Side One, Ep.2 "Double Dog Dare"

[SeverinR]

Shan Mai cleans his blades and replace them.
Then examines the bodies for anything useful. (Not that any had a collar or any pouch or bags. but just looking for anything of interest.)

[its all the rage, Cyclop-apes handbags. All the furry ladies have them.]

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Shan Mai finds nothing on the dead, but as he's searching the barkeep thinks he's eyeing the sake. "On the house," he tells the samurai.

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

This time, my durned magic worked, even if it tangled a durned dead ape! Triumphant, I flutter around until I land on Pidge's cannon. "Nice contraption, Pidge! It looks quite meddler-y to me. Mind If I hitch a ride for awhile?"

 

[Reaver]

REAVER

After cleaning the blade off my naginata, I approach the bar. "One wheat soda please Gary."


PALE JACKAL

I clean all the fur and viscera from my cestus and walk up to the bar. "I'll have a Caucasian minus the booze."

 

[Ireth]

Diana

When I touch Hanako, a green glow surrounds my hand, and Hanako's wounds begin to heal. I jerk my hand away in shock, and the healing stops. My eyes widen, and I touch Hanako's shoulder again. The healing continues.

I don't know how this is possible, but I'm certainly not going to complain. I remain still until the healing is complete, looking around for any sign of trouble. I hope the one-eyed woman doesn't mean us harm.

What the-- now my sword is glowing? What is this?

Vincent

My response to the barkeep is cut short by a crash from the other side of the wall. Thoughts from the others there confirm that Hanako is hurt, but alive. So is a mysterious one-eyed woman. I wonder who she is?

Looking at the others in this room, I see an odd purple aura around Pidge, Muziko and the Jaundiced Jackal. Why them and not the rest, I have no idea. I feel connected to them on a psychic level, beyond my usual skill as a mentalist. How very odd. The bond is weak... I wonder if it will strengthen if I focus on one of them at a time.

The rest of the party seem little concerned with the yellow-eyed men, some even so calm as to order drinks. Alcohol does not appeal to me right now. I look toward the wall dividing half our party from the rest. If there's a door leading to the other side, I'll find it and go through. If not, maybe one of the pixies can find a crack.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The barkeep serves drinks, though he's a bit confused when he pours PJ a milk and is pretty sure that's the only non-booze ingredient. When JJ sees berries sprout from Riff's vine, he tries one. "Mmm!" He picks a couple more and orders a sake to wash it down.

His wounds heal quickly as he munches on the berries.

Pidge offers Riff a ride. Muziko helps move the contraption while Pidge points out the finer details, asking, "Do you like the paint job on the cannon?" Suddenly, Muziko has an urge to leave her seat. She crawls through a mouse hole behind the bar.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Muziko returns a moment later asking, "Any of you happen to know a tall lady with one eye?"

JJ spits his sake, but is unable to answer due to a sudden coughing fit.

Muziko mounts her rocking horse asking, "Is that a yes?"

More cracks form around the mouse hole that Muziko crawled through. A THUMP makes another crack. Another TUMP makes another. The next sound is a loud crash as a large section of the wall crumbles apart. When the dust clears, JJ shouts, "Olga!"

If JJ seems to try a little too hard to keep a tough guy image, the guise is gone. He's as happy as the smiley face tattooed on his shoulder.

Olga looks a bit grumpy. "Those gods damned apes tried to make me their queen. They put a tiara on my head. It was humiliating." When she sees Fenella she adds, "Uh… I guess tiaras are made for two-eyed ladies."

Standing just behind Olga is Jeisera, followed by Diana and Hanako.

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

My pixy brain has a hard time taking in this strange menagerie of events, especially when a very large and muscular lady--with one eye I might add--bashes straight through the wall. I am relieved, however, to see that Jei, Diana, and Hanako are in good health.

"How horrid! Well, you don't have to worry about them no more!" Peeped Riff, fluttering her wings cheerfully. "The meanies had a taste of their own medicine, heehee!"

Jeisera

Judging from the dead apes scattered about, that sure is the truth.

"They sure got what they deserved, now their hunks of gorilla meat!" A smirk finds my face, pleased that we've triumphed once more over Holst and his chumps "...but, eh, yeh sure there wasn't somethin' nefarious afoot? These beasties were mucking about on Holst's behalf, after all."

"Seems strange to me, is all. Sure they weren't trying to turn yeh into a "demon" queen instead?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Olga replies, "Me? A demon queen? I have no idea what those apes had in mind for me."

The barkeep says, "Demon? Is that what the yellow eye is that keeps telling me to kill y'all? Um… not that I'm gonna."

The other three-eyes shift uncomfortably. The bar keep pours sake for himself and the others.

 

[Ireth]

Diana

I follow Olga out of the room, and sigh in relief when I see the apes are dead and the others are fine. I glance uneasily at the three-eyed men huddling behind the bar, but they don't seem inclined to attack. Even so, I'm glad to put some distance between them and me as I move toward Vincent.

Vincent

I nod as the barkeep speaks. "Yes, he is a demon. I'm glad you've found a way to resist him." I don't envy them in the morning, though.

Diana approaches me, and I smile at her. But it turns to a look of shock when I see the feathers emerging from her shoulderblades, poking through the back of her dress. That can't be -- she didn't -- did she?

Diana

Vincent looks at me in shock and horror. I look back in confusion, and quickly reach up to feel my forehead. Have I grown an extra eye? No... So what's the matter?

I read Vincent's lips, and my eyes widen too. My back...? I reach around to investigate with my fingers, and gasp in shock. Feathers! But that can't be! I know I took a hard blow up on the roof, but I didn't so much as glimpse Lady Death. I can't be a valkyrie!

My heart hammering, I look around for Bee. If anyone can tell me what's going on, it's got to be her.

 

[SeverinR]

Shan Mai backs away from the confusion, when he moves he notices his new sword has an aura about it, that he hadn't noticed before.

"Everyone beware, strange magics are occuring. Benevalent or not, I do not know." He announces looking at the sword at his hip.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Beatrice enters with Addison and Emma behind Her. She hears Shan Mai's commentary, and says, "Holst is making his followers stronger, so it's possible that my parents are doing the same. It's also possible that the demons will tempt you with empty promises." She looks at the three-eyed men. "The place you see with the shining plants and the sea of stars—that's the Hanging Gardens. Holst once lived there, daydreaming his life away until another child of gods found a way to tempt him."

Beatrice looks at Mariya and Riff. "I'm sorry to say, it is your brothers I speak of. Holst is forming an army. He's looking for me and"—She turns to Pidge.—"your parents. My sister is close. We should rest for the night and go after her tomorrow."

Olga doesn't know who Beatrice is, but she's impressed to see such a young warrior.

"Child, if you must rest, rest," the cyclops says bluntly. "I do not know how to solve these family issues you speak of, but I know where the one-eyed apes meant to take me. When I looked into those yellow eyes—yellow like yours…" Olga looks into the yellow eyes of the men behind the bar, then suddenly turns away in disgust. She mutters, "…apparently, I'm a mind reader."

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

As Olga speaks to the three-eyed men, I glimpse their thoughts and hers, and immediately wish I hadn't. I force myself to focus on the outside world, and Bee's words. The thought of the gods making us stronger to face our likewise strengthened foes is a heartening one. My eyes stray back to the feathers protruding from Diana's shoulderblades. Is that the gods' doing, too?

Another thought rises, sharp and unsettling, releasing a torrent of questions. If Diana is a valkyrie, dead or not, does that make her immortal? What will become of us if I grow old and die, while she stays as she is forever? Or has she simply gained the wings for as long as her natural life will last? And what if our union gives us children? Will they be winged too?

I sigh and run a hand over my face. The ways of gods are strange indeed.

Diana

Vincent's gaze strays to my sprouting wings, and I run my fingers lightly over the feathers. Will it hurt when the wings grow out in full, if I live long enough for that to happen? Will I molt at all? If I do, I think I should save the feathers. Arrows with valkyrie-feather fletching could come in handy. I picture such a shaft freezing the flesh it strikes.

I look at Vincent, seeing the worry and confusion in his face. What is he thinking of? Does he fear our marriage is no longer binding, that death has done us part? I run my thumb over my wedding ring. Maybe we should renew our vows, just in case.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Beatrice looks at Vincent, then with a startled look on Her face, she moves behind Diana.

"This, I can explain… to an extent. Lara's prayer to me over her loom enhanced my abilities. I didn't think I could give you wings in my mortal form! But then, your prayer was especially powerful and moving. Maybe I thought of you as worthy of being a valkyrie, but it was not my intention to force the wings upon you. All valkyries choose this. And of course, they get the wings when they die—and you're very much alive." She signs to Diana, Do you like the wings? It will take time for them to develop, but do you want them to?

 

[Ireth]

Diana

Bee's words assuage at least one of my worries. At least our wedding vows still hold. I look at her, reading Her lips and hands, then sign. I think... I might need some time to decide. Looking to Vincent, I hesitantly add, What are you afraid of?

Vincent

I read Diana's hands, then sign in answer. I just wonder what will become of us now. Are you still mortal, even with the wings? I think more wondering about possible half-valkyrie children can wait a while. Maybe when Diana and I are in private quarters.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Olga says to Beatrice, "Child, I don't quite understand who you are or what you are. This much I know: the demon who controls the apes seeks you." Olga leads the group outside the tavern and says, "The three-eyed men saw us leave together. When we part ways, child, you must do so behind my back."

Beatrice says, "It was never my intention to have people fight for me while I do nothing." Her tone is apologetic, making Her seem more child than goddess.

Addison and Hanako stand at Beatrice's side. Hanako says, "You are my goddess. I must to keep you safe. If the yellow-eyed demon can see you through ape eyes, people who fight for you may be in worse danger if you are in the fight."

Addison adds, "I hate to miss the action, but me arrows'll see you safe from any apes or three-eyes who think to hunt you down."

((An out-of-character confession: I'm purposely removing some NPCs from the final battle.))



Emma notices some smoke rising a few blocks to the north. "Is that Pink's place burning... or Brown's?"

Olga says, "Hopefully Brown's. I like Pink's place better."

((Final episode 2 map coming soon...))

 

[Ireth]

Diana

I sign to Bee, I swore to protect you, and I intend to keep my promise. Anyone who wants to seize you will have to come through me.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Beatrice signs, Thank you, Diana.


((Just another out-of-character note: Olga's leading the party to where the action is. Ireth has two characters, so she's taking one out of the fight as it makes more sense for her to guard Beatrice. I'll attempt to balance the battle based on who's around to fight it, so this won't penalize the rest of you in any way. In fact I let players with two characters know they can afford to keep one with Bee for RP reasons, such as it making more sense for Diana to stick with Beatrice.))

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

I look to Jei, flashing my best puppy eyes. "Can I go too? I won't be meddlesome. Much." Flitting dust around as I hop into her palm, I'm only joshing. We both know Miss Bee is the key to this frightful conundrum, and protecting her is what's most important. More so than revenge.

Jeisera

Raising a brow, it's been awhile since Riff looked so determined. Though I may be a touch overprotective at times, I know Bee and Riff will be in good hands with Diana, Hanako, and Addy watching over. "Go you, and watch that rump of yours. I mean it." Giving a wan smile, as it's hard to let go considering the mayhem that's surely ahead, I turn to the rest.

"Going off, are yeh? Well, do take care, Miss Bee." I implore, throwing Riff into flight. The faerie spins as she goes, playfully landing atop Pidge's odd contraption. "Me Sis and I, there's never been any doubt. We'll fight to keep you safe, no matter the cost." As I say this heartfelt truth, my mind drifts back to our old home. Holst took everything from us once before. Now he's bent on doing so again. His wicked eye is fixed on our new friends, corrupting all he crosses, and destroying innocent lives without remorse. Looking around, we're the only ones who have the gall to stand up to him! Miss Bee and the other living gods are our one hope in this dark world, that much is certain. Anyone who tries to take that away is gonna feel the sting of my arrows! "Woodsman guide you, and good luck! I believe we'll find each other again!"

Hearing Emma's words, a glower finds my face. Pink's shop better not be burning...

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I smile as I read Diana's hands. I'd expect nothing less from my she-wolf. I move to embrace her, mindful of her tender shoulderblades. I kiss her forehead, then look into her eyes. "Be safe."

Diana

I read Vincent's lips, then kiss them gently in return. There's no telling what we might face, here or elsewhere. Safety really isn't a guarantee. Even so, I'll do my best.

Taking a deep breath, I step away from Vincent and turn back to Bee, Addison and Hanako. If we're going to get Bee to safety, we shouldn't stick around and wait for more danger to find us.