Side One, Ep.2 "Double Dog Dare"

[Ireth]

Vincent

Well, that's all kinds of disconcerting. I shrug and turn away, seeing my venture as fruitless. "We should tidy up here if we can, then find the others, I think."

 

[Noma Galway]

I do what I can with my water spell to try to quench the flames, though I can't create much.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

​Garden

Addison congratulates Jeisera on reviving The Maiden. Esmerelda and Sister Patty organize a "bucket brigade" to help Mariya with the flames. Of the shrine, Esmerlda simply says, "It only landed on those who deserved to be crushed. Perhaps there was a bit of divine intervention. Oh! And my cherry trees didn't burn at all. One more miracle for the night."

Grateful parents rush over to Diana, Vincent and Jeisera. Those who speak to Fenella and the women around her curtsy first. Cindy and Sandy rush over to Mariya, and Beatrice is with them. All three are joyful. Cindy and Sandy are happy to be alive, and Beatrice appears to have been accepted as more child than goddess in the eyes of the children. As the other girls flock over, parents are already discussing what their children reported to them. That Beatrice could truly be The Maiden doesn't seem far-fetched to those who say their daughters drop dead, then rise again, but none of the adults speak to Beatrice directly.

Sister Patty invites everyone to a small temple dedicated to The Gardener. Father Ben comments on some leaves that are still attached to his outfit: "I guess I'm dressed appropriately." He goes on, "I'll help the townsfolk cope with what just happened. As for the rest of you, thanks for everything. The ceremony was amazing, thanks you your efforts, and on top of that you stayed close to the children." To Jei and Addy, he adds, "You knew The Maiden needed to be protected, but you did right saving the little ones first. I fear their souls would have passed on had the shots been fired the other way around."

Father Ben takes Beatrice by the hand. He says a prayer, "Lady Death, before me stands The Maiden and Her protectors. Know them well. When you see them, please point them to the door you see fit: the dark door, the light door, or the same one they use to enter your realm."

He turns to Fenella and Mariya. "You fell as I did, but the magic arrow saved you. You have not passed through Lady Death's door. Should any of you fall as battles become difficult, this blessing may allow you to return, provided that you remain true to your quest to protect The Maiden. Still, do not take this blessing lightly. I can tell you that I am not the man I was minutes ago. I cannot guarantee that you will return unscathed, should Lady Death deem you worthy of sending back."

Beatrice spends some more time with the twelve girls who dies with her, Brian the deaf boy, and some other curios boys. She gives goodbye hugs when the families agree to accompany Father Ben.

"I need to stay with these warriors," she explains to Cindy and Sandy, "but thank you for treating me as you did. I had fun."

"Me too," says Sandy, "even when we were dead!" Sandy doesn't notice how her comment raises eyebrows. "We'll grow up together, right Bee?"

"No. You'll grow up, but I'll stay like this." Beatrice adds, "Say prayers to my mother. If you want me to attend your wedding, She'll remind me."

Cindy rubs her eyes. Her cheeks are damp, but she laughs at the thought of marriage. "I don't want to think about boys yet!"

Beatrice glances at Brian. "No... not yet."

Hanako bows and introduces herself, then suggests going to the dojo.



((Will post maps in a few hours... just wanted to bring closure to the garden scene before throwing more enemies at you. For RP, feel free to post any reactions that happen within the timeframe of this post.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Alley

PJ and Reaver find the fat slobs surprisingly skilled at anticipating attacks. Perhaps the third eye makes up for what the men lack physically. JJ manages to drop two men, as does Shan Mai. Riff attempts to call forth more magic roots, but the spell is too weak. Her seeds do nothing.

There is a large crowd in the dark alley, but most of the crowd passes by. Still, five large men lumber into the light. One attempts to hurl a crate, but only manages to hurt his back. Another grabs Riff. Reaver is struck by the man who dodged his attack. A thinner man hops out of a barrel, but when he throws a punch, he raps his knuckles on the staff of Reaver's naginata. The man in blue waves his hand rapidly, as if to shake off a little pain.



Dojo
The Dans inform Hanako and the others that Riff and Shan Mai heard some commotion and headed toward the "Red-Lantern District."

Dan IV looks at Beatrice. "Are you sure you want to bring a kid there?"

Dan III says to Vincent, "I wouldn't bring any ladies to that place."

Beatrice says, "Thank you, sir, but I am a shield maiden in training. I must trust my skills, and I also trust the adults who protect me."

Dan V gives her a thumbs up.


Red Lantern District

Addison keeps her eye on The Maiden, but as the child-goddess passes the brothel, she grimaces. "It don't feel right seeing you near that window, knowing who you are, me Lady."

Hanako shakes her head. "Why they must to fornicate so close to window?"

"You follow The Spirit, sis. I didn't think you'd mind."

"This not what Spirit about. Nakedness is free. Ladies play in window like slave."

Any hope of discussion is cut short as men lumber out of the alley. A wino shatters his bottle against the bricks when he sees Vincent and the ladies. A man whose belly and jowls bounce with each breathy step waddles toward Fenella. He licks his lips at the sight of Mariya. Vincent recognizes the balding drunk coming straight at him.

((PM to Ireth.))

Spoiler: answer to WHERE'S REAVER?

It's hard to tell, but he's the upper left dark blue silhouette. Both maps look into the same alley, so the silhouettes are whatever characters are lined up with the alley on the other map. The building on the left side of one map is on the right side of the other map.

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

At the sight of the Holst-infected men shambling through the alley, my hands clench into fists. Rage boils in my gut at the sight of one man who comes right for me. I've seen him before, in a vision. This is Brian's father. He'll pay for what he did. And I'm not going to let him get the first blow.

I'm losing my edge! No Angel Fire for me that time. I brace myself for another blow, eyes narrowed.

Diana

Drunken men lumber toward us, each of them sporting a hideous yellow eye in the middle of his forehead. I strike at the nearest one to me...

...but miss completely. Those eyes are so disturbing, it's hard to concentrate! That must be Holst's intention. I grit my teeth, resolving not to let any demon get the best of me. For my own sake, for the group's, and for Bee's.

 

[JRFLynn]

Jeisera

I wildly look around, rife with desperation. "RIFF?!" Could've sworn I heard her shrieking as we bolted down the district corridor, gut churning at the thought of her in danger. In the blink of an eye my bow is knocked, glowering at the nearest three-eyed bozo. "What did you do with her, you grubby duffs?!"

Knowing these brain dead minions weren't gonna give an answer, I resolve to take them down. Hard.

A raven soars, striking the one after Fenella and Mariya right in the third eye.



(nonlethal attacks, if possible, but she is shooting arrows!)

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

JJ hurls his barrel...

"I'm throwin' rocks tonight!" The barrel cracks a skull, and bowls over the three men behind his target. "You guys are dead in the water."


* * *


Beatrice sighs at the sight of the yellow eyes.

"You've chosen to become demon's tools."

She hurls a javelin into the third eye of a fat man.

"May my father have mercy on your souls."

Hanako finishes Bee's opponent with a back-fist and punch from the air.

She strikes the thin man next to him with a sidekick-back-kick combination. He doubles over, but remains standing.

Addison aims her bowgun, but softly repeats Hanako's words. "Ladies playing in windows...?"

Curiosity gets the better of her, and the Huntress accidentally pulls the trigger--"Sh't."--and shoots a lantern. Blushing, Addison shouts to the fat man in red as sparks rain down on him, "That's the only warning shot you'll be getting, so bugger off or me arrow'll put out your flame as it did that lantern!"

She steals another glance at the window, grinning as she reloads.

 

[Noma Galway]

I stare, but as everyone starts attacking I figure it would be a good idea for me to do the same. I sing, but my voice is shaking from how much I used it in the garden.

I close my mouth. Perhaps a brief pause before I try again will do me good.

 

[Reaver]

REAVER

I've had enough of these slovenly curs! Aiming to decapitate my foes, I strike the dreg directly in front of me as hard as I can:

PALE JACKAL

This bum keeps dodging me! WTF is going on?

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Reaver hit both enemies! The only one left is the guy carrying Riff. Shan Mai can attempt to save her, and Riff can try to resist, though she's likely to fail.))

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

Things went dark for awhile, the smell just ghastly. The befouled fellow that surprised me hadn't bathed in weeks, or months, and my delicate nose was certainly aflame. "Blech! Hands off me, if you please!"

I flailed my arms around, poking him in the big-yellow eye by mistake. "Oh, sorry!"

 

[SeverinR]

Shan Mai
Charges after the one holding Riff.
With a mighty chop to the torso.

The strike is powerful.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

JJ's heavy object and Reaver's heavy weapon hit hard, allowing both warriors to take out several opponents at once. Riff is not powerful enough to escape her attackers grip, but as she flails her flexible limbs, her big toe ends up poking her attacker in the eye. As the fat man drop the fairy, Shan Mai sees an opportunity. He charges forward with both blades, penetrating the soft flesh at the waist. Both blades cut in opposite directions, severing the man at the torso.

When all is quiet, the samurai hear the sounds of battle through the dark alley. Familiar female voices call out to enemies, confirming that the shadows seen through the alley are comprised of both friend and foe.



((You can RP moving through the alley, conversation, etc. if you want to. Shan Mai can sheathe his blades as he passes through, so his next attack can be a quick-draw. I'll give Ruby the rest of the day to post Fenella's attack, then have everyone on one map and battle-ready next time I post. Those from this map will start from within the dark alley.))

 

[Ruby]

Fenella

I lift up my huge golden sword and start striking at the evil, drunken men. Swish, swish, swish, goes the golden dancing sword as it slices its way to victory.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

After Jei, Bee and Hanako each take out three targets, Fenella single-handedly cuts down three more. Riff and the men of the party rush through the alley, prepared to overwhelm the remaining enemies… or what remains of them now.

The man by the barrel tries to bowl over the men as JJ did, but when he lifts it there is a snap coming from his back and a farting sound. The barrel doesn't budge. The man in red tosses his bottle, but it sails past Riff. There is a burst of flames on the wall, but no one is harmed. The man in green strikes Fenella in the kidney, but the princess is unharmed. But when Brian's father head-butts Vincent, he feels it.

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I grunt in pain as Brian's father headbutts me, and swing my fist in retaliation.

That's more like it!

Diana

I charge forward and Shield Bash the man by the barrel.

 

[Noma Galway]

I try to sing again for the lightning, but again, my voice breaks mid-note.

This time, though, I hold the note. Hopefully I can raise it to a better one.

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

"Why thank you, Shan Mai! That was scary!" I gratefully exclaim, whilst whimsically navigating through guts and garbage. There's a faint light at the end of the corridor, as well as both familiar and not so familiar faces. I do, however, see a set of conspicuous buffadillo horns poking from somewhere amid the throng.

Jeisera

I send another raven soaring at the one who gave Vincent a nasty thump.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Addy, Bee, Hanako, JJ))

Beatrice hurls a javelin at the one fat man remaining. Addy fires her arrow at the wino, but barely hits him. However, even grazing him is enough to get him to drop his bottle. He dies screaming as flames from his own bottle consume him.

"Uh… it was just a normal arrow," says Addy. Before anyone can say more, there is a huge explosion. In addition to the billowing smoke are nine more men carrying bottles in the same threatening manner as the man Addison took down.

Hanako rushes forward as the men pour out, but it's not the men she's after. It's the women (and any man or men they might be entertaining. Even though Hanako is devoted to the goddess of nakedness, she's still a nun and is trying not to look too hard).

"Out, fornicators!" she says as she crashes through the window.

Spoiler: Red Winos

The RED WINOs will always carry "fire wine." Note that Addison caused the wino to drop his bottle, which burst into flames as it hit the ground.

Fire bad.

The winos that don't wear red carry broken empty bottles for stabbing. They're less dangerous.

((Any player can act. The enemies used their turn blowing up the wall. JJ is the only NPC who can act using his roll of 13, but I'll hold him back until several players get a chance to post. You can attack a red wino or help Hanako rescue prostitutes.))

 

[Ireth]

Diana

I decide to follow Hanako through the window and help the prostitutes and their clients evacuate. I don't want to see innocents harmed here.

Vincent

While Diana helps those inside the building, I focus on the men emerging through the broken wall. "You like playing with fire, do you? Here, have some more!"

I let the Fireworks spell charge, and pray I won't be hit before I can let it go.