Ragnarok

[Verite]

For Shirou and the others loomed over the book, flipping through the now docile pages would reveal artistic depictions of monsters, rituals and strange symbols. Accented with aged text with a peculiar, elaborate font, the book unintentionally expressed its age through the centuries. Turning onto the desired chapter, the observers would be greeted with a block of partially faded text on the left page. Most of the text appeared missing, unfortunately, the ink over the centuries fading and meshing against the march of time. However, a small passage could still be deciphered...

"…From the notes gathered, the Son-Devourer was once a chieftain of the numerous tribes to the north, going as far as to eventually form a formidable fiefdom near present-day Charon. Legend says that the man, with his wife deceased and three sons eyeing his throne, murdered and ate all his heirs for the pursuit of some occultist power whispered to him by entities long forgotten. The lost power, when Worlds Beyond Stars aligns, bloodlines would serve as an elixir of life and power. With the skulls of his sons as goblets, the Son-Devourer began his campaign, the workings of forces beyond even Our comprehension at hand…"

The passage abruptly ends, the artistic depiction on the right page showing a kingly man, dressed in a coat-of-plates and an army behind him. The King, with a war horn pressed to his lips, appeared to blowing the horn. Directly left of him, what appeared to be the walls of a castle were crumbling underneath the blow of the horn, archers and guardsmen failing to their deaths. The artistic style appeared bear an equal age to the anarchic text, with bodily proportions and sense of depth completely ignored. A small line of readable text could be seen near the top of the ancient drawing.

"Beware the General,
His army calls at the Gates of Dawn."

@Verite @Atomyk @Kaykay​

Shirou's eyes narrowed a bit as he looked through the depictions of monsters, like incantations of dark magic that wouldn't have been out of place back where he had come from. Everything reminded him of back home. The monsters that were like familiars and corrupted Heroic Spirits, symbols reminiscent of those drawn in magecraft, such as alchemy, and so on. His brow furrowed as he read the description of the so-called Son-Devourer as best as he could, such a description reminding him to a degree of Angra Mainyu.

But enough of those comparisons.

Shirou attempted to decipher what sort of meaning the text had, but in the long run, it generally meant little to him, as he was unable to connect it to anything he knew of for the time being.

"Guess it turned out to be safe after all," Shirou commented briefly in response to Yuna, before letting out a soft sigh, "Still... What could the significance of all this be, I wonder?" He murmured mostly to himself, attempting to scan through the book for more pieces of interest that might connect with the drawing and the text.

@Atomyk @Kaykay @Krieg​

 

[LuckycoolHawk9]

Nathan Drake

Nathan noticed that there was a pot of acidic substance in the cauldron back by the entrance. The only problem was that his teammates were in the way and he might kill them if he knocked them over. If he waited for them to relocate, he might be able to stop the beast, but the beast might also relocate. He really wished he had someone who had a degree in alchemy with him so he could figure what else he could do. He looked around for a loose object or two to test on the smaller pots in the area. If he failed at finding one, he would empty a bullet from his gun to experiment with one of them.

@Krieg @Jeremi @Yun Lee @thatguyinthestore

 

[Kaykay]

For Shirou and the others loomed over the book, flipping through the now docile pages would reveal artistic depictions of monsters, rituals and strange symbols. Accented with aged text with a peculiar, elaborate font, the book unintentionally expressed its age through the centuries. Turning onto the desired chapter, the observers would be greeted with a block of partially faded text on the left page. Most of the text appeared missing, unfortunately, the ink over the centuries fading and meshing against the march of time. However, a small passage could still be deciphered...

"…From the notes gathered, the Son-Devourer was once a chieftain of the numerous tribes to the north, going as far as to eventually form a formidable fiefdom near present-day Charon. Legend says that the man, with his wife deceased and three sons eyeing his throne, murdered and ate all his heirs for the pursuit of some occultist power whispered to him by entities long forgotten. The lost power, when Worlds Beyond Stars aligns, bloodlines would serve as an elixir of life and power. With the skulls of his sons as goblets, the Son-Devourer began his campaign, the workings of forces beyond even Our comprehension at hand…"

The passage abruptly ends, the artistic depiction on the right page showing a kingly man, dressed in a coat-of-plates and an army behind him. The King, with a war horn pressed to his lips, appeared to blowing the horn. Directly left of him, what appeared to be the walls of a castle were crumbling underneath the blow of the horn, archers and guardsmen failing to their deaths. The artistic style appeared bear an equal age to the anarchic text, with bodily proportions and sense of depth completely ignored. A small line of readable text could be seen near the top of the ancient drawing.

"Beware the General,
His army calls at the Gates of Dawn."

@Verite @Atomyk @Kaykay

"Whew, dunno what we would've done if it wasn't!"

Yuuna's worries were for naught evidently as Shirou had no problem flipping the pages. Though their attempts at investigating the book seemed equally pointless given how little she could understand from the book. A legend about a man who ate his own family? Not unexpected for a "son-devourer" but it still made her a bit uneasy. What kind of father would do something like that?

Well in the end, it was just a story, so there was no reason to think too much of it. Probably.

"Is that king-like guy the Son-Devourer? I hope he doesn't have an entire army of family eaters."

Yuuna laughed a little bit as though telling a joke, but in truth she wasn't really sure what to make of the whole thing.

@Atomyk @Verite @Krieg​

 

[Krieg]

₱ł₱ɆⱤ ₳₮ ₮ⱧɆ ₲₳₮Ɇ₴ Ø₣ Đ₳₩₦
Campaign
Chapter II
"Congregation of Conflagration"

Dooon...

Craftsmen Hut

"Ooooh, my patrons! Oh my sweet birdies!" the Craftsman declared, prancing about in his bedroom, laughing manically and loudly. "It is time! You hear those bells! It time for Congregation! Congregation!" the harden man squealed and shuddered like some excited child, scrambling around the room to gather everything and anything that could fit into his hands. "Come, come! Service awaits us! Dawn is coming soon, just you wait! Once this night is over, it'll be a big, beautiful dawn awaiting us! Don't you worry, my beautiful, gorgeous little patrons. I'll be your shepherd, just follow me, quick, quick! We wouldn't want the Priest getting mad, now wooould we?!" he cried, not sane enough to notice Clare as he rushed out of the room, stomping down the stairs and rushing out of the door.

Causing the rest of the individuals huddled by the book to see a cloaked man rush out of the hut, the eerie chime of the bell echoing again. For those huddled near the book, it's secrets would be hard to decipher now, the chiming of church bells seeming to cause a large commotion outside. Still, there was hints there more secrets could lie within. Perhaps in a time of a solace, and with more and more clues, more secrets could be deciphered.

Dooon...

---

Alchemist Store

The beast hurdled itself forwards, undergoing a full charge. Screeching from that ungodly slit on it's corrupted face, black ooze seeping from the sole, fleshy entrance, the being of Malevolence abruptly appeared to start disintegrating. Shadowy, smokey, hissing mists began to steam off the frail, slender being, the frightening pace of the charge beginning to steam off. By the time it reached Coco, Death Head, and anybody else in the corridor, the abomination eroded into a black, omnipresent mist. Seconds later, any trace of the Dark Silhouette even existing vanished, nothing but an old, lit-up, dead end filled with rubble and debris.

For Nathan, the smaller pots would reveal a similar effect than the large cauldron. Rubble laid around that would suffice as a good experiment, and lo, despite all the colors and textures, all the pots held the same, dangerous acidic substance. Strange how shelves of these were lined up with virtually the same substance, but such thoughts could wait. If Nathan wished, perhaps taking some of these could prove useful, either for purposes of self-defense or purposes of navigation.

Whatever the case may be, the sudden chiming of a bell echoed, a commotion of sound and chaos erupting outside.

Dooon...

---

By the time everyone poured out of their respectful locations, the streets of Piper's Landing became to look more and more of a mess. The water, previously shallow, was now reaching up just below the knees of most individuals. Swampy and troublesome to navigate, black-clad and ragged villagers crawled out of the ruins of many of the buildings, holding a deranged, lost gaze in their eyes. Chanting gibberish and squirming erratically, these residents, or rather, survivors approached the source of the noise, lost in their lunacy.

Up on a small hill, down the main street of the town, a large chapel could be seen. Even from this distance, the belfry within chimed and chimed ominously, the sun in the scarred sky beginning to grow dim, the march of sunset approaching. In the not-so far distance, two villagers could be seen dragging someone along. Upon even the slightest glimpse of concentration, a heart might even sink.

Captain Qadira, your captain and leader, was nearly knocked out cold and dragged by her arms by two villagers.

Barely awake, she looked back at the emerging group. With what little strength she could muster, the native nomad cried out.

"D-Don't...Fight!...Fo..Fo..." she slurred, bloodied and beaten, slipping out of consciousness once more. As more and more of the villagers slipped out of their homes, their bodies dirty and matted, the numbers and odds were not in the favor of the group. Plus, acts of violence could endanger Qadira even more. Only one option remained.

Attend Congregation

@Archmage Jeremiah @Jeremi @Atomyk @Yun Lee @Verite @LuckycoolHawk9 @Kaykay @thatguyinthestore
​

 

[Yun Lee]

₱ł₱ɆⱤ ₳₮ ₮ⱧɆ ₲₳₮Ɇ₴ Ø₣ Đ₳₩₦
Campaign
Chapter II
"Congregation of Conflagration"

Dooon...

Craftsmen Hut

"Ooooh, my patrons! Oh my sweet birdies!" the Craftsman declared, prancing about in his bedroom, laughing manically and loudly. "It is time! You hear those bells! It time for Congregation! Congregation!" the harden man squealed and shuddered like some excited child, scrambling around the room to gather everything and anything that could fit into his hands. "Come, come! Service awaits us! Dawn is coming soon, just you wait! Once this night is over, it'll be a big, beautiful dawn awaiting us! Don't you worry, my beautiful, gorgeous little patrons. I'll be your shepherd, just follow me, quick, quick! We wouldn't want the Priest getting mad, now wooould we?!" he cried, not sane enough to notice Clare as he rushed out of the room, stomping down the stairs and rushing out of the door.

Causing the rest of the individuals huddled by the book to see a cloaked man rush out of the hut, the eerie chime of the bell echoing again. For those huddled near the book, it's secrets would be hard to decipher now, the chiming of church bells seeming to cause a large commotion outside. Still, there was hints there more secrets could lie within. Perhaps in a time of a solace, and with more and more clues, more secrets could be deciphered.

Dooon...

---

Alchemist Store

The beast hurdled itself forwards, undergoing a full charge. Screeching from that ungodly slit on it's corrupted face, black ooze seeping from the sole, fleshy entrance, the being of Malevolence abruptly appeared to start disintegrating. Shadowy, smokey, hissing mists began to steam off the frail, slender being, the frightening pace of the charge beginning to steam off. By the time it reached Coco, Death Head, and anybody else in the corridor, the abomination eroded into a black, omnipresent mist. Seconds later, any trace of the Dark Silhouette even existing vanished, nothing but an old, lit-up, dead end filled with rubble and debris.

For Nathan, the smaller pots would reveal a similar effect than the large cauldron. Rubble laid around that would suffice as a good experiment, and lo, despite all the colors and textures, all the pots held the same, dangerous acidic substance. Strange how shelves of these were lined up with virtually the same substance, but such thoughts could wait. If Nathan wished, perhaps taking some of these could prove useful, either for purposes of self-defense or purposes of navigation.

Whatever the case may be, the sudden chiming of a bell echoed, a commotion of sound and chaos erupting outside.

Dooon...

---

By the time everyone poured out of their respectful locations, the streets of Piper's Landing became to look more and more of a mess. The water, previously shallow, was now reaching up just below the knees of most individuals. Swampy and troublesome to navigate, black-clad and ragged villagers crawled out of the ruins of many of the buildings, holding a deranged, lost gaze in their eyes. Chanting gibberish and squirming erratically, these residents, or rather, survivors approached the source of the noise, lost in their lunacy.

Up on a small hill, down the main street of the town, a large chapel could be seen. Even from this distance, the belfry within chimed and chimed ominously, the sun in the scarred sky beginning to grow dim, the march of sunset approaching. In the not-so far distance, two villagers could be seen dragging someone along. Upon even the slightest glimpse of concentration, a heart might even sink.

Captain Qadira, your captain and leader, was nearly knocked out cold and dragged by her arms by two villagers.

Barely awake, she looked back at the emerging group. With what little strength she could muster, the native nomad cried out.

"D-Don't...Fight!...Fo..Fo..." she slurred, bloodied and beaten, slipping out of consciousness once more. As more and more of the villagers slipped out of their homes, their bodies dirty and matted, the numbers and odds were not in the favor of the group. Plus, acts of violence could endanger Qadira even more. Only one option remained.

Attend Congregation

@Archmage Jeremiah @Jeremi @Atomyk @Yun Lee @Verite @LuckycoolHawk9 @Kaykay @thatguyinthestore
​

"Ugh, what a pesky thing." Ingrid hadn't bothered to fight the strange creature, instead choosing to let it give in to its own devices. You'd be amazed how many people met their downfall due to their own lust for power. Besides, her task was not with this creature-it was with the villagers.

And, lo and behold, here they were! Well, at least they weren't dead...but Ingrid had to wonder if this was truly better. She couldn't really think on it, as Qadira was being dragged off to the little chapel ahead. "Don't fight...? Hm." Ingrid did her very best to remain poised as she trudged through the water. Thank goodness she wasn't wearing white stockings... She would attempt to catch up to Qadira and her captors, and attempt to use her psychic abilities to tap into the villagers' minds. If successful, maybe she could talk them out of letting their Captain go.

@Krieg @Kaykay @Verite @LuckycoolHawk9 @Archmage Jeremiah @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi @Atomyk​

 

[Atomyk]

"Does... anyone recognize who that is?" Sorey asked, looking in the direction of the fallen captain and the villagers dragging her along.

The young Shepherd was at a loss for what he was seeing. The air was thick with malevolence, but it seemed there was somehow more at work than just that. Some kind of magic that Sorey wasn't familiar with. He knew all too well that his experience was limited when it came to the larger multiverse.

"It's almost hard to breathe, isn't it? Man... if she's telling us not to fight, maybe we don't have a choice in the matter."

"Just look before you leap, okay?" Mikleo raised his staff, spreading out the water around the group so that it was dry wherever they walked. "We've never been to such a remote location of Ash before. I can only imagine the darkness that has seeped into this place."

@Krieg @Kaykay @Verite @LuckycoolHawk9 @Archmage Jeremiah @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi @Yun Lee

---

"Um." The girl flinched a bit at the man's raised voice. She tilted her head to the side in confusion. "... Can you hear me?" She raised her hands and cupped them around her mouth.

"I'm looking for the commander too! I'm from the Coalition! I..." She looked around herself. "... I don't have any coffee or donuts! Do you want to find some?!"

@dalecOoOoOoOoOper​

 

[Takumi]

₱ł₱ɆⱤ ₳₮ ₮ⱧɆ ₲₳₮Ɇ₴ Ø₣ Đ₳₩₦
Campaign
Chapter II
"Congregation of Conflagration"

Dooon...

Craftsmen Hut

"Ooooh, my patrons! Oh my sweet birdies!" the Craftsman declared, prancing about in his bedroom, laughing manically and loudly. "It is time! You hear those bells! It time for Congregation! Congregation!" the harden man squealed and shuddered like some excited child, scrambling around the room to gather everything and anything that could fit into his hands. "Come, come! Service awaits us! Dawn is coming soon, just you wait! Once this night is over, it'll be a big, beautiful dawn awaiting us! Don't you worry, my beautiful, gorgeous little patrons. I'll be your shepherd, just follow me, quick, quick! We wouldn't want the Priest getting mad, now wooould we?!" he cried, not sane enough to notice Clare as he rushed out of the room, stomping down the stairs and rushing out of the door.

Causing the rest of the individuals huddled by the book to see a cloaked man rush out of the hut, the eerie chime of the bell echoing again. For those huddled near the book, it's secrets would be hard to decipher now, the chiming of church bells seeming to cause a large commotion outside. Still, there was hints there more secrets could lie within. Perhaps in a time of a solace, and with more and more clues, more secrets could be deciphered.

Dooon...

---

Alchemist Store

The beast hurdled itself forwards, undergoing a full charge. Screeching from that ungodly slit on it's corrupted face, black ooze seeping from the sole, fleshy entrance, the being of Malevolence abruptly appeared to start disintegrating. Shadowy, smokey, hissing mists began to steam off the frail, slender being, the frightening pace of the charge beginning to steam off. By the time it reached Coco, Death Head, and anybody else in the corridor, the abomination eroded into a black, omnipresent mist. Seconds later, any trace of the Dark Silhouette even existing vanished, nothing but an old, lit-up, dead end filled with rubble and debris.

For Nathan, the smaller pots would reveal a similar effect than the large cauldron. Rubble laid around that would suffice as a good experiment, and lo, despite all the colors and textures, all the pots held the same, dangerous acidic substance. Strange how shelves of these were lined up with virtually the same substance, but such thoughts could wait. If Nathan wished, perhaps taking some of these could prove useful, either for purposes of self-defense or purposes of navigation.

Whatever the case may be, the sudden chiming of a bell echoed, a commotion of sound and chaos erupting outside.

Dooon...

---

By the time everyone poured out of their respectful locations, the streets of Piper's Landing became to look more and more of a mess. The water, previously shallow, was now reaching up just below the knees of most individuals. Swampy and troublesome to navigate, black-clad and ragged villagers crawled out of the ruins of many of the buildings, holding a deranged, lost gaze in their eyes. Chanting gibberish and squirming erratically, these residents, or rather, survivors approached the source of the noise, lost in their lunacy.

Up on a small hill, down the main street of the town, a large chapel could be seen. Even from this distance, the belfry within chimed and chimed ominously, the sun in the scarred sky beginning to grow dim, the march of sunset approaching. In the not-so far distance, two villagers could be seen dragging someone along. Upon even the slightest glimpse of concentration, a heart might even sink.

Captain Qadira, your captain and leader, was nearly knocked out cold and dragged by her arms by two villagers.

Barely awake, she looked back at the emerging group. With what little strength she could muster, the native nomad cried out.

"D-Don't...Fight!...Fo..Fo..." she slurred, bloodied and beaten, slipping out of consciousness once more. As more and more of the villagers slipped out of their homes, their bodies dirty and matted, the numbers and odds were not in the favor of the group. Plus, acts of violence could endanger Qadira even more. Only one option remained.

Attend Congregation

@Archmage Jeremiah @Jeremi @Atomyk @Yun Lee @Verite @LuckycoolHawk9 @Kaykay @thatguyinthestore
​

"Ugh, what a pesky thing." Ingrid hadn't bothered to fight the strange creature, instead choosing to let it give in to its own devices. You'd be amazed how many people met their downfall due to their own lust for power. Besides, her task was not with this creature-it was with the villagers.

And, lo and behold, here they were! Well, at least they weren't dead...but Ingrid had to wonder if this was truly better. She couldn't really think on it, as Qadira was being dragged off to the little chapel ahead. "Don't fight...? Hm." Ingrid did her very best to remain poised as she trudged through the water. Thank goodness she wasn't wearing white stockings... She would attempt to catch up to Qadira and her captors, and attempt to use her psychic abilities to tap into the villagers' minds. If successful, maybe she could talk them out of letting their Captain go.

@Krieg @Kaykay @Verite @LuckycoolHawk9 @Archmage Jeremiah @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi @Atomyk​

"Does... anyone recognize who that is?" Sorey asked, looking in the direction of the fallen captain and the villagers dragging her along.

The young Shepherd was at a loss for what he was seeing. The air was thick with malevolence, but it seemed there was somehow more at work than just that. Some kind of magic that Sorey wasn't familiar with. He knew all too well that his experience was limited when it came to the larger multiverse.

"It's almost hard to breathe, isn't it? Man... if she's telling us not to fight, maybe we don't have a choice in the matter."

"Just look before you leap, okay?" Mikleo raised his staff, spreading out the water around the group so that it was dry wherever they walked. "We've never been to such a remote location of Ash before. I can only imagine the darkness that has seeped into this place."

@Krieg @Kaykay @Verite @LuckycoolHawk9 @Archmage Jeremiah @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi @Yun Lee

---

"Um." The girl flinched a bit at the man's raised voice. She tilted her head to the side in confusion. "... Can you hear me?" She raised her hands and cupped them around her mouth.

"I'm looking for the commander too! I'm from the Coalition! I..." She looked around herself. "... I don't have any coffee or donuts! Do you want to find some?!"

@dalecOoOoOoOoOper​

Clare grunted softly as she sheathed her blade and trudged on with the rest to attend congregation, silver eyes remaining locked on Qadira the whole time.

"Fighting could make things worse it seems." she spoke.

They'd just have to bide their time until they could get Qadira back as safely as possible.

@Krieg @Yun Lee @Verite @thatguyinthestore @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Atomyk

 

[Krieg]

Ingrid, in her attempt to sap the minds of the villagers, would unveil a horrid discovery. What semblance of a mind was virtually gone. Psychically speaking, there would be little to anything to control. It was as if whatever corruption this town harbored destroyed the minds of the inhabitants down to their core, reveling fully in lunacy and deranged thoughts. Qadira, with a beaten face and bloodied appearance, continued to be dragged away, the Captain and the rest of what remained of Piper's Landing entering the large chapel.

From the outside, black candles illuminated against the stone, and, peering through the doorway, a robed figure akin to a priest could be seen through the narrow entranceway. Outside of the stone steps leading up, the Craftsman, encountered by Clare and Li-Ming, set up his works of deranged art. The bulky man, in a fit of his own excitement yet to a disappointment, began to chant to the hulking crowds of distant and lost villagers.

"My patroons! Look, gaze with your eyes! Gaze on my beauty, my birdies! Please, give me critiques! Criticisms!? Why aren't you looking....why aren't you...!?!" the man chanted in a fit of his own self-righteous descent, the artist weeping as his creations were but ignored, the chiming of church bells distinct and evident.

A groaning sound could be heard within the stone interior, the sky dark and misty as the zealous began to take their seats within...

@Yun Lee @Verite @thatguyinthestore @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Atomyk @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi
​

 

[Verite]

By the time everyone poured out of their respectful locations, the streets of Piper's Landing became to look more and more of a mess. The​

water​

, previously shallow, was now​

reaching up just below the knees​

of most individuals. Swampy and troublesome to navigate, black-clad and ragged villagers crawled out of the ruins of many of the buildings, holding a deranged, lost gaze in their eyes. Chanting gibberish and squirming erratically, these residents, or rather, survivors approached the source of the noise, lost in their lunacy.​

Up on a small hill, down the main street of the town, a large chapel could be seen. Even from this distance, the belfry within chimed and chimed ominously, the sun in the scarred sky beginning to grow dim, the march of sunset approaching. In the not-so far distance, two villagers could be seen dragging someone along. Upon even the slightest glimpse of concentration, a heart might even sink.

Captain Qadira, your captain and leader, was nearly knocked out cold and dragged by her arms by two villagers.

Barely awake, she looked back at the emerging group. With what little strength she could muster, the native nomad cried out.

"D-Don't...Fight!...Fo..Fo..." she slurred, bloodied and beaten, slipping out of consciousness once more. As more and more of the villagers slipped out of their homes, their bodies dirty and matted, the numbers and odds were not in the favor of the group. Plus, acts of violence could endanger Qadira even more. Only one option remained.

Attend Congregation

Qadira, with a beaten face and bloodied appearance, continued to be dragged away, the Captain and the rest of what remained of Piper's Landing entering the large chapel.​

From the outside, black candles illuminated against the stone, and, peering through the doorway, a robed figure akin to a priest could be seen through the narrow entranceway. Outside of the stone steps leading up, the Craftsman, encountered by Clare and Li-Ming, set up his works of deranged art. The bulky man, in a fit of his own excitement yet to a disappointment, began to chant to the hulking crowds of distant and lost villagers.

"My patroons! Look, gaze with your eyes! Gaze on my beauty, my birdies! Please, give me critiques! Criticisms!? Why aren't you looking....why aren't you...!?!" the man chanted in a fit of his own self-righteous descent, the artist weeping as his creations were but ignored, the chiming of church bells distinct and evident.

A groaning sound could be heard within the stone interior, the sky dark and misty as the zealous began to take their seats within...

"H-Hey, stop!!" Shirou screamed at the villagers upon exiting the house, attempting to overpower everything that was going on with his voice, though to little avail evidently, as not even Ingrid's mysterious power could do much to sway the mysterious villagers as they dragged off Qadira. Mikleo may have had good reason to be cautious of Sorey's actions, but Shirou, despite coming off as a less reckless person, was arguably just as impulsive.

He could just barely make out her sputtering words, evidently a plea not to fight them, and though Shirou's first immediate objective was to rescue Qadira, an objective that did not necessarily have to mean fighting the villagers if it could be helped, he would do whatever he could within reason to save the group's captain.

"Even if she doesn't want us to fight, we can't just leave her! Who knows what they intend to do with her?!"

Before long, Shirou ran toward the chapel where Qadira was being taken against her own will, letting the adrenaline kick in his systems in order to fill up his Magic Circuits.

As he reached the chapel though, all he could do when faced with the Craftsman was give a look fused with disturbance and sympathy that ultimately created a mix that caused Shirou to be unsure what to feel, but he could not waste time right now on someone who was already lost mentally. This place certainly had the capacity to do that, he felt. With that, Shirou proceeded to attempt to enter the chapel, busting in dramatically like a man on his way to object a wedding.

@Kaykay @Krieg @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi​

 

[Yun Lee]

Ingrid, in her attempt to sap the minds of the villagers, would unveil a horrid discovery. What semblance of a mind was virtually gone. Psychically speaking, there would be little to anything to control. It was as if whatever corruption this town harbored destroyed the minds of the inhabitants down to their core, reveling fully in lunacy and deranged thoughts. Qadira, with a beaten face and bloodied appearance, continued to be dragged away, the Captain and the rest of what remained of Piper's Landing entering the large chapel.

From the outside, black candles illuminated against the stone, and, peering through the doorway, a robed figure akin to a priest could be seen through the narrow entranceway. Outside of the stone steps leading up, the Craftsman, encountered by Clare and Li-Ming, set up his works of deranged art. The bulky man, in a fit of his own excitement yet to a disappointment, began to chant to the hulking crowds of distant and lost villagers.

"My patroons! Look, gaze with your eyes! Gaze on my beauty, my birdies! Please, give me critiques! Criticisms!? Why aren't you looking....why aren't you...!?!" the man chanted in a fit of his own self-righteous descent, the artist weeping as his creations were but ignored, the chiming of church bells distinct and evident.

A groaning sound could be heard within the stone interior, the sky dark and misty as the zealous began to take their seats within...

@Yun Lee @Verite @thatguyinthestore @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Atomyk @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi
​

"Oh, this is not good...I fear these people have gone mad." Ingrid shook her head, but trudged onward. Seeing the craftsman, she couldn't help but admire his wares, feigning awe. "Why! These are lovely!" Who knows, maybe a little kindness would go a long way...

@Kaykay @Krieg @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi @Verite​

 

[LuckycoolHawk9]

Nathan Drake

Before Nathan left the alchemy shop, he would take some of the deadly potion in a container he had taken out of his bag. You never know when this sort of stuff was going to keep in handy. As he followed the congregation, he couldn't help but think what could have done this. What corrupted these people so far. He was silent, wondering how he could help the captain without hurting the others. Of course, if it came down to it, he would shoot them, especially since the other woman said that they had no mind. It was the just thing to do.

@Kaykay @Krieg @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi @Verite

 

[Kaykay]

Ingrid, in her attempt to sap the minds of the villagers, would unveil a horrid discovery. What semblance of a mind was virtually gone. Psychically speaking, there would be little to anything to control. It was as if whatever corruption this town harbored destroyed the minds of the inhabitants down to their core, reveling fully in lunacy and deranged thoughts. Qadira, with a beaten face and bloodied appearance, continued to be dragged away, the Captain and the rest of what remained of Piper's Landing entering the large chapel.

From the outside, black candles illuminated against the stone, and, peering through the doorway, a robed figure akin to a priest could be seen through the narrow entranceway. Outside of the stone steps leading up, the Craftsman, encountered by Clare and Li-Ming, set up his works of deranged art. The bulky man, in a fit of his own excitement yet to a disappointment, began to chant to the hulking crowds of distant and lost villagers.

"My patroons! Look, gaze with your eyes! Gaze on my beauty, my birdies! Please, give me critiques! Criticisms!? Why aren't you looking....why aren't you...!?!" the man chanted in a fit of his own self-righteous descent, the artist weeping as his creations were but ignored, the chiming of church bells distinct and evident.

A groaning sound could be heard within the stone interior, the sky dark and misty as the zealous began to take their seats within...

@Yun Lee @Verite @thatguyinthestore @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Atomyk @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi
​

Yuuna had never been particularly fast to make decisions like these. If she rushed in to attack, she'd have to hurt the townspeople. If she didn't, Qadira was going to be taken away. The right decision wasn't obvious. She didn't want to hurt people if she didn't have to.

As she moved with the group though, it seemed her hesitation had been a poor choice. Qadira was bruised and bloody, and a guy who really liked his art was the only thing between them and saving her. Why did he create such art? Why did he so desperately desire praise for it? Yuuna didn't know, and right now, she couldn't afford to care about that over the well-being of Qadira.

In a fit fueled more by instinct than reason, Yuuna began to transform into her Hero form, her outfit changing as her casual clothes shifted into armored gauntlets and greaves with a long overcoat. She stomped on the ground with enough force to propel her far further than she needed to go as she attempted to cannonball through the chapel itself.

"Sorry Mr. Artisan, but our friend needs help!"

Yuuna shouted as she sought to simply leap over the Craftsman. Was Qadira actually their friend? Rather, no one in their group had really been close enough for most people to call them "friends." But as far as she was concerned, it was good enough. Even if nobody else thought likewise, she wasn't going to let anyone be possibly used in some sick ritual like the Alchemy shop's gimmicks had imbued in her head.

With a shout that seemed all the louder when compared to the dread of the area, Yuuna attempted to punch through a high part of the chapel and land inside.

@Verite @Krieg @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi​

 

[thatguyinthestore]

Ingrid, in her attempt to sap the minds of the villagers, would unveil a horrid discovery. What semblance of a mind was virtually gone. Psychically speaking, there would be little to anything to control. It was as if whatever corruption this town harbored destroyed the minds of the inhabitants down to their core, reveling fully in lunacy and deranged thoughts. Qadira, with a beaten face and bloodied appearance, continued to be dragged away, the Captain and the rest of what remained of Piper's Landing entering the large chapel.

From the outside, black candles illuminated against the stone, and, peering through the doorway, a robed figure akin to a priest could be seen through the narrow entranceway. Outside of the stone steps leading up, the Craftsman, encountered by Clare and Li-Ming, set up his works of deranged art. The bulky man, in a fit of his own excitement yet to a disappointment, began to chant to the hulking crowds of distant and lost villagers.

"My patroons! Look, gaze with your eyes! Gaze on my beauty, my birdies! Please, give me critiques! Criticisms!? Why aren't you looking....why aren't you...!?!" the man chanted in a fit of his own self-righteous descent, the artist weeping as his creations were but ignored, the chiming of church bells distinct and evident.

A groaning sound could be heard within the stone interior, the sky dark and misty as the zealous began to take their seats within...

@Yun Lee @Verite @thatguyinthestore @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Atomyk @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi
​

"Great."​

This was all Coco could say on the matter at hand. Their Captain had somehow managed to get herself captured, and Coco felt sorry for the poor girl. She reminded her of Velvet in a way. There was also the fact that without Qadira, the former huntress probably wouldn't be getting paid.

That was important too.

Anywho, Coco made her way up to the chapel in the same way that she always did. She didn't run or waste energy on it, but rather simply walked toward the chapel, allowing her hips to sway back and forth in sync with each step. Once she reached the doors, Coco turned to her fellow comrades, ignoring the Craftsman for now. To her, he was just another crazy guy spouting a bunch of useless bravado. Just like the White Fang.

"Perhaps it isn't the best idea to go busting thr-" However, before she could finish her sentence, Yuuna had done just that. "Or we can break in like a bunch of lunatics and improvise." Coco replied dryly before following suit, albeit in a bit more of a refined and less hasty style.

@Kaykay @Verite @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @Atomyk @Takumi @Jeremi @Krieg @Archmage Jeremiah​

 

[Krieg]

The Craftsman, in all of his lunacy, stopped, hearing the mysterious woman talk to her about her paintings. His lip trembled, the hardy man frozen dead in his steps. "D-Do you think s-so, my patron?!" the man spoke, as if struck with love. "Ha...ha...hahaha, do you hear that, Piper's Landing?! My work is loved by the masses! My most adoring fan has come to congratulate me!" he cried in utter joy, hands shooting out to shake the woman by her shoulders. Eyes widen, a horrific grin splattered on his stern face, the Craftsman threw his head back.

"Please, please! The patron pays me, but for you...I must pay you! Take it, take it! I stole it from my forbidden love, oh she will forgive me. Her potions are what drive my brush, and one day, they will drive our hearts into the most beautiful canvas imagined!" the man cried, a ripped piece of a paper pushed into the chest of Ingrid.

It looked familiar, as if it was a piece of something she already had before.

The Craftsman, meanwhile, even in his lunacy paused as a girl seemingly leaped herself at great heights above him.

---

The punch into the stone sarcophagus of this chapel would prove successful, although, Yuuna would find her dramatic entrance particularly unusual. What mossy slabs of stone and rock that held this chapel together was but an illusion, or at the very least, not of the same substance it appeared to give the impression. Punching and entering it would feel fleshy and organic. Bricks and debris that should of fell from this entrance did not, the walls of the chapel seemingly just contracting outwards and then expanding to fill in the gaps, like some slimy, amorphous blob.

For Shirou and everyone else following suit into the chapel, the sight was both familiar yet eerily alien. Bleachers of wood lined up and down the singular hall, stained glass depicting eerily nothing stretching for a roughly fifty or so feet. Almost bordering a cathedral in size, chandlers hung above that burned black candles, illuminating the chapel of rot and decay. Villagers sat in their respectful seats, twitching, murmuring and thrashing. Some of them held strange books, books that upon closer inspection, was the same found in the Craftsman Hut.

"Set her down, please, by the rest of the children. How dare you hurt her, she is a welcomed guest!"

At the end of the hall, Captain Qadira could be seen forcefully placed on one of the wooden bleachers nearing the edge of a raised stage. Upon this stage, an occultist symbol depicting a star and an eye were envisioned in reality, the large symbol fashioned out of rustic scrap metal and iron dangling from ropes at the center of the stage. A stone podium boldly stood, banners of crimson thrown about the chapel, engraved on the fabrics series of text both foreign and uncomfortable.

"Ahh, what misunderstandings..."

A ghastly, wraith of a red-cloaked man descended from his stage, briefly gazing over the wounded Qadira before waving his hands for the villagers to calm down. Looking familiar to the same red-hooded man on a painting found earlier, the priest stood at a moderate height, his face underneath a veil of darkness. Holding his arms out, the clergyman spoke once more, a gold necklace depicting a star and eye dangling from his neck.

"I wish to extend my deepest apologies for the...unfortunate nature of your friend. Malevolence is a difficult force to control sometimes, but, we always find a way to make use of our resources. Whether it be the first smiths that made iron or steel, or us, practitioners of the more finer arts." the strange priest politely apologized, an uncomfortable aura seeping out of him.

"Tell me, why don't you all take a seat, yes? Congregation is just about to begin, after all. You have not been blessed by a glimpse into the powers of Dawn. I would hate to see my children not know of Paradise..."

The inhumane groaning had stopped, or more accurately, vanished.

@Kaykay @Verite @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi
​

 

[Jeremi]

The Craftsman, in all of his lunacy, stopped, hearing the mysterious woman talk to her about her paintings. His lip trembled, the hardy man frozen dead in his steps. "D-Do you think s-so, my patron?!" the man spoke, as if struck with love. "Ha...ha...hahaha, do you hear that, Piper's Landing?! My work is loved by the masses! My most adoring fan has come to congratulate me!" he cried in utter joy, hands shooting out to shake the woman by her shoulders. Eyes widen, a horrific grin splattered on his stern face, the Craftsman threw his head back.

"Please, please! The patron pays me, but for you...I must pay you! Take it, take it! I stole it from my forbidden love, oh she will forgive me. Her potions are what drive my brush, and one day, they will drive our hearts into the most beautiful canvas imagined!" the man cried, a ripped piece of a paper pushed into the chest of Ingrid.

It looked familiar, as if it was a piece of something she already had before.

The Craftsman, meanwhile, even in his lunacy paused as a girl seemingly leaped herself at great heights above him.

---

The punch into the stone sarcophagus of this chapel would prove successful, although, Yuuna would find her dramatic entrance particularly unusual. What mossy slabs of stone and rock that held this chapel together was but an illusion, or at the very least, not of the same substance it appeared to give the impression. Punching and entering it would feel fleshy and organic. Bricks and debris that should of fell from this entrance did not, the walls of the chapel seemingly just contracting outwards and then expanding to fill in the gaps, like some slimy, amorphous blob.

For Shirou and everyone else following suit into the chapel, the sight was both familiar yet eerily alien. Bleachers of wood lined up and down the singular hall, stained glass depicting eerily nothing stretching for a roughly fifty or so feet. Almost bordering a cathedral in size, chandlers hung above that burned black candles, illuminating the chapel of rot and decay. Villagers sat in their respectful seats, twitching, murmuring and thrashing. Some of them held strange books, books that upon closer inspection, was the same found in the Craftsman Hut.

"Set her down, please, by the rest of the children. How dare you hurt her, she is a welcomed guest!"

At the end of the hall, Captain Qadira could be seen forcefully placed on one of the wooden bleachers nearing the edge of a raised stage. Upon this stage, an occultist symbol depicting a star and an eye were envisioned in reality, the large symbol fashioned out of rustic scrap metal and iron dangling from ropes at the center of the stage. A stone podium boldly stood, banners of crimson thrown about the chapel, engraved on the fabrics series of text both foreign and uncomfortable.

"Ahh, what misunderstandings..."

A ghastly, wraith of a red-cloaked man descended from his stage, briefly gazing over the wounded Qadira before waving his hands for the villagers to calm down. Looking familiar to the same red-hooded man on a painting found earlier, the priest stood at a moderate height, his face underneath a veil of darkness. Holding his arms out, the clergyman spoke once more, a gold necklace depicting a star and eye dangling from his neck.

"I wish to extend my deepest apologies for the...unfortunate nature of your friend. Malevolence is a difficult force to control sometimes, but, we always find a way to make use of our resources. Whether it be the first smiths that made iron or steel, or us, practitioners of the more finer arts." the strange priest politely apologized, an uncomfortable aura seeping out of him.

"Tell me, why don't you all take a seat, yes? Congregation is just about to begin, after all. You have not been blessed by a glimpse into the powers of Dawn. I would hate to see my children not know of Paradise..."

The inhumane groaning had stopped, or more accurately, vanished.

@Kaykay @Verite @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi
​

"Prefer to stand, yes?" Death's Head responded to the hooded figure. "Take your blessing else where. Here to investigate. Perhaps we've seen all we need, yes?" The freelance peacekeeping agent wasn't having none of this.

"Tired of shenanigans. Send in your controlled masses to destroy us already. Want to get this over with already, right? Saccharin personality works better when not looking like you, eh?"​

@Kaykay @Verite @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Krieg​

 

[thatguyinthestore]

The Craftsman, in all of his lunacy, stopped, hearing the mysterious woman talk to her about her paintings. His lip trembled, the hardy man frozen dead in his steps. "D-Do you think s-so, my patron?!" the man spoke, as if struck with love. "Ha...ha...hahaha, do you hear that, Piper's Landing?! My work is loved by the masses! My most adoring fan has come to congratulate me!" he cried in utter joy, hands shooting out to shake the woman by her shoulders. Eyes widen, a horrific grin splattered on his stern face, the Craftsman threw his head back.

"Please, please! The patron pays me, but for you...I must pay you! Take it, take it! I stole it from my forbidden love, oh she will forgive me. Her potions are what drive my brush, and one day, they will drive our hearts into the most beautiful canvas imagined!" the man cried, a ripped piece of a paper pushed into the chest of Ingrid.

It looked familiar, as if it was a piece of something she already had before.

The Craftsman, meanwhile, even in his lunacy paused as a girl seemingly leaped herself at great heights above him.

---

The punch into the stone sarcophagus of this chapel would prove successful, although, Yuuna would find her dramatic entrance particularly unusual. What mossy slabs of stone and rock that held this chapel together was but an illusion, or at the very least, not of the same substance it appeared to give the impression. Punching and entering it would feel fleshy and organic. Bricks and debris that should of fell from this entrance did not, the walls of the chapel seemingly just contracting outwards and then expanding to fill in the gaps, like some slimy, amorphous blob.

For Shirou and everyone else following suit into the chapel, the sight was both familiar yet eerily alien. Bleachers of wood lined up and down the singular hall, stained glass depicting eerily nothing stretching for a roughly fifty or so feet. Almost bordering a cathedral in size, chandlers hung above that burned black candles, illuminating the chapel of rot and decay. Villagers sat in their respectful seats, twitching, murmuring and thrashing. Some of them held strange books, books that upon closer inspection, was the same found in the Craftsman Hut.

"Set her down, please, by the rest of the children. How dare you hurt her, she is a welcomed guest!"

At the end of the hall, Captain Qadira could be seen forcefully placed on one of the wooden bleachers nearing the edge of a raised stage. Upon this stage, an occultist symbol depicting a star and an eye were envisioned in reality, the large symbol fashioned out of rustic scrap metal and iron dangling from ropes at the center of the stage. A stone podium boldly stood, banners of crimson thrown about the chapel, engraved on the fabrics series of text both foreign and uncomfortable.

"Ahh, what misunderstandings..."

A ghastly, wraith of a red-cloaked man descended from his stage, briefly gazing over the wounded Qadira before waving his hands for the villagers to calm down. Looking familiar to the same red-hooded man on a painting found earlier, the priest stood at a moderate height, his face underneath a veil of darkness. Holding his arms out, the clergyman spoke once more, a gold necklace depicting a star and eye dangling from his neck.

"I wish to extend my deepest apologies for the...unfortunate nature of your friend. Malevolence is a difficult force to control sometimes, but, we always find a way to make use of our resources. Whether it be the first smiths that made iron or steel, or us, practitioners of the more finer arts." the strange priest politely apologized, an uncomfortable aura seeping out of him.

"Tell me, why don't you all take a seat, yes? Congregation is just about to begin, after all. You have not been blessed by a glimpse into the powers of Dawn. I would hate to see my children not know of Paradise..."

The inhumane groaning had stopped, or more accurately, vanished.

@Kaykay @Verite @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi
​

"Prefer to stand, yes?" Death's Head responded to the hooded figure. "Take your blessing else where. Here to investigate. Perhaps we've seen all we need, yes?" The freelance peacekeeping agent wasn't having none of this.

"Tired of shenanigans. Send in your controlled masses to destroy us already. Want to get this over with already, right? Saccharin personality works better when not looking like you, eh?"​

@Kaykay @Verite @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Krieg​

"Yeah, for once I'm gonna have to agree with the robot." Coco stated in a tired tone as she firmly placed one hand on her hip and leaning to the side.

"Just spare us the sermon and give us our Captain back." She said to the so called "priest", not very intrigued by his appearance or really what was going on in general. She just wanted to get paid and get the hell away from this place.

@Krieg @Jeremi @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Yun Lee @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah​

 

[Yun Lee]

The Craftsman, in all of his lunacy, stopped, hearing the mysterious woman talk to her about her paintings. His lip trembled, the hardy man frozen dead in his steps. "D-Do you think s-so, my patron?!" the man spoke, as if struck with love. "Ha...ha...hahaha, do you hear that, Piper's Landing?! My work is loved by the masses! My most adoring fan has come to congratulate me!" he cried in utter joy, hands shooting out to shake the woman by her shoulders. Eyes widen, a horrific grin splattered on his stern face, the Craftsman threw his head back.

"Please, please! The patron pays me, but for you...I must pay you! Take it, take it! I stole it from my forbidden love, oh she will forgive me. Her potions are what drive my brush, and one day, they will drive our hearts into the most beautiful canvas imagined!" the man cried, a ripped piece of a paper pushed into the chest of Ingrid.

It looked familiar, as if it was a piece of something she already had before.

The Craftsman, meanwhile, even in his lunacy paused as a girl seemingly leaped herself at great heights above him.

---

The punch into the stone sarcophagus of this chapel would prove successful, although, Yuuna would find her dramatic entrance particularly unusual. What mossy slabs of stone and rock that held this chapel together was but an illusion, or at the very least, not of the same substance it appeared to give the impression. Punching and entering it would feel fleshy and organic. Bricks and debris that should of fell from this entrance did not, the walls of the chapel seemingly just contracting outwards and then expanding to fill in the gaps, like some slimy, amorphous blob.

For Shirou and everyone else following suit into the chapel, the sight was both familiar yet eerily alien. Bleachers of wood lined up and down the singular hall, stained glass depicting eerily nothing stretching for a roughly fifty or so feet. Almost bordering a cathedral in size, chandlers hung above that burned black candles, illuminating the chapel of rot and decay. Villagers sat in their respectful seats, twitching, murmuring and thrashing. Some of them held strange books, books that upon closer inspection, was the same found in the Craftsman Hut.

"Set her down, please, by the rest of the children. How dare you hurt her, she is a welcomed guest!"

At the end of the hall, Captain Qadira could be seen forcefully placed on one of the wooden bleachers nearing the edge of a raised stage. Upon this stage, an occultist symbol depicting a star and an eye were envisioned in reality, the large symbol fashioned out of rustic scrap metal and iron dangling from ropes at the center of the stage. A stone podium boldly stood, banners of crimson thrown about the chapel, engraved on the fabrics series of text both foreign and uncomfortable.

"Ahh, what misunderstandings..."

A ghastly, wraith of a red-cloaked man descended from his stage, briefly gazing over the wounded Qadira before waving his hands for the villagers to calm down. Looking familiar to the same red-hooded man on a painting found earlier, the priest stood at a moderate height, his face underneath a veil of darkness. Holding his arms out, the clergyman spoke once more, a gold necklace depicting a star and eye dangling from his neck.

"I wish to extend my deepest apologies for the...unfortunate nature of your friend. Malevolence is a difficult force to control sometimes, but, we always find a way to make use of our resources. Whether it be the first smiths that made iron or steel, or us, practitioners of the more finer arts." the strange priest politely apologized, an uncomfortable aura seeping out of him.

"Tell me, why don't you all take a seat, yes? Congregation is just about to begin, after all. You have not been blessed by a glimpse into the powers of Dawn. I would hate to see my children not know of Paradise..."

The inhumane groaning had stopped, or more accurately, vanished.

@Kaykay @Verite @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Jeremi
​

"Ah, thank you, sir! Good luck fighting off your many admirers!" Well that worked out nicely! Ingrid read her new paper-even the smallest oddity could be important here.​

"Prefer to stand, yes?" Death's Head responded to the hooded figure. "Take your blessing else where. Here to investigate. Perhaps we've seen all we need, yes?" The freelance peacekeeping agent wasn't having none of this.

"Tired of shenanigans. Send in your controlled masses to destroy us already. Want to get this over with already, right? Saccharin personality works better when not looking like you, eh?"​

@Kaykay @Verite @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Yun Lee @LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Krieg​

"Yeah, for once I'm gonna have to agree with the robot." Coco stated in a tired tone as she firmly placed one hand on her hip and leaning to the side.

"Just spare us the sermon and give us our Captain back." She said to the so called "priest", not very intrigued by his appearance or really what was going on in general. She just wanted to get paid and get the hell away from this place.

@Krieg @Jeremi @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Yun Lee @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah​

Ah, and what did we have here? A cult type deal, most likely. Ingrid took a seat next to Qadira to keep an eye on her...and got a check at the hooded figure's mind for good measure.


@Krieg @Jeremi @Kaykay @Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @Yun Lee @Atomyk @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Verite​

 

[LuckycoolHawk9]

Nathan Drake

Nathan wasn't exactly shocked by the stuff that was happening in Piper's Landing. He was used to the weird and abnormal and he had quietly noticed the symptoms that the others in his party had mentioned. He took a moment to observe the area and he saw the strange symbols on the floor. Yup, it was definitely a cult. The last thing they wanted to do was anger the leader of a cult, but it seemed that most of his fellow companions were doing just that. He didn't want to start an argument with them yet. " My friends mean no disrespect. They are just very worried about the scenario you have taken our captain and are not tired. Most of us would just prefer to stand during your ceremony... mr. I didn't quite catch your name, could you repeat it?"

@Krieg @Jeremi @Kaykay @Yun Lee @Takumi @Atomyk @Verite @Archmage Jeremiah

 

[Gands]

Fandral the Enchanting
Fandral's apartment

Fandral takes some time making sure Asher and Chris are set up in the bath. Afterwords, he comes back and starts playing the board game with the little girl.

@LuckycoolHawk9 @thatguyinthestore @Takumi

 

[Krieg]

The note, acquired by Ingrid, appeared to reminder of the poem from the note she had previously acquired.

Siblings chase dead gods
Prophets and disciples lost in time
Against us are all the odds
The Third Seed awaits our climb
So the Seed reborn...

Old One, Master, Majesty
Can you say his name?
Legions of the Third Seed
Carriers of light and Paradise
Ascension into the grace of Dawn...

Looking eerily similar to the previous note she had retrieved from the corpse, Ingrid could combine the two notes together if she wished at any moment. Perhaps such a cryptic hymn could provide clues as to what has happened in the swampy depths of Piper's Landing.

For Ingrid, the dark-robed man's mind would be filled with an ungodly power. Whereas the villagers's minds were essentially hollowed, dark skulls devoid of any cognitive ability, the priest held a mind of pure light. Basked in a heavenly glow, such a mind could make the psychic feel warm, as if such rays of light were analyzing her own mind as well.

---

"Father Aurora is my name," the elder spoke, wisps of shadows dancing where his legs would of been. Like that of a wraith, the ghastly entity, shrouded in illusions hovered before the group. "Do not worry, your...leader is but dazed. The power of malevolence is strong to the uninitiated, but I can see some of you have had your dance with the beauty of Dawn already." Aurora spoke, turning around, ascending back towards his stone podium.

"My children are of their own accord, they do not follow the glory of Dawn by my leash. Although, we have the occasional...defiler that has been shown what happens when disrespect authority." Aurora spoke calmly, a dark chuckle escaping his lips, turning back around before the group and his flock.

"Stand if you wish, you are all my children in the end. Although you are lost, rebellious, driven by avarice and falsehoods. I can see it in some of you," Aurora paused pointing particularly at Coco. "All the golds and gems you brandish, such material luxury, you will find such desires in the dying fires." he forewarned, holding his arms out. "I know what you seek. Just as one your friends has tried to see what goes in the depths of my mind, I can see your desires and dreams....

"You want to know where the chest of the old merchant is, yes?"

A cry erupted from the ensemble flock of the congregation, the villagers crying out in unison, as if trying to imitate a maddening version of a Gregorian chant. Captain Qadira, alone near the front of the congregation, seemed to be recovering, looking back at her band of mercenaries, warriors and compatriots alike. Rubbing her forehead, her face was a mixture of emotions, though above all else she glared with confidence. As if her eyes spoke of never giving into to this strange cult.

"How about I tell you where it is after my sermon, yes?"

@Jeremi @Kaykay @Yun Lee @Takumi @Atomyk @Verite @Archmage Jeremiah @LuckycoolHawk9​