Nestled into a valley at the base of Mount Silgrad, Silgrad City wasn't the largest city, but it drew in traffic and industry thanks to the dwarven halls of Mezchufliten buried deep inside the moutain. It was the autumn of 797 DB when it happened; the party (minus Frank) was drawn to the city by rumors of a killer stalking the streets - a killer who drained his victims of their blood. A vampire was in their midst. A man by the name of Martin Barstow was an old acquaintance of the group, having only retired from hunting two years prior after the death of his wife.
Martin agreed to help the group hunt the vampire in an attempt to keep the city, himself and his child safe. But the creature was smart, and as the the party spent 2 weeks hunting it down, it turned its attention to its would-be killers, until one night, the party returned from patrol to Martin's home, only to find that the vampire had as well. They arrived moments before the horrid vampire spawn clamped its jaws into Martin as his 15-year-old daughter watched on in horror. Although able to kill the horrendous fiend before it turned its attention to Cassandra, the party was sadly unable to save Martin. And so it was that Cassandra Barstow was left in the custody of her aging grandmother, having witnessed a band of would-be saviors fail to stop her father from biting the dust right in front of her. And the worst part was, no one could know the truth of what happened. Only she was bear that burden.
Six months ago, you visited Silgrad again on business and met up with Cassandra and introduced her to Frank, only to find that her grandmother had died and she was living with some friends on the outskirts of the city. You didn't have much time, but she appreciated the visit and asked you to visit for her eighteenth birthday.
It's a hot day as the party rides the sun-soaked roads into Silgrad City, the shadow of the mountain providing some respite from the searing heat. You pull off the main road that leads into the city square, and onto a worn stone road through a dilapidated neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. The buildings are rundown but livable (if barely) and every other corner has some shady individual or vendor, and you have hard time telling apart the merchants from the muggers.
You finally end up on the right street, though it's hard to tell - most of the streets look alike, with friendly-looking people sitting atop their stoops and occasionally visiting their neighbor to trade bits of conversation. But you confirm the address and knock on the door of Cassandra's hovel. For a minute, you hear nothing but muffled giggling and excited conversation through the door, before the door swings open.
Cassandra appears before you, half her hair up in clips and pins and the other flopped down over face. Cassandra has a small, athletic build, but her youth and attractiveness belie the little rest and personal trauma apparent in the wrinkles and dark circles around her eyes, and a brow and bearing far too knit with concern for someone her age. Upon recognizing you, she smiles. Suddenly, you see Bethany Wells, her friend and roommate, run up behind Cassandra, "Cass, who's at the door?" Bethany asks. Cassandra continues to look at you, "Uh, why don't you come in and I'll show you around?" Cassandra turns back around and drags Bethany in with her.
"Happy Birthday."
Typically, Lalavonvrei carried his rifle in his bandolier, tucked into one of its magic pockets out of sight. However, with the seedy nature of the neighborhood Cassandra called home, he thought it best to keep it visible, slung over his shoulder. Better to dissuade the troublemakers immediately than to wait until they were trading blows. As the house came into view, the long-limbed elf swings off his horse and leads it the rest of the way.
As the others knock, he ties the reins to keep his mount from wandering off. He gives Cassandra a critical once over with sharp emerald eyes before pulling his poncho away from his face to give a sincere smile, "It's good to see you again, Cassandra, Bethany. I hope we haven't found you at a bad time. Happy Birthday."
Racine looks around the rundown streets with an indecipherable expression, unpleasant childhood memories seeping in. Although she has slain monsters wielding gun and spell, somewhere in her heart she's still the little slip of a girl who ran into the sewer to flee from the bullies. It doesn't help that she's still one of the shortest in the group, together with Lala. Short elves, large guns. I wonder if there's a correlation.
As the door opens, she smiles widely at seeing Cassandra's pretty face, although a sharp pang of regret fills her heart. Grieve for the dead or care for the living, one can't do both. We did all we could to help poor Martin, but should we have taken better care of her? How?
"Happy birthday, Cassandra! Here's a little something for you, it's not every day that one reaches adulthood!" She says, giving the girl a small package.
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Frank walks in at the invitation. He takes a quick survey of the room. Takes a seat and pulls 2 cups from his bag. After he pulls a waterskin and pours a bit of brown liquid in each. He raises one of the cups to the girl.
"Cass was it? Name's Frank. Have a shot with me. It is your birthday after all. This should help lift your spirits anyways or make you foget about whatever is bothering you."
After he pulls another waterskin filling his cup with mead. He offers some to the girl as well assuming she took the shot. If not he sits back putting his feet up and enjoys his drink after their travels.
'Doc' Long steps down from the carriage with the aid of his ivory-handled walking stick. He stretches his back briefly and takes a moment to consult the engraved locket that always accompanies him. By long tradition, he snaps it shut decisively and pushes it into the pocket built for the purpose in his slate grey waistcoat, only the silver chain left showing. The aging academic runs a long-fingered hand over his greying moustache to smooth it, then brushes down his longish dress jacket to erase signs of travel.
Satisfied his appearance is appropriate to the occasion, Doc is two steps toward the door before returning quickly to the carriage. He pulls out a large bouquet and (after assessing the neighborhood) his travel-stained backpack. He hurries up the steps behind his three allies, cane clicking lightly.
Once inside the house, Doc offers Cassandra the flowers, a kiss on the cheek, and his best wishes, "Congratulations, young lady! I have hopes for a bright future for you, that we might contribute to." Doc's thoughts were safely hidden behind a welcoming smile. For some time, he had fretted over how best to help the young woman without making it seem like charity. Her father's loss is a debt that has to be paid.
Before entering, Caedus sighed. This place always troubles him. It had been the site of his first (though certainly not last) failure. Until they'd encountered that vampire, Caedus had been under the impression that he might actually be able to save everyone.
He could no longer afford such naïveté.
Caedus banished such thoughts. Today, they were here for Cassie.
Caedus checked himself for a moment. His armor and weapons were, as always, immaculate. His hair and beard were neatly trimmed. Caedus looked as presentable as anyone in plate armor could.
Caedus summoned his most winning smile, gazing on Cassandra fondly. He produced a small box of fine chocolates from his bag that he had purchased for the occasion.
"Happy birthday! Saints preserve me, but you become more lovely with each year!"
Cassandra blushes and thanks you all as she walks you in and takes the gifts, setting them down on a table and giving Bethany a look that says, "Don't even think about it." The house itself is a two-story row home in surprisingly good shape, with three exits - though a dangerous-looking fire escape attached to the back of the house hangs precariously over untamed weeds and overgrown brown grass. The upstairs has couple of bedrooms and a bathroom, though Bethany makes her room in the basement. The ground floor has a kitchen and an oddly-shaped living room that looks like it has undergone several failed renovation efforts, as well as a large bathroom with a claw-foot bathtub.
Inside, you find Bethany and Cassanda's other two roommates, the 17-year-old always-giggling Autumn and Summer, bustling around in various stages of hair and make-up as well, though the pair seem primarily interested in each other and not much else.
Cassandra takes Frank up on his offer and, after looking over at Bethany for some reassurance, downs the drink. But as she's about to drink the mead, Bethany comes up and snatches it from Cassandra and drinks it instead. Cassandra looks mildly annoyed, but you can tell that Bethany makes a habit of drowning her considerable troubles in drugs and alcohol - in fact, you aren't entirely sure she isn't under the influence of something right now. But before Cassandra can say anything, Bethany speaks up excitedly, "Come on, Cass, if we don't finish getting ready, we'll be late!"
Lalavonvrei gives Autumn and Summer a passing greeting, though expects it to land on deaf ears with how busy the two girls seemed to be. The effeminate elf hides his rifle back in its magic pouch now that the group was inside and gives Cass and Beth a curious look, "Late for what?"
Drinking? Drugs? So young? No, no, this is not good. That's how Mama wasted away. Then again, she wouldn't listen if I scolded her, but we ought to keep an eye on her.
Racine leans in towards Cassandra and whispers to her. "Cassie, is everything OK with Bethany? Anything we may do to help?"
We should buy her a couple of Bird Feather Tokens, should she need to call on us. Too bad item sellers are so few and far between.
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Frank watches as Bethany takes the drink.
"Easy there handsy, if you wanted some all you have to do is ask." He feels her cup again.
"So what is the plan for the night? I don't need much a reason to drink but a birthday will do fine." He smiles at Bethany as he lifts his cup.
"Cass, your being rude here not introducing me to your cute friend. I know we just met as well but come on manners." He offers a slight nod as he drinks from the cup.
"If you didn't hear before. Names Frank."
He takes notice of the concerned look on Racine as she leans in an whispers to Cass.
Wonder what crawled up her but today. No matter.
"Well if were going to drink and party might as well include the others." He looks to Bethany.
"You sit here by me cutie. Call your friends over and have them bring some glasses."
He then looks to the rest of the group.
"Come on everyone have a seat and a drink, if there is business or things to talk about it will be much easier with everyone relaxing and at ease."
Long considers the commotion. "Cassandra, have we come at an inconvenient time? It seems as if you may have plans for the evening."
Cassandra whispers to Racine while Bethany enjoys another glass with Frank, "Beth is...fine. She's just been through - is going through - some stuff right now, with the gangs and the drugs and all. But don't worry, I can handle it if it goes too far." she looks at Bethany then back at Racine, "Thanks anyway, Racine." Cassandra smiles at Racine, then turns her attention back to the party at large.
"Oh no, it's not a bad time at all!" says Cassandra as Bethany, having introduced herself to Frank, runs over to grab a flier off the kitchen table and holds it up to the group as though you should know what it means. Annoyed, Cassandra takes the flier, apparently for a dance club called Ascend, from Bethany and hands it to Frank, "After we finish getting ready, we're all going to have some beer and cake, then go party at Ascend for the night - that's a new dance club, and Beth can get us all in!"
Lalavonvrei crosses his arms with a scowl to the hedonistic attitude of the group's newest member, looking more like a pout than anything. "We're not here to hijack their evening, Frank," The raven haired elf chided, "They have plans."
Cassandra looks at Lala, mildly confused, "No, we have plans, Lala. All of us!" she makes hand motions to convey that she intends the whole party to attend the, well, party.
Caedus gave a wry grin, knocking his prosthetic leg with a self-deprecating wink.
"Not sure how well I'll be able to cut a rug, but we wouldn't miss your big night for the world, my dear."
Racine's gaze is cold enough to freeze the Hells over as she glares at Frank. Sure, give more drinks to a girl with a problem. Oh, if only he wasn't so good in a fight...
However, her thoughts are cut short by Cassie's remark about the dance club. "Uh, dancing? Well, I- I mean, I'm not quite- I'm more of a-" she stutters. "Alright, yes, like Caedus said, I mean, I'm not a dancer, but I'll try." Gods, let it be better than last time. It took forever to clean the wine stains.
Better to keep an eye on things, rather than not.
Doc Long clears his throat, "Well, I'm not sure that new clubs and old men mix, but I'm willing to test the theory... and we already have a carriage. Can't have you young ladies dusting the hems of your dresses."
The Longstrider scowled again at the affectionate nickname. If it were anyone else, he'd have given them an earful, but Lalavonvrei couldn't justify such behavior towards Cassandra, especially not on the girl's birthday. "You know I don't like that name..." He mutters, "Where is it you think you're dragging us anyway?"
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"Ease up Longstrider, Frank goes where the ladies wish. Can't take yourself too serious in this line of work, not like there is anyway out but dying. Best we can do is live for the now and save who we can along the way. You prudes want to be wallflowers, hey I won't judge I'm sure I can keep these ladies entertained." He smiles big as he stands.
"Beer and cake?" He puts his hands to his stomach and rubs.
"So much for a proper meal tonight then." He then looks to Beth.
"So looks and connections huh? Sounds like we are going to have some fun tonight."
He corks the mead and moves it back to his bag before he extends a hand down to help Beth up.
"All right there sweetness you go finish getting ready. We have all night to finish that bottle."
He takes in the weary and judgmental gazes of the group.
All so serious, I remember being that way not so long ago, until I learned what really was in this world.
Caedus smile slightly, slapping Frank's shoulder companionably.
"Come, now, we've had far less proper meals than beer and cake! Seven hells, remember that week outside Remora? You're lucky I didn't turn cannibal, man!"
Caedus favored Racine with a wink.
"Not a dancer? Feh! You're the most graceful woman I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on! Your "not very good" is more than most of us could hope to aspire to! Just...maybe less wine this time?"
Caedus couldn't help the glint in his eye. Cassie brought out some humor in him.
Racine's embarrassment at Caedus' words have her ignore Frank's remarks. She blushes enough shades of red to paint a sunset and looks to the ground.
"I hadn't drunk any... Just lost my footing..."
"Don't bring up Remora," Lalavonvrei groans, "Cassandra and her friends don't want to hear something so morbid today."
Cassandra drags Bethany away, informing the party "Ascend is a hot new club that our friends work at; I'll tell you more later. Just wait out here while we finish putting ourselves together. And don't worry - I'm sure you'll all do fine." Cassandra smiles as she and Bethany go finish getting ready.
She returns about an hour later, with all girls dressed for their outing - Summer and Autumn are dressed in matching extravagant-looking outfits, Bethany in a somewhat trashy outfit, and Cassandra in a nice-but-modest outfit wearing her new amethyst. Bethany pulls out a keg and sits it on the dining table while Cassandra grabs a recently-baked cake from a cupboard and Summer and Autumn bring dinnerware.
After everyone has had a drink and some cake, Bethany makes a toast, "To Cass, the girl who puts up with a lot to put up with me. We love you, girl." Cassandra blushes, but even after these minor celebrations, you can tell that the wind has left her sails as she continues to chat you and her roommates up.
Lalavonvrei joins in on the toast, but declines any of the cake. He had a love/hate relationship with sweets, enjoying the food, but wary of both the nutritional value. As Frank kept Beth entertained, the slender elf set himself down next to Cassandra, and for once thankful for his effeminate profile allowing him to slip into the spot with ease. He lowers his head towards the birthday girl and mutters, "Is everything alright?"
Unlike Lalavonrei, Racine throws herself on her slice of cake with a child's impetus. She never forgot the days of her infancy, struggling to scrape together enough food to survive, and even now that money is no big issue, she eats voraciously. Magic requires energy, after all, and what better than sugar?
Cassandra starts to open up to Lalavonvrei, "I don't know, it's just that-" she stops to look around at Bethany, Summer and Autumn, then hangs her head down, "I can't really talk about it around the other girls, you know?" She looks at Lalavonvrei with something of a look of mutual understanding, and you know she's referring to the incident with her dad, and the horrible things out there.
As if on cue, Bethany breaks away from her conversation with Frank to join Lalavonvrei and Cassandra, "What've you two been talking about? Making plans for tonight? You wouldn't mind if I asked your friend over there to dance with me at the club, would you? He's really-" Embarrassed, Cassandra interrupts Bethany before she can finish, "Beth!"
Doc's cane makes a distracting loud tap as he starts moving toward the door, "If the young ladies are ready, shall we go?" His question seems more like an effort to herd people into action.
"I'm ready if you all are!"
"Fhuh, whush..." With a titanic effort, Racine swallow the last of her cake. "Sure, let's go." But I'll keep my gun near, just in case.
Lalavonvrei gives a solemn nod at Cassandra's words before Beth interrupts them. He scowls at the girl and snaps, "Beth, Please!" with Cassandra before smiling and standing up with the others. He couldn't really berate the girl, children will be children after all.
Cassandra gets up with Lalavonvrei and puts on a smile as she exits. Becky, who stresses the urgency of arriving on time, provides you with directions to the club, but you have to park your horses about a block away from the club and walk the rest of the way. Once you arrive, you realize Ascend looks a little more dubious than described to you.
Ascend is located in a large warehouse in Silgrad's industrial park, surrounded by factories and other warehouses, but the long line of brightly-dressed patrons extending down the block reveals the true nature of the building. A fence surrounds the building, obstructing all but the front door. Outside of the building, you finally meet Becky's friends, the so-called Pigtown Kings, among them are the gang leaders: Timmy the Pig, Kenny the Swine, and Joey the Hog, all three 20-year-olds dressed in dirty poor-quality suits covered in numerous food stains, and speaking in exaggerated street slang and a thick accent, making them hard to understand. Timmy himself is rather fat, with a pinched pig-like face, while Joey and Kenny looks like skinnier versions of Timmy.
It's clear that these kids are bad news, but while Becky tries to get their attention, they are too preoccupied by something to even get you a place in line. This leaves her visibly furious, but she doesn't make a scene, though this forces you to all wait in line like everyone else to get in.
Gangs. Of course there would be street gangs. That's it, if Cassie wants I'm hiring her as a secretary and taking her out of this dump.
"Wait for me, I'm going to check a few things, won't be long." Racine whispers to her companions before pulling her cowl over her head. Taking advantage of her small stature, she blends in between the crowd and the shadows, trying to get close enough to the Pigtown Kings to hear what they're saying.
Doc doesn't scowl - barely. He waits patiently in line and glances briefly at the 'Kings' muttering under his breath. "Fine gentlemen all, I'm sure."
"All of a sudden I'm glad I have my gear with me," Caedus muttered to Doc.
Lalavonvrei gave an absent nod to Caedus' comment. While he may not look like much, short, scrawny and feminine as he was, the innocuous bandolier draped over his torso hid a couple of deadly secrets. "If you ask me," He mutters, "Beth's 'friends' seem anything but."
Caedus grimaced, agreeing with Lon.
"Sometimes I see youths like this and wonder how I would have ended up had I not...found my calling."
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Frank takes Beth's hand when he notices her frustration.
"Don't worry about them. Standing in line just gives us more time to get to know one another."
He takes a sip of mead from one of his waterskins. Then offers it to her.
"So tell me about there little gang. What do they have you doing for them?"
Bethany happily takes a swig, "I don't do anything for them, if that's what you're thinking. Not, like, illegal, anyways. I've been...friends, with a few of them." Bethany says, then looks at Cass and smirks, "So is Cass. But they're not that bad, really. They're actually a lot of fun at parties - especially when they're the ones providing the 'snacks.'" It is extremely obvious to Frank that she's referring to recreational drugs.
Once inside, Summer and Autumn have already disappeared to who-knows-where, Becky heads straight for the dancefloor, and Cass shouts "I'll be right back!" before running off. The atmosphere of Ascend strikes you as wrong - the club is certainly packed, but instead of the normal upbeat pulse of a popular nightspot filled with tons of dancing youths, it's as if the place is on tranquilizers and floating in syrup, and it's obvious that the people here are on some sort of intoxicant. You notice an emergency exit at the back and on a guarded makeshift stage is a musician playing psychedelic music, while the walls of the warehouse have painted on them weird-looking symbols. It seems that Ascend is less a danceclub and more a drug den with a psychedelic and transcendent theme. In the corners of the room are members of the Pigtown Kings watching over the dancecourt.
"There are alchemical symbols on the walls, salt, sulfur and mercury. And earlier, I heard the Pigs talking about something disappearing. Eyes peeled, I've seen what these things can do."
A flashback crosses Racine's mind, returning home to see her mother lying with glazed eyes, lost in the mist of whatever salt she had managed to scrounge, her mother again, vulnerable in her haze, taken advantage of. On the doorstep of the filthy hovel where they lived, kids far too young, stealing and mugging to get their next fix.
Slapping her cheeks to keep her wits sharp, she reaches for the bastion of order that is her spellcasting mind, her fingers crossing over her eyes, her voice crisp in the chaos around her. "Wykrycie magii" she says, opening her senses to the hidden patterns of magic. She has no fear of casting in public, knowing well how far people will go to ignore what's evidently supernatural.
Caedus felt his eyes narrow and his hand inched closer to his weapon, held securely in his belt.
"Can anyone see Cass? I've got a bad feeling about this..."
Lalavonvrei watches the crowd in confusion before Racine's warning told him to sharpen his eyes. As Caedus asks for Cassandra, the Longstrider begins looking for their lost friend diligently. He glances around the room and tries to find any spots hidden in the shadows of the club he could use to climb to a better vantage point and disappear from sight.
Doc's considerable brows furrow as he watches the zombie-esque dancers, the symbology, and the room itself. Seeing Lala's intensity, he taps the elf on the calf with his cane to make sure he has the hunter's attention in addition to that of the others. He gestures casually at the dance-floor with his cane as if discussing the quality of the wood. He leans in before he speaks, "The whole dance-floor appears to be a tablet for harnessing energy, presumably from these drugged-out cattle. Find Cassandra... then let's put some thought into meeting our 'hosts' here."
Doc walks the periphery of the room, looking for any guarded doors, staff doors, or anything else that might reveal where their hosts are lurking.
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Frank watches as the girls disperse.
kind of a low key dance club.
He doesn't take much notice as he keeps his eye on Beth.
guess I should go dance with her see where this night goes.
As he start to move toward the floor he hears his companions talking of unusual things causing him to pause. He looks to Doc as he speaks.
"What do you mean harnessing energy? Beth is out there. I bet those little piggies could tell us something."
Frank moves to the floor and takes Beth by the arm. Pulls her close and moves with her for just a few seconds. He meets her gaze and stares just long enough before moving his lips close to her ear.
"We have all night for this. Introduce me to your friends."
He then gently moves her by the arm taking the lead walking toward the Pigtown Kings assuming she is not resisting or takes the lead from him on her own.
Racine searches for the faintest tingle of magical energy, but all she can detect is that coming from her own companions.
While the dancers are in a drugged-out haze, the Pigtown Kings and bouncer by the stage are on high alert, and you notice one of the gangsters watching you suspiciously. Unfortunately, the highest up you can get is the makeshift stage, which is both guarded and not very high up. But it isn't very hard to find Cass, who makes no attempts at hiding, and appears to be looking for something or someone. After making her way through the crowd, you see her walking towards one of the Kings.
Long can't tell where the focusing tablet would be sending its energy, assuming that it even is. As he walks around, the only doors he finds are the entrance, the emergency exit, and a door to what looks to be a lounge for the Pigtown Kings and friends.
Beth follows Frank closely - practically right on top of him - as she takes him to one of the Kings on the corner. "This is Robertheim," she says on the way, "He and I used to be a thing. I bet seeing us together will make him so jealous!" Once there, she introduces you, "Hey Rob, this is my new friend, Frank. He's such a great dancer, but I was thinking of doing something besides dancing, if you know what I mean." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a couple of coins and hands them to Rob, "Yeah yeah, whatever. Just take the stuff." he says as he pulls out a pouch of an unknown substance and hands it to Bethany.
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Frank smiles as the transaction takes place. He releases Beth's arm and moves his hand to her rear, giving it a gentle pat.
"Why don't you go back to the dance floor babe. I want to talk with your friend here."
Frank watches as she moves away, obviously eyeing her seeing if it draws any reaction from the guy.
"Hey, Bob was it? Oh Rob, that's right. Why don't you go tell Timmy the Pig that Beth's friend Frank wants to talk to him. I'm new in town and I like what I have seen. Tell him I have a lucrative offer that will make us both lots of money, and Bob, do hurry. Frank doesn't like to wait."
Coming up short on a good vantage point, Lalavonvrei grumbles to himself, but quickly moves to keep an eye on Cassandra once he spots her. He'd normally try to blend in with the crowd, but the collective trance made that seem like a far less effective option. He settled for simply keeping some distance as he makes sure she's safe.
Curses, curses and more curses! I knew I should have kept ready some spells or scrolls for hiding, but no, we were just visiting Cassandra, no biggie. Not every day that I can chide myself for not being paranoid enough.
Hiding again in the crowd, Racine tails Cassandra, trying to catch whatever her and the Kings are talking about. Focus on your spell. Keep your mind focused and nothing will pass through.