Character Mansion

[Garden]

"Oh, you came over!" Said Tamara, noticing Samira and Claire. She looked down at the drawings, then back at Samira and said "We were explaining what they are to Anne." She nodded. "I drew that one! That's the plane my sister flies... Oh, I didn't tell you my sister was a pilot, did I? Because she is."

Claire smiled and chuckled softly. "So," She said, looking over at Anne. "Do you understand airplanes now?"

edited 20th Apr '13 5:54:11 PM by Blackfire667

[Sparring Room]

Gabrielle frowned as Aseyu mentioned the Voidmarked. "Who are they, the Voidmarked you mentioned? I've never heard anything like it, although we do have our Corrupted."

Jonathan shrugged and stuffed his hands back in his pockets.

[Sparring Room]

Aseyu sighed and waved her hand as she looked for the right explanation. "The Magocracy has a monopoly on magic in Uel. In theory, anyone willing to cut a bargain with the Eyes and Teeth or one of its servants can learn to cast magic. But in practice, mages who rebel against the Magocracy get a voidmark cast on them. I don't understand exactly how it works, but it apparently causes the mage to be destroyed by their own powers." She tapped her head, trying to recall if there was anything else she knew. "Oh, and it works across worlds — in some sort of dream world, a creature called Kokabiel apparently used it to destroy the mind of some nasty little man named Angelus and beat a creator-god called the Elder into submission. For a while after that, it was even more insufferable than usual."

[Garden]

Samira smiled at this, wondering how much luck they were having explaining such an extraordinary thing to Anne. From the looks of it, they hadn't even gotten started on modern jet engines.

Then, with a look of concern, she noticed Bianca had vanished. A quick look around, and Samira noticed her in the shadows. Perhaps she'd gotten tired and fallen asleep, but it was hard to tell at this distance. Samira said, "just a moment," then headed over to her.

"Bianca? Are you okay?"

Don't worry, I already PM'd Leung, she said she wanted back in.

[Garden]

"... eh?"

Bianca had been gripping her left shoulder and staring into space for quite a while now.

"Sorry. What's happening now?" She removed her hand from the stump and started playing with the floppy left sleeve of the bathrobe.

[Garden]

Samira shrugged and said, "to be honest, I'm not totally sure myself. Something about airplanes. I don't think you'd have heard of them either — non-magical flying machines we use in my world to get across continents." She frowned. "Not fond of them myself, but I won't bore you with complaints about airport security. I'm not a third-rate stand-up comedian, after all." She glanced back at the group. "Care to join us?"

[Garden]

"Don't mind if I do. Thank you."

For non-magically assisted air travel, humans were rather fond of airships. At least it only took one disaster for them to figure out that maybe one of the most flammable gases known to exist wasn't the best thing to be filling those bags with. But all in all, boats were preferred.

[Garden]

As soon as Bianca and Samira returned to the group, Samira said, "have you all met my friend Bianca? If not..." she paused. Must remember to let the poor dear meet some other people, get opinions that aren't mine. "...well, she's quite capable of introducing herself." Samira stepped off slightly to the side, watching carefully as she considered the others. She hadn't gotten much chance to talk to the chimera fellow, but she knew Claire, Tamara, and Anne well enough to know they'd be good.

[Sparring room]

"Hmm," said Mai, frowning. "Interesting. You probably don't know the specifics on how it turns magic against the user, or I'd ask you a bit more on that."

She looked at her hand and conjured a small fireball in it. "Wonder if trying this'd consume me in fire," she thought aloud, "or if it's more general?" She shrugged and the fire vanished. "Guess there's not really much point in speculating about it unless I run into one of your mages."

[Garden]

Xavier instinctively took a step to one side. For some reason, he felt like he ought to give Anne, Tamara, and Claire some room. He couldn't say why, though; he almost felt like he was in the way of... something.

With his conversation temporarily on hold, Xavier took a look around the garden, flexing his wings a bit to keep the blood running through them. It wasn't long before he noticed Samira and Bianca. "Um. Hi." He gave them a little wave. "Xavier Sunyo."

[Entry Hall]

Frank looked around the room and said "What's with all the people coming to a swamp-mansion on the same night? Is there some sort of house-party going on here, or has everyone planned some sort of mansion-heist? Cause I'm not part of this party and or heist, I don't even know why I'm here!"

[Entry Hall]

Overhearing Frank, Esa said, "the spirits are probably toying with us..." Then she turned to see Frank and looked about to offer a polite bow before, in surprise, she exclaimed, "a talking pig? That is... I do wonder what Layi would make of this."

Koyel cleared his throat, vaguely recognizing Frank from earlier overheard conversations, and said, "sorry, my Mama Esa ain't real well-suited to the weird. Even mountain folk are enough, let alone all this. Er, anyhow..." he offered a bow. "I think I seen you around. Koyel ul'Netho at your service, and this'd," he pointed at his mother, "is Esa ul'Netho."

Then, to Esa, Koyel added, "I'm thinking rock lizard meat instead of the usual, if ya follow."

edited 21st Apr '13 7:51:00 PM by KillerClowns

Garden

"I...guess that makes some sort of odd sense," Anne replied, glancing down at the drawings again. "There's still the question of how you get the things to move fast enough to get into the air in the first place, though."

At that point, Samira and Claire came over. They were joined soon afterwards by Bianca. Anne just nodded in greeting at Samira and Bianca, making a note to finish the conversation she'd started with Bianca at some point before she left the building, before turning to Claire. "Definitely not entirely, but I think I get the basics of them now."

Ulrich chuckled. "She's a stubborn woman, I can tell you that much. If she thinks someone has slighted her, she won't stop until she's avenged it." He glanced over at her. "At least in this case that it's not rage-inducing. I've seen what happens when someone gets on her bad side, and...it was not pleasant for the victim."

He stopped when Sven entered the room, and gave him his usual greeting nod. "A pleasure to meet you, Sven," he said, although his hands remained exactly where they were.

"Now that I think of it," he said, "I do believe it's time I get her Majesty out of this place. There's very important business that needs dealt with back in Theoland." At that, he walked over to Grimhilde.

"That sounds like as good a plan as any," Grimhilde replied. She turned to acknowledge Ulrich, who had just arrived. "Ulrich, Sir Oswald and I have developed a plan to find the host, and your assistance is required."

"I would be happy to oblige, your Majesty, but I wish to remind you that there's still business in Theoland that requires your utmost attention, and I doubt that it wants to wait much longer."

Grimhilde's eyes narrowed. "I told you once already, Ulrich. We are not leaving this building until all business here is dealt with. The most major of which is finding the host."

"And I still doubt that the host is even present," Ulrich responded adamantly. "If you are so willing to completely abandon the chance to extend your power for what is nothing more than a wild goose chase, then so be it."

Grimhilde was silent for a few moments, staring down at the floor with a thoughtful expression on her face. She then turned to Oswald. "My apologies, Sir Oswald, but I must take my leave. My political duties call to me. But rest assured, I shall be back eventually." She then turned away, removed the mirror from her belt, topped the top of it twice, and offered it to Ulrich.

Ulrich smirked, before extending a hand and placing it on the mirror. In a second, he was gone. Grimhilde returned the mirror to her belt before placing a palm on it herself and vanishing similarly.

Pulling these two out because I'm having too much trouble writing for them at this point. They'll probably be back later once the other aspects of my life calm down.

[Entry Hall]

"Yeah, talking pigs are kind of a normal thing where I live. As I was saying, do you know anything about this place? I thought at first that this was just an abandoned house that I could break into and maybe take a few things from, but there's quite a bunch of folks here tonight."

[Entry Hall]

Esa and Koyel both shook their heads, and Koyel said, "I don't know much more than my mother here, and she just walked in the doors."

Esa said, "Except that I was up in Netho, while my son here was down in the Anemuesa. But we somehow both got lost and landed here."

Koyel groaned and said, "I don't think Frank here would have heard of either. Spare you the boring details, those two places are a real damn long way away. So we ain't in a place that's really a place, you follow what I mean?"

[Entry Hall]

Frank stood still and thought for a moment before saying "....Kinda? Anyway, I'm Captain Higgins, the saltiest sea-hog of the Nonspecific Oceans and mayor of Crown Town."

[Garden]

"Hello." Bianca politely nodded her head at everyone. "I apologize in advance if I do anything that seems funny to you. Heavy blood loss, wandering alone for two days... it hasn't been good for my social skills, as you can imagine. So I hear we were talking about airplanes? I don't actually know anything about them, so you can carry on, I suppose."

In the meantime, what to do about this loose sleeve? Other than awkwardly flapping it with her right hand. She tried rolling it up, which was more difficult with one hand than it seemed.

[[Parlor => Entry Hall]]

Lance finishes off his coffee, a real treat as it usually had to be grown forcefully through magic. The parlor despite the amount of people in it had been completely dead, so he goes back into the entry hall to leave. For a meeting of the worlds this is a bit dull... maybe...

The moment he sees Franklin he immediately changes his plans. Well.. I have to see this. He moves closer to Esa and Koyel, but as he's not sure at all what's going on simply hovers.

[[Balcony]]

Hilda frowns, "That was certainly a tad... rude...." She looks up at Sven, "Not that I mind... but... I mean this is still somewhat of a formal gathering. I mean..."

"Hilda," Sven's returned his hand to his side after the awkward refusal, "I just banged another dude. Calling this formal is a tad.."

Hilda frowns, "Really? Right after Lance?" She neglects to look down and fails to notice him. "Only you..." She shakes her head. "Well, might as well remedy this situation. She walks over to Ozzy, Sven following her. "Um... that was bit weird. You know their disappearance. She pauses for a moment, Oh yes Hilda, way to set the room, just pop out the itinerary and pour the tea herm? "Anyway this is my friend Sven." She gestures up towards him.

He smiles, Welp... I have no idea what this is, but given today... "Hey. So what you been doing?"

[Balcony]

Ozzy had waited patiently while the Queen argued with her chief advisor. It seemed for a moment that the matter would be settled, and they could proceed with their search, but as it turned out, the Queen had other matters to attend to. Ozzy bid her goodbye with a halfhearted, "Very well... I hope to see your return." then, when she and her chief advisor had left, he let his shoulders slump and exhaled a long hissing sigh. However, he did allow himself some inward congratulations for handling his very first chat with royalty... considerably well. And he didn't feel blown off. A queen, he reasoned, must have a great deal to manage. It was probably a miracle that she was able to attend this party in the first place.

Presently, Hilda approached him, bringing a friend along with her. He raised his hooded head from it's downward slant, gazing between the two as Hilda spoke to him. The friend, who was quite a stocky man, seemed vaguely familiar, as though Ozzy had seen him in passing.

When Hilda had finished speaking, Ozzy replied, "Yes, it was a little sudden. I have to wonder if that old man didn't just want to leave here." His voice became quieter and less directed as he spoke, as though he were speaking to a room devoid of an audience, or just to himself. "If the Queen had business to take care of, why did they come here at all? And this host..." his voice trailed off, and he became silent for a few seconds, his fingers pressed together against the end of his mask.

A moment later, after Ozzy seemed to realize that Hilda wasn't at all finished. He snapped back to attention, saying, "Oh- oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please, forgive me— I was- I had, something- something was bugging me." he laughed slightly, "Wow, I... sorry. Sven! Sven, friend of Hilda, glad to meet you. I am Oswald Orozco," he didn't bother bowing this time, but stuck his arm out to shake, "Actually, I was talking to that queen who was just here, uh, Queen Grimhilde, Theoland... something. We were planning on hunting down whoever is supposed to be hosting this event, and it was going well... then... eh. I guess things come up. I was thinking about just going ahead and do it myself, but..." he gestured slightly towards Sven and Hilda. "How have you been? Enjoying your time here?"

[Outside —> Entry Hall]

A cloud of silver mist gathered in front of the Mansion's door and a slim, middle-aged woman in blue silk robes took shape. Her dark hair was braided over her shoulder and decorated with tiny blue and white flowers. A large sapphire hung from a gold chain on her neck. On her back were a quiver of arrows and an unstrung bow.

The place was not one she recognized. She must have made a mistake. But until she could regain her strength, she was stranded.

The door opened for her, and she wasn't sure what to make of the scene inside. A varied crowd, clearly, that even included a pig. She chose to remain silent until someone addressed her, in case she had just interrupted something.

[Entry Hall]

Frank's unfortunate choice of words immediately brought the mouth-watering taste of salted and spiced pork jerky to the minds of both Esa and Koyel, who exchanged glances long enough to realize the other was thinking the same thing. Then they briefly looked down at their shoes, hoping Frank didn't realize they were contemplating the delicious taste of his non-speaking kin.

Finally, Koyel said, "ah, I see. Got it." Looking to distract his mind, Koyel grasped for the first thing that came to mind. "Mayor, huh? So, uh, you don't seem real shocked to see us humans. You got those, er us, where ya come from?"

Esa, seeking a better distraction, glanced at the new woman. Seen through the Uelane cultural lens, her obsolete (and oddly unstrung) weapon and ostentatious jewelery made her look rather primitive to Esa. (Although it was quite possible Esa's simple and undecorated outfit would make her seem equally primitive to the woman, Esa did not consider this.) But remaining polite neverthless, Esa offered a bow and said, "the spirits drag another visitor here?" She looked her over again. "You a lost wanderer like the rest of us seem to be, or might you be able to fill us in on where in Amu's name we've stumbled?" Then, remembering her manners, she quickly added, "oh, by the way, I'd be Esa, that fine young man over there wearing the Blue is my son Koyel, and the, er, flat-nosed fellow is Frank."

[Garden]

For the moment, Samira had nothing to add, continuing to watch in approving silence.

Waiting on tehpillowstar for the sparring room.

edited 22nd Apr '13 4:35:53 PM by KillerClowns

[Entry Hall]

"Yeah, there's plenty of humans where I come from. There's also elves,dwarves,gnomes,halflings,ogres, oozelings and sentient hammers that murder people. By the way, I'll have you know that my people take offence to the phrase 'flat nose'. We much prefer the term 'Swinle Oinkers'."

[Garden]

"Well, if you're this coherent," said Xavier, "it can't be that bad. But still, thanks for letting me know. Hate to think you're going crazy or something."

Dammit, say something more. "And I wasn't really interested in planes, I was just explaining them to someone else, an-" His train of thought came to an abrupt halt as he noticed Bianca fiddling with her sleeve. "Oh, um, you... want some help with that?" He pointed to the sleeve. "I could knot it up or... something."

[Garden]

"Well, that's pretty good." Said Claire. "Considering you'd never heard of them before today." She smiled. "Maybe you should try and understand them a little better? Who knows; with a little skill, luck and, of course, some help, you could create your world's first flying machine."

Meanwhile, Tamara wandered over to Samira's side, eyeing Bianca curiously. Was she in the theatre? thought the young girl. She tugged on Samira's sleeve to get her attention, then whispered "What happened to her arm?"

[Garden]

"Can you really do that, Xavier? I'd very much appreciate it."

The little girl was giving Bianca a funny look, and then she whispered something to Samira. Heh. I can put two and two together. Bianca clenched her teeth, half-wishing that the child had asked her directly. Well, she was probably going to have to get used to things like that happening, even after getting a prosthetic, unless she planned on covering it up all the time.

[Balcony]

Sven reaches out and grabs Oswald's hand, his grip extremely firm. "Can't say it's been half bad..." Hilda looks up at him, an eyebrow raised, "bagged a guy, free booze, the works. This treated you well too?"

Hilda shakes her head slightly, not surprised but definitely not impressed, "Of course you would Sven. Never been one for quiet relaxation. Or public decency." She laughs, recalling a recent memory. "Given I've just gotten here though I guess it's gone... ok."

"So," Sven raises an eyebrow, "What's this about looking for the host? He doesn't seem to want to be found."

[Entry Hall]

Lance decides to insert himself into conversation, and given his options between a talking pig and a mysterious women, he'd rather take the latter. He positions himself closer to Esa and the newcomer. Better overly formal than offensive I guess"Hello." His voice is weak. "I overheard your question, Esa was it? And I can say that I received an invitation. Albeit it said to go to an opera house, not the middle of the swamp, I'm still not sure how I ended up here. It is strange." He pauses and glances around as if to stop speaking. Well... that's... oh yeah introductions...

"I'm Lance by the way, appointed financial minister to king Adolfus." He bows.

[Sparring Room]

"Huh...that sounds...pretty fucked up," Jonathan commented. "Kinda like where we come from."

Gabrielle held up her hands and gently healed Aseyu's injuries. It wasn't much, but the pain went away and most of the bruises healed, and Aseyu would feel generally better. It was gentle, Gabrielle's magic.