Nov 18 23:20:51 105 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Wed Nov 18 23:20:51 105 PA. Kingsdale - Plaza Park
The Kingsdale Plaza Park stretches out to the west approximately sixteen-hundred feet until it meets with a residential area. The ground is covered with sporadic grass and wild flowers. Deep craters from some long-ago weapons fire cover this area of the park making the ground uneven and in some places difficult to walk. Nonetheless, this area has seen extensive use by the people of Kingsdale. Bike trails criss-cross the area and one of the craters has been filled with water where duck and other water birds come. These waterfoul seem to have quite a good living too, with people almost always present to feed them.
Here and there are stands of conifer trees that people often sit beneath to read and otherwise forget the trials and tribulations of city life. The exception to this is during the night though, and nobody comes to the park after dark unless they are either foolhardy in the extreme or looking for trouble.
The wind blows through the area unhampered and on good days it carries with it the laughter of children feeding ducks and the sweet scent of pine and wild flowers.
Benches and places to sit are also scattered through the park area, and to the south is a Pavillion of five statues -- all previous dictators and people of note to Kingsdale's past.
Rasputin sits on a bench, his hands resting on his cane. He is looking up into the sky, softly whistling to himself some folk song. The evening is very still at the moment, with a clear, clear sky. The moon is full in the sky and the stars twinkle with delight.
Bair wanders in from the graveyard. He seems to be covered up well with a long coat. His eyes seem to stare down and he looks about as he enters the part. He shivers in the cold as he looks at the moon. He smiles as he hears the whistling and starts heading over that way.
Rasputin was enjoying the evening, and the very clear night as the moon rose high in the sky. But his soft begins to change in tone and melody, from a light hearted song to one of sorrow and pain.
As the song which Rasputing is whilstling changes, the fog which has been haunting the city for the past several days starts to roll in with the soft breeze from the river to cover the city. Rasputin soon finds himself in a murkey soup of the fog.
Bair wanders in from the graveyard. He is well covered in a large caot as he walks through the fog. He is wearing his fancy light changing goggles. He holds a flashlight in his hands as he walks. A hum from a Sonic pulsar can be heard as he walks. He heads over to Rasp.
Some bushes off to one side of one of the park's main paths shudders. A head pops out of the shrubs and Vargus looks back and forth around his small little area. His eyes go wide at the fog, as it rolls in and starts to surround everything. He growls a little and drops back down inside the shrubfortress.
Soft steps crunch on the path for those listening past hte sound-dampening of any fog. A slender figure that very few have seen around of late comes down the path with a small frown at the pea-soup fog rolling in. Her tail flicking in irritation as is appears Raina has returned to Kingsdale.
Rasputin continues to whistle his soft durge softly. He ponders this thick fog and if he should get out of it, but instead he just waits in it wondering what will come of it.
Raina blinks as she catches the Dragonese spoken. Her attention shifting towards the speaking bush. One hand falling to the butt of the pistol at her side she edges towards it. Well, more towards where she heard the voice in truth. Dratted fog and such.
>From deeper in the park, out of the soupy darkness, comes someone. A few moments of mad thrashing through some nearby brush precede his arrival. It's a young man who comes stumbling from the choking, tangled greenery. Upper middle class by the looks of him and his clothing/grooming. Though he looks anything but respectable at the moment, his hair and clothing mussed and dishevled. With his eyes wide, face twisted into a mad grimace and the obvious presence of blood on his clothing there is an obvious wrongness about him. Bloodied hands are clenched together, closed in a tight, covetous grip. "Mine.. mine.." Low muttered between harsh breaths as he wheels about, turning back the way he's come without having noticed those here.
Rasputin looks behind him, his left hand on his cane's promel, his right hand sliding under his coat. He looks to Bair and cants his head slight, "Da, you are, I am, and whatever else is flowing out there in the evening. Da?"
Bair grins at Rasputin never understanding the man. He turns hearing the man speak mine over and over again and starts to head to him. He yells out to the man as he closes his eyes. "Sir you ok?? Sir???"
The chrome eagle flaps up into the air and starts to peck down at Vargus. Eventually Vargus stumbles out of the shrubs, the bird shifts about and then lands on the man's right shoulder, chittering something again, Vargus shrugs, causing the bird to bounce. "What? No, I don't know him, why?" another chitter "Oh, he's as crazy as I am, is he? er.. I. Wait... who's crazy?" Vargus looks back and forth and then spies the other man stumbling out of the bushes, and tilts his head slightly to the side.
Raina shakes her head at something. Then turns her attention away from the Crazy. Her ears flattening a bit as she turns towards the shouting of 'Sir you ok?? Sir???'. She mutters mostly to herself, "Gads, I'm glad I'm no longer an officer." A side-long glance is cast back at Vargus as she shakes her head again, "Dawn untill dusk, probably to keep the suckers away."
The voices of the nearby people dawn on the man a moment after Bair speaks toward him. The reaction being a sudden tension and another wheel about, this time to face the gathered people. His expression bewildered for a moment as he glances around between each with flicks of his eyes before settling on Bair. The approach prompts the young man to jerk back two steps, lips twisting into a feral grimace. "Stay away! You can't have it," he spits viciously, his cupped hands pulled in tight against his chest in a protective manner. His eyes darting erratically from person to person, as if trying to keep tabs on all four of the nearby folk. "Don't think I won't kill you.. kill you all like the others. I will.. its mine!"
Rasputin turns his head and looks to the individual spouting off about killing someone. He cants his head. He doesn't rise from the bench, just leaving his right hand in his coat pocket. He eyes this individual and waits. He is a bit tense, but focusing on the person.
Bair's voice is calm as he smiles at the man. "Worry not I will not steal it But what do you have?" He seems to make his way closer to the man til he is with in 10 feet of him. "Just stay calm no one wants any more viloince any more."
Vargus emerges fully from the bush and moves out onto the path. His clothes are unkempt, as is his hair, and not from the recent contact with the park plants. His eyes are blood-shot and dark-rimmed, as if he has not slept in days. He seemed interested in what the newcomer had to say, but looses interest, "...he's not had the nightmares. He hasn't seen the Boneyard. He's just crazy... he hasn't Seen." he trails off, mumbling again in Dragonese.
Raina hmms softly as she approaches where it seems most everyone is gathering to talk to the bloody and crazy man. Her lower lip caught in her teeth as it seems that magic users are not on her most comfortable to be around list.
The night brings not only chills but the absent individual who probably got lost in his own Museum. The faith tooting Rune slowly makes his way here, though he doesn't seem as absentminded as he has in the past. With his glasses on and his step firm he slowly comes to investigate the fog and craziness it has brought. With the moon light he might be easy to spot when his glasses reflect it. Not yet spotting the crazy man, Rune makes his way deeper into the park. Perhaps this is safer searching than the Dregs, to why Rune has chosen this night to visit.
The man snarls.. really snarls at Bair as he gets closer. "No.. get away.." His voice rising dangerously. Of course, with Bair distracting him, the man won't notice when whatever he has clutched in his hands starts to glow, the slight of it muted but visible between the man's clenched fingers. In the same moment, anyone with a sense for things magical will feel a sudden surge of power. A high surge, such that even those without such senses will feel a prickle after a few moments.. hairs standing up and the like. It'll be when that strange tingle comes that the man notices. And gasps, hands flying open as if shoved outward by a powerful force. He stumbles back as what he held hangs in midair. A modestly sized, ovular stone that turns lazily as it hangs in midair. The stone is dark and perfectly smooth, softly pulsing from within with a faint, violet light. The tangible sense of power continues to wax higher.
Rasputin cants his head at the reaction to the gem. Now he stands up from the bench, his hand still in his jacket. He takes a few steps to the left, not getting closer to the man with the glowing gem. He looks to it but makes sure to not look too long at the floating gems. He holds his cane firmly in his left hand.
Bair watches the man fall and his eyes never leave the gem. With a flick of his wrist he summons a forcefield around it and himself. He watches it closely as he moves closer to touch it. He opens his hand to reach out to pluck it from the air. His hand seems to be pushed back as he gently reaches for it.
Vargus's head whips around toward the gem as its power first starts to build. The eagle on his shoulder also cants its head in the object's direction, twisting back and forth to peer at it. Vargus' eyes narrow at the thing and he moves closer to where it hovers, "..it's not part of them. Not part of the hordes. Not part of the undead. But what.. what whatwhatwhat." He may not even realize he's speaking outloud. He stops his approach about thirty feet or so from the gem and starts to walk around it in a slow circuit.
Raina snorts softly at the crystal floating there. Unless the forcefield is vislble she's not awair of that either. Though her reaction to the whole shoving away and the creepy fur-lifting energies from the thing is to clear leather, so to speak. Her pistol appears in her hands as she fall back into a half-crouch. Tail flicking in more than a little annoyance as she tries not to snarl at the situation.
Rune slowly makes his way towards the spot where the Dwarf can be found. "..interesting night.." This said as Rune keeps his eyes on this floating gem, and in a low voice out of the darkness.
The man rights himself and stares at the floating gem for the moment that it is openly visible before Bair's field of force comes into being. A sense of panic comes to the man as he charges at the barrier without obvious thought to do so. Perhaps crowded out by the blind panic. "No! Mine!" Cried out as he collides with painfully audible force, battering at it with his fists. All of which has no impact on the gem itself, building it's power over moments until.. There is no sound.. no visual show of it, but the 'burst' of that building power is felt by everyone. Like passing through a bubble that doesn't burst when touched, the sensation rolling over the body like a wave. There is a strange moment of disorientation. A moment where the world seems to fade out. Sight, sound and touch all going utterly dead for a moment before existence kicks back into gear.
Only.. everything has changed. Darkness and fog are gone. The park.. gone. Instead, the quartet will find themselves in, of all things, what has the looks of an arabian palace. Some manner of grand sitting room. Rather than standing, all are sitting in repose upon clusters of rich cushions with crystalline goblets of fine wine close at hand. They will see themselves in fine, period clothing, their bodies not their own.. most obviously for Raina herself as she will see herself as a man when looking at herself. So too their possessions will not be at hand. Even the crazy guy will be there.. though when looking to each other, you see the new form they hold now, you can sense who is who by some indescribable sense. Around them, perhaps a dozen other men of varying shapes sit and chat animatedly. Around them scantily clad girls of fine appearance and graceful, carefully trained manner attend to the whims of the gathered.
The room itself is quite airy, one wall open to the outdoors with only a series of tall columns and hanging gauzy curtains. that soften the light that enters the room. On a raised dais before this open area is a man who is obviously important from the rich, gem laden nature of his garb to the decorum in his mannerisms. A thin man in dark robes sits next to him, leaned in just a bit to murmur into his ear lowly, both surveying the assembled.
For those who find themselves in this place, there will be a strange dual sense of identity. They will know who they were, but so too they will know who they are here. A mix of governors and lords from provinces in the grand empire that is ruled by the important looking man on the dais, with his advisor being the man murmuring to him. They've all been called here for an important announcement, now imminent after the full meal that had been served and cleared away not more than ten minutes ago. Given the recent rumors of dirty dealings in the royal family, all are eager to hear what he has to say.
Rasputin looks around the very different and new setting. AS well as the fact now he is not dressed in his usual suit, nor does he have his usual cane. His causes a bit of concern to creep slowly accross Rasputian's face. His hands now fold into each othe and he prepairs for the next event which may drive him to take action.
Bair looks around and wonders what the hell is going on. He starts to slowly move about and looks at the goblet in his hand. He listens carefully and tries to learn something about his suroundings. His eyes seem to close as his hair raises just a bit and flows about. His eyes show puzzlement as he feels completely lose and confused.
Raina hmms softly at the goblet in her/his hand, then sighs and glances over to the dancing girls. Perhaps picking out an outfit for later? Perhaps not as her/his attention shifts back to the others in the room as if taking stock.
Vargus's eyes narrow, and blink hard, then open again. An eyebrow is raised and he sits up straighter on his cushion. He looks up at his right shoulder, and nods his head a little, then tilts a little to the side and a slow smile spreads over his lips. He settles into his assigned seat and takes a sip of wine, then reaches out to the table and picks up a few dates, one of which he pops into his mouth.
Rune is lucky enough to be near the essence that is Rasputin. Turning to look at him from his cushion, but trying to remain unnoticed by any Rune says in a low voice, "..this is Earth, somewhere in the Middle East as humans referred to it then, centuries before current time.." Why this man trusts the once Dwarf is only guess, for they really have never been seen in public. Though, Rune as he finishes speaking starts to investigate the scene, and trying to notice if there are any signs of who people are.
With the activity that rolls about the five, none seem to notice the oddities in their fellows as some react with disorientation. And perhaps a minute will pass for them to get acclimated before the man upon the dais lifts his hand. The din of conversation starts to dip almost at once, slowly fading away as final words are exchanged, eyes turning towards the man.. the Sultan, as all would know with a moment of thought, the second consciousness providing small tidbits like that from time to time.
"Welcome, welcome my fine vassals and supporters," he says, his voice rich and strong, reaching out to all corners of the room without need of augmentation. "As many of you know, there have been many rumors and concerns when it comes to my rule. All of which I intent to see addressed here, this day." He smiles, a broad expression that is at the same time inviting and vaguely distressing. A brief whisper of talk comes up then, some heads turning or tilting together during the brief pause in the Sultan's speech.
Bair speaks in a voice that sounds like Raina, "Well aint that a bit of some strange stuff," He ponders for a second. "So any idea way we are in this middle east and why my goblet has something in it besides some brandy?" He smirks a bit. He looks at the man speaking, "So Please go on Great Sultan sir."
Rasputin frowns with great displeasure, he looks around the room as the words of Rune filter into his ears. He notices he has some sort of crest on his tunic, but has no idea what it means or even if it is little more than an oversized floor mat. He does not like this at all. He quietly says, "Da, Old garb, from an old world. What are we doink here. What was that flash, da?" He looks to Rune or whoever spoke to him. He doesn't know for sure it is anyone he even knows.
Vargus completes the mastication of the fruit in his mouth and seems to cheerily reach for another and he freezes. His eyes go wide and flick around, and then narrow to small points, as if in concentration. He is an opulantly dressed man, perhaps a little rounder then most, with a healthy assortment of gems mounted on rings, and earrings. A large curved blade with a ruby in the pommel sits at his belt, but it seems mostly for show. His little panic attack now concluded, he leans back against his girth and pops another date in his mouth, breathing forced to slow as he listens to the sultan's words.
Raina's head comes around to study the Sultan. Lips pursed she just listens, almost fitting into the persona of the body she's sharing. Simple tastes of someone more used to the field of battle over the field of politics. Chin lifting slightly as a hand rises to rub at the chin in thought.
Rune seems oddly at ease with the situation, nor does he seem to take any notice to the change of body. Odd. But, he does take note of the speaker, and does his best not to look out of place. For those that jump and wave their hands, will cause enough attention to probably go straight to the prisons.
A few of the men near Bair, who aren't amongst the 'travelers'(is that what they are?) give him an odd glance or two, but only briefly as the Sultan continues to speak, ignoring the chatter. "Though you have all been quite discreet about it, I know you are all some of more.. concerned vassals, which is why I have invited you here to see that your concerns are addressed." He leans forward slightly as he states, "As ruler of these lands, I can hardly have my rule questioned."
That man that came with them? He's been sitting there in a strange state of catatonia. Not quite gone, but his eyes are almost blank as he, in the shape of a slender, stringy noble of modest garb and ornaments, stares about himself in a state of unhinged wonder.
That aside, this most recently proclamation causes some discontent amongst those here. The talking resumes, a few of the men gaining a sense of fight or concern about their expressions. It will be about then that all gathered will start to feel a strange, itching sensation in the throat. Something that slowly builds to a low, inflamed burning over the next few moments. Regardless of the precise nature of this place, the sensations will feel real as life.
Vargus clears his throat and reaches for his wine again, then pauses and turns to eye the sultan. "Your emminence, I am certain that my own loyalty could not be in question, as much support as my merchant house has sent to your just and noble rule." he shifts a little in his seat, a little uncomfortable, and now sweating a bit.
Rune starts to cough, and grasps at his throat as it starts to burn. Turning he look at Vargus to see if this has any effect.
Raina sighs softly as she/he shakes their head and lifts a hand to the throat. "Eunuchs or women resort to poisons, not Sultans. They usually hire someone to slip a dagger into someone's back."
Rasputin is still looking around and trying to figure out what the hell is going on. He watches everyones interactions and stays quiet for now. He keeps his hands close together and says nothing for the moment.
The Sultan turns his eyes towards Vargus and gives that strange smile again.. inviting and unnerving. "Do not think.. not any of you.." His head turns, casting his eyes across the gathered as he speaks, "..that I am blind to those who would exploit even the slightest moment of relaxation in my rule." By then, it has become obvious what is happening. As the Sultan has spoken, others show signs of the same discomfort then pain that comes to the others. Some succumb quicker or simply haven't a thought towards action as their breaths become labored, then choked off entirely. The poison that had laced the rich feast before inflaming the throat to the point of sealing the airway entirely.
The results for the crazed man obvious enough as he's one that succumbs quickly. Only now his hands clutch about his own throat as his throat swells shut. A true sense of fear rises in him, eyes rolling crazily as his chest heaves and bucks in a futile attempt to breathe. Short, choking sounds are all that emerge as he falls back, the clawing movements he makes at his own throat growing weaker by the moment as life steadily ebbs from his eyes.
And so it will be for all here. Those few who start to rise, as if to take action against the Sultan.. or perhaps flee will find a hidden cadre of armed guards emerging from the gauzed balcony behind the Sultan. Coming in through the doors that lead from this room. Though they only take action to prevent departure or injury to the Sultan himself, giving no swift death to any. Initial cries of agony or dismay are quickly choked off, the halting sounds that follow slowly fading away as each man succumbs. Some almost resigned while others rage in a futile final effort.
How a man(or woman) meets the end is defined by them alone and a wide array of ways are laid out in the scene before them.
Rune slumps to the floor gasping and then shuttering as his body slowly runs out of breath. No Kirk scene, just a simple death.
Raina managed to rise at least partway from the cushions. The one hand still clutching at throat as the poison ravages at it's will. A snarl of rage and distrust showing strong enough that one might even expect fur and hackles to show. Before slumping to one knee, then falling forward face-first.
Vargus takes gasping breaths with what little air he has left, his face turning blue, then purple as his tongue swells. One hand claws at his throat in a feable attempt at.. well, doing anything. His right hand drops to his belt and pulls the bejeweled dagger, which he then flips in his hand and hurls at the Sultan. the last bit of exersion the only energy his body had remaining, as he drops backward, eyes rolling back into his head and goes still.
Rasputin blinks and starts to focus on himself, wonder how he has been poisoned yet not eaten anything himself. What is going on, "Net! Net!" He looks around and begins to cast a spell, slowly gathering the magical energy to himself...
Rasputin coughs as his magical energy just won't come. It just doens't come, "NET!!!"
A strong memory, one's death can be. For all the world will fade out and be replaced with a cold darkness that clogs the senses. Only, it isn't supposed to return, is it? But it does come to be that the world returns to them all slowly. Slowly, with the muzzy, disjointed thoughts of one waking for a deep sleep. All will find themselves fallen where they stood before the strange pulse overtook them. The park.. and the strange lingering fog returned. Nothing will be missing, though held objects will have fallen to the ground when they all dropped. Another object that now lies on the ground, seeming utterly inert is the ovular stone. The glow gone, the sense of magic from it no longer present. The only ones who don't wake will be Bair and the crazed man, both laying unresponsive upon the ground. But a quick check of them would show they still live.
And fresh in the back of each mind will be the memory of dying, as real as a memory. Yet they will find themselves unscathed in the now. Not even a tickle in the throat.
Rune slowly stands and takes in a deep breath. Looking at Rasputin and then the others. Walking over towards the Stone, he says in a soar tired voice, "..this needs to be taken and stored for study, till we can find out what it is.." With that he takes in a deep breath and looks around. HIs eyes red and pained, but it seems that death or this type of transformation is nothing new to him.
Rasputin ponders a bit, "Net." He says one more time as he looks around. He shudders a bit, as his right hand double checks various things inside of his jacket. He walks over with a *click* *click* of his cane and looks at the dull gem on the ground. He narrows his eyes and looks at it carefully.
Vargus slowly pushes himself to a seated position, next to him the large metalic eagle has since been pecking at his head. He rubs his sore scalp, and glares at the bird, shaking his head a little. "Not sure what that was, but when did I become a playground for damn mental invasion? First the nightmares, now this..." He pushes himself to his feet and walks over toard the others standing around the now inert stone. "Any idea what that was?" He seems more lucid now then he did before, a near-death experience will do that for you.
Raina uncurls from where she was on the ground. She recovered her weapon as if without a thought of doing it. "Who would want to study that thing? Perhaps it would be better to reduce it to atoms and let the world sort out the vapors of it."
Rune takes in a deep breath and bends down to look at the gem. "If none object, I shall take it to the museum and offer study with some of my contacts here in the city. I would like to offer all to study it as well. For I have no magic abilities or psi abilities.." With that Rune looks up at Raina and the others. "I am known as Rune..who are all of you? Some I know.." He nods to Ras.
Tags: bair, raina, rasputin, rune, vargus
