knightsoflegend | CLOSED ♔ there is a seed inside of me

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CLOSED ♔ there is a seed inside of me | it keeps growing

♬ Demon Seed - Nine Inch Nails

WHO || Violet, Jess Leighton, ?? [closed]
WHAT || Violet's new life has a turn for the incredibly dramatic
WHERE || San Francisco, CA
WHEN || Feb 14th, 2013 [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

For some people, the transition from their home world to this strange new one is made easier than for others, by the simple addition of one thing: access to people who care about their plight and meet them with understanding, instead of suspicion and fear. Violet Fiore was lucky enough to be one such pilgrim, arriving in the big city of San Francisco, California, where plenty of locals could easily recognize the signs of disorientation common enough in Veil arrivals. She was directed to the Lethe Clinic, a cramped building with tiny rooms but many smiling faces eager to help the displaced.

Jess Leighton was one of the workers there - all volunteers, of course - who took a special interest in Violet's case. The blonde human was quick to recognize that there was something unique about Vi's situation. Unlike so many of their "Shadow World" tenants who needed to be taught everything from modern day lingo to how to operate electronics, it was obvious relatively shortly that she knew about a world much like this one. While Jess admitted it was unheard of as far as she knew, she didn't treat Violet any different for it, and offered her the same amenities they gave everybody else: a bed to sleep in, some basic clothes, information about the world, the city, and what was known about the Veil, and a promise to help her find work so she could get out there on her own.

There are a number of other residents here, of course, some human, but others more bizarre in appearance: elves, a dwarf, even a pair of halflings. Most disturbing, however, has been that one of the young human women has been ill ever since Violet arrived, and as Jess has informed her, the local hospitals won't take her, for fear she's nursing some kind of Shadowkind disease that their patient's immune systems wouldn't be able to combat.

Today, Jess is leaning against the door to the sick girl's room, looking in, sweat on her brow as she takes a break from running around all day for once. She notices Violet approaching and sighs, closing the door quietly so as not to wake the resting girl.

"She's not getting any better." She shakes her head in frustration. "It's been a week now. Garriss was supposed to get a cleric to come by and see her days ago. And now I can't even reach him. I don't know what to do anymore."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's a park near where your Lethe is located. It's probably the safest place for you while we try to save your friend.

Not to get all Yoda on you, but there isn't no try. There is only save.

[Not that she doesn't think it could be impossible, but hey, no. She's claimed Jess as her friend and she sure as shit isn't going to let Jess die because someone seems to be a little uncaring about one insignificant human.

She's significant to Violet. So, sure, waiting in the park is probably a good idea, she could tree stuff to death, but waiting in the park while people she doesn't trust try to save her friend?

Nope.] Root systems are deep, I can wing it just as well from inside.

If the girl wishes to fight, she should be granted the chance. [ it's stated simply, and clearly not something he's putting up for argument. ] We don't have time to try to talk her out of it.

[What's next, she the cat's mother? It isn't like they don't know her name to use it while talking about her. Especially since her stubbornness seems to be noted so it's not like they miss a thing.

Which means Vi is stuck between preening because SO THERE and frowning because gosh. Her name isn't even that hard to remember, she's the end of the rainbow, the effing pot of gold if you will.

But Violet is a grown up, as it were, so she doesn't say "so there". Achievement Unlocked: Self Control!]

Sorted.

Luthir's right, Lis'sa. Practicality aside, she has a right to fight for her friend. [ she shoots vi a look that's basically like APOLOGIZING FOR MOM AND DAD SRY ] We're almost there.

[YEAH Team Vi! Solidarity sister.

She keeps her mouth shut though, because, well, Risa sort of said it perfectly. Handy that she knows everyone's name, though, that's nice.

But then of course, she has a question.] Is there any way to reverse it? I mean, it would probably still kill the... uh, slaadi, which is kind of sad, but their hosts would be alive.

After the transformation has been completed, the only way to reverse it would be a carefully phrased wish from a powerful supernatural being. Or a miracle.

We don't have time to go hoping for either of those right now.

Wow. That's really... friggin' rude.

[Er.] Of the Slaadi. Not you.

It's a rather... unfortunate development of any species. [ HEY LOOK up ahead there, she'd recognize the Lethe. risa nods that way ] Is that it?

Yes! [And she sprints forward (Dex nat 20), because she is known for her spectacular decisions, isn't she?]

Violet! Wait! [ but it's too late and she's already way ahead. luthir starts heading after her, the swiftest of the three, but she still reaches the door first and makes it into the lobby.

what she finds is a stomach-dropping sight.

the lobby's been smashed apart, like a very large bull in a very fragile china shop had a field day. fluorescent lights hang by electrical cords sparking from the ceiling, chairs lay on their side, legs bent at unnatural angles. jess' potted plants are knocked on the floor, dirt spilling across the tiles. the path of destruction seems to continue down the hallway. ]

[She pulls up short, the momentum pushing her forward and right over one of those broken chairs into a heap on the ground (dex 5).]

No.

[She's a tough girl, she's seen a lot, some she can't even remember, but it doesn't make it any easier to picture a fragile human in the middle of all the destruction.

Maybe Lis'sa had been right.

No. Screw that. She is still going to find Jess and if Jess happens to be a big blue or red bog monster, she was going to shoot her in the face. Violet doesn't have enough friends to let them be fucked with.

She shoves herself back to her feet.]

[ a listen check of 12+ will be enough to hear some of the sounds coming from down that hallway: growls and crashes mostly. ]

[Listen 7, she is batting a thousand. Maybe she got plaster dust lodged in her ear when she took her swan dive over the chair. In any case, she doesn't notice the party going on and instead stoops to right a fallen plant, brushing her fingers against the glossy leaves.]

[ luthir's in the door behind her abruptly, having traded out the bow for a gleaming silver blade covered in elven writing and beautiful curved designs. his eyes lock on her for a moment, and then scan down the hallway. ]

Stay with me.

[Like she is going to say no to him.]

Okay.

[And she will actually just trot along after him like she knows how to take direction well. Because she does.]

[ he moves swiftly down the hallway, entirely silent until a piece of ceiling tile crashes down two feet away from me. gritting his teeth at losing any element of surprise, he dashes forward into the room.

the scene there is a disturbing one. a bloody jess has barricaded a few still-living residents into one of the in-room bathrooms as evidenced by the crying issuing forth from within, and she stands in front of the door wielding a baseball bat, as a hulking red monster stands over her, drooling and hissing it. it swipes at her, and she ducks underneath its arm, shrieking, and pushing herself further back against the door. ]

[ the ruckus luthir inadvertently made draws the creature's attention, and its head snaps in his direction. annoyed by the intrusion, it roars and LEAPS at him, horrible sharp fangs biting into neck. blood spurts out and he lets out a sharp shout of pain before clamping his teeth together fiercely (dmg 17) ]

[All Vi's happy thoughts of FRIEND ALIVE are sort of shoved aside when the monster turns Sparkling Bloodsucker and gets it's chomp on. You know. On the dude that gives off all the knight in shining armor (literally), saving the damsel in distress vibes.]

Hey! Hands off the eye candy!

[... don't judge her. She is shallow like a puddle. BUT her aim is just spectacular and she lets her arrow fly. (Attack nat 20!!)

[ the arrow thuds into the creature's eyeball (14 dmg) and it lets out a terrible high pitched screech, letting go of luthir to claw at its face. he immediately recovers and tears into the creature with a whirl of attacks... the first connects, but jess has started charging forward now that she's seen vi, and luthir crit fails, slamming into her with his elbow as he pivots to swing his sword again. jess is knocked back against the wall and away from the melee, probably for the best...

the slaad is torn between its desire to stop luthir from dancing around it, and to get the girl who shot an arrow into his eyeball, which he rips out with a fierce and freaky nat 20 strength check. he turns away from the elf, roaring, and lunges at her (atk 25 dmg 9), claws smashing into her face. ]

[Pain. So much impossible pain that Vi forgets about Jess for a hot second and just whimpers.

And maybe screams out a particularly violent swear.

The force sends her to the ground, sliding back a few feet until a wall ever so gently puts a suddenly stop to her momentum. Luckily, she doesn't pass out so that's a silver lining! She's dizzy and sluggish, but she's been doing this since she was thirteen, she has twelve years of experience of being half dead and still fighting, so she still shoots (attack 20), even if she wants to die. Adrenaline and habit, miracle drug.]

[ luthir's head jerks in vi's direction, to make sure she's still alive, and when he sees her send an arrow flying that jabs right into the slaad's shoulder (6 dmg), he unleashes a deadly whirl of blades, and his final slice sends the thing's head splatting against the far wall. jess shrieks a bit, but then turns wide eyed to violet, dropping the bat and running to her side.

"Oh my god, Vi!" ]

[Even in her dazed stupor, Violet recognizes how awesome that elf is. She might owe him a life or two. She grins a little loopily when Jess runs over, relief very apparent and washing over her in waves.]

Hey! I found a cleric. [Priorities. Her eyes turn from her friend back to Luthir with a satisfied giggle -- again, priorities.] Told you. [Another grin for Jess, oh girl, this girl is so happy you're not dead. Cue babbling, sorry.] I told them you weren't dead. I mean, I still woulda come, 'cause you're important shit, Blondie, but I knew you weren't dead. I'm sorry I got lost and I was late and she turned into a salami monster, no that's not right. Slaaaaa- Fuck it. Salami. And I'm sorry we just killed her and I'm taking partial credit for that 'cause I can. [She sucks in a breath, clearing her head a little.] I can turn her into daisies if you want, we can plant her in the park? Are you okay? Did she try to eat you?

[ jess cuts off vi's rambling with a huge hug. "We're okay. Everyone else... oh god, we had no idea what was happening, Violet. I got everyone rounded up, they're in there." She points to the bathroom, before looking to Luthir. "He's a cleric?" Little late now, but Luthir shakes his head no, and indicates to where Risa is currently running through the door a few seconds late for the battle with Lis'sa in tow. ]

Are we... [ she stops dead in her tracks, staring at the slaad head on the floor next to her. ] Too... late... I see.

[Wow, Jess gives great hugs.]

That's the cleric. [Funny how it's just stating a fact, but it still kind of sounds like a sweeping orchestral chorus of I TOLD YOU SO.] Did she scratch you or something, 'cause you might be incubating.

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