"Then he will die. Perhaps you will be smarter."
Phaerlin attempts to plunge his blade into Razda's chest, but is met with resistance. Unbelievably, a small dagger emerges from the silken folds of her clothing and parries the blow. She then gestures with a come hither motion that sends a dagger flying into both of your backs.
Zapley is screaming in terror as Kala-Wolf picks her up and moves to escape. With the help of Kick-Lick's directions you all escape the facility just after hearing a large metallic snapping sound and screaming coming from behind.
You run for what seems like half an hour before you finally reach a part of Ravnica that seems like a area that isn't run by scientists or weird creatures. You all find a quiet alley to plan your next course of action or talk.
"Do either of you think that our friends are still back there and may need our help...?"
Big demon snatch them up? How long ago was that? How long were we in the vats? She thinks her questions but is unable to voice them. In this land she might pass for a Selesnyan watchwolf in this form, while a naked merfolk might be thrown into an Azorius jail for public indecency.
As Phaerlin can actually die here, gonna wait one more day.
As Kala sets down Zapley, you see her act as a frightened animal, completely rigid as you set her down on the side. Even after she has been set down, she doesn't move a muscle.
Both Kala and Tes are essentially naked, their items back at the facility and not a scrap of clothing on them. Its still the very early hours of the day, so shops aren't probably open and there aren't many if any people on the streets.
Zapley is still lying there, and upon further inspection. she seems to have somehow magically sealed herself in a isolated, invulnerable form. Completely protected but unable to move, think, or act until it wears off.
As the dagger slams into him and he begins to collapse, Phaerlin coughs and says "Thank you" *cough, cough* "for proving me right." and then he hits the ground. Hard.
Kick can you shake her out of it maybe? We may also need you to find us some clothes once the shops open.
Once that is all taken care of, the question becomes how do we rescue our allies? Unless of course they were taken to another location..."
"Friends are slaves for Rak-doos. We get them once evverybody safe. They big vampires, they can take care of selves." He sets off in the direction of Zapley's lair.
As she follows Tes asks Kick, "The Rakdos, those are the faction aligned with Demons eh? Exactly how big was this Demon that took our Allies?"
Razda rolls her eyes, the first unregal thing you think you've seen from her, and sighs.
"Would you like to join him or can we go back to being civilized?"
As you talk, you quickly make your way to Zapley's laboratory. Feel free to converse for a while as I ready the scene change. Rolls out setting, readjusts lights, etc.
Razda frowns and throws a dagger at the unconscious and nearly dead Phaerlin.
The dagger sinks deeply into his flesh.
"Such disrespect..." she shakes her head. She draws another dagger. "Perhaps if we remove the distractions..."
With a final gasp, Phaerlin draws his last breath.
Vitrius stands, bringing himself to his full height. "I hope that you are satisfied. Not only have you robbed a man of his life before he has had a chance to truly live it, you have robbed your clients of their prize. I am all that's left." He takes a dagger into his hands and places the point to his chest, just below the breastbone. One thrust would end it. "Your power is immense, I grant you. Yet, you play petty games with those who are obviously unable to respond in kind. To what end? I truly want to understand your thinking here. Honestly, do you want to show how much more destruction you can cause just to get us to what? Kneel to you? If you're offering a job, this is terrible way to go about it. Perhaps, if you showed us the way to such power, then we could be a true test to you. A true statement of what you are capable of, rather than leaving bodies in your wake." He nods toward Phaerlin. "Any thug can do that."
At your actions, Razda once again sighs. However, this time she gets up from her lazy sitting position and approaches you.
[spoiler=If you don't stab yourself, or if the stab doesn't immediately kill you]
"For such a long lived creature you are a dense one yes?."
Razda is right in front of you, all the power of a being that you know could slaughter all the heavily trained monks from your temple without lifting a finger.
"If I am disappointed at one thing, its the overestimation of what entertainment you could bring me. I care not for tests, I care not for new employees, but if you are so determined to through away your meaningless life?"
She smiles as she presses the dagger into your body, helpfully moving you along to the afterlife.
"Then I shall let you join your foolish, friend."
You all make your way to Zapley's lab. Kick-lick remembers it easily enough, but Zapley still does not come out of stasis.
The lab is a large, well, at least for a goblin. There's all sorts of equipment that is alien and bizarre. However, what catches the two non-goblins attentions is the opening in the wall the lead to a large outdoor area enclosed in protective glass. Outside the glass, was the familiar darkness of the underground.
"What did they do to us..." She reaches one hand absentmindedly behind to her lower back, feeling around for something under the cloth.
"Tes, do you feel alright? What are we going to do now? Much of my magic needs a focus for the mana, though I suppose there are the old ways...it would still take some time to gather the ingredients. I don't like the idea of wandering the streets that vulnerable, trying to find the rest of our allies when I can hardly summon any defenses."
It happens in an instant.
One moment you're planning your next moves in a stranger's home. The next is hyper concentric inner reflection that seems to stretch on for hours, when in reality only seconds pass.
You all stand across from each other, looking across a familiar altar. Each of you glows brightly, wisps of mana surrounding you and lashing out as it intertwines and mingles in the center.
Yet one does not. It feebly tries to join the others, yet it is restrained by its host. Eventually, it detaches itself from its host and flows into the center, the overwhelming power becoming too much for the balance, and soon shoots out through the ceiling.
You watch as the host weakly falls to one knee. He has a calm look on his face, but there is much pain in it as well. He looks to you all in turn, pondering your circumstance. He nods in approval for the times you've shared, and slowly collapses on the floor.
One moment.
Two moments.
He stops breathing, and fades away into dust.
Phaerlin is no more.
You guys return back to your senses, seating, heightened awareness. Kick-Lick you find Zapley in the middle of attaching wires to you. She has a curious look on her face, and even a dab of relief when you all return from your catatonic state.
It is not awakening you experience. More of a subtle realization. You recall strange men in lab coats, and what look to be ordinary citizens that poke and prod you before your recollections cease.
You look around. You are in a plain room, one fit to be a back of a pub, and probably is given the noise coming from one of the walls. You recall your conversation with Razda and the choice you made. The wound winces as you gentle touch it, reminding you of the indescribable cold feeling only the dying undead can experience.
Yet you remember something else. Only fragments given your traumatic experience, but as you touched Razda you could sense an overwhelming boredom, and visions of countless individuals that have been in your prior situation before. Some begged for their lives, others made love to her, a few took your path, and only one walked out alive and unfollowed. But these glimpses are rapid and short. And the only other emotion that emerges is a small flit of enjoyment for the one woman who walked out.
You are alone, dressed simply as if a server of a restaurant.
News travels fast down in the holding cells. Seems the two vamps bit the bucket. Too bad, would've probably made good opponents for you.
Holding cell is also a bit of a harsh term for your living conditions. As one of Razda's and the crowd's favorites, you have been given plenty luxury, comfy bed, fresh fruit, the services of a local tattoo artist and courtesans.
Not bad at all.
Even now, a guard you're on friendly terms with is sliding your meal through the slot in the reinforced door. Warm bread with a large portion of beef soup. He had even snuck in a cup of ale for you, probably as thanks for winning him his bet he had placed on you a few fights before.
"So, any idea who my last opponent is to be? I am excited to beat them and then have my freedom." "Shame about those vampires though. I heard one of them even harmed Vraknal. They would have made for a great final fight."
Dawncaller will set the meal down and idly chat with the guard about the city: where he should go, things he should see, that sort of thing.
Looking down at his clothes, he is reminded of his early days at temple. Hanging on to any scraps of knowledge while he scraped chamber pots, swept dirt off a dirt road and so many other demeaning things just to learn what he could of his kin and their storied history. He listens intently, trying to discern anything familiar about the voices he is hearing.
"May his spirit find its way home, to where it belongs. We will need to hurry, for Vitrius."
"Well its your graduation fight isn't it? Of course it's going to be someone special. Definitely not Vraknel though. If I know anything about Razda, which I scarcely do, she'd think that'd be a boring match. No...can't say I know who you'll be fighting against."
You two chat for a bit while you eat. He suggests a bar his cousin owns nearby. Its still within the Rakdos district, but former champions of the arena are usually treated with respect once they graduate.
Eventaully he leaves you to your thoughts and digestion. Your fight takes place tonight, at midnight. What kinds of things are racing through your mind?
It is remarkably....normal. That's the only word that comes to mind. A solid wood table, slightly rickety doors, sacks of food and extra dishware.
"Can't say I'm impressed."
You are startled as a husky voice comes from the side of the room you could have sworn was empty just a moment ago. Now, you realize there is a man standing there, seemingly having blended into the background.
"And the boss said it was worth it to save what's left of your skin. Can't say I'm impressed."
He looks you up and down, frowning.
Zapley looks confused.
"No....wires make for more experiment. Me hook others too, if let me or if not wake on time."
Dawncaller's plan is to find a library or place of knowledge, so that he can find out if there are any more of his people here, and then find the best way to contact them.
For the time leading up to the fight, Dawncaller will focus on imaginary fights in his mind between a variety of enemies, both humanoid and animal.
I should be on the cautious side tonight and use a shield, since I have no desire to lose. Dawncaller focuses on the fight at hand and the best way to leverage his fighting style to create an entertaining fight. Afterwards...would resolve itself.
Tes blinks as she realizes that this place just seems to get stranger by the day, "I have had enough experimenting for the day thank you Zapley..."
Tes goes to remove the wires then pauses, "Though if you think you could learn something about our condition perhaps it would not be such a bad thing".
And finally....it is time...
You are escorted to the field in manacles and chains as is the usual procedure. The crowd is cheering your name, large blazing torches surround the arena lighting the area for all to see. It is going to be one hell of a show.
And the familiar lull occurs as Razda rises. She smiles to you, on of her favorites, one who has given her wonderful fights to fill the boredom. And then says something that she has never before said.
"Good luck."
With those words, it either speaks to the volume of her affection for you or the atrocity she has prepared for your graduation match.
And then you hear the iron chains rising and turn to face your opponent.
He emerges from the holding cell. His walk is rigid, but filled with strength and you can tell that this creature is not in the right mind. He wears dark leather armor and carries a longsword emblazoned with some sort of crest. He would look almost noble, if his already pale skin was white with lifelessness. You wonder what kind of opponent this puppet like corpse may be when it suddenly charges forward to attack!
It closes the distance in mere seconds and takes a large swing with its longsword.
Dawncaller may act!
"A smartass too. Boy, the boss knows how to pick 'em."
He points to his eyes.
"I'll explain it since you might understand common sense, but if you couldn't pick out of the shadows, you ain't long for our line of business. And the Boss for some reason seems to think that you would be an asset to our operations."
He shakes his head again.
"Anyone, I'm here to expalin to you how this next part works. You're going to take this platter," he produces one from behind his back, "out this door and into the tavern. You're going to do your best to figure out which of the patrons out there is the boss. You take whatever's in front of him and bring it back in here. If you're right, the boss will see you and even help you out. If you're wrong...."
His voice trails off, as he slides one thumb across his throat.
It doesn't take Kick-Lick long to locate a store and return with a handful of clothing for the females to wear. By the time he returns, Zapley has finished confusing the hell out of the other two, but has somewhat explained the nature of the similar powers that each person shares. This divided Spark, or something.
"So you help Zapley with research so she can break-break world window?" she asks, hopeful.
Dawncaller will rage and then bring his longsword down on the head of the being before him.
Your enemy seems staggered by the blow as you can definitely feel some sort of bone breaking under that armor. Undeterred, it lashes out with another attack.
You're up!
Unfortunately, the only exposed skin the man has is his neck and face. The rest of his body is covered in dark clothing. Though he does see your look, and gives a chuckle...
"Heh, don't you worry. Shouldn't be as hard as you think it'll be. But let me give you a bit of advice, act like a server and I'm sure you'll do fine..."
"Kick-Lick, you and Zapley found us. Do you also know where the demon took the vampires, or do you have a good way of finding out?"
