Ace flashes a grin at Ginni "My lovely girlfriend has the right of it. With me in the band, we can switch up the instruments, and thus the sound, pretty much song by song, if you so desire Mel. Plus, as you are hearing, I can also switch my vocals to female as well as my looks." Ace has still not reverted back to his normal form, clearly making a point as to just what he can bring to the band. "Oh, and I can dance." He stopped himself just short of saying Ginni can as well. She might want to reveal that herself."See? We're already getting all enthusiastic about this bad thing," Ginni said smiling. "Lots of creative energy....that's what makes it fun, right?"
Mel hugs both of them (Ace and Ginni) with much enthusiasim Ok Ace i get it, no need to rub it in, i know your versitile and very skilled she tells him teasingly.
still hope to keep the new drummers I am thinking of some set designs with them in mind and a way to help accomodate stage fright a bit for Vai and maybe you to Ginni
The information provided by both girls makes Tryko'Sam blanch further and then shake his head, saying in response to Vai, "I think we're going to be horribly, horribly screwed if this is ...the little bit I remember it to be. If we went down there, could you track it?"
He looks to Rena to verify, while a half glance towards the sewer below and the light that is emitting in there now.
For the truly perceptive as well, gone is his lazy physical manner. He's not a relaxed young boy, but rather, a poised and focused physical being. He seems almost ready for action at this point.
"We really need to go after it that badly?" Vai asks as she examines the grate. Getting the bad vibes from Tryko'Sam, Vai's hand is on the hilt of her sword. Could they fit down there if the metal bars were out of the way?
"I might be able to track it... but if it's all wet down there... maybe not. I know what your blood smells like that's for sure, and if it's still covered in it, I will be able to smell it." Rena says calmly. She's quite long, but not all that wide for such a large creature. She might have problems moving in the tunnels, but if the humanoids can fit then she should too.
"What is it?" she continues to act calmly, though her feathers are starting to flare out as her muscles tense.
"I am not a girl. Or a boy, for that matter."
"Oh." Midori says, sounding genuinely surprised as if she hadn't really considered that to be a possibilty. "I'm not really sure if you can come then. I could ask Ignace-chan and Zilla-chan for you if you'd like?" she continues, still sounding horribly confused. How could you not be either?
"As you both know from the discussion earlier, I'm lacking memories-- but, my gut instincts tell me, we have to find whatever this 'insect' is, straight away and destroy it. It's imperative." His voice has changed, clear and distinct, no doubts.
That said, he looks towards the sewer grate which wouldn't really allow a medium sized creature through without special tricks, and immediately before Tryko'Sam, an ellipse forms, of a perfect circle, which appears to reveal the interior of sewers, along with a glowing light source-- the one Vai made.
Without hesitating, he steps through the formed portal and can be heard through it, "Come on. We can't let it get away, it's gotten a night's worth of effort."
Shadows from the sewer grate, and through the portal and the grate now, you can see Tryko'Sam is now down below, having made this doorway.
"Meh. Sun could use some company, and it looks like you have plenty."
"Wait a sec." Vai says as she hurries after him into the portal. "If it can chew through metal and hurt you like it did yesterday than we should take a minute to get ready. I'll cast some spells that will help protect us, alright? If it's got a night's worth of headstart, then a minute won't be too much, right?" After that, Vai will take the time to cast some protection spells of herself, Rena and (if he does not resist) Tryko'Sam as well. Tryko'Sam may notice that she seems a bit hesitant to touch him to complete the spellcasting, but she will swallow her fears and do so anyway. She did say she had personal space issues and didn't like to be touched, but it seems that she can overcome those particular neuroses if the cause is worthy.
Assuming no one attempts to resist the spells then after about a minute Vai is finished, and everyone's outer layer of clothing/feathers seem to shimmer, and their movements are more nimble. The air around Vai herself seems to crackle with undischarged electricity which occasionally arcs through the air with a sizzle. A shimmering disk of force moves with her, seeming to shift to guard her weak points. She draws her weapon with an audible *sching*, taking a few swings with it to test the balance. "Alright, ready."
Already, before Vai had even finished casting her spells, Rena was searching for the trail, starting at the grate above and sniffing around. There was alot of strange scents down here, most of them unpleasant. Still, if this insect needed to be destroyed, then they would do just that.
Once (if) Rena finds the trail, assuming all preparations are finished, she slithers through the air in that direction. Her wings are folded shut in what is a relatively tight space for her, and her movements are economical. "This way!" she'll call back once she's sure of the direction to head.
"Meh. Sun could use some company, and it looks like you have plenty."
"Okay Cariban-san." Midori says a little sheepishly. Now she felt bad that they were excluding people. Even if they were strange not-boy-or-girl people. And Cariban was doing so much to help them too.
"You would need a yukata as well anyway Cariban-san." Midori says with a bit of a smile. The teddy bear wearing a yukata would be too cute. Evidently, whatever internal struggle Midori had with the nature of Cariban's existence was pushed to the side for the moment.
"Well it looks like at least one of them had been here, it's all melty, but I don't see any there now"
"It probably came to investigate the noise we were making. I'm not sure if it will raise an alarm, since as I said before, Remorahz do not usually cluster so. I suspect it is the influence of the guardian that keeps them together, and so I cannot reliably predict their reactions. We have to assume that if we are going to explore other parts of the temple that we are going to encounter resistence." Tyrrin sums up succintly her thoughts on the issue, giving the group her tactical appraisal before looking to Oneiro. "Let's make for this central section, where the map appears to indicate there is something large. At very least, I am curious as to what is there, and in the best case scenario, what we are looking for is there."
Turning to address the group, Tyrrin's hard-edged way of speaking softens slightly, and she asks of them: "Does that sound agreeable?"
"Indeed. Let's move."
Sun seems content about not going
i knew that there was a girls tea party, i thought there was another party. Besides i know i am a boy so i shouldn't go. Besides i hope Lang will be back tomorrow morning. With some owls to ride.
"At this rate, one for me would be no problem, honestly. If you want to know, i am an "it" but most people see that as rude."
Tryko'Sam didn't seem to mind waiting, while he was attempting to remember things, but failing fairly well at it.
Once he was all magic'ed up, he waiting on the other spells and seemed to remain serious, in thought and quiet.
Once the rapier comes out, Tryko'Sam simply says, "Careful with that, I think it eats metal-- so don't let it catch the edge or what not. They literally are what they eat."
Rena can somewhat notice a path, not rat, not natural, and eventually, with illumination by Vai's light spell on another item (which Tryko'Sam would be happy to hold onto), a trail is found.
They trudge through some seriously smelling shit, literally in some parts, while moving along. Tryko'Sam doesn't appear to show any discomfort, and the tunnel itself does require some squeezing to get through it. At one point, another, larger 'grate' is found, yet, this one has been nearly completely chewed through, and then some-- as if all of the iron metal was devoured or consumed by something.
Sadly, the trail ends at this point, Rena's last sight of whatever she was following having gone into the sludge at the grate, where it may have initially started the eating.
Rena would note, that at times, the insect did climb up the walls and such, so it doesn't appear limited solely by gravity.
"Blast it," Tryko'Sam says, "There's got to be a way to find it -- I'm remember something about electronics, or mechanics... I don't believe it's organic. I mean, I don't remember it being organic." He reconsiders the grate and how much was eaten, frowning.
"This isn't good..." At least he doesn't beat around the bush with levity when serious. "Stay alert. I'm trying to spot what I can, but no luck yet."
The grate opens up into another section of tunnels, but this one 'room' past the grate is more of a larger square like section, perhaps for collection or connections to other tunnels. A good part of it is submerged in fluids, it's depth uncertain. When the light shines into the room, however ...
"I'm good with it."
He takes point and disables the hallways as they go.
With Tybal disabling traps, the rest of the group is safe to be on the lookout for any remorhaz. When they reach one of the intersections of hallway, one can be heard coming from the left one.
Both succeed in their respective ways- Rena spots movement beneath the surface, a dulled glint from Vai's light source, while Vai spots a "burst" of high energy signals emitting from the gunk below. It appears to be a quick short burst, then a second of silence (so to speak) and a similar burst again. While standing there, this pattern will repeat, but it would be clear the contents of the burst vary, the duration of the burst does not. Whatever unseen down there is sending coded transmissions, which easily go through the none dense matter here, but it is not directional.
Whatever it is, it's concealed by the liquid.
Considering where the were and what was apparently at stake to cause the normally none-too-serious Tryko'Sam to be so focused, Vai wants to immediate take action, but she also knows that the water would distort where the thing truly was so a blast of lightning or a spell might go astray. Even if she had been knee deep in the sewers already, the idea of fully immersing herself in the gunk was /not/ a pleasant one.
It was sending coded bursts too... Vai blanches at that. She immediately contacts her mother's comm channel ::Mom, we have a situation here. A hostile entity is sending coded transmissions. I'm going to try to kill it. The wards will probably block the transmissions, but I thought you should know.:: While she's doing that, she's also speaking aloud to her teammates. "It's in the water here Tryko'Sam. I don't know if it has detected us yet, so I'm going to attempt to kill it outright. Hopefully..." she points out the things location to the others.
Vai takes a deep breath while sheathing her sword. It wouldn't be very useful underwater anyway. She dives in, opens her eyes and casts a spell, causing a green ray to streak through the water at the source of the transmissions.
Rena watches as Vai leaps bravely into the gunk, and decides to take a more conservative approach to battle. Rena will hover above the sewage, coiled and ready to attack the thing if it decided to move to engage Vai.
With Tybal disabling traps, the rest of the group is safe to be on the lookout for any remorhaz. When they reach one of the intersections of hallway, one can be heard coming from the left one.
"Go left. That may be the direction to the Guardians, and therefore our goal. I would prepare for battle." Tyrrin calls out the orders, taking the leadership role naturally - possibly to the chargrin of her teammates.
In preparation for combat, Tyrrin will cast another Haste spell on the group.
Considering where the were and what was apparently at stake to cause the normally none-too-serious Tryko'Sam to be so focused, Vai wants to immediate take action, but she also knows that the water would distort where the thing truly was so a blast of lightning or a spell might go astray. Even if she had been knee deep in the sewers already, the idea of fully immersing herself in the gunk was /not/ a pleasant one.
It was sending coded bursts too... Vai blanches at that. She immediately contacts her mother's comm channel ::Mom, we have a situation here. A hostile entity is sending coded transmissions. I'm going to try to kill it. The wards will probably block the transmissions, but I thought you should know.:: While she's doing that, she's also speaking aloud to her teammates. "It's in the water here Tryko'Sam. I don't know if it has detected us yet, so I'm going to attempt to kill it outright. Hopefully..." she points out the things location to the others.
Vai takes a deep breath while sheathing her sword. It wouldn't be very useful underwater anyway. She dives in, opens her eyes and casts a spell, causing a green ray to streak through the water at the source of the transmissions.
Vai leaps into the gunk below, which has upon her dropping in, no floor for her feet, it appears the depth of the 'water' is more than expected, primarily due to the opaqueness of the fluid, and other things.
Attempting to time her ranged spell attack just right, it sadly misses, as the creature seems to avoid her or she merely 'misses' it by /that/ much! Her spell is sadly spent.
While treading a bit of filthy water, as well as keeping her mouth shut, depending on her swim skill, it's merely a matter of not drinking or drowning (due to weight, which is doubtful).
Up above, there's a glow of green through the dirty filthy water, which Rena can see, and then nothing, but the bubbles from Vai's leaping in.
Tryko'Sam grunts something under his breath at Vai's immediate leaping into the fight, and, oddly enough, Rena can immediately see the water level starting to drain rapidly.
Vai herself, where she is, feels a pull of the water suddenly taking on current, where it'd been still before, as the levels start to go leave, ahead of her and pull-- she can resist with swimming, (DC 15), though the pull is picking up.
After a round of this water event, Rena can see an odd 'insect' looking beetle, take a move action ducking back into the filthy water below. It appears to be made of a shiny dark blue metallic material, and most certainly not a 'living' thing-- more like, individual small tiny squares making up it's parts. As if something made of pixels that came to life and is moving, rapidly, along the wall it's atop, going down, like a spider or what not. Once again, it slips out of view, regaining it's concealment.
Vai would (if successful, be treading water) when Tryko'Sam yells out again, "I'm clearing out the water, to the front and below you-- if you get sucked out, be ready to fly, Vai!" With a glance, both girls would see an odd 'daylight' glow of sorts, as more and more water is pouring out -- elsewhere.
While more water flows out, by the time it's the next round, the critter will again, be below the water, but Vai finds a proper foothold, as various crap and other 'stuff' flows out and through a newly created portal leading into ...a horizon of sunshine, and trees far below.
In addition to all this mayhem, Vai would notice that the transmissions she'd seen before, continue, yet, there's no pause inbetween at this point-- the creature is sending a signal, in the high end frequencies, constantly now. Again, without attempting to decypher it, it's impossible to tell what it's sending, or to who might be receiving.
All this is for naught, however, as Rena suddenly snaps out with her bite attack, waiting for the thing to be revealed, catching a mouth full of the Tiny creature, and biting down! It's possible she may have destroyed it, but ...
"You can do it, Vriskra." He says quietly.
her body eventually goes dark, black as shadow, with a dark aura somewhat off her body.
Unable to think of anything else to do, Gareth hugs Vriskra around the neck.
she is very cold, but as you hug her, she stirs a little, and nuzzles up to you.
Rena's teeth crunch down hard, her jaws having snapped shut with the quickness of a cobra striking, catching the target of their hunt in a tight grip.
If she seems surprised by the suddenly appearance of a drain in the pool, she doesn't mention it, having been completely focused on catching their prey.
It is at this point that the critical flaw in Vai's brave leap into the water is revealed: she has absolutely no idea how to swim! The sludgy water before had given her at least some buoyancy, but now that the plug has been pulled, she is being sucked towards the drain with great speed.
Her wild flailing efforts are not enough to resist the draining action, and she's ejected from the room through the portal with not so much as a cry - though her thrasing against the strong current may have been noticed. She can definitely feel herself falling, but whether or not she can get clear of the sewage waterfall now streaming out is another story entirely. Her wings are growing out and she's struggling to get free of the downward rushing water... though who knows how much time she has until she's dashed against the rocks at the bottom, as it were.
"At this rate, one for me would be no problem, honestly. If you want to know, i am an "it" but most people see that as rude."
"I will address you however you wish me to, Cariban-san." Midori says sincerly to the strange, living teddy bear.
"Whatever Sarah prefers."
"Just Cariban?"
"Sarah, would you prefer to refer to me as male, female, or an object?"
"Do you have to be one? Can't you just be Cariban? Do you want a different name? I think you should pick a name."
"It kinda makes things easier to have a pronoun."
"What's a pronoun?"
"He, she, it...
Basically, those things you use when you don't want to use a full name."
"Um. . . She?"
"Aright, it's settled. Female."
"I think you should pick another name too. You can't both be Cariban."
"Umm.... I'll think about it."
"Vai! Tryko'Sam vainly tries to jump and reach for her, but failing that, falls into the gunk as well, and out the flow he goes with her.
For Rena, who can fly, non-issue. The thing she bites into and grabs onto at the same instant, shatteres into a few hundred equally small squares, falling around and to the sides-- definitely not edible in any manner, unless she likes eating odd metals.
There is a slight 'bzzzt' of electricity or something at the destruction of this thing, but it won't hurt Rena.
The moment Tryko'Sam flies through the hole, though, Vai's wings pop out, catch some air and she's free of the falling 'gunk', which, continues in the path of gravity-- and a falling Tryko'Sam goes down past her as well, a few seconds after she'd fallen out.
"Hey! You're alright---" Tryko'Sam says as he falls past her flying in the air. The gunk following after him seems to have stopped, and back in the sewer hole, Rena would realize, the portal out was shut as Tryko'Sam went through. Not the best of timing on his part.
From Vai's point of view, though, Tryko'sam's got about half a mile of drop ahead of him, down towards what appears to be an ocean, yet, opening below him a ways, which intersects more falling gunk (and probably him with it) is yet another portal that opens.
Rena would in a few moments, i.e. the start of next round, suddenly hear liquids falling into the room from above, as gunk from another portal showing the sky and an incoming Tryko'Sam, are witnessed... heading her way.
As Vai watches Tryko'Sam wizz by as she's regained her wings - nice blue draconic wings on a half-elf girl's body. She had to act or he's going to hurt really bad, whatever regenerative properties he might have.
She teleports - not the same light burst as before just poof gone. Poof right above Tryko'Sam, whom she wraps her arms around in the chest area, and then one more poof, which kills the falling momentum of both of them, and now they're hanging in the sky as the water falls back into the sewer room, splashing itself all over Rena.
"Hey, you're alright." Vai repeats back at him, still holding him from behind, though she's not keeping her altitude very well with both of them. She's angling for the hole though, so they ought to glide in for a nice landing.
Rena watches the events with the falling unfurl, then ducks away from the splashing water coming down from the sky, shaking as much of it off of her feathers as possible and retreating from the area quickly. She had wanted to ensure the thing was dead and not going to reform or something like that, but the pieces leftover are quickly drowned in the sewer water and Rena has no desire to go down after them. She retreats back into the tunnel and waits for the other two, still holding the bit of metal in her mouth. Just in case.
Sun heads back out apparently there is little he can do to help. Now that the teddy bear has apoted to be a girl.
Sun heads back outside to where Lang and him first arrived hoping Lang coes back soon.
"Hello."
settro sorta just pops up behind sun.
"What are you up to?"
he's really happy, quite the "glow" around him.
Gliding through the opening, Tryko'Sam seems 'trained' at going somewhat limp when someone grabs him, they return to the sewer hole that Rena is in, and the portal behind Vai shuts again.
Dropped off near the top of the room, where Rena is, Vai's free to float in the air on her own.
"Wow, didn't know you could teleport with others, Vai, that's handy. And here I was trying to save you, sort of... ah well. I'll know better next time. Rena, you okay? Did you get it?"
He looks around assessing.
The little bits of metal in Rena's HUGE mouth, are a bit hard for her to keep, given pointy teeth, but, she can manage to get one or two parts.
Depending on Vai's senses at this point, there's no more bursts of high frequency communication going on from the area.
"Hello."
settro sorta just pops up behind sun.
"What are you up to?"
he's really happy, quite the "glow" around him.
Startled at first sun jumps a bit then realizes there is no threat he alm down.
I'm just waiting for Lang to return. He went home to talk to our temple elders
"Ah. Well."
he sits down near you.
"So, you... Wanna do something?"
"Ah. Well."
he sits down near you.
"So, you... Wanna do something?"