texas ♔ don't want to face the fears we've met

[heavensend]

WHO || Anastacia, Avaleen, Thea, Riddick [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights try to track down some missing Shadowkind
WHERE || Houston, Texas
WHEN || April 9th [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

The Church of Good Hearted Souls is a nondenominational church, located in a poorer district of Houston. The neighborhood itself doesn't disguise the fact, but the streets that they walk through to reach the church are populated almost exclusively by Shadowkind, of all types. Dwarves, elves, gnomes, even a minotaur shuffle past, many of them making their way in and out of tenement buildings that have seen better days. The occasional humans that break up the mix often wear clothing more suited to a fantasy village - and those who don't sometimes have hairstyles that give them away as less than totally modern. The Church itself doesn't even remember a conventional church or temple in any way - it seems to have been built into a squat brick building, hollowed out to make room for folding chairs, since pews seemed to be outside their price range. "All faiths welcome" proclaims a sign out front, and another replaceable sign below it is flipped to read "Sister Deborah is in". 

Comments

[delicere]

[The ringtone is enough of a surprise to Avaleen that she drops the spell (WS 13) and takes a step away from the source, watching Thea as she makes her loud exit. Realizing what's happening (SM 26) Ava does her best to at least appear worried by the other girls words and presence for the sake of the other men (Bluff 19).]

[silvermaid]

[ eventually, the two of them seem to come agreement... and vanish down a side alley. anastacia cranes her neck to try to see where they went, but there's no sign of them for a few minutes at least. ]

[delicere]

[As if somehow sure that she's failed to ensnare them, Ava (and man do you know how limiting spells that might draw attention to a person are for a level four divine spellcaster /mud), Ava proceeds to cast light again because it was that or create water kids and all I could see was her soaking herself by doing that one.]

[silvermaid]

[ they were just

walking around the block, it seems, because abruptly the two men step out between two buildings close by, and proceed to approach her with slow menace.

"Well, look at you. Where'd you learn a trick like that, sweetheart?" one of them asks, as the other chews around a toothpick. ]

[delicere]

[She doesn't really need to feign her fear, Ava tensing as the two men approach, teeth worrying her lower lip as the rock in her hand glows brightly.

Her words get caught in her throat as she resists the urge to look in the direction where she knows Ana is hiding (WS 21). Unnatural blue eyes looking up at the men.]

I'm not entirely sure, sir. [Lying has never been one of her strong suits so she opts for the truth.] I have no memories of my life before coming here... it's just something I know how to do but not how.

[silvermaid]

[ anastacia tenses as she watches, particularly as one of the men begins walking around behind her as the one speaking keeps her attention.

"So you're from the land of monsters and magic," he sneers. "And what does that make you, Blue Eyes?" ]

[delicere]

I'm - [She tries to follow the movement of the one making his way behind her but instead keeps focus on the one in front, trusting the others to have her back should anything go wrong.]

Not entirely sure of that either, sir...

[heavensend]

[ "She's not sure," he says, punctuating it with a cruel laugh. "Don't even know what you fucking are, is that what you're saying to me?" ]

[delicere]

[With an almighty Will Save (27) Avaleen straightens, sticking her chin out as she attempts to address the men without fear or uncertainty.]

I do not see how what I am or where I am from should be of any consequence to you, sir.

[heavensend]

[ they both burst out laughing, and the one in front of her steps closer, leering down at her. "Yeah, well, sweetheart, that's where you're wrong. I'm doing the Lord's work when it comes to people like you." he nods slightly, and the man behind her abruptly attempts to put a bag over her head while the other guy grabs her (grapple 18) ]

[delicere]

[Bless. With that opposed grapple check of um. 8. The men overpower Avaleen with ease, the blonde letting out a startled cry as they bundle her up.]

[withasouvenir]

[ thea's been sneaking around the other block to come back, but probably hears avaleen's cry? (listen 18) at least this time she's channeling a fucking shadow as she approaches (hide nat 20, move silently 20 total), so she probs won't fuck everything up again even if she doesn't hear anything yet. ]

[silvermaid]

[ anastacia got a 17 and a 20, and the men don't notice them following as they lift her up and break down an alley carrying the girl. they actually don't go too far, before they approach a doorway, rap on it brusquely, and it opens for them. they disappear inside, door slamming behind them. ]

[withasouvenir]

[ once the door slams shut, thea hurries over to anastacia, eyebrows knit together in concern. ] What now?

[delicere]

[While Ava knew something like this was probably coming, the fear in her voice as the bag muffles her cries is very real. Unfortunately however, a fighter she is not but still she continues to try and struggle free from the men who keep her from escaping. (Opposed Grapple 12. Bless.)]

[silvermaid]

[ the man readjusts his grip on her as she almost wriggles free, since he apparently wasn't expecting that resistance (grapple 17).

"Quiet, or we'll knock you the fuck out, creature," he growls.

outside, anastacia steps back to look at the building, and get a feel for it. faded lettering indicates that it was once a lightbulb factory, but those days look long gone. most of the windows are so dirty that they look caked shut with age. ] Maybe there's another way in.

[withasouvenir]

[ thea glances around (spot 22) for a different way in?? maybe a window that isn't completely unsalvageable. ]

[silvermaid]

[ oh hey there's a window up there that looks like its ajar. but they'll need a boost which means someone will have to be left behind 8( which is what's happening to riddick look at these smooth gming skills. time for a climb check ladies. ]

[withasouvenir]

[ smoother than a fresh jar o' skippy, tbqh. thea points out the window to anastacia and riddick. her climb was a 16 so she's pretty firm and confident in her ability to squeak through the window quietly. (move silently 24) ]

[delicere]

[Meanwhile, inside, their threats appear to be enough to quiet her cries. Ava safe in the belief that the others would not be far behind she decides it's better not to struggle for fear of injury. (Wis 19)]

Why are you doing this? I have done nothing to you!

[silvermaid]

[ "This isn't for us - it's for our family. Our country, which wasn't meant for monsters like you," scowls the man holding her. she hears the rattle of metal on metal, and the creak of a door. "Put her in."

anastacia struggles a bit with the climb, but manages to make it (climb 10), and is about as quiet as she sneaks into the window with her. their feet land in a dusty abandoned hallway. there's a door that leads to the second floor factory floor, and the hallway curves at the end to the left, and leads to a staircase at the right end. ]

[delicere]

[Ava struggles again, more-so on instinct than any master plan. Unable to see what it is that they plan to put her into, her imagination runs wild with thoughts of giant ovens filled with people or maybe its just cause I have TW Miracle Day playing in the background. (Opposed Grapple 16).]

So you capture me?! Why? What do you plan to do with me? [She's at least smart enough to try and milk them for info as she does this. (Wis 23)]

[withasouvenir]

[ thea silently draws her sword as she moves forward toward the door, keeping it down next to her leg to it won't catch any light. she tries to listen for the captors, but... she doesn't listen very well. (listen 3) so helpful, so useful. ]

[heavensend]

[ his grapple of 17 is only just enough to push her in despite her struggles, and she finds herself pushed into a large people-cage, basically.

"Guess you'll find out, won't you?" the man chuckles, and the sack is lifted off her head suddenly, before the door clangs shut behind her. she can see that she's on some sort of factor floor, and there's a small row of these kind of cages. the one beside her has a small figure huddled in the corner crying quietly.

anastacia opens the door, and they sneak inside onto what seems to be a balcony that catwalks around on top of the factory floor below - meaning they can see down to where the men are locking avaleen into the cage. ]

[delicere]

[With A ridic spot check of 28 and low-light vision up to 60 feet, Avaleen tries to get a better look at her surroundings, mainly at the huddled figure in the nearby cage as she scoots closer to the edge of her own, away from the men who had just unceremoniously shoved her inside.]