of her plans? I am sure that in the greatness of the Multiverse there is some way she could explain herself in confidence to someone she trusts." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     Kirika frowns. Somehow she feels even more lied to, with Yunomi pulling this plan without anybody's knowledge ahead of time. Just what the hell is she playing at with this? And why wouldn't she trust anybody to keep a damn secret? 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' "Neither can I." RIchard says to Rhapsody. "But I know enough about my daughter. If... If she needed to, she could go dark easily. Which means we'd need someone find her that can do the same thing. I know someone who might be able to help. I'd tell you her name, but she doesn't appreciate me handing it out." He nods, slightly. "As for why she couldn't tell us... You've seen the hunters that have arrived to take her. How much do we truely know about them? About what they're prepared to do? Love and hate are two things that can make one do... irrational things. I'm sure one or the other is at play here. It's up to us to find out which." To the spider. "We might need to get around this area, and if I send people down here, I don't want them blind. How much do you know about this underground?" It seems he's on paralell thinking with Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "The weight against her being innocent is... somewhat troubling." O-Hiko admits, and she breathes out in a small breath. "She was especially secretive regarding the plans... she spent much time in the sewers -- my children have come across her in many places in the undercity where Izzet are not welcome." The Spider admits, and she taps her fingers against the cup.     "There is both love and hatred. It is no secret that Ijiwaru has hatred and darkness in what passes in his heart... and that Yunomi's love for her Guildmaster is... absolute. Whatever she was planning, it either will come to a head... or will explode and rain down destruction on /everyone/ involved...." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     With nothing else to really say, or ask, the guildmaster goes back to being silent again, her thoughts racing from one idea to another, trying ot make sense of it all. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler nods one final time, before standing up. "Well, then. The sooner we figure out /what/ she's planning, the sooner we can effect either one or both outcomes. Depending on what would be preferable. But we need to find her, first. You know you can trust us, O-Hiko, which is why I'm hoping we can trust you. If there's anything you can tell us about what hiding spots Rhapsody's drones or the Boros search parties /haven't/ checked, I'd be grateful to have it. And if that magic-eating son of the bitch asks the same question... I can't ask you to put yourself at risk, but I hope you'll help." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     O-Hiko gives a nod. "I will help where I can... I do doubt that Ijiwaru would come /here/ asking for the same..." she sips her tea. "And if we find him in the darkness, we will alert the Izzet to his location. Unfortunately... Yunomi has learned our ways very well. Even I cannot find her." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Feeling the trailing end of the conversation, the Guildmaster slowly rises after -finally- having a small sip of the tea. She nearly forgot. Once she's up, and steady, she does offer a bow to O-Hiko. "Thank you for your help.." she manages before looking back at the others. "If there are no more questions," she says, looking back, "I imagine we should take our leave." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Stadler stands, and nods to the Spider. "With all due respect... I'm hoping everything you taught her won't be enough for who I'm sending. Lord know she's kept a hold of enough tricks. Thank you, ma'am." He says, before geasturing to Rhapsody. "If you would be so kind as to lead the way out... I don't think the spiders trust me enough with this thing. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Meeko, please go with the Guildmaster and ensure she reaches the surface safely." O_hiko gives a command, and the dimunitive -- compared to her mother -- little spider gives a happy sounding squeak,a nd plops right back onto Rhapsody's shoulder, crawling up a little and pointing. "This way!" she points to the main tunnel with two legs. "I know the quickest way up. Yunomi showed me, and you don't even have to fly!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The guildmaster actually manages a small smile. "Thank you, again," she muses. This time, she doesn't even flinch at Meeko and turns to follow the smaller spider's direction after taping on her Comms-Crystal again. It'd be nice to know the way better. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' "This has been an enlightening visit," Eclipse says. "I will do what I can to help you all solve this mystery. I am sure the spirits will be with us in this endeavor." 
}}

4497/Hiding in Pain Sight

2016-09-05T02:45:35Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/09/01 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Yunomi is no longer in Ravnica -- a group of investigative adventurers search SYDNEY, NEW SOUT..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/09/01
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Yunomi is no longer in Ravnica -- a group of investigative adventurers search SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA for a sign of the missing mage.
|Cast of Characters=272, 42, 385, 215, 325, 482, 947, 525, 300, 1037
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi has Left Ravnica.     It was a quick thing for a mage to discover all the possible places the multiple portals she openend when she fled Presentation Day could have gone to -- certainly to safe havens. One dumped out near Dun Realtai, another in downtown Frederick, Maryland. Several lead to different locales in Ravnica, including back to her overgrown lab.     And curiously, one dumped in a place seemingly unconnected, far from Richard Stadler's Americas and from the city-world of Ravnica: behind the exit point there was an alleyway, leading between buildings, anyone who passed through the portal would find themselves in a busy city, modern, in the midst of rebuilding. A bridge looms in the distance, a busy port around them. http://i.imgur.com/fCXSUKQ.jpg 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren looks at the images of the portals. One jumps out at him, and oddly, it's not anyplace that he knows has any established connection to Yunomi: The random city with the bridge is one of the places the Caverns of Prophecy showed him when he sought knowledge about Yunomi. Staren pauses by that portal, looking at it for a bit, and then: "Alley-oop!" he leaps through.     And then he activates the disguise bead. It will probably make him look like a soldier or SWAT team member or something -- That he's heavily armored isn't covered by the illusion -- only that he's not human and from another world. This might not have been the best time to bring the armor, in retrospect. He might have to remove it to avoid attracting attention, but he can at least wait until he's confirmed the city isn't at war or something. Be dumb to take the armor off only to have to put it right back on, after all. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Staren is dumped out in front of the bridge. There is music blasting from someone's radio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoYY8Yuc334) nearby as the waves from the harbor gently lap at the side of the port side.     A few people hurrying about to get out of a possible incoming rain give a curious look to Staren, and one gent yells out to him: "Oi, Mate! Shatterdome's closed!" and gives a barking laugh as he makes his way away on a bike.     THe bridge still looms, like the bones of an ancient monster rising out of the morning fog. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' With Staren finding that one of Yunomi's portals shows some promise in pursuit of Yunomi, Elner blips back to the presentation plaza to see which portal he meant - and then Yuna, Jiina, Marina, and Erina are teleported back from the catacombs as well, with Yuna leading the Matrix of Light through the portal in question. Elner's first priority upon arrival is to scan the area, looking for warpgates; the little robo-faerie's immediate second priority is to scan again for life signs which are recognizably close to Ijiwaru's - additional magic-eaters. While Jiina, Marina, and Erina switch into their respective civilian guises, Yuna stays in her Light Suit for the time being, looking around the portal's immediate surroundings and trying to think like Yunomi might. If she were on the run from friend and enemy alike, having just made a credible attempt on the life of a close friend and trusted teacher, and likely being hunted by virtually everybody ... which way would she go? At the same time, Yuna keeps in mind that Yunomi is a tanuki - more than likely she'll want to go someplace natural ... although, Yuna considers, that may be a secondary concern. Yunomi is first and foremost on the run, and odds are she KNOWS the magic-eaters have joined the hunt for her. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Yunomi has left the building... OK, Ravnica. And Iria's on the move after her. Ever since things have gone awry with her experiment, Iria's eagerly been trying to prove that whatever happened wasn't Yunomi's fault. And now, thanks to the help of Staren, it looks like they finally have a lead on her. As she heads towards the portal, Iria's saying to herself, "Hang in there, Yunomi! We're coming to help you!" And then Iria tightens her cape a little before taking a deep breath and finally running through the portal. Where she lands is anyone's guess, but she just wants to get through there so she can resume the search for her ally. At the same time, she's hoping that Ijiwaru doesn't cause any problems, but who knows what might happen with him? 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''         A lead! While not interested in what Ijiwaru had to say on the radio, Rhapsody had been listening to everyword. It was taking everything in her to hold back from just raging at the radio. So, when Staren calls, Rhapsody follows. Arriving to the Shatterdome, the dragon's eyes go wide as she stares, "How could I -forget-..." she says, mentally slapping herself for forgetting about this particular interest from a while back. "This is -very- possibly where she is," the dragon muses, keeping near Yuna for now. "I should have brought some drones.." she mutters to herself again. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Sir Bedivere of Dun Realtai has remained shockingly calm about the issue of the potential traitor in their midst. Even with Ijiwaru's constant goading, he has listened, but never quite brought himself to respond to such obvous baiting.   Taking advantage of heightened emotions appears to be one of the hunter's tools, as useful as a snare or a blade. He's made a policy of non-response to the wretch, while simultaneously listening very carefully to what Ijiwaru has to say, just in case there's any hint of foul play.   It wouldn't surprise him. Politics are devastating whether they're in the gilded courts of Camelot, or the machinations of these Ravnican Guilds.   As he arrives at a brisk walk, the knight wears his usual plate armour and white cloak, sword sheathed at his waist. He carries no shield, and... a... is that a bunny he's carrying in a crook of an arm?   Yup. That sure is a big black fluffy bunny with glowing gold eyes. It's cute and kind of creepy at the same time, watching where they're going with eyes rounded and intent. It's probably safe to assume it's Not Really A Bunny. It just sort of dangles there and lets the knight carry it.   Right straight into a modern cityscape, no less. Swallowing his distaste, Bedivere steps in through the portal, steeling himself for the inevitable noise and rush of modern-day life. The rabbit in the crook of his arm seems to... flow, somehow; its form distorting like smoke, and finally settling into the form of an extremely grumpy-looking black cat, crouched on Bedivere's elbow.   "Hush," the knight murmurs, not even looking down at the creature. "It will not hurt you."   <It is full of iron,> the cat sulks, in a voice soft and smoky and not at all human.   "It is no more pure than my armour. Hush." He tousles one of the cat's ears before dumping the animal(?) onto the ground. The cat flicks its tail imperiously and trots along at the knight's heels, wide gold eyes wary as it watches the city around it.   He steps forward to follow Staren toward the person on the bicycle. He looks up to the bridge, a free hand rising to shield his eyes from the sun. It isn't familiar to him, and holds no significance. His gaze drops to sweep the rest of the area, frowning as he draws up to Rhapsody and Yuna. "I admit, it is not familiar to me, but if you feel she is here..." He shrugs, clanking softly. "Then I suppose we are on the correct trail." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren tilts his head slightly and shrugs at the passerby, then turns to the others that have arrived behind him. If they didn't see him change, they might wonder who he is (the illusion includes a face-concealing helmet), but the voice is obviously him: "Two of the visions showed very different architecture -- a dark city with gothic architecture, and someplace with brick bridges crossing artificial waterways and torches for lighting -- but the other vision, besides that bridge, showed run-down apartment buildings that might be in this city. We should look for the slums." He looks to Rhapsody and pulls a tablet from his bag, and some insect-sized spy drones. "I've got you covered on that, but... Do you know where this is? I don't see what this place has to do with Yunomi..." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     The tablet shows four images as he speaks:     http://i.imgur.com/yBkR54f.jpg     http://i.imgur.com/WBeWhYJ.png     The bridge nearby, and     http://i.imgur.com/970TDKp.jpg 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     What does this place have to do with Yunomi, indeed?     The passersby in the morning seem to give curious looks at the strangers, a few ask if the circus is in town. One or two give little waves, and the more curious stop look at them before continuing ont heir way.     The Shatterdome looms out in the fog, beyond the port proper, and as the fog clears the tell-tale "sails" of one of the most famous buildings on the island shows itself, the harbor in rebuild.     And the wall beyond in tear-down mode. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon gives a nod, "The Shatterdome is the clue. This is where ... mm.." she realizes something, but shakes off the thought. "This is where the Striker Eureka based, and where Herc and Chuck Hansen lived," she says, hoping the people here would remember those specific names. It didn't seem like too long ago when the two were around the Union. "I'm not sure what their status is now," she adds before looking at the images, sighing at the first one. "The first portal is in the undercity of Ravnica, looks like a Dimir sector. I'm not sure about the other places, unfortunately.." Then back to the matter at hand. "If she's here, and the Shatterdome is closed? It would be a pretty good hiding place. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "I can get to the Shatterdome quickly enough if I fly," Yuna offers, "and Elner's sensors ..." She pauses, shaking her head slowly. "Or maybe not. Given how heavy some of the machinery there was, Yunomi may have found a way to hide from some of our sensors. Especially if she was going to hole up here for a while and wait for things to cool down back in Ravnica. Either way, that *is* our best bet, so - Erina?" The member of the Matrix of Light who currently looks like a fashionably dressed teen with stiff twintails reverts to her android form, and a moment later, Erina has combined with Yuna's Light Suit to bestow upon her Flight Form. "Shall I fly on ahead?" Yuna asks, taking to the air - but just hovering until the others agree (or argue against the group splitting up, for that matter). 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Once Iria's gotten a better glimpse at her surroundings and taken in everything, she looks to the others, only to pause when someone comments on the workmanship on her cape. "It's not ruined, it was made like that! Why, don't ask!" She sneers a little, before looking to Yuna and listening to her. After she's done talking, Iria speaks. "I don't have my glider with me, otherwise I'd go with you." She smiles a little as she looks at a nearby building and draws her grappling hook. "So I'm afraid I'm gonna have to go rooftop climbing! I'll catch up with you and everyone else there, OK?" She prepares to fire her grappling hook at the building's roof, but waits to hear the opinions of the others too. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     As soon as Rhapsody mentions names, Staren remembers. "Ohhhhhhhhh! Right! ...So one of them /is/ in Ravnica... huh. What do the images mean... Ugh, is this what seers deal with /all the time/? Working from partial clues all the time would drive me /nuts/... I'd probably come up with all sorts of wrong conclusions..." He offers the tablet and a drone to Rhapsody -- The other few drones buzz off into the sky, and Staren turns to walk at a fast pace towards the Shatterdome. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' Eclipse felt quite out of place here. Even the smells were quite bizarre to her. But some of the others seemed familiar with the area, so she wouldn't have to worry about getting lost in the "concrete jungle". And it even seemed that there was a good idea of where they might be looking. "The Shatterdome," she commented. "Some sort of... colosseum?" That's what the name suggested to her at least. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The silver-haired knight seems content to wait somewhat in the background, watching the others and occasionally glancing out to the Australian coastline beyond. Bedivere doesn't intrude -- he doesn't know Yunomi that well, and these people probably have a better idea of the significance of this place.   More than that, all of them suddenly piling in at once would probably send Yunomi running again. So he'll wait until they've got a plan, for the most part.   He might also be staring at Rhapsody just a little, because dragons are pretty cool. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "This world is under siege by giant monsters." Staren explains. "The Shatterdome is where the local giant robot pilots sortie from. Or it /was/... If it's closed, does that mean this world is safe now?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A shake of the guildmaster's head is given to Eclipse. "Not quite. Large constructs were stationed in the Shatterdome. Their purpose was to fight off monsters of equal size. I have not heard what happened to this location.. I'm rather surprised by this fact.." As Yuna starts to fly up, the dragon moves to follow, wings sprouting from the back of her trench. Magic clothes are so wonderful, the wings sprout through with no issue. "I'm right behind you, Yuna." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The only thing any drones might be able to pick up is that there are a lot of workers in the Shatterdome, systematically taking it apart, bit by bit.      The wall is in similar condition, broken apart (some with deep scratches in it), and then a few locals stop an peer curiously at the group. Womeone walking a pram pauses, and looks to the grouping.     "Doing a bit of sight-seeing?" she inquires politely, "been a while since we've had proper tourists from outside... not much to see since the world's gone recovery. Can I point you in the right direction?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Then again, thinks Yuna, there was more than one Shatterdome in that world besieged by Kaiju, wasn't there? She remembers bringing El-Line to some of those fights - and being substantially outmassed by the giant monsters. It really did take the Jaegers, massive as *they* were ... Well, a Shatterdome is a Shatterdome, and it certainly is as good a place to start looking as any. Yuna is just about to take flight when the lady with the carriage stops them - and Yuna actually flails a bit, caught between 'take flight' and 'wait what?' impulses, before she steadies herself and manages a proper, polite bow to the woman. "I think I know where we need to go, but ... have you seen a girl about my age, maybe a bit older? Brown eyes with hints of gold, brown hair with bangs maybe colored red and blue? She may have looked like she was trying to avoid people?" It can't hurt to ask, right? 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Ah, a little?" Rhapsody answers the woman before Yuna takes point in asking her question. The dragon looks hopeful for an answer, but considering the last few weeks, well.. it may not turn out that way. "Anything odd would be helpful. Something you may have seen recently that doesn't fit in with everything else.." Shapeshifter, after all. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' The moment the woman walks up, Iria immediately hides her grappling hook under her cape. She folds her arms impatiently, looking up towards the sky with her eyes. Apparently, they were going to attract attention sooner or later and it's finally happened. Right now, Iria just wants to move out and try to find Yunomi, namely since she hates it when people stop to question 'strangers.' It can easily lead to excessive conversations in her opinion, and if there's one thing Iria lacks, it's patience! 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga is running a bit late, having spent far too much time fighting with herself about wether to bring her horse. She didn't want Jodis to be in danger, but she might need the help keeping up... evidentally, she'd decided to leave her horse behind, strolling through the portal at her usual pace, cursing quietly to herself as she catches up to the others. She's a bit surprised to see the familiar form of Sir Bedivere in full armor with a recognizable...being...as his companion. A bunny!? D'awwww... "Sorry I am late," she says, looking between Bedivere and Staren, the only people here she is really familiar with. To all others, she gives a nod of greeting. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   "I trust you mean 'aside from ourselves,' good lady." Bedivere can't help a bit of a jest at his own expense, along with the ghost of a smile. He's aware of how much he stands out in a world like this; a figment from the past ages of many modern eras.   The cat lingers about his ankles, staring at the woman with an imperious flick of its tail.   Also, because pretty much everyone else is asking questions and whatnot, so he has no real need to. The rabbit he had been carrying has meanwhile been put down and become a cat sitting at Bedivere's ankles. The Black One swivels his head around, winking at Inga. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren looks at the woman, but Yuna speaks before he does. He's a bit relieved at the woman's comment that this world is already familiar with the multiverse, so any weirdness won't necessarily raise alarms immediately. He stops as he hears another voice. "Oh, hey, Inga! Do you need, um, a lift?" He makes a carrying gesture with his arms. "Maybe you can provide some more insight into all this, I'm probably not doing a very good job of being the Seer on this quest, heh." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Nah, haven't seen anyone with tha' kinna hair since... well. Since before the Shatterdome closed for good. Used to be a girl who was sweet on one of them Jaeger pilots -- I worked in logistics." The woman gives a small smile, and she shakes her head "But yeah, nah, haven't seen anyone like that around here. Syndey's a big town though. Might be she stayed behind when 'e left, dunno." the woman considers, glancing all around them and looking at Bedivere (and his pretty hair!), and then back to the dragon. "Why? D'ya lose someone?" she questions, leaning back on her tennies. "Might be y'should check a driver's liscence database or somethin'? Maybe with the police? Y'got any pictures?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The fact this woman just described Yunomi, a little, is interesting. "Ah, that's just the person we are looking for, actually. She probably hadn't been here for a while but... we think she may have come here. We're really worried about her," she adds before considering the offer given. "... I actually do have a picture on me... maybe that's not a bad idea.." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga looks to what is now a cat, catching the wink. She smiles and winks back. Well, this would be interesting. Inga nods to Staren. "I would appreciate that. I would not want to slow you down, but I did not want to risk my horse by bringing her," she says, moving toward Staren. She pats him lightly on the shoulder and gives him a smile in regard to him functioning as the Seer. "You've done well enough Staren, " she says. But she'll take it from here. Inga looks to the woman they are speaking with, the pupils of her eyes rapidly expanding as she releases the restraints on her Sight. She'll watch the strands of wyrd, check the past to see if the woman she speaks of is actually Yunomi. A picture works too, though. And it's probably less creepy than being stared at by a witch. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren smiles, and lifts Inga in a princess carry, jogging back over to the group. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Having a crush on one of the Rangers actually sounds somewhat familiar to Yuna, but she doesn't give away much of a reaction. "I doubt the police would have seen her," the battlesuited blonde replies with a wry grin, "but it might be worth checking - we'll inquire with them. Thank you very much!" That said, though, the Shatterdome still seems like the best bet - and when Yuna hears Ijiwaru laughing on the radio? Forget subtlety, she just takes off, going from a relative standstill to a respectable fraction of the speed of sound and heading straight for the Shatterdome, with Elner flying after her, the robo-faerie beginning a fresh set of sensor sweeps. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Ignoring subtlety, and having no patience left, Iria shoots her grappling hook at the building once again, before utilizing her acrobatic skills to go from rooftop to rooftop, using her hook only when she needs to. After hearing Ijiwaru on the radio, she knows something's really wrong here and she wants to find Yunomi before Ijiwaru does. And if she encounters Ijiwaru, there's going to be hell to pay! 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Bedivere offers no immediate response, but when the woman describes Yunomi's hairstyle with some accuracy, that brings him to arch a brow in clear interest. He wants to say that yes, they lost someone, but something tells him it's better to remain quiet on that front.   "Thank you," he offers simply, inclining his head to the woman in respectful gesture. To her helpful suggestions, though, he only shakes his head. No idea what a database is, no pictures, the local law enforcement probably won't be helpful. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The woman did describe Yunomi pretty closely, and she pauses, watching as Yuna takes off in a hurry, so fast that the wind kicks up in the chilly air and the wee tot in the pram begins to cry.     "Oh! Oh, Andy, it's all right." she chides gently, pulling the baby up and coddling him a moment, watching as Iria takes off and... she looks to the remaining members of the group.     "... was it something I said?" she questions, then shakes her head "In any case, nah, haven't seen her since, but not a lot of the ladies who worked in the Shatterdome had jobs after the drop, so... might be that they went off to Redfern." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "We're in a hurry." Staren answers to the woman. "Thanks for your help. Hang on." And then he runs after the others. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon blinks, "Ah, Redfern?" she inquires now, not familiar with the name. "I'm .. sorry I have only been here, maybe, once before. Can you tell me what that is?" she asks, blinking at her radio with a worried expression before looking back at the woman. "And can you tell me which way it is?" suddenly the guildmaster looks worried about something. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga is scooped. She holds onto Staren and sighs. It's a bit sad how used to this she is. "So, she was here but not recently. I do not sense any magic being used in that direction...I do not think this is the way. If you could give me a few moments...I could consult the runes," she says, which is slightly difficult while bouncing around as Staren runs. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Oh. Staren stops running and sets Inga down. "Alright. Be right back." He then jogs back to the bystander, showing her the image of the run-down apartments on another tabler. "Excuse me miss, have you seen this place?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The woman is comforting the baby, and she looks at the picture, and it seems to click. "OH! Nah, yeah! That's Redfern all right. If you head downtown and take one stop outbound, it'll take you right into the section of the city. IT's a bit rough... but you bunch look like you can handle yeselves." she compliments the group, and gives a slight smile, glancing to them all. "I Hope you find your friend. Seems like she's missed then." 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' Eclipse is about to go rushing off after Yuna, but the others' discussions stop her. It seemed likely that they were looking in the wrong place, then. If they were out in the wilderness she might have been able to help more- she had some experience at wilderness tracking, but not city tracking! Staren, however, seemed to have a new idea- and this one seemed to have worked out. "That seems a likely place, then." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A place where Yunomi may be, the picture matches, and Ijiwaru cackling on the radio, "Thank you, miss, THANK YOU!" Why does she call out? Because she has already started running, then FLYING, following the directions that the woman gave. The guildmaster is -moving- pretty quick. "Ijiwaru I swear if you do anything..." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' All it really takes is Rhapsody flying in a direction other than the Shatterdome for Elner to pull Yuna's attention back towards the group - and since Jiina and Marina *hadn't* left the group, Elner knows exactly what Yuna missed. Besides, all of the life signs at the Shatterdome read as standard-for-this-world human, or close enough to it. Yuna only looks a little bit sheepish as she soars back, trying to catch up with Rhapsody. "So what do we have ... ?" asks the blonde, raising her voice just enough to be audible to Rhapsody over their respective headwinds. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Upon realizing she's heading the right way, Iria quickly taps into her communicator. "Hey, Kei, is my glider ready yet?" A pause, then she smirks. "Awesome! Send it over!" And then, Iria's unique glider thing appears. She gets on it and sits down, starting it up and heading into the air with it. "Who says bounty hunters need ships to fly?" A smirk, then she realizes she'd best pick up the pace, at which point she goes into faster mode by using it more like a hang glider. "Let's hope we can find Yunomi soon," Iria comments to the others as she catches up. "I'm really getting worried with that Itchy-moron guy here!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The group makes their way towards Redfern.     Redfern is an inner-city housing development that's experienced some gentrification... in some parts. Most of it was run down, rusting. Kids played in the street, cars whizzed past blasting music. The rain is threatening.     It's not long until the teams might find a housing block that looks exactly like the one Staren had a picture of. IT's a pretty quiet area, though somewhat abandoned. There doesn't seem to be a lot of people, and there are signs up that state that this block will be the *new* Issiah Burns development, now accepting applications for residency! How exciting. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The next time Bedivere looks away from the cityscape's skyline, everybody's leaving in a hurry. He furrows his brow in evident confusion, and the cat beside him flows smoothly into the shape of a very large war horse. Bedivere vaults astride, and the Black One thunders after the entourage.   He runs a lot faster than a horse that big should be able to.   Crouching low over the púca's neck, the Black One draws up evenly to Staren and Inga, holding his position beside them. "Up, both of you!" Bedivere calls. "This will be faster." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga scoops up her runes and quickly packs them away, tucking them back into her belt. Inga looks back toward Sir Bedivere on Black One and nods, extending her hand toward Bedi so he might help her up onto the horse. "Why thank you Bedivere, and Black One," she says. It's somewhat more diginified than being carried the whole way. Especially since it seems severaly people in their party can /fly/. For the hundreth time perhaps, she wished being a Bee granted the power of flight! 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Sure, okay. Staren will climb up and help Inga on. "So, what's the deal with this horse anyway?"     Once they make it to Redfern, Staren asks, "Do you detect any magic here? Also, do you think maybe I should show a local the unidentified image? Maybe it's an old waterway here..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Once at the spitting image of the photograph, Rhapsody holds back the urge to just call out. The reason? The radio message, again. Right now, she circles once, trying to spot any door that looks broken into or otherwise. "C'mon, where are you...?" she muses to herself. If that falls short, she'd start looking for the development office, anyplace that would accept applications!     As Yuna catches up, and possibly the others, she explains her haste, "I heard Ijiwaru lauging on the radio a little bit ago. He ... might be here too. It's just a guess but.. honestly, why else would he just laugh like that and turn off the band to avoid questions? Just ... keep your eyes open for -anything-.. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "I heard him laughing too," Yuna nods to Rhapsody, slowing to a hover next to the Izzet guildmaster. "And turning off his radio means we can't get a fix on his transmission source ... assuming that would do any good." She lets out a breath, shaking her head, and seems to pay little heed to the fact that she's hovering over the development like some high-tech guardian angel. "Elner, see if you can pick up anything out of the ordinary. Assume Yunomi's concealing herself as much as she can - suppressing her ambient mana aura, things like that. And assume the magic-eaters are ... well, about as obvious as Ijiwaru was at the meeting." The robo-faerie bobs slightly as if to nod, and begins scanning. Yuna doesn't simply wait for the results, but flies over the partially-abandoned housing block; if any of the playing children happen to look up and wave to her, Yuna smiles brightly and waves back to them before continuing on her search pattern ... basically looking for potential hideaways, although if she spots Yunomi herself - or any magic-eaters - Yuna's likely to act, depending on exactly what she sees. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' Eclipse finds herself looking questioningly at the sign in front of the building. "...what do the words say?" she asks the others, tapping on the side of the sign with one claw. It might be important. She didn't spend much time in cities, but she knew that a lot of information in such places was put in written forms. As she couldn't read, this presented a problem. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Once she's settled on Black One, Inga can process what the runes have told her. "My runes point to this place called Redfern...but we must be wary! They warn of danger," she says, shouting to be heard as the ride. Perhaps times for some protection spells! At least once they stop moving, or she might end up stabbing someone other than herself by mistake! 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria flies as close to Yuna as she can. She dons her binoculars briefly before looking to Yuna and shaking her head. "Can't see anything from here. But I've got a gut feeling that tells me we're getting close." She scowls at the mention of Ijiwaru. "If that fool is here, though, he better hope his life insurance is paid up if he's done anything to Yunomi!" Her teeth grit. "If he as much as looks at her cross-eyed, I'll make him regret the day he was born!" 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' As the group heads into Redfern, a beat up local car seems to catch up to the group of them at the ground. If... catch up is the right word. It doesn't seem like the person that steps out is /with/ them, but she does walk over, cargo pants and jacket over a stylish t-shirt with a stylized picture of an American flag on it. She seems to consult a map, look up, and then spot the electic group. "Hey, hey!" She says, waving her hand. "Are you the walking tour? I didn't miss much, did I?" She says, her sunglass'd covered face grinning slightly, brunette pony tail pulled back behind her head. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The beat up, Redfern building (http://i.imgur.com/970TDKp.jpg for those just joining us) are in need of repair. Wires are running everywehre between internet, cable, and electricity and even old phone lines. Buildings in need of paint, rusty, rickety railings, and most of the names here seem either local or Arabic. Most just have a last name listed on bells in faded ink.     There is one though, an end unit, with Miko Ryan written on it in practiced script, very neat handwriting, and much fresher than the surrounding labels. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The Black One thunders on toward Redfern, hooves like pistons and striking sparks from the pavement despite a distinct lack of horseshoes. A creature of the Fair Folk would not suffer himself to be shod with iron or even steel. He has no need of it.   "He is not a horse," Bedivere calls over his shoulder. "He is a púca, a creature of the Otherworld, and he owes me a favour."   <A series of favours, really,> the war horse clarifies, tilting his head and fixing Staren with one smoky gold eye, black mane flying behind him.   He slows enough that he doesn't represent a danger to the civilians around him, picking his way through the crowds until he can reach Rhapsody once more, keeping a respectful distance from the dragon, tossing his head.   Bedivere slides off the side, helping Staren and Inga as necessary, turning to look to the derelict area. Half a glance is cast back to the púca; without a word, the creature's form dissolves into smoke again, reforming this time as a big, shaggy wolfhound, long face and all. Like his other shapes, he's still black as coal, with those smoky golden eyes. This time he pads at Bedivere's side, folded ears pricked forward.   Not to find a way in, but to seize the Magic-Eaters if they bust in on them doing anything ill-considered. Notably, the knight does not draw his sword. He frowns, though, folding his arms as he considers the abandoned building and its rusting doors, trailing past them with a careful look paid to each.   <This one does not understand why mortals have such love of cold iron,> the púca sulking along at his heels. <This one does not think it looks nearly as elegant as gold and silver. This one-->   "Hush." Bedivere tilts his head, studying a facing door that has nothing much left of it in the way of paint. It has plenty of rust and dirt, though. With a cautious tap on the door, he waits; there's possibly someone living here. But there's no answer, and he can't read the sign.   He continues on, coming to the last unit and squinting at the sign.   Although he can't read the script on that, either, at least not well because it isn't in /Welsh/, it's notably different from the others. "Héa," he calls softly, to the others. "I think there is something of note here." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "We like cold iron because it kills fey. Nothing personal, but mortals and fey seldom get along." Staren points out.     The illusion doesn't disguise him as heavily as on other worlds -- the look of armor on this world is probably pretty close to his own, although his ears and tail are hidden and the details of the armor's weapons may be obscured a bit.     He looks at the door on the end for awhile. "Hmm." ... "...You know, this feels like a trap. Why would she write a name that can be connected to her, instead of, like, Jane Smith or Sarah Brown or something, unless she wanted us to go inside?"     He'll send insect-size camera drones to check the windows of this unit, instead. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Walking tour? Yuna's not even walking; she gives the American-seeming woman (who else would wear an American flag on their shirt?) a curious look, then a casual wave, before flitting around to where the 'Miko Ryan' door label was spotted. Only now does Yuna drop her transformation - Erina detaching from her Light Suit and reassembling, followed by the Light Suit itself flickering out of existence and her Hikari uniform appearing in its place. She doesn't like being weaponless with the Magic-Eaters presumably on the loose, but she'd rather at least look like a civilian at the moment. As for Staren's paranoia? Yuna turns to look at him. "I would hope that Yunomi used a recognizable name because she's hoping somebody she trusts will find her. I mean, there are only a handful of people who'd even recognize that name as referring to her, right ... ?" She raises a hand to ring the doorbell. Somebody can stop her if they're so inclined. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' The glider returns to where it came from automatically, while Iria drops to the ground, landing in a crouched position, before moving in behind Yuna. She looks to the girl and says, "Do what you have to, I'll cover you!" Her eyes narrow even more. "I have a feeling we're on the right track here, I hope I'm right!' 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren does try to stop her. "If there's a seperate real yunomi and fake yunomi running around, perhaps. But I'm faily certain she's being posessed, and in any case the imposter seems to have access to her knowledge and skills." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "...I'm not saying we blow up the building or anything, geeze. Just that we be extra-careful." Staren adds. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' It would seem the folks walking about have come upon something! From her lofty vantage point, the guildmaster takes note of this and starts to decend, quietly hoping even more that they find more than an empty room where a Certain Someone may have just been. If he had, and did find Yunomi though, wouldn't he be gloating about it? Once she lands, and has a look at the door name, and sees Yuna press the doorbell, she waits, literally holding her breath for no reason other than suspense... 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga holds on, moving faster than she's comfortable but there's nothing to be done about it. She does not want to fall behind. She most certainly needs help down from the horse, taking a moment to settle her skirts before taking her staff. Inga looks to Staren and his comment about iron. She blinks. Sometimes she forgets that Staren as all the tact of a brick. Inga sighs, then moves cautiously toward the buildings. She reaches to her belt and pulls out her small knife. "I have been warned that we are in danger," she reiterates. "I hope you will permit me to cast a protective spell on you Bedivere, as I am the one who will be patching you up again if you get hurt. Preventative measures, you know," she says, glancing to him as she slices a line down her forarm. Blood rises, and she flicks it first toward Staren, who is accustomed to her magic and should at least be expecting it. "If it is a trap, perhaps I should go first," she offers. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     They have come upon something. The buzzer inside rings, BUUUZZZZP. BUUZZZZZP.     There doesn't seem to be anyone home. There is, however, the feeling of something magical inside for those who could sense it. TThe drones would find the windows shut -- not unsual against a cooler day in Sydney. There are black out curtains on the inside, though through a crack one could see, possibly, the image of a Danger Tanuki poster on the wall.     The apartment doesn't seem occupied by anything living, not even a hosueplant. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The púca doesn't answer Staren's observation. It's too busy grumbling and sulking under its breath even as it noses about for any clues of interest. Nothing smells out of the ordinary, though, aside from the obvious juxtaposition of nice handwritten signs on really run-down building.   Bedivere takes a step back from the front of the flat to let the others come closer, folding his arms again and frowning at the rusted door. He has no drones and no cameras, no robots or interesting toys to make investigation any easier. All he has are his instincts, and a fledgling magician's senses.   He's not sure he wants to find out what's beyond that door with his supernatural senses cast wide open.   Bedivere's response to Inga is a resigned sort of sound in the back of his throat. He really doesn't like it when Inga works her magic, because the spilling of blood for his sake -- and that's the crux, there; /for his sake/ -- is something he's wholly uncomfortable with.   "Perhaps I should go first if it is a trap. I am a knight, and a trained combatant," he protests, to the Wisewoman. "It is my duty to act as shield for--"   Something's ringing. He looks to the door, baffled.   Oh. Right. Modern homes have those kinds of things. Mechanical witchcraft, right?   Meanwhile, the púca flows about Inga's ankles, in the shape of a cat once more. It looks up at her with those glowing Otherworldly eyes, whiskers bristling. <This one feels that there is something in there. Something of the Otherworld.>   "Aye, I feel it too," Bedivere murmurs, rubbing at one forearm with the opposite hand. "But I do not know what. Best someone more familiar with such things investigate..." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' There's no answer to the doorbell; Yuna frowns a bit, then reaches out to try the doorknob. If it's locked, she's not going to force it. If it's trapped ... Well. If Yunomi would rig a potentially deadly trap, then Yuna will have to trust her allies to make sure it doesn't wind up being *actually* deadly, won't she? 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The woman looks around at the group as they walk through. "Has to be the walking tour." She mutters to herself, looking up to the flying people, and those walking, and those using drones. "All these people just scream 'tourists getting lost." She notes, jogging slightly faster to catch up with the rest of them, and giving a wave to Yuna as she waves down. "All right, all right, where are we headed first? It says this place has some historical buildings..." She says, before walking over to the house they're headed at. A hand moves across the name written down. "This doesn't look like it, though. This paint looks new..." She says, turning to walk to the window, and peer into the door. "And I'm sure I saw that poster before at a gift shop somewhere recently. Are you sure we're in the right place?" She says, noting Yuna's testing the door. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Be careful, Yuna," Iria says as she draws her rifle underneath her cape, moving closer to the other side of the door. "We don't know what's back there, but I don't think we're gonna like it." She debates giving a verbal warning, but doesn't want to risk scaring anyone away or out of hiding. Then she hears the woman and looks to her. "Might I ask who you are?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe knob jiggles, and falls out. The deadbolt is easy enough to try and disengage, if someone has the right spell or set of skills get to it... 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Ring Ring goes the doorbell. No response. While Rhapsody can't feel the magic inside like the others, she can spot the poster inside. "She was here..." she muses more to herself than anyone else. As Yuna tries the door, she gets back to waiting. This suspense was killing her. WHY DID IJIWARU LAUGH ON THE RADIO? That question alone is driving the tension of all this pretty high. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "...Very well." Staren steps aside to allow Bedivere first entry.     If the party takes too long to find a way to deal with the deadbolt, he draws his plasma sword and melts it. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna winces as the knob just falls out of the door, and crouches to retrieve it. Maybe she can lodge it back in somehow ... but at the moment, she's a little more concerned about what's inside the surprisingly protected apartment. "Elner, if there are no wards or anything, can you teleport inside, check for clues? I don't want to actually break in if Yunomi's not here ..." She's still wondering why Ijiwaru laughed, too. Somewhere, maybe worlds away, he -- Worlds away. "We're in the wrong place ... ?" whispers Yuna, the blood draining from her face. "Elner, get in there fast, see if there's *anything* - !" Yunomi probably HASN'T left any clues that would point to her actual hiding place, but if she was here, maybe there's at least evidence to that effect. As it is, if people are going to force the door despite Yuna's preferences? She's at least going to get out of the way. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga gives Bedivere a look. Generally, she is more than happy to let him be a knight and all that entails, but if someone needs to check if a room is immediately deadly, Inga is a wise choice. It might well take her out of this mission, but at least no one would /die/. Not permanently. She flicks her blood magic to Bedivere, a crimson mist forming a barrier so fine it only shimmers in just the right lighting. Inga looks down to Black One, nodding in agreement. As others try the door, Inga sighs and makes her way over. "I have a spell," she explains. But then Staren has a plasma sword and she motions for him to go right ahead. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The woman looks over to Iria, cocking her head slightly. "Oh, sorry. Jane Roe." She says, extending her hand. "So, what, is this a themed walking tour?" She says, geasturing around. "I mean, you have a gun." She's pointing to Iria. "And you can fly, and your... like... a dragon?" She says, looking to Rhapsody in a questioning tone. "I mean it's obvious you guys are doing /something/ on this street, all dressed like this." She says, looking back to the door as the knob falls right off. "Oh! it's like an escape room." She says, reaching into her jacket, and pulling out a small piece of hanger wire. "See, you fold it up..." She says, sliding it into the hole, gently around the deadbolt, and sliding it open with a click. "See? Easy!" She says, grinning again, and holding the door open. "Anyone first? You seem really tense to get in." She says, pointing to Yuna and Rhapsody. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Enough is enough. The suspense is driving the poor dragon nearly insane. The moment the door is dealt with, Rhapsody steps forward, takes a deep breath, and then reaches out with a hand to push the door open while the -other- hand takes hold of her blue spell-blade, ready to use a charge of the defensive spell within at a moment's notice. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The knight pulls a face when Inga flicks her own blood at him. He's never going to get used to that, and it's still creepy and unsettling to him every single time. At a motion from the Wisewoman, he strides forward, kicking the door open. It doesn't take a lot of effort--   Rhapsody's already flashed past him, into the apartment. Bedivere blinks, somewhat owlishly, shrugging at Inga. 'Well, I tried,' the gesture seems to say. So he resolves to stay near the Wisewoman, he and his creepy Otherworldly pet. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Sighing a little, Iria ignores the handshake offer as she says, "Just call me Iria. We're here looking for a friend of ours who we believe to be in danger." She narrows an eye as the hanger wire is used to open the door. "I don't know who you are, Ms. Roe, but I'd suggest you stand back, we've got something big we're dealing with here." She steps towards the open door, ready to throw off her cape if need be so she has more maneuvering ability. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The door is open! IT'S...     Not a trap. The modest flat doesn't seem too out of the ordinary for the most part. There are posters, books. A drawing desk. A model on a shelf of the Jaeger, Striker Eureka.     The kitchen is stocked, as if someone was recently there. A mug is hanging upside-down in the dish drain, still having a little water dripping from it that might be a few hours old. A coffee pot had tepid water, and the package from an Instant Ramen packet was left carelessly on the counter.      The more people look aroud through...     The tilted art desk had a few images of Danger Tanuki pinned above it, but on it there were plans for the shield generators beneath the platform on Presentation Day. Multiple notebooks are strewn around the place, some open to pages. Some open to sketches. A hand-drawn image of Niv-Mizzet himself graces the wall, and hand-written beneath it: (Z->)90° - (E-N²W)90°t=1, tap to return to hand. How much mana does THAT ability cost? 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Once the door is open, Inga moves inside, careful not to trip over a cat if he is still hanging around by her feet. She's conscious of the hulking bishonen shadow following nearby. Frowning gently, Inga moves around the room, noting the signs of recent habitation. The numbers and the picture on the wall mean absolutely nothing to her, so she wanders to the sink to brush her fingers against the mug. She lets loose her Sight, looking for any residual threads of wyrd that usually cling to objects people have recently used, opening herself to a vision if one is to be had. Perhaps a glimpse might show her where Yunomi has gone. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A long look around, eyes darting from one spot to another. Sight of her own father causes the dragon to pause a moment, sighing the next, remembering that a Red Star had gone out and still hadn't returned. She was here, no doubt of it, but did she leave cause they got to close, or because someone else did. There had to be a clue somewhere.     After managing to tear her eyes away from the poster, she moves about, glancing at notebooks and other things. Spotting the shield generator, she flips through the notebook for a second before her head tilts and she looks back at the poster, and the flavor text. She knew that riddle. She also remembers how it was used once before. "... This is going to look -really- weird, folks," she notes before tugging at the poster to turn it 90 degrees clockwise.. 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' Eclipse watches Jane, wondering what exactly she's doing here. She might have been hiding something, but was she really an enemy or an ally? At this point it didn't matter too much. She was involved, and if she didn't already know what the group was up to, she did now, especially as they entered the apartment. She takes a careful look around. "Someone has certainly been here. Perhaps they will return?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Well, it's not like Yuna has any better ideas for what to do at the moment. She's pretty sure that the young woman who helped them break into the apartment is NOT Yunomi in disguise; there are too many subtle differences, and if Yunomi were shapeshifted for disguise purposes, those differences would be far more pronounced. Still, the state of the kitchen hinting that somebody's been here recently is mildly reassuring, and the image of Niv-Mizzet is ... Yeah, somehow she figured that it was part of what had Yunomi out of sorts. Rhapsody's getting ready to experiment with something, and Yuna - after brief consideration - transforms BACK into her Light Suit, just so she's a little safer in the face of whatever might be about to happen. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria removes her cape and tosses it into the air, where it's beamed back to where her glider went, and then proceeds to enter in her armored bodysuit, wanting to have more maneuverability if things go wrong as she enters. Yes, she's got her rifle at the ready, but that's only in case of emergency. "If anyone's here," She whispers, "Just look out!" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "The shield generators... so she's been here since she was posessed..." Staren looks from the papers, to Inga. "Is it possible for you to track her from here, with divinations?" 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The knight follows after Inga, although he remains close enough to protect her if anything should leap out of the shadows at them. That doesn't seem to be the case, but that doesn't make him any less suspicious. He's always suspicious when there's magic involved.   Also, these Magic-Eater guys are pretty unsettling even by Bedivere's own standards.   Despite his unease, the knight is calm as he moves from place to place, following Inga and filing away the details for himself. There are plenty of things here, but something about it is lifeless, and seems almost staged... as though this place were rarely used, if ever, or at least not for quite some time.   Although the púca stays close to his ankles, the Black One is also looking out, the soft glow of his eyes reflecting from the floor. His little kitty nose is running overtime, sensing for anything that might seem out of sorts.   Bedivere himself is reluctant to open his own senses. Anything threatening could be damaging to him in a way he has no means to defend himself against, and besides that, he'd trust Inga's senses far more than he'd trust his own.   She's been doing that kind of thing all her life. He's only been doing it for the past year or two, and he wouldn't want to miss anything critically important. Or even moderately important.   His eyes follow Rhapsody through the room, lingering as well on the sketch of Niv-Mizzet. He doesn't know the dragon, but the care lavished on the likeness suggests a certain fondness... even if the rest is gibberish to him.   "Someone has been here," he murmurs, "but not for a long time yet." His armour clanks softly as he watches Rhapsody with interest. What on earth is that dragon doing, besides interior decorating...? 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The woman waits for the rest of them to enter the apartment, looking slightly annoyed at the time it was taking. "I've paid good money for this to /someone/. I didn't think it was going to be this crowded." She says, following around them. But after she gets a good look at the apartment, she loses that frown, and grins. "Oh, right! See, I told you, one of those room thingies. It's a puzzle to get in here, and now we have to look at the clues to figure out what's next... Like that poster? Oh, you know what to do." She says, to Rhapsody, before frowning. "Though... umm... I don't get it, was it an equation, or..." She says, leaning forward to the poster. Then she looks around again. "I think they got the ambience right, though. It's the spitting image of a safe house from the spy movies. Lots of writing, not a lot of furniture, old food and coffee? 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Inga opens herself up to the mug.     THe mug was used by a blonde haired woman, wearing a gray T-shirt with some sort of dog chomping on a strange, long object. The woman is holding the mug, which was then full of strong, bitter, black coffee as she made her way across the room, and flipped through some of the papers. She had picked up a pencil, and made a few alterations to a different image in a notebook before glancing up towards the window, parting the curtains and glancing outwards before she lets them close. She wanders back to the poster of Niv-Mizzet, sipping her coffee as she regards it with an air of sadness. She's tall, lanky, not at all the same build as Yunomi -- but Inga would be able to see the flash of a blue aura-tail behind her, just an instant, easy to miss.     "I will find you. Even if the telescope doesn't work... I've got a plan." she states to the poster. Her voice is different, coming from the back of her throat and nasal.     When Rhapsody turns the image, the image seems to come to a form of life. Instead of colorless grayscale on paper, the colors seem to draw in, like ink flowing through water, painting Niv-Mizzet in living color, brilliant blues and reds.     Rhapsody is also close enough to see that they're not solid lines forming her father's figure -- but a long, long chain of numbers. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The generators are dated, with handwritten updates in Yunomi's native hand, starting back in January of last year, with notes about the power couplings, how much to draw from the Nexus itself, where would be the best place to put them, potential weak spots. The generator images are largely hand-drawn, with some marks showing where she erased.     There are dozens more notebooks and sketchpads laying about, and a couch where someone had been sleeping. There was a red and blue rose laying across the back of the couch, along with some trashy gaming novel. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     When the poster turns to color all of a sudden, Rhapsody nearly drops the poster. Still, seeing all of the numbers in a row has her curious. She only notices them after she has a nother moment looking at her father in such a wonderful image. Once she shakes out of the moment, "Staren," she calls, setting the poster down. "Look," she says next, motioning at the chain of numbers. "I.. I don't know what these are, but something is embedded into the image. All these numbers.. do you have any ideas..? 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Those faded, violet eyes flick to the couch, where a spot of unexpected colour catches Bedivere's attention. Frowning slightly, he leans down to pick up the rose. It's red on one side and blue on the other in a way no natural bloom would be, and...   He recognises it. There's no mistaking that flash of understanding in his eyes, or the way his expression softens for a fleeting instant.   "She was here," he murmurs softly, holding it up so both he and Inga can see it; he knows the Wisewoman would recognise it. "I know she was here. She would not let another wear this. This rose is from Dun Realtai. Master Merlin gave it to her..."   With excess care, he hands the flower to Inga. "Might this offer you a sharper image, Wisewoman...?" 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga holds up a finger toward Staren, asking him to stop talking. She's entering a vision. "Shhh!!" she says, to everyone. Inga tries not to be pushy unless it is important. This is important, and she is pretty sure everyone will want to hear it. Because she is well practiced in doing just this, Inga describes her vision as it plays out. Her voice is quick but distant. Quick but concise. "Blonde woman in a grey t-shirt with a dog decorating. Strong, bitter coffee. Flipping through papers--making alterations. She moves to the window, looks outside then moves away. Looks to the picture of the dragon, sadness fills her. A hint of a tail, present in aura only-- "I will find you. Even if the telescope doesn't work...I've got a plan." Voice different. Nasal. She falls quiet, then shakes her head. Tame as far as her visions normally go, but it still takes Inga a moment to come back into the here and now. Then, she answers Staren. "Yes, I can. That is her writing there, yes?" she asks, seeing if one of her others friends could confirm. "I could use it in a tracking spell." Then Inga spots the rose. "...The Order of the Rose..." she says, nodding to Bedivere, taking it. "This will work even better," she said. The object had meaning to them both, which would strengthen the connection. Inga shudders and opens herself up again to the wyrd... 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The brunette tourist crosses her arms as everyone seperates to look at different things, dragon going to the poster, the riflewoman going to the couch. And then she talks funny, to which the tourist, almost predictable, whips out a smartphone and clicks 'record' when she starts talking. "What, blond? That doesn't look like the woman you have in that picture." She says, geaturing to the photo someone was showing around. "And was she looking for... the dragon?" She says, pointing finger moving over to the poster, steping over to that. "Was there... Oh, numbers!" She says, clicking the icon on her phone that makes a bit of a camera click. "What do you think they mean? I can search online for it; a lot of this stuff is online." She notes. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna ponders quietly for a moment. "That was Yunomi's other goal, wasn't it - finding Niv-Mizzet, bringing him back from wherever he is ..." She does notice the numbers streaming from the rotated poster, but there's no way she can make heads or tails of the magical hypermath. By contrast, Inga's ... 'relaying' of whatever she saw is somewhat easier for Yuna to follow; if she had a moment before Inga takes the rose and tries again, Yuna would reach up to give her shoulder a squeeze. "Don't push yourself too hard, okay?" 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' "Tracking through magic?" Eclipse says. "I suppose in a place like this, it would work better than sniffing her out," she states with a bit of a smirk. Not having much of an idea of what to do with the poster, she watches the tourist again. "You should be careful with that," she advises the woman. "Enemies are on this trail as well. This knowledge should not fall into the wrong hands." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren looks at the numbers. "Raised to the power of ninety degrees? The heck?" He mutters to himself, but then Inga goes into a vision. "A blonde woman? That doesn't sound like a disguise Yunomi would use... I think she has a thing against blondes..." If, by chance, one of the Danger Tanuki posters shows her fighting the Blonde Horde, he points to it. "Then again, perhaps she's over it now." He shrugs, "I've never actually seen her handwriting. Raised to the power of ninety degrees... i is ninety degrees up. Raised to the power of i? I don't think that's defined... No, it must be something else..." He turns the paper sideways.Z-> becomes N I V, reading downward. "Wait..."     "...Niv-Mizzet equals one? I can't tell if that means he's superlative, or perhaps something more profound by identifying him as the ideal geometric unit. Like everyone else has to be measured by him..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A light sigh escapes the dragon, "No no, Staren, not those numbers, the longer chain, see?" she asks, motioning at all of them. "I'm not entirely sure what it could be, though. If one of you has an idea, I'm all for it, cause really, this is up Ryxinel's alley, not mine.." she muses before standing, taking another long look around. What else could be in the room, she wonders? She would leave that particular bit to the others. A sidelong glance is given Yuna as she points something out. That, coupled with the notes she saw in one of the books, "... I, yes, she and Ryxinel both have been researching, allbeit seperately," she notes, pausing, realizing something. "...wait. The kickstart.." her mind races for a moment, then she just blurts out, "Do you think she wasn't trying to start the shrine, but MOVE it? If it had worked, she... would she have tried it on the Red Star next?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The second time Inga journies into the wyrd, it is a very different scene, further in the past. Panic. Heavy breathing, anger and pain. Just after the Presentation, Yunomi had went through a portal into the Undercity and /fled/. Tumbling through rot farms. A rusting spike as she scrambled beneath a drain grid had caught her arm and ripped it open, a long gash following down, slicked up with greenish muck. The smell was awful, sewers and rot combined with pain and the burn of infection. Little light, less safety until she scrambles out of a drain, and to the hidden seas beneath Ravnica's city streets. And then the screaming. Yunomi's own screaming of pain, of frustration, of sorrows felt in the depth of her soul. The rose was carried with her throguh the underdark, even as she went to a different location, hidden amongst pools of sulfur and green, glowing wastes, looking to the flower, and giving sad smiles, ears pricking forward as she trudged on. A lizard-man is traded a shiny rock-turned-weapon for a coase, metal blade -- and selfcauterization occurs. Pain. Burning. Sadness. Fear. So much fear that it makes her stomach churn -------------- One of the notebooks on the art desk is opened to a page, and the following is inscribed on it: WE RANK ALPERS     Drawl up ova handshakes VIII. Rend a clearance beatification? One pent nut ape theatrically log -- I clout bacon, I pop disembowels an wrath informant, whim? I don't think so. Statewide film hi ash fourteen lap hewn. Woof raid undertaken nod. Moon gig certifications testy shy innumerability off. Ma, packaged forewarnings, but icy I doth swished hem imperatively itch telephony reconfiguration tab or hook film. The Blinding Eternities will destroy me if I can't access them. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Well, the whole point of what Yunomi was trying with the shrine was meant to move the shrine's resident kami into the new shrine in the New Namamura Quarter of the Izzet Sector, wasn't it?" Yuna asks Rhapsody. "And kami are - divine spirits. Niv-Mizzet is also an EXTREMELY powerful spirit, as a dragon ..." "So if the method of assisting a spirit in translocating from one place to another worked on the kami of Namamura," Elner adds, "there'd be no logical reason why it couldn't also work to bring Niv-Mizzet back from wherever he is now, if she could get a fix on that 'wherever'." Yuna nods slowly. "Yeah, that seems - ambitious, to be sure, but if it *worked* ..." She lets out a breath. "Here I thought it was all about protecting Namamura, and she freaked out when she lost Kaeruhime while her back was turned. But she's just as dedicated to bringing Niv-Mizzet back ... that's why she went so far. Not out of grief, not out of revenge, but pure honest desperation." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "It's starting to make sense now," Iria says as she looks over what's been found and what Yuna's been saying. "Unfortunately, that's just a small portion of the whole puzzle. We've got a lot more to deal with here." She narrows her eyes as tears start to well up, feeling like the more things make sense, the more stressful it becomes for her. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Insert long pause here. The dragon -slowly- turns toward Yuna.. "Say that... again?" To be fair, the guildmaster knew ABOUT the nexus but the information Yuna just gave? She had no clue. "She was trying to -transfer- her?" stare. "There's no way she killed the spirit, then. Why run a test when you KNOW it will fail?!" Another piece of evidence for mental pocket. She rubs at her head a little, after saying it though. "That still doesn't answer who the blazes killed the spirit..." wait, she's not blaming Ijiwaru suddenly? Maybe something in the back of her mind is turning over while her conscious mind isn't... 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The Tourist seems to be rapidly typing something into the phone, lost in thought. "Goddamn it, I'm /rusty/ at these things. You know you have computers run these now adays." She says, before making a distracted wave in her hand. "Oh, she could have. Throws people off until they have to act... I could download an app, but that seems like cheatting. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "...The Blinding Eternities. That's what planeswalkers travel through, right? I think Theo went there to look for him after he disappeared..." The rest is in code that isn't immediately obvious to him. "Bringing Niv-Mizzet back... ugh, as great as that is, it sheds no clues as to what's going on with her /now/..." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' This time it is harder. Inga does not watch a vision from afar. She experiences. In the vision, she is there. Time folds and pulls her through. The sights, the sounds, the smells...oh, the /smells/. The feeling of panic. It is only due to her training that she is able to distance herself at all. Shaking, Inga tries to narrate the vision again. It is more difficult this time, her voice shaking, wincing when she Sees Yunomi hurt, running and screaming in pain and frustration. Inga describes it as she can, clutching the rose that Yunomi had used to give her comfort. It sweeps over her then recedes like a wave, leaving Inga feeling tossed about like driftwood in the surf. She begins to fall backward, her head spinning. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna shrugs at Rhapsody, "Were you listening to what she said during the test activation, before the 'real' demonstration that led to Yunomi attempting her coup? She actually talked about the procedure she was attempting ... there was a barrier around the shrine, but she also talked about establishing the connection and transferring ..." She trails off, closing her eyes and trying to remember for sure just what was said. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Bedivere is watching carefully as Inga gives herself up to the wyrd again, and he's already moving before she's begun to sag backward, catching her gently and propping her up on her feet, easing her over to sit down. "Carefully, Wisewoman. That is enough for now, I think." He gives her shoulder a pat, making sure she can sit upright before backing away to give her space. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     More notebooks. One marked with "THE NEXUS" in tape lay off to the side.     Outside, a van pulls up. Unmarked, two or three people coming out of it. Anyone able to sense magic may feel themselves being drawn in that direction -- like a vaccuum sucking at hair. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The tourist frowns, biting her lip. "I think... I think it's a letter... That would make sense, wouldn't it? See, these words, right here..." She says, frowning to herself, eyes looking up toward the slightly open curtain. "Uh-Oh." She says, walking toward the windows, but not mobing the curtian? "Is that... that looks like a van. Does this place have any trouble with gang violence? Are those police?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Uncertain about the latest puzzle, and not one able to really, clearly, solve puzzles, the dragon moves about the room and spots "THE NEXUS" ... well that's a big red flag in her mind and she quickly takes hold of it. About that moment, though, the van pulls up. Even with Rhapsody's lack of magical ability, she can STILL feel them simply because dragon. "... They're here.." she growls before quickly grabbing the poster, tilting it, and putting it back up on the wall the way she found it. THE NEXUS notebook is tucked away quickly. That's when she starts looking around. There's no back entrance is there? Back Window? ANYTHING?! She isn't sure how it will look to the rest of Ravnica if she is acting on a lead and didn't share what she had. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga lets herself be lead to the chair, doll-like, sitting but not necessarily /here/. It is taking Inga longer to come back from this one. The stem of the rose is rolled gently back and forth between her fingertips. Her eyes still stare off into nothing, almost catatonic. She turns her head toward the window, brow furrowing slightly. She takes her walking stick and uses it to help her to her feet, drifting toward the front door and the van now parked outside. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Vans pull up every day, don't they? But most of them don't get that kind of reaction out of, for instance, Rhapsody. Yuna's already in her Light Suit so she doesn't need to transform; she doesn't bother manifesting a weapon just yet - although if Ijiwaru himself walks in, all bets will immediately be off. If it's *other* magic-eaters ... well, if Yunomi isn't here to be found, it's less of an issue. Hopefully. Yuna looks at the' tourist,' taking a breath. "They're not police, and they're no more tourists than we are. They're probably looking for the same girl that the rest of us are, but they don't mean her well at all - their leader is probably inclined to kill her given a chance, but has been 'bound' by an oath to bring her back to Ravnica for trial. I'm not sure how tightly that oath is going to bind him if he gets a chance to kill her, though ..." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The back window is /far/ too small for the Dragon to exit out of. Especially with that dragonkadonk. There is a model Thianel on the desk, nearly fallen to the back, marked 'PIDGE PROTOTYPE'. Other notebooks, sketchbooks marked with GENERATOR NOTES, GREENHOUSE PLANS, 'BEACH VACATION IDEAS' 'SHATTER NOTES' were beneath the NEXUS notebook. A variety of topics, likely all coded in puzzles. There is a side window, though, that leads out to a vacant lot -- it's within plain sight of the van, though.     It's a small, currently very crowded one-room flat. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Ensuring his charge is not actually unconscious, Bedivere and the púca both look to the door; the latter before the former. No doubt the Otherworldly creature can sense the magic that swirls about them. Even the knight may, though.   "Aye. They are here." He closes his eyes, hands resting on the chair back where Inga sits. "Best we not give them any trouble. It will be easier for everyone involved, I think. Deflect, dismiss. There is no reason to fight him, because he does not have her, and anyway, it may create trouble for her if we skirmish with his ilk at this time."   Most likely he expects no one is going to listen to him, but hey, he has to say something.   The Black One is coiled about his ankles, hackles standing on end and every whisker bristling, but the creature remains silent. Well, except that low growling, anyway. But that's so soft it could be missed. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     After looking all about, and scooping the other notebooks up, (Thank god for that Trenchcoat having a lot of pockets. What Izzet can't use more pockets?) the dragon takes one last look at the tiny window, sighs, and slumps into the couch. She's stuck and there isn't a damn thing she can do to avoid being seen. Head in hands happen. SHE DOES NOT WANT TO HELP THAT MAN. "ngh.." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The tourist's face falls for a moment. "Wait, what are you talking about? They're hunting for someone? Here? But... is this part of the game? It has to be, right?" She says, looking toward the window. "I mean, it's... wouldn't be a little stupid, otherwise, just three people? I meanm there's a lot of gang violent over here. What if one of them get mugged? Or all of them do? I mean, none of them could call back, and it's not like nine millimeter ammo is uncommon." She says, sniffling slightly as she reaches behind her, procuring a pistol and a silencer from a well concealed holster, beginning to screw it on. "And... and I just... don't know how I'd react to that, if the police came by and I was the only one here. I'm just a tourist! I thought this was all part of the game!" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria glances out the window long enough to see who's arriving, and she doesn't like it one bit. She tries to find something to take cover behind while she loads a clip into her rifle. "Looks like trouble's arrived! I knew this was gonna happen though, but at least I came prepared!" 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     There are four in total, wearing what looks like riot gear, as if expecting trouble. The leader of them stood about five foot nine in his boots, and he comes to the door, sees it's been opened... and rings the bell. BZZZZZ.     "Miss Ryan? Are you in?" comes a delicate sounding voice, not used to speakking English. Definately not speaking with an Australian accent. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Bedivere sweeps the rest with his eyes, something approaching resignation settling on his long features. So, Ijiwaru, or at least Ijiwaru's people, have arrived. They're going to know that this party is also searching for Yunomi.   He looks down to the Black One, gone quite silent by now, curled about his ankle with back arched and whiskers bristling and smoky gold eyes wide.   The knight reaches up and rubs at his face with one gauntleted hand, the leather pads of the heavy gauntlets cool against his skin. "I believe our situation has just become more complicated," he murmurs softly.   He's not going to answer the door, though. Does he look like the name on the door? Nope. He looks like he got separated from the local renaissance faire.   "What should we do?" His violet eyes flick to Rhapsody, questioning. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga pauses near the doorway, her eyed suddenly widening. Some self-preservation instinct has kicked in. She looks over her shoulder, blinking, then back at the door. She doesn't need to have a vision to know these people are trouble. Will it come to a fight, then? She could get herself out of here, but she can't take anyone with her. She turns to the others. "Shall I answer the door?" because standing here looking panicked isn't going to accomplish much. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna glances around briefly, doing a head-count. Herself, Rhapsody, the 'tourist,' Iria, Inga, Sir Bedivere - well, that's too many people for Elner to teleport out at once, and Rhapsody might be big enough to complicate a group teleport anyway. Still, two groups ... could be manageable. "Elner could possibly teleport us back to the portal," she suggests, "but it'd take going in two groups, maybe three. Do we want to try sneaking out, or ... ?" 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' "Do not worry about me, I can go to the World Tree," she informs Yuna, as if that was a perfectly reasonable and helpful sentence. "I suggest you let me speak with them. I might be able to read something from them that could help us," she adds quietly. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The tourist pauses for a moment. "Could you teleport people out one by one- Oh, they're not going to wait for much longer. Did any of you bring something quiet?" She says, heading over to the door itself, and turning her head, throwing her voice in an accent that is suddenly convincingly Australian. "Just a minute!" 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     BSSSZZZZT.     "Miss Ryan? We can hear voices inside-- are you all right? We have a couple of questions for you regarding a /missing persons/ report--" they're not even trying to hide their accents. There's a soft 'clack' sound. A weapon hums to life. "Is everything all right?" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "I think we best get outta here. Is there another way out?" She looks around nervously. "If not, well, we'll figure something out, OK?" She looks to Yuna. "I mean, if you wanna teleport us out, go ahead, but I'm sure I could maybe sneak out through a window or something and regroup elsewhere?" She looks to the door again. "I'd just like to get the hell outta here before they get in here!" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     With the news that 'They're Here', Staren looks around for other exits and has his drones outside leave the window to see who's coming. He's okay with fighting if they want a fight, but... Yunomi's not here, so there's only so much to fight over. He whispers over the radio, 'Teleporting works fine for me... I can carry a few others, how about you? Everybody hold hands?' 

:'''{{#var:947|Eclipse (947)}} has posed:''' Eclipse frowns. "No more time for thinking," she says. "However we go- we should go." 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The instant he hears weaponry being prepared, Bedivere's hand clenches into a fist, enough that the rattle of articulated steel plates and the creak of leather reinforcement is audible. He does not draw his sword, though. He will not attack them unless they should attack first. That is not his way.   He doesn't move; merely watches the door, eyes locked on the hole where the deadbolt had been. The utter stillness with which he stands might even be unnerving to some of the others, as they get nervous... but he is like the eye of the storm, unmoving.   "I will support you, as I support her." This is given softly to Rhapsody. "I will not bare steel on them unless they should threaten any here."   The Black One is still watching around his ankles, gold eyes round, every whisker bristling. He's stopped growling, at least. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' And a weapon is being readied. The 'clack' and the powering-up hum are all Yuna needs to hear to be certain of it. And if there's a missing-persons report that's been filed, true or false ... "Elner," she stage-whispers, "get me and Rhapsody back to the portal; Staren, can you get the rest of the group out in one go?" Elner starts to protest, then focuses. If Rhapsody's only equivalent to three people's mass or less, it'll work, but if the dragon is bigger than that (and how'd she fit inside if she is?) then it *won't* - and they're running short on time to juggle who transports whom. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' When talk of teleportation comes up, the Guildmaster finally snaps out of it. "Yuna, it has to be -now- before they see me," she whispers, with a pleading look, "Please." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The tourist sighs, as she reaches into a pants pocket, pulling out a small cylinder, and pulling it's pin away. "Would you people hurry up and make a decision? And maybe next time come to Austrialia as /Australians/?" She notes, ready to drop the canister that happens to read 'SMOKE'. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Well, while teleporting is being arranged, Inga starts tossing possibly relevant items into her pouch that holds way more than it should. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "We didn't know it was Australia at the time." He hands the 'tourist' a tablet. "Obviously you're not what you seemed. Call us!" He taps Inga and Iria on the shoulder. 'Put your hands on my shoulders, we need physical contact.' Then he turns to Bedivere and the 'Tourist'. "I can take one more." He holds out his hand and starts glowing. The teleporter is going to activate soon! 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Looking to Staren, Iria nods her head. "As long as you can get us outta here in one piece is all that matters!" She places her hands on Staren's shoulders. "Just hurry up and get us away from this place!" Her impatience really shows here. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' That's all the cue Elner needs. Rhapsody is teleported back to the portal in the alley; Yuna disappears in the same blink of light. Elner could probably have handled another person or two but there was literally no time to keep arranging things; the best Elner can do is 'grab' some of the notebooks that might be handy to investigate. And as soon as they rematerialize, Yuna just *hugs* the Guiildmaster for a long moment. (Any teleported notebooks are currently in her 'inventory,' thanks to Elner's quick thinking.) As for Erina, Jiina, and Marina? Well, the latter two never left the area around the portal, and when Yuna de-equipped Flight Form, Erina just took to the sky and got out of most people's field of vision. She probably departed the local airspace when she spotted the van - possibly (hopefully) before being spotted herself. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     With the teleportation done, Rhapsody was ABOUT to do something, but Yuna's hug prevents anymore 'red' from lashing out at something nearby. All the way back at the original portal? She just buries her head against Yuna, not breaking down emotionally, but completely, and mentally, exhausted. "I .. she was there, damnit.." 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The knight looks up as Staren gestures for him to take hold, but the silver-haired knight only shakes his head. He's eyeing the door somewhat speculatively, and the unused state of the apartment. One can almost see the wheels in his head turning, eyes narrowing very slightly.   "Go," he hisses to the others, an urgency in his tone. He's striding for the door. "I will buy you all time."   So he makes his way to the door, modest and unassuming as he ever is, despite the steel that clanks with every step. Hopefully he's not gambling on a fool's errand, and he can get out of this alive.   Bedivere waits an extra heartbeat or two, enough time for those with teleportation abilities to whisk their allies to safety. He waits long enough until he's certain that Rhapsody is gone.   And then he moves to the door, opening it and squinting, because it's bright out there, at the Magic-Eaters outside the door.   "Yes? Are you the--" He trails off, as though genuinely confused. "Oh, my apologies. You are not the landlord? I was told the landlord would meet me here; I am to understand this unit has been empty for some time, and was to be rented out." He frowns, the very picture of gentlemanly concern. "I am from another world, and thought to do some travelling, with an inexpensive place such as this for a place to lay my head, but..."   He's very convincing, managing to convey both innocent concern and a willingness to comply.   Inwardly, he's reciting the Eight Virtues, because what he really wants to do is punch one or all of these guys. But he is very, very good at controlling himself. And he smiles, although the expression is a little reserved. "You look like you know this neighbourhood well. Perhaps you can recommend a better place? I admit, it is a bit more run-down than I had been expecting." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The tourist pauses for a moment, raises an eyebrow, and sighs, as Bedivere starts to talk. The pin slowly gets placed back in the grenade, the pistol slowly get's uncocked, both are stowed away, and she steps back. She takes a breath, closes her eyes for a moment, and suddenly her expression is one of annoyance as she calls out in that same Australian accent. "Is that the landlord already? I thought you said he'd be coming bloody earlier. I've been waiting for the last hour, and I'm goddamn hungry." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren grabs the Eclispe's hand as the four of them teleport to the alley as well. Bedivere will have to fend for himself then! 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Once Iria's finally made it back to the portals with the others, she looks back towards the area they came from, and tears begin to well up in her eyes. "Dammit, it's not fair!" Iria yells as she kneels down and punches the ground angrily. "I thought we were going to find her, and instead all we get is more mysteries to solve!" She begins to cry. "Yunomi, wherever you are, don't give up! We're gonna find you!" 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Because it is time to do something crazy, Inga strolls up to the door and peeks around Bedivere. "You're late--oh. I'm sorry we thought..." Inga sighs. "Just when I thought we would get this all settled, I have some serious concerns about that mysterious stain on the ceiling..." Inga says. She takes Bedivere by the arm casually, looking to the men outside. "Is everything alright?" 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "... you're not fooling anyone." comes an irritated voice from the back, who gets elbowed backwards a little further.     "Our apologies," the one in charge gives a bow. "We were told that there was a person living here who could give us information... though... it appears some of her belongings are still here." he states, glancing past them and into the room.     "But if the landlord is coming, please, give them our card. We would like to examine the belongings for any sign of her. She is very important to her father, and he would like her back." he states, and hands over -- with both hands -- a card with just a contact frequency on it. "Thank you, Sir. Ladies."     And they turn to leave. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Of course, during the hug, a CERTAIN VOICE has to make itself known over the radio. the dragon grits her jaw, sighs, and pulls away from Yuna, "I have to deal with him. Thank you Yuna, you ... did something just now that you may not realize the significance of. The Guilds -voted- to cooperate, and if I'm seen not? That could be an issue later. Anyway," she pulls out all the notebooks she brought, "Hand these out to the others.." The one she KEEPS is Mana Nexus and one other. "Now excuse me, I have an explosion to make," she notes, drawing the red spellblade before ducking through the portal. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The silver-haired knight frowns, folding his arms. "Is that so? I was informed the unit had been abandoned, and that it would be ready for a new tenant by the end of the month." Doing paperwork for Psyber is an excellent way to introduce him to how things work in the modern era. Of course, residency wasn't so different even in Camelot, for rich landowners, although it's a lot easier for people to move around these days...   "By all means. These are not my belongings." Mentally, Bedivere hopes that the others got what they needed out of this apartment, because the Magic-Eaters probably won't give them up now. Cold dead hands, etcetera. "A card? Certainly."   Bedivere accepts the card with two hands, but that's just because he isn't certain what it is until he has a chance to look at it. It's transferred to a pocket at his belt with a smoothness that borders on sleight of hand. "I will be certain to turn that over to the landlord the moment they arrive."   His ability to patiently play the fool with a smile is pretty impressive, but then again, he had survived the pit of vipers that was Camelot's court. These chumps are child's play.   "Thank you." Another bland smile, and he even offers a friendly wave to the Magic-Eaters. "Good luck. I hope you find whomever it is you're searching for."   Bedivere waits for a full minute after they leave, mentally counting off sixty seconds.   Then he turns to Inga and the tourist. "Well," he murmurs, letting out a breath. "That was different. Shall we return home, Wisewoman? And is there a place I can bring you to, my lady?" This, to the tourist, because he doesn't know what her name is. There's nothing more he can do here. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' "Are they here for all the crap the last person left? Hey, you better come back soon! You'll clean this place up, right? He left racid goddamn coffee everywhere!" She says, indignant, looking over to the kitchen. Oven probably had a gas line... some metal in the microwave... Hmm. That could work. She keeps up the yelling as she moves to dig through drawers, before placing it in the microwave, and then reaching behind the oven to yank the gas line out. "Hmm?" She says, looking up to Bedivere. "Oh, that's fine." She says, giving another grin. "I never did find the tour group, and I put a deposit on the damn thing." She's back to an American accent. "You think I'm wasting that? I'd hurry out, by the way." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna nods to Rhapsody, letting the dragon pull away and taking the notebooks from her. Any notebooks Elner got will be added to the stack that are handed out - and Yuna does keep a few to go through herself. Not that she might be able to get a lot out of them; she still sucks (badly) at English. And it takes a great deal of her own self-control not to snark directly at Ijiwaru over the radio. It wouldn't help the situation, and if he knows how to trace her signal, the fact that she's still in Sydney would probably not play all that well. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The tourist is given a bit of a squint, as though Bedivere were trying to place just who the woman is. She isn't familiar, though, and he doesn't know very many people from more modern eras. He frowns, though, once she drops the accent.   He himself is back to business, with all the purpose and urgency that his amiable act didn't have. When the tourist mentions a tour group and a deposit, the knight smiles blandly. "Is that so? I have no intention of claiming or renting this miserable hovel."   Nobody will, because the tourist seems to want to torch it. Well, better her than Ijiwaru and his goons, anyway. Bedivere inclines his head briefly, before hastening to the wall, delicately untacking the poster of Niv-Mizzet, rolling it up neatly and efficiently, and tucking it into his belt, beneath his surcoat, where it can't be seen.   Hopefully it won't get too crushed.   "Off we go, then. Wisewoman. My lady." This, to the tourist, whom he eyes a moment. No, she's on her own. "Good luck."   Somehow, he's sure she's on their side. With that, he'll duck out of the apartment, the Black One at his heels -- before flowing smoothly into the shape of a great black war horse, and those left behind are let to climb on the massive animal's back.   And off the Black One sets, thundering for the warpgate, neatly threading his way between tourists and locals. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Lastly, the tourist. She wrinkles her nose as everyone leaves, as the gas starts to fill the apartment. A few button presses on the microwave, and she casually walks toward the door itself, opening it and stepping outside. It was very important not to walk away quickly. Then people knew something was up. Granted, there wasn't any sort of /specific/ timer to this, but metal in a microwave meant sparks, then meant fire, electrical socring, and once enough gas was in the apartment... 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     And a large kaboom, and fire. The rest of the research the artwork and the apartment are consumed in fire. And it takes the fire department a good, long time to get out to the scene, since the magic eaters had blocked off the roads anticipating more... conventional trainsportation to be used in an escape.     Ijiwaru leans on a police divider.     And just smiles toothily. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' OOC AND HERE ARE THE PUZZLES FOR THE LOG: DNIMERIF EHT Seton sih ni cipot no tnelis ylgnitartsurf si vin. Ereh saw eh nehw ti raeb tndluoc i, mih to kaeps ot naht retteb dluow i gnihton sereht enog seh taht won dna. Mih ta lley ro. Ohw seod taht ot rieht tneduts?! Siht fo trap ot segam deveihca tsom eht dna tnaillirb tsom eht dekcip eh naht rehto gnihtyna.     Plum blossoms usually wither in the heat of a dragon's flame. To steel the flower, would they steal the blossom?     Aha! The tempest in a teacup will become a firestorm, but only if the ashes can ignite. A teacup in place of a crucible. The heat would destroy it.     WE RANK ALPERS     Drawl up ova handshakes VIII. Rend a clearance beatification? One pent nut ape theatrically log -- I clout bacon, I pop disembowels an wrath informant, whim? I don't think so. Statewide film hi ash fourteen lap hewn. Woof raid undertaken nod. Moon gig certifications testy shy innumerability off. Ma, packaged forewarnings, but icy I doth swished hem imperatively itch telephony reconfiguration tab or hook film. The Blinding Eternities will destroy me if I can't access them. And the link for the number cryptograms: http://imgur.com/a/gsni5 
}}

4510/Snake in the Grass

2016-09-05T02:42:12Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/09/04 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Ijiwaru has Rhapsody cornered -- to defend her dedicated tanuki, or her father's legacy? |Cast..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/09/04
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Ijiwaru has Rhapsody cornered -- to defend her dedicated tanuki, or her father's legacy?
|Cast of Characters=1037, 325
|Tinyplot=Moeru
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     You want to know what's been suffering from lack of business since Yunomi's betrayal? Restaurants serving 'Outsider' food. You want to know what kind of food in paticular?     Italian. For some reason, no one wants meatballs.     (Background music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvkZWhpzmWs)     Rhapsody would be picked up in a comfortable vehicle, showered with cold praise, and delivered to the restaurant off Tin Street. The restaurant is emptied of other patrons, leaving just Ijiwaru, clad in a charcoal gray suit in the middle, at a small, roundish table. Bread is sliced and ready for consumption. The blood red tablecloth shows no stains, and perhaps in hopes of patronage there are red and blue flowers, roses and forget-me-not strands, placed in a vase at the table's center.     Ijiwaru, slicked back hair and smirk present on his face, reviews the wine list. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The only reason that Rhapsody decided to indulge Ijiwaru's request was a single word. 'Footage'. She had hoped that the man had caught sight of Yunomi somewhere, and as such, the Guildmaster accepts the lift. The praise is hardly responded to. For a magical creature such as a dragon, being around these magical 'black holes' was uncomfortable, despite any amount of comfort they provided.     The sight of an empty restraunt, with only Ijiwaru within it, gets the dragon to grit her jaw for a moment, turning on that little mental switch that she has for encounters with other guilds. That done, her expression steels and she moves toward the table.         "Ijiwaru."     That's the only greeting he's going to get. The dragon would also, quickly, move to seat herself. She was not about to indulge any amount of chivalry from someone she saw as a snake and nothing more. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     Politely, and without mocking, Ijiwaru stands as Rhapsody enters. "Guildmaster, please have a seat. I implore you to hear me out." he states, with an air of mixed casual tones, surprisingly warm.     Instead of the normal seats that are typically provided -- which are smallish even for humans -- Rhapsody is provided with a comfortable, very padded bench. Two magic eaters even push the seat in, and then exit for the back of the restaurant, leaving Rhapsody and Ijiwaru alone.     "I had hoped to secure your cooperation a different way; I apologize that it had to come to this. I typically /reject/ subterfuge and blackmail as the weapons of cowards, but we do what we must, I suppose." he begins, unfolding his napkin. He places it in his lap, and as he motions, a nervous looking man, rotund, with a slight limp in his walk comes out, and shows a bottle, then pours a glass for Rhapsody. Like the cloth, the wine is blood red.     "You realize that what I am to ask of you will be difficult, but..." his black eyes focus on Rhapsody.     "I will know if you lie. Do not lie." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A glance over her shoulder is given when the men push the bench up. She'll allow it, she supposes. When her gaze slips back toward Ijiwaru, there's a little confusion on her face. The very first thing he says is full of mental red flags. Typically -reject- blackmail? This was not about to be a pleasant dinner, was it?     The wine is poured, the dragon gives a thankful nod toward the waiter, and then her gaze turns back to Ijiwaru. "Typically reject? What are you getting at, Ijiwaru?" she finally responds as something clicks in a corner of her mind. 'Footage'? ...         Oh stars.. what does he actually have..? 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "I know." Ijiwaru replies enigmatically, and he slides a manilla envelope from a black, shining leather briefcase. "More than you possibly do." he adds, his countence serious. He leans forward, grasping the wine in his hand, and raising it to his lips, he raises in a toast. "To the Izzet League. Long may its Guildmaster have wisdom and health, mm?" he toasts, and takes a sip. The envelope sits on his side, just out of her reach unless she were going to lean over.     "What feelings do you have for the tanuki?" he questions. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Eyes narrow. What kind of a question was that? "Considering how long we have known each other, and that our studies ran nearly in paralell, we are close. I can't deny that. I dare say most of the guild along with a lot of the Union knows it." Truth. Rhapsody takes the glass, swirls, smells, sips, and then sets the glass back down. "That's not privledged information, Ijiwaru. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "You did not answer my question. I asked what feelings you had for her, not if you have feelings." Ijiwaru replies, and he tears a piece of bread in half. He doesn't seem intent on eating it.     "She was your father's student. A dedicated member of your guild. She proportedly loved Kaeruhime as another mother, and even those of us who have hunted her are... curious as to the shift in her attitudes. The Odanuki have their secrets, as any family of yokai do." he sips the wine -- but the glass is no emptier.     "Why," he inquires, looking up to Rhapsody, "do you think she betrayed you?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "I'm sorry if you don't find my answer adequate, Mister Ijiwaru, but it is my answer. We are close, that is how I feel about her. I care for her, and she has cared for me. If you are looking for a particular answer, I'm sorry that I'm not giving it." So not sorry, but she wasn't going to let this man lead her into some answer he wanted. Not a chance in hell. She dealt with the Orzhova far to much to allow herself to be led.     "You mean why did she attack me on stage during Presentation Day?" she rephrases the question, another sip from that glass, and then she moves to answer. "I don't know for sure, yet. There are too many questions I have about the situation, the situation in Namamura, and the Nexus, to acurately answer that question. If you want a judge, ask the Azor. If you want a Jury, ask the Orzhova, and if you want an executioner, ask the Rakdos." 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "I want neither a judge, nor jury, nor executioner, Guildmaster. They will be there when we turn her in for punishment. Attacking a guildmaster is a grave offense, is it not? And how will the League accept her back into the fold, knowing what she could have done?" he asks.     Another non-sip of the wine. It doesn't go down any further. "We need to stand on the same side if we are to flush the game out, Guildmaster. I would like you to publicly denounce Yunomi, and command her to return for justice. Surely, you know, that she will come out to protest her innocense." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And there's the purpose of this entire meeting. "No." There isn't a moment's hesitation. "I will not be denouncing anyone without -all- of the evidence. At this time there is too much missing to do such a thing. We do not know who killed Kaeruhime. We do not know how long the she was dead. It is clear that this was not a known fact or the test activation of the Nexus would not have been approved as it would have been obvious that a backblast would occur. As for her appearing to defend herself? Why? If you are so sure she betrayed me with intent, then she has no reason to appear to defend herself." And if she does show up.. it proves her innocence even further. Mentally, Rhapsody is exhausted of these games. Why can't they just continue their research? Why the rush..? 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "We beleive she is planning a secondary attack." Ijiwaru replies, all the warmth and previous polite tones in his voice gone.     And he slides over the manilla folder. "These were recovered from the flat that /mysteriously/ exploded when a spark from a malfunctioning microwave hit a payload of cooking gas.     "Umehana Odanuki has been playing you for a fool." he states, with grim certainty. "And her game is rapidly coming to an end." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "A .. second.. attack?" she sounds completely bewildered. "And how would she do that? Thirix has both Union personel as well as my most trusted Izzet personel watching the structure around the clock. At this point Sidonia has returned and is also patroling the structure, living up to the common Izzet title that she has recevied as 'the bodyguard you don't see.' There will not even -be- an opportunity," she growls, slowly reaching for the envelope to take a look at what the man has.     "A second attack is out of the question.." she trails as she starts to take a look at what the envelope contains. She isn't really sure what to expect of this. Pictures of Yunomi cackling evily over a drawing of Rhapsody's corpse? Using the mana nexus to anihilate the entire Izzet Sector? What could -possibly- be in this envelope??? 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     Well, it /is/ Yunomi.     But in this case, what is inside the envelope are charred notebook remains, photographs of a burned out shell of a flat.     And iron spikes sticking out of a couch. Pins two feet long, tapered on both ends. Cypher keys, mostly destroyed.     And the last image is a still taken from a security camera at a construction site, showing a very paticular group of people standing outside a flat in Redfern, pre-explosion. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "I do hate using Subterfuge and blackmail, Guildmaster, but in order to protect you from my enemy, I will do what I must." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The first picture doesn't mean a lot. Rhapsody was aware of what happened to the flat for Reasons. The second picture gets her to squint a little It is far to convient that the spikes just happen to appear in a photograph that the -magic eaters- took. She would burn the picture if not for that little 'switch' she turned on earlier. The third picture--         Ever seen a -dragon- in headlights?     The dragon just stares at the picture. She knows what it is. This must be from the 'footage' he had. Rhapsody's steeled features deflate, rapidly. Shoulders slump and slowly, the pictures are set back down. "I don't need your protection," she protests, weakly. She's certain what will come next. All of the demands.     She -finally- glances up at the man. "Why are you so certain she isn't protecting me from something?" the switch is gone, likely ripped out of the proverbial wall it was installed in, in her mind. "Are you really, -truly-, unbiased in everything you say...?" It's the only fight she can muster, knowing what can come next. She's terrified of it. They both know what the answer will be, but only one person in the room will be torn apart by it. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "How can I be unbiased. She murdered my brother in the cradle." Ijiwaru replies coldly. "That tends to put a damper on any potential 'warm and happy' feelings. In order to lure Yunomi out, we need to show a unified front. An alliance -- even a forced, contrived one, will be beneficial. You'll have me and my group out of Ravnica, and you'll have your little flower-power creature back in your possession, for however long the Senate takes to complete the paperwork."     The first course arrives, asparagus spears wrapped in some thin, smoked meat, garnished with slices of cheese and tomato with a light drizzle of olive oil. The terrified cook quickly makes an exit. "I want her to stop hurting others. I want to protect people from what I could not protect my family from." he replies quietly, and he exhales.     "You need my help, Rhapsody. And I require your cooperation." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "You just want revenge on someone and don't care at all if they actually redeemed themselves," again, a quiet protest, but one she had to make before ... she had to make a decision. Every fiber of her being wants to lunge across the table. No one else was in the room. It was -Ravnica-. It was her -home-, but no, she couldn't. He was too many steps ahead. For all she knew the picture was with one of his lackies, waiting on the steps of Prahv, just -waiting- to walk inside with it. He was forcing Rhapsody into a choice she could never be prepared for.         Do you protect Yunomi, and lose the Izzet League, or do as he says?     Yunomi was family, perhaps more. The Izzet League was Niv-Mizzet's legacy, stretching about over 10,000 years. Excommunicated from it? From Ravnica? GUILDLESS? It would end up being all three of them, not just Rhapsody. Everyone involved would be banished, if not worse. And then who KNOWS what the Union would do once convicted for not adhering to the Guild Council vote. The dragon can't help but just grip the edges of the bench below the table as she speaks a simple sentence that will shatter something far too deep in her mind to be healthy for anyone involved. As she speaks, it's cold, flat, and utterly emotionless. Someone that's been reduced to nothing more than a puppet for someone else.         "What do you want me to do?"     Because at this point, she was certain it was more than just a public announcement. 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "She has proven beyond redemption. The most I can do is render her harmless." Ijiwaru replies, and seems tired. The fascade breaks a little bit, and he gives a wishy-washy movement of his hand.     "Stand with me. Tell no one of our discussion, and nothing will come of the footage. Strange comings and goings are no stranger to that area." he waves, with a dismissive hand. "Tell them I showed you undeniable proof. You know now that Yunomi planned on betraying you, killing you, and stealing your birthright from you. Get angry, Rhapsody. Denounce her trickery and stand with me, and together we will hunt her down, and bring her to justice... and you can ask her anything you like." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Tell no one? She wouldn't -need- to. Her spirit, her heart, and more, just shattered into as many pieces as Thianel did. Get angry? Is that even possible now? How can she call up even an ounce of the red when it all just drained away? Can she even tell a -believeable- lie right now? An emotionless face glances up at Ijiwaru. That isn't Rhapsody its.. something else. Something that basically has lost the light in their eyes. "If you say so." If he believes her is another matter. She'd parrot the words he's saying, at this point, but will ANYONE bother to believe her?         Why was it so cold now..? 

:'''{{#var:1037|Ijiwaru (1037)}} has posed:'''     "Drink your wine, dear. And keep your chin up..." Ijiwaru goes to stand, and dabs at his mouth with his napkin. He hasn't touched the wine. He hasn't eaten any of the appetizer. "We will find her. Together. And you will keep your father's legacy alive, and your birthright where it belongs."     And he turns, walking for the entrance. "I'll keep in touch, Guildmaster. Good night." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     There's no response. Just a dragon, some pictures, and some food that will end up going cold in before Rhapsody leaves for Nivix. 
}}

4429/Tinder - The Start Up

2016-08-16T04:05:41Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/15 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=The Test Start Up! A Catered event where a few select members attending can witness the birth..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/15
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=The Test Start Up! A Catered event where a few select members attending can witness the birth of a new era in Ravnica as a test start up for the Mana Nexus occurs -- AND NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG.
|Cast of Characters=272, 639, 42, 930, 670, 906, 857, 325, 865, 385, 482, 300
|Tinyplot=Moeru
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' RAVNICA: THE CITY OF GUILDS THE IZZET QUARTER, MANA NEXUS SITE The Mana Nexus is a huge area; taking up several city blocks with walkways passing over it, this honeycomb like structure gently hums with energy, while far, far below the waves of a hidden sea lap at turbines, their massive gears turning in time with their fingers. Don't look down off the edge. The tables are set out, tubs of bottled drinks ranging from mundane bottled water to things that look fizzy, glow with arcane light and promise 'the most bubbles of any soft drink this side of Where You're From!'. Piles of bagels, lox and butter loaded into peppers for display and kept on ice, vegetable trays, fruit trays, and large platters of roasted, spiced, sliced meats, root vegetables, plates of hot meat on sticks, smothered in spicy and savory sauces. Off to the side, Yunomi is standing near the controls. Her dark hair and bright red and blue bangs are swept up, combed neatly and braided along in a crown atop her head to keep things out of the way and have a nice presentation, wearing a red and blue overcoat over demure, brownish clothing beneath -- mostly to hide the occasional oil spot. Her goggles are around her neck, and she's fiddling with a control stand, attached via softly humming, thick vine-like wires. The wires are trailing off and through a portal, through which what looks like a fusion Japanese fantasy down can be seen. There is a shrine located beneath a massive tree, resplendent in pink, red, and white blossoms. ... and off to the other side, a goblin in a nice suit sits at an instrument that looks like a cross between a calliope and a massive theater organ, and begins to play 'take me out to the ball game'  -- before realizing he has the wrong music. He clears his throat, and then begins to play properly, turning the pages with his long, thin, hooked nose. (music being played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAV0av2SHTg ) 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Ravnica. Well, Merlin /had/ been looking for an excuse to visit, though he'd also been quite caught up in recent events at Dun Realtai. But this was something he'd sworn not to miss, and it's only important that the Order maintain its togetherness! And frankly, the idea of a mana-transmission system, especially a /mechanical/ one, has the old-school wizard intrigued.     Ooh, bagels. Om nom nom.     The unexpected musical touch gets the goblin an amused glance; at least he didn't have the sheet music upside down. Poor Mr. Borge. And then Merlin takes in the great machine, and the portal...oh. So that's what it's for. There's a nod of understanding, and then he spies Yunomi. And with a little magic, says hello - by means of a familiar greeting, namely a small blue rose apparating and sliding into place in Yunomi's hair. The soft stem is of course thornless, and the small rose tucks right into the same spot Merlin had first placed it. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren smiles and waves to Yunomi as he arrives. He's happy for her achievement today, even if they have... differences about Namamura. He glances over the assembly of... everything, but heads over to the refreshment table, and attempts to create some large sandwich out of bagels, lox, and spiced meats before looking over the assembly more carefully as he eats, trying to determine how it all works. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden, Katze, and fancy celebration!. They go together like water and oil!, still, the digimon wanted to spend some time in a more calm spot, catch up with some people, meet others... and free food!. The small digimon seemed content with admiring the other people around, feeling a bit out of place, even as he enjoys some of the delicious snacks, and a glass of something non alcoholic. Katze is sitting on his shoulder, apparently wearing a dress of some sort, one has to wonder where she got that one!. He offers a polite greeting to anyone that glances his way, and moves closer to the goblin, just to watch him play. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The bagels are tasty!     Yunomi pauses, turning and talking to one of the goblin techs before she feels the familiar brush of a flower in her hair. She draws up, stretching out her shoulder as she gives a smile, excusing herself from the tech before she comes over to greet the mage. "Merlin! It's a pleasure to see you -- welcome to my humble home!" she motions to the Izzet Sector, with its electro coil towers, the red and blue glows everywhere, all the mana tech that you can shake a stick at.     Staren is given a warm smile, and Yunomi goes to shake his hand. "Hey, enjoy the spread." Get it, lox, spread?     She'll be here all week.     The goblin turns his pages with his nose (and might leave a little boogie behind), but he gives a toothy, yellowed grin to Alden as he plays, pulling knobs, switching levers, his feet pressing pedals and levers beneath the instrument. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Humble? The word gets an ironic smirk from the wizard. "Quite impressive. I do see now why you have such a curiously attractive choice in hairstyles." He reaches up and brushes her bangs, comparing the red and blue locks of her hair to the red and blue glows around. A touch of a finger against the rose in her hair, and half the petals turn red - properly matching the look of things. "I suppose as far as a guild association goes, it's certainly...appropriately thematic."     Staren is apparently a connoiseur of the bagel as well, though his idea of putting meat between a sliced bagel, with some kind of condiments? Never catch on. Hmpf.     "So all of this has been your work." He holds up a hand to forestall the expected correction. "At the very least, by your mind if not your hand. Fascinating." Of course, he knows she'll talk more about it in a bit - but it is interesting, and maybe the tanuki will drop a hint or two... 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason had always been curious about Yunomi and the guild she worked with. After all she'd been here before and was hopeful to see how all of Miss Stadler's work had panned out. She could feel the literal and figurative magic in the air as she arrived a bit later than everyone else but here she was to see how things would play out. Also there was food, she was always up to try strange extraversal food. The blue haired Levitani seemed to be just starting to move about taking in the sights while nomming on some bagels. Also she pulls out her mPhone after a moment and starts taking photos of things. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden offers the goblin a bright smile and a nod, enjoying the music!, still, he realizes he should be trying to mingle a bit, so he slowly begins to move away, noticing Yunomi approaching the others, and begins to move closer, listening curiously. Katze meanwhile, seems a bit restless, adn tired of being on Alden's shoulder, she hops off and directly approaches Merlin and company, waving a small arm, "Hi!" the small Maochao says, smiling brightly and apparently not sharing Alden's desire for a more careful approach. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "An ode to my mentor, the founder of the Guild. Red for the fires of creation, blue for the calm of the mind. With them, we create beautiful, useful things-- and some things not-so-useful." she gives a small smile. "What you see here is the cumulation of years of hard work, investment by other guilds..." and she gives a smile. "All because I asked a dragon very nicely to teach me when I was very young."     THe rose's changing color didn't exactly escape her, but she gives a smile to the mage, and with a wave of ehr own, a silver one is placed, friendly-like in his hair. "Don't wander off too far. There's going to be some excitement tonight."     She gives a smile as she walks up to Lyria then, reaching out a hand. "Hello! You're a new face -- careful with the camera, some goblins don't like to have their picture taken, and the small drakes that fly through the towers sometimes like to eat them." she states to the Levitani. "Yunomi Stadler, overblown Izzet gardener, how do you do?" she smiles warmly -- Katze catches her attention then.     "Oh! Hello there, little one!" 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     "A dragon. Well now. Such things are...not so dissimilar between us, perhaps. And your mentor is very clearly a skilled and powerful teacher, with a talented and determined student. Have respect for yourself, my dear Lady Yunomi." Maybe it's not official, but screw it, she counts in his book. Besides, maybe it'll make her blush, turning that cute face even cuter.     The tall mage kneels a moment as Yunomi magics the silver rose into his hair, then nods. "I shall be at your service at any time. Excitement is my middle name, after all" he adds with a wink, before retreating to the bagel stand to let Yunomi mingle further. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     The deep thruming growl of a Dust Engine splits the music filled air, a familiar to some, not so to others motorcycle with a very distinct golden maned young woman sat stride it comes up the roadways, coming to a skidding halt with a minor powerslide well away from where people are gathering.     Yang Xiao Long dismounts her bike, and sets the helmet she was wearing on the seat, before lofting a hand and walking over to the gathering. "hOi!" 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden sighs as Katze just walks in and begins talking, and after a moment, he tries to do the same, instead approaching Staren, smiling and offering a friendly nod, "Hi." he chirps, tail swaying, before offering a hand, "I'm Alden.".      Katze meanwhile, smiles to Yunomi, ears twitching at the mention of dragons, and bowing politely when addressed, "Nice to meet you, I'm Katze." she says, the bow a bit stiff. She of course also greets Merlin, "Nice party." she adds, smiling. 

:'''{{#var:857|Eve (857)}} has posed:'''     Eve has always had more interest in Yunomi than in mana and magic. That's not to say she's not curious of course. She's fascinated by the whole thing, and has been spending time staring around at various things in fascination. But Yunomi's nice, and also a bit troubled, and Eve only decided to come in the first place because this was the tanuki's moment to be proud.     Sorry Merlin, Eve makes her way over to the food tray and quickly wedges some of the sliced meat into the bagel. Finger food is the best. Eve can eat it when reading. Not that she's reading at the moment, but she's used to preferring casual finger foods to those needing cutlery. Besides, if she REALLY needs cutlery she can STILL use her fingers. It's a bit gauche, but nanotechnology means never being without the proper tool. She also adds some cheese because... well, cheese. Cheese makes everything better.     She's lurking somewhat off to the side when Yunomi mentions 'little one' and just about bristles. She's not THAT little! But then she realizes. Oh. Ahem. "Hello Yunomi." she murmurs, looking up, then over at Merlin. "I, uh, like the flowers?" she adds dubiously. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' It was essentially Presentation Day Eve, as far as the Izzet League was concerned. With all the hustle and bustle that had been going on in the construction of the Nexus, a number of mage wrights were making their way to the get together to see just what all the to-do was about. It wasn't the OFFICIAL activation, it seemed, but such a massive project had more then a few members of the Izzet curious about a creation that looked very similar to something on the outskirts of Ravnica. Plenty of League members, but a particular trio was only, currently, being represented by two of it's members. Ryxinel had been overseeing any last minute alterations and modifications to both the Nexus and any vines that needed a quick touching up before the 'main event' was to begin. One of his sisters, Sidonia, had been orchestrating and maintaining security around the structure. Only Izzet Members, and those on the list, (PCS are on the list) were being allowed in. The Guildmaster, Rhapsody, however, was being fashionably late. The first sign of her arrival was an extremely crankly looking goblin, Rizix, grand first-secretary extraordinaire (new title) was carrying far too many papers to a far too small desk for them. With so many people moving about, keeping this 'required' Azorius paperwork would have his attention for the rest of the night. Rushing along in the goblin's wake, scooping up all the dropped pages he had been leaving behind, was a white dragon with far too few scales, if one had a close eye for such a thing. The Guildmaster's garments were keeping most of that fact a secret. A long coat with a red exterior and a blue lining attempted to hide the dragon's flaw, fingerless gloves and boots matching the colorscheme. While an enthusiastic wave is given Yunomi the moment she can be spotted, it was clear the Guildmaster was also making sure everything -else- was in place for the activation. She would probably be able to settle down. In a while. Should the bureaucratic gods deem it so. She could only hope that wish would come true before everything was ready. 

:'''{{#var:865|Alice Jones (865)}} has posed:'''     Absent any sort of vehicle, Alice seems to have arrived with the standard guitar case on her back and observing the area. "Heard there was something going on around here. Took me long enough to find this place. Something about a magical location?" she asks. "Figured I should find out what magic's all about, since well... I don't know much about it, and it seems like half the world runs on it." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Hello Eve." Yunomi greets the girl warmly. holding out her hand briefly to offer a fist-bump. "Enjoying the foods? ... I think I might have over-ordered... I was kind of expecting a few dragons..."     Yang's motorcycle rolls in, and the short girl with the rounded, soft ears gives a wave to the blonde. "Hey! Yang! Welcome to my humble home! Take a look around -- if you have any questions, just grab me or one of the goblins!" she calls out.      And then Rhapsody arrives.     Yunomi's face lights up like a kid at Christmas, and a smile spreads across her lips as she gives a soft 'excuse me' to the gathering, and leaps right into the air, flitting over to where the grumpy goblin was filling out paperwork "Rizix -- thank you so much for your help. Once you get back to Nivix, please grab Yu and Mi to help out with filling paperwork for a while. I want you to enjoy Friday as well." she greets the Goblin, before she turns to the dragon of her affection.     She leans her head in, hovering at the right height as she clasps her shoulder.     "I was beginning to get nervous that you'd be stuck in meetings all day." she greets her, giving her shoulder a slight squeeze. "I'm so glad you could get out of there." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Typical Azor nonsense, I almost didn't!" Rhapsody comments as she claps a hand on Yunomi's shoulder in return, and then turns her gaze to the Nexus. "This project was a -lot- larger than I thought it would be, but look at it. Ready to go. He'd be proud of this, I'm certain of it, and I promise you the other two would agree," the guildmaster notes before looking back to the tanuki only to have her eyes stolen away by the spread. FOOOOOOD. "Ah, I should probably," point at food, "Haven't yet." And from that look and that body language? That included no breakfast and no lunch either. Typical Azor nonsense. The goblin gives his typical 'snort' response, but it wasn't AS gruff as usual. It meant he would probably ask the two little ones to help. Even the goblin was impressed that they organized a room that was long thought of as 'Impossible to organize'. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     "Indeed it is," Merlin says Katze gets a smile and a bow in return. "Merlin of Dun Realtai, at your service." And Yang's entrance gets an amused smirk - she instantly reminds him so much of Gawain. Perhaps they'll form a biker gang.     And then a procession appears, and Merlin can't help but smirk as the tanuki floats over to the guildmaster. Ah. So this is Rhapsody, eh. Ravnica certainly is an interesting place, and with the gathering among them it's...almost the kind of place that Bedivere might approve of. Maybe the magic everywhere might give the poor knight hives, but oh well. It certainly seems to be an accepting kind of place.     Merlin likes it instantly.     "Thank you. Would you like one as well?" This to Eve, who admires the silver rose tucked into his hair. A simple conjuring spell brings forth one that matches her outfit. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:''' And now, it's time for--                          STAREN AT A SOCIAL GATHERING                               Staren stands there quietly munching on his overstuffed bagel sandwich, watching people arrive and stuff. He smiles at Yunomi's response to Rhapsody's arrival. It's good that she's happy! 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' If Yunomi needed help eating a surplus of food, she should've called in Yuri Cube. Now, if there was extra sleeping that needed to be done, *that* is something which Yuna could feasibly help with; She didn't come all this way just for a power nap, though; Yuna is still in her Beacon uniform, arriving on foot from the closest warpgate. (It's possible that she hitched a ride on a supply cart bringing in some additional food. Or maybe Elner helped her 'cheat' via teleportation to just around an appropriate corner.) "Sorry I'm late, Yunomi!" the blonde idol calls out, quickening her pace towards Yunomi, and trying to give the tanuki artificer a big hug. Only after that severe breach of decorum does she back off a little and wave to everyone else. "Good evening! Have I missed any of the start-up tests yet ... ?" 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason pauses at the mention of cheesing off the locals, she put the camera away and ofers her hand to Yunomi grinning a bit. "Ahoy to you Lyria Mason here. A GArdnerhumm? Really with a prject like this? Wait does this thing have living parts?" She seems quite curious and she lets Yunomi tend to the little one after all Yunomi's a very busy woman after all. She also goes back to her bagel as these things are amazing!. Then Rhapsody makes her bigentrace the leader of the Izzet League had come to see things off today, either way she's not met that many dragons in the multiverse and She does let her gaze linger on Rhapsody as she arrives. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden goes quiet, when all the focus is to the arrivals, and figures Staren might be distracted. He offers a few waves to the others, intrigued at the dragon's arrival. For now he remains quiet, not wanting to interrupt, and just eats stuff, so basically doing the same as Staren!.      Katze seems curious too, standing near Yunomi and watching Merlin do some hand gestures and creating flowers?. She claps to the wizard, "Nice trick!, are you a magician?" she asks, she does not mean to disrespect the wizard of course, but she comes from a more technological background. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Speak of the knight, and he will arrive. Bedivere arrives through the nearest entrance, looking left and right about himself as though he can't quite comprehend what it is he's seeing. Or, failing that, that he's just resigning the lot of it to the 'witchcraft' method of explanation. There is a reason he spends most of his time in Dun Realtai. He looks slightly bewildered.   Actually, the reason why he's late today is because he's been trying to wrangle horses. More specifically, he's been trying to wrangle a particular horse; spending time with the savage black penned all alone at the far end of the pasturelands.   In other words, he tried to get up on the Black One's back, stayed there for about four and a half seconds, and then he was looking at the sky from a funny angle. At least the Black One has let him come close, more and more, even if the horse has dumped him off its back every time.   It probably explains why he's walking stiffly.   He's wearing his armour, today, which carries a shine and lustre to it that has never been there in the long time that his friend would have known him -- like newly forged, yet somehow the same, in some indelible sense. The silver-haired knight makes his way over to Merlin and Yunomi at a slightly slower than normal pace, limping very slightly.   "Héa, Yunomi!" Bedivere does manage a smile, at least, even if it's somewhat crooked. "My apologies for my lateness. My time was somewhat taken up..." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang grins brightly at the group, and makes her way over to the food table. She snags a plate, and gets a little bit of everything. She's a growing girl, and her Aura takes a lot of fuel!     A hand is lifted to wave at Yuna. "Hey Yuna! Glad to see you're still in one piece!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a smile to Rhaps, and then just a quick lean in that looks like she might be quietly saying something to the guild master, but instead it's just a quick peck on the cheek before she turns, and hops back over to Lyria.     "There's actually a lot of biological magical technology embedded in the mana nexus; it's one of my proudest acheivements."     Yuna gets a big smile, and she returns the hug to Yuna!     "HRK--! Hi, Yuna! You're fine, you're fine! I'm letting everyone get their fill of food first! Please, please help yourself. I ordered bagels from my favorite place in Boston for the occasion. I don't want to cart any leftovers back to Nivix -- eat your fill!" she grins -- and then she spies Bedivere.     The young mage makes her way over, and she offers a hand in greeting to the knight.     "Sir Bedivere!" she warmly greets Bedivere, clearly pleased to see him. "You're not late, everyone is mingling and having a bite to eat before I get to the Good Part. Please, can I get you anything? Water? Wine? ..." she looks at the funny walk "... a Medic?" she purses her lips, glancing up to the knight in concern. 

:'''{{#var:857|Eve (857)}} has posed:'''     Eve will do her part in eating food, never fear. She's no Saiyan or anything, but she's a growing girl with an active metabolism and a serious attitude towards athletic training. Indeed, she's probably grown visibly since the last time Yunomi's seen her in person, though she's still probably not quite into the famous 'growth spurt' of children more or less her age. She's only got the one bagel though, and it's not heavily loaded. There'll be more when she's done it. Hopefully.     Eve looks at Yunomi's fist only for a merest moment before returning the fist-bump. She's surprised by it only briefly. Merlin's action is somewhat more startling however. She pauses, not quite flinching away from the touch, then reaches up to put her hand over the flower - green to match her dress - trying to feel what exactly it is.     Satisfied that it does indeed feel like an ornamental flower, Eve nods and releases it, allowing it to stay in her hair. It's not like she doesn't use hair ornaments herself. She's quite fond of ribbons and currently has a pair of clasps pulling her hair into two long tails. Probably far more noticeable than any height Eve has grown, her hair's grown several inches in the last little while.     She takes notice of Yang, Rhapsody and Bedivere, all of whom draw attention for different reasons. Loudness, scales, and shiny plate armor. Feel free to notice little blonde girl staring, anyone. Yes, Eve is kind of prone to staring, even if it's sometimes considered rude. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren was aware that Yunomi and Rhapsody were friends, but apparently it's more than that! Which is great! Love is a beautiful thing. When Staren's not thinking about how to kill all the fair folk or immortalize people in an existance of circuits and cold steel, or whatever, he's actually quite a romantic at heart! He doesn't comment, though. That'd be super awkward!     Yuna gets a smile and a wave. And now... Yang is approaching! Staren's head turns to follow her as she comes to the refreshment table, which he's awkwardly standing near. "Uh, hi! So, how are things? In Remnant, I mean?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The closest anyone will see to Rhapsody being a red dragon is the reaction she has after Yunomi's affection in such a public place. She PRAYS that there's no Orzhova around or everything will hit the Ravnican papers in the morning. IF NOT SOONER. "Good luck!" The guildmaster offers as Yunomi makes her rounds to the new arrivals. A wave would be given to any curious onlookers, but right now, the dragon needs noms, and there happens to be a table FULL of them a few steps away. Once she's sure Rizix has all the papers undercontrol (for the moment) she swiftly moves for the table, scoops up a bunch of random things onto a few bagels, then parks herself on the other side of the paperstack. "Mnnmnadfmfnamnnnf.." Rizix seems to understand, nods, and hands the dragon a pen. SOME of the papers needed to be finished before the activation, and there was no way the guildmaster was going to allow the test to be delayed.         If anyone cared to meet her, she isn't going to wave anyone away. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang blinks a bit. How did she miss CatMan? "Oh hey!" she offers, beaming that big confident grin at Staren. "Oh, same old same old. Grimm attacked Vale last week. Lost a few good Huntsmen but we held them off." she relates, taking a big bote out of one bagel. "Itf geffim' moh fweehwen lehlee." she says around the mouthful, before chewing enough to swallow. "But that's what they train us for." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Katze gets a smirk, and Merlin considers a carnation for her. It's always good to change up the magic. "Of some persuasion or another, though hardly an illusionist." The innocent question is clear, and Merlin merely draws a figure of a flower in the air - which, in a sparkle of magic tinted ever so slightly with Ravnican blue and red, turns into a pale pink carnation. The flower is given to Katze with a smile. "A gift, with a touch of the local. It seems Yunomi's plan has quite a good future, don't you both think?" This is addressed to Eve as well; green is a fine color on her. So are the ribbons. Very cute!     "Ah, Sir Bedivere. You look quite polished, sir." That armor's fantastic, and Merlin's got half a thought that the knight's been polishing it extra for his semiofficial visit here. The stiff walk...well, the reason for that's clearly obvious, especially with the knight's latest project.     Yunomi gets a shake of the head. "No such thing would be necessary. Bedivere would quite likely shrivel up in shame before asking for help, and well..." Merlin simply raises one hand, then calling upon magical energies present swats Bedivere in his unarmored rear end. The contact might feel electrical, or even a strange burning sensation - which passes in an instant, ice cold relief numbing the pain in its wake. "Sometimes it's more fun to help him out."     It's not a major healing spell, that would require a bit more work. But at least, it should help the Pained Knight be somewhat little less Pain. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren tilts his head forward slightly as Yang says they lost good huntsman. "I'm sorry to hear that... I hope we can help more in the future."     Rhapsody is here, too!     The awkwardness continues! He offers a smile and a wave. "Uh, hi! Rhapsody... how are things?" 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Katze claps several times and holds the flower, "Thank you." she says, "I'm Katze, nice to meet you." she adds, letting out a little purr, and moving out of the way to let the knight approach, instead rushing back to Alden to show the flower and talk about the 'magician'. In the meantime, Alden spots a familiar face and approaches Yang, smiling and waving a hand, "Heya, nice to see you again." he says, before eating a bagel of his own. Of course, he smiles to Staren too!. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang catches Eve staring, and offers a friendly wave at her. She then looks back at Staren, before speaking the Hunters Creed.     "It is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this we become paragons of virtue and glory to rise above all. Unlimited in distance and unbound by death." She places her hand over her heart, causing her entire body to briefly become engulfed in golden flame. "I release your soul. And by my shoulder protect thee." 

:'''{{#var:670|Lyria Mason (670)}} has posed:''' Lyria Mason says "That would be something to see I don't do much work with biological parts in my own line of work. I will have to ask you about the more in depth at a later time." She pauses as she gets a call and she frowns. "I'm afraid I have to take care of this. I'll get back into the party when it's over." 

:'''{{#var:865|Alice Jones (865)}} has posed:''' "Say what?" Alice asks, "Haven't heard that one before. Got a certain... Nobility about it though. I mean, didn't... Something something Egyptians name spoken, something?" she asks. "Trying to remember. Heard it from a fan once..." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Oh, so the Orzhova would raise a scandal about Yunomi hugging Rhapsody, but not about Yuna hugging either of them? It may be just as well that Yuna misses that bit of background. "Food sounds good," she says with a sheepish grin. "I didn't get much of a chance to eat lunch today ... or breakfast ..." Her stomach grumbles loudly enough for others to hear, as if underscoring the point - but perhaps more embarassing is Elner pointing out, "I *did* remind you to get a good night's sleep before the combat exam this morning," as the little robo-faerie hovers next to Yuna's shoulder. And Yuna's expression goes from sheepish to downright chagrined, "Elner ... !" She's already heading over to the buffet table, though, and looking for potential fixings for a sandwich. Some of the cold cuts and cheeses look promising, and she begins assembling a sandwich as well as procuring a bottle of ... glowy ramune? Well. She'll find out how much like ramune it actually is when she pops the seal and takes a sip, won't she? "And yeah, seems that way despite the Grimm," she belatedly answers Yang. "My Light Suit's pretty good at keeping me from getting hurt, but it costs me other ways ... did they manage to seal off the breach more thoroughly to prevent another break-in yet?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Sign a paper. Date a paper. Initial a paper. Triplicate. Repeat. Date. Sign. Date. Initial. Sign. Sign. Pause. When the dragon glances up she offers a small smile to the scientist, "Oh! Staren. It's nice to see you in better circumstances! It's been a while. Things are going pretty well, considering," she makes a motion at the Nexus. "Yunomi's been working pretty hard. At this point I think the last few nay-sayers against her in the guild have given up. How have you been doing?" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren's eyes widen a bit at Yang. "Be that as it may, I still..." he trails off, searching for words. "...I still think it's sad for their futures to never come to pass." Staren looks between her and Yuna. Oh, wasn't Yuna going to Beacon now? "Breach? Break-in?" He looks curious and slightly concerned.     Staren looks over at Rhapsody, surprised that she's /still/ doing paperwork. "Wow, do they never let you take a break?" He shrugs. "I've been... You know... The same. Issues, good things, bad things... Haven't found a new thing to really /study/ yet since all the Abstractum went to sleep, though." 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The knight clasps Yunomi's hand with a smile of his own. He has a fairly impressive grip, considering how lanky and tall he looks; more like a crane than a stout bastion of defense. To hear him admit it, he was never the strongest among the Round Table.   "I will live. A fall from a horse; no more," Bedivere states, waving a hand dismissively. The metal of his articulated gauntlets ticks softly with the motion. "Water, if you please."   He cocks his head very slightly, before squinting at Merlin -- and too slow; he's dealt a swat by the magician, unable to do any more than glare, backing away from Merlin. He is, thankfully, fully armoured in every last resplendent piece from the golden age of Camelot -- it's lordly and it suits him, a symbol of his service for so many long years. The white mantled greatcloak only further polishes the image; bright cloth against the bright steel.   So really, Merlin's hand just clanks against one of the plates, under the cloak. It does its job, though, and Bedivere's glare slowly gives way to a suspicious look.   We'll talk later, it seems to say, in a foreboding sort of way. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang looks between Staren and Yuna, moving to give the latter a one-armed hug. "Yeah, they reinforced the perimeter wall. Atlas even leant a battalion of their new Knight droids to bolster security. The Vytal Festival is happening in a few months, so they want to make sure that Vale is safe and secure." she then takes another bite of her bagel, this time remembering to chew and swallow before speaking again. "Didja see those big white airships hovering around Beacon? They're General Ironwood's personal flotilla. 3000 men and women, 50,000 Knights and some new heavy mech things they're calling Paladins. Pretty much the whole Atlas expeditionary force is in Vale right now, helping provide security." 

:'''{{#var:865|Alice Jones (865)}} has posed:''' "...Beacon. Never heard of it. I don't really talk with people from other worlds too much though." Alice says, "Is that some kind of... Military outpost? Not sure what a, 'Grimm' is either. You look a bit young to be serving at an outpost, but different worlds have different standards. I'm just saying my own country's standards from my own world. Can't speak to yours." then pauses. "...That doesn't sound normal. How many people are going to be in attendance? I've heard of international games that didn't have that much of an accompaniment." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang /finally/ notices Alice talking to her. "Huh, what? Oh! Heh, sorry, didn't notice you there." She turns, offering her free hand. "Name's Yang Xiao Long. Just call me Yang." she then beams brightly. "Well, footnotes version: Creatures of Grimm, big, black soulless monsters that want only to kill and destroy." She sounds /far/ too chipper about that. "Beacon is a school for Huntsmen and Huntresses. We train there for four years to hone our fighting abilities so we can protect those that can't protect themselves." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi raises her hands to her face, covering her mouth as her eyes go wide -- and she is trying so hard not to laugh.     But the noises she makes are hilarious.     It's then that she hears a little change in the music, and she gives a soft 'excuse me', and makes her way to the stage. Yunomi climbs onto a small dais near the power controls, and she gives a small clap of her hands, followed by an orchestral hit from the calliorganiphone playing Goblin. She waits until the crowd settles down, and she takes a breath, turning to the assembled friends old and new, brothers-and-sisters in arms. She took a deep breath. "Good evening, my friends, my cohorts, my Guildmates -- and Rhapsody." she gives a deep, sweeping bow to the Guildmaster, if only to incite her to further blushing. She gives a slight grin before she stands, a little five-foot-nothing Japanese woman with fluffy ears the midst of all that's going on. "To some, I need no introduction. I am Yunomi, and you know me very well. To others, my name is Yunomi Stadler. I am a guildmember of the Izzet League, upon whose generosity, admiration, and endless support I depend to live a life of luxury in a lab that I caused to explode, but that's only part of what is important now," she gives a smile. "When I was a younger tanuki, my powers were growing, but my control was not. I was pursued in my earliest years by those who feared the powers of a yokai like me -- with reason, and I was afraid. I was afraid that I would lose control, that I would be forced to live away from my valued family and friends -- perhaps even be asked to leave the Union, the only family i had known since my unification... until Niv-Mizzet, the founder, the parun of the Izzet Guild, invited me here, to Ravnica." She motions above her and behind her, to the spires and the glows. "It is here that I put down roots, that my powers began to bloom. I grew to embrace a guild of creativity, of service. Their family became my family, their causes my own. I have been so fortunate over the last few years to have worked with the most creative minds the worlds have given, and before you -- and beneath you -- is the crux of all the trust that the Parun had in me. He invested considerable time, energy, funding... and yes, even love into my growth. I have the best family any in Ravnica could hope for because of his efforts, and I know he is looking on us tonight, and I hope I can make him proud." She reaches down for her goggles. "If you have protective eyewear, I would reccomend putting it on -- if you would like some, please ask one of the Goblins -- I've brought extra!" she gives a bright grin, fixing her goggles to her face as she turns to the console of the Mana Nexus. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' The other scientist gets a laugh out of Rhapsody, "They're a guild built around beuracracy, paperwork, and the magic to make sure you do it as slowly as possible. I think their idea of a 'break' is allowing you to sign a form without it being in triplicate," she muses, turning back to put her name on one last paper, "HOWEVER. This right here is the last one I had to sign today. Form 'Actv-117. AKA: Sign this to activate a new artifact #117. And yes, the other 116 are in the stack," she points out before the other 116 join 117, are jammed into a tube in the most crude and paper-crumpling way possible, tossed up, and then a small drake snaps it up in it's jaws and flies off in the direction of Prahv. "There's no rules on how to fold the papers. So I don't. Gotta get our revenge in -somehow-. With that last paper sent off, and the musical cue striking at the same time, it would seem the main event can finally begin! With all the -currently necessary- paperwork done, the Guildmaster stands, pushes her chair back, it suddenly shifts to a much more looking comfortable form, and then she slumps into it again. Red and blue, of course, with at least some padding, now. It wasn't a throne, or gaudy, or looked like it cost a trillion credits. Just a comfortable chair for the event to follow. Applause are given, joined by Ryxinel and Sidonia on her right and left, as things start. They both get chairs too, color matching their scales respectively. Yunomi's greeting gets a formal bow toward the tanuki from her chair. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren ahs, "Good to hear Vale's getting the security and protection it needs! Although, I didn't realize the grimm attacks were getting so bad you needed an army tens of thousands strong to deal with them... Although... what about Atlas's protection, with so many soldiers away?"     Actually... 50,000? Staren searches for something to mentally compare that to. If worst came to worst, Lazlo would expect to have a few hundred thousand defenders... But, that's against the expected threat of the Coalition's military. Now that he thinks of it, just how big are Vale and Atlas? The numbers don't make sense without context... Is that a small army or a big one for most worlds, for that area? No idea.     He smiles at Rhapsody's little rebellion against the Azorius. It's something, right?     Oh hey, the thing is starting! Staren turns to watch Yunomi now.     Protective eyewear time? He came prepared! He reaches for the the pair of goggles Ainsley gave him, hanging around his neck, and pulls them into place over his eyes. And takes another bite of lox-and-spiced-meat bagel sandwich. Chew, chew. 

:'''{{#var:865|Alice Jones (865)}} has posed:''' Glancing about, Alice doesn't seem to quite grasp what's going on as she waves down a goblin. "Hey, going to need some sort of eyewear for this." she explains. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     As Yunomi calls for attention, makes her speech then talks about eye protection. Yang reaches into a pocket on her jacket, pulling out a pair of aviator sunglasses. She flicks the ear supports with a practiced motion, then slides them on... but not before giving a cheeky wink towards Yuna. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Merlin, for the rest, is content to watch the group by Bedivere's side. "I know your personal feelings on such things...but then again, similar to such created the blade Excalibur. And I know your feelings about /it./ Magic is something I suppose we'll both have to get used to...there's such a smorgasbord of it out there." The glare gets a long, impish smile, and Bedivere leans in close.     "Come now, sir knight. You've been working at that horse, and that horse has been working you. Everyone who has seen a squire knows what someone who's been thrown looks like, and treatment is always best delivered at the source of the hurt isn't it?" Amusement twinkles in his eyes; perhaps he should get Arturia a proper nurse's outfit. Fetching little white dress and everything. "It isn't good to let your host worry about you either," he adds with a gesture to Yunomi.     Still, though. Not fair wearing an armored butt. Hmpf.     Merlin watches the guildmaster finish her work from afar, and raises an eyebrow in the idea of shapeshifting a chair into various forms as needed. Granted, it isn't as if Merlin needs anything formal, but it's a bit of magic he can respect. And then Yunomi makes the most adorable noises ever, and the wizard decides his healing spell was successful after all. The tanuki gets a knowing wink.     And then the presentation begins, and Merlin pays close attention - respectfully, and quite possibly to Bedivere's amazement politely. When the mention of protective eyewear comes about, Merlin admits that there's only one solution that can be...     Without him moving, a pair of mirrored sunglasses appear in place over Merlin's eyes.     ...seen. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden spots another familiar face!, which is good, because he was not sure what to do really, so he approaches Alice. The request for eyewear makes him blink, so he joins in requesting a pair, unfortunately, there is likely not to be any in Katze's size, so he helpfully covers her eyes, when it is needed. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The silver-haired knight eyes Merlin sidelong with such blandness that it can't be anything but annoyance, but before he really has a chance to snap at the wizard, Yunomi turns to ascend the dais. Bedivere turns to watch, cloak rustling behind him as he does. A goblin hands him a pair of tinted goggles; following the examples of others, he straps them into place over his head, carefully extricating his hair from the strap.   And he looks up, feeling like he probably looks ridiculous, waiting patiently for the main event to start in earnest. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna returns Yang's hug as best she's able - also with one arm, thankfully on the side that's holding her bottle instead of her plate - and then looks for a spot to park her refreshments while she picks the sandwich up for a bite or two. "So are these 'Knights' people or something else?" she wonders. "And I'd probably want to take a look at some of those Paladins ... still, good to know the security's been beefed up." Further conversation is forestalled a bit as Yunomi gives her speech and warns people to protect their eyes; Yuna takes another bite of her bagel sandwich and borrows a pair of goggles from a passing goblin, then pulls the eyewear on - actually fiddling with some little brass levers aroudn the rims to adjust how much shading there is; she makes an appreciative noise at the effect - and then popping the seal on her bottle ... Ramune normally fizzes up when you pop the seal, dislodging the marble that keeps the drink from spilling out. But this is less 'sudden gush of foam' and more 'whee look at that sweet-smelling cloud of bubbles'. Yuna blinks behind her goggles, cupping a hand around the bottle's mouth, then brings it up for a careful sip, then a longer one. ".... huh." The peg she used to dislodge the marble is slipped back in; that should keep the rest of her drink from evaporating quite so quickly. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi breathes out again, and looks to the assembly. "If this goes wrong, this is going to go so very, very wrong." she mutters to herself, but she gives a nod.     "Operator one, throw the first lever and open your transfer." she states.     Deep below, there's a low hum. A gravelly voice replies: "This is Operator One, lever thrown and transfer open. Levels are holding at two-point-five-five and steady, Magewright."     "Operator Two." Yunomi flicks another switch, monitoring, the crowd around her momentarily forgotten. "Throw your lever and open your transfer module."     The hum turns into a slight whine. The wires at Yunomi's feet begin to take on a little bit of a reddish glow.     "LEver thrown, Yunomi!" A squeaky voice replies, "Transfer module is operating within optimal range. She's holding tight!"      "Operator Three and Four. Open your transfer modules and check for the integrety on the couplings."     The whine settles. The thick fvines have their own hum, trackling with energy.     "Operator Three, couplings are holding steady. No sign of heat transfer."     "Operator four, all transfer modules for this section are open boss, everything seems to be holding steady.     Yunomi gives a nod. "Chuugi, how are the attachments to the Namamura District shrine? Any sign of decay from the portal interfearance?"     "No sign of decay, Yunomi. Ready to begin the jumpstart." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     At Rhapsody's side, Ryxinel is checking off things as Yunomi proceeds with the activation process. Check, check, check, etc. He seems to be nodding approvingly at what he sees, and hears, all around the gathering of people. At this point he hands both of his sisters a pair of goggles. The trio slips them on as energy starts to hum all around. Rhapsody is fully interested, now. "C'mon.." she whispers, hopefully. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Transfer module. 2.55. The Namamura District shrine? Staren knows Yunomi's been working on /some/ kind of power network, but what does Namamura have to do with that?     Well, waiting and seeing what cool science thing happens is what you DO here, right? So Staren waits, and sees what cool science thing happens! 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     /MAGIC/ happens.     For Merlin, it's like feeling the wind blow. Each successive lever and operator, whatever they may be, gives a shift in the feel of power. To Bedivere, the wizard does his best to explain. "The mana in this place is being gathered. Magical energy, that which surrounds us everywhere, is...being channeled, like digging a stream from a lake to gather its power for a waterwheel. Only this..." His voice is quiet, respectful, and curious.     "This is akin to a pipe that crosses worlds, through that portal. I can feel it shifting, the 'water' starting to flow. All that power building, preparing for something." Eve, of course, can probably hear this as well. It's woefully incomplete, as the wizard can only describe what he senses.     When the jumpstart is mentioned and Yunomi pauses, the Wizard sends a momentary burst of support and inspiration. A silent illusion, for her alone. An illusion of Merlin - five of him - somehow in cheerleader's outfits and waving pompoms, cheers the tanuki on with a particularly embarrassing dance that magically pops up sparkling balloon letters spelling Yunomi's name over his head.     Good luck. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' And it's starting. Yuna turns her attention to Yunomi's work, not sure whether it's the portal or the vines that need more of her attention ... and then she sideglances at Elner. Then she picks up her plate and bottle and sidles closer to Yang, as Elner flits over to hover (protectively?) above and behind the blondes. *Maybe* she overheard what Yunomi muttered ... or maybe she's just remembering, a little belatedly, how many things have exploded in Yunomi's work on the mana transfer vines. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Whoooooa." is all Yang can really say as things start lighting up and humming and stuff. "Shiiiiny." She's completely oblivious as to the potential danger here, but as Yuna sidles closer, she lets some of her Aura out, gleaming a faint golden colour and providing some hopefully comforting warmth to the other blonde.     >Don't worry. Mama Bear's here.< 

:'''{{#var:857|Eve (857)}} has posed:'''     Eve moves over, a silent and not really stealthy shadow, to join with the blondes. Was there any doubt she'd make her way over to the young woman who saved her? She's particularly quiet now that the 'light show' has started, but her eyes open wide. She might be a sort of magical girl by profession, but this is real magic. As logical and scientific as Eve can be, there's still a part of her that's enthralled by things like this. Much like fireworks really.     Oh, just as an aside, Eve's now picked up some lox to go with a second bagel. Her eyes may be wide, but her mouth is currently full of yum. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden just watches the lightshow, unaware of magic, or the real danger, holding Katze close and covering her eyes, even as she protests about wanting to see. He is simply eating a bagel while staring at the lights. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi makes some adjustments, reaching up and turning a dial, checking on a guage, twisting a knob.     "Prepare for level one activation, nodes one through four. We will attempt a jumpstart in the Namamura District of the Izzet Sector once we are holding at sixty-point-three.     Yunomi is surrounded by so much ambient magic that her ears and tail begin to glow, the little gems set in her vambraces pick up a color. She feels her heart beating, and she speaks up.     "What some of you are feeling is the ambient mana around us becomming supercharged -- kind of like whe you're in a science fair, or when you're wearing fuzzy socks and you're just about to touch a doorknob. That is potential energy -- we're going to be using it to try and reconnect the shrine in the Namamura District here in Ravnica with the main shrine in my home town, and try and bring the resident kami here." she explains, and she looks over her shoulder at the group. "Here's where things might get a little it up. If you have a heart condition, weak consitution, are pregnant or have concerns regarding witchcraft, you may want to fan yourself and hold on for the ride!" she exlaims, and then she flicks a switch.     The energy ramps up. Supercharged, anyone who has hair may feel it standing on edge as there's a loud "WHUUUUMM!" followed by another WHUUUUM! And another! Nodes below in the honeycomb are lighting up a bright, sunlight yellow, casting light upwards into the growing dim of evening. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     If anyone glanced Ryxinel's way, they may have caught a spark between two of his horns as the ambient energy continues to ramp up. The 'pop' is entirely missed as Rhapsody is locked onto both Yunomi and the entirety of the Nexus. Even with her difficulty using the magic of her homeland, she can feel -all- of it. If almost felt familiar in a very weird way, though she can't put a finger on why. 

:'''{{#var:865|Alice Jones (865)}} has posed:''' As the magical saturation of the area increases, something odd happens. A midnight-blue figure seems to be hovering over Alice as he flickers into view, simply reclininng. Whatever this creature is, it seems to have been invisible prior to the massive influx of magic. It's /probably/ not a kami, given its black fire for hair and arm bangles, as well as glowing yellow eyes. "W-Wha?" Alice says, "Hey, I didn't call you out..." as she looks back up at it. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The silver-haired knight leans closer to Merlin, eyeing the air around the device as though it were visible to him. A small effort of will flushes mana through his magic circuits; sensed, perhaps, as a flickering of magic to the sensitive. It's no more than a candle flame beside Yunomi and her workings.   Although the mark at his hand is covered by his gauntlet, the knotwork-like marks are visible as they snake up from his collar, curling about his left eye in part. His eyes are also bright, for that brief instant; brighter than they should be, as though lit from within. Slowly, Bedivere turns his eyes up to the dais.   "I see. So it is a portal. Aye, I can feel it, too." Bedivere's admission is no more than a rumble. He can feel it, and it's not a happy feeling. It's like too much pressure before a thunderstorm, or too much static electricity in a room. It makes him nervous. That is, perhaps, the downside of a novice's senses -- can't turn them /off/. "But what will happen--"   She flips the switch. Bedivere twitches as though he'd just touched a live wire. "Lord God, it's like the air before a thunderstorm," he mutters, looking a bit green about the gills. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Oh," Yuna remarks calmly, "is *that* all that they're working on?" She does (possibly, it's subtle) lean a little more into Yang's decidedly protective presence, taking another bite of her sandwich, then another 'sip' of her ramune-esque cloud-drink. Elner doesn't say anything, but there's nothing particularly relaxed-looking about the robo-faerie's hovering. Magical mishaps CAN be spectacular ... and can be spectacularly dangerous, for that matter ... so Elner's ready with a barrier at the first sign of trouble, even if it should happen to be a false alarm. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Merlin's explanation falls silent as Yunomi speaks. She is, of course, the expert on the subject. At the same time there is much the wizard knows he is unaware of, and what she speaks of is entirely that. "It is indeed, Bedivere. And the thunder is soon to break, I believe. And..." He turns his head to face the knight slightly. "I believe as well that you feel it too. Sense it. Stand in the river, let it flow around and through you and feel it against your body." Dichotomous much? One hand reaches up to hold Bedivere's shoulder pauldron as if an anchor. "You will not drown, though it may feel like it. Just breathe. Just feel." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Couplings on node one holding."     "Couplings on node two, holding."     "Couplings on three and four, holding."     Yunomi adjusts something, and she pushes her goggles up slightly. She's sweating, nervous. The last time she tried anything like this it blew up in her face ...     ... and she lost Niv-Mizzet.     The ambient energy is re-absorbed into the manavines snaking their way around the little stage area. She fixes her gloves a little tighter, and she calls out into the little radio crystal. "Mana resonance is rising, holding at forty-five, fifty two, fifty five... fifty seven -- Transfer one, ease off a little -- atta boy --" Yunomi states,her heart beating fast as she looks at another dial "Coming up on Sixty one percent. Standby for jumpstart. Initiating shielding around the shrine."     Through the portal, the assembled can see what looks like a prismatic wall of curved glass being formed around the shrine itself, protecting it -- or perhaps, protecing others from it. 

:'''{{#var:857|Eve (857)}} has posed:'''     Eve's not sure what she's feeling, given that her connection with magic is of the sufficiently-advanced-science type. Her hair does begin to float about her... not like touching a tesla coil freakshow floating, but more like it might if she were a mermaid underwater. Gentle patterns, drifting in and out in a waving motion. Considering it's bound up in twintails, her hair's responding a little like a snake draped across a tree branch.     She continues to stare, methodically chewing on her food. After a bit she lowers her bagel, considering. When she can, she finally speaks. "Where is the mana flowing from, exactly?" she muses. Not that the answer would mean much to her, but she'd be reassured to know that SOMEONE here knows. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Of the trio that run the Izzet, one is excited, one is on the edge of their seat, and one is cautiously optimistic. At least, for once, the three of them are nearly on the same page! At least within one page of each other. While Ryxinel continues down his list, and Sidonia continues to monitor security, Rhapsody is so close to the edge of her seat that she may as well be standing. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang seems to be glowing in sympathetic resonance, her Aura pulsing faintly, like a heartbeat. It's all her own power though. The great messy mane of her hair begins to float and writhe like some great beast of the deep come forth from legend, a golden anenome that threatens to engulf Elner if the Robo-faerie isn't careful where it floats. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden does not feel much, not sure if he is supposed to!, even if he sees others seemingly affected, he is drawn by the shiny wall of force forming, and carefully pulls Katze closer, perhaps a bit worried, seems like this has the potential to go badly. He just finishes his bagel. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Well, thinks Yuna, if this process requires shielding around the shrine - whether to protect the shrine or to protect its surroundings - then maybe some manner of worry is involved. And her hands are full. That doesn't stop her from praying, of course; she just closes her eyes, her lips moving silently as she offers up her prayer to the gods and divine spirits of Namamura, those who have watched over the village and those who have watched over Yunomi throughout her travels, praying both *to* them and *for* them, that the transfer of their domain may be successful and performed without harm to them or to those whom they protect. Only once she's finished her prayer does Yuna open her eyes and look to Eve, "I think it's coming from nodes one through four. More than that, you'd have to ask - after things are finished, that is." Elner might react (or simply sweatdrop), but the robo-faerie is a little busy trying not to get entangled in Yang's hair. Yuna's ponytail is blowing around some as well, albeit not quite as wildly. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The reactions from those around him are quite fascinating. Merlin himself doesn't seem to change so much - his own hair is kept under control, the wizard showing off a little bit. That, and it's such a pain in the ass to brush back into place in the morning; then again listening to Gawain whine "Merlin, Merlin, Merlin! It's always about Merlin!" again at least made it tolerable. But for now, he's sitting back, crossing his legs and just.../sensing./ Good thing he's wearing sunglasses; those eyes of his might just be glowing a little as well. Magical sight pumped to the maximum... 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   In answer to Merlin, Bedivere hunches his shoulders slightly, like a man setting himself against a gale. He squints slightly through those too-luminous eyes, the knotwork coiled around his eye flickering briefly as he braces himself against the ramping energy all around.   It's like the opposite of the last time he had felt Arturia call upon the Sword of Promised Victory; save instead of pulling everything out of him, this seems to be a constant building until the very fullness in the air around him is almost painful. Incredibly unsettling, at the very least. He works his jaw as though deciding whether he finds it actually uncomfortable or not.   He glances over to where Merlin rests a hand on his pauldron; Bedivere instinctively casts a flat look at it. For all that he has helped Dun Realtai, Merlin has not won so much privelege as to be allowed in Bedivere's vanishingly small bubble of personal space. Not yet, anyway.   Leaning forward just a hair, he lets the silent energy do exactly that, flowing around him, through him; feeling it as he would feel a strong wind against his skin. It does feel a little like drowning, and for an instant he almost struggles against the hand on his shoulder, but gradually relaxes, eyes sliding closed to study the sensation. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' SO he was a bit late. There had been paperwork, of course. Getting transportation down here with... a group of friend (he didn't care how peaceful it looked, there was always a chance someone could do /something/ at a place like this). But Rick was at least here, pushing into a good viewing position with a phalalx of concerned people. It's a bit... uncanny how the manage to act as a team to push their way near the front. Certainly it would do no good if Yunomi couldn't actually see him from the crowd; Saying 'I was there, honest'' seemed like a poor excuse. But He made it, Estano, Declere, Fleece, and the Chief, flanking him, looking on and most thankful for the fact that soldier's wore short haircuts. Rick leans over to DeClere. "Medical effects?" He has to raise his voice slightly to be heard, to be rewarded with DeClere giving him a 'The fuck do I look like?' expression, right next to a slightly cheering Fleece. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi glances around, to Merlin and Bedivere, to Yang and Yuna and Eve, to the manifesting stand and the science-loving catboy, Lyria, the digimon, and to the dragons, /her/ dragons, lingering on their faces -- and her family. Dad, Estano, Declere, Fleece, the Chief. Her friensds and mentors and pillars and the rocks she held onto... but there were faces missing. Faces that should be here for this triumph     For a moment her heart felt like it would burst.     "Levels are holding at sixty one percent." she chokes out, feeling tears beginning to form in her eys. She clears her throat, and with a little more oomph she calls out.     "Beginning first mana transfer. Watch the couplings for any heat damage, make sure the main samophange doesn't crack. All systems are holding at sixty-two percent power." she calls out...     THere's a soft hum that steadily gets stronger. The manavines build up energy, crackling with blue lightning -- harmless to everyone present.     "Pidge is reporting that the levels are holding steady through the portal and into the Shrine Rig. Chuugi, can you confirm?"     "Confirmed. We are clear to attempt the jumpstart, Yunomi." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     It was time, and at this time, Rhapsody has to stand. This was all too important to be sitting down for. Her brother asides to her that everything checked out and all that was left was the jumpstart that Yunomi had been getting ready for. The dragon's breath would catch in her throat, but spotting Stadler and company causes a flinch first, but then a genuine smile. With them here, at least half the guild, all sorts of friends, and a particular construct watching from the Thirix Spire, there was only one thing left to do.     A red star shines all the brighter as the Izzet League holds it's collective breath. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Merlin spots the crackles of energy in the vines, and smiles. "It seems the lightning is about to break upon us, Bedivere." And then he projects his voice, to be heard by Yunomi herself, offering a single word - a command - of encouragement. One that would make sense to a member of an ersatz flower club. "BLOSSOM." 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Bedivere lifts his head slightly, eyes rolling up, falling nearly closed, but he (thankfully) doesn't pass out. He's simply letting his sense take over. No... water is not a good analogy, he decides. Besides, he can't swim; he's deathly afraid of deep water. This sensation... it's more like thrusting his hand into the open flame of a hearth, save he does not lose his hand for his trouble.   He turns his eye up to where energy crackles and spits about the manavines, searingly blue against his vision with his powers active. It's almost painful to look at, but look he does, forcing himself to commit the details to memory.   When her gaze falls over him, eyes glowing, those knotwork marks like blue-white light against his skin, he gives Yunomi a smile, inclining his head solemnly in encouragement. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Jumpstart. Supercharged mana. Staren watches curiously, trying to figure out what exactly Yunomi is /doing/... As his hair gets kind of staticy and Yunomi gives some warnings, he hopes that it really is safe... The Izzet aren't exactly known for /safety/, after all... But then, they seldom have public events like this, either... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''          THe world stopped for Yunomi, and she could hear her own breath as she whispers "I'll see you soon, Kaeruhime."     And she looks up, thankful that her eyes were hidden behind her goggles before she calls out "Initiating Jumpstart -- CHuugi, stand clear!"     And she pulls a heavy looking, insulated lever -- and the vines begin to pop and crackle loudly!     Merlin is very, very wise in the ways of magic, but this was not like lightning, more like... the reverse. A sudden magical void. A punch in the gut that knocks the breath out of your body as the ambient energy was gathered, and transferred through the manavines.     The lights around them dim, a couple fading to dark. Batteries in the audience on unprotected devices may drain a little, but through that portal, large enought hat everyone can see, the shrine lights up with the brilliant glow of a midday sun.     "Holding -- couplings are normal. Heat transfer within acceptable perameters. Charging has reached fifty -- seventy five -- eighty -- one hundred percent! Cut the--"     And then there's a sudden, loud, electrical POP! And a sicking sound of mana snapping back along the vines, crackling and red as the vines hold, growing more round in response to the sudden backfeed of mana.     Yunomi pulls down the switch, and then with a second electrical ZAP! the tanuki is knocked back, off the dais and along the ground, her gloves sizzling. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna nods briefly to Yunomi, smiling as brightly as she can (which is 'considerably') as she sees Yunomi looking at her. If there's anything that *can* go wrong with the process at this point, Yuna is certain that it's outside of Yunomi's control - and for something this important, for creating a new, safer home for the people and spirits and others of her native village, Yuna is equally certain that Yunomi would leave as little as possible up to chance. Her smile should convey that faith and that confidence; at least, she's trying to channel them through the smile she offers to Yunomi. Besides, if Yuna were actually worried about her physical well-being at this point ... well, Elner's right there, Yuna *could* transform. But either she doesn't expect that the Light Suit would protect her substantially from what's about to happen when the jumpstart is attempted, or she doesn't expect there to be anything that she needs protection from. If Elner is any more skeptical than Yuna, there's no sign of it ... which is perhaps telling in its own right, because with this much ambient energy, a protective barrier would be noticeable, a shimmer in the air distinct from Yang's warmly rippling Aura. But there's no hint of a barrier or a force field. And then Yunomi pulls the final lever. Yuna fumbles briefly with the controls on her goggles (she's got one hand full and the other's hanging onto her drink, okay?) - and then she spots Yunomi getting zapped right off her feet. "Yunomi!!" yelps the idol, instinctively handing her plate and bottle to Yang and/or Eve (whichever of them is closest and has a clearly visible hand) before bolting to where Yunomi landed. Even if the tanuki girl wasn't manatrocuted, that landing probably *hurt*. Even if there's nothing Yuna can do, she can at least check Yunomi over - or ask Elner to do so - and make sure Yunomi is at least *conscious* ... 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Well that isn't good. Yang may have seemed completely zenned out, but as soon as the mana backfeeds, and Yunomi hits the cutoff switch only to be sent flying back, the blonde is in motion. To most normal people, she would be little more than a golden blur as she crosses the gap to help catch and slow the Tanuki, cushioning her fall. "I got you. MEDIC!" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Yunomi!" Staren runs forward a few steps, then stops. Is she safe to touch? "Are you alright?" he asks, looking between her and the machines in concern. 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     The pressure of the oncoming storm suddenly reverses, and for Merlin it is instantly night. As if sucked down explosively into quicksand, as if the very air was yanked from his body - something even more than air - the wizard sits bolt-upright for a moment and gives a shocked gasp. The sensation is most displeasing, and for an instant he's thankful that Arturia herself is not present. He's aware of Yunomi being flung to the ground...but can barely move himself, and can do nothing to help. 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   The silver-haired knight grimaces as the energy snaps back along the lines, a sudden outrush of energy that isn't unlike the sensation of profound emptiness that Excalibur brings. Rare are the times Arturia has had need of calling on that energy, but whenever she has, the end result has brought Bedivere to his knees, in the most literal sense.   Bedivere grabs Merlin by the shoulder, staggering heavily against the wizard, with a rough grunt of something between pain, nausea, and discomfort. He can also see Yunomi thrown from the device out of the corner of his eye, as he goes down, and he'd really like to help, but right now he's too busy trying to remember how to keep his balance. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The moment the POP is heard, Ryxinel surges away from Rhapsody toward the source, hoping to prevent what was about to happen. "Backblast! GET DOWN!" The red dragon wasn't sure how much magic was about to come rushing back, so the result could be minor or massive.     Sidonia's first priority is Rhapsody, so in an instant the blue dragon tackles her sister behind the chair that had been brought, and then a shimmering white barrier erupts over them and anyone within ten yards or so. She would protect as many as she could, but she had to be certain that Rhapsody was kept safe.     At the sound of the pop, and her brother rushing forward, Rhapsody only has time to say the first half of Yunomi's name before Sidonia forces her to the ground and the barrier goes up. "LET GO!" The dragon was far more concerned for her adopted sister.     All around, other magewrights and guards would be rushing in to produce similar barriers to the one around Rhapsody, wanting to protect everyone present if the backblast ended up being even worse then expected.         Izzet League 101: Things blow up. They know how to deal with it. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The one thing that was... sometimes difficult to get over was the level of expertise Yunomi showed at this sort of thing. Rick's own knowledge of magic was rudimentary, based on different rules, and he only had a firm grasp on a few things. Mana was here, those vines conducted it, and opening that tiny part of him to what was filling the area was like the sufusing waves of hear from a furnace blasting in his face. At least it was easy to close, but it still left him... slightly queasy. Nothing that kept him from smiling up to Yunomi as the power built, trying to lend strength and try to keep the welling of his own throat down when he sees the tears in her eyes. He's good at masks, at leasts. Good at this control, as it gets stronger, and stronger, and- There's the brief more queasy feeling of something being wrong with that cut off cry, and then his stomach dropping to the bottom of his shoes as he seems to see Yunomi go flying back, across the ground in slow motion, staring in horror that presses it's way in too fast to be recognized. At the very least, though, he is good in a crisis. Or, at least, DeClere is. "MAKE A FUCKING HOLE!" She bellows, and it's very likley those that didn't would get smashed in by a palm. And if not by the good Doctor, then the other team, which, like before, knew how to work through a crowd, even /if/ There were was one parent fighting despair, A concerned First Sergeant and spy, a wailing Fleece, and a doctor who wouldn't let anything stop her. Rick knows enough to hold back, to hold on to something of control as DeClere forces her way over to where Yang is. "Doctor. Put her down." She notes, business and broking no argument as she reaches in her pack, snaping out a medical scanner and sweeping it over. 

:'''{{#var:857|Eve (857)}} has posed:'''     When the magic surges, Eve just... freezes. She may have considerable theoretical knowledge of medicine and first aid, but no real experience. And, after all, she's just a kid. The first time she runs across anything, she may not react with calm rationality... especially when it happens to a friend.     As a result Eve's left holding Yuna's plate and bottle, gaping. This was supposed to be SAFE! 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang is chanting something under her breath as DeClere makes her way over. When ordered, she easily relinquishes the Tanuki to the medic's much better equipped care, but remains close by. She hasn't known Yunomi for all that long, but Yang is nothing if not quick to form bonds. "With Unity, strength. With Love, Solidarity. With my soul. Protection." she offers in prayer. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Izzet Rule One: There are explosions.     Most of the backblast was contained by the other mages, by the forethought sheilds, and by the crackling manavines themselves which feed /most/ of it back into the honeycomb structure beneath everyone's feet, safely. The mana sweeps back through the crowd, largely harmlessly thanks to the other Izzet mages in the audience protecting them, stands and aura helping to defend others. It's like being washed down with ice water as the blue mana dissipates... but thankfully no one else appeared hurt.      Yunomi should be thankful that her hair had been carefully braided into a crown around her head, though the rose that Merlin had placed there has been burned away, ashes clinging to her. She has soot and burn marks on her, her chin and cheek showing signs of manaburn. Her gloves are steaming, her protective gauntlets and gloves having taken most of the blow. As her goggles are taken off, her eyes are rolled back, and the red on her collar fades as black swirls appear, like ink spreading through water. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna is similarly quick to make plenty of room for DeClere and Stadler; Elner's already running its own sensor scan - not only checking Yunomi for injuries but monitoring the mana flow from the vines and equipment. "Nothing seems broken," Elner reports succinctly to DeClere, even though the medic has her own scanner out as quickly as the robo-faerie can say it. Then, as if taking note of the Izzet League mages casting all kinds of protection spells, Elner sets up a protective force-field bubble - big enough to enclose Yunomi, DeClere, Yang, and Yuna, and open on the side away from the portal, the dais, and all the equipment. More importantly, it's kept open so that Stadler *isn't* cut off from his daughter's side. And Yuna is praying again, once she's out of DeClere's way. She hardly cares to whom right now - any god or benevolent spirit who'll listen and grant her prayer for Yunomi to be okay, be it from Namamura, from Ravnica, or from somewhere else, so long as the kami in question will listen to the prayer. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi /was/ wearing protective equipment. He kind of expected her to get up right away and shout 'I'm alright, folks!'     But that's not happening. She seems to be... unconscious, hopefully not worse. "What happened?" he asks, hoping at least /someone/ besides Yunomi can explain... 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     When it's clear the mana has dissipated, or to use a Ravnican term, drained out of the pool, Sidonia lets her paniced sister loose. The guildmaster rushes down the 'road' that DeClere had cleared and skids to a stop, on her knees, near Yunomi as well. Sidonia isn't far behind, communicating with the Simic to send someone right away just in case those present couldn't deal with any potential mana burn, or sickness, caused from the backblast. Ryxinel will be going over everything, trying to figure out what happened. Sidonia will continue on security. Rhapsody? ... Well that's obvious. "Yunomi?" 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' There are times, real times, that Rick wishes he was a religous man. Someone who could have called up to the strength of a higher power and call for it to infuse those here with divine protection, skill, recovery... anything, really. Now... now it was only a matter of uttering half hearted prayers sent to anyone he didn't think was listening; the only faith he could give was to those here, the professionals whose skill he'd seen. It wasn't... as much as it could be, provided cold comfort... but there it was. He stood off to the side, fighting the urge to rush to Yunomi. A hovering parent wasn't good for a Doctor to ply her trade, and DeClere, for all her abrassiveness, was a professional at this sort of thing. DeClere ran over the body, gently removing a glove. "Taken damage... burns on the hands, arms, neck... stomach." She says, grimacing slightly, reaching into her pack, and pulling out a spray bottle, running it over the Tanuki; it mists, then hardens into something that might at least dull the pain, and keep things santized, before rummaching through her pack. "I'm not a mage, Rhapsody." She says, in a low voice. "She's magic, and I don't know how to deal with that. I need help." She notes, before pulling out an herbal salve. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "It's fine," the dragon muses back quietly. "We have allies on the way. Do what you can. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' For all that Yuna meets the technical definitions of a paladin - a warrior in the service of a divine entity - her prayers still aren't a whole lot more effective for practical purposes than anyone else's; her faith may be stronger than many people's, and more flexible than most, but it's rare that she sees a distinct and definite response to any prayer she might offer. All she can really do is ask, "How deep do the burns go?" as she finishes her initial prayers. "If it's only skin-deep or muscle-deep, then her life shouldn't be in any real danger, right ... ?" With the immediate threat of mana-backwash explosions seeming less and less likely, Elner powers down the protective barrier, but the robo-faerie stays ready to set the force-field up at an instant's notice. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     If there is a higher power that wants Yunomi out of the world, it must be scared of DeClere.     Yunomi comes to, taking a deep, pained breath, the wind knocked out of her as she feels pain both wreck through her body and then cool. Her gloves, gauntlets, and goggles were off. She feels tears threaten at her eyes.     "That... that should have worked." was all she croaked, and then coughs again, ignoring anyone for a moment or two before she tries to push herself up -- and realizes she's looking at DeClere's lap... and promptly she just... flops back down again.     "W-was anyone caught in the blastback? It was /blue/ it shouldn't have bounced like that!" she coughs, trying to sit up. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Ryxinel is still rushing around making sure nothing else is going to happen. Sidonia is escorting a Simic healer in. Rhapsody lets Yunomi know, "Standard backblast protocal, all the magewrights present spread out and cast barrier spells. No one else has been hurt. Ryxinel is.. inspecting everything. He probably won't stop until you tell him to," she notes, trying to make light of the situation a -little-, but there was truth in the statement. The artificer dragon probably would be trying to figure it out for a WHILE. "What about you..? There's a Simic coming now.." 

:'''{{#var:639|Merlin (639)}} has posed:'''     Bedivere is slumped against him, and for a few seconds at least - as Yunomi is tended to by the others - there's nothing the wizard can do. Eventually, at least, he manages to stabilize his own prana, letting the shockwave finally echo away into nothing. Bedivere...is less skilled in such things, and is barely able to keep himself up. The wizard keeps one hand on the knight's back, just to make sure there's not a sudden collapse under the weight of all that steel. Well, Bedivere will live, but Merlin /really/ doesn't want to have to wheelbarrow his iron-plated ass home. (Literally) (Both) "I think...it would be best if we retire for the moment, Sir Bedivere. Something happened...but it is in hand, and I would not trust a journey back in this condition. Perhaps in a few hours." Until then, Merlin at least intends to wait at an inn. Food and a little rest can't hurt...and he can at least wait for word of Yunomi's condition. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Yunomi! You're alive!" Staren is relieved to see her getting up. "It's alright. If it /should/ have worked and it didn't, that means you just learned something! Um... are you okay, though?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "I think the rest of us are okay, Yunomi," Yuna says, sounding tentatively relieved. Or rather, she's DEFINITELY relieved - Yunomi's awake and talking, both of which are very good signs - but she's not letting herself stop worrying entirely *quite* yet. "At least, I didn't see or hear anything besides you go flying, and you didn't hit anyone else on your way off the dais ..." She digs in a pocket briefly, pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to Yunomi, or to DeClere - or maybe just using it herself to dab away at the tears, if the aforementioned don't interdict the attempt. "How badly are *you* hurt? You took some mana burns, I don't know how serious they are ..." 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' DeClere has a shotgun. There is probably a rumor going around that's she's shot at the Grim Repear once. But even she lets out a breat as Yunomi comes to, moving to place the salve back down and reach for some pills and a bottle of water. "If you say so. Talk you your dad on things not going as they're planned." DeClere isn't the emotional sort... not right away, at least. There was time for shakes and tears after everyone was in triage or zipped up in a bag. The pills and water are offered to Yunomi. "Take two of these. Proper mix. Should move the healing process forward." She notes, before signalling to Stadler, who lets his own breath out, and steps forward. He's quiet for a moment, taking in her injuries, her burned clothing, the triage dressing, before taking another breath, and looking toward her eyes. "Well. That was... impressive. Not the... intended result, but... Whatever doesn't kill you..." He says, giving a slightly uncertain smile. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I'm alive... oh hey, yeah, that could have been bad for the guild if I got killed before Presentation Day." Yunomi coughs, trying to lighten the mood. She gives an apologetic look to Rhapsody, and accepts the pills and bottle of water from DeClere without any sort of protest. SHE KNOWS BETTER. She takes a deep breath, and shifts her weight as she looks up to her dad, and she gives an uneasy smile. "Yeah... I'm going to have to log this one down as a 'mixed sucsess'." she replies softly.     A Simic Medic arrives, green hair, gills, smelling faintly of fresh seaweed. He begins to examine Yunomi, his hands working to try and decrease the damage done from the manaburn.     Yunomi gives a smile to him, but keeps talking     "OK, so, I got flung back, concussion? Am I slurring my words? So most of that blastback came through the control? ... I'll... hae to insulate it... Ryx... Ryx make a note -- insulate console controls..." Yunomi begins woozily, and leans a little bit more heavily on the healer.     "... what about the shrine?" she asks, and she tries to crane her head towards the portal.     The shrine looks... completely normal. There's some scoring and soot from the blastback. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Looks intact to me," Yuna says reassuringly after one quick glance through the portal. "I can send Elner for a closer look if you'd like?" 

:'''{{#var:482|Sir Bedivere (482)}} has posed:'''   Somewhat bleary-eyed, the knight staggers, an arm around Merlin to keep himself on his feet. It's a good thing that Arturia wasn't here after all. If he's sent reeling this badly, he can only imagine what a sudden absence of ambient energy must do to her. Or any other Servants, for that matter; to his limited understanding they're all made of the same stuff.   He shakes his head as though to clear it, gathering himself and pushing off from Merlin's shoulder with a grunt of effort. The world swims around him, and though he staggers again, he manages to keep himself upright, mostly.   "Oh, aye, something happened. Lord God, I feel like..." Bedivere shrugs lamely. "Like my king just called upon the Sword of Promised Victory. It was /your/ idea to cast my senses so far, wizard," he grumbles. The annoyance fades as he looks to Yunomi, though, expression suddenly weary. "As much as I am loathe to leave her, the others have her health well in hand, I think. There is naught more I can do for her, and less still in this state."   As though to underscore that, he shuffles against Merlin again. "No. Let us return home. I will be fine, we simply must needs... walk slowly. Very slowly." This place is like weirdness incarnate, and he's even less inclined to trust the rampant magic and gizmos after something just backfired spectacularly. He's kind of superstitious in some ways. "Besides, I should not wish to worry my king if we did not return in a timely manner. There are enough seeing to Lady Stadler; I should not like to crowd her."   And with that, he'll let Merlin help him hobble on home to Dun Realtai -- but not without a backward look to Yunomi, ashen-faced. Yeah, see, this is why you don't let the newbie-rank sorcerer do things without filters between him and the Otherworld, see. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "I'll tell him later. He's pretty much looking at everything and I'm pretty sure he'll go down INTO it in a minute--" pause. Peer. Woozy? A curious glance is given the Simic as he works. She finishes answering Yunomi, "The safeties seem to have worked. While the protocal was used, it seemed to difuse back into its natural state, or into the nexus, or well, the dias," she says, muttering the last few words. The guildmaster stands, realizing there were a LOT of people here that just experienced a manasurge and then a backblast. Sensitive to mana or not, it can take a toll. After realizing the size of the crowd, the Guildmaster plants her feet on the chair she had been sitting in earlier and looks around to address the crowd.     "I'm certain there is a lot of concern for what happened, but as any member of the Izzet League knows, our kind of science rarely happens without explosions, and tonight it was simply proven again. Please be assured that Yunomi Stadler is being tended to and will be quite alright. For anyone here that is sensitive to magic, or has felt the effects of the mana-surge and backblast, the Izzet League would be happy to host any of you for the night in our guest area in the Thirix Spire. If you care to stay, please see myself, or Sidonia, and we will get you the access you need to access the auxillary spire over there," she makes a motion toward the second of the Izzet spires. Nivix was gold, but Thirix was more of a cobalt hue. "All I ask now is that you allow yourselves, and Yunomi to recover, and we will address any questions or concerns when everyone is back to 100 percent. Thank you!" That said, the dragon hops down, takes a breath, and then moves back over to see how everything with Yunomi and company is going. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     The Simic are medics, too! Cool. At least, hopefully they're medics and not just randomly here to turn Yunomi into a dragon or something. Although that might not be all bad!     Staren smiles a bit as Yunomi gets back on her mental feet, planning how to prevent this from happening again, and then he grows concerned as she analyzes her own condition and looks kind of woozy.     Rhapsody makes an announcement. Staren looks between those gathered. "Get well soon, Yunomi. Whatever you were trying to do here... I'm sure you can pull it off soon."     He's not planning to stay, so he sort of just stands around awkwardly for a bit. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I've got to pull it off soon. This thing goes live on Friday. I've got four days to get that problem fixed..."     Yunomi reaches up, touching the fading burns on her throat, and the blackened ribbon there. "... it's just odd. That should have been /just/ enough to..."     She swoons again, and shakes her head "Rhaps, I've gotta go lay down, I think. Thanks for the help, friend. Please give my regards to the Speaker." She gives a wan smile to the Simic Healer, who opens a mouth to protest, then withdraws.     Yunomi pulls herself to her feet, and glances around with a slight, apologetic smile. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' DeClere looks... slightly peeved when the Simic medic arrives, giving him, for just a moment, a stone-faced flare that sends most people running away in fear to leave her to /properly/ stich someone up.. but only for a second. She wasn't an expert on mana burns, and her personal pride hadn't gotten in the way of her professionalism... yet. She lets him tend to her, but, as she stands up, stands up with her. "We'll head back to your quarters." She says, in that tone of voice that says she can say no, but it would be... difficult to stop her. Rick himself might be beaming with a little bit more courage now. By /God/, if she can make cognizant experimental observations after a blast like that, she was well on her way to becoming a proper scientist. Adventurer. Both. He'll stand up when she does, looking to Yunomi, then to DeClere. "Get her settled." He says, to the Doctor, before turning to Rhapsody. "I have the vacation days. Would you be good enough to find me a room? I'd hate to have to pitch a tent outside. Can't do that without at least a platoon." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon watches, mostly quietly now, as everything starts to settle down. People are starting to leave if they want, magewrights are starting to filter back toward Nivix, and anyone that asks Rhapsody for access will get it. When Richard asks, Rhapsody tugs an azure colored Izzet Signet out and gives it to the man, "You always have a room here, Mr. Stadler. I just had never had the chance to give this to you." If he showed the signet and headed into Thirix, he would find his name on the door. 
}}

4316/FISTS OF LOVE

2016-07-14T18:15:52Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/07/14 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=A couple of trouble-makers raise a rabble, while Yunomi takes a crushing blow from Rhaps and r..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/07/14
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=A couple of trouble-makers raise a rabble, while Yunomi takes a crushing blow from Rhaps and reminds her that unless it's part of a spell, words are mostly harmless.
|Cast of Characters=272, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Namamura District -- a spot of happy green mana, set up in the mountains of buildings nad echoing subterranean chambers, lit by paper lanterns. A mixture of people live and work here -- some even joining the Guilds as non-magical helpers, testers, curriers. Some even showed a little talent for magic, children learning Japanese writing and the native Ravnican script.     And there are, indeed, a couple of people here who don't belong. Wearing tattered, brownish robes, one of them is using a deafening yell to shout that the outsiders need to go home -- that Ravnica is for Ravnicans.     Mothers pull their children from the streets. A disapproving old man is standing with a broom in his hands, eyeballing the three Guildless up as they grin at one another, and approach him. He's a small, wizened old man, wrinkles cover most of his tanned face, and his hands are slightly twisted -- the mark of a lifetime of long work. He wears an apron over his clothing.     "Didn't you hear us?" the ringleader growls, leaning down and getting into the old man's face. "We said: Get Out."     Far above, in one of the massive oak trees that help guard the district, Yunomi lands on a heavy branch, her goggles pulled down as she tries to guage what her reaction should be -- she had already been in the area when she had alerted Rhapsody of the trouble. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     This. Would. Not. Stand. Guildless were one thing, but to come into the Namamura district, created for these refugees by the Izzet Guildmaster herself? No. No no no. This would not -stand-. Guildless, Izzet, Guilded, or some other status within the city. At the moment, the dragoness -and- her siblings are still a ways out, but Sidonia is already reporting on what's been going on. Rhapsody is listening, and mostly wondering, how this may be handled by the Offworld Apprentence. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The Offworld Apprentence, here among her people... the people she failed.     And it would not stand that she would fail to protect them again.     Yunomi leaps out of the tree, sailing through the air and drops behind the three guildless mages. She's wearing her full Izzet colors, red and blue stripes, brassy bits and leather, her goggles and the insignia at her shoulder with Niv-Mizzet's symbol, and just below it the symbol of the Three Siblings.     "Hey, Asshole. Why don't you pick on someone your own size."     The three turn, and one elbows the other, whispering something as the ring leader steps forward. "Ooh. I know your face. /You/ were the dragon's last little pet, weren't you?" he asks, stepping forward. His two cohorts follow in tow, and Yunomi looks past them to the aged man... who makes a rude gesture to the three, and hobbles back to his porch. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And a certain trio were going to make -sure- Yunomi didn't fail. However, as the group gets closer, and realize Yunomi had a chance to do well for her people, they move to opposite sides of the trio, at distance. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If They felt a need to move in, they would, but there would be -no- doubt left behind that these people were protected by the Izzet and rabble-rousers such as this would not be permitted or tolerated. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi takes a deep breath -- she thought they'd be here b y now. She feels her knees slack, an over-sold gardener. No longer the power hosue she used to be, but she wouldn't back down from this fight. The three other mages begin to circle her like sharks.     "What do you think, Tarren? Remember hearing how Niv-Mizzet's last apprentice let her engines blow up in her face?"     "I think I heard something about that, Nosth. Some apprentice. Maybe she just had a thing for lizards?"     "Ha! Lizards, I get it! Didn't think something that small could keep that big a bed warm though!"     "I'm warning you, /leave/." Yunomi states, her grip tightening, feeling red mana gather at her fingertips, her fingers arcing lightning between them. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Well, that was the plan at least. It was Ryxinel's plan, not Rhapsody's plan. As she splits off from her siblings, and hears the trio tearing into Yunomi verbally, well, the plan goes right out the window. There's a sound of metal against metal as a spell-blade is drawn free from its scabbard. "ENOUGH." The explosion of sound may as well have been from the Red Star in the air due to the amount of authority behind it. The other two siblings start to move in, allbeit slower than Rhapsody. "Another word, just one, and I'll use all six of the charges in this blade on all three of you." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "On what charge?" Tarren states. He pulls down his hood, and tilts his head back. "On taking a walk through your town? For having a verbal argument? You two saw it -- the Guildmaster of the Izzet just /drew a weapon/ on me because I made a comment. Oooh. Wonder what she does when she's not in her own little sector." he brazenly, flippantly states, running a hand through his copper colored hair. He's a tall, thin guy, missing teeth.     Yunomi's circled around, and putsher hand gently on Rhapsody's arm. "Rhaps, it's fine. He's just a blowhard with a couple of cantrips." Yunomi points out, "We'll grab the Boros and give a report, since we've already got two of their names..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Tresspassing. The Namamura district was created within the boundries of the Izzet Sector. If you are Guildless, as reported, then you are tresspassing on guild grounds. So. Again. I suggest you move along," the dragon growls before side-glancing to the Tanuki, "Oh, they are already on the way. That was the first thing Ryxinel did before we left," she muses, blade still pointed at the trio. "So. Again. Tell me. Why are you tresspassing here?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "The Guilds are a failing power. Ravnica should belong to /all/ Ravnicans... not offworld trash like her, and these people." Tarren motions to Yunomi, whose ear fuzz stands out and her tail curls into a slight upside-down U-shape. "You create an entire district for this garbage but leave everyone outside your walls to fend for themselves! Where's the fairness in that? Was that part of the dragon's big plans too, or did he only care about himself?" he snaps, and then touches his mouth. "Oooh. Sorry. That was your father, wasn't it? Best thing that ever happened to Ravnica was to /dump/ one of the formers of the guilds into the aether!"     "H-hey, Tarren, dealing with a guildmaster wasn't on the plan--" Nosth replies, and the third guildless decides then it's a great time to wisecrack: "Well, yaknow, like father like child, right? So how much ego does this place give you?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     What the trio expects is probably not what happens right away. Rather than slice and dice with the blades, the red blade, and the freshly drawn blue one, is held to her side. Both of them are handed off to Ryxinel who quickly slips away. Not allowing another moment to pass, the draconic guildmaster surges forward, pulls back, and heaves a hook that has far too much weight behind it for her size. More like her true-form's weight is behind it!     The Boros are passing through the gate, now... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     That's where Yunomi steps in, glancing to Ryxinel as he slips away, the temptation to use the blades, and the spells held in them gone, sh e almost heaves a sigh of releif. Just some punks who'll be dealt with by the Boros (and hopefully sentenced to filling out paperwork, that'd be grand...) -- but then Rhapsody moves forwards, and Yunomi's eyes go wide. She steps in, using her meager weight to shove Terran to the side as she brings her bracers up and takes the hit for Terran -- and SLAMS into a tree, breaking off a branch, and slumping down to the ground.     Comically, it rains acorns. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     It all happens so fast! The only reason the Guildmaster knows someting is wrong is she felt the fist on -metal- rather than flesh. The *CRACK*, the slump, the acorns... the eyes-wide expression that follows... the eye-narrowing, the absolute -snarl-, and then the insanity of two siblings holding back the third follows. Sidonia and Ryxinel -eventually- get her off to a side alley to talk her down.     The Boros, thankfully, seem to be sympathetic for two reasons. One) Izzet Grounds. 2) That was her -dad-. Jerks. Give it a moment, she'll realize just how hard she hit Yunomi's bracers and come -running. Just let the blood-boiling stop. She's still a red, it's just easy to forget.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yes. It was easy to forget that Rhaps was a Red, and Reds have tempers.     Meanwhile, Yunomi was seeing blue and red stars swirling around against the black of her vision. Terran had /no/ idea how lucky he was that Yunomi thought fast... that blow m ight have killed him. The three Guildless go quietly after not only an offworlder, but an /Izzet/ came to their defence (in pretty much open defiance of a Guildmaster!), and Yunomi stirs only when one of the Legionaires claps her on the shoulder. She had been prepared for the forward blow, but not the backwards strike, and it took a minute for her to realize she was being spoken to. People are poking their heads out windows and shops, and the little man with the broom is at the opening of his shop, looking concerned. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The three wander off, but there's no doubt the Boros will probably have someone tail them and deal out whatever sort of warning or punishment they are due. Rhapsody, and her siblings, would eventually wander back out, but the Guildmaster looks far more reserved instead of angry now. Is she actually scared to face Yunomi after that? ... Yes. A little. Sidonia is nearly pushing her sister forward at this point. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi just keeps leaning against the tree, looking a little out of it. She waves off the legionaire, embarrassedly before she notices that there's two Rhapsodys! ... or one Rhapsody, and she hit her head pretty hard.     Yunomi gives a slight grin, and a small wave. "Hey, remind me to /never/ make you mad. You have a hell of a hook, Rhaps. Right, Sid? Ryx?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The comment actually gets a rare smile out of Sidonia. "She's had very good teachers," she compliments. Ryxinel gives more of a nod than anything before moving to discuss what happened with one of the officers. Rhapsody takes a knee, finally glances up...     "Are you ok..?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No," beat. "I'm Yunomi." the tanuki offers a joke, and then motions for Rhaps to sit down. "Sit down, the both of you." she apparently finds this funny, and gives a laittle laugh before she winces, and picks an acorn out of her jacket.     "So... I'm pretty sure you have a burning question other than that to ask." she states, giving a kind, adoring look to Rhapsody.     Or it could be the concussion, but she does adore the dragon. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Considering that, despite appearences, Yunomi was Rhapsody's elder by YES amount of years, she wasn't going to argue. She just offers a nod, takes a seat, and only -then- does the joke and manages a little laugh. She reaches up to pluck another one of the acorns from above the goggles. "Why..?" she probably doesn't need to ask the rest. Sidonia already has an idea, but waits to see what Yunomi says in silence. Back to how she normally is, it seems. She DOES take a seat, though. Who's the guildmaster now?! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Words have power, mages know that. A magic spell can call up fire, lightning... large, flying hippopotamous." Yunomi begins, and she shifts her weight again. Oh, it'll hurt in the morning. "But those guys weren't using magic, other than to be loud. They were just running their mouths, those kinds of words only have power if you let them. Were they wrong? Yeah, on most of their points, but... they don't know us. They don't know him." she leans her head back. "They are butts. And you know what sound a butt makes when it gets noisty?"     And Yunomi grins, and just blows a raspberry at Rhapsody. "... and that's all you shoulda heard." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     There's a moment of thought, a moment to nod, then a follow up moment to snicker a little at the last line, "You're right," Rhapsody admits after it all, "Just.. that's still a very sore spot. I'm not trying to make an excuse, just, .. well you know.." she couldn't at all start to point out how well she knew her dad. Yunomi him as well, if not -better-. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No, I'm Yunomi, I keep telling people this." Yunomi states sternly, then reaches over and takes Rhapsody's hand, with a little difficulty. "Rhaps. I know it hurts." Yunomi says, and then just leans forwards and hugs Rhapsody the best she can, and then scoots over and attemps to wrap her arms around Sidonia too, for good measure. Not because she's dizzy and will fall over without support. That's an entirely different problem.     "You are my family and my heart beats for you, and as long as this heart beats, you know I shall look out for your best interests. Always."     There's a pause.     "I'm missing a dragon in my family group hug." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The third dragon suddenly comes in from behind Yunomi, "Are not," he quips matter-of-factly. The report was in, whatever the Boros would do would be their business.     The two sisters just settle into it, and Rhapsody doesn't protest for a moment. Then, after another moment, "Thianel's kind of difficult to hug," comes Rhapsody's attempt at a laugh. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a snerk. "I can invent a way to fix it, I'm sure. I /am/ Izzet." she replies, and she loops Ryx in as much as she can. One Tanuki. Three Dragons. SO MANY HUGS.     "... so... how... hard did you hit me?" Yunomi begins, and she loosens her armor as she pulls back from the hug, and shows off the heavy dents in the armor "... that might leave a mark." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Ah, I kinda put my weight into it. . . . My -actual- weight into it," the dragon admits. "So um... probably pretty hard? I've never really gauged it.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Albert sat on these and not a dent. I get punched by my girlfriend and suddenly I need new armor..." Yunomi siiiighs. "Such is the lii--" and then she realizes that Sidonia and Ryx are still there... and she purses her lips. "... I said that out loud, didn't I?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Oh please," Ryxinel starts.     Sidonia follows up. "You really think we didn't know?" she just smirks that smirk. She is the Izzet spymaster, after all. It says so on her door. Ignore the fact she made up the position!     "Ah haha, yeah, you did," Rhapsody confirms before giving a snug of reassurance. "I don't think they mind." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... more that the people around us, like the Boros, and the district didn't know... look, I'm from Feudal Japan, thigs like this weren't... common." she explains, and she looks terribly embarrassed, stands up -- teeters -- and immediately sits right back down.     "Apparently, I may have a concussion from smacking against the tree. Luckily, my head is harder than the tree." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Well thankfully, you know a lot of people that know a lot of other people that can make sure you're well taken care of," Rhapsody states as Ryxinel rises to give a call for someone from one of the spires' medical team to come help Yunomi with her injury. "Sorry, still.. Last thing I would want to do is hurt you.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "But it's still on the list." Yunomi jokes, and she gives a grin. "Rhaps, it's /fiiine/." Yunomi eases herself back up, taking her time this time. "Heat of the moment, but hopefully you'll remember this next time soneone decides to run their mouth. Sticks and stones may break bones -- but nothing shows up someone's bigotry like the very person they were making fun of saving their pathetic little ass." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Ah, yeah. Hopefully I can -remember- before I try to clean someone's clock of it's gears." Red. Impulsive. Gotta remember somehow! Hopefully. "I'm curious what the Boros will do, but they have their job to do and we have ours," the dragon continues before offering the tanuki a hand. "SCIENCE doesn't invent itself, right?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I hope you do." Yunomi states, and she begins to walk, teeteringly a bit before she crosses her arms.     "I'm glad that was resolved quickly, though... who knows what they could have done..." she trails off.     Meanwhile, the Boros who were in pursuit of the three ended up with a messy demise right outside Izzet territory. The alleyway they followed the trio into is now scorched and black, smelling of burning tallow that might be carried on the wind.     And there is no sign of the three guildless mages, other than a coin spinning in the air, and then falling with a clatter to the gorund. 
}}

4303/Interrogation

2016-07-10T03:48:08Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/07/09 |Location=Slum Urbania |Synopsis=No. 9 and Taro attempt to tempt an Assassin with baked goods in exchange for a weapon. It almost works...."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/07/09
|Location=Slum Urbania
|Synopsis=No. 9 and Taro attempt to tempt an Assassin with baked goods in exchange for a weapon. It almost works.
|Cast of Characters=269, 399, 923
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     SLUM URBANIA     Ramshackle towers and destitute buildings here are the norm, presenting a landscape fraught with danger and opportunity. Holes in buildings left teetering in the wake of strong winds give the chance to move around easily -- if you know how to move around.     Yesterday, a slum lord who had been preying on those most in need of help, known for his violent methods of threatening others and who had taken hostages had been found laying in a pool of his own blood, his throat slit and his body peirced through. Judgement was visited on him, and others inthe enighborhood had began backing off in fear of following a similar road to death.     And yet, quietly, a figure stalked the darkness, leaping building to building. They wore a dark gray hoodie, a pointed inverted peak like a bird's beak drawn down and casting their face in shadow, with a scarf pulled up to hide their lower face. A backpack and a heavy belt were notable, along with sturdy boots.     THe figure creeps along a rooftop, coming to a rest above a shining, teeming square, overlooking a part of humanity she could never be part of.     Nasrin, the Assassin who kept her Creed, watched the innocent below without their knowing she was even there. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     One being stalks the shadows.     A familiar being.     Hulking, degenerate, troglodytic, brutish and wrong, the figure shifts in the darkness, the eyes glinting and gleaming in the dark, ruining any chance of stealth. A glint of light outlines the figure of Number Nine, the bandy armed B.O.W. shuffling through the stinking alley, his ugly face creased up thin and his lips pulled back from white, blocky teeth.     "Ughhh, smells like a fuckin men's room in 'ere." Back to one of the back alley clearings, a thing of scraggly weeds and cracked pavement, but at least it's not reeking of hobo piss. The GOLEM coughs and shakes himself out, the heavy backpack on his back clunking about. Smoke, pollution, but considerably better, and he draws a deep deep breath, eyes closing.     A glance over his shoulder, his voice rough and cracking. "Any luck?" 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     The man had been, as Nine not so deliactely puts it, an oxygen thief. Taro has no reason to mourn his passing. He may even secretly approve of the message that was sent by the killing, even if he may not personally care for the person sending it.     More immediately relevent is the liklihood that an Assassin is behind the killing. Of course, there's the chance that they had nothing to do with it, but better to explore one lead than none at all.     A slimmer and smaller figure follows behind the hulking one, a dark grey cloak somewhat disguising the contours of his armor. As usual, his face is a faintly dour mask, with no disgust at their surroundings apparent. "I wouldn't know," he quips in deadpan humor back at Nine. He gives a small shrug, as much to resettle the cloak on his shoulders as response. Then, his gaze shifts upward from the narrow confines of the alley, brow furrowing slightly as he looks for signs of out-of-place motion above them. "Not yet. But if they were easy to find..." 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     ... then everyone would have one. As their brotherhood had gotten... smaller, Nasrin herself had less to call on -- and she valued her stealth more and more.     Not that she was counting on a couple of Confederates looking for her. She stands, withdrawing back along the rooftop of the building she was on, and deftly leaping across the alleyway Taro and Nine were in, gravel from a loosened brick skittering down, falling amongst the flotsam and jetsam of humanity's refuse.     She walks along, the next quarry already on her mind. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     A bit of a grunt as he lifted his head, smelling the air. "I SWEAR I smell them around here somewhere... but it might just be me, might be a false positive, something. I can't /tell/, everything in this fucking place reeks." A cough, and he shakes out again, like a dog. "I swear this is totally their MO, it's awesome. Fuckin cut the fuckers throat n' gutted him. It was fuckin sweet. You could see in parts where they clipped the spine a lil. Fuckin. Sweet." He adjusts the backpack a lil, lookin around. "Yea if they were easy t' find, we could, yannow, FIND THEM. At... ...all..." A glance around, a pause. And the hand goes up. Stilling Taro.     Or-     The roof she'd just left suddenly ripples faintly, and something that looks like Nine if he were gaunt and red shimmers into existence.     The faint shift of gravel RIGHT BEHIND HER indicates on her current one that it's not the only one- 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro's head turns in the direction of the faint rattle of dislodged bits of brickwork, falling silent just as Nine motions him to. He stands perfectly still and in place, not even breathing. This is more the Golem's area of expertise, and so he's willing to take his directions.     He hears more shuffling from above, and from it presumes that there is in fact someone above them. But is it who they're looking for, or someone else? 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     Nasrin lets out a slow, steady breath as she appraises her situation. One in front of her, one behind. Ugly looking things, gaunt and mishapen. Her head tilts, her hazel eyes studying the one in front of her for a breif moment -- likely built for speed, she decides.     Well. So was Nasrin.     The Assassin apparently decides that the rooftop is too open a place, and she does a sharp turn, speeding u p faster than most any human has anybusiness being as she calls upon her Gift, and uses it to get distance between herself and the two Bishops, heading towards a massive derelict building, holes and broken floors through-out.     The chase is on! 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     The chase is on indeed! The Golem King gives a WHOOP and breaks out chasing after her, his mouth broken open in a feral grin, his eyes alight as he goes tearing off after her, keeping to the streets. As for the red figures on the roof? Well aint that just a lil bitch. The two turn towards her, shifting faintly... and disappear. Whoum. Whoum.     Nine's following her, whooping and cackling, scrambling through the alley after her. "There they are! We have visual confirmation!" How the hell? He didn't see her. The only thing that saw, her... was the, red, thing? He's running, and occasionally there's a flash of red as one of those things shows up on a roof, head trailing as it watches her run.     The Golem King bounces off a wall, choking on a snicker and tearing off after her. She's a fast one though. 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     The chase is on, and Taro is on Nine's heels. He's far quieter than his brother in his pursuit, making little noise aside from the rustle of his cloak and armored boots clacking on the broken pavement. He also didn't see their target, but he trusts that Nine is leading them in the right direction. An empty shell of a building does seem a likely place to find their quarry.     "Can you provide me coordinates?" he asks, a bit louder than usual to be sure Nine hears him. Hopefully. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     Nasrin heard the whoop from Nine, and instantly recognizes the voice. She gives a soft hiss, and puts on a little more speed, /leaping/ over a street, falling through the air before she hits another roof, tumbling, tucking and shoulder rolling and springing out of it, breathing coming a little bit harder as a hint of pain in her stomach twists into being. She focuses on getting to the building, and the next time she leaps, she pulls her hood down, her arm coming up to break through a window, glass and wood shattering, splintering to pieces as she disappears into the gloom within, shaking glass from her hood and her sleeves, dashing down a hallway and coming up to a stairwell, smashed in pieces -- and a very... very long drop down to the building's lobby. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     Nine cracks out a sharp set of coordinates for Taro to be able to follow, rasped out of the corner of his mouth. There. That building. Yes. Dark. Cool. Quiet. Just about right.     There's a CRASH, and quite a crash as a particularly weak section of the wall is Kool Aid Man'd open, resulting in a spill of scattering rubble and a dusty Number Nine, panting and grinning through the gloom. He stalks into the center of the building, stepping into that self-same building's lobby. "Heyyy lil girl~ now where've you got to..." 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro gives a sharp nod that Nine likely had no chance to see before veering off in a slightly different direction. It's a less direct path that he takes inside, as he dashes around the building to what was the building's main entrance. Once boarded up, but looters or vagrants had torn down one of the plywood sheets sometime in the past few years. His silhouette stands out in the brief moment it takes him to pass through the open hole, but Nine's far grander entrance may make his less noticable.     Given the chance, the android slips into a convenient shadow not far from where he entered. He's obviously no Assassin, but he'll take an opportunity to go unnoticed if it presents itself. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     Nasrin, on the other hand, is totally an Assassin, and is embracing the shadow. Her gray hoodie lets her hide in the gloom, blending in amongst rotted drywall and collapsing wallpaper. She exhales in a slow fashion, watching the hallway. The whole of the building gives a shudder as Nine's entrance (OH YEAH!) collapses part of the exterrior wall, sending brick, motar and dust everywhere, breaks skidding along the linoleum floor that once might have been checked.     A few bats squeak in alarm, and fly out of the building through a hole. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     The teeth flash in the gloom. "Come on out, lil girl~ We're just here to have a... conversation." You know Nine the way you say it, it's not very reassuring. "C'maaaaaaan. Ya can't hide ferever. Come on out! We'll, have a talk, a lil bit a negotiation. It'll be fun." He claps his hands together, the resounding clang of metal on metal painfully loud in the silence. "...I can flush you out, lil girl. I can find you. I can wreck you. I can end you." His voice is a slice of pure ugliness, his eyes harsh in the gloom. "BUT. That aint whut I'm here for, actually. Belive it or not... I came here t' talk." A glance around, his eyes sweeping the shadows. 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro happily lets Nine do the talking...well, perhaps 'happily' is too strong a word, given just what the Golem is saying. Diplomacy it definitely is not. However, if it produces results, he will not do more than make some lighthearted (for him) remark on it later.     But for now, he simply stands silent and nearly motionless. Nearly. He does turn his head to visually scan the lobby for any signs of their quarry. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     THeir quarry is still several floors up. The building does, however, provide an excellent echoing effect, making her voice bounce off the whole of the chasm between them.     However, Nasin has had so much time to practice her imitation skills, it would be a complete shame to not put them to use, wouldn't it?     So, it's not a girl's voice that answers; Haytham Kenway's dry, British voice cracks like a whip through the air:     "And what could we /possibly/ have to discuss? I don't suppose you're still after your coffee pot?" 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     The head SNAPS up, the eyes instantly going a strange and washed out greenish gray, losing the bright sharp yellow color. His face fades to a sandy hue, blood draining away as his body seems almost instinctively to cringe down into a hunched, drooping stoop.     "...Haytham?" And then he's bolt upright. "HAYTHAM!! ARE YOU THEERE?? Oh, FUCK MAN I thought you were DEAD I thought you were /DEAD/ fuck Haytham I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! We fucking BURIED you man!! Please, PLEASE I'm sorry man, I'm sorry I didn't realize- HAYTHAM, where are you?? H-hold on buddy I'm comin up there-" And then Nine is clambering up, his metal fingers directly digging into the walls, dust streaking the lines down his face as he pants and whimpers faintly, scrambling up and nearly hyperventilating, the wheezing shff of his breath thin and fast. "HAYTHAMM, I'm comin' buddy!" 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro's face barely twitches, but inwardly he snarls. They had just visited the elder Kenway's grave not long ago. The Assassin's choice of voice was surely coincidental to to that, but it gives the choice in voice an extra sharp edge it may not have otherwise had...     ...And his larger brother reacts in a completely different manner, believing (or wishing to believe) the imitation to be real. He's forced to break his silence, boots clacking on the ancient linoleum as he chases after him. "Nine! Stop! It's not -- "The words are too late, Nine is already climbing up, a path he can't easily follow.     With a snarl that shows this time, he turns away to take the staircase. Stairs two at a time in an attempt to keep up, or at least not fall behind. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     Purely coincidental. Nasrin was not, however, expecting /THAT/ kind of reaction. She winces, searching through her repertoire of voices, and moving as quickly -- and quietly -- as she can, she tries to hop up another level, hiding in the shadows, leaping for a hanging pipe and slipping into some abandoned apartment's bathroom, dangerously perching to the side as Nine thunders his way upwards.     "I would stop where you are, Nine," someone very different calls out. The accent is all wrong, the voice slightly garbled, screechy. "Haytham is long dead and burried -- may he find the peace he sought in the afterlife." 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     Nine's shoulders flex, twisted and tense, the silvery G stamp branding his shoulder flexing and tightening as he struggles his way up to the second story. His eyes are frantic, glowing bright in the gloom, voice a quavering shriek as he rasps out, "HAYTHAAM!! WHERE AARE YOUU??" It's like something out of a bad dream. Hope. Pain. And a terrible horrid fear, all trembling in that ugly, brassy muck of a voice.     At the voice, the Golem stops, crouched in dusty cobwebbed shadows, hunched and more than half mad. "NO! NO I HEARD HIM, I /HEARD/ /HIIIM/! He's HERE, he's- he might be hurt, he needs HELP. HE NEEDS MY HELP- I a-abandoned him when he w-was, a-and he..." Streaks of muddy dust and dirt streak his ugly, leathery face, caught in a rictus of pain and a strange, half mad terror, before his hand goes over his face, just, smearing the whole mess. Yuck. "//HAYTHAAAAAM!!// -PLEASE- TALK TO ME!! Please..." But maybe he already knows, and the ugly thing is hunching over into a curled heap, silent hitching hidden by the shadows. 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     The android's head whips around left and right once he reaches the second floor landing. He's not forgotten about the Assassin, but he is now more concerned about a blow delivered from above or behind rather than outright finding her. There's nothing to see here but peeling paint and sagging floors, and a spiderweb in the doorway that he brushes away with a gloved hand.     Nine is screaming, Nine is ranting, Nine is weeping. Taro silently hopes those two Bishop models are somewhere nearby to protect them, as the King himself is vulnerable. His brow furrows, and his gaze remains darting and wary as he makes his way toward the wailing golem. Once at his side, he throws his cloak back a bit to better free his arms, and reaches out to lay comforting hands on his brother's broad shoulders. "He is not here," he says quietly, a gentle note in his voice not normally heard by those like Nasrin. "I'm sorry." 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     Nasrin just leans against the tub, her eyes looking upwards, giving a slight grimmace. Neither Taro nor Nine were innocents... but Nine is making it difficult for her to not feel sorry for him.     While Taro is comforting a weeping, ranting Nine, the girl slooowly crawls over the tub, leaving a footprint in the mold at the bottom, and exits through a window, clinging to the side of the building, her fingers holding to the top of the window, her toes pressed against the sill as she searches for a way upwards. She gives a gulp of air, not looking down, and scrambles up the steep incline, clinging to another windowsill on the outside of the building, dangling slightly. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     The voice is a brassy, broken shrieky little whimper, little more than a whisper, keening softly in pain. "I /heard/ him. I heard himmm..." And then poor Taro, he's getting his cloak all dusty and gross, the hunched mutant thing sobbing against his shoulder like the worlds ugliest child.     Buuuut after a bit even this moment must end, and the Golem lurches back, wiping messily at his face with big, clunky hands, wiping the muddied tears on his pants. A few weak, shaky breaths slide from him, and with a quivering inhalation, he's, talking?     "Haytham? I'm, I'm sorry you died. I /miss/ you. I know you got away, that they made sure you'd be okay a-after you'd died... I'm sorry I, um. I'm sorry I thought you were herrre." A long sigh. "I guess I... I kinda knew. I'm sorry I guess I kinda new. I just, I MISS you. I let you down, and you, died. And I'm still here." His hand leaves a handprint on the wall. "Why should *I* still be here and *YOU* be gone?? That's not how that's supposed to GO. I was, supposed to keep you safe..." he knows he's dead, and yet he's, talking to him? Has he just lost it? "I'm sorry. I knew you were gone, but I can't- I just can't. I miss you. I wanted to see you again. ...I'm sorry." And then he looks up, up and around. "Haytham? Are you still there?" Wait you just said you knew he's gone, he's dead. Nine? Hello? "...Haytham?" 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro is hardly innocent, he was never given the chance to be such. Yet he's developed the capacity for emotion that burdens most true people. That includes a capacity to care about a fellow monster like himself. Far more than he cares about about his cloak being marred with dust and tears. As Nine rests his head on his slim shoulder, he runs his hand over the golem's head in a comforting gesture.     Then Nine pulls away, and he himself moves to stand up straight again. There's a tightness in his expression that wasn't there before as he turns away to look around them. It's more likely that she's taken the opportunity to instead escape, but the chance remains that their quarry may attack them while they're still off-guard like this.     A quiet sigh. "It was a trick, Nine." One that worked very effectively. "He was never here." 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     One that worked effectively and allowed Nasrin the time to start climbing the outside of the walls, three, four floors above the two mechanical constructs as she mutters something into her radio, and tries to get a little more distance between her and the two. She looks down, using her Eagle Sight to see if those Bishops were following her. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     The two Bishops had been where she was. They had been drawing closer to her. Now they simply stand there, almost looking lost, given their master was momentarily lost. One actually turned it's head, unseen by normal eyes, glowing a soft golden in her vision, those soulless goggles fixed on her; and yet it doesn't move. Doesn't follow. Nine looks up, coughing, face mussed, shaking, but nods, coughs, nods.     It was a trick Nine.     He was never here.     His eyes close. Never here he was- it was a trick Nine it was a- he was never here never- never here it was a- never... the eyes open.     "IF YOU COME DOWN NOW..." the roar echoes through the building, sifting dust down. "YOU WILL NOT BE HURT." His voice, other than the volume, almost sounds... calm. Very, almost oddly collected. "Believe it or not. I just want to talk." 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Another quiet sigh, this one of relief. Nine has regained his senses. This is followed by a mild wince, since he was standing right next to him when he started shouting loud enough for half the neighborhood to hear.     Without a word, Taro brushes the fallen dust from the shoulders of his cloak. Some of it remains clinging to where tears have dampened the cloth, but can't be helped. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     "So you said." a different, accented voice states, and from high above, peering down through the holes in the floor is Nasrin.     "So. Talk." 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     "So I said." It's quiet, almost more to himself. A cough, clearing his throat, then, "RIGHT."     Looking up at her. "Taro lost more than his arms." His weapon is drawn and poked up at her, in her general direction. "And DON'T think I'll forget about cuttin up my brother. Don't think I'll forget it." He swings the weapon around, making orange lines in the air. "But." Voon voon. "Tis war. It happens." A glance to Taro, quiet, reserved. "He dropped his weapon. We want it back." Voon voon, vwouuuun. "It, means, something to him." Vooun vooun vooun VWAMM. "You know how often he actually indicated that something /matters/ to him?" A glance up at her, and he sheathes the weapon. "So we want it back. I, want it back. For him."     CLANG. "I was hoping to bargain it out of you. So I, started out by-" and he's pulling out his backpack. And, a baking dish? "I had t' look up a recipe on google, since I aint never made one b'fore. It's s'pposed t' be a, traditional, dish, a yer people? I uh, tried. It's called, um, Oum Ali? Dunno if I did it justice a'tall." He made her dessert. As way of opening bargaining a weapon out of a member of the enemy. Um? Right. 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro's mask has reasserted itself by this time, a mild dour frown and nothing more showing on his face as he looks up through the gaps in the ceiling. Again he's silent, letting Nine speak without interrupting.     The silent treatment doesn't last forever. "I was wondering what you were carrying in there," he murmurs when dessert is presented. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     Nasrin bint Hadir al'Halabi, of Syria and Egypt was... kind of impressed, actually, though it doesn't show on her face. Her head cants to the side, birdlike as she regards the two far below her.     "Oum Ali." she reflects quietly, and her head leans down, her eyes set on the two.     "I do not have the weapon." she replies simply, and gives a shrug of her shoulders. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     A glance over, the mussed and muddy Golem breaking out with a grin. "What, you think it's always C4 and bullets with me?"     A dry, small sort of chuckle.     At the words, he stops, staring up at her. His eyes thin a little. "...Okay. Do you not have it here /with/ you? Or do you not have it, at, all..." 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro finally addresses Nasrin directly, his brow furrowing just slightly. "If you do not have it, then do you know what has happened to it?" A pause, after which he adds, "If you do choose to come down, my weapons will remain sheathed." 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     "Forgive me for not putting faith in your statement, but as my bag has no room for further arm-orment, I am afraid the weapon's location shall stay simply 'not here'." she explains.     "And no, Nine. Sometimes it's late mornings and coffee. You are an unpredictable sort." 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     His finger goes up. "It wasn't THAT late a morning, it wasn't even after twelve!" he might be tanky and crazy dangerous in battle, but he is a lazy motherfucker. He puts the dessert down, crossing his arms and stares up at her. "And? So? How may we, argue bargain slash wheedle it from thee, m'lady?" 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro brings up a hand to his chest as he continues looking up at Nasrin, brow furrowing further. "You doubt my word?" he huffs, sounding genuinely offended.     Then, he makes a sidelong glance at Nine, saying quietly enough that hopefully only he will hear, "How many others have you taken out for breakfast?" 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     "I doubt many things." the Assassin replies, and Nasrin hops down a floor, examining the two and getting a closer look at that Oum Ali. Her head tilts again, and she glances back to Taro, then back to Nine.     "I will honor an agreement of no weapons drawn." she decides after a moment, and she swings down, grasping onto a railling and letting it bend until she drops the last fifteen feet down, and lands a good twenty feet from Nine and Taro. She's taller than when she first met nine, by a good six inches. More lean, less boyish. She still keeps her hood and scarf up, obscuring her face though as she looks to the two of them.     "The weapon is interesting." she states plainly. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     A glance over, then, huffing faintly, "Oh come on man, I didn't take her out fer breakfast. She woke me up one day by tryin t' slit my throat but, bounced off th' subcutaneous armor? N' then she kicked a pot a hot coffee inta my face. We came t' an understandin'." A nod, aside, before his eyes go back up. Following her down, his eyes lock onto her, his ugly, dirt streaked face crinkling faintly. "You've grown, girl. Thass good. Ya were too damn skinny." At the words, he nods. "The weapon is interesting. But the weapon is his." he tips his head to the side. His fingers tap the gunblade. "Means bout th' same to him as this does to me." Which says a LOT that Nine gave Nathan one to keep his friend safe. 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro continues to not quite glare and not quite stare through the gaps in the ceiling as she drops down one floor closer to them. When she finally agrees, he gives a single nod, and his scowl lessens a bit, apparently mollified.     Once she joins them on the same floor, he holds his gloved hands up, plams out, to show he is in fact not holding anything in them. Then, he reaches back to gather up the trailing edge of his cloak so that he doesn't sit on it when he sits on the floor. Which he does.     "Ah. that incident," he replies to Nine. Then, attention returns to their former quarry now guest. Or something of that nature. "The weapon is bespoke. I spent a great deal of time perfecting its design and crafting it by hand." 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     "And it is well made." and extremely vexing. AND INFURIATINGLY BEYOND HER COMPREHENSION. She was used to longswords. ONly 1180's kids will remember....     Nasrin remains standing as Taro sits down, and she watches the two of them with a sense of calm about her.     "Although I appreciate the gesture -- and your research, Nine -- it would take more than a baked good to procure the item." she explains quietly, and shakes her head. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     His face irons out, as do his eyes. Thinning and narrowing, growing tight. "Alright. The question here is; what, do you want." 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro accepts the compliment with a deep nod and a "Thank you". He did construct it, after all. Silence, then, as he awaits Nasrin's answer to the question. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     Nasrin steeples her fingers. She could topple the other Assassins who tried to take over the brotherhood in the vacuum left when the others left. She could safeguard a city with their help. She could eliminate slumlords and human traffickers.     ... but those are deals made with a devil.     Nasrin shakes her head. "Nothing. The weapon is not here and is not for exchange." 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     There's a flash in the Golem's eyes. Thin. And then bright. Crazed. Just a little. His grin gets wide, actually kinda warm. "How about... this. Lives. You and yours decry the harming of innocents, am I right?" The eyes flash again, like some feral beast. "Now I'm not saying you're a superhero who throws yourself under a bus to save every orphan, nun and nurse that comes by harm's way? But you seem to like it when good people don't get hurt for no reason, right?" He goes from threatening to broken, weeping, melancholy, sad, and now to psychotic and right back to threatening? But not of, her? His grin is, a mad thing, thin and lacking all humanity. "What about that, hmm? Will you bargain with monsters? Or just try to slit my throat again? It went so /well/ last time..." 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     Taro narrows his eyes at her answer, and while he doesn't look directly into Nasrin's eyes, his gaze is rather intense. His silence continues, hands folded in his lap, as Nine delivers vague threats on his weapon's behalf. 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     "I bargain with monsters for sleep." Nasrin replies, her own eyes narrowing, and she gives a shrug of her shoulders. "If you are resorting to threats, then this parlay is finished. May your jouney making a new weapon be smooth and the sand never enter your joints." Nasrin waves a hand a moment, going to walk for a window. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     The golem's eyes flash one more time, his jaws cracking as he snarls. "YOU LITTLE-" before he rips himself to a stop, his eyes closing hard in a sudden seething breath. Body shaking, hands opening and closing with little mechanical whirring noises. His eyes close. "I fucked it up. I fucked it all up. Taro, fffffffuck, I'm so /sorry/ I fucked it all up. What are we gonna do?" He already threatened her and it didn't work. If he tried to hurt her he didn't know WHAT would happen. He might make it worse. What if he made it worse? He already made it worse. What if he made it /even/ /worse/? 

:'''{{#var:399|Taro (399)}} has posed:'''     This has not been as productive as he would have liked, but at least they now know that his beam sabre is in either her possession or with one of her associates. If she does not have it with her, then it's likely she does not feel comfortable using it in battle....or that she hasn't figured out how to unlock it.     Taro raises his left hand in a stopping gesture, intended for Nine rather than for Nasrin. "The parlay is finished. The matter is not." A pause. "At least take the Oum Ali with you, Assassin. It would be poor manners to not accept a dish prepared for you." 

:'''{{#var:923|Nasrin (923)}} has posed:'''     "And worse manners to not return the dish full." Nasrin replies. And she gives a slight smile beneath her scarf. "A pity we stand on either side of the line. We could have made a good team." Nasrin replies, accepting the baking dish, making sure it won't spill too badly. 

:'''{{#var:269|No. 9 (269)}} has posed:'''     Nine hesitates... and then bows. Low. Low. His spine does it well, and his forehead brushes the ground with little trouble. "We shall see an answer to this either way. Personally? I don't like lines. Never have. But when there's lines, there's inevitably someone I don't want to see on the other side of it." A sigh, as he stands up, looking over to Taro, and bows to him in turn. "Resolution will be found my brother. But, apparently, not today." A sigh... 
}}

3940/A Spider's Woes

2016-07-08T21:01:16Z

DangerTanuki:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/03/24
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Yunomi, Iria and Guildmaster Rhapsody arrive to aid a refugee Yokai in search of her missing daughter. Judging by Yunomi's involvement, it's not going to be an easy case.
|Cast of Characters=215, 272, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THere was a time, in the Japanese valley of Namamura that its shadowy places were secreted by O-Hiko and her children. Following the troubles with the Planet Trade Orginization, however, there was some moving to be had -- and now some of the shadowy places of Ravnica, boarding against the Gruul Clans lands plays host to a small kingdom at the very edge of the Izzet Guild sector.     Yunomi had sent out a quiet request, and had assembled her troupes after someone had delivered a message on the behalf of her old friend, and had lead them down a labyrinthine access tunnels from a sunny plaza above, and into O-Hiko's home -- a great crevass, where rainwater empties into a ravine and leads to the Gruul Clan's lands. Pipes of every size stick out, water and cooling steam vented from the Izzet quarter creating a variety of rainbows as Yunomi pushes aside what might be thin, ropy vines hanging from all over -- and that's when the spiders begin to come down. The smallest were the size of a man's spread hand, the largest were two, three feet across the abdomen. THey cling to webs, the walls above, and waggle their forelegs threateningly at the new faces. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria had recently visited Ravnica off and on, albeit more for exploration and training purposes. The unique landscape and environment provided her with many ways to train as a bounty hunter. In fact sometimes it was better than her VR training that she used at her home. But she hadn't been here on official business for awhile. No one had a bounty they needed in this place. But now Yunomi's summoned her friends, and Iria's come to check things out.     Arriving in her usual outfit for this place, Iria jogs in quickly and then looks to Yunomi. "All right, I'm here. And I'm ready to go when everyone else is!" She looks around to see who else is coming. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi pauses as she parts spider web, blinks, and glances back at Iria. "Have to get a little information first, hold your hippogriffs -- and let me do the talking." she jokes, and she strides out into the sunlight. She's resplendant in her brilliant scarlet and azure armor, leather catching the light and brassy bits sending it back through the rainbows and the mists. One palm-sized spider lands on Yunomi's head, its mandables waggling as it chitters something softly.     And from off t o the side, a beautiful woman makes her appearance. She seems to float, her eyes entirely blackened and lips blood red. She has six more black dots along her forehead, which disappear into ebony hair. She wears a brilliant orange kimono, slashed with black ink as it drifts up and over what could be a bustle -- if not for the shifting beneath the fabric beneath. Her full lips are crased into a frown, and as Yunomi makes a stiff bow to the regal woman, the woman simply gives a nod of her head.     "I'm pleased you could make it so quickly, U- ... Yunomi. I fear I must ask a favor of you."     Another palm-sized spider drifts slowly down, hovering over Iria's head. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria nods to Yunomi, then shivers a little as a spider appears over Yunomi. She's about to speak up, but the spider doesn't seem to be doing any harm to Yunomi just yet, so Iria just leaves it be for now. Then she notices that woman appearing, and she attempts to look as polite as she can. She says nothing though, since Yunomi indicated she'd do the talking.     Iria simply stands by, trying to look as formal and patient as possible, only to have her eyes drift upwards and notice the spider coming down towards her head, and she goes wide-eyed. "Uhhh..." Iria seems a bit nervous by this spider wanting to drop down onto her head, but something keeps her stuck in place. She grits her teeth, hoping this spider isn't harmful. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     When she first became the Guildmaster of the Izzet, Rhapsody had made sure to become familiar with the lands that were now considered hers. The roads above, the pipes below, all of them were important to the machinations that the Izzet had made to keep the many utilities of Ravnica flowing. Water, power, steam, mana, the dozens upon dozens of pipes and conduits here were all branches of an intricate system that the previous guildmaster hoped one day, would spread beyond into the Gruul stomping grounds below.     The 'savages' wanted nothing to do with it.     So here, at the edge of the Izzet Grounds, the pipeways come to a sudden stop, seemingly ideal for the webweavers to make a home within. Various temperatures, various amounts of light and dark, and plenty of anchor points for their webs were probably helpful in the choice. If it weren't for the fact they were from Namamura... something far more horrible may have happened in the months prior. A single signature was enough to prevent all that.     Today, with a calling made, Rhapsody has made her way through the pipeways to lay eyes upon the webs and nests she had only heard about, and seen in pictures. In an opening a small way below Yunomi and Iria, the white dragon appears, gazes up, and emits a slight shiver. Spiders were, usually, a staple of the guilds of the forests. This many concentrated in Izzet lands? Well, there was a single reason for that, and the spiders were talking with that reason right now. "... I came out to far down..." Rhapsody muses, wondering just how to close distance. . . . and wondering if she really wanted to. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The situation was perfectly ideal for O-Hiko and her children -- they didn't bother any of the Izzet goings-on, and they were intimidating enough to keep too many others away from the open, bleeding edge of the Izzet... to mutual benefit.     The spider over Iria waggles its forarms, apparnetly in some sort of greeting, but seems to sense how ill-at-ease she is, and retreats upwards on its line the size of a child's finger.     One of the larger spiders (though its legs were a mere foot across) expends line down to inspect Rhapsody. It gives a squeaky "konichiwa!" and waggles its forearms at her.     "ANything, O-Hiko. Our families have long been friends." Yunomi replies... and she pauses, "Oh, my apologies Iria, Rhapsody, this is O-Hiko, she's...." she pauses, and glances around "... Rhaps?"     "A pleasure, I'm sure." O-Hiko interrupts, and states: "Yunomi, Meko has gone missing. She was exploring along the outside of this region when last we saw. I am concerned for her safety -- none of her brothers or sisters have been able to feel her presence."     And a larger spider, three feet across, slowly makes its way down to Rhapsody, leaving a one-inch wide length of strong silk in its path. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Greeted, Rhapsody realizes just how much anxiety she's probably displaying and steels herself, standing straight, putting on a strong expression, "Hello!" overdoing it, a little, but hey, she's trying, right? When Yunomi calls, the guildmaster calls up from below, "Wrong pipe!" she admits before a second, larger, arachnid appears. Somewhere deep down she wants to NOPE right out, but both her pride as a dragon, and guildmaster, is forcing her to swallow the fear trying to well up. "I ah, I think I can climb.. up.. in a second!" Just as soon as she can turn that steel into something stronger in her soul. Diamond maybe? 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "I'm Hunter 9979-5, or Iria if you will," Iria replies politely. "Sorry about just now. I'm a little arachniphobic at times," She adds with a slight hint of a blush on her face. Sure she's a tough young lady, but even she has fears at times. She bites her lower lip a little before listening to what is going on. From what O-Hiko has said, something definitely is wrong here... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Arachnephobic?" O-Hiko gives a slight smile, and her body bends unnaturally. "Do not fret over my children, we have an agreement with the Izzet..." she draws upwards, and looks to Yunomi.     Yunomi gives a nod, and she turns, stepping off the air and drawing downwards. "Going down, Rhaps! We've got a missing kid on our dockets!" she calls back to Iria and Rhapsody, clearly expecting them to follow downwards via the silk lines.     Down below, the large spider anchors the line, and raises its forelimbs up, motioning Rhapsody and Iria down. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Oh. Hey. Going down, not up! Genius! For some reason this causes Rhapsody to heave a sigh of relief, she reaches out with one hand to latch onto the silken strand, and then she slowly starts to show herself down to the ground. "Missing? For how long?" she asks once on solid ground. "And do we have any idea where they may have last been seen? ... or felt?" Webs, other senses, Rhaps wouldn't rule out relying on other senses in this situation.     Questions asked, the guildmaster also gives a nod to Iria, "Its been a while, Iria. I hope you've been doing alright?" a smile, then over to Yunomi. Just a moments glance and she turns beat-red.. "Ah... yeah. Um... Thank you?" What? Don't ask the dragon, she isn't telling. A cough clears out the sudden blush, "SO. Yeah. Ah, lets see what we can figure out.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria grits her teeth a little at the usage of those silk lines, but then she shrugs it off and decides to 'bite the bullet.' She grabs onto one of the lines and begins to descend. "I've been doing OK, yes," Iria replies to Rhapsody. "And we're gonna find this missing kid, no matter what!" She looks down to make sure she doesn't land too hard. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The spider on Yunomi's head gives a chittering reply, but snuggles its way into her hair. Yunomi doesn't seem to mind the little one in her head.     Brain spider is braining!     Yunomi pauses, giving a look up to Rhaps, and she just gives a big, goofy grin. "I figured it might make your day a bit better." she jokes, apparently on some inside joke as she makes her way out. "Goji says that Meko was last seen out this way -- they don't tend to travel too far into the grasslands because of the Clans." Yunomi explains, "I really hope it's just an issue of a lost spider..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A nod is given to Iria first, "Good good, if you need anything around the city, just hollar, you know?" Rhapsody says before moving to follow Yunomi, listening, "Mm.. about 200 feet or so is the Edge, so, we'll have to be careful. The Gruul Clans are notoriously territorial. Clans are always fighting.." she sighs, "Haven't had to deal with them in a while... thanks to your friends, I imagine. Still, I wish a few more would turn to the teaching jobs that the city has offered. The ones that do are -very- good at it.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, I'll do so," Iria replies politely, while continuing to descend. "200 feet? That's a long drop." She grits her teeth, continuing to maintain a steady grip on the thread while praying that she doesn't lose her hold or something like that. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Don't worry, there's a flying mage who's keeping track with the others, glancing up as she looks to the hills.     "What kind of teaching jobs have they taken up? 'Pain and Torture 101'? 'How to lose friends and win enemies via blood witchery'?" Yuomi replies, a bit sourly, but the ground here is soft, fresh grasses, lush and well-watered from the waters and mists dropping down from above. Some wildlife scatters as they come to a landing, and Yunomi makes her way out into the grasses -- and given her height, all that can be seen of her is the bright orange abdomen on the spider on her head. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon shakes her head, "Sages, passionate about teaching people how Ravnica was before it was urbanized. Nothing as savage as that," Rhapsody muses, all but ignoring the sour tone. She was learning to see the brighter sides of a lot of the guilds.. except for two. Maybe 3. It wouldn't be too hard to guess which ones those are.     That said, the dragon follows along, considering what could have happened. "How big is this particular spider..?" The Gruul wouldn't go after something small. Or it could have been an accident... or something else entirely... the guildmaster's mind was racing from one thought to the next trying to consider the location, the 'victim', among other things. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria follows along as well, keeping a slight distance and looking around her to make sure no other spiders are gonna try to drop on her or something similar. Sure, she can take on the most powerful being, a.k.a. Zeiram, with the greatest of ease. Got a bunch of outlaws who need capturing? Call Iria! But give her spiders and she gets the willies! Then again, nobody's perfect.     "Whatever its size is, we're gonna get this missing child back!" Iria says with determination in her voice. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "Meko? Probably a little bigger than Goji here, the lat time I saw her, but she'd be scared, she might be hiding, so keep a sharp eye to the--" Yunomi pauses as the ground starts shaking. "Wh-whoa-ooaa!" she windmills her arms before clinging to the top of a rock. The ground beneath the draconic guildmaster and Iria begins to shudder as well, as if it were alive -- and rising!! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Weird, I don't think that the Gruul would--Er, wha?!" When the ground starts to shake, Rhapsody's arms, and tail, go out, and then she just drops to a knee, wide eyed and looking all around, "The blazes is going on here?!" Then she realizes the ground is lifting, "... Oh no. Noooo no no no no..." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria starts to say something, but then the ground begins to shake and she's forced to try to find something to hold onto for balance purposes. Except that doesn't happen, and she drops to one knee, using this crouched position for stability. "What in the hell is going on here?!" She calls out, only to see the ground is lifting. "Don't tell me there's some sort of living thing down there!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Goji the Spider chitters, all legs coming out and holding onto Yunomi's head.     "Okay!" Yunomi calls out...     The ground continues to shake, and the rock that Yunomi was holdong onto is not a rock -- but a large horn. Its body was green-gray, what was grass now is shown to be shaggy fur. A pair of ears flick up to either side of Rhapsody and Iria, and below them a massive head takes shape. It seems to lumber itself to wakefulness, and gives a bellow, a low rumbling cry that shakes the ground beneath it as it... very... very slowly... begins to.. walk.     "I won't tell you!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And then it was... not any of the things Rhapsody was worried about. She heaves a sigh, flops down, relaxes for a moment, then realizes they are on a really big beast.. "... Wait, this actually may not be good.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Once Iria sees what's coming up, she begins to grit her teeth even more. All of a sudden, dealing with spiders seems like a better alternative than this! Then there's a loud bellowing noise which makes her eardrums hurt a little bit. To top that off, it's starting to walk?! What is this world coming to? "Someone mind telling me what the hell this thing is?!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's voice can be heard from the nose. "It appears to be a very large, very shaggy verison of /Rhinocerous unicornus/ but with a broken horn! ... and oh hey, I think that's a ladder hanging from its side! /Hey/ I think there might be a city on its back!"     Distant chittering.     "Goji says he can sense Meko coming from the city!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Well... alright then! I hope a clan doesn't show up.." That is the one concern Rhapsody has. This big of a beast? The Gruul love taking down big things.. "Well lets go take a look then!" Once the guildmaster has her 'beast legs' as opposed to sea legs, she stands up. "I know Zepplids get big but.. I haven't really seen big landbeasts like this before!" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "If Meko is coming from the city, then shouldn't we try to find her?" Iria asks, still not quite used to the fact that this creature is actually existing. "I mean, this Rhinoceros-whateverus is making me uneasy!" Iria's suddenly questioning why she even came here in the first place, now that she finds that they're on top of a living creature that has a city on top of it! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "RHinocerous!" Yunomi leaps into the air, holding onto Goji, "unicornus! Indian rhino -- differenciated by size and having a single horn! Some think that they inspired the idea of 'unicorns' in non-magical worlds via the monocerus!" Yunomi is, apparently, nervous as she makes her way to wards the 'city'.     And the "city" is indeed a place where tents are pinned down to the tough hide of the grassy rhinocerous' back, canvas flapping in the wind as the movement fills the dwellings like sails, the brilliant sky above threatening with rain.     The city itself is populated with... little people. SMall figures garbed in loose, grass-stained brown clothing, bustling about. A few guards are stationed along the edges, tethered into the beast by ropes in case of sudden turns or movement. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "I'll take your word for it!" Rhapsody calls back, carefully walking along, following the Tanuki and likely leading Iria on. "Well, lets see if we can find Meko then!" she adds before spotting the village. Small? Well, ok! Why not? "Suddenly I understand what Dad felt like.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Rhinocerous Unicornus... uh, yeah, thanks for the trivia," Iria comments to Yunomi. "But now's not the time for that." She looks to Rhapsody and nods. "Sooner we find Meko, sooner we can get outta here! I just hope she's OK!" She follows behind Rhapsody quickly. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Could be worse!" Yunomi calls out to Iria, and she makes her way to the grouping. The spider on her head chitters, and then hops down into Yunomi's pack, poking its head out.     PIdge, the ever-present Izzet security drone, beeps in dismay!     The guards glance to one another, goggled eyes and swaddled faces hiding expressions, but one untethers himself, and stalks up to the group.     In a thin voice, he greets them:     "Hail, travelers -- what brings you to the wandering city of Ahsik?" he inquires, looking curiously up. He's no bigger than one of Yunomi's little kodama, maybe an eighth of Iria's size. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Once Rhapsody closes distance, she kneels to reply, "Ah, hail there! We come with no ill intent. We are here looking for a friend of ours. Has anyone new wandered into your village recently?" she asks, looking over the guard, and the town, with the distance closed. " 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No one wanders into Ahsik. Ahsik wanders to people." the guard states, pushing up his goggles a bit He has dark bluish skin, motled with darker gray-greens and bright red eyes. "Though none so rare as the child of Niv-Mizzet, and two associates of the guild. I am Tiktik." he states, drawing down, his little, long tail with a tuft of hair at the end sticking out. "And what do you seek?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A blink, then a soft smile, "My reputation always seems to preceed me. We are looking for a spider-child by the name of Meko. Their ... family has not been able to sense them and they became worried for them. Also, ah, your home has wandered into Gruul Lands. I would recommend a great amount of caution as the tribes tend to enjoy hunting exotic things... such as your home." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria stands by, looking respectful and polite. But she doesn't say anything, since Rhapsody and Yunomi are doing a better job of speaking right now. It's kind of a contrast from the usual Iria, but even she has her 'alternate' moods too. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi is actually hanging back, her ear flicking backwards like radar, monitoring the argument between the beeping and clicking and chittering from her backpack as an argument gets heated.     Tiktik's eyes give a slight smile. "There aren't many dragons in Ravnica. I hazarded a guess, since you wear his colors... a spider? ..." Tiktik pauses, and glances backwards. "We had come upon such... some of our children thought it tame. If it is a... child of someone... then it may be that it was..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Mm... more than there used to be after Augustin was ... dealt with.." Rhapsody says, clearing her throat before moving on to the matter at hand. "..So .. you saw it?" The fact the guard said 'was' is worrying, slightly, but it could be nothing. . . . She hopes its nothing. She's also oblivious to what the spider and pidge may be up in arms about.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The argument is that Goji put a leg in Pidge's eye, and Pidge doesn't even /have/ eeyes, how would that even work?     TikTik glances back to the side, and shakes his head. "I've said too mcuh. I'm sorry, Mizzet, you won't find your spider here." he states, and goes to hop back to his tether.     Yunomi steps forward, and then, for the others, the world might begin to get a little... wobbly.     Proided no one manages to counterspell, the world becomes a lot larger, vision sinking down intot the grass-like fur of the beast, the city growing in size, drastically! Threads become ropes and the small details of the grasses become jungles -- even the odd flea that hops by thumps like a rabbit against the ground! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     There would be no counter from Rhapsody. She gets as woozy as Yunomi, slumps forward, takes a knee again, and by the time she looks up again... ".... eh.. wha? I didn't sneeze? What's going on here..????" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Meanwhile, Iria's finding things are getting crazy. "Am I on drugs? Did I have too much to drink? WHAT is this?!" She holds her hands over her head and scowls, closing her eyes and wishing it would stop! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "That..." Yunomi speaks up, and lowers her goggles. "Was someone's bad idea of a transformation." her ears prick up, her tail sticks out, and she brings her hands up, blue mana forming in the palms of her hands and then -- dissipates. With no affect.     ... "I take it back." Yunomi puyshes her goggles back up. "... that... was a pretty good forced transformation. I'd say bravo, but I'm a little miffed right now."     She pauses. And tries not to laugh, turning to Iria and Rhapsody. "Get it? 'Little' miffed?" she asks, cracking a grin.     <OH WEBS I AM TINY!> squeaks Goji.      beeps Pidge, and they both quiet their fussing in Yunomi's backpack, a small accord of peace.     Tiktik pauses, glances over to them, and then shakes his head. "Should have left when you had the chance. Welcome home." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     At first, the guildmaster rubs her head, takes a second look around, then just has a seat, there, for a long moment. She manages a smile for Yunomi, but starts to consider the situation, and what Tiktik just said. "... oh blast it all.." she mutters, thinking a bit more, "This could be really bad..." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria just kneels down on one knee and shakes her head. "Are you saying we just..." She trails off, not able to find the words she needs. "I don't believe this. How are we gonna get out of here?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Well. First we're going to find Meko." Yunomi states, and she pats her backpack. "Then we're going to get off the rhino. And then I'll work something out. It's a transformation. Who in the Izzet is better at transformations than me?" She asks, trying to sound confident... she lowers her goggles, and glances between Rhapsody and Iria. "We're Izzet. We'll figure this out." she sticks out her hand to them. "The city's not as big as we think it is. Goji can feel his sister's presence. If we encounter resistance, nonleathal means." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Another breath, a nod, and then Rhapsody takes Yunomi's arm in her hand and pulls herself up. "You're absolutley right," she says with newfound confidence. "Magical enigma? Please, the Izzet make dozens of those in a single day!" BRAVADO! "C'mon, Iria, lets find Meko, figure this place out, and make sure no one else has to get stuck here!" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, let's find Meko and get out!" Iria's now a bit on the cranky side as she goes along with the others. "I should've known what I was getting myself into here..." She runs a hand through her hair with a sigh. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Don't feel bad about not knowing. You're traveling with me. I attract chaos." Yunomi admits, dusting off her jacket, and giving a grin to Iria. "I don't even know what's going to happen. Isn't it exciting?" she inquires, and then she takes off in a dead run past TikTik, who, tethered to the hino attempts to stop her, but gets himself tangled! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "You?" Rhapsody smiles, "We're Izzet! I live for this kinda thing! Just gotta look forward! We aren't dead, so lets keep living!" All that said, Rhapsody takes off, following after Yunomi to whatever end. YARR. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The trio takes off, speeding through the town. People are surprised, shocked even to see the necomers adapting so quickly, no one even has time to greet them.     And when they find Meko, she is caged in the town's center, surrounded by children, who scatter at our heroes' arrival! Coincidentally no guards attempt to stop them, how strange! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Jackpot!" Seems the guildmaster has found a lot more enthusiasm in the last few minutes. That's a good thing, right?! "I really want to know what's going on around here, but objective priority! Lets get you out of that cage.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Finally, we've found you!" Iria says, this time grinning widely. "Just take it easy, we're gonna get you outta here and back to safety!" She looks to the others and gives them a thumbs up. "Great job!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe little Spider squeaks in its cage. Yunomi takes rear guard, Goji poking his fangs and forelegs out of the backpack and waving to the other spider.     Yunomi takes a deep breath. "OK, extraction plan, what would Dad do?" she asks... and the answer would be to call the airforce.     ... /OH GOOD/.     "Pidge. Fly to Nivix. Plan: Wake the Prince."     She states, and the little orb beeps obediently, and then takes off.     And that's when the guards arrive! They begin to circle the group, drawing out knives and hatpins and little shards of glass tied to discarded wooden drink stirrers with sticks.     "What you don't know, Izzet..." a guard who is decidedly /not/ TikTik states, as he brings up a long knife that he brandishes as if it were a sword: "We /are/ just a small part of the Gruul Clans!"     Yunomi stands at the ready, her hands splayed, lightning cracking. "Grab the spider, Rhaps, and get behind me... pfftt... /small/ part...." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Just hold on a second," Rhapsody suggests before managing to call up just enough mana to unlock the cage. She heaves a breath, reaches in, and tugs Meko out, "C'mon, lets get you home," any fear she had earlier is just -gone-. Being in the moment like this is doing wonders for the dragon!     When Ravnica's smallest Gruul Clan starts to circle. She snrks a little herself, then replies, "You do realize that trying to trap a -Guildmaster- here is a bad idea, right? Especially when that guildmaster has the guild's #1 offworld apprentice and bounty hunter with them... right???" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Once our ride arrives, we'll have about six minutes to board." Yunomi whispers, her goggles lowering as lightning crackles along her hands. She glances backwards to the Dragon and the Bounty Hunter, and she slides off her pack, and hands it off to Rhapsody. "I'm going to make sure you get on. I can fly and catch up."     "That? /That/ is the offworld apprentice?" croaks a fat little ogre of a little guy, who steps forward, brandishing a club -- er... a branch. "I'll feed you to your little pet spider. It'll be a treat!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     That actually earns the fat little oaf a growl, "You have no idea what your dealing with, bub, not a -clue-..." Rhapsody insists, now slowly drawing out one of her spellblades. It wasn't even something she planned on using today! The barest of nods acknowledges Yunomi's plan, the guildmaster not wanting to give the fella any ideas that they were up to something. She does, however, sling the backpack over a shoulder. "Go ahead and try! Go ahead and attack a Guildmaster! You -will- regret it!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Rhaps--" Yunomi begins, but the ogre rumbles forward, his fat slignging around him -- he's obviously well fed. Don't think about 'on what' for too long though.     He bull rushes forward, just as a shadow passes overhead - something with big wings -- some sort of hawk?! A dragon?!     But as the Ogre roars towards Rhapsody, intent on harming her, Yunomi moves just that bit quicker. The Guardian steps out simply, drawing from a pole holding a cooking pot and spinning it around, using it to trip the ogre's feet.     "Rhapsody! To the tail! /NOW/!" she calls out. "This might be the one shot!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A lash of her blade, a bolt of electricity strikes the ground -right beside- the ogre's head, and without another word, the blade is set back at her side and the Guildmaster dashes for the tail, as told, pack, Pidge, and spiders in tow! "Don't you lag behind on me!" she calls back, all the while surging for the shadow overhead. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "And miss the view?" Yunomi calls back, turning and jumping over the fallen ogre as the other tiny Gruul begin to get themselve spsyched up for a chase. Yunomi stands between them and the guildmaster and the Huntress, her ilps pursed as her tail flicks. "Wouldn't dream of it." she mutters, and then turns tail an d bolts.     However, the nightning and crashing has disturbed the rhonocerous creature, and he begins to pick up speed. It makes keeping the footing difficult for anyone not used to the rolling gait of the rhino. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''      The Guildmaster won't quite get that one until later! She will, she'll laugh, she'll get all sheepish, and then she'll laugh again. BUT UNTIL THEN, THERE WAS A CHASE AFOOT. The dragon had forgot just what she had 'bolted' and realizes it as she stumbles in her running, "Gh! Ha! Oh well! It wouldn't be an Izzet chase if something wasn't making it even more crazy!" More steps taken, more lunges for the tail, as she goes, she tugs the pack around and holds it against her chest rather than letting it be behind her. Protection provided! One arm stays wrapped around the pack, the other on her blue spellblade... just in case. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Two very frightened spiders poke their little heads out, watching the oncoming tail end of the rhinocerous with a sick sense of fascination. Arrows are whizzing by -- along with the occasional firebolt. They duck back down, chittering in prayer.     Yunomi jsut leaves the ground, her arms scooping up Iria to keep her steady for a bit as they run until they come to the very end of the rhinocerous -- and far, far, far below them, a whole sixty feet to the ground, was their escape -- in the grass.     Yunomi's panting, having slung a few spells back, but mostly keeping up her Prismatic Shield to protect them, her arms outspread to guard.     "Rhapsody, how much do you trust me?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Do you even have to ask? If you say jump, I'll jump. If you want.. .... If you want me to fly, I will fly.." and she doesn't mean in her current form. The way her voice sounds, she's ready to show something she has shown VERY FEW PEOPLE.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Save the dramatics, Guildmaster, they're not worth the effort! Besides -- I'm a Stadler, of course I have an extraction plan!" Yunomi grins. She can feel the shield sapping away at her.     "Rhaps, Iria -- JUMP!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "JUMP IT IS!" And without any hesitation, Rhapsody lunges off the tail end of the massive beast and its strange, tiny, village people. "LETS GOOOOOOOO!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     And Yunomi gives a shrill whistle as she jumps -- the rhinocerous beast continues its way, galloping across the Gruul lands, and there is suddenly a very soft landing beneath them!     In the form of /The/ Izzet Pheldagriff!     Albert, in all his glory, wings spread, the setting sun and reflection of thunderclouds against glossy wings, ears wiggling in the wind as he ascends higher into the heavens with all the grace afforded to a glorified flying hippopotamous. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' And that landing causes Rhapsody to loose a victorious howl. Yes, the dragon is howling. IT IS BEAUTIFULLY IZZET! "WOOOOOO! We are OUTTA THERE!" she calls out, waiving sarcastically at the tribesman they just left behind. "SEE YA!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Now... if my theory is correct, the reason why I couldn't transform out of such a small state would be because the creature has a passive magical effect of dimunizing anything around it, you know -- like, in that card game, it'd bmake us wee little one-one tanuki, huntress, and dragon tokens. Because Albert wasn't in the field long enough, he didn't shrink!" Yunomi gives a smile, pushing up her goggles. PIdge -- now full size, and about half Yunomi's current size, buzzes around the trio. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody blinks, shrugs, laughs, "I'll take your word for it! I'm sure a few magewrights would be really curious about that beast and how that effect works.." she tilts her head, thinks, then sets the pack down on Albert's back and opens it, "You're free!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The little, scared spiders stay in the pack.     <They're not going to eat us, are they Goji?>     <No, Meko. The short one's O-Asahi's.>     <OH!>     And the two spiders chitter their way over to Yunomi, Goji taking up residence on her head and Meko on her shoulder, the two guarding the Guardian. Some of Yunomi's hair has come loose, and she turns, looking over to Rhapsody as she gives a smile. "First stop though -- O-Hiko. I'm pretty sure it's past these kid's bedtime!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A quick nod, "Yes, absolutley. Back home for both of you! I hope you're okay, Meko. That was a bit of an adventure.." 
}}

4034/WEIRD SCIENCE!

2016-07-08T20:57:41Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/04/21 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Yunomi and Sakura in Ravnica, discussing science! |Cast of Characters=172, 272 |pretty=yes }}..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/04/21
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Yunomi and Sakura in Ravnica, discussing science!
|Cast of Characters=172, 272
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     From my heart and from my hand -- why don't people understand my intentions?     Yunomi had been increasingly quiet on the radio, pulled in several directions at once, from her research to her budding relationship ito her strange need to feed...     ... well. Everyone needs to eat. She was sitting at a large table, working on a bit of tech that had huge brassy bits to it, leathery bits, and wires and baubles sticking out in all directions. There was a little sign above her that read "THIS WORKSPACE HAS BEEN EXPLOSION FREE FOR: 2 DAYS" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Four months ago, possibly more, Sakura broke. She retreated inward, first mentally and then even physically. No one has seen her outside of Tomoeda for months, and even those who visit Tomoeda looking for her would be asked to leave her alone.     So one of Sakura's Cards showing up in RAVNICA of all places might be something of a surprise.     So Yunomi is in for a shock when the Wood suddenly seats herself on the work table, cross-legged, looking curiously up at Yunomi as if she doesn't recognise her. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Spanner, lackwrench, solder iron, The Wood, where is that--" Yunomi began, and then paused, and slooowly looked up. Her eyebrows drew upwards and then she leaned back, turning off the bright lights she was working under and pushing her goggles up with a bit of a grin. "Oh hey! The Wood! How are you?" she greets the Clow creature with a small smile, and then glances back "Is Sakura visiting with you?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     The little wood nymph's head tilts slowly to one side for a moment, seemingly uncomprehending... before she nods! Hopping to her feet, then little sprite puts two fingers in her mouth and whistles! ... Except not sound comes out.     And then suddenly Sakura is being dragged over to Yunomi by a large vine. Huh! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi was concerned for a split second that The Wood didn't comprehend -- or then, that something terrible had happened to Sakura.     And then, the young mage is dragged in by a vine.     "Sa-ku-ra~" Yunomi chimes as she turns in her seat, and leans an elbow back against the work table with the large.... thing behind her.     "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" the tanuki smiles, her ears shifting forward... and then she purses her lips... usually the y ounger mage is more enthusiastic...     "Ne? Is something wrong?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura is dragged in, and deposited in front of Yunomi - almost falling before a few more vines materialise out of nowhere and prop her up. Once she's stable, the Wood gives a bow, twirls, and then in the next moment is replaced by a spinning Clow Card which neatly inserts itself back into Sakura's pocket.     Sakura looks at Yunomi blankly for a moment, rubbing her eyes. "...Hweh?" She looks like she just woke up! "Y-Yunomi! Where... Am I in Ravnica?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I had... assumed to visit me, but it appears you've been kidnapped." Yunomi states as she hops off her chair, and reaches down to steady Sakura as she teeters, giving a nod to The Wood as she takes over.     "You don't remember coming here from Tomoeda?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura rubs the back of her head. "...Nope!" A few more of her cards swoop in and fit themselves neatly into Sakura's pockets! Seems this was a combined effort from the card spirits or something like that.     Sakura continues to look baffled - then she throws her arms around Yunomi and squeezes. "Yunomi! It's been ages!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a grin, and she throws her arms around Sakura as well. "IT has been; I was getting a bit worried when we were told y ou weren't taking visitors!" she replies. "C'mon, I was about to go and grab some lunch, my treat!" she states, turning off the other lights in the lab, twisting the knob so that the mana flow depletes itself. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura rubs the back of her head. "Eheh. Well, you know... after I found all of my Cards again and..." she trails off. "Well, no, I don't really have an excuse. I was kinda a huge jerk for ages... Sorry." Rub rub.     "Uh. Sure, lunch sounds good! I haven't eaten since... breakfast." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "You fell into a deep, exhaustive and restorative coma in order to heal from your mental wounds and tribulations, it's all right, Sakura -- it happens to all of us." the tanuki replies, and she gives a soft smile. "C'mon. Let's go get you something to eat."     And she exits the lab, and makes her way down the hall.     She's entirely nonpulsed when the building shakes.     "So other than sleeping, how've you been?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     "..Sure, let's go with that." As the building shakes, Sakura also doesn't react very much - although Yunomi may notice one of her hands forming into the first mudra for Sakura's 'wand summoning' spell. After a few moments the mage relaxes her hand, however!     "I've been... getting better, I guess. I kinda stopped training entirely for like a month... it didn't help that it was summer vacation, so I didn't have cheerleading or anything!" She rubbed the back of her head. "That first day back at training -hurt-." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "CHeer or mage training?" Yunomi replies good naturedly, patting Sakura re-assuringly on the shoulder. "Take it easy, this place explodes with disturbing frequency." she reminds her gently, and hits the button for the Great Lift. "Must be nice to take a vacation. Maybe I can encourage Rhapsody to take one." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura giggles a bit. "Um. 'Yes'? I pretty much stopped doing -anything- that wasn't just 'normal person stuff'. I mean... okay it's kinda hard not to use magic, but I never really did anything huge with it..." Shrug! "And I ended up getting so out of shape. My first day back at running I could barely run three miles without needing a break!" ... Sakura is, as always, ridiculous. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "ONly three miles..." Yunomi replies, and gives a wheeze for effect "Pretty sure unless there's food at the end of it, I couldn't run a whole mile. My dad would be /so/ disappointed that I didn't keep up with PT... he'd probably get DeClere to get on my case about it." Yunomi gives a smile, and opens the grate for Sakura to pass through. "After you~." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura rubs the back of her head as she steps into the lift. At this rate she's going to go bald! "I, uh. I guess that sounded kinda douchey. But! My brother and my father and... even my mom, I think... Kinomotos are really athletic, right?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I'm joking, Sakura." Yunomi gives a grin. "I could run at least /two/ miles if there was food at the end of it." she jokes, and hits the button to head down to the main floor. She leans back against the lift. "So, what's on your docket in the near future? I might need some help testing a few of the manalines, if y ou're not busy." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura leans as well! "Uuh... aaactually now that I think about it I was totally going to ask you about potentially helping with my Ultimate Project." The way she says it makes it clear it's a Proper Noun. "But... I'm not really in a hurry to do that. So, sure! I can help you out. Maybe I'll learn something useful~" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Oh, no, no, tell me about this 'Ultimate Project'. You already have all fifty three cards, a star castle...." she gives a grin. "And now you have my curiousity." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura looks at her hand. She extends her index and ring fingers out, and folds her thumb in to touch the tip of her ring finger. A faint pink glow surrounds her hand until she relaxes it again. "...I'm special. Yeah? Not everyone in my world can do magic. And... that's really unfair. I've always wanted for as long as I can remember to... to let other people experience what it's like. You know?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi pauses and considers the rammifications of turning a low-magic world into a high-magic world. Considers the logistics. The gears turn in her brain wrestling with moral and ethical issues regarding the thought, but her face is a little blank, her eyebros rising a b it as the lift comes to a rest in the busy 'lobby' of the Izzet spire, goblins and humans and djinn waiting to get on the lift to return to their own work and studies after lunch.     "And how do you plan to do that?" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura giggles a bit. "Well. It's become obvious that normal people can use certain magical devices. Tomoyo has a magical mirror, for instance! The thing is, they can't -charge- them, and they have to be specifically designed to be wielded by non-magical people. So... first, I want to see if I can come up with a way for normal people to charge magical devices with their own energy, first."     "Eventually I'm going to try to invent a sort of magic that anyone can use but I need to get a LOT better at magic before I can do that!" The way she says 'invent a sort of magic' makes it sound different from just making magical devices, for some reason. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Why not invest in electricity-to-magic adaptors? I'm pretty sure I could find something that'll work for your situation without having to change the metaphysical makeup of your world." Yunomi offers a short-term solution as she leads the way out of the spire and into the street. She takes a left, and begins to head down the way, diagonally across the steps.     A massive Steamcore Weird eyeballs Sakura in passing. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura blows the elemental creature a kiss as she passes.     "Or, yeah, something like that! That's why I wanted to ask you for help. You know about this sort of stuff! I know this isn't going to be an overnight thing. It's gonna be slow and there's gonna be people who don't agree with me, but..." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi purses her lips a moment, giving a blue-skinned person a wave on her way by and glances over to Sakura. "Did I ever tell you how the 'Magic Eaters' came to be in my world, Sakura?" she inquires, ducking over to a food stand and reaching for her money. She looks over what look like bowls of noodles and vegetables.. they definatly don't smell like any noodles from Japan though. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura shakes her head. "No. You haven't, uh, really ever told me anything about them." She gives a wry grin. "Which has made coming up with combat strategies to use against them REALLY hard, let me tell you..." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "That's because for someone who relies on magic and cards for defense, your best combat strategy is an exit strategy." Yunomi replies, and comes back with two large carry-out packages, with large wooden two-tine forks, and hands one to Sakura before she goes to sit on the steps of Nivix.     "Back in the earlier days of Japan, did you know that river otters and many cats could shapeshift as well? Mujina, tanuki, kitsune -- most creatures had some family member who was magical." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura just smiles, before sitting down beside Yunomi. "If you say so..."     She takes a tentative taste of the noodles! "Hmm? That doesn't sound too far-fetched, no." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The noodles are a little spicy, very savory, and a little bit octopus-y. Don't ask what the meat is. Yunomi stirs hers around with the fork, and then twirls some of the noodles up in her fork. "Well, shapeshifting otters went extinct. Many mujina and tanuki families who could shapeshift mysteriously vanished. The Odanuki, my family, were brought down to a single branch... because humans were hungering after magic, to weaponize it against others. Now, if the kami liked you you might turn into a magical being, like my mother did. Or a sorcerer... but it was very rare to be born able to use magic if you were a human... so they began to capture yokai... and eat them." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura slurps up some of the noodles. Octopus-y is good! Her favourite food is noodles with seafood, after all, so she's kinda loving this. "...Wait. S-seriously? People did that?" She looks down. "That's..." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "Mmn. People ate yokai all the time. Sometimes mamedanuki would get caught in traps, we'd get killed and eaten like our non-magical brothers." Yunomi replies -- for her it was a fact of life. "So these magic eaters purposefully hunted down and ate animal yokai, and then as they grew more powerful, they found they could absorb other magics -- from spirit yokai, from yukionna ... even from kami, like Kaeruhime." Yunomi brushes her fingers to the red silk collar she wears, and she lips purse a moment. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura has stopped eating. "...Wow. I already didn't like them because they were threatening you but now..." Her left hand comes up to rub her right wrist lightly. She looks thoughtful! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Yeah. They're a big deal. It was thought that they were gone by the time my father and mother met, defeated after the Five Warriors and the first Yokai Purge... b ut..." Yunomi frowns slightly, and stirs the noodlebowl again before filling up her mouth with the noodly goodness. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura frowns into her noodles. And then goes back to eating them because she's doing her best not to get all moody again! "If they ever come after you again, you have to let me know, okay? Even though I use magic." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Don't worry yourself about that, Sakura-chan. I'm a Stadler, I have a plan." Yunomi gives a grin over to the other mage.     ... and that plan was to /totally run away/. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura shakes her head. "No, I'm serious. Things can go wrong. Backup plans are always important. Right? They're too big a threat to just..." She shrugs a bit, and goes back to her noodles! "This isn't a very happy topic, huh." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No, it's not." Yunomi replies quietly, and she leans back against the stairs.     "Just keep in mind anything that you give to your world /will/ be weaponized, because there will always be people who hunger for it, who want it, and who will kill for it." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura nods her head. "Yeah. I know. I still don't think it's a bad idea, though. I mean..." She raises her left hand, flicks her wrist, and... snickt. Hidden Blade. "You can kill someone with a bit of sharp metal." Another flick and it's gone back in its hiding place. "Magic's not really any easier than hitting someone or shooting a gun. It's actually usually harder." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Mmn. You're right. What do I know." Yunomi replies, and continues eating her noodles. "I'm not a human, so it might be entirely unpredictable. It might launch your world into a magical cold war or usher in a new age of peace and prosparity." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura reaches over to ruffle Yunomi's hair. "I'll be careful. I'm not the girl who used to do whatever she wanted without thinking about the consequences anymore. 'Everything will surely be all right' is still my Invincible Spell, but... 'Invincible' has shown itself to be less absolute in the Multiverse than I thought it was." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Mmn." Yunomi replies, but her mind seems elsewhere. She purses her lips a moment, ears swivelling up as she stretches one arm out, resting her elbow on her armored knee as she glances up to the spires and machines around her, the crackle of lightning and the buzz and hum of electricity around them, the mana in the air tangible.     "No," Yunomi replies, "there is nothing in this world that is invincable." 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura wraps her arm around Yunomi's shoulder and keeps on eating her noodles. "These are really good. What's in it?" Changing the subject! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a laugh. "Nautilous. It's a kinda cephelo.. sephi... it's related to octopus and squid. These ones get to the size of like, eight meters though! " Yunomi exclaims "Giant mutant shelled squid from the deeeep!" 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     There's a pause. Then Sakura grins. "Wow. I could cook SO MANY THINGS with a nautilous. We'd be having octopus balls and seafood noodles and fishcakes for months..." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... I might actually get tired of seafood at that point. Thank goodness Crab is a sometimes land food." Yunomi jokes, giving a small laugh as she draws herself back, setting the to-go container on the side, happily filled with noodles and nauts. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura gives Yunomi a big grin. "Don't worry. I'll eat your share~" She really, really loves sea food. "So... what was it you wanted my help with?" Smiiile! Ever eager to help. That's the Sakura Yunomi made friends with roughly six years ago! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "AH, I wanted to hook you up to a mana generator to see what the magical output of your cards was to test a theory... but it's way too nice a day to hook friends up to questionable machinery." Yunomi replies.     It's hard to tell if she is joking. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura pouts. "Aww. But I wanted to help!" She huffs and crosses her arms, then sticks out her tongue. "Well, what -else- do you wanna do, then?" 
}}

4239/Father's Day

2016-07-08T20:55:59Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/06/21 |Location=Maryland-2164 |Synopsis=Yunomi gets to play her out some pranks on her dad for post-father's day chicannery! Rated B for Boxes..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/06/21
|Location=Maryland-2164
|Synopsis=Yunomi gets to play her out some pranks on her dad for post-father's day chicannery! Rated B for Boxes
|Cast of Characters=272, 300
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Wherever Rick is, currently working, asleep, relaxing, or practicing his shots -- a mysterious package arrives, simply appearing into being -- who could it be from?     THe package is smaller than a loaf of bread. It is wrapped in blue foil paper with red sparkles on it, and desert digital camo ribbon. THe box does not appear to be rigged to explode, and when shaken there's a tinkling akin to a jingle bell inside. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Richard Stadler sat at the desk in his living room, newspapers spread out over it as a protection from what he was working on. The odd weapon (perhaps not odd in it's look, just something he hadn't expected to see in a world) lay on it, showing the need for the protection by the way it left rust and aged wood, grease and deterius. Certainly, Fleece may have been able to make more of it they he did, but skills that went unpracticed atrophied, and everyone needs a hobby. The fact that he was still signing a form with one hand occassionally showed he was mixing pastimes. It's in one of his look to the left that he happens to see the package, balanced on the ledge his balcony. He paused for a moment, sighing slightly, pulling open the draw next to him, rustling through pens and paper, before pulling out the Smith and Wesson Model 410. A cursory glance at the chamber as he pulled back the slide to chamber a round, before the desk drawer slammed shut. Balcony window open , tenative views around, sweeping back and up to the rook with the pistol pointed up. No sniper then. Oh, certainly, there were a few places. And he knew about them all. A grip of the package, a little shake for the bell, and then he's back in the house. Clip out, slide locked back, slide sent forward, round back in the clip, clip back in the pistol, pistol back in the drawer. Leaning forward to observe the box, before gently pulling on the ribbion, and working over the paper. It was good paper. Damn shame to throw it away after. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Luckily, the paper was secured with regular, run-of-the-mill scotch tape -- it lifts pretty easily.     A little note falls off as the paper is pulled away, flittering to the floor. Its neat, precise scrawl is unmistakably Yunomi's.     'Dad,     No matter how the years pass, no matter how many leaves fall or flowers bloom, there will always be a place in my heart for you. I think it's right next to the place where I love Ice Cream! (Tanuki smiley face) With Love,     Yunomi'     And the box is there! The box's cardboard is done up a bit like a shoebox. Its cardboard is sky blue, and the jingling comes from inside of it. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' The flick of a swiss army knife, tape removes with careful percision, before he looks down, bending to the left to pick it up. And reading the note. "Well, isn't that sweet!" He says, smiling to himself for a moment. "Always cute. And just because-" He stops, face freezing, before he moves over to the desk calinder he clearly isn't using. "June 16th, 17th, 18th- god /damn/ it." He mutters. How in the /hell/ do you forget Father's day. He was goddamn fifty. He was scrambling to the phone (it was only a day after) but stopped. "Priorities." He said to himself, before sitting down and flipping open the cardboard box, opening the jingling. That would require more than a vacation day to fix, but he hadn't been to Michigan in some time. Be good to see the folks, even if it /was/ in difference for forgetting to send a card. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     YEah, Dad! Priorities!     Inside the box was... ANOTHER BOX. Wrapped in bright green paper with little autumn leaves flying around it. The box feels a bit heavier for some reason; and it juuust barely slides out of the previous box. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Well, someone was practicing wrapping paper. And new wrapping paper. He tilts the blue box up to pop it on the desk, and hefts it. Was it heavier? Or just more dense? Hard to tell! Still, he slipped the knife over the tap again, removing the next set of paper, and laying it down on the blue foil, before opening the next box. A part of him would not be shocked if the gift was simply smaller and smaller boxes. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There is, indeed, another box inside the box, this one wrapped with bright pink foil with zebra stripes on it.     This box, suspiciously, is the same size as the last box -- but is three inches /deeper/ when it's pulled out. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Another box slipped out. And then more tape... before trying to place it back in the box it came in. Then sighing, lifting his glasses up to rub the bridge of his nose. "Could have adopted some war orphan, but no, you had to pick the prankster." A pause. "Ehh. Not like I'm a physicist. And you know it beats the alternative of a /boring/ daughter." He muses, slipping the paper aside and opening the next box. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe next box's wrapping paper is bright metallic green! This box does not jingle. It moos when tilted to the left, and then releases a soft foghorn noise when tilted to the right. This box is additionally /ten/ inches deeper than the last.     Someone's been having a lot of fun. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Knife comes out, flipflip- Oh, come on. He picks it up and examines it closely. "I suppose I /could/ smash you. Get to the bottom of this, and all that, but I'm afraid with all the violation of the laws that keep me sane, you'll simply take out the block." He says to the box, tilting it to the left. MOOOOOOOO. "I'd thought you'd say that. Goddamn /foot/." he says ,before opening /it/ up. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Inside there is an awful lot of tissue paper! NO MORE BOXES!     At the bottom of this one foot and a half deep box, there was simply a stick of deoderent/antiperspirant -- Old Spice.     It has a sticky note on it 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The sticky note simply says: "Look out the window" with another tanuki smiley face on it. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Tissue paper. Tissue paper... More damned tissue paper. How much was in here? Oh, there better be something inside it. Flicking the box over the desk, and shaking it, before something thunks out. Oh, deoderant. "She does know my brand-" He says, before reading the sticky note. "You know, if those boxes were filled with something else, this could be a damned horror movie. Drawer is opened... drawer is closed. Really, he should still get the gun out, but he didn't suppose he wanted to see his daughter looking at him with an automatic in his hand. SO instead he gets up, to the balcony, and peers out. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Outside, the parking area below has been temporarily transformed. A few folks are scratching their heads, some are saying that 'those crazy kids must be at it again'.     THe street has been turned into a garden, bright flowers of impossible blue and green hues stand out against the normal green foliage.     "HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! OPEN THE STICK!"     Yunomi must be somewhere nearby, laughing. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' You know, he thought. If someone was going to start a scavenger hunt, normally they made you go about town for it, instead of changing the laws of physics where you were. Oh, well. Again, it certainly wasn't boring. Though, really, where was she? Certainly not at any of the sniper perches. He peered out the window at a somewhat suspicious dog. Really wouldn't know /where/ she was, would he? Only way out is through! Popping open the stick, removing the cap. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     It is not actually a stick of deoderant! What a lousy father's day gift!     No, inside the stick there is ANOTHER BOX...     No just kidding, there's a large puff of sparkles, and a plate of perfectly normal, bakery-sourced cupcakes appears in lieu of the stick, along with a gift certificate for Crabfest, the all-you-can-stand Seafood Fest nearby. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' He /had/ sticks of Deoderant. It was litterally a dollar fifty down at the local supermarket. I mean there was the generic stuff, but a man had to have /standards/- Oh damn! He backed away quickly as the plate of cupcakes clangs and ringes aganist the desk. "Oh." He says, before picking one up and munching on it, while observing thegift certificate. "Well, /that's/ thoughtful." He says, finishing one (one!) off, and picking up the plate, moves the rest into the kitchen to saran wrap. Why not spread the things out? "And I think I know who I have to take." He says, another smile on his face. And it turns rueful. "If I can find her, that is. Suppose it would be in poor sport to order a sattilette pass... And a minute later, he's searching for heat signatures from one of the few sats in orbit. "Then again, I can't shape shift." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi is actually nowhere near by. And any tracer he has on his daughter would alert him she's right where she's supposed to be -- in Ravnica, in Nivix, in her workshop. And probably laughing. 

:'''{{#var:300|Richard Stadler (300)}} has posed:''' Perhaps the proudest things was not the grasp of magic, but the planning. One box, another box, flowers... all /remotely/. Marevelous. And he was beaming at that. Oh, certainly, she could have spoofed the trackers, but that would lead to the same thing. And that was just grand! Well, now that was one priority. Now for the next. Phone's picked up, and a number is dialed. "Ahh. Hey, Dad. It's Rick. You can- yes, I know. You know. Work. Look, I thought I'd make it up to you and Mom. What are you doing this weekend?" 
}}

3940/A Spider's Woes

2016-03-25T04:53:28Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/03/24 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Yunomi, Iria and Guildmaster Rhapsody arrive to aid a refugee Yokai in search of her missing d..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/03/24
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Yunomi, Iria and Guildmaster Rhapsody arrive to aid a refugee Yokai in search of her missing daughter. Judging by Yunomi's involvement, it's not going to be an easy case. They discover a small section of the Gruul clans shares their spaces with an unusual creature with an even more unusual affect.
|Thanks=Thanks to Iria and Rhapsody for joinining in!
|Cast of Characters=215, 272, 325
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THere was a time, in the Japanese valley of Namamura that its shadowy places were secreted by O-Hiko and her children. Following the troubles with the Planet Trade Orginization, however, there was some moving to be had -- and now some of the shadowy places of Ravnica, boarding against the Gruul Clans lands plays host to a small kingdom at the very edge of the Izzet Guild sector.     Yunomi had sent out a quiet request, and had assembled her troupes after someone had delivered a message on the behalf of her old friend, and had lead them down a labyrinthine access tunnels from a sunny plaza above, and into O-Hiko's home -- a great crevass, where rainwater empties into a ravine and leads to the Gruul Clan's lands. Pipes of every size stick out, water and cooling steam vented from the Izzet quarter creating a variety of rainbows as Yunomi pushes aside what might be thin, ropy vines hanging from all over -- and that's when the spiders begin to come down. The smallest were the size of a man's spread hand, the largest were two, three feet across the abdomen. THey cling to webs, the walls above, and waggle their forelegs threateningly at the new faces. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria had recently visited Ravnica off and on, albeit more for exploration and training purposes. The unique landscape and environment provided her with many ways to train as a bounty hunter. In fact sometimes it was better than her VR training that she used at her home. But she hadn't been here on official business for awhile. No one had a bounty they needed in this place. But now Yunomi's summoned her friends, and Iria's come to check things out.     Arriving in her usual outfit for this place, Iria jogs in quickly and then looks to Yunomi. "All right, I'm here. And I'm ready to go when everyone else is!" She looks around to see who else is coming. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi pauses as she parts spider web, blinks, and glances back at Iria. "Have to get a little information first, hold your hippogriffs -- and let me do the talking." she jokes, and she strides out into the sunlight. She's resplendant in her brilliant scarlet and azure armor, leather catching the light and brassy bits sending it back through the rainbows and the mists. One palm-sized spider lands on Yunomi's head, its mandables waggling as it chitters something softly.     And from off t o the side, a beautiful woman makes her appearance. She seems to float, her eyes entirely blackened and lips blood red. She has six more black dots along her forehead, which disappear into ebony hair. She wears a brilliant orange kimono, slashed with black ink as it drifts up and over what could be a bustle -- if not for the shifting beneath the fabric beneath. Her full lips are crased into a frown, and as Yunomi makes a stiff bow to the regal woman, the woman simply gives a nod of her head.     "I'm pleased you could make it so quickly, U- ... Yunomi. I fear I must ask a favor of you."     Another palm-sized spider drifts slowly down, hovering over Iria's head. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria nods to Yunomi, then shivers a little as a spider appears over Yunomi. She's about to speak up, but the spider doesn't seem to be doing any harm to Yunomi just yet, so Iria just leaves it be for now. Then she notices that woman appearing, and she attempts to look as polite as she can. She says nothing though, since Yunomi indicated she'd do the talking.     Iria simply stands by, trying to look as formal and patient as possible, only to have her eyes drift upwards and notice the spider coming down towards her head, and she goes wide-eyed. "Uhhh..." Iria seems a bit nervous by this spider wanting to drop down onto her head, but something keeps her stuck in place. She grits her teeth, hoping this spider isn't harmful. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     When she first became the Guildmaster of the Izzet, Rhapsody had made sure to become familiar with the lands that were now considered hers. The roads above, the pipes below, all of them were important to the machinations that the Izzet had made to keep the many utilities of Ravnica flowing. Water, power, steam, mana, the dozens upon dozens of pipes and conduits here were all branches of an intricate system that the previous guildmaster hoped one day, would spread beyond into the Gruul stomping grounds below.     The 'savages' wanted nothing to do with it.     So here, at the edge of the Izzet Grounds, the pipeways come to a sudden stop, seemingly ideal for the webweavers to make a home within. Various temperatures, various amounts of light and dark, and plenty of anchor points for their webs were probably helpful in the choice. If it weren't for the fact they were from Namamura... something far more horrible may have happened in the months prior. A single signature was enough to prevent all that.     Today, with a calling made, Rhapsody has made her way through the pipeways to lay eyes upon the webs and nests she had only heard about, and seen in pictures. In an opening a small way below Yunomi and Iria, the white dragon appears, gazes up, and emits a slight shiver. Spiders were, usually, a staple of the guilds of the forests. This many concentrated in Izzet lands? Well, there was a single reason for that, and the spiders were talking with that reason right now. "... I came out to far down..." Rhapsody muses, wondering just how to close distance. . . . and wondering if she really wanted to. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The situation was perfectly ideal for O-Hiko and her children -- they didn't bother any of the Izzet goings-on, and they were intimidating enough to keep too many others away from the open, bleeding edge of the Izzet... to mutual benefit.     The spider over Iria waggles its forarms, apparnetly in some sort of greeting, but seems to sense how ill-at-ease she is, and retreats upwards on its line the size of a child's finger.     One of the larger spiders (though its legs were a mere foot across) expends line down to inspect Rhapsody. It gives a squeaky "konichiwa!" and waggles its forearms at her.     "ANything, O-Hiko. Our families have long been friends." Yunomi replies... and she pauses, "Oh, my apologies Iria, Rhapsody, this is O-Hiko, she's...." she pauses, and glances around "... Rhaps?"     "A pleasure, I'm sure." O-Hiko interrupts, and states: "Yunomi, Meko has gone missing. She was exploring along the outside of this region when last we saw. I am concerned for her safety -- none of her brothers or sisters have been able to feel her presence."     And a larger spider, three feet across, slowly makes its way down to Rhapsody, leaving a one-inch wide length of strong silk in its path. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Greeted, Rhapsody realizes just how much anxiety she's probably displaying and steels herself, standing straight, putting on a strong expression, "Hello!" overdoing it, a little, but hey, she's trying, right? When Yunomi calls, the guildmaster calls up from below, "Wrong pipe!" she admits before a second, larger, arachnid appears. Somewhere deep down she wants to NOPE right out, but both her pride as a dragon, and guildmaster, is forcing her to swallow the fear trying to well up. "I ah, I think I can climb.. up.. in a second!" Just as soon as she can turn that steel into something stronger in her soul. Diamond maybe? 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "I'm Hunter 9979-5, or Iria if you will," Iria replies politely. "Sorry about just now. I'm a little arachniphobic at times," She adds with a slight hint of a blush on her face. Sure she's a tough young lady, but even she has fears at times. She bites her lower lip a little before listening to what is going on. From what O-Hiko has said, something definitely is wrong here... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Arachnephobic?" O-Hiko gives a slight smile, and her body bends unnaturally. "Do not fret over my children, we have an agreement with the Izzet..." she draws upwards, and looks to Yunomi.     Yunomi gives a nod, and she turns, stepping off the air and drawing downwards. "Going down, Rhaps! We've got a missing kid on our dockets!" she calls back to Iria and Rhapsody, clearly expecting them to follow downwards via the silk lines.     Down below, the large spider anchors the line, and raises its forelimbs up, motioning Rhapsody and Iria down. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Oh. Hey. Going down, not up! Genius! For some reason this causes Rhapsody to heave a sigh of relief, she reaches out with one hand to latch onto the silken strand, and then she slowly starts to show herself down to the ground. "Missing? For how long?" she asks once on solid ground. "And do we have any idea where they may have last been seen? ... or felt?" Webs, other senses, Rhaps wouldn't rule out relying on other senses in this situation.     Questions asked, the guildmaster also gives a nod to Iria, "Its been a while, Iria. I hope you've been doing alright?" a smile, then over to Yunomi. Just a moments glance and she turns beat-red.. "Ah... yeah. Um... Thank you?" What? Don't ask the dragon, she isn't telling. A cough clears out the sudden blush, "SO. Yeah. Ah, lets see what we can figure out.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria grits her teeth a little at the usage of those silk lines, but then she shrugs it off and decides to 'bite the bullet.' She grabs onto one of the lines and begins to descend. "I've been doing OK, yes," Iria replies to Rhapsody. "And we're gonna find this missing kid, no matter what!" She looks down to make sure she doesn't land too hard. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The spider on Yunomi's head gives a chittering reply, but snuggles its way into her hair. Yunomi doesn't seem to mind the little one in her head.     Brain spider is braining!     Yunomi pauses, giving a look up to Rhaps, and she just gives a big, goofy grin. "I figured it might make your day a bit better." she jokes, apparently on some inside joke as she makes her way out. "Goji says that Meko was last seen out this way -- they don't tend to travel too far into the grasslands because of the Clans." Yunomi explains, "I really hope it's just an issue of a lost spider..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A nod is given to Iria first, "Good good, if you need anything around the city, just hollar, you know?" Rhapsody says before moving to follow Yunomi, listening, "Mm.. about 200 feet or so is the Edge, so, we'll have to be careful. The Gruul Clans are notoriously territorial. Clans are always fighting.." she sighs, "Haven't had to deal with them in a while... thanks to your friends, I imagine. Still, I wish a few more would turn to the teaching jobs that the city has offered. The ones that do are -very- good at it.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, I'll do so," Iria replies politely, while continuing to descend. "200 feet? That's a long drop." She grits her teeth, continuing to maintain a steady grip on the thread while praying that she doesn't lose her hold or something like that. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Don't worry, there's a flying mage who's keeping track with the others, glancing up as she looks to the hills.     "What kind of teaching jobs have they taken up? 'Pain and Torture 101'? 'How to lose friends and win enemies via blood witchery'?" Yuomi replies, a bit sourly, but the ground here is soft, fresh grasses, lush and well-watered from the waters and mists dropping down from above. Some wildlife scatters as they come to a landing, and Yunomi makes her way out into the grasses -- and given her height, all that can be seen of her is the bright orange abdomen on the spider on her head. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     The dragon shakes her head, "Sages, passionate about teaching people how Ravnica was before it was urbanized. Nothing as savage as that," Rhapsody muses, all but ignoring the sour tone. She was learning to see the brighter sides of a lot of the guilds.. except for two. Maybe 3. It wouldn't be too hard to guess which ones those are.     That said, the dragon follows along, considering what could have happened. "How big is this particular spider..?" The Gruul wouldn't go after something small. Or it could have been an accident... or something else entirely... the guildmaster's mind was racing from one thought to the next trying to consider the location, the 'victim', among other things. 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria follows along as well, keeping a slight distance and looking around her to make sure no other spiders are gonna try to drop on her or something similar. Sure, she can take on the most powerful being, a.k.a. Zeiram, with the greatest of ease. Got a bunch of outlaws who need capturing? Call Iria! But give her spiders and she gets the willies! Then again, nobody's perfect.     "Whatever its size is, we're gonna get this missing child back!" Iria says with determination in her voice. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "Meko? Probably a little bigger than Goji here, the lat time I saw her, but she'd be scared, she might be hiding, so keep a sharp eye to the--" Yunomi pauses as the ground starts shaking. "Wh-whoa-ooaa!" she windmills her arms before clinging to the top of a rock. The ground beneath the draconic guildmaster and Iria begins to shudder as well, as if it were alive -- and rising!! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Weird, I don't think that the Gruul would--Er, wha?!" When the ground starts to shake, Rhapsody's arms, and tail, go out, and then she just drops to a knee, wide eyed and looking all around, "The blazes is going on here?!" Then she realizes the ground is lifting, "... Oh no. Noooo no no no no..." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria starts to say something, but then the ground begins to shake and she's forced to try to find something to hold onto for balance purposes. Except that doesn't happen, and she drops to one knee, using this crouched position for stability. "What in the hell is going on here?!" She calls out, only to see the ground is lifting. "Don't tell me there's some sort of living thing down there!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Goji the Spider chitters, all legs coming out and holding onto Yunomi's head.     "Okay!" Yunomi calls out...     The ground continues to shake, and the rock that Yunomi was holdong onto is not a rock -- but a large horn. Its body was green-gray, what was grass now is shown to be shaggy fur. A pair of ears flick up to either side of Rhapsody and Iria, and below them a massive head takes shape. It seems to lumber itself to wakefulness, and gives a bellow, a low rumbling cry that shakes the ground beneath it as it... very... very slowly... begins to.. walk.     "I won't tell you!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     And then it was... not any of the things Rhapsody was worried about. She heaves a sigh, flops down, relaxes for a moment, then realizes they are on a really big beast.. "... Wait, this actually may not be good.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Once Iria sees what's coming up, she begins to grit her teeth even more. All of a sudden, dealing with spiders seems like a better alternative than this! Then there's a loud bellowing noise which makes her eardrums hurt a little bit. To top that off, it's starting to walk?! What is this world coming to? "Someone mind telling me what the hell this thing is?!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's voice can be heard from the nose. "It appears to be a very large, very shaggy verison of /Rhinocerous unicornus/ but with a broken horn! ... and oh hey, I think that's a ladder hanging from its side! /Hey/ I think there might be a city on its back!"     Distant chittering.     "Goji says he can sense Meko coming from the city!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Well... alright then! I hope a clan doesn't show up.." That is the one concern Rhapsody has. This big of a beast? The Gruul love taking down big things.. "Well lets go take a look then!" Once the guildmaster has her 'beast legs' as opposed to sea legs, she stands up. "I know Zepplids get big but.. I haven't really seen big landbeasts like this before!" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "If Meko is coming from the city, then shouldn't we try to find her?" Iria asks, still not quite used to the fact that this creature is actually existing. "I mean, this Rhinoceros-whateverus is making me uneasy!" Iria's suddenly questioning why she even came here in the first place, now that she finds that they're on top of a living creature that has a city on top of it! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "RHinocerous!" Yunomi leaps into the air, holding onto Goji, "unicornus! Indian rhino -- differenciated by size and having a single horn! Some think that they inspired the idea of 'unicorns' in non-magical worlds via the monocerus!" Yunomi is, apparently, nervous as she makes her way to wards the 'city'.     And the "city" is indeed a place where tents are pinned down to the tough hide of the grassy rhinocerous' back, canvas flapping in the wind as the movement fills the dwellings like sails, the brilliant sky above threatening with rain.     The city itself is populated with... little people. SMall figures garbed in loose, grass-stained brown clothing, bustling about. A few guards are stationed along the edges, tethered into the beast by ropes in case of sudden turns or movement. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "I'll take your word for it!" Rhapsody calls back, carefully walking along, following the Tanuki and likely leading Iria on. "Well, lets see if we can find Meko then!" she adds before spotting the village. Small? Well, ok! Why not? "Suddenly I understand what Dad felt like.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Rhinocerous Unicornus... uh, yeah, thanks for the trivia," Iria comments to Yunomi. "But now's not the time for that." She looks to Rhapsody and nods. "Sooner we find Meko, sooner we can get outta here! I just hope she's OK!" She follows behind Rhapsody quickly. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Could be worse!" Yunomi calls out to Iria, and she makes her way to the grouping. The spider on her head chitters, and then hops down into Yunomi's pack, poking its head out.     PIdge, the ever-present Izzet security drone, beeps in dismay!     The guards glance to one another, goggled eyes and swaddled faces hiding expressions, but one untethers himself, and stalks up to the group.     In a thin voice, he greets them:     "Hail, travelers -- what brings you to the wandering city of Ahsik?" he inquires, looking curiously up. He's no bigger than one of Yunomi's little kodama, maybe an eighth of Iria's size. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     Once Rhapsody closes distance, she kneels to reply, "Ah, hail there! We come with no ill intent. We are here looking for a friend of ours. Has anyone new wandered into your village recently?" she asks, looking over the guard, and the town, with the distance closed. " 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "No one wanders into Ahsik. Ahsik wanders to people." the guard states, pushing up his goggles a bit He has dark bluish skin, motled with darker gray-greens and bright red eyes. "Though none so rare as the child of Niv-Mizzet, and two associates of the guild. I am Tiktik." he states, drawing down, his little, long tail with a tuft of hair at the end sticking out. "And what do you seek?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A blink, then a soft smile, "My reputation always seems to preceed me. We are looking for a spider-child by the name of Meko. Their ... family has not been able to sense them and they became worried for them. Also, ah, your home has wandered into Gruul Lands. I would recommend a great amount of caution as the tribes tend to enjoy hunting exotic things... such as your home." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria stands by, looking respectful and polite. But she doesn't say anything, since Rhapsody and Yunomi are doing a better job of speaking right now. It's kind of a contrast from the usual Iria, but even she has her 'alternate' moods too. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi is actually hanging back, her ear flicking backwards like radar, monitoring the argument between the beeping and clicking and chittering from her backpack as an argument gets heated.     Tiktik's eyes give a slight smile. "There aren't many dragons in Ravnica. I hazarded a guess, since you wear his colors... a spider? ..." Tiktik pauses, and glances backwards. "We had come upon such... some of our children thought it tame. If it is a... child of someone... then it may be that it was..." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Mm... more than there used to be after Augustin was ... dealt with.." Rhapsody says, clearing her throat before moving on to the matter at hand. "..So .. you saw it?" The fact the guard said 'was' is worrying, slightly, but it could be nothing. . . . She hopes its nothing. She's also oblivious to what the spider and pidge may be up in arms about.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The argument is that Goji put a leg in Pidge's eye, and Pidge doesn't even /have/ eeyes, how would that even work?     TikTik glances back to the side, and shakes his head. "I've said too mcuh. I'm sorry, Mizzet, you won't find your spider here." he states, and goes to hop back to his tether.     Yunomi steps forward, and then, for the others, the world might begin to get a little... wobbly.     Proided no one manages to counterspell, the world becomes a lot larger, vision sinking down intot the grass-like fur of the beast, the city growing in size, drastically! Threads become ropes and the small details of the grasses become jungles -- even the odd flea that hops by thumps like a rabbit against the ground! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     There would be no counter from Rhapsody. She gets as woozy as Yunomi, slumps forward, takes a knee again, and by the time she looks up again... ".... eh.. wha? I didn't sneeze? What's going on here..????" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Meanwhile, Iria's finding things are getting crazy. "Am I on drugs? Did I have too much to drink? WHAT is this?!" She holds her hands over her head and scowls, closing her eyes and wishing it would stop! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "That..." Yunomi speaks up, and lowers her goggles. "Was someone's bad idea of a transformation." her ears prick up, her tail sticks out, and she brings her hands up, blue mana forming in the palms of her hands and then -- dissipates. With no affect.     ... "I take it back." Yunomi puyshes her goggles back up. "... that... was a pretty good forced transformation. I'd say bravo, but I'm a little miffed right now."     She pauses. And tries not to laugh, turning to Iria and Rhapsody. "Get it? 'Little' miffed?" she asks, cracking a grin.     <OH WEBS I AM TINY!> squeaks Goji.      beeps Pidge, and they both quiet their fussing in Yunomi's backpack, a small accord of peace.     Tiktik pauses, glances over to them, and then shakes his head. "Should have left when you had the chance. Welcome home." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     At first, the guildmaster rubs her head, takes a second look around, then just has a seat, there, for a long moment. She manages a smile for Yunomi, but starts to consider the situation, and what Tiktik just said. "... oh blast it all.." she mutters, thinking a bit more, "This could be really bad..." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' Iria just kneels down on one knee and shakes her head. "Are you saying we just..." She trails off, not able to find the words she needs. "I don't believe this. How are we gonna get out of here?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Well. First we're going to find Meko." Yunomi states, and she pats her backpack. "Then we're going to get off the rhino. And then I'll work something out. It's a transformation. Who in the Izzet is better at transformations than me?" She asks, trying to sound confident... she lowers her goggles, and glances between Rhapsody and Iria. "We're Izzet. We'll figure this out." she sticks out her hand to them. "The city's not as big as we think it is. Goji can feel his sister's presence. If we encounter resistance, nonleathal means." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Another breath, a nod, and then Rhapsody takes Yunomi's arm in her hand and pulls herself up. "You're absolutley right," she says with newfound confidence. "Magical enigma? Please, the Izzet make dozens of those in a single day!" BRAVADO! "C'mon, Iria, lets find Meko, figure this place out, and make sure no one else has to get stuck here!" 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, let's find Meko and get out!" Iria's now a bit on the cranky side as she goes along with the others. "I should've known what I was getting myself into here..." She runs a hand through her hair with a sigh. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Don't feel bad about not knowing. You're traveling with me. I attract chaos." Yunomi admits, dusting off her jacket, and giving a grin to Iria. "I don't even know what's going to happen. Isn't it exciting?" she inquires, and then she takes off in a dead run past TikTik, who, tethered to the hino attempts to stop her, but gets himself tangled! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "You?" Rhapsody smiles, "We're Izzet! I live for this kinda thing! Just gotta look forward! We aren't dead, so lets keep living!" All that said, Rhapsody takes off, following after Yunomi to whatever end. YARR. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The trio takes off, speeding through the town. People are surprised, shocked even to see the necomers adapting so quickly, no one even has time to greet them.     And when they find Meko, she is caged in the town's center, surrounded by children, who scatter at our heroes' arrival! Coincidentally no guards attempt to stop them, how strange! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Jackpot!" Seems the guildmaster has found a lot more enthusiasm in the last few minutes. That's a good thing, right?! "I really want to know what's going on around here, but objective priority! Lets get you out of that cage.." 

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:''' "Finally, we've found you!" Iria says, this time grinning widely. "Just take it easy, we're gonna get you outta here and back to safety!" She looks to the others and gives them a thumbs up. "Great job!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THe little Spider squeaks in its cage. Yunomi takes rear guard, Goji poking his fangs and forelegs out of the backpack and waving to the other spider.     Yunomi takes a deep breath. "OK, extraction plan, what would Dad do?" she asks... and the answer would be to call the airforce.     ... /OH GOOD/.     "Pidge. Fly to Nivix. Plan: Wake the Prince."     She states, and the little orb beeps obediently, and then takes off.     And that's when the guards arrive! They begin to circle the group, drawing out knives and hatpins and little shards of glass tied to discarded wooden drink stirrers with sticks.     "What you don't know, Izzet..." a guard who is decidedly /not/ TikTik states, as he brings up a long knife that he brandishes as if it were a sword: "We /are/ just a small part of the Gruul Clans!"     Yunomi stands at the ready, her hands splayed, lightning cracking. "Grab the spider, Rhaps, and get behind me... pfftt... /small/ part...." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Just hold on a second," Rhapsody suggests before managing to call up just enough mana to unlock the cage. She heaves a breath, reaches in, and tugs Meko out, "C'mon, lets get you home," any fear she had earlier is just -gone-. Being in the moment like this is doing wonders for the dragon!     When Ravnica's smallest Gruul Clan starts to circle. She snrks a little herself, then replies, "You do realize that trying to trap a -Guildmaster- here is a bad idea, right? Especially when that guildmaster has the guild's #1 offworld apprentice and bounty hunter with them... right???" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Once our ride arrives, we'll have about six minutes to board." Yunomi whispers, her goggles lowering as lightning crackles along her hands. She glances backwards to the Dragon and the Bounty Hunter, and she slides off her pack, and hands it off to Rhapsody. "I'm going to make sure you get on. I can fly and catch up."     "That? /That/ is the offworld apprentice?" croaks a fat little ogre of a little guy, who steps forward, brandishing a club -- er... a branch. "I'll feed you to your little pet spider. It'll be a treat!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     That actually earns the fat little oaf a growl, "You have no idea what your dealing with, bub, not a -clue-..." Rhapsody insists, now slowly drawing out one of her spellblades. It wasn't even something she planned on using today! The barest of nods acknowledges Yunomi's plan, the guildmaster not wanting to give the fella any ideas that they were up to something. She does, however, sling the backpack over a shoulder. "Go ahead and try! Go ahead and attack a Guildmaster! You -will- regret it!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Rhaps--" Yunomi begins, but the ogre rumbles forward, his fat slignging around him -- he's obviously well fed. Don't think about 'on what' for too long though.     He bull rushes forward, just as a shadow passes overhead - something with big wings -- some sort of hawk?! A dragon?!     But as the Ogre roars towards Rhapsody, intent on harming her, Yunomi moves just that bit quicker. The Guardian steps out simply, drawing from a pole holding a cooking pot and spinning it around, using it to trip the ogre's feet.     "Rhapsody! To the tail! /NOW/!" she calls out. "This might be the one shot!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A lash of her blade, a bolt of electricity strikes the ground -right beside- the ogre's head, and without another word, the blade is set back at her side and the Guildmaster dashes for the tail, as told, pack, Pidge, and spiders in tow! "Don't you lag behind on me!" she calls back, all the while surging for the shadow overhead. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "And miss the view?" Yunomi calls back, turning and jumping over the fallen ogre as the other tiny Gruul begin to get themselve spsyched up for a chase. Yunomi stands between them and the guildmaster and the Huntress, her ilps pursed as her tail flicks. "Wouldn't dream of it." she mutters, and then turns tail an d bolts.     However, the nightning and crashing has disturbed the rhonocerous creature, and he begins to pick up speed. It makes keeping the footing difficult for anyone not used to the rolling gait of the rhino. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''      The Guildmaster won't quite get that one until later! She will, she'll laugh, she'll get all sheepish, and then she'll laugh again. BUT UNTIL THEN, THERE WAS A CHASE AFOOT. The dragon had forgot just what she had 'bolted' and realizes it as she stumbles in her running, "Gh! Ha! Oh well! It wouldn't be an Izzet chase if something wasn't making it even more crazy!" More steps taken, more lunges for the tail, as she goes, she tugs the pack around and holds it against her chest rather than letting it be behind her. Protection provided! One arm stays wrapped around the pack, the other on her blue spellblade... just in case. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Two very frightened spiders poke their little heads out, watching the oncoming tail end of the rhinocerous with a sick sense of fascination. Arrows are whizzing by -- along with the occasional firebolt. They duck back down, chittering in prayer.     Yunomi jsut leaves the ground, her arms scooping up Iria to keep her steady for a bit as they run until they come to the very end of the rhinocerous -- and far, far, far below them, a whole sixty feet to the ground, was their escape -- in the grass.     Yunomi's panting, having slung a few spells back, but mostly keeping up her Prismatic Shield to protect them, her arms outspread to guard.     "Rhapsody, how much do you trust me?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Do you even have to ask? If you say jump, I'll jump. If you want.. .... If you want me to fly, I will fly.." and she doesn't mean in her current form. The way her voice sounds, she's ready to show something she has shown VERY FEW PEOPLE.. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Save the dramatics, Guildmaster, they're not worth the effort! Besides -- I'm a Stadler, of course I have an extraction plan!" Yunomi grins. She can feel the shield sapping away at her.     "Rhaps, Iria -- JUMP!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "JUMP IT IS!" And without any hesitation, Rhapsody lunges off the tail end of the massive beast and its strange, tiny, village people. "LETS GOOOOOOOO!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     And Yunomi gives a shrill whistle as she jumps -- the rhinocerous beast continues its way, galloping across the Gruul lands, and there is suddenly a very soft landing beneath them!     In the form of /The/ Izzet Pheldagriff!     Albert, in all his glory, wings spread, the setting sun and reflection of thunderclouds against glossy wings, ears wiggling in the wind as he ascends higher into the heavens with all the grace afforded to a glorified flying hippopotamous. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' And that landing causes Rhapsody to loose a victorious howl. Yes, the dragon is howling. IT IS BEAUTIFULLY IZZET! "WOOOOOO! We are OUTTA THERE!" she calls out, waiving sarcastically at the tribesman they just left behind. "SEE YA!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Now... if my theory is correct, the reason why I couldn't transform out of such a small state would be because the creature has a passive magical effect of dimunizing anything around it, you know -- like, in that card game, it'd bmake us wee little one-one tanuki, huntress, and dragon tokens. Because Albert wasn't in the field long enough, he didn't shrink!" Yunomi gives a smile, pushing up her goggles. PIdge -- now full size, and about half Yunomi's current size, buzzes around the trio. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody blinks, shrugs, laughs, "I'll take your word for it! I'm sure a few magewrights would be really curious about that beast and how that effect works.." she tilts her head, thinks, then sets the pack down on Albert's back and opens it, "You're free!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The little, scared spiders stay in the pack.     <They're not going to eat us, are they Goji?>     <No, Meko. The short one's O-Asahi's.>     <OH!>     And the two spiders chitter their way over to Yunomi, Goji taking up residence on her head and Meko on her shoulder, the two guarding the Guardian. Some of Yunomi's hair has come loose, and she turns, looking over to Rhapsody as she gives a smile. "First stop though -- O-Hiko. I'm pretty sure it's past these kid's bedtime!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     A quick nod, "Yes, absolutley. Back home for both of you! I hope you're okay, Meko. That was a bit of an adventure.." 
}}

1073/Turkey Trots

2016-03-05T17:51:08Z

DangerTanuki:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/12/03
|Location=New York-199999
|Synopsis=Thanksgiving with Pepper's family, her mother Carrie, her sister Georgia, their husbands Stan and Martin, little tyke Elizabeth and newest additions Tony Stark and Toph Beifong? ... bring on the scotch, what could possibly go wrong?
|Cast of Characters=20, 204, 301
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     'Twas the Day of Thanksgiving, and through Oregon, all three Pottses were pretty content that their mothers didn't name them after Oregon.     The radio was playing some Z Z Top as Potts drives through the mountains, past bare-limbed trees and conifers garbed in a coating of frost. Groceries are set in the way back, along with overnight bags and gifts for the new-to-the-family Elizabeth Rodgers. The quiet hum of the engine is hidden beneath the crooning about /totally/ appropriate topics, and it's not long before Potts takes a side road off the highway, and there's pleanty of bumps and rocks, leading up to the tan and gray home of Martin and Georgia Rodgers. The vehicle pulls up and engages park as the door opens up and Carolina Potts can be heard /through/ the closed windows, followed by the barking of a dog.     POtts steps out of the car, clad in jeans and a jacket and light boots, all smiles on her face. "We're here." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Normally Tony would want to drive, but since it's Pepper's family they're going to visit, he conceded to her -- as long as he got to control the radio. He behaved himself pretty well on the trip over, mostly playing with some holographic autocad program on his phone. When the car pulls up in front of the house and Carrie's dulcet tones reach his ears, he shuts down the program and looks up. "Brace yourself, Toph," he warns in a low voice that his mother-in-law to-be won't hear as Pepper opens the driver side door. He slips out on his side, grunting and stretching the stiffness out of his limbs. He's also wearing jeans, of the $800 variety and a tailored shirt. "We would've been here an hour earlier if you'd let /me/ drive," he points out. Then plasters a big cheesy grin on his face for Carolina's benefit. "Hi Mom~," he singsongs. "We didn't miss dinner, did we?" 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     At this point she's learned there is precious little she can do about the car driving and her lack of control. But at least they are not flying.     It was slightly boring at the end of the trip though, so the blind earthbender had decided to close her eyes a bit, looking slightly tired where she was sitting in the back seat. It's not like she could look out of the window either... But Toph isn't completely asleep as the vehicle comes to a complete stop. "Finally...!" She exclaims, only glad to stretch her legs again and get a 'look' at where they are. Tony's warning makes her arch an eyebrow. Brace herself for what? She of all people can hear Carolina easily enough, but the woman seems to like her well enough. Bare feet touch the ground, and Toph stretches as well, wearing long cargo pants as well as an oversized sweater. It's interesting to get a look at the surrounding area, and she lets out a slight yawn before she heads to the back of the car to pick up her own bag as well as one of the other bas with stuff they got for Pepper's niece.     "At least we are here safely, Goldie," she asides to Tony before she follows after Pepper. Oh, they have a dog here too? 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     The ground here is cold, and rocky, with veins of granite running deep. Most of the animals are in hibernation mode, and Toph could pick up on everyone around, including the many dogs in a kennel at the back of the building. There are trees that are narrow and reach skyward, and the air has the bite of snow in it.     "ANd you would have been bored out of your mind watching us keep the turkey in check. Dreadful bird." Carolina replies, and after she hugs Potts, she grabs Tony and hugs him tight, planting a big wet kiss on his cheek, then moves to Toph! "Toph! It's so good to have you here!" she exclaims, then reaches down and hugs Toph against her, full perfume and everything!     Two guys come out to help with the luggage, one of them much younger than the other. Martin Rodgers is spry, a bit younger than Tony's age and walks with a spring in his step born out of the nervous excitement. "Tony, good to see you again. Glad you get to see little Liz finally. It's been kind of hectic for us between the baby and a few conventions we've gone to -- oh, hey, you must be Toph--"     Toph is released by Carolina's buxomous figure, and Martin reaches to help with the baggage. "I guess that makes me your uncle -- or Martin. Or Hey You. I respond to most things." He adds good naturedly, and begins to reach to shake her hand when he appears to remember that she's bnlind. 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Tony 'wuffs' softly and turns his face pleadingly toward Pepper so that she but not Carrie can see his expression of somewhat helpless panic as he's engulfed by her mother. Once released, he rather exaggeratedly wipes his cheek where she kissed him and pantomimes a sigh of relief, feeling his ribs for any cracks. But hey, it's better than being threatened with death or castration. "I made chocolate bacon," he announces, adding in a conciliatory tone, "Toph helped. Although mostly by eating it," he qualifies. "Hi, Martin. Yeah," he teases lightly, "I think Pepper's been looking forward to holding the baby. Toph's a little big for cuddling," he reaches out to ruffle her hair as he turns to help unload the car. He has to shepherd his bacon safely into the house. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     There she is! Toph grins as Carolina leaves the house and greets them, not saying anything as the woman hugs her daughter and then her future son-in-law, but she does grin a bit. But said grin fades when she herself is hugged, and her nose is assaulted by perfume! The blind girl tenses up a bit and does her best to not breathe while she is hugged, and Tony might notice the expression on Toph's face that tells just what she thinks of old lady perfume.     "I didn't eat /all of it/," the earthbender mutters at Tony's comment. At least Martin doesn't reek of perfume... And Toph grins slightly when he makes it clear he isn't too strict on what he prefers to be called. One might even consider that she takes that as an invitation to think of a nickname for him. "Heya! That's good, because I end up calling people many different things, really," she explains, and she reaches out with her right hand to shake Martin's hand, not hesitating not having trouble finding it and giving him a firm handshake. "Here, I think this one was filled with gifts..." And other various stuff. She will carry her own bag herself, though! As for the comment about her and cuddling, as well as the hair ruffling? Tony earns a punch in the side for that one. At least she doesn't punch him in the arm so he might drop the bacon.     With that done Toph heads inside, a bit curious about whether she will be able to see much in this house... and meet the others. She still hasn't met Georgia yet, after all! And Stan should be here too. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "I can always cuddle Buster." Potts replies from the back of the car as she pulls out another bag.     Stan makes it over, accepting a few bags with a smile. "Good to see you all made it safely, probably because of Pepper's driving. I hear you're a bit hell on wheels, Stark. No sense putting precious cargo in danger, mmm?" he questions. And he blinks his watery eyes. "... oh, chocolate covered... bacon?" he questions, his eyebrows rising up before his lips purse. "That... should be a most interesting desert." Stan manages to reach over and pat Toph's shoulder in passing as he helps in with a few things, Martin and Pepper behind him.     Pepper sets overnight bags to the side, and glances up the stairs.     Georgia's hair has a more auburn tint than her sister's, and it's puylled up in a quick pony tail. She's carring something delicate in her arms, a big grin on her face as she comes downstairs.     "Oh my gosh... just... she's so /tiny/ Georgie..."     "Careful, she just woke up. She might be a bit gassy..." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "Danger," Tony scoffs. "I fly around in a tin can at excess of Mach 4 and you think I can't handle a little car?" He sidles up behind Pepper so that he can whisper in her ear, "Such a sweet widdle gas monster... careful, Potts, or you're going to want one of your own. Hi Georgie," he flashes one of his beaming wink-and-smile combos at his fiancee's sister. He moves toward the kitchen to deposit his contribution to the meal, but hesitates first, glancing around. "Where's Able? Or do you have a new dog-in-training now?" 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     "Buster /is/ very cuddly," Toph agrees with Pepper. And there is Stan! Even as he reaches out to pat her shoulder Toph smiles and offers a somewhat lighter punch to his arm than Tony gets. Because Tony can handle a punch. "Pepper can drive quickly too when she needs to."     As Georgia walks down the stairs it's a bit difficult for Toph to see her properly, as well as the precious bundle in her arms. Though Pepper's reaction does catch Toph's attention, and she blinks. "Heya. You're Georgia, huh?" She will have to shake her hand when she's not carrying the baby. And while she is a bit curious, she will let Pepper say hi to her niece first. And no, she has nothing to say to Tony's comment to Pepper. Nope. Not after the conversation they had the previous day. Nuh uh.     With the lower floor having tiles it's a bit easier to see things up here... but the upper floor seems to be made of wood. Hopefully they will be spending most of the time on the lower floor. But for now Toph stands there by the stairs along with Pepper, not really sure where to go or where she should drop off her bag. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     Pepper and Georgia look at one another, and Georgia entirely nonchalantly hands the gassy little diaperbomb to... Stan, who sets the bag on the floor and coos at the baby.     "Able's been passed on to another family; he graduated his good citizen courses and though we couldn't train him for seeing eye, he's happily the companion dog of a kid with autism. Worked out in the end. Now we have Trigger."     And at the sound of his name, there's barking from the direction of the back, and the scrabbly sounds of canine nails on tile, and the attempting-to-brake sounds of a dog playing waxed tile bowling.     /Martin/ goes to get the dog, giving a soft 'ah no no no no!' sound before the dog can hit a pedastal holding up a bust of some important philosopher or another. 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Georgia and Martin keep BUSTS? Man, Tony thought they were cool. Then again he might have busts in his house. He wouldn't kow. Pepper does all the decorating. "Do ya like bacon, Trigger?" he calls out, and holds the dish up high where the dog can't reach it. "Well too bad, dogs can't have chocolate." Toph and Pepper might recognize this overly teasing, blustery Tony as one who's a little nervous and trying to hide it. Bad enough being the boyfriend last time. He could be all cool and aloof. Now he's invited himself into the family. He ventures into the kitchen only to put the bacon down and skitter back out into the living room, hopefully before he can be asked to help with any cooking. Because that would not end well. He moseys back to Pepper's side and looks between her and Georgia. "What? Was it something I said?" he asks, sounding more amused than concerned. "I wouldn't want to kick up any sibling rivalry here." 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     There the dog is! Toph blinks as she feels the dog come scrambling, though she can't fault the dog for the energy. But Martin doesn't need to worry, as Toph is ready to interfere if anything should hit the pedestal. Then again, he might not know just handy it can be with an earthbending master around.     For now Toph steps up next to Stan. "She's small, huh?" she asks, then reaches a hand out to touch Elizabeth's arm. The little baby is technically her cousin, and it's not like she's gotten to 'see' many babies before either. So she can't help but be a little curious. Also about the dog too, but that's because she likes animals.     And Tony isn't the only one who's slightly nervous, as Toph hasn't met some of these people before, and well... it's not like she's celebrated Thanksgiving before either. But why not try to do the best out of it? "Don't most people react to what you say anyway?" she teases him. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     Is it still uncool if it's an Iron Man bust?     "Oh, Ginny didn't want kids in college." Georgia replies, pulling a binkie out of her pocket and looking at it accusingly, she shunts it back into her jeans, and makes her way to the kitchen, but she gives a smile to Toph. "Hello, Toph. I'm Georgia, but everyone calls me Georgie. Potts smiles, putting a hand on Tony's shoulder and brushing a kiss to his cheek as he returns out of the kitchen. "I'm going to help mom. Think you can watch the kids?" she laughs, pointing at Stan who is making faces through his thick glasses at Liz, and then, being caught, gives a blush.     Trigger is caught, and calmed down before let loose, and he pads up to Toph, sniffing the stranger's hand. He's a decent sized dog, maybe sixty pounds.     "She is. You were this small, once. So was I." and he leans over slightly "I think Tony might have been bigger, but mostly his egghead. Right?" 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "Mostly," Tony agrees absently, watching Pepper's back(side) as she goes to help in the kitchen. College was a long time ago. Well, longer for him than for Pepper but still. Well, just as well she doesn't want kids. He doesn't either. The very idea is terrifying. "Yeah, don't worry, I'm the /best/ babysitter," he calls after her before turning back to Stan and... the kids. "Buster was smaller," he points out, and holds up his hands to cup an imaginary four ounce kitten. "I bet Liz can poop on her own, though, so she's got that on him." 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     "Georgie it is then!" Toph grins at the woman, glad that Pepper's sister and brother-in-law seem like decent people. They did invite them over to stay at least, and it doesn't feel like there's a bad mood in the house, which eases up her nervousness somewhat. Not that she'd ever show it to begin with.     And there's the dog. Toph crouches down a bit as she senses that he doesn't seem tense, just curious, and she lets him sniff at her hand. "Heya there Trigger..." He's bigger than Grumble, that's for sure. But still far smaller than a badgermole. She will wait with petting the dog until it gets to decide whether he likes her scent or not. So she remains crouching when Stan leans over, snickering just a bit at the last comment. "Wouldn't surprise me!" And when Pepper leaves for the kitchen? "And I will watch Goldie, so don't worry!" she calls after Pepper.     So Buster was really that small? Well, he's bigger now at least, and he certainly feels heavy whenever he's curled up on her legs. "Cats are generally smaller than humans though, so it's not so weird that kittens are smaller than a baby..." 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "I'm sure Buster was smaller. But no where near as cute." Carolina replies from the kitchen. Georgia laughs.     Trigger seems contnt enough to sniff, and then headbuts Toph's hand, tail wagging so hard that his back claws are scratching against the tile.     "Well, ladies and gentlemen, it appears that we have dodged the bullet another year and that we should abscond with the baby and the kiddo to the library where when the inevitable call to war occurs, we won't hear it. Shall we?" Martin motions with a hand.     "You /will/ have to let the others have a turn with the baby, Stan. It's only fair that they get an equal chance." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "That's okay, I am perfectly fine not holding the baby," Tony only half-jokes, holding up his hands as if to ward off an attack. "God knows I'd drop her and then we'd never hear the end of it." He looks thoughtfully at little Elizabeth though. He doesn't know. It's pretty tough to beat out a newborn kitten on cute. Making a noncommittal little clicking sound inside his cheek he turns from the baby and claps Martin on the shoulder. "Yeah let's hide. She doesn't still have those electric carving knives does she?" he asks, deliberately loud enough to be overheard from the kitchen. In a more comfortable tone he asks, "So how's the freelance business treating you?" 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Toph can't help but laugh at Carolina's reply, and she relaxes a bit when it's clear that Trigger seems to like her, so she begins petting him on the head and scratching him behind the ears with both hands. At least she can play with the dog later if it gets boring!     Off to the library then, huh? Toph gives Trigger one final scritch behind the ears before she sets her bag down by the stairs, and she rises to her full height again, sniffing the air. Well, it's gonna be nice to eat later when the food is done. And well, Martin is right. "Can I hold her in a bit?" she asks. Don't worry, if she gets gassy Stan will be given the baby back rather quickly, most likely. But at least she isn't doused in old lady perfume, which is worse. Tony's comment earns a snort. "She's your niece, you're supposed to be her cool super hero uncle or something, aren't you?" For now she will follow the guys into the library though. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "She got two new ones. I keep trying to hide them. She keeps finding them." Marty replies conspiritally, and leads the way to the library, and opens the doors. Inside it's a mix od wood-like ceramic tile and rugs. There are overstuffed leather chairs and couches, a tall bar on one end and the smell of books and electronics equipment. Trigger follows the group in, tail a wagging.     "Now, Tony might not have very much experience holding babies, so you'll have to show him how it's done. Take a seat, Toph, I'll hand her off to you like the old pro I am. And then Tony can sit down and get some practice, since holding you is a little more difficult than holding little Elizabeth." Stan chides, but gives a wink to Tony. 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' That thought gives Tony pause, and he hesitates before taking a seat in the library. His niece? Yeah, he supposes she will be. "...She'll get to make all the kids at school jealous," he muses. "Telling them her uncle is Iron Man. But I don't do birthday parties," he cautions Martin with a wag of his finger. He is... mostly joking now. "I had to shut down Fury there when he started trying to hire me out to buy political favors for SHIELD." Stan gets a sardonic look. "I don't know. The only time I have to hold Toph is in the pool for swimming lessons. And she doesn't weigh much there." He clicks his fingers to attract Trigger over to him and scratches the dog's ears. "I don't need any practice, except the spoiling her with unnecessary gifts kind. Gotta find that balance between being the awesome uncle and not overshadowing her grandma," he smirks. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "Heaven help you if Carrie feels overshadowed. It may come to blows with the giraffe." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Tony's face goes momentarily bleak, though it's mostly for show. "You have NO IDEA how I agonized over not outdoing the giraffe." 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     Stan smiles wryly. "I'm a psychologist, Tony. I probably have some idea." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "A child psychologist," Tony shoots back, realizing too late how he's opened himself up for the counter. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     Stan just keeps smiling at Tony, knowingly, and Liz makes a happy sounding burble in his arms as if laughing at her uncle-to-be. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     "I have only met a few babies before myself," Toph explains as she follows the group into the library, looking a bit curious about the room. And she does as bidden, sitting down in one corner of the couch. Okay, hand over the baby! She's ready! "If Goldie won't do birthday parties, then I will." Screw balloon animals. She can bend metal animals for them. Or metal badgermoles at least. As for holding her, Toph snorts. "At least you caught me when I fell that one time..." Stupid dinosaurs.     She has no idea what they are talking about when they mention a giraffe, and she doesn't think she needs to know either. Tony's attempt to shoot back at Stan earns a grin from her though. "Then he should know you well enough, shouldn't he?" If Stan won't say it, she will! But Toph holds out her arms for Elizabeth, just slightly nervous. Then again, it's not like she has butter fingers, and she /is/ sitting. What could possibly go wrong? 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     With Toph sitting, Stan stoops slightly, and leans over, easing the tiny baby wrapped in the soft, pink blanket into Toph's arms. "Easy there, bring your elbow in a little bit. She doesn't have any neck muscles to hold her head up quite yet, so you have to support her."     THe bundle is warm to the touch, small inside of the cloth wrapping, and it burbles curiously, heart beating quick in comparrison to the older guys around them. Stan is brimming with confidence, Martin pouring scotches all around -- except for TOph. Toph doesn't get a scotch. But he does hand one to Tony to help calm the ol' nerves as Trigger happily tailwags and gives a wuff! 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Tony graciously looks embarrassed, to let Old Man Stan have a chuckle at his expense. He's awesome enough to give him one now and then. "I'm only young at /heart/," he points out with mock dignity, and looks gratefully to Martin for the scotch. He watches Toph with the baby with what's almost a morbid curiosity, over the rim of his glass. No don't make the joke about how if she drops it, at least it's in the offended party's own home so that would help with the lawsuit. When Trigger whuffs, his hand, which had fallen still for a moment, resumes its scritching. "Do you like scotch, boy? Too bad, you can't have that either." He needs it all. Still, Toph has given him an opening to talk about his favorite topic: how awesome he is. "That was kind of an extreme case," he remarks with false modesty. "I mean you fell off a battlestation. Hundreds of feet in the air. Of /course/ I caught you." 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Okay, raise her arm a bit to support the head... Toph is a lot more careful than she usually is, and there's a curious expression on her face as she feels the little bundle being placed in her lap and arms. Okay, this feels a bit weird. But still cool. It's a bit strange how fast a baby's heartbeat is compared to an adult. She's attentive, and she uses her right arm to support the baby against her chest, her left hand seeking out the small baby hands.     It is a bit weird to think that she was once this small too. "Keep on doing that and you'll be talking soon enough," she responds to the Liz with a slight grin. It's a good thing she can't see the look on Tony's face nor know the morbid joke he's considering. For now she's curious about the wriggling bundle in her arms and doing her best to make sure she supports the head. It doesn't look like she's worried about dropping Liz at least.     "If you hadn't caught me Pepper wouldn't be happy." Nor Lao. But let's not talk about her biological family right now. How often does the Potts family get this kind of work talk around the dinner table? "Good to know that your aim wasn't off, though." Toph smiles a bit and takes the baby's hand in hers. Man, she's tiny. Like... real tiny! 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "I imagine she wouldn't have." Stan agrees morosely, and Marty agrees while sipping his scotch.     Meanwhile, little baby ELizabeth's hand fels the slightly dirty hand of Toph, and her itty bitty hand wraps around a finger, squeezing lightly as she gives a happy sounding coo up at Toph.     "I think she likes her cousin." Stan states proudly."     Meanwhile, the discussion must have heated up in the kitche. Georgia can be heard yelling something indistinct, with her mother yelling something back.     And there's the miraculous electric knife wirrrrrrrring! 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Tony stiffens, though he's quite sure Carrie isn't about to murder one of her own daughters. Still, that knife sounds ominous given how she's threatened to use it in the past. "Well, that's why I'm a superhero after all," he breaks the morose mood with a casual wave of his hand, and grins. "To keep Pepper happy with me." He then adopts a stiff faux-British accent. "But in any case, you well know that Jarvis is in charge of the targeting systems, Miss Beifong, and HIS aim is never off." He can't help but turn and look in the direction of the kitchen, as if he can see through the library wall. "What the hell ARE they arguing about?" 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     It's a good sign that the little hand has strength in it, and Toph's smile widens as she hears the sound from the tiny person in her arms. And Stan's comment? "What's not to like? I /am/ the greatest earthbender of all time. I gotta teach her proper attitude at least when she gets older," Toph declares.     "Here I thought you were in it for the fame and glory, silly me." Or to fix his mistakes in the past, rather. And Jarvis does help out a fair bit, doesn't he? The faux-British accent earns a brief snicker. "I'll make sure to thank him then instead of you, then!"     The sounds from the kitchen does catch her attention though, and the blind girl turns her head just slightly. "... you weren't kidding about the Potts women, Stan." And that knife sounds kinda nasty. Good thing they are here. What are they arguing about? "You don't want to know." Toph's hearing is as sharp as a human ear can be, after all. For now she is more occupied with Liz. "You really have to hold her, Goldie." She turns her head a bit towards Martin. "So how much did Carolina nag you to name her Dakota instead?" Would have been a cool sounding name, but then again, Toph isn't exactly familiar with all the state names. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "Ah... Carrie did make a sort of insistence... so her middle name is Dakota. Her first name is Elizabeth, for my sister." Marty explains. "She was in the military police before unification." he gives a smile. "Elizabeth Dakota Rodgers, first of her name, may she reign for many years as queen." Marty sips the scotch with a grin.     "No, no I wasn't. Tenacious woman, those redheads."     Stan and Marty make a 'hmm' sound, and both sip from the scotch. "Dinner should be underway in a bit though; you pulled in just as the turkey was finishing." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "No I don't," Tony replies reflexively to Toph. Why should he have to hold the baby? He's no good at holding babies. If she was a robot, maybe. Or even a kitten. He gives his adopted daughter a thoughtful look though, considering her sharp ears. Maybe she can give him some good gossip later. "...Just as well Pepper and I aren't planning any kids. I don't need to have the 'No we're not naming it Nebraska' conversation with Carrie." Smirk. "Unless you decide to change your name after all, Toph." 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Not too bad for a middle name, really. "Carolina knows what she wants, that's for sure..." Toph grins. Tenacious redheads indeed. "I don't know if I should pity you three." Stan, Martin and Tony all getting hooked into living with these women. Poor fools.     When Tony declines her suggestion, the blind girl's expression hardens. "You're her /uncle/. She's supposed to be the baby, not you." But fine, if he doesn't want to... Toph wriggles her finger a bit and readjusts her right arm to make sure Liz is comfy. She isn't about to add to Tony's comment about not planning on any babies, not after the talk they had. But when he brings up name changes? The look on Toph's face should say it all as she adopts a deadpan look and speaks in a calm, yet huffy tone. "I am not changing my name to Toph Rocket Bullet Nebraska Beifong Stark Potts." This is just getting sillier and sillier.     Good thing it's dinner soon. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "Why not. It could be worse. You could be Toph Rocket Bullet Screaming Eagle Bitchin' Camero Nebraska Maryland Maine New York Hampshire Township Allegheny County Beifong-Stark-Potts-Steinmeitz-Jingleheimer-Schmidtt." Stan suggests playfully. "And we can call you 'The Smasher' for short. I think all the lovely names for states are taken, Tony, but /London/ is a beautiful name for a young lady should you have one. I'm quite fond of the city myself."     "London is a boy's name. Like Jack London, Stan." Marty protests. There's a knock on the door of the library, and Pepper sticks her head in -- and espying Toph with the baby, she gives a smile. "Dinner's just about ready and the table's set, if you're not too dizzy to find seats." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "Dizzy? Honey it'll take more than one drink to do that," Tony smirks, regaining all of his bluster at once, it seems, in the face of having to show off for Pepper. He downs the remainder of his whiskey and stands. "Baby Liz got a playpen or something to chill in while we eat?" he asks briskly, so he won't have to answer Stan's suggestion that he might have to name his own kid. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     "... okay, 'The Smasher' would be an acceptable title," Toph agrees, snickering a bit at the stupid long suggestion from Stan. Even if she doesn't get all the references if there are any. And man, poor Tony with nearly everybody here talking about babies. Mental note; talk about Tony later to cheer him up.     When Pepper arrives though Toph turns her head a bit towards the door, and then grins. "Great." Considering how much Tony and Pepper have been talking about Thanksgiving food she is rather curious. Toph takes a few seconds to make sure she has a solid grip on Elizabeth, and then she rises from the couch, making sure to rest the small bundle against her torso. It's good that she treats the baby more carefully than she usually treats most things. She turns to Martin, about to ask what to do with Elizabeth. He is the dad, after all, so he should know. But then Tony asks first. "If she can't hold up her own head yet, then what would she do in a playpen?" Wouldn't it better to put her in a crib or something? 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Oh yeah, that is kind of obvious, huh. "I don't know, play Sudoku or something," Tony quips airily. "What do babies even do these days?" 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "We have a holder for her at the table so that Georgia can keep an eye on her." Martin replies, and he stoops over a little to take up the precious cargo, and the whole group moves to the table. "Oh, you know, the same thing that we do. Lay around, produce flatus, drool and make women smile. And occasionally soil themselves." Marty ruefully replies to Tony.     THe first thing that Toph would pick up pon are the smells. The rich, caramel-brown smell of a roast turkey, basted in butter and wine. The earthy-sweet smell of squash, mashed with butter and maple syrup. Scallops wrapped in bacon and drenched with more maple syrup. Buttery, creamy mashed potatoes with fresh cracked white pepper. Huge stuffed peppers filled with rice and tomatoes. The cold, sweet smell of cranberry sauce, with real chunks of cranberry. There's a fish dish that smells like crackers and salt and lemon. Sage and oniony stuffing, rich gravy, all spread out around a centerpiece of orange crysathimum and yellow roses. Near the side of the table there's a stand with one of those baby carrier-carseat things, and a mishmash of colorful pastes to feed the baby. 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "Wow, babies have the good life," Tony replies with a grin. "Sounds like my perfect Saturday." He steps into the dining room with the others and pauses to appreciate the spread. "Ladies, you've outdone yourselves again," he announces. "But what are the rest of you going to eat?" He takes a step toward the seat he was assigned last time, but hesitates, looking to Pepper for guidance. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     Tony is seated between Georgia and Potts. Coincidentally, right next to the baby. On the other side, Toph is next to Marty and Stan. And Carolina is at the head of the table like the prima donna she is, beaming, finishing up arranging the sliced turkey on the platter. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Toph lets Martin take the baby, smiling a bit at his reply to Tony. "She smells better than you do though." For now at least.     The scent from the dining table is more alluring though, and Toph seems curious as she walks on over and sticks close to Tony. "You really don't want to fight over the food when you don't have the suit on," she asides to him and sits down in the seat she is guided to. It looks like she's less stressed about seating arrangements than Tony is.     "It smells awesome," she says to the Potts women, using her nose to figure out where the tastiest foods are. Hmmm. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "Well, while I'm finishing up with this..." Georgia begins, as she sets the baby in the seat, and stirs up a bit of something with a tiny spoon. "WHo wants to start with their 'I'm most thankful fors'? Tony? Toph?" she grins, stirring up something and offering a bite of it to the baby.     "Ooh, these are the best parts. I'll start." Stan states, and holds his hands up in thought as he sits down. "I'm most thankful for Captain America, my future step-son-in-law, and that I am surrounded by family." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Tony frowns quickly at Toph's comment and lifts an arm to sniff at his pit. Nonsense, he smells fine. He showered this morning and he only used a dab of his preferred cologne, nothing overpowering. He sticks his tongue out at Toph, nevermind that she can't see it. He smirks ruefully as he finds himself next to the baby again, but at least he has Pepper on his other side for backup. ...And his hand reaches for hers under the table as he's reminded that he has to give a speech. Well, not a speech, but he has to think of something poignant but not too mushy on the fly. Dammit. Stan's opening foray brings the grin back though. "Really? You put Captain Spangles above me? Geeze, what's a guy gotta do?" 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "Someday maybe I'll tell you, grasshopper." Stan replies ruefully, but there's something in his eyes. It might be a tear that's threatening. 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Tony senses that this is not, perhaps, a conversation he wants to have at the dinner table. "Well I'll let him know you said that. I'm sure he'll be tickled pink," he quips instead. Of course that might clash with his uniform and he has whole reams of material he could use on that subject, but now is not the time. Even he has SOME sense of propriety. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     Wait, what?! They are supposed to give little speeches now? This seems to strike Toph with surprise. No. No. She doesn't get emotional and sentimental like that, what does she look like, a wishy washy feely weely waterbender?     Even as Stan starts and gives her an idea of what they are supposed to say, the blind girl looks like a deer caught in headlights. Like Tony she has no clue what to say, her mind racing. No, either it's stupid or it's mushy, and there is no way she can go with any of the things. What to say? It's not like she should really care if they think it's stupid, but what would Pepper think? It's her family after all...     But she will keep quiet and let Tony speak up first, just to get a better idea on what to say. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     "I'm thankful for Tony, and for Pepper's borrowing of some of his clothes." Carolina states. "And that I'm made a grandmother twice over this year! Remarkable!"     "I'm thankful for epidural drugs and Gebers. Oh, am I thankful for pumps too." Georgie grins. Marty blushes. "I'm... thankful for my family, and that the work I was doing took off. So, go consumerism!" 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Some of his... oh, yeah, Greenwich. Another topic he doesn't want to discuss right now. Tony manages a rueful smile instead. "I'm... thankful that Pepper said yes in spite of my horrible choice of venue." His hand still clasping hers under the table, his thumb rubs over the ring on her finger. "And that my junior officer seems to think I'm cool enough to call me Dad. That's one rank I never thought I'd get." 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     One by one the others state what they are thankful for, and it ranges from deep sincere stuff to lighter things. It's really a lot. The fact that Tony clenches Pepper's hand isn't lost on Toph, and... that's unusually soft for Tony. But don't worry, she won't give it away. The next comment though does take her by surprise, though it doesn't show on her face. It's a bit weird how Tony reacts so differently to that now compared to the first time when she blurted it out by accident, huh?     Finally the earthbender clears her throat and speaks up. "I'm thankful for my bending, that I invented metalbending this year, uh... the multiverse... and Tony and Pepper." That's how mushy she can allow herself to get. If it wasn't for the multiverse she wouldn't have met all of these people, after all. And without her bending, well... she would still be stuck back in Gaoling. And if she hadn't discovered metalbending at the time, then there's one person who wouldn't be sitting at the table right now.     Guess that only leaves Pepper left to say something. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     Pepper squeezes Tony's hand back, smiling. "I'm happy that my whole family can be here with me to celebrate all the accomplishments we've made." And she looks to Toph pointedly. "All of them. I'm thankful to have you all in my life, because without you... I don't think there would be the Pepper you know." Potts replies. And she takes a deep breath. "That wasn't too mushy, was it?" 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "Just mushy enough," Tony assures, and leans in to give her a tasteful but extremely oogie kiss. 

:'''{{#var:20|Toph Beifong (20)}} has posed:'''     "Now it's even more mushy," Toph asides to Stan under her breath. But fine. Let Tony and Pepper be oogie for now. There's food to be had. 

:'''{{#var:204|Pepper Potts (204)}} has posed:'''     And that is precisely when Lizzie decides to projectile spit-up some mashed squash. 
}}

3836/PUNCHING THINGS is a GREAT BEGINNING.

2016-02-25T00:55:26Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/22 |Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy |Synopsis=Yunomi and Yang introduce one another THROUGH THE PUNCHES OF FRIENDSHIP! |Thanks..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/22
|Location=Njorun Station - Ring of Philosophy
|Synopsis=Yunomi and Yang introduce one another THROUGH THE PUNCHES OF FRIENDSHIP!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=272, 906
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THE RING OF PHILOSOPHY.     In the center of a Colleseum-like set up, among the dirt stands a lone figure. She has ears atop her head that give flicks, listening for what's going on around her and a tail that droops down. She's wearing red and blue armor, in a blended style -- mostly leatherish with a victorian, Steam Punkish feel. Her tail gives a slight swipe, and she purses her lips.     "Magic-eaters would be kinda ridiculous to share if she doesn't have any mana, but kaiju might be too big to be practical..." she mutters to herself. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Well she's not quite as attached to the place as a certain other punchgirl is, but Yang's spent a lot of time in the Ring. It's much less demanding than using the ampetheatre at the Academy, because majority of the damage is only simulated. But here she is again, the blonde bombshell practically sauntering into the collesium. She spots the ears and red/blue armour, and grins a bit. "Yo! Didn't know y'were a Faunus!"     Yang wanders on up, and folds her arms under her bust. "Nice t'meetchya in person, finally got a face to go with the voice." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Nah, I'm not a... faunus." Yunomi gives a smile as she turns to regard Yang Xiao Long... who looks very different than what Yunomi imagined. She does give a grin however, and steps forward to offer a friendly hand for a shake. "I'm a tanuki. Shapeshifter from a place called Japan. Nice to meet your aquaintence in the flesh, Yang Xiao Long. I look forward to punching things with you." she offers as a joking greeting. She's a good head shorter than Yang, and the armor helps to hide much of her musculature, but she looks like she might be a scrapper. "... what's a faunus?" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang takes the hand. She's got one hell of a grip on her, despite looking fairly lithe and willowy. "Tanuki, huh... sounds like some old legends in Mistral. Dad says that's where he was born..." she then grins. "Punching things is what I do best."     Then the question of what a Faunus is. "Oh, they're a race that lives alongside Humans on Remnant... they have animal features... ears, tails, horns, antlers... fur in places, y'know." she tries to explain. "REAL good nightvision." she shrugs. "Anyway, what're we punchin'?" she asks, stepping back and deploying her weapon, the two little bracelets unfolding into full forearm gauntlets, with a double fist pump to rack the slide and load the first shell into the chamber. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Good grip. Yunomi's got a decent grip on her in spite of being short. "Mistral, in Remnant, right? The place with the... Grim?" she questions, her lips pursing a moment, and she gives a small shrug. "Was just thinking about summong either endless waves of ne'er-do-wells or giant monsters, or maybe just testing out what each other can do. Just need to work out some excess energy, you know?" she gives a small grin as she watches the bracelets unfold... and she gives a grin.     She balls a fist, and summons a bit of red mana. The red glass in her brassy gauntlets give a glow, small crackles of lightning arcing between her fingers.     "This might get fun." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Whatever you wanna do, I'm here to punch stuff, so lets punch stuff!" Yang replies, punching her fists together and detonating a small wavepulse of energy from her body, making her mane of blonde hair billow out a little bit. "But yeah, Remnant, with the Creatures of Grimm, soulless monsters that Huntsmen and Huntresses are trained to fight." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a grin, her tail giving a flick at the wavepulse of energy, feeling it shifts her bangs as a few flyaways kick up from the electrically charged air. "And you're in training to be a Huntress, isn't that right? What's the school called again?" she inquires politely before looking up to the ceiling.     "Computer? Can you bring up Pidge's files, search 'Factory Crab Fight'?"     THe ring's perameters change. The ceiling above them turns to a darkening sky. There is a massive complex of factory space op ening up beneath them, different buildings and chasms between where walkways and hanglines criss-cross haphazardly. Lightning threatens and the air smells like ozone and rain.     And far off to the side, there is a massive creature, hundreds of feet high, a cross between a gorilla and a massive crab with pinches that could slice buildings in half, tiny eye stalks at the top of its head. It gives a roar, bluish glowing spittle falling from its face as it beats its chest.     "... huh." Yunomi considers. "... I remember him being smaller..." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang shrugs a bit. "Yeah. I am. Oh, it's called Beacon." She replies... before the Ring changes and the giant Monster is revealed. "..."     Yang stares a bit. "Uh... that's, pretty big." she remarks, just a tiny bit intimidated. "Biggest thing I've ever fought was a Nevermore, but I had my whole team with me at the time." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "That is a Kaiju. Massive creature from another world's menagerie of Bad Things." Yunomi explains, her fingers crackle with energy again. "... need something a little less intense?" She offers as a sort of confidential smile up at the blond, seeing her stare and the unsure reply. "... we can always just spar if youd rather... just thought I'd get a gauge of what you're used to..." she frows, and gives a huff as she looks back out towards the kaiju. "... I might have started out on 'hard mode' on purpose." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Yeah, I'm all for a challenge, but that's a bit /too/ much." Replies Yang, glancing back down at the Tanuki. "Don't get me wrong, I love a good, hard fight like the next girl, but I'd rather not have my face melted off by some giant alien... crabmonkey." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Wise choice. There's a lot of wisdom in knowing what fights to run from." Yunomi replies, and she cancels the program. It returns to the colleseum set, and she takes a deep breath, hops up and down a moment, and then sizes up Yang, gives a slight grin, and then strikes a ready pose, about fifteen feet away from Yang as she gives a smile.     "Well then, Yang Xiao Long, show me what you've got." she challenges playfully. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang seems to relax a bit as the colleseum returns and the alien monster vanishes... but no time for that now. The tanuki wants to throw down! "Just Yang's fine, y'know. Usin' my full name all the time's gonna get your tongue tied up in a knot." she quips, before taking her own stance. A rope-a-dope boxing stance at that! "Alright then, I'm not gonna go easy on you y'know!" she warns... before her arms hinge downwards, and she fires...     Into the ground behind her. This has the effect of projecting her forwards much more quickly than she'd get from leg power, though she plants her foot to add some spin to the right hook she angles in on the Tanuki. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I'm a Youkai, I think I can handle complicated names." Yunomi chides playfully, but she's equally eager to get down to business.     When the blonde fires behind her and surges forward, the Tanuki gives a bow, the lightning leaving her hands as her fingertips take on a greenish glow, and when she rises, she bends backwards, bridging /narrowly/ out of the way of that hook.     However, coming from behind Yang there is suddenly the thick boughs of a tre springing into being, trying to send her tumbling over the tanuki and continuing the trajectory from the first blast!     "... and if I wanted you to go easy, I would have kept the kaiju!" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang gets blind-sided by the sudden trees from behind. This sends her up and over, tumbling until she gets her feet under her and with another blast of her gauntlet, is flung right back the way she came, aiming a flurry of high speed punches with a wordless roar of effort!     The blonde isn't content to /only/ punch. Each thrown strike is accompanied by a shotgun blast of kinetic energy, a cone of pure fore projected from the hidden barrel above her index fingers. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a smile as the trees send Yang up and over, and he had leapt up and over the the trees, turning just as Yang came roaring in, fists flying and flashing! The mage's face had paled a moment before she braced for impact, planging one foot back against a bough -- which snaps at the first blow Yang plants on her! Yunomi's armor takes the brunt of the first couple of blows before she was able to come back, and she reaches out and tries to grab for Yang's elbows, electricity coursing along Yunomi's gauntlets!     /What a Shocking Blow/. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     BZZZZT!     The electricity arcs across a formally invisible 'sheathe' surrounding the blonde's body, making her grit her teeth as it flickers and jutters with an orange-yellow light under the shocking grasp.     That teeth gritting turns slowly into a big, shiteating grin, before she rears her head back, and aims to slam her head right into Yunomi's face! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a little grin as she watches the electicity crackle over Yang's body, the blue flickering around them both when she spots that grin.     Yunomi's eyes open wide questioningly as she draws a little backwards, and when Yang comes in for the business of slamming her head -- she'll find not a Yunomi there, but --     ... a large plushie. A five foot tall plushie of a Sailor Scout-type superheroine. It tumbles backwards from the headblow, showing a little cave-in where Yangs' head... well. Caved it in.     The plushie turns back into Yunomi, sitting on the ground and looking a little dazed for a breif moment! 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang shakes out her arms a bit, shuddering a little from residual charge, before she walks over and offers a hand to the dazed tanuki. "Got a real charge out of that one." she quips, smirking a bit. "Y'wanna continue? I'm still good for another round." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' Yunomi laughs, accepting the hand up as she hops to her feet. "Oh, I've got more where that comes from. Just have to be careful of knockin' the noggin'. I'd be of little use to Rhapsody if I can't think straight." she smiles, then turns Yang's hand curiously, taking the opportunity to get a closer look at the gauntlets she was wearing. "So I heard about these gauntlets that are also like guns... that's pretty cool. How do these things work?" she inquires, eyebrows rising up before she takes a step back, and lowers her goggles. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang lets the tanuki look over her gauntlets for a moment, then steps back and brings her fists up in a defensive posture again. "It's kinda complicated... an' Ruby'd probably be able to tell you better than me, but they're Variable State Dust Munitions." she replies. "Ember Celica are called Dual Range Shot Gauntlets, because they incorporate multiple ammo types and the ability to selctively swap between them." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "I work with an Engineering group. Complicated magical machinery is kinda our thing." Yunomi explains with a small smile, echoing Yang's ready stance, studying her for a moment. "I bet you with some Mizzium and the right focus, Ryxinel could build something like those." she replies, the wheels already turning in her mind before she surges forward -- bringing her hands together and focusesing red mana between them before spreading her fingers, her goggles shielding her eyes as a brilliant fireball errupts from them.     "Let's heat things up!" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Fire... ooooh, boy.     Yang shifts her stance, crossing her arms in front of her to absorb the explosive fireball. She's enveloped in the raging flames, but only for a moment.     Her form explodes, literally, flinging flame and kinetic force out in all directions. As the flames die out around her, Yang looks exactly like a Super Saiyan, save for her eyes have gone blood red instead of teal. "Agreed!" she replies, hooking her right arm back, then throwing her entire weight through it. She's out of range, after being knocked back by the fireball... but that doesn't stop her!     The shotgun blast this time, sends a sparking, furious ball of energy streaking out towards the Tanuki. On impact with any surface, this packet of energy will explode like a stick of dynamite! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi braces for impact, bringing her arms in front of her -- the explosion might be blinding, but it appears to go around her, the dynamite explosoion curling along a square shield. The force pushes Yunomi back a good two feet, leaving long streaks in the ground as she takes a deep brath, prismatic colors glittering in the light as the fire fades.     And Yunomi gives a vicious little smile, and when her hands drop, they come back up with a large, brown sake jug. Her ears prick forward as she gives a shake, and then charges, flying up as she brings the jug up and over to try and outflank the punch-girl from above and hit her in the butt with the jug! 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang shifts her stance, blinking a bit at the sake jug. She doesn't question it though... Oobleck uses a damn THERMOS as a weapon, after all, so when Yunomi goes to leap over her, Yang fires her gauntlets behind her, throwing herself forward into a tight duck and roll. She turns half-way through the roll, and comes to a kneel, firing another pair of explosive bolts at the mid-air Tanuki! 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a bright grin as she lands, turning and blocking the explosive bolts on her way down, though she's sent a little more backwards when she lands from the effort, wincing slightly before she braces, and opens up the bottle!     Ever see a waterjet cut through concrete? Well, coming out of the bottle was an unending geyser! Hot, steaming water (perfect for making tea or instant coffee, or adding to condensed soups!) errupts out, soaking the surrounding area in hot mist and steam in the process!     "You know what Yang? You're all right!" 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang braces again, getting pushed back by the geyser of scalding water... right into the side wall of the arena. An alert sounds out, and Yang's Aura surges, before flickering out, leaving her unprotected. The blonde does blast the water away, so she can roll aside, panting a little and wincing at a scalded burn on her right arm. "Okay.. I give. My Aura's depleted." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Luckily, it's entirely simulated. Yunomi caps the water, and she gives a flick of her hand and O-Togi disappears back to where he belongs.     Yunomi gives a smile, and limps over to Yang, offering a hand.     "That was a pretty good bout... thanks. I feel a lot better." she jokes, offering the /handshake of peace/. "I've got to stop over sometime and check out your school. Sounds like it'd be an interesting learning experience." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang takes the hand, and returns the handshake. "I'll give you a tour if you do." she replies. "Have a chat with my li'l sis too. Ruby Rose, she's sometimes on the Union band. /Toooootal/ dork when it comes to weapons." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but there are an awful lot of dorks regarding weapons on the bands... but we prefer to call them..." Yunomi's ears prick up, and her tail gives a flick "... enthusiasts. I know a couple of them, I grew up in the military." she jokes. "That burn should patch up as soon as we leave the sim. Hungry? I know a place..." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Starving." replies Yang, nodding at the note about the burn. "I know, I've been here a good portion of my time when I'm training. This place is super useful." she adds, grinning a bit. "Dork, Enthusiast, all the same to me." she teases. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Aaah, then maybe I need to conduct a vocabulary lesson, or else I'm just going to have to call you Punching-Dork." Yunomi brightly replies to Yang, heading to walk out of the arena, and as she does her armor fades to just a sweatshirt, jeans, and sandals, though she retains the ears and tail. "What do you feel like?" she asks, and then her stomach gives a low growl. Her ears prick up, and then lay to the side ine mbarrassment. "Apparently, my stomach votes for 'whatever's close'." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang pouts a little bit at the Punch-dork jib, but follows along anyway. "'Whatever' close' works for me." she replies, looping an arm around Yunomi's shoulders companionably, for a moment. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The shorter girl teeters for a moment at the amicable shoulder loop, and she gives a laugh. "All right, chow hall it is! All you can eat noodle bowls!" Yunomi cheers, and fist-pumps into the air as the two exit the arena. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     "Aww yeah!" replies Yang, walking off with the Tanuki and letting her go to walk along amicably. 

}}

3833/The Truth

2016-02-23T04:02:22Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/21 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Yunomi tells the truth about how she feels regarding Rhapsody, the daughter of her mentor and ..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/21
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Yunomi tells the truth about how she feels regarding Rhapsody, the daughter of her mentor and leader of the Izzet League.
|Thanks=Thanks to Rhapsody, who has been sitting on the idea of this with me for pretty much ever!
|Cast of Characters=272, 325
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi's last forray into the underground had ended with a Grave Troll and the semi-controlled collapse of a dragon-sized access tunnel -- over a leak in a few lines. Since then, she'd been taking more and more dangerous missions and repair jobs to the Undercity, broaching into territories best left for a large group of Izzet Magewrights.     And she had been taking them alone, even evading Sidonia's careful eye for shifts at a time.     Now, though, she's in Nivix, in the burned-out library where she often practiced. She had forgone the normal Izzet attire, bare foot and wearing a T-shirt and comfortable, loose brown leggings. Her hair was pulled back into just a ponytail, her cheeks flushed. She surged forward, lightning summoned from red mana crackling against her fingers as she leaps into the air, her toes curling, ears pinned back and tail following behind her like a banner.     The poor stuffed dummy never saw it coming. It exploded into a hundred pieces, the smell of singed feather and cloth stinking up the air as the tanuki-mage lands, skidding on the ground in a crouch. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     It didn't matter if the tanuki knew she was there or not, after the doomed dummy is scattered to the four corners of the room, a small trio of claps comes from the doorway from someone that had been buried by the dual paperwork stacks of End-Of-Year reporting and TAXES. Seriously. The Azor really did their best to fill the entire top floor of Nivix this year, and had almost suceeded. They failed to remember that Nivix had a sky entrance! bwahahaha ha ha ha.. ha.... ha. ........................ oh god her wrists are still sore.     With the MAJORITY of the paperwork done, and the rest left to a particular goblin and clockwork dragon, Rhapsody had started to wander the halls, checking on magewrights, weirds, elementals, and now, the #1 Offworld Apprentence who, she had heard, was getting quite wreckless lately. If she brings it up or not remains to be seen. "Every time I watch you, or spar with you, I'm glad to know you're with us instead of against us." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' There's a huff of air, and the ears swivel around as she hears the claps, and straightens up as she purses her lips, and gives a grin to the dragon. "Yeah... well, I'm not much to write home about." Yunomi straightens up, visibly brightening as the dragon approaches. "Luckily, writing home for you is cheap postage." she offers as a joke, and she gives a slight sigh, brushing her bangs out of her face as she regards the taller dragon.     "How goes the reports and the taxes? ... sorry, by the way, about the animated quills... I thought it was a good idea at the time." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' A 'feh!' slips out of her, "Please, I'd write about you everyday if I had someone to send the mail to!" That -is- a compliment. "Postage be damned," she continues, smiling back as she heads toward the Tanuki.     "Oh ah, those? Well, mostly done. The quills were a great idea! It was just -really- awkward when they went on strike and demanded a vegetarian option for ink instead of one from our current source..." headtilt, ponder, "I'm not even sure where our current ink comes from," she realizes before shrugging, looking back at Yunomi. "Either way, Thinael offered to finish the last bits and tugged Rizix into helping him so everything should be done with a few hours to spare." wait, what? But filing day is in April... 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a dismissive snort, but she blushes at the compliment, and rubs the back of her head as she straightens up to her dimunitive five foot heighgt. "How very nice of Thinael and Rizix to give you a few hours off." she replies, and she grasps a handfull of feathers, and grips them together... then pauses.     "Isn't filing day in April?" she questions, her lips pursing a moment. "Oooooor is that keeping on track?" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Oh, it's in April, I'm quite sure of it. Thianel is just ... pacing it. I think. Its possible he may be trying to invent a machine to do it instead, but, you know, Izzet, right? It could be just about anything! Its only one page, after all..." ... That was a ramble, wasn't it? "Oh! Ah, since I've been wandering about, i've been gauging interest in setting a date for a presentation day this year! I wanted to see what you thought?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "I don't know, with the Nexus project underway, I'm afraid I haven't had a lot to show for my own efforts -- manavines are so three years ago and the Nexus is currently under construction and hey, look at all the cleaning I've done down in the sewers..." Yunomi begins with confidence... but it ebbs. She lets her shoulders sag a moment. "I'm pretty sure I'm just all out of tricks to wow the crowds, Rhaps. Do I still have something to prove to the rest of the Izzet?" she asks rhetorically, and with the feathers in hand, she concentrates and then -- POOMF! -- in a puff of smoke and the sound of dispalced air, there's a large floor cushion that appears in front of them, and plops to the ground with an ungraceful FLOMMFP!     Yunomi just sort of hangs out, pulling her legs up and sitting in the air. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Though she doesn't just flop down, Rhapsody slowly takes a seat, "Oh please," she begins as she settles. "When you started you could barely handle magic and red mana was something I think no one, including my father, ever thought you would be able to handle. I think you just need some time to come up with something! You have to let your brain float, come up with ideas so far outside of the box that their in your neighbors lunch thermos instead! So far out that the box you used to have your ideas in spontaneously combust and the remains freeze into a sculpture of your new idea!" Pause. "Don't lose confidence, Yunomi. And if you do I'mma yank you up by your boot straps and shake you until one comes out." smirk. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     At the mention of Niv-Mizzet, Yunomi sort of... pales. Even the reds and blues in her bangs fade from azure to sky and from scarlet to light red -- but it lasts only a heartbeat. "I remember all t he fire supression systems built into my first lab." she admits, and glances up at the ceiling. "And if you start shaking me by my boot straps, I claim no responcibility over what Albert might do in response." she replies kiddingly, and gives a wry little smile to the Guildmaster.     "And it's not that I'm out of ideas... it's that my ideas are currently being built with a /huge/ amount of funding." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody laughs at that, "A pheldagriff. He's just... so silly.." she comments, smiling all the while. "I will take that risk to restore your confidence, mark my words!" she adds, beaming all the while. "Funding? Please.." she seems uninterested. "You are hardly the worst offender for asking for money in the Izzet League, Yunomi. Some of the projects some .. very ambitious magewrights ask for are, in a word, mad. Insane even!" In this guild? Imagine that. Whoda'thunk it? "Don't worry about the funding, hon. You've proven yourself with the vines, and your current work on the nexus. If you have a good idea, you can bring it to me, my siblings, and Thianel, and we can figure it out." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "... but that's just the problem, Rhaps... I'm tapped out. The Nexus was pretty much the most ambitious thing I could figure. Providing an upgrade of energy provision to the city, quickly setup and self-maintaining power lines, the increase of green space in Ravnica to the surprise of the Gruul and the Grove both..." Yunomi begins, then shrugs her shoulders. "Maybe that's it. Maybe that's all I have to give. Just... a big battery." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody snorts. "You make it sound like such a small accomplishment when its one of the best things to come out of the Izzet League in a long time. Give yourself a little more credit!" she insists. "And don't be so hard on yourself. You're well respected, and anyone that thinks otherwise is just jealous. Don't listen to'em. Not ever." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi frowns a moment, then forces a smile. "ah, listen to me complain, 'wah, wah, no one likes me, boo hoo.'" she laughs, and hangs upside down, her ponytail dragging along the floor slightly, ears wiggling. "What about you? What are you hoping to see out of presentation day this year?" she inquires, her eyebrows rising. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "Explosions." Rhapsody says very matter-of-factly, completely straight face. "Other than that, though, who knows! That's what I love about the curret Izzet and the Multiverse invitation to join the day. You can see all manner of wild inventions! Tony Stark showed up one year, after all! Who knows who will show up if we have another one? I just love to see the ideas that are sparked by a day such as that. You know, no one in the Izzet was able to cash in on Tony's wager? I'm still kind of surprised by that." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "Well, it wouldn't be an Izzet presentation day without explosions." Yunomi replies dryly as she rights, and flops down onto the cushion next to Rhapsody.     "Bahamut says hello, by the by. I think he likes you. He tried to impress me." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' As if on cue, the dragon just leans against the Tanuki and sighs. Not a bad sigh, just a comfortable one. At the mention of Bahamut she blinks, "Eh? Oh? How so?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a soft 'eep!' sound, and leans harder against Rhapsody to not only show her support of the Guildmaster, but also to not get crushed by the Guildmaster! Size matters not, unless it's a dragon leaning against a short mage! "Oh, you know, the usual thing. 'I am a great dragon, look at me being a great big dragon, I am pretty much the best thing around 'cause dragon, and by the way -- how /is/ your Guildmaster doing do remember me to her when you see her next while I rip apart this Grave Troll.'" Yunomi gives a grin. "I think he might be sweet on you. Which, obviously, means war." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Rhapsody snickers a little at the description. She can probably, accurately, think about what Baha actually did, and said. The war comment causes her to blush lightly, "E-eh heh heh..." A LOVE TRIANGLE AAAAAAAAH, "He can be a bit..." WORDS ARE HARD. ".... I don't know." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... well, if you think I'm just going to let someone stake a claim on you because he's all 'rawr dragon' or 'rawr, dinosaur prince' or anything without your consent and want of attention, he's got another think coming." Yunomi bristles slightly at a memory, her ears flicking back and the hackles on the back of her neck rising, then falling as she draws up one leg.      "You deserve someone that's going to love you for you, for your sense of fun and duty, for your encouragement and your heart, for every broken flaw and every beautiful thought, who will support you in every action and sing your name with every beat of their heart. Not for power, or prestige, but because they can't imagine you not being there in their lives." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Well. At this rate, Rhapsody may end up as red as her brother. She doesn't even MANAGE a reply. She's just... extremely surprised, and touched, by what was just said. Oh wait, she may get a word in, "W-wow.." its not upset or irritated, its ... very impressed. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' ... well. Yunomi's father /did/ write poetry and convince a sunbeam to marry him. Yunomi looks out over the charred library, and draws up her other knee to set her chin on it, and gives a soft huff of air "... because that's when you know..." she frowns, er ears limping, and her tail curling around herself, her gaze far away from Rhapsody, "... when you don't want to imagine a life without them, that it's love." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' There's a really long pause, but eventually the only response Rhapsody provides is an arm wrapping around the Tanuki's shoulder, and her tail doing similar along the floor. "I can't argue that.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' The Tanuki mage bristles for a half second, stirred from her own thoughts by the action of Rhaps putting an arm around her shuolder and the tail along the floor, and her eyebrows rise. She takes a deep breath, and rubs the back of her neck, leaning against the dragoness a split second and trying to figure out what to say next, what to do next, but this wasn't like any other time. This wasn't a drinking contest after victory. This was something different. This was Niv-Mizzet's daughter, who saw her as a sibling, and it was her boss, and she wilts a moment. "You deserve someone who is worthy of everything you are." she adds quietly... ... and Yunomi knows, in her heart, that the tanuki wasn't. Not clever enough. Not strong enough... what she was wasn't good enough. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "Mmhmm..." silence for a moment, then a very soft squeeze. It's barely a moment, but it's there. "Thankfully, I don't think I have to go far at all. Not even a single step.." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "Rhaps..." Yunomi whispers, her heart in her throat and the familiar burn of tears in her eyes, memories flooding her, stormy seas and modern cities, holes in the sky and exploding arrays, looking up through the surface of a roiling ocean as a storm roars overhead. "... I /can't/." she finishes, trying to sound firm. Her voice wavers, and the mage draws upwards, away from the comforting grasp of the dragon, running her hands over her hair a moment to try and get a breath. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' It catches the guildmaster off guard when Yunomi rises. "..?" She looks perplexed, wondering if she misunderstood something, wondering if her entire lack of experience in LIFE in general was coming to play against her. None of them were even 10 years out of the shell, after all. "You said war..." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' Yunomi wilts again, and rubs the back of her head. "Rhaps... I crawl around in sewers and do drudgery and mess up all the time. I tell stupid jokes because it makes everyone else assume I'm pretty dumb... and a lot of the time I am. You don't deserve the person who failed your father, who failed her homeland." her hands hang down at her side. "You deserve a hero. Someone who is happy and comfortable in their skin. Someone who can be trusted and depended upon... someone who won't get you killed." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' At all of this, the dragon stands. "You do the work of the Izzet that no one asks you to do. You do what needs to be done to keep the morale of your magewrights high and your friends higher. You helped save Ravnica, your homeland has been restored, and someone that has revolutionized mana transportation and generation. You have been with the League longer than -me- and have proven you can and will do what other magewrights scoff at. You have protected me and I would do the same for you on any day." headtilt. "I prefer to focus on the best things you have done. I refuse to be like everyone else and focus on failures when so many successes have your name on them." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "And I refuse to drag you down -- you are like a /sister/ to me Rhapsody, you're the daughter of my teacher. You're my /Guildmaster/. I can't have these feelings for you!" Yunomi turns, her eyes brimming with tears. "If it were to get out, every new project, every idea, every experiment would be suspect. Every report reviewed for some form of collusion. I won't drag you down to that level. I /will not/ let others drag you down like that. I love you Rhapsody and I can't imagine my life without you in it, but /please/... you deserve better than me." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' There's a long bout of silence after all of this. The sigh and shoulder-slump that follows leaves the guildmaster deflated. "I guess people are still forcing my decisions for me, then," she quips before starting to walk out. As she walks past Yunomi, "I think I deserve to decide for myself," she adds before showing herself out. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi takes a deep breath as Rhaps leaves. She watches the dragon retreat, breath shuddering in her throat, catching as the door shuts with an echoing and angry THUD behind her.     And then, into the dull, empty air of the charred library, Yunomi just mutters to herself:     "You, Yunomi, are the /dumbest/ fucking person in the whole district at the moment, and you deserve every bad thing that'll happen to you because of it." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi had managed to slip out of the tower again, and wasn't able to be tracked for several hours -- and when contacted, was 'moody' and 'surly'.     THe next morning though, things had changed. In the hazy light gast from the guild's doings and wavings over the city, flowers managed to creep their way to the guildmaster's window. Brillaint white, unstained by air pollution or dust, with mingled red and blue tips to the petals, the fragrance between roses and cinnamon, each one in bud. There was no need to ask who would send such a message -- one of the vines had a thin piece of parchment tied to it on red ribbon with 'I am sorry, I am a butt' written on it.     Meanwhile, far bellow in her own quarters, Yunomi was face-mushed belly-down in her pillows and blankets, half dressed and thoroughly exhausted from cultivating the roses in the wee hours in the morning. 

}}

3786/Down the Tubes

2016-02-11T00:07:38Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/02/09 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Yunomi leads a group of adventurers down an access tunnel for some repairs -- but who knows wh..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/02/09
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Yunomi leads a group of adventurers down an access tunnel for some repairs -- but who knows what they will find?
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=19, 272, 385, 528, 736, 778
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' RAVNICA -- THE UNDERCITY     A subterranian level of the city, built layers on top of one another with crumbling framework in constant need of repair. HEre was the dark, the seedy, here was the underbelly of Ravnica's upper levels where some of the more... interesting of Ravnica's utilities run through.     At the bridge between the upper and lower levels, in a small, largely abandoned plaza with a 'junk shop' that has a large cauldrona nd a shrunken head in the window, Yunomi is waiting. She looks a little more on edge down here, a knee-length, dark brown cloak covering her usually resplendant azure blue and scarlet. She's not exactly advertising her allegence down here.     Directions sent out to interested parties said to meet here. THere's a few other mages in slightly muted reds and blues hanging around -- a security detail. 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     One of said interested parties arrives clutching a cup of noodles. How they've been acquired is a mystery, but there's a chance Kyle just nabbed some on the way here. The pashi noodles are nice and spicy, just how an acquaintence of his likes it, and Kyle takes a slurp as he arrives at the junk shop.     He doesn't make a scene of greeting Yunomi, instead he just leans against the wall and waits for others to show up, dining along the way.     Judging by the sniffing he makes, and the look on his face, those noodles are *really* potent. Juno wasn't kidding about that. 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' GoGo Tomago is always interested in adventurous shenanigans! She doesn't show it though. That wouldn't be cool. She'd radioed in that she was showing up, then zipped on down. She's not magely, but she is a fast, furious fighter. Lots of other things starting with F too, probably. Skidding to a halt near Kyle, she lets the wheels of her skates retract into her shoes, snacking on a granola bar as she leans on a wall near him. "S'up?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Apart from 'zombies,' there's really no telling what to expect while plumbing the depths on Ravnica. Yuna's preference would be to bring the whole Matrix of Light, but some of them might have more trouble squeezing through tunnels than Yuna herself would, so it's just Yuna and Elner. Yuna looks relatively well-rested as she arrives, smiling brightly and waving to Yunomi and the others. She's already in her Light Suit, currently without visible weapons - but *that* can change quickly if it has to. The fact that this group is basically comprised of familiar faces seems to improve her mood even further, if that was possible. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      As the mages wait, a sound Ravnicans are no doubt familiar with slowly becomes more and more audible. The sound of something large and heavy moving along. The source? A (relatively) tall grey dragon is making his way toward the mages. He is trying not to attract attention by keeping his eyes ahead and not standing as tall as he usually does, but his metallic grey skutes and vibrant plumage is sure to attract at least some attention. That and being a dragon.      When he arrives, he raises a clawed hand as he nears the group. "Greetings, my allies." he says in his deep, rumbling voice. "What evil are we here to vanquish today?" he says as he looks over the group. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya was always glad to help out the guild and so here Maya was she was also happy to get a chance to catch up with Yunomi. Maya had spent time in places far more like this than she'd like to admit though. So away she goes catching up with the others she does take note of Kyle and Gogo as she too arrives. Yunomi gets a bit of a smile and a short greetings. "It's been a while." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' Yunomi glances up at Kyle Katarn, her head tilting slightly as she gives a sniff in the air, smelling the spicy noodles. She is now an interested party of those noodles, the short mage pausing her thoughts long enough to appreciate the spiciness of the noodles, aaaah.     Compared to some of the others here, the short Japanese woman wasn't imposing. Even the two attendant mages -- who take a look at Bahamut's arrival and then give nods, satisfied that the Guildmasters' favorite tanuki is well in hand, head back up to the surface. Yunomi gives them a wave, and steps forward. A metallic orb, a little larger than a navel orange begins to orbit her head, beeping and flashing with small blue and red lights.     "It has been a while." she replies to Maya, and she gives a small wave to the assembling heroes to draw nearer.     "I'd like to thank you all for coming. My name is Yunomi Stadler, and I am a member of the Izzet League." she states quietly, glancing up to Bahamut and giving him a curious look, and then to Gogo and Kyle.     "Largely, this is a precaution. I'm not anticipating any major occurances happening in the uncercity. The goal is to get into the area where there is some utility work to be done, fix what neds to be fixed and then get back to the surface." she pauses, and glances around.     And she gives a wry smile.     "Maybe I should have asked for a less intimidating group, but this appears to be a good mix." she replies, and she motions to the group, and opens the door to the junk shop. "Let's get going, shall we? ANyone have any other burning questions before we get underway?" 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     "Want some?" Kyle offers the noodles casually to Yunomi, producing an extra spoon out of his pocket after prying the plastic wrapping off with his teeth. Pittew. He's pretty much done with these anyways, so he'd be glad to let Yunomi see for herself how strong they are while they chat.     Yuna gets a friendly grin, as does Maya, and he nods politely enough to GoGo and Bahamut when they arrive. "Hey guys, you got here quick."     He doesn't have much questions, so he just folds his arms and listens after introductions are given. "Sounds like a typical day at the office to me. Where's our insertion point?" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "So most of us are guarding you while you do the actual work?" Yuna asks. "Sounds simple enough .... what kind of hazards are we expecting if anything *does* turn up? What're the most likely issues? You mentioned zombies on the radio ..." Her right hand brushes against the 'garter' that adorns her right thigh, and with a flicker of light, a sleek yet slightly bulky pistol appears in her hand. It looks more likely to be an energy weapon than something that fires physical bullets or other projectiles, to those who know how to tell the difference between such things. She looks it over quickly, as if double-checking that everything's as it should be, then lets the pistol disappear again. "I doubt we'll run into anything that this group put together can't handle, in any case," she adds with a relaxed grin. "Good to see all of you again," she looks around at the others, then turns her attention back to Yunomi. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamit nods to the mages as they depart, then looks to Yunomi as she speaks. "From what I have heard of the Undercity, there is almost no doubt that we will run into something that will want to eat us, enslave us, flay our minds, or zombify us." he says, grinning. He stretches his wings and cracks his knuckles, then chuckles. "So, I will offer my strength for your protection, as well as the protection of these others. It is about all I might offer. Although I have some skill in repair and negotiation, I am hardly what one would call an expert."      GoGo gets a curious look from the dragon. Her outfit and those disks she uses as wheels and weapons draw his curiousity as much as the noodles draw Yunomi. He doesn't know yet what she can do, but he is curious to find out. He nods to Kyle when greeted, and to Yuna. "Yuna. It is always good to see you." 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' GoGo raises a hand and points at Bahamut. "Two questions. First, why is he a dragon? Second, if nobody else has the technical skills to fix things up, I can probably handle it. Brought my own toolkit and everything." she says with a pop of her gum. Unless her skintight outfit is bigger on the inside than on the outside... Well they must be very THIN tools. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya says "I have a bit of a history with this city and a few of the guilds." Maya recalls a prank a certain angel played on her ages ago invoving proper 'clothing' for one of her blood, she missed her and prehaps after this was over she'd pay her a visit before she left the city. "So Kyle, it's good to see you, seem we are going on a bit of a crawl here. If you have undead? I'm well suited to put them back in their graves." She looks to Gogo for a moment and grins. "Good, I'll be able to focus on support then if that's the case Gogo." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "No, thank you though. I've gotta keep my mind on the mission; might have to look up where it came from afterwards." Yunomi gives a wry little grin to Katarn, and she gives a thumbs up to the counterkeeper, who nods, and she paaauses, and turns on her heel to Gogo, and glances up at her with rather curious eyes.     "Well. When a boy dragon and a girl dragon decide they are compatable and after suitable matches of strength and potentially dizzying death-spiral sky dances, an assemblage of nesting materials in a suitable layer and sometimes complicated mating rituals, they generally produce clutches of eggs that, being kept at the right temperature for some species and races of dragon, hatch into teeny little baby dragons..." Yunomi brings her hands up, and demonstrates 'teeny little' with her hands "... which eventually grow into large dragons." she lifts her cloak a bit and shows off the frilled dragon head on her shoulder armor. "Or perhaps he's some sort of elder spirit created at the beginning of time who happens to look like a dragon. I work for dragons. I was taught by dragons. Dragons happen. And two:" she takes a deep breath, and draws herself to her full five foot height. "/I/ and the tech on this trip. My guild, my guild's work, my guild's stuff. Besides... sometimes high magic and high technology make messy bedfellows...."     And a huge chasm begins to yawn in front of them, with a very narrow spiral staircase leading down.     THe orb around her head begins to buzz, warningly, and Yunomi glances up at it and gives a nod.     "... and Izzet items tend to be explosive anyway." she pauses, and cheerily hops into the hole, floating down. "Did everyone sign their fieldtrip forms?" 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     "Can't just ask someone why they're a dragon." Kyle asides to GoGo, grinning cheekily as Yunomi adds her own explaination. Laughing as he throws the cup away, he then suddenly spies the stairwell open up. "...Huh." He produces a hilt from his belt as he begins to head downwards.     "Already did." He gives a thumbs up, before he continues to head down, using the orb for light. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut laughs in amusement at the abruptness of GoGo's question. But, before he can answer GoGo when Yunomi does it. He just chuckles as he listens, and again as he imagines himself as a teeny little dragon. He never was, but he doesn't want to ruin Yunomi's storytelling.      He grins as Yunomi finishes. "When I go on trips, the field signs its own forms." he says with a rumble as Yunomi starts down. He leaps after her, and not knowing if there is some sort of magic at work, he spreads his wings and flies down the chasm. Anyone who cannot fly or handle falls is welcomed to ride on his back. 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' "Hmmm... I suppose I can do frontal assaults and scouting. Wait... How badly are we talking? Am I liable to explode if I go near this place? What about my stuff?" she asks, looking a little worried. "Don't get me wrong, I love magic and technology. But I like my limbs where they are." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Nobody told me we had to sign anything," Yuna counterquips at Yunomi. ... That WAS a joke, right? And since she didn't bring Erina, Yuna grimaces and starts picking her way down the menacingly narrow spiral staircase. "... hey, Yunomi? Are we going to need to be able to fly a lot while we're on the way down and back? I didn't want to bring all three of my partners down here - or, well, Elner suggested that I shouldn't - but if I need Flight Form or somethi--" She teeters briefly, sucking in a breath, then manages to regain her balance and just focuses on walking down the stairs. Elner merely floats down the center of the spiral, keeping pace with Yuna's descent ... and possibly, the robo-faerie has something in mind to rescue her, or anyone else, in case of a potentially-fatal slip-up. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya pauses at the response to Gogo's question by Yunomi and the grin on Maya's face just gets bigger, the more Yunomi goes on about the birds and the lizards for this. She does manage to not luahg ans she looks to yunomi smirking. "That is also true, but some of it is intended to explode." Maya seems ready as she falls in with everyone else. "I can ward you for what its worth Gogo and I can heal as well if something goes wrong." She's able to keep her balcne for now. "I totally did Yunomi" As Maya drops into the hole? A pair of blue energy wings sprout from her back and she's starting to lazily fly down. 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' GoGo smiles over at Maya as she tumbles down the rabbit hole, her supersuit unfolding from somewhere to cover her in a yello and red trimmed racing outfit, helmet, and her trademark maglev discs. "A warding would be wonderful. I spent a lot of time on this suit." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I like your limbs right where they are too!" the young mage quips, "I imagine you're a little attached to them." Yunomi replies to Gogo. "You should be fine; I'll let you know if I need to have a tech-safe peremeter, and then you'll notice I set a physical barrier in order to contain any sort of cross-ambient energies that may contaminate or resonate with the electronics and cause a cascading energy-failure feedback loop." Yunomi replies to Gogo with a smile, and she blinks at Yuna, flitting over to her side to 'walk with her down the narrow spiral along the outside of the chasm, large enough that Bahamut is likely comfortable using his wings to parachute down.     "No, most of the tunnels are high, but it'll be more walking than anything." Yunomi gives a smile to Yuna, keeping to her side to keep her steady.     At the bottom, some three very tall floors below the street there is a dragon-sized access tunnel. It is softly lit by orbs in red and blue hanging from the ceiling, with the occasional crackling bolt of energy coming off.     Yunomi seems quite comfortable down here. In spite of her short stature, she takes the lead as soon as Yuna's on the ground.     "And The Field Signs Itself makes /no/ sense, Bahamut."     As she begins to walk, she explains: "These are Izzet access tunnels. They actually go all over the city, through other guild's areas as well in order to provide Ravnica with a variety of services -- everything from steam-power to manalines, soon manavines and even in some places internet runs through these tunnels. I suspect that something's been taking bites out of some of the manalines and did damage to a steam and water main down this way; there's been a drop in pressure and reported poor service." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut sighs. "It does not sign itself...nevermind." he says as they reach the tunnel far below the surface. With Yunomi taking lead, Bahamut takes up rear guard. As a big target he can both see over the others and provide a barrier against anything that might attack them. As they make their way down the tunnel Bahamut's eyes continually scan the area for threats. "Do not worry, Miss GoGo. Rest assured that we will not allow anything to take your limbs." he says as they walk.      He looks to Yuna after that. "If there are more sections where flight is required, you are quite welcome to ride upon my back. The same goes for the rest of you." he says, looking to GoGo and Kyle at the end. He then looks to Yunomi. "How is the Guildmaster? I have not had opportunity to see her in quite a while." 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     "I'm sure we'll be fine." Kyle says with a confident smile, before he begins taking point. The offer is appreciated, though he just keeps going. "Don't sweat it, big guy, I'll manage. This isn't the first spooky passage I've been to." He points out, then produces a flashlight as he continues down.     "Might be worth more to send some engineers down here. What's so bad that we'd be needed down here first?" He asks Yunomi as she speaks. 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' Looking to Kyle, GoGo shrugs. "Beats me, but whatever it is, looks like our fearless leader thought she'd need backup. I like that. Not too proud to admit that you can't do it all on your own." she says, stretching as she rolls slowly down the passageway. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Yuna smiles sheepishly, "Useful to know. - And thank you, Bahamut," she adds with a grin to the big dragon. Yuna seems more at ease once she's off the stairs, at any rate - or maybe that's just because she doesn't have to concentrate as much on where she's placing her feet. Once the group is walking along the level tunnel, Yuna purses her lips a bit, thinking. "What are the current mana lines made out of, anyway? If you were using the vines by now, you'd probably have more worry about vegetarian critters trying to gnaw on them - and you probably have something in mind to dissuade them from that already," she adds, "but ... you said the manavines will be safe-repairing, if I remember right. Still might want to make sure they taste bad, though." Yuna looks over her shoulder. "Elner, scout ahead, if you would please? Mapping and life-signs search; Yunomi knows where we're going, of course, but if we get separated or something, it'd be good to know where we need to go to get out again." "Beginning scans," the little robo-faerie reports, flitting ahead to fly above Yunomi. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya Says "Don't worry Yunomi knows what the guild makes better than even me." Maya's having fun actually flying down she lands with a three point landing and then the wings fold up to her back ashs moves along with the others. Maya seems to be tkaing note however of what she's encountering along the way also listening to what Yunomi says. "If something's after the mana in the lines? Then I'm perfect bait for it." Maya does give off a lot of magical power and she's never been able to hide it. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Rhaps? She's doing well. BUsy. We all are. Prepping for spring, catching up on new projects and old business that needs to be wrapped up -- she gets stuck with most of the paperwwork still, but she's learning to deligate--" Yunomi makes a face, her voice flattening "... which means I get more paperwork." she shrugs, and stretches her arms up and over the back of her head. "I'm looking to ask her out to dinner one of these nights. It'll be a nice change of pace from frantically eating whatever comes out of the kitchen."     Yunomi glances back over her shoulder at Gogo, "The last time I came down this way alone, the founder of my Guild personally dispatched one of his daughters to retrieve me. It wasn't pretty, and there were a lot of cleanup afterwards." she replies to the yellow-clad speedster, and then purses her lips as Yuna speaks up. "Well, the manalines are the old style, they're basically powerlines. Copper, mizzium, gold coated with a bitter abrasive coating that's supposed to stop the rats wouldn't be interested in taking a bite out of them. "And I should know what my guild makes... I'm Rhapsody's Champion, after all." she grins ruefully, "I do more than just stand around and make comments on the bands. I work hard for my guild." 'What's so bad that we'd be needed down here first?' he asked.     Yunomi glances over her shoulder, running a hand over her hair to make a few suggestions when the ground quivers. Dust and debris rattles from the ceiling, including a number of rodent bones and tiny bird-like skulls.     Yunomi's stance changes, and she feels the hair on the back of her neck bristle up.     "Look alive." she growls, and lowers her goggles. She shrugs the drops of her cloak back, showing the bright red and blue. Her gauntlets give dull glows as lightning begins to crackle around her fingers.     The whole cavern gives a groan, like a ship long since abandoned and left at sea, a woody croak, a rasping sound that isn't breath, and a dank, damp smell begins to fill the area.     "... because they're not." 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' Zombies, why did it HAVE to be zombies? "Because it's always ALWAYS zombies, obviously. Guys, I don't know how much help I'll be. I'm a speedster and a ranged fighter. I'll probably get swarmed under before I get more than a couple shots off unless one of you guys can cover me!" 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' The sounds of movement are enough for Yuna to materialize her Matrix Divider, the rifle/sword hybrid appearing in her hands as she looks around .. and then the undead make their appearance. Stench-first. And *of course* Elner wouldn't have picked them up when Yuna said to look for 'life signs' ... they're not alive, they're undead. "Are we going to have to make a lot of apologies, or other recompense, if we shoot to kill?" Yuna asks; she's all set to open fire, but she wants to make sure that blowing the zombies (or whatever other undead) away isn't going to make more trouble than the undead themselves will constitute. "And I'll do my best to cover you, GoGo!" 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut rumbles menacingly at the foul stench and the groaning. Although he hasn't encountered Ravnica zombies before, he has fought some undead in his time. "Just keep moving. Watch each other's backs. I will attempt to draw their attention. I am usually quite good at that." he says as he bares his fangs and claws. "That is my job at home, after all. Dealing with the monsters that lurk in the darkness and wilds of my world."      As no undead have actually appeared yet, Bahamut turns to face the direction the group came from in case someone or something tries to block their escape. In the meantime, he tries to look as menacing as he can. He even lets out a threatening roar to try and deter the possible attackers before they even attack. Not that such a thing usually works on monsters or undead. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya says "Good to hear she's doing well, I'm afraid I still have no word on her father, but I not given up on that." Maya does not give up, she's lost too many people as it is over the years she doesn't want to give up on Niv just quite yet. Still she ha the mission at hand and she's going to keep her attention on that. She pauses for a moment. "understood." She hears the sounds of the undead. "Like shell three back home...great." Maya's already going for several cards as she keeps on the move. 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     The stench hits Kyle's nostrils like a trip to Raxus Prime's deepest depths. He gags on the stink and coughs, stumbling over before he collects himself. "Oh, jeez, must be a morgue down here..." He mutters, before suddenly he hears the groans of what must be the undead.     Focusing on that, he activates his lightsaber, thumbing the switch as the weapon lets off a sharp whine and hiss, the blue blade emitting a deep hum as he begins to brave the sounds ahead. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     (music: https://youtu.be/lVPWa94k0qg?t=16m29s)     The dragon's roar causes the shuffling and shaking to stop, more dust settling from the overlay of bricks above. Water cracks in a pipe above, and begins to seep through,     And then one by one, the lights go out, fizzling out like spent bottle rockets, hanging momentarily in mid air before the dark overtakes the stalwart under-explorers, light by cracklking energy, the lights of suits, and the glow of a saber in the darkness. For a few breaths, the world might be still.     And then a watery, distorted roar echoes in the dragon's challenge.     Yunomi tenses. "... there's only one guild that has True Dragons in Ravnica... they know it's the Izzet here." she breathes, and she glances up to the lights above, and her wrists glow green as she slaps one fist against the wall, a manavine growing up, channeling her power as it reaches the lights, and illuminates the area with a sickly green glow.     A shambling form stands there, a rotting hulk, stooped over in the twenty-foot height of the access tunnel. A broken horn scrapes against the ceiling, tangled in the globe-like lights. A long, spiked club is in its hand, and it leaves a trail of sludge in its wake, muddying up the floor ahead. Around it, at knee-heigh, shambling forms reach out for the heroes.     "... well." Yunomi winces, staying where she is to keep the lights on -- "at least we're /not/ selling Avon!" 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' "DING DONG MOTHERFUCKERS!" GoGo yells. She's first on the attack, zooming forward. Weaving between the lesser zombies, she goes for a few disabling shots on the giant... THING. Oni? Ogre? Whatever it is, it's getting a couple of hamstrings cut as Gogo's supersonic razor discs spin up to top speed, a high-pitched whine filling the air. It's only a moment before she makes contact on her way by, slicing deep into undead flesh. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Okay," Yunomi adds a little fearfully, looking at the giant, reincarnated sewer troll, "Gogo is selling Avon." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "Maybe we should be?" Yuna quips back to Yunomi, the Matrix Divider beginning to glow as she channels power into her weapon. Not even a full second later, Yuna starts squeezing off shots, not holding back like she normally would against living (and sentient) opponents. She's the Savior of Light, and she has no qualms at all about using her holy/light elemental power to its full effectiveness, aiming to blow the head off of any zombie she picks out to blow away. She's mostly focusing on the promised cover fire for GoGo, so any zombie that looks like it's going to try and slow her down, Yuna willl blast as soon as she sees it making the effort. Of course, that's a lot of zombies anyway, and Yuna can only aim at one zombie at a time. 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     "Avon?" Kyle asides to Yunomi, before he goes to follow GoGo into the fray. He charges at the large zombie creature, his lightsaber cleaving through zombie after zombie while he singles out the big guy.     "Man," Kyle laughs, "You guys look about like you smell; AWFUL!" His taunts no doubt fall on deaf ears, though he definitely can back up the bluster as he makes a leap at the big zombie. His lightsaber slashes downwards on it's shoulder, intending to sever the arm clean off before he even hits the ground again. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut can't help but grin as something has the gall to echo his roar. When Yunomi restores some level of illumination, Bahamut looks the creatures over. "Well, whatever this Avon is, these beings appear to need much of it." Bahamut says even as he charges up an attack. Blue-grey energy builds around his shoulders, then forms into three orbs of swirling blue and grey energy. "I assume these are not citizens and we should not worry about destroying them?" he says to Yunomi as he waits for GoGo to get clear. Then, he stands tall and fires those orbs. They go flying through the air in a general but haphazard path toward the giant troll and its knee-high companions. They pepper the area of the zombies, exploding in pure energy when they hit the ground or a zombie. Besides the burst of disintegrating energy, they also promote the petrification of the zombies that are hit but not destroyed.      Then, the big dragon charges toward the zombified behemoth, claws bared and ready to rend undead flesh. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya says "Avon? That's a earth thing isn't it?" Maya note she's in oddly good spirit even as the undead are coming towars them there's a smirk on on her face. She's holding a card in hand as she looks to the undead. Then she gets a full look at this thing. It's huge and more menancing than she thought at first, she does ready her card now and soonm flames will start forming trying to catch the hulking undead thing in it's wakes while Maya starts to try an move to avoid getting caught up into melee. "Back to your graves!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I shall explain Avon /after we are no longer in danger/!" Yunomi calls out, and she keeps the lights on, feeding green mana into them as she takes to the ceiling, adding to the illumination as she braces herself against a wall, extends her hand and fires off a crashing bolt of lightning, trying to split the crowd of undead for the others.     Gogo comes up quick on the Grave Troll, and slices through the creature's undead flesh. A dark, greenish-black ichor slicks through the wound, and it turns, reaching down with a long hand. It moves quicker than they might have expected, trying to snatch the fast fighter right off her wheels and slam her against the wall     At Bahamut's charge, the behemoth's flesh is ripped off, sloughing off in long trailing strips. The orbs crash and echo through the hall, and there is a great rumbling sound, the bricks beginning to tumble inwards, the undead scattering.     They do not, however, appear to want to listen to Maya. Two break off, and as the flames roar in the air, they reach for her arms to try and rip her apart with their unliving strenght -- they're a great deal slower than the shambling troll though.     Yuna's blasts cause several to loose arms -- one loses his head. Literally. iT rolls along the floor and into the hissing water, ichor trailing after it.     The troll is again hit, this time by Katarn as he leaps, the flesh on its arm singed from the lightsaber's blade, sinews clinging to its form, the ichor sizzling.     The massive troll gives a gurgling roar in retort to the abuse, and turns its head, trying to use its jagged horns to jab into Bahamut's flesh! 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya :seems to take this as a challenge as the undea come for her, they try to get her into close combat, but they are at least trying to not bite about the waiste, why her world's zombies do that she'll never know. It does force her to let up on her attacks with magic. She's moving about at high speed, and turns her magic agianst them again sending more bursts of flame but she's now getting her rifle up and ready for another attack and that's when the canisters of napalm start flying into the undead's ranks. "NAPALM!" She calls out in warning to her allies and friends. 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Maya's shout of 'Napalm!' is Yuna's cue to make sure she's out of the way - but then, she's focused on mostly ranged combat at the moment, so she shouldn't be in too much danger of burning. Theoretically. The fact that the zombies are getting close enough to claw at Maya probably doesn't do Yuna any favors; if the zombies do try to get into melee range of her, Yuna just switches her grip on the Matrix Divider to wield it like a sword and starts swinging at her undead assailants, the Divider's barrel/blade flaring and crackling with holy light every time she swings. "Careful with the area attacks, everyone!" she advises her allies, trying to clear enough space around herself (and hopefully, around Maya as well) to switch back to ranged combat. 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' Napalm? "FUCKING WATCH OUT WHEN I'M IN THE GURNK!" Gogo yells. She gets knocked silly by the Grave Troll, and even the slicing by her companion fails to free her from its grasp. She screams and starts to struggle as the canisters of napalm start to rain down around her. Even as the troll slams her again, breaking a couple ribs, she curls up into a ball, hoping to avoid getting covered in flaming slime. 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     Yes Kyle, don't get cocky here.     That said, Kyle seems to be taking advantage of his agility against the lumbering giant. As he lands on the ground and stabs behind him, impaling a zombie in the process, he picks up the sound of someone calling out napalm.     Dodging out of the way, Kyle barely avoids getting singed as he tries not to be too close. He produces a few thermal detonators, throwing them into the throng of zombies. "Frags out!" He warns. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut roars as that horn impacts his belly, denting the metal plates there and leaving the dragon wincing in pain. Locked in combat with the troll, he can do little more than hope the flaming substance Maya fired does not land near him. When he notices GoGo has been caught, he growls menacingly. "Let her go, fiend!" he bellows, then launches himself at that arm. Both clawed hands dig deeply into that arm as Bahamut tries to disable it, and sever it if he can.      As he wrestles with the arm, Bahamut notices the falling bricks and hears another warning. Thermal detonators could be quite dangerous if he is caught in them. So, in order to protect himself and GoGo, Bahamut attempts to bend that arm around behind the troll, hooks its leg with his thick tail, and gives it a shoulder ram in the back to try and trip it forward. If successful, he would land on the troll's back with the arm holding GoGo pinned behind the creature's back.      Of course, even if that does happen, pinning the troll's arm in a position that would normally be disabling to a living creature may not quite have the desired effect on a shambling undead horror. "Careful with the explosives! These tunnels seem ready to collapse!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THere is an awful lot of exploding going on, and Yunomi isn't even the cause of it!     For an izzet, that's almost embarrassing!     As the ground lights up with fire and frag, pieces going everywhere, Yunomi's forced to contend with the further weakening tunnel. She praces herself, green mana flowing through her fingers and against the walls as vines trave along, growing stronger, knotting together. Trees spring up t o the sides of the combat, fed through magic and acting like pillars, the canopy above. "What the /HELL/ is a /GURNK?/"     THe great grave troll gives an angry sound, the arm bending behind as Bahamut finishes the job that Kyle started.     THe napalm and frag destroy the lesser zombies, leaving only the one-armed grave troll left. The arm fallen behind it, flesh peeling away, still grasps, trying to return to its owner as the troll turns, grapping with Bahamut, lowering its head and its maw full of broken, boney teeth to try and rip the scales and plumage the dragon's head! 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' Zombies: Dead, and likely to stay that way. Finally. That just leaves the big one, and Yuna turns her attention back to the grave troll in time to see it trying to take a bite out of Bahamut's head. She's not going to stand for that; Yuna takes off running, looking around as she does for good footholds. ... Up to and including Bahamut himself, if that's what it takes. Assuming Bahamut's tail is within leaping distance, Yuna gets a running start and actually races up the dragon's back, taking a couple of shots at the cave troll's nogging en route, then switches to melee mode once again as she jumps, Matrix Divider flaring brightly in her hands ... ... and tries to impale the grave troll's face with her weapon, *before* unleashing the charged energy in a single concussive blast. 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' Despite her injuries, GoGo manages to avoid the unfriendly fire from her teammates, the troll's body serving as a shield. "Thanks guys! I owe you one!" she yells, and overclocks her discs for a moment, sending them spinning almost twie as fast as before into the beasts' belly. 

:'''{{#var:778|Kyle Katarn (778)}} has posed:'''     Kyle's satisfied nobody got caught in the grenades going off, nobody that isn't a zombie anyway. He grins with satisfaction when Bahamut rips the big zombies arm clean off, and he gets what Yuna's about to do as he rejoins the fray.     His lightsaber spins in his hand as he lashes towards the giant's leg, aiming to cripple it while Yuna delivers the finishing blow. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Well, the troll doesn't go down as Bahamut hoped, but he does remove the troll's arm! Which...keeps fighting without being attached! "Cursed undead!" he roars as he throws the arm away as far as he can. He turns just in time to see the troll coming in for what promises to be a nasty bite. He brings his arms up to try and catch the troll around the throat before it can bite him.      He growls as he feels someone running up his back, then blinks as he sees Yuna leap overhead to plunge her weapon into the troll's face. He lets out a boisterous laugh and grins, then pulls a taloned hand back. Energy builds in his palm, this time a swirling mass of crackling white and grey. Which, he then plunges into the troll's belly, unleashing an devastating Flare spell -inside- the troll. Like his Impact, this is pure energy that instead of merely burning actually disintegrates and explodes powerfully. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya sees the lesser undead are done, this is good news but they still got the bigger ont to deal with somewhat. She turns about bringing up her rifle but she sees GOgo, is able to get back into hte fight she holts her fire it looks like GOgo's got this with Kyle and Yuna. "Anyone need healing?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     The troll didn't go down that time, but it went down this time. THe combined efforts of the heroes, slashing, exploding, ripping and rending and lightsabering cause the grave troll to literally fall to peices: ichor, rotting flesh and decrepit bones sloughing off to the side as the magic that keeps the body animated abandons it.     The access tunnel reeks of burnt, rotting flesh now.     Yunomi is still floating at the ceiling, her eyes closed, her fingers outstretched and keeping the vines and the trees going, keeping them healed and thriving as the napalm burns off and fragments are rejected out of healing wood and plants.     And the mage takes a deep breath.     "Holy... that was a lot of explosives." 

:'''{{#var:736|GoGo Tomago (736)}} has posed:''' "Maya, I would LOVE some healing. I've got a couple of broken ribs, and I think it cracked something in my back. I've got painkillers and adrenaline working right now, but I think I may have punctured a lung." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' "I think I'm okay, Maya, but thanks," Yuna replies to the Junker, checking the area for any further signs of life ... or, well, of undeath. If the troll's arm is still fumbling around, she raises the Matrix Divider and shoots it until it isn't moving any more. Just to be sure. Also, UNDEAD ARE CREEPY. 

:'''{{#var:19|Maya (19)}} has posed:''' Maya turns to deal with the injuries to Gogo now, she looks at the nature of it and first pulls a small vile out of a pouch on her belt, She then opens it, but also mixes a herb tht shortly is pulled out after it. "First this will help with my own efforts and given what we're fighting we can't be certain about posion this will also help with that." She'll then pull out a card and it will start glowing pink, the potion once Gogo hopefully dirnks it will flush her system of toxins and help with the healing whatever is cracked in her back should be fiarly well handled and the other injuries would improve a great deal. She'll still need time in a medical bay but Maya's efforts will help a lot. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut lets out another roar as the troll is ripped and blown apart, then looks around quickly before chuckling as he hears Yunomi. "I would have thought you were used to a lot of explosions." he says as he looks up at the roof. "Is the tunnel going to hold, or do we need to evacuate?"      The dragon looks over at Yuna and Kyle, giving each a nod of appreciation for their efforts. "Although, I suppose explosives and firebombs may not have been the best choice when fighting zombies in close quarters." Bahamut adds after a moment, grinning lightly toward Maya. "But, we seem to have survived with minimal injuries." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:''' "I am used to a lot of explosions, but typically I'm the one causing them. Unpredicted explosions in a structurally unstable area with /GIANT GOLGARI GRAVE TROLLS/ is a little out of my comfort zone. Besides, Napalm? Not my cup of tea. It's way more difficult to control or eliminate a fire like that." Yunomi replies, and she takes a breath, "But for everyone's safety who is not an Izzet League member, I'm evacuatting you all to the surface. It's too dangerous and I can get a team down here to perminantly fix the issue..." Yunomi states, and she draws up. "LEt's go." 

}}

3173/Bagels!

2016-01-12T22:19:28Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/10/08 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Freakfast and Bagels |Thanks= |Cast of Characters=151, 272, 481, 525, 811 |Tinyplot= |Tinyplot..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/10/08
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Freakfast and Bagels
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=151, 272, 481, 525, 811
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     THE SPIRE OF NIVIX -- IZZET SECTOR -- RAVNICA     The Guildgate has been opened for guests of the IZzet to arrive. Steamcore Weirds, whose bubbling molten cores are sheathed in boiling water and contained steam watch wearily as visitors enter the Guild's most highly held domain.     The breakfast buffet is set in the main lobby area of Nivix, its grand lift a guilded cage, leaidn gup into the spire itself, where around the tops of the main room, vinework with vibrant red and blue flowers shows the favor of a certain student of the Parun's.     And amongst the hustle and bustle, goblins are reaching up and grabbing food from the tables, laden with bagels of every sort, cooked bacon and fried ham and hot sheets of eggs. Fruit platters are mostly left alone by the goblins. Yunomi is pouring herself a large glass of orange juice, humming as she does so, clad in her azure and scarlet magewright garb, ears up and tail flicking. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga is easy to spot. She's the one wandering around looking completely overwhelmed. She's staring around with wide eyes and a brow furrowed, dressed in a homespun overdress, linen shift and wool cloak, hand clutching an oak staff that aids in her movement around the streets toward the spire, occasionally serving to wack anyone she suspects might by trying to snatch her belt purse. Finally, Inga reaches the lobby, moving to the nearest seat and flopping into it to rest her legs. "Well....that was certainly interesting," she comments. The food smells excellent though, her belly grumbling in response to the presence of delicious breakfast foods. 

:'''{{#var:151|Ainsley (151)}} has posed:'''     Ainsley shows up shortly. She floats around and even ends up stepping on the face of a particularly pushy goblin while she gathers up her own food. She smiles down at him playfully afterward, and once she's got everything she's going to eat, she finds somewhere to float up there to eat her food, balancing the plate on her tummy while she hovers above everyone.     "Thanks, Yunomi!" she calls over to the tanuki, her voice brighter and happier than she's likely to remember. Heck, it's probably been a very long time since they last saw each other in-person. The lizard's way more snappily dressed these days.     "Inga!" she waves enthusiastically at Inga, her tail wiggling in the air with barely-restrained energy. Then she stuffs a handful of bacon in her maw and makes a soft strange rolling 'chrrr' noise, sounding very happy with this morning. Nothing draws out the happy mood in Ainsley more than food or books. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Hey Ainsley!" Yunomi calls back to her -- and makes a face whens he realizes that she smooshed a goblin's nose! Oh no! She gives an embarrassed smile to the goblin (who happens to be a foremage on one of the jobs she's overseeing -- how embarrassing!). The mage smooths it all over by handing the goblin a bagel, and flits around, greeting everyone as she goes. She gives a grin, and wanders her way over to Inga, and offers a hand and a grin. "Hello, Yunomi Stadler. I don't think we've met in person." she introduces herself. "Welcome to Ravnica." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     It doesn't take a long time for Kirika to follow, and she's dressed...interestingly. The kitsune does her best to avoid the crowds of goblins on the way, snaring up a piece of fruit along the way as she bows to Yunomi. She smiles warmly upon spotting Inga and Ainsley, wandering over to provide hugs to both girls. "It's good to see you all again, I feel like we never have time to simply enjoy each other's company."     She'll settle for a plate of bacon and eggs, as she nabs a seat. Munching on deliciously crisp bacon, she also snares a bagel with her tail, sandwiching some bacon between delicious bits of bread. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga looks up toward Ainsley, tilting her head slightly. A smile curves her lips. It is good to see Ainsley feeling so light hearted. And...well, just light in generally, seeing as she's floating around up there. "Ainsley! It is good to see you. You are looking well," she greets with a smile. "What a convenient power to have!" she adds with a chuckle. "How have you been? And how is Faruja?" Inga then takes Yunomi's hand. "A pleasure to meet you in person Yunomi. Thank you for the invite. I have been meaning to see new places...even if it is usually a bit overwhelming," she comments. Then, hugged by Kirika! Inga returns the embrace with a laugh. "Indeed. I've perhaps been a bit too much of a hermit as of late. How are you?" she asks. Inga looks around, is she the only human in the room!? 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Ravnica is... very overwhelming if you're not used to the city life." Yunomi gives a smile as she sits with her plate. A few other wizards -- humans and djinn alike, look surprised at the sudden spread of food -- but aren't above helping themselves. Yunomi's ears give a flick, and she waves to the other Izzet from her table, giving a smile to Kirika.     "Thaniel's being saying how I should take time to recharge from my work and my studies, and what better way than to share breakfast with about a hundred or so of my favorite coworkers and allies?" 

:'''{{#var:151|Ainsley (151)}} has posed:'''     "It's the one very convenient power that didn't just vanish after Mirror Quest," Ainsley tells Inga, waving her hands in a dramatic fashion. She's taken a goofy view of her journey to 'find herself,' it seems. "I'm doing well. I'm doing better now that I know people are doing something in Defiant's world. Sadly, Cauldron's not really doing anything themselves, but you can't get everything you want in life. I'm going to be cross with them if they try to vanish after Scion's dealt with."     "As for Faruja~ He's doing well. Still as fuzzy and handsome as ever! He's a very busy man but we both help each other relax whenever we can." She beams at Inga.     She flicks her eyes over to Kirika, and offers bacon grease covered hand in a wave. Smile~ 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Now that she's rested for a few minutes, Inga stands to get a bit of food for herself. Fresh fruit? Excellent! Most of it out of season! The small things that amaze her. She also gets a bagel and a bit of bacon before returning to her seat. "I will confess," she begins to Yunomi, "I am overwhelmed easily by cities. I don't thik I will ever be used to so many people in one place." Another smile to Ainsley, followed by a puzzled expression. "I am afraid I am out of touch with what is happening there...anything I might be able to help with?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "I am well, thank you." Kirika says, looking very relieved as of recent. "Things have been a bit hectic, but they calmed down thankfully. World-ending shenanigans being what they are, I am just glad it turned out..better than they could have." She munches some more on bacon, before snagging a cup of juice to sip from. "I hope things are calmer on your ends."     She looks around, tail swishing side to side gently. "We will deal with Scion when that comes, I imagine." She comments to Ainsley with a slight frown, then she shrugs. "At the least the Slaughterhouse is dealt with. I helped see to that." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I used to be. When I was younger." Yunomi replies, giving a wry smile as she leans into her seat. She raises her glass of juice. "I'm just a country tanuki at heart, but growing up in London and Frederick, and then my constant trips to New Washington before its fall... you just get used to the hustle and bustle of the cities. Ravnica is paticularly hectic between the guild business and the visitors." Yunomi replies. "As an outsider myself, I get to see the city through that lens." she gives a small smile. "The city is always hectic." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "I am used to the country mysef. I grew up in the mountains, both in the human nations and my mother's estate." Kirika muses, looking wistful as she munches some more bacon. "The cities I am not so comfortable with, not even Tsujikyo back home. There is so much noise and so many people, I cannot imagine anybody becoming accustomed to..." She motions out at Ravnica, looking more than a little uncomfortable as she gazes out in the distance before she goes back to breakfast. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Just as Kirika motions, an explosion rocks Nivix.     No one seems to mind. 

:'''{{#var:811|Hitoshura (811)}} has posed:''' Hito makes his way through the city fairly easily, without his companions this time. He approaches the table and sets down a few melons from Ai. Then he fills up his plate, and looks around for a good seat. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga continues to look confused. Scion? The Slaughterhouse? She looks between Ainsley and Kirika, lips pursing slightly. She's tempted to actually open herself to a vision just to understand what she has missed! Inga snickers to Yunomi. "I doubt I would ever get used to it. With my visions...it can get very exhausting. Seeing the wyrd of so many people in one place...I become overwhelmed after a while," she explains. A cup of tea has found its way ito her hair, which she sips. Inga nods to Kirika. "Yes, indeed. That is why I took a cottage in Dun Realtai. I still live partly in Chicago...but I needed a retreat from the city." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There was a group of ladies sitting at a table with various animal-like features, from tails to ears to Inga (who was the only human at the table, sadly!), and a lizard woman with her expressive mouth full of sharp teeth.     Yunomi's ears prick up, and to the new face she gives a grin, and a welcoming nod and wave over to Hitoshura.     "Dun Realtai is a fantastic place to get away... poor Bedivere has his hands full with the place." she adds with a wry smile, considering the poor, tall knight. "He's yet to visit me here, but... after some bad things happened..." she trails off, and gives a shrug, and sips her orange juice. "He's a good friend." 

:'''{{#var:811|Hitoshura (811)}} has posed:''' Hitoshura smiles and waves back. "Thanks for the invite," he says. He sits nearby, but not so close as to intrude on Yunomi or Inga or Kirika's conversation. He tries to engage the guests around him. In spite of the odd clothes of a modern 20th century high schooler from Japan, he seems to be fitting in okay. He finds it odd that so many different cultures have such similar culinary tastes. The food is excellent. He notes the goblins in the area, and wonders about it. Goblins back home are lower to mid-level fairies, but these seem to be wizards of some kind. Hmm. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' "Yes, he is a good friend...and yes, he certainly does have his hands full. A lord usually does. I'm happy to be of help to him and Lady Arturia when I can. He even puts up with me, a heathen and a witch," she adds with a laugh. Inga looks over to Hitoshura, nodding in greeting to him. "Good day." 

:'''{{#var:481|Kirika (481)}} has posed:'''     "Hello," Kirika has no idea who this guy is, but all the same remains polite as she dines more. "I've been considering getting a place of my own there, I rather like it in Dun Realtai all in all. Saber is a good friend, and someone I would follow anywhere." She nods calmly, before she gives Inga a smile. "If it helps, I would stick up for you if he did not." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a warm smile over to Hitoshura, and motions for him to join the other three elites who are visiting, raising her hand and motioning palm-out, closing her fingers over her palm.     "You're welcome, c'mon over here and join us. This is the 'visitors and ambassadors' table." she jokes, leaning back again in her chair. She polishes the dragon-like emblem on her shoulder.     "Well, for what it's worth, where I'm from I'd be considered one of his 'seele' spirits, but a few of my relatives would definately be considered 'unseele'. Dangerous, provocative, and causing harm to humans. He's from a low-magic world, or where people like his Merlin might have been... overwhelming." she gives an embarrassed smile. "For what it's worth, I had to overcome my own nature with a lot... and I mean a lot... of work." 

:'''{{#var:811|Hitoshura (811)}} has posed:''' Hitoshura smiles at Inga," Good day to you, too," He gets up and has a piece of the melon he brought. The last piece, it looks like. Well, at least it was popular. Maybe he could get some trade going to some of these other realms. "Hello," he says to Kirika. After being invited by Yunomi, he thanks her and sits at their table. He politely listens, and wonders about the people they're talking about. The trio seem pretty friendly, and it's nice to have some off-time and social interaction instead of just worrying about the War all the time. He perks up at the mention of Seelie, Unseelie, and spirits, and continues to listen thoughtfully. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga smiles warmly to Kirika. "I am grateful to have you as a friend Kirika," she replies, placing a hand on her arm briefly. The wisewoman then nods to Yunomi. "Yes, one of the nature spirits. We call them the landvettir. What do you mean, overcome your own nature?" she inquires with a raised brow and a raised teacup. To Hitoshura, she extends a hand. "Inga Freyjasdottir, wisewoman. A pleasure to meet you," she introduces. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Oh, I'm a tanuki. We're pretty much known for being semi-useless pranksters second-fiddle to the foxes. I'm also from a really rural area." Yunomi explains quietly, and gives a bit of a shrug as she bites into a bagel.     "It's been a long time since I've performed any pranks... I had to be more... I guess mature for this position. Sometimes I miss it. Most times I'm just too /busy/ to think about it." she gives a small grin. 

:'''{{#var:811|Hitoshura (811)}} has posed:''' "Hitoshura, a demi-fiend, pleased to meet you as well," the young man says, "You're a wisewoman? That's cool." He shakes her hand, a firm, but gentle grip. Then to Yunomi "Tanuki? I don't think I've ever run into one of those before, although I've heard of them. That's pretty cool," 

:'''{{#var:811|Hitoshura (811)}} has posed:''' smiles and nods to Kirika as well. He continues again, to make conversation and enjoy the company. 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga nods in understanding. "Ah, I see. Well...I am from the year 876...everything was rural," she explains with a small smile. "I'm quite sure you'll find some time for a little innocent mischief. For instance, sending Bediver bottles of mead on his birthday," she suggests, grin growing. To Hito, she looks puzzled. "Demi-fiend? I do not know what that means I confess," she replies. ...But alas, he is gone. Inga blinks, then shakes her head. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I'm from somewhere in the seventeenth century, best I can tell. We have 'Dutch learning'." Yunomi offers a grin, and she purses her lips as Hitoshura makes his explaination,a nd then makes an exit.     "Huh. Kinda like a demigod, like the Thor that hangs around Tony Stark." she explains, and then rubs the back of her head. "I think." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga stiffens slightly. "Thor is one of my chief dieties. The...Thor we have /met/ is...well. I do not know what he is. His very existence cofuses me," she sighs. "He is very...nice, though," she adds, coloring slightly. "Anyway...the 17th cetury? I see. Was it a...version of midgard? Er, Earth?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Midgard, Earth, Uruk, same idea, same planet, just different cultures." Yunomi replies with a shrug as she sets her orange juice down, and picks at some grapes. "The Earth my adoptive father's from has no magic. The earth I'm from has magic, but humans aren't as skilled with it." she pauses, and gives a curious look to Inga. "... he /is/ a nice guy." she reflects. "One version of him joined me in battle. It was pretty sweet to see all the lightning being thrown around." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga nods in understanding. "Indeed, seems so strange that there are so many versions of earth. Is it so with other worlds?" she asks. Inga laughs then, nodding. "Yes, it is impressive. I've learned a bit with lightning myself. I was on a world once, in the middle of a battle--not really doing much in the way of the fighting myself, but...anyway, it was a version of midgard. I called upon Thor and I /felt/ him empower my lightning. It was incredible. The Thor of the Union however, I do not think he is truly a god. He does not hear the prayers or recieve the sacrifices I do not think." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Some of them." Yunomi admits, and she gives a bit of a laugh, and rubs the back of her head, and she gives a bit of a shrug. "My world is stuck before indoor plumbing -- one of the greatest inventions of the 'modern' age." Yunomi jokes, and she leans back. "I used to have a patron kami. Kaeruhime. I could call upon her aid and use my powers as a guardian of Her little bit of Japan to do amazing things..." she pauses, and gives a bit of a wistful look. "No, I don't think that Thor hears prayers." she gives a wry grin. "But he's nice to look at." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga nods, smiling. "Yes. I am stuck in my ways for many things, but indoor plumbing is an amazing thing. There is nothing quite so good as a hot bath with such ease, or a long shower standing under the running water," she says, closing her eyes a moment, imagining. "Have you visited the baths at Dun Realtai? That is true luxury." Inga listens, nodding. "Yes, the spirits can be called on...I always try to keep our landvettir appeased that they will look after our homes. Even in Chicago they keep a presence, for which I am glad. I would think with so little trees..." Inga sighs, shakes her head. A gentle snort of laugh, nodding to the comment about Thor. "I cannot argue with that observation," she chuckles. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Anno... yes, I was there towards the end of the... Dun Realtai lady's night." Yunomi gives a laugh, and noms on a piece of bagel. "It's a very Japanese bath, and it was pretty nice to be able to relax. We have a bath here, but showers are more the norm. I get a lot of grease and metal shavings on me, it'd be really difficult to remove everything in a bath, even with washing-up before hand. But there are some natural volcanic springs..." Yunomi trails off. "... buuuut they're in some not so great areas. The danger outweighs the comfort." she explains.     And at the 'so little trees' thing, Yunomi gives a grin. It curls up at the corners of her mouth so much that it makes her eyes half-close. "If you ever need more trees, I'm totally the one to talk to. I helped reseed and replant Dun Realtai's forests..." Yunomi brushes her nails off on her leather waistbinder. "It's a talent." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' "Ah, that is the manner of bath houses in Japan as well? We did not have such things, but the Romans did, and the Romans left such amazing ruins in Britain. Such a wonder...of course, I've seen more impressive since," she says with a laugh. "Heh, I would plant more trees in Chicago but I fear there isn't much soil to grow them in. The park is nice I suppose but it lacks...its lacks the wildness of the forests. You've done very well in Dun Realtai, quite a useful talent to have! I have been working on my little garden, but it will not yield much until next year, sadly." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Yeah... I have the Singing Garden here. It's my own little pool of tranquility in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Ravnica. Maybe someday you cuold come by and see it. You might find it really relaxing... there's a grassy patch, and an ancient oak tree that I had to bring in from elsewhere so that it wouldn't be cut down. He's happy. You can tell." she gives a small grin, and a soft 'ha'. "But you've seen my talents, what of yours?" she inquires. "Are you a wisewoman who talks to the spirits and the gods?" 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga smiles. "That sounds lovely, I'd be glad to see it," she replies. Even in a city like this there must be peaceful places where the trees can quietly dream. As for Inga's talents, she chuckles. "I do, though it is more often that the gods talk to me. I am a Seer. I see the...tapestry of fate. Sometimes, gods will speak through me. I have prophecies...often I cannot help be speak them, which as you can imagine, can be rather inconvenient as I often cannot control them. I have als been taught the art of seidr. It is the magic my people know, taught to us by Freya herself. It is ah...what many here call witchcraft. Healing, charms, talismans...protection spells are a bit of a specialty of mine," she explains. "This was was I was raised with...how to see the wyrd, how to interpret visions, how to do spells and make proper sacrifice to the gods and spirits...but not long ago, really, I was...Chosen by entities called The Buzzing. They are messengers, servants, I suppose...of a goddess some call Gaia. A goddess of the earth. Since then, my magic has...changed. It is more powerful, to be frank. More...obvious. I have since learned a few things such as how to make fire and lightning, and how to wield my blood as a weapon..." Inga shakes her head. "It is all rather complicated. Magic in my world was not as it is in so many places. Not so...tangible. Now? Now I am..." Ings sighs, waving it off. "Well, nevermind that. Those are my 'talents' as you say." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Pretty cool talents. After joining the Izzet, Niv-Mizzet taught me to embrace an element that I feared for its... destructive nature, and let's face it, it had a /really/ negative impact on my past." the tanuki states, and she flicks one of her ears irritability. She drinks the remainder of juice in her glass before she leans back and recounts. "I was born the child of spirit and earth. My father was a tanuki, my mother a guardian spirit who took a human form to have me. I was raised to be a Guardian, but... things went wrong." She shrugs. "Plans changed. And now I'm here, working for the Izzet. It's a good life... relatively quiet."     She pauses, and a few other Izzet around her pause, and look up, as if expecting explosions, and then they go back to their meals or conversation. Yunomi gives a small smile.     "Losing Namamura might be the best thing that's ever happened to me." 

:'''{{#var:525|Inga (525)}} has posed:''' Inga's brows raise in question. "A Guardian? What is that? Also, who are the Izzit?" she inquires. And again, because knows very little about worlds besides her own, "Namamura? Heh, I am sorry to inundate you with questions." "I was born to humans but I have never known them. They left me in the forest to die when I was an infant. Deformed," she explains, motioning to the staff she uses to help her walk. Even with it she has a noticable limp. "But I was god-chosen. I was found being protected by wildcats. Cats are sacred to Freya. So...I was saved and raised with the gothi. Priests, I think you'd say," Inga explains. "When I grew older it became clear that I had the gift of prophecy--a strong gift. So they found me a Seer, and she was my mentor and mother for most of my life," she continues, voice going quiet as her eyes become distant. "It was as she lay dying that she gave me a prophecy. That a bee would lead my to the branches of Yggdrasil, the world tree...and that is how I came to be in the multiverse," she finished. Something dawns on her then, her eyes widening slightly. "It has to be just about a year now since I have left my home, actually." 

}}

1233/Honest Talk

2015-01-06T17:17:27Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/12/30 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=Honest Talk in the Charred Library while doing a bit of a spar; Yunomi and Ryu |Thanks= |Cast ..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/12/30
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=Honest Talk in the Charred Library while doing a bit of a spar; Yunomi and Ryu
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=272, 636
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     There are many facets to any jewel. Every gem, once cut and polished, catches the light.     Yunomi Stadler is more than a shapeshifter, but she was aware of the unique standing of her situation. She was wearing black work out pants, a T-shirt and her hair pulled back into a simple bun, curled and knotted around itself, and was barefoot in the cavernous remains of a long-burned library. The pillars and windows were stained with old soot. Her movements are smooth. A long staff replaces the weapon she imagines and can see so clerly in her mind.     Light filters through the dirty, cracked windows, and she dances between the sunbeams as driving guitar riffs and rock beats echo around her.     The tanuki might not have been expecting company. 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryan was not used to a place that was so... fantastical. So magical. So weird. He wandered through Nivix, narrowly avoiding the ingenuity and ire of the various goblins and other denizens that wandered this place. His boots clicked against the floor, making his presence known in much the same way as any other soldier would be easy to spot. He was definitely out of place, perhaps because if he was any mana element he would be White and not Red/Blue.     He had to explore what he hoped would be his new home, though. He found his way to the charred library by chance. Once he stepped into the room, he stopped at the doorway. He tried not to interrupt what Yunomi was doing. A workout in the form of a dance, from what he could tell.     But he had to, if he didn't want to seem weird.     "Hey," he greets, loudly and clearly so he's not missed under the sound of the music. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Well, kata can be dance like. This one certainly was.     At the sudden intrustion, Yunomi raised her weapon, bringing the far end up in a snapping motion that, had Ryan been too close, might have caught his throat.     Her expression softens, as she straightens, her lips pursing. "Ah! Ryan! Sorry..." she begins, and she glances over to where the little orb that typically circles her was resting on a radio, and it chirps, and lowers the volume.     "Anno... sorry. I didn't hear you come in." she continues, rubbing the back of her head. "Can I help you? Are you lost?:" 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryan doesn't budge. He may be used to people reacting like that by now, which is an odd thing to get used to. All it gets out of him is that soft smile from before, like he hadn't reacted at all. Once she apologizes, he steps further into the room and pauses to stand in a sunbeam and stare up at the light as it hit his face. Like a cat, it seemed to distract him, his eyes closing to enjoy the warmth.     He sniffs and lets out a sigh. "Lost? Yeah. As lost as anyone can be when figuring out a new place." He opens his eyes and looks over at her again, then to the staff she's holding. "I should be the one apologizing. Is this a routine?" He holds up his hands a little helplessly, "I don't want to interrupt, if you need to do this."     He lowers his hands just after that, looking around the room, that sad smile on his face. He was taking in all the details. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Nah, I... come down here to stretch out and think. I don't always do the technological thing... I'm..." she pauses, and Yunomi looks down, and exhales. "I used to be a Guardian, in Japan." 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryu noticed her hesitation. He looked at her carefully, a very slight narrow of his eyes betraying that he's thinking on it. Maybe whether to address it or not. "So what'd you come out here to think about?" he wonders, deciding to leave that elephant in the room well enough alone. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... well. Saiyans." Yunomi admits, and she shrugs, and motions to one of the staves she has lined up agianst the side. Some are long, like pole-arms, others short, and slightly curved, for sword imitation.     Drawing backwards, she rolls her shoulders, and lowers into a ready stance. "What about you? Lose your way in one of the halls? I could have sworn that we had the dorms in Thirix." she gives a slight grin. 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryan steps up to the training weapons, reaching to grab it. He frowns at the weight, though, the training weapons a bit too light for his usual style of fighting... which involves brutal overpowering with a weapon that is far too heavy.     He holds a loose stance when he walks up to a ready spot. The only thing he pauses to do is remove his boots, setting them aside. Like a proper dojo spar.     "I was getting a feel for the place. Rhapsody must have her hands full all the time with all of this chaos," he says, though the smile on his face suggests respect to the idea. "Already moved into the room I got assigned to. That request got approved really fast, way faster than how it worked in Wyndia. I guess it helps to befriend the guildmaster." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Nivix, THirix, and the surroudning areas are a big, impressive place, full of the strange and the wonderful... it was the first place that felt like 'home', after home." Yunomi replies, watching Ryan as he moves.     As to the room, she gives a big grin. "Helps to befriend the Guildmaster's best friend." Yunomi replies with a smile, and she gives the staff a turn, lowering to to the back as she strikes a ready pose, and motions, hand up, palm facing outwards, and brings her fingers to her palms again.     "You had a room before you left the restaurant." 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     The stance that his sparring partner takes gets Ryan to frown... he was never good with fighting people using staves or polearms. Too much agility. Once he's given the go ahead to give a strike, he does so.     What she'd find is that he's got a sloppy stance, with much of his strike being physical strength and the swiftness behind that. One diagonal chop is given toward Yunomi. After that, he'd try to backpedal some, so that he doesn't immediately get counter-attacked.     "Helps to do both," he remarks, his brows raised. "I made a good impression, then?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     CLACK! The swordblow is blocked, but Yunomi's arms feel the power of the strike. Her hands clasp a bit tighter, but she steps forward, trying to push him fruther back than he intends and hook a foot around his ankle to pull his leg forward, bringing the butt of her weapon down to balance her as she pulls.     "You made a good impression on both of us. I didn't expect her to be so prompt... but Rhaps surprises a lot of people." she comments. 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryan is knocked off balance by her counter, though he isn't knocked off his feet completely. He corrects his footing after a staggered moment, and raises his weapon again. A light frown shows on his face afterwards.     "More and more I'm starting to think you're all right about how this dragon problem works," he mentions, as he moves around Yunomi, trying to find a spot where he might get a good stab or smack in with that wooden weapon. "That I could make friends, even after..." He quirks a corner of his mouth, wary of using the word 'Friend' too much. "Rhapsody's a good person. I feel like I owe her, now, with how nice she's been to me without having done anything for her." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi moves easily, a pro at her naginata and footwork. Her eyes are kept on Ryan as he talks, and then she moves to outflank HIM, sweeping the 'cutting' edge of the staff down to try and take out his feet!     "How is being a dragon a problem? My best friend is a dragon." she states. "Maybe you need to approach the issue from a different viewpoint?" 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryan grunts when the weapon comes down at his legs again. One foot snaps out to try to pin the weapon after he gets a good bruise, and if he can manage that for any period of time, he'd make a quick strike with his own training weapon. He's not aiming to hurt Yunomi too much, but it will probably leave a bruise if he gets a hit.     "Because... We don't know what dragons are actually like in my world. We don't know if it's like being possessed by a demon or if it's a blessing." He steps back with a couple of quick hops. "I won't know until we understand where this kind of power even came from." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi takes the whap. And she gives a bit of an 'ow' sound before she laughs, giving him the point by taking a step back and rubbing her arm.     "So, what do you do until then?" she inquires, her head tilting. She turns, going for a large, old looking jug on a thick, wound cord. "Take it from someone who has seen kitsunetsuki -- ah... that'd be a fox possessing someone. Sometimes possession can be good. Sometimes blessings can be bad. Water?" 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     "I... try to figure out what it means for me," Ryu tells Yunomi, honestly. "I can't shake the bad feeling it gives me. The power is just too much." He shakes his head. "And I try to train myself like this, like the human I was, until then." He steps up to her, holding out a hand to accept the offer of water.     "I thought dragons didn't really exist until I got turned into one. It's going to take some time." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     She takes a swig from the jug, and hands it over to the dragon.     "So... then it's a search for meaning?" she inquires, her eyebrows rising up as she purses her lips in curiosity... and sits cross-legged.     The fact that she's floating three feet in the air doesn't seem to bother her. 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryu sips from the jug, pausing only to look at Yunomi funny when she levitates like that. He wasn't exactly expecting her to do that, only just then realizing how he first met her.     "Yeah. I don't know if I ever will find it. A lot of people spend their entire lives searching for a meaning that they never reach," he says, somewhat sadly, though with that smile on his face. "It'll keep me busy, that's for sure." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi accepts the jug back, and she gives it a shake, giving a sad smile. "The search for meaning is a noble one." She replies quietly, and she sips from the jug. "Hey... you should get some rest, and I need to grab some ice for this arm." she states, setting her feet to the floor and walking past him, giving him a friendly punch in the arm. "Need directions back to your pad?" 

:'''{{#var:636|Ryu (636)}} has posed:'''     Ryu seems to warm up when he sees something familiar in her reaction. It's a slight change, still the overcast smile that he's had before, but it's bigger. "Nah, I know where it is," he replies, rubbing the spot she punched. He turns to replace the training weapon where it was, and gather up his boots. "Thanks... for the talk, I mean. It was nice," he says to her, before he leaves to locate his place.     He lied about knowing where it is, but he figures he won't learn if he doesn't get lost once or twice. He won't end up anywhere he shouldn't be, it'll just take him longer than necessary. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Any time. I've got a good set of ears, and I'm told I've got a good heart." Yunomi replies, leaning against the doorjamb.     And then she purses her lips, and shakes her head.     "Totally lost." she gives a small laugh, then pulls the door to her practice area closed. 

}}

1273/Do ya wanna build a snowman

2015-01-06T17:16:31Z

DangerTanuki: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/01/05 |Location=City of Ravnica <Rav> |Synopsis=It doesn't have to be a snow man.... Yunomi, Neva, and Rhapsody in the Icy Courtyard of Nivix...."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/01/05
|Location=City of Ravnica <Rav>
|Synopsis=It doesn't have to be a snow man.... Yunomi, Neva, and Rhapsody in the Icy Courtyard of Nivix... with a snowmonster.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=272, 325, 644
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     NIVIX -- The Icy Courtyard     There are some things that are so unusual in Ravnica, that they could only be the cause of outsiders -- who would have thought that a single creature from an exotic island known as 'Japan' could have had such an impact? Months ago, an experimental mana engine had created something that even the powerful dragon, Niv-Mizzet, had not seen in hundreds of years of his lifetime: frozen, icy forms of blue mana.     The engine was still working. Goblins clad in heavy scarves and protective goggles take notes on frozen sculptures and push paths through the snow for others with wide shovels. An icy weird with a bubbling core seems most at home here, the red of its insides projecting a strangely warming glow over piles of snow. Someone has built a "snow goblin", with a large icicle representing a large, long and pointed nose, smaller forms the pointed ears and a pair of discarded gears for eyes.     Yunomi was here, clad in a heavy jacket and thick gloves, and was working on the machine, puffs of air rising from her breath. 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     Planeswalkers can feel when there's a surplus of one kind of mana over another kind, and the kinds of mana they in fact are. So when Neva finally noticed that oddball mana type that was NOT normal for Ravnica, she makes a beeline for it, and skids to a halt in snow filled room, going all wide eyed at the sight of the machien.     Neva was now wearing a new hooded cape, brand spanking new and less ragged than the cape she'd been wearing for months now, and with a pair of gauntlets right on her arms, and a Dragon Shaped signet hanging from her neck. She looks much more the part of an Izzet Mage now.     "Noooooo way!" Neva says with a gleeful tone, that enthusiastic spark on her eyes, as she reaches a palm out, a stream of mana flowing into her hand, as she giggles, "My god, it's colder than blue Mana normaly is! That is AWESOME!" She pauses and glances around spies an unused table, at which point she stretches her other hand out and pours the mana out into making what looks like a vortex beneath the table, which suddenly pulls the table spiraling into it, and makes the thing vanish into nothingness. "Sweeeeet." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "YEah!" Yunomi comments as she pops out from behind the generator, wiping the back of her mitten against her goggles to clear the frost from them. She gives Neva a broad smile as she reaches out to brush some snow off a guage.     "This is Snow Mana. Niv said he hadn't seen it since an ice age a long, long time ago." she comments brightly, giving a smile and patting on the generator, and she gives a smile at the signet. "So, now you look the part of an Izzet Mage. How's it feel to be all 'official'?" she inquires as she hops over the barrel of the generator, and slides down the front. 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     "I know! Snow Mana comes from the Ice Age block! Ice Age, Alliances and Coldsnap! The third one used to be Homelands, but everyone thought it was terrible so they pretend it never happened." Neva just spouts her knowledge of the game without even thinking. She then grins, "Yeah, I know my sets."     It's right about that point when the little vortex in the background spits that table out of the void, and up into the air, before it flips over and crashes harmlessly into the ground. Neva blinks and looks over her shoulder, before grinning sheepishly, "Woops."     Neva whistles innocently for a moment, before replying, "I didn't think it needed to BE official. Then again, I'd been getting nothing but glares from the Magewrights here, and people telling me I'm a waste of space sitting there playing a card game... And just grabbing a bunch of freebies for Christmas that could have gone to other 'actual' magewrights..." She grumbles, "Yeah, I'm apparently not very popular." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''     "If a magewright comes to you and says something like that, Neva, you can direct them to me," comes a familiar voice from one side of the courtyard. It seems that Rhapsody has made her way to this frigid courtyard just in time to hear Neva's comments. "And to be honest, Neva? Most new magewrights aren't very popular at first. So. Again. Problems? Send them to me." The serious tone fades, a light smirk crosses her muzzle, and then a snowball is sent racing toward both the Tanuki and the Izzet's newest magewright, and then the white dragoness just vanishes behind one of the 'snow dunes'. Looks like someone is in the mood to help morale, not watch it wither away. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "... ah... right. The card game. The card game I'm not part of. /That/ card game." Yunomi teases lightly as Neva geeks out over the names of the sets, and Yunomi just gives a small shake of ehr head, with a smile. "It's so weird to think of this world being totally seperate no--" she begins...     And then the vortex spits the table out. Yunomi blinks, and preps herself to act, to knock someone out of the way as she pushes her goggles up, leaving a small trail of snow on her forehead nad her red and blue bangs spiking up... but she notes no one's in the way, and she lets the table flip, and crash into the ground. It splinters, and she raises one eyebrow, giving a cheeky little 'yeah, you're probably one of us' look to Neva.     And she shrugs. "Well, look at it this way. When I came here, I had a lab near Niv's quarters, guessed his riddle on the door on the second try, and was even offered the opportunity to join a prestigious group of magewrights, 'wright' off the bat... it might take others years and years to reach that status, and I got it on virtue of Niv being... well." she considers a moment. "Excedingly generious and having really, really high expectations of me, and at the time, I was pretty much a kid--" she hops to her feet, glancing up and aroudn at Rhaps's voice. "-- or me. I'll set 'em straight." the tanuki points out, and gives a grin.     "You can't hide from me, Rhaps!" she calls out, and takes to the air. "C'mon, Neva!" 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:''' r    Neva can't help but groan just a little bit, "I will destroy you for that pun..." Before she can actually further comment on her status as an outcast over here in the Izzet League, she hears Rhapsody's voice and goes wide eyed, turning about to face her---     SPLAT.     Her turn was right into the path of the flying ball of snow mana, and there's a moment where she just flails and tries to get the stuff of her, "Ack! Glasses!" Before glaring and smirking, "Just so you know, THIS means WAR!" She then throws a palm out and creates Bob the Blistercoil weird from thin air, and commands, "Bob, pile up some snow. I need Ammo. Lots of it." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Flying is so NOT FAIR in a game of snowballs and snow mana. Granted, Rhapsody can't help but let out a laugh at Neva's reaction to 'suddenly snow' in the face, but well, war were declared by the Guildmaster. Had to live up to the consequences, now. Soon after diving behind the 'snow dune', the dragon had started to make ammo, and a lot of it. She would be ready! "Who says i'm hiding?!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I'll make it harder for you to use your natural camoflage, Boss!" Yunomi chides, and from the air (where she's a great target), she concentrates, blue mana curling at her fingertips as she changes one of the basic fundamental things about snow:     The colors directly beneath her begin to shift, from red, to blue, to bright greens and yellow, and then the riot of color begins to spread out around the courtyard. The snow takes on different hues, spanning all colors of the rainbow as Yunomi changes its color!     "MWA HA HA! Go get 'er, Neva!" she calls out, trying to help her ally find the white dragon in the now prismatic snow! 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     "MWAHAHA! You've been betrayed by your own cover!" Neva calls out from behind Bob, and she takes a moment to glance at the amount of snowballs gathered thus far, and grins at the sufficiently sized pile, "Awesome work, Bob. Now, roll up a big one." She grins and begins scooping up snowballs and flinging them at Rhapsody to provide cover fire.     Soon enough, Bob hefts up a pretty big snowball, though it doesn't seem to be hauling it up higher than than its chest. Neva hmms before casting another Void Snare, this time at the pile of snow in front of Rhapsody.     This does two things. One, it sucks the snow into the void, removing Rhapsody's cover, and secondly the casting causes Bob to bulk up from the osmosis of magic energies. "FIRE!!"     The Blistercoil Weird proceeds to pitch that big snowball at Rhapsody with one hand.     Inevitably, the Void Snare spits the snow back up into the air dispersing it and causing a brief amount of snowfall. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "TRAITORS, ALL OF YOU!" the dragon calls out, though it's in a far to amused tone to be anything nearing anger or accusations. The sight of the snow turning prismatic is one thing, but the sight of Bob hefting that massive amount of snow? "Uh. B-Bob? We can get past this right? You don't havetodothatOHSTARS!" Rhapsody turns to run, but, thanks to the bulk up from Neva's spell, well, she doesn't get far.         *FLUFMP* There's a muffled noise, but it sounds more like laughter than anger. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     And this Yunomi became the new Guild Leader, and her reign was filled with PRISMATIC SNOW!     Yunomi gives a wry grin, but she flits back down, and goes to at least uncover the good Guildmaster's head, carefully, with her mitten. Because nothing would be worse than BETRAYAL, and then a super-cheery rainbow covered death attempt... and then getting whacked in the nose. That would be awful. 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     "VICTORY IS MINE! MUU-HAHAHAHAHA!!" The Planeswalker calls out, grinning as she makes a victory pose, before grinning and scooping up another ball of snow, and winds up to pitch it at the back of Yunomi's head. "AND NOW I ASSERT MY DOMINANCE!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' So much snow. But then there's a noise. A little more. Some light, and finally a Tanuki with a big grin. "Oh, hi! I was having a nap. nice to see you. You may want to turn around," she suggests as Neva hurls her snowball. "Watch out for Bob!" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Jury's still out on coldblooded dragons. I'd /hate/ to have to explain to the siblings about a sudden hibernation." Yunomi replies dryly, and then WHOMP! She tilts forward. There's snow on the back of her head. It drips down her collar, and Yunomi makes the @_. face, shoulders rising up as it drips.     Yunomi turns.     And she just grins. Unsettlingly calm in the midst of fire.     "You forget who the master of this courtyard is." she replies cooly. Some of her hair is plastered to her face from the wet and sweat.     Yunomi squares her stance. She grips her hands lightly to her side, and takes a deeeeeeep breath.     Blue mana begins to curl around her fingertips, weaving back and forth like snakes.     "I am the bane of springtime; ice is my mind and cold is my will. I have seen a thousand snowfalls..."     There's rumbling. The blue mana leaves her fingers, and the snow begins to form together. Yunomi may be taking this a bit seriously. Steam forms off her hair as it begins to wave, the mana surrounding her like a cloak.     "... never bothered by the cold light of the moon, nor the heat of a midday sun. Lift from a frozen state and enact my will!"     And the snow forms together, Yunomi holding her concentration together, forming it into a towerinf monster of snow, icicles for jagged teeth, and dark, empty holes for eyes! 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' That... actually, gets a small gasp out of Rhapsody. "Whoa. Uh. That's pretty big, there, Yunomi!" she calls as she starts to wiggle in the snowball, trying to make enough room before pushing out her arms so she can break loose. "I AM FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" she roars out befure lunging forward, "I HAVE YOU NOW!" Vader quotes? Maybe someone watched a certain movie recently. 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     Neva goes wide eyed and almost flinches at the sight of the snowy monstrousity forming, before shaking her head and raises her forearm out, with her other hand proceeding to flick about the gauntlet on her right hand, charging it up, "Oh no you don't!" The Izzet Charm Gauntlet begins to glow with power as Mana transfers into it, before she fires off an Anti-Magic blast at the Snow-Behemouth.     This effect of the Izzet Charm is basically Mana Leak, the spell siphoning off the mana being used for the spell, though Yunomi can outright brute force it if she channels MORE into it. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi was concnetrating on keeping the prismatic snow monster together, and hadn't counted on an attack from behind! She goes down badly, trying to twist herself to the side, but can't get her arm out in time, the mana cutting out suddenly as the breath gets knocked out of her, and the prismatic monster giving a bellow of rage, turning slowly, its arms extending outwards. Yunomi goes down, and with no snow to cushion her fall, there's a sharp CRACK! against the stone of the courtyard, and Yunomi gives a low groan. She sees stars bouncing against her vision as she tries to push herself back up, but in the confusion, she picks up on the anti-magic blast.     The titan of snow gives another loud bellow, and seems to fall to peices, sending a couple of straggling goblins running out of the way with squeals of fear, but Yunomi, with stars still flashing against her vision, was on the defensive -- her first thought wasn't 'Neva is using anti-magic'.     ... it was 'magic-eaters are attacking!'     Her hands gripped together as she moved to stand in front of Rhapsody, in a ready position to fight. Green mana awashed the area, making crocus and tiny irises sprout into bloom around her, a small trickle of blood from a cut on her forehead making its way to her cheek as her mana vines spring up, sneding block flying to the left and right, their ends covered with thorns and crackling with electricity, and in a slurred tone she cries out "Get back, Rhaps!" 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:'''         *CRACK* Wait. That didn't sound right at ALL. There was snow everywhere a second ago, why was there that horrible sound?! "Oh stars! Yunomi are you alright?!" The guildmaster has pretty quickly realized she screwed up, somehow, but seeing her Guardian take that stance toward Neva? She recognized it, "Wait, no no! NO! Yunomi!" In a flash, Rhapsody is between the two of them, one hand on the now visible hilt of her blue spellblade... just in case, "Hey! hey. Yunomi. Relax! I think I mighta hit you too hard, I'm so sorry! Just, snap out of it! Okay???" 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     Neva lets out a breath of relief as the Izzet Charm on the gauntlet dims, and she watches as the Snowy Behemoth falls apart, somewhat unaware of what just happened back on the ground due to her attention having been locked onto the creature for a whie. Thus she's grinning wide as she pumps her fist in victory. "Muwaha! No monster for you!"     Then she blinks as she sees Yunomi's demeanor change, with the mana all around starting to go out of whack with the green. "Wha? Yunomi, it was just an Izzet Charm. Minor, if effective instant at best, there's no need to overreact." She says this, but there's a shakiness in her voice, which grows as she watches Yunomi's magics go nuts. "Yunomi..?"     She watches as Rhapsody responds, and now senses something's amiss. "Rhapsody..? What's going on..?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     On one hand, it felt right. The magic-eaters coming to Ravnica, coming after to finish the job that should have been done in the ocean off Namamura's shore, the fear gripping her that the surprise attack would take what she still could protect from her.     On the other... she felt sick to her stomach. The world spun, but she heard Rhapsody's voice, distant and garbled, but recognized when Rhapsody put herself between them.     And the world snapped back into focus like a slap in the face. Rhapsody. Neva. THey were in the courtyard with the snow ma na generator.     And the mana around her halts, dissipating. The tanuki teeters slightly, wobbling on her feet from the sudden and huge output of mana. The vines retract, disappearing back into the earth, leaving holes in the brickwork where they had burst through like wounds, and Yunomi fell back, landing on her tail end and looking a little green in the gills.     "I'm... I'm sorry." she croaks out, and brings her hands up to cover her face, smearing the little line of blood. "I'm so, so sorry." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "For what?" Rhapsody says first before just wrapping her arms right around the Tanuki, "You didn't do anything, okay? Its not your fault!" she barks, clinging to her tightly, "Don't you dare try to take on the mistake I made," she insists, heaving a sigh, before carefully letting go. "You're fine, Ok?" she continues before Sidonia, probably having seen the whole thing, suddenly arrives with a Simic Medic in tow. The blue dragon works -very- fast.. 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     Neva is at this point very much just entirely confused, though once the mana surge has dispersed she's relieved, and asks, "What... What just happened?" She hesitantly approaches the two, and gets closer, now seeing that gash of cut upon closer inspection. "Oh god, Yunomi, are you okay.? What..." Confusion. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I'm... I'll be fine." Yunomi states, from beneath draconic hugging. She glances up at the running Sidonia and the Simic, and gives a weak smile and an embarrassed wave to them, before she gets herself up, wobbles once, and then seems satisfied that the world isnt going to move on her.     "Back in my world's past, there were a bunch of humans who started killing and eating magical creatures -- tanuki, kitsune, dragon, even human-looking ones like Betobetosan... and after a while, they started to just absorb magic... when I felt the 'null magic' effect... I was confused and... my first thought was to defend Rhapsody. It's what I do... it's what I'm charged with while Niv-Mizzet is away." she explains, but she has a sort of flat tone to her voice. "... I just... I got worked up. I'm so sorry." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' Satisfied that Yunomi seems to be back in her right mind, Rhapsody takes a step back to allow the Simic medic to give her a looking over. Sidonia doesn't seem angry in the least. In fact, she idly tosses a snowball at her sister as if to say, 'You roughoused a not-dragon to hard'. A nervous laugh is Rhapsody's only reply to her sister before she looks at Neva, "I tackled her, thinking the snow would break her fall, and it was all in that big thing she was making so... my fault.." 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     "Oh... That... That... Well... Sucks.." Neva says awkwardly, unsure of what else to say in response. "Wait, you were going to defend Rhapsody from -me-?" She takes a step back. When Rhapsody explains the accident, Neva nods slowly, though she's kind of hesitant to approach. Instead the Planeswalker just says, "Maybe... Maybe I should just go for a bit... I'll come back later..."     Without waiting to be stopped, she spins about and with a surge of Mana use, she WOOSHES out of the Plane. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "N-- wait, Neva! It's not --" Yunomi begins, trying to push up through the Simic who was /not/ about to have any of it, and sternly glared Yunomi back into position to get her head healed.     ... and Yunomi feels a deep pit in her stomach, grabbing at her heart and bringing it down. She bow s her head, examining the ground as the brightness of her bangs dim, and she huffs a breath.     "I'm sorry, Rhapsody." she whispers. "I wasn't thinking straight." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "You hit your head pretty hard thanks to me.. I ... forget sometimes this isn't really me," Rhapsody points out, referring to the fact that this wasn't even her true form. Just one she hides behind 99 percent of the time. After a moment she takes a seat beside where the Simic medic was treating Yunomi. "She'll be back, she just needs a little bit. Mistakes happen here, a lot, without them there wouldn't be any progress," she continues, repeating something that was said to her about the Izzet from a far larger, and far older, dragon. A small smile forms after a moment, then, "Please, don't worry about it, ok? It wasn't you, it was me." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Peh. I roughhouse with Chuck, I get hugs and pleased grunts." Yunomi complains, getting a frustrated look on her head as she holds up a hand. "My 'little' sister roughhouses with me, I get a concussion and a pissed-off planeswalker. Why can't my life be easy, Rhaps?" Yunomi implores, looking beggingly up at Rhapsody with a pursed lip, and then she laughs, until the Medic clears his throat.     And then Yunomi gets all quiet as can be. 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' That gets a light laugh out of Rhapsody too, but she quiets up at the medic's insistence. After a few more moments, though, the simic finishes and the two can finally say what they want to say, "If it were easy it wouldn't be Izzet," she points out, still smiling. "No need for ingenuity if things are easy! And again, Neva will be alright. She's as Izzet as you and me. I wager she'll realize things on her own and come back." 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "I hope so." Yunomi states, and she hops to her feet. "After all, with all the swordsmen I've been bringing in, it'd be nice to have a few powerful mages on our side." Yunomi grins. "All right... well... the prismatic snow is gonna have to wait... I'm pretty sure I finally get the chance to present the greenhouse project to Dun Realti soon." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' "I've been meaning to ask about what you were working on, Yunomi, do you mind explaining it to me?" Rhapsody asks as she stands, dusting off herself and her coat. 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     "Ah... outside the scope of the Izzet. I'm helping Dun Realti fix their fields." Yunomi replies, and then embarrassedly "... I shooould probably see if Sir Bedivere has a few moments to discuss it; he's a busy man." 

:'''{{#var:644|Neva Fernandez (644)}} has posed:'''     WOOSH...     "Okay! So I might have freaked out and run off there." Suddenly Neva was back, though about a few yards away from where she left, since 'Walking isn't a science. "I just kind of freaked out a tiny bit, when I should have been a little more understanding that getting your head knocked on isn't exactly the most fun things..." She says with a wobble... "So... Sorry about 'walking off...?" 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     Yunomi gives a wry grin, and gives a nod back to Neva. "Apology accepted... and I'm sorryt hat I kinda jumped the gun on my end." 

:'''{{#var:325|Rhapsody (325)}} has posed:''' A nod is given, "See to it, then. I wouldn't want you to miss your chance to speak to him, Yunomi. Keep up the good work, alright?" Rhapsody asks before Neva returns. "It's alright!" Rhapsody calls, smirking toward Yunomi. 'See? She came back.' 

:'''{{#var:272|Yunomi Stadler (272)}} has posed:'''     And the dragon would get a prismastic snowball to her gob, before Yunomi turns tail and bolts back inside! 

}}