Side One, Ep.2 "Double Dog Dare"

[Legendary Sidekick]

Garden, Maidens' Grounds

"Oh… you sing!" Sandy blushes. "Of course, you sing. Maybe that can be one of the gifts."

Cindy explains, "We have so many nuns that follow two goddesses, so there's a part of the celebration where followers of other goddesses present a gift. Maybe you could sing… or you, Your Highness."

She turns to Fenella and curtsies—

—but not nearly as well as she had when Mariya was showing her.

"No! Like this," says Sandy—

—who seems to have the form right.



Garden, Addy's Place

When Addison greets Jei, she sees the Pinks are with her.

"They paid us, but donated our kill for the celebration," Addy explains. "We have some pro cooks handling it now, our share included. Still, they could use some more help. But not from me! I ain't no cook."

Addy looks out at where the maidens are seated. "Sister Patty asked me to present a gift to represent The Gardener. I was gonna, but…" She points out Beatrice, "…you wouldn't believe what the sandy-haired kid asked me to do! I need to see me grappler gun fixed to do it, so I'm off to see Pidge. If you're interested in being The Gardener's rep—you or your fairy friend… well… it would be good for you to be close to her. I have a feeling that stupid barn thing is just the beginning of… I don't know what. Something that makes me glad I ain't the only Huntress in town."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Heather Garden

Sister Patty walks among the commoners. Many have fixe their gaze on a woman staring at the streets while making slow, martial arts poses. Patty instantly recognizes the woman as a fellow nun. She addresses her as such. "Sister?"

The nun stops what she is doing. Her right fist and left palm meet. She bows. "Sister Kojima Hanako," she replies. "I am fighting nun, but call me Hanako, please."

"Okay, Hanako. I can certainly see you are a fighting nun. Why are you practicing here at the Maiden's Day festival?"

"Forgive me if I should not. I was inspired." She points out Riff, still practicing her pixie-foo with the Master Dans. "She look like ordinary 18 year old girl, but you see… she has wings!"

"I also see you have picked the final lucky number…"

There is a collective groan from the crowd, until Sister Patty continues.

"…before we make the pick for THE ENTIRE POT OF GOLD which is only ten percent shy of the original amount."

A monk approaches Sister Patty.

"How much is that?" he asks.

"You have to win to find out, Brother Adrian. What's your number?"

"10," he says. "It's a perfect round number for winning perfectly round coins." He touches the tip of a heather plant, then another, and another…




((Losing #s: 3,17,15,11,18 / NPC #s: 19,1,2,12,5,10 / Winning #: 12 / Pot of Gold: 90% full…

There's a 25% chance of drawing a player's number, so let's hope the next roll does the trick.))

 

[Noma Galway]

I look up at Fenella. "We could sing together," I say. I smile at the girls' curtseys. "Good job, girls." Even though Cindy didn't do as well, I don't want to discourage her. She was having a lot of fun with it.

 

[Reaver]

REAVER

We follow a trail of carnage hoping to find where the poor fools who somehow abducted Olga have taken her.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I may not be able to post again until Tuesday, and I still need to update art before going too far. So I'll finish up the lucky draw bit, and leave you with options you can RP as you see fit. If you want your character to represent his/her goddess in the ceremony in some way, go for it.))


Sister Patty heads to the cherry trees, where pink petals rain down on Beatrice and other young girls. Cindy finally claims her prize. "Wow… $700!"

"So there's still $6300 left in the pot," Sandy notes. "So what if nobody wins? Will there be an 8th drawing?"

"No," says Sister Patty. "And we don't need one. The winner of the pot of gold iiiiiiiis… Princess Fenella!"

Most of the crowd is cheering, especially the children. Those cheering drown out a collective groan from some commoners. One gripes, "The one person in the crowd who's richer than Mr. Brown wins his money? Tell me this wasn't rigged."

"It wasn't," another commoner says plainly. "The rich get richer. It's how it is." He shrugs.

Sister Patty quietly let's Princess Fenella know that the coins will be deposited into her account, then decides to change the subject.

"We would like to invite volunteers to represent the other goddesses, The Mother, as well as the other five who watched over The Maiden when The Mother's mortal form died in childbirth."

Hanako volunteers to dance for The Maiden. Sister Annie reveals her paintings of people in the crowd. When Sister Patty sees the Painting of three children and a muse, she says, "This captures the very innocence of The Maiden. I believe I know exactly where to look for the girl who will represent The Maiden tonight."

She approaches Bee and the girls. To Cindy she says, "You looked as pure as The Maiden Herself when you held up the pixie. Would you care to play the role of The Maiden tonight?"

"I'd love to," she says. "Oh, but I just won that money. I can't have all the luck to myself. Sandy, would you like to play Her?"

Sandy says, "I would, but… Beatrice is a guest in our town."

Beatrice asks the girls, "As long as you won't mind…" She smiles at the nuns who nod with approval. "…can all three of us take turns?"

The children like that idea, and so does Sister Patty.

"I want The Painter's gift… and The Voice's," says Cindy.

Sandy says, "I'll take The Spirit's and The Gardener's."

Beatrice says, "I'll take The Mother's then." She smiles, "And of course, Lady Death's. It's fitting, because my mother died giving birth to me."

"Oh! I'm sorry," says Cindy.

"We can switch," says Sandy.

"No thank you," says Bee. "I like this arrangement best."

 

[Ruby]

Fenella

I'm so happy! My lucky number came up! I won! I won!

I try not to show too much emotion. After all, I'm a princess. One doesn't want to discuss money in public.

But I can't help myself: I smile at Sister Patty. I smile at everyone. This is such a wonderful day - the best since I joined this company.

 

[Noma Galway]

When Fenella wins the money, I am happy for her, and I grin. But something is nagging at my mind. The poorer folk needed the money more. I resolve myself to talk to Fenella about this later. My attention is drawn to the children next. I smile as Cindy claims the Voice's gift.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Cindy says, "It's time for me to play The Maiden!" She giggles and asks Fenella and Mariya, "Will you two sing to represent The Voice?"

Before Mariya can answer, Sister Annie steps in and says, "Whoever sings will be in the picture. The Painter's gift will be a painting of The Maiden receiving Her gifts."

 

[Reaver]

The trail of dismembered limbs and blood lead us to a section of the city that is completely abandoned. All the buildings are boarded up and covered with strange-looking graffiti and wanted posters. It is eerily silent save for a strange yet undeniably catchy song playing loudly:

The two Jackals look at each other, smile crazily and give each other a high five.

 

[Ireth]

Diana

I applaud along with Vincent as Fenella claims her prize, and read the Sister's lips as she speaks with the girls. I think I should give a gift on behalf of the Mother, but what? Vincent at least can sing, as befits a follower of the Voice. But the Mother is the goddess of family, love and fertility. I've already taken Bee into my heart as a sort of niece -- what more can I offer her?

I shift slightly, resisting the urge to scratch my back. It's been itching ever since I tried on this new dress. Maybe there's something caught underneath it? Right around my shoulder blades... both of them, oddly enough.

Or maybe it's a warning from the Maiden. Watch your back, or you'll earn your wings.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((If any player wants to RP presenting a gift, you have creative license to do that. I'm going to keep the ceremony going while I prepare the map.))



Garden

Hanako performs a dance to represent The Spirit's gift of grace and beauty. Her moves are slow and deliberate, and while some worshipers of The Spirit are known for dancing drunk and in the nude, on Maiden's Day the dancer is sober and modest. As the dance intensifies, Hanako produces a pair of long, colorful ribbons--which may have been hidden in her wide sleeves, as the seem to have appeared from thin air. The ribbons follow her twirling motions leaving circles--then triple-loops--in the air. She leaps and flips and kicks and twirls to the music (played by some musicians who represented The Voice), a trail of ribbons tracing her every move.

Sandy sits in the place of honor, struggling to hold her applause until the end of the performance.

Beatrice turns to Cindy, signing to Diana as she speaks. "My sister, Belle, tried to teach me to be graceful like her, but I'm so awkward."

((Mariya would know that Belle is The Spirit. Claire is The Voice's 'earthly' name.))



Addison hands a plate of buffadillo meat to Jei.

"Eat well. I mean to stay hidden and keep one o' my pricier arrows at the ready. I trust you know that the girl on the throne's a pretender, but the one who ain't played The Maiden yet's the real deal." She points out Hanako. "The dancer knows it, too."

Addy takes a bite from her own plate.




Alley

The Jaundiced Jackal looks around at the carnage. "Is Olga still alive? Why would these idiots mess with her, and even let her get away with killing five of their own?" He ponders for a moment. "Or is it six? I can't recall how many dismembered limbs matched other dismembered limbs. Only found four heads, but there were definitely five torsos... I think."

The carnage shows that Olga used more than her fists. Anything she could pick up was a weapon. In addition to the broken bodies is broken class from smashed wine bottles, broken crates, and some large stones which aren't broken, but are painted with blood and gore. The second largest rock has broken teeth stuck in some cracks.

Bloody footprints scatter in every direction. Perhaps some of Olga's attackers ran away without having completed their objective. All of the footprints are distant, as if running. There is no trail that shows a clear indication of a struggle, no drag marks.

JJ spits on the street. "The ones who carried her off didn't step in pools of blood." Reaver knows that Olga towers over most men, and she's solid muscle. JJ himself is strong, but still he asks, "Who the hell could carry her?"




Dojo

The Dans bow to Riff and Shan Mai. "You have done well," says the eldest. "Please come back any time."

Riff and Shan Mai hear some commotion from a nearby alley.

((@JRF, Severin, feel free to RP what you hear, but you see nothing. If you hear voices, they are male.

Also, Shan Mai has a new move and Riff can use unarmed attacks with a penalty [%hit/damage]. At level 2, she can use unarmed attacks without the penalty.))

 

[SeverinR]

Shan Mai hears some loud voices in the alley and
moves to the alley(Not sure if it accessable from the dojo or if I must go around)
He stops short, looking over the carnage.
"How many fought against these that fell?"
"Olga? are you sure she was taken and did not walk away under her own power?"
"If She did this much damage, the smart thug would run away far and fast."
Shan Mai asks resting his hands, each on a sword, resting but ready.

 

[JRFLynn]

Jeisera

Meat tastes good. Viscerally ripping another hunk of flesh from the buffadillo hoof, I thank Addy for the delicious food and nod as she points out that Hanako also knows the truth. Riff is missing a fine feast and a grand party. Poor sis. There had been a raffle (clapping as Fenella won the prize), sketches, and song. Now mesmerized by the nun’s dance, I’m fully convinced that today is a day I won’t soon forget.

Riff

“Thank you Master Dan! I do, I do!” I say, bowing back. “Hopefully I won’t have to use my pixy-foo; but, if I do, thanks to you I will certainly kick some wicked rear!” On the way back Shan Mai and I pass an ally, but a grave commotion startles me. Sis would grump at me for my grim curiosity, but I’m a pixy. Meddling is what we do!

There’s gruff talking down the corridor, but my ears are too honed on the sound of anguished groans and faint pleads for death…apparently this Olga is quite scary when mad.

Quickly, hearing men approach, I clumsily dive into a nearby dumpster and hope they pass on without noticing me. Oh dear, oh dear, it smells awful in here…like damp, petrified skunk soaked in a festering bag of anchovies! Grimacing at the squishy goo beneath my hands and the dense, putrid funk inside this box of horrors, my rump really was sitting on a stuffed critter—a failed taxidermist’s vision, by the feel of it. Jeeei!

 

[Reaver]

REAVER

I look over at Pale Jackal and he nods. He and I have encountered and defeated a creature large enough to handle Olga with little trouble.


PALE JACKAL

Damn. What a mess. Normally I'd be impressed by this level of carnage but I have a bad feeling about who's behind this.

I look at JJ: "Remember those orcs with skulls where their pants should be?"

"The skullf**kers? It would take two dozen of them to take Olga down."

"Maybe," I reply, wishing that I'd killed that big bastard when I had the chance, "but they have a big brother."

 

[Ireth]

Diana

Beatrice signs to me, and I smile and sign back. You're lovely as you are, sweetheart.

I watch in awe as the fighting nun dances with enviable grace, and still ponder what on earth to give Bee in honor of the Mother. I wish I'd had more notice of this! I could do a sketch, but I don't want to seem like I'm copying Sister Annie. Maybe my love and protection will have to suffice.

 

[Noma Galway]

While the nun dances, I am thinking of what song I will sing for this. I smile at Cindy. "I need to ask the Princess something." I hop off her hand and up to Fenella's shoulder. In a quiet voice, I ask, "Are we singing together to represent my mother?"

 

[Ruby]

Fenella

Mariya hops back onto my shoulder and asks me if I want to sing with her to represent her mother.

"Yes, of course!" I reply. "But do I know the words and the tune? Should we have a rehearsal, my dear, sweet little muse?"

She looks so cute in her new clothes!

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

ALLEY

"Great," says JJ. "Bigger orcs is the last thing we need."

He says to Shan Mai, "I assume you're a friend of theirs? Well, they call me the Jaundiced Jackal. JJ for short. And if Olga could walk away, I'd think she'd find her way back to--what the hell?"

JJ clams up when he hears a clunking sound, which is followed by another the moment he silences himself. The jackal walks over to a large bin. Throwing caution to the wind, he swings the overhead lid open. Inside is a girl covered in garbage and leaves. She tried to remain silent, but a twitch of her wing confirms she's not a dead whore, as JJ first thought. Relieved to see the girl is not a corpse, it takes a moment for it to sink in: she has wings!

"Holy sh..." He turns to the others. "So orcs are bigger, fairies are bigger...?" To Riff, he extends a hand. "I know rats are bigger in this part of town. You might wanna get outta there, kid."



GARDEN

Addison laughs. With a mouthful of food, she says, "You really like buffadillo meat, don't you, girl!" She takes another very big bite. "The ones that almost gore you taste best. I still can't believe we took'im down unscathed!"

Cindy giggles in anticipation as Fenella and Mariya prepare for their performance.

As Hanako is finishing her dance, Vincent notices a boy studying the dancer's every move. He seems to appreciate the dance as much as the others, if not more, but his mind is focused only on the dance.

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

Hesitant, I take the strange fella's hand and clamber out of the garbage, shaking the leave out of my hair and peeling anchovies off my rump. What a relief! I immediately recognize Reaver, PJ, and Shan Mai beside this new friend named JJ--and here I thought there were baddies about. Though I'm not quite sure what's going on, I agree to help find this mysterious Olga lady. Perhaps my pixy-foo will come in handy after all?

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

A cool wind blows against my back, pushing my hair into my face. I shove it back with a sigh. When did it get so long? I really ought to get it trimmed. There ought to be a barber in this town somewhere.

As I look around, I notice a boy watching the dancing nun. I smile at the way he studies her every move; perhaps he's looking to learn her technique. Perhaps I should strike up a chat with him.

I move to the boy's side as Hanako bows and leaves the stage. "Graceful, isn't she? Are you interested in dancing yourself?" I hope it doesn't sound as though I'm offering to teach him. I can dance some steps well enough, but nothing like that.