The Moonlit World

[Michale CS]

"You bumped right into me. Whatever happened to Mr. Manners nowadays, eh? You upworlders think you're better then all of us? Come down to see the sights, gawk at the zoo?!"

His voice was raising with every word till he practically roared the last in their faces.

"Oh come now, keep your chin up. Why do you look on yourself so poorly? Why, obviously you're much stronger, and clearly far more observant than us, because we bumped right into you now didn't we?" Patricia made a gesture as if she were scratching the back of her head then lowering her hand, but what was happening was that she was drawing the sword with the ignore-me charm on it.

A moment later, the troll did notice the sword, as the tip of the devil blade was bumping against his crotch. "It's a good thing you caught this. Why, what sort of problem might we have run into had my friend and I been moving full speed?"

Diplomacy doesn't work on trolls. They see it as weakness. So, I had to gamble on this and hope that he sees this as what it's meant to be - an acknowledgment of his power while showing our own. A meeting of equals, which should placate him. If not, then things might get really ugly really fast.

@Saint Guillotine

 

[Ringmaster]

The troll might not have seen it, which made sense. Anything who pledged to another master, ended up losing Fae gifts.

It however, was sharp enough to detect that Patricia's hand was gripping something as it turned, which was why the axe came in between in a lazy spin of its hands to block.

And sure enough.

It grinned a craggy grin as it eyed her and spoke.

"You pull a sword down here, you'd better be prepared to back it up. Your ladyship ain't here."

Lucifer's eyes flickered briefly, an emotion too quick to grasp quickly suppressed beneath a smooth expression as he looked upward at the troll and spoke.

"We'll keep that in mind. I suppose we'll see you later then."

The troll blinked, startled before suddenly laughing, deep from the belly as he stepped back and swung the axe to rest on his shoulder.

"I suppose we will. Hahahahaha!"

And shaking his head, the troll turned and lumbered off...Lucifer watched him go before speaking low.

"It appears we're being watched...And tested."

@Michale CS
​

 

[Michale CS]

The troll blinked, startled before suddenly laughing, deep from the belly as he stepped back and swung the axe to rest on his shoulder.

"I suppose we will. Hahahahaha!"

And shaking his head, the troll turned and lumbered off...Lucifer watched him go before speaking low.

"It appears we're being watched...And tested."

"I hope we're passing." She said quietly. "Can we get to where the Nos are now? Please? I've got a knot in my throat still." She returned the sword back to where it belonged, in its sheath, before its evil could tempt her. Even her talisman only held off the temptation so long, and while her soul couldn't be commanded by the thing, being owned by Titania already, her body sure could, given enough exposure.

@Saint Guillotine

 

[Ringmaster]

"You need to get rid of that thing."

Lucifer said flatly, giving the sword a dirty look before reaching out to grip her wrist, tugging her gently with him as he looked around. When that troll mentioned Patricia's "ladyship", he knew someone had informed him...How else would he have known? Turned out to be correct thankfully and with that in mind, they walked on without further incident.

Over to what looked like a manor of all things. Gates included, as the troll from before stood watched and politely, opened it for them, the cold iron aura moved from Patricia's way as he grinned darkly at Lucifer.

Lucifer glared back as they continued on inside. Normally, Nosferatu established colonies...Places in the sewers to keep out of sight. With the Undercity though, their natural cunning soon gave them positions of power in which to conduct their trade. Here, they were Master.

This Nosferatu in question would be dressed nicely, humming as his hands stroked a dove before looking at the two.

"Welcome to my home. You may call me Mayor Eizen. I run the tedious day-to-day affairs for the Master of the Undercity, that his work may pass by uninterrupted and thus, it falls within my duty to assist any upper folk who come here."

He sniffed, looking them both over. No need to ask why, a tinge of sardonic politeness touching his voice as the gates behind them ominously closed.

"I understand you two caused quite a stir in my city. Good gracious."

@Michale CS​

 

[Michale CS]

This Nosferatu in question would be dressed nicely, humming as his hands stroked a dove before looking at the two.

"Welcome to my home. You may call me Mayor Eizen. I run the tedious day-to-day affairs for the Master of the Undercity, that his work may pass by uninterrupted and thus, it falls within my duty to assist any upper folk who come here."

He sniffed, looking them both over. No need to ask why, a tinge of sardonic politeness touching his voice as the gates behind them ominously closed.

"I understand you two caused quite a stir in my city. Good gracious."

@Michale CS​

"Yes, and for that I'm sorry. Chalk it up to being new - I've a bit more fondness for the mundanes than perhaps is appropriate here. Be that as it may, we are here seeking a bit of literature. Something of a very specific type. Being the cultured person I know you are, Mayor Eizen, I'm sure that you'll be able to direct us along the right path." Patricia didn't feel right just asking Lucifer to show the page, or even to mention it by name - she was here to make sure he had safe passage after some fashion - he was the one with the quest. Not that she or her Lady would mind if that particular document was tucked safely away.

She looked over at Lucifer hoping he'd offer more, all the while not wishing to say too much, she wasn't sure how forthright the Damphir wanted to be with the Nosferatu.

@Saint Guillotine

 

[Ringmaster]

"Yes, and for that I'm sorry. Chalk it up to being new - I've a bit more fondness for the mundanes than perhaps is appropriate here. Be that as it may, we are here seeking a bit of literature. Something of a very specific type. Being the cultured person I know you are, Mayor Eizen, I'm sure that you'll be able to direct us along the right path."

"Hmm. Of course, the Undercity can be somewhat, ahaha...."

His voice trailed off, claws gently stroking the dove in his arms which snuggled deeper as he smirked.

"...Shocking, for those who choose to live alongside the Mundanes. Here, it is the Old World that reigns supreme. Under the Accords, we take what is ours and indulge in ways long since gone from the surface above. There's power in the right sacrifice m'dear. But of course, you'd know all about that wouldn't you? Sacrificing something for power."

He grinned in satisfaction before turning around, gesturing the two to follow him.

"Enough of that of course. So what brings the Voice of Avalon and a defunct Executor to my home? A book? My, my it must be something special to draw Titania's attention."

Lucifer spoke at that point.

"Its not for her...It was my request for her to accompany me. She was gracious enough to say yes."

"Did she now? Now thats very interesting."

There was a slight hiss at the end of Mayor Eizen's words as he put his dove back in its cote, humming a ditty as he did so.

"So this brings it down from an official visit....To an impromptu one. Well, it certainly changes everything."

He turned to Lucifer and clapped his hands, claws clicking as he grinned.

"As I understand, you seem to be short a wizard...So what do you have, that I could possibly want in order to make this worth my while?"

It was only fair...Considering whose errand it was, Lucifer couldn't rely on Patricia for this part. Whatever he paid, would need to satisfy the Nosferatu. Something that had Lucifer frown, just slightly. He stared Mayor Eizen in the eye and Eizen stared back, before chuckling as he broke it and looked away.

"So intense! Alright, lets make it easy. I suppose I could be persuaded, if say....You performed a small favor for me, hmm? You are of course Ma'am, free to stay here while he does so, but I wouldn't mind sending you both away if you so wished."

Lucifer blinked, momentarily confused as he asked.

"What is this job?"

Mayor Eizen grinned widely.

"I need you to slay a dragon, of course."

@Michale CS​

 

[Michale CS]

Lucifer blinked, momentarily confused as he asked.

"What is this job?"

Mayor Eizen grinned widely.

"I need you to slay a dragon, of course."

"A dragon. Dare I ask what sort, and why? I'm not saying I'll go along, but if I think My Lady would agree that this particular dragon needed slaying... I might be positively disposed toward doing so." Patricia replied, cocking her head and crossing her arms as she awaited the response.

@Saint Guillotine

 

[Ringmaster]

"A dragon. Dare I ask what sort, and why? I'm not saying I'll go along, but if I think My Lady would agree that this particular dragon needed slaying... I might be positively disposed toward doing so." Patricia replied, cocking her head and crossing her arms as she awaited the response.

@Saint Guillotine

Dragons.

Either the good Mayor was suicidal or he thought they were. There were no Dragons in New York City- Not that Lucifer ever knew of at least. They tended to enjoy cities and places rife with history and welcoming to their sort. Something about the atmosphere which said volumes about the stories that filtered down about the few who they knew did exist. The Black Dragon of Russia, who ruled in the guise of a retired general from the Soviet Union era, the details of which escaped him at the moment. Then there was the Green Dragon of Germany, who ruled from a corporate empire. Other stories filtered through, of lesser dragons though 'lesser' was a word that was loosely used, when it came to these creatures. Aloud, he asked in confusion.

"When you say Dragon, do you really mean-?"

The Nosferatu smiled, showcasing his fangs as he laughed.

"No, but its the closest description we have. Massive, breathing fire and currently attacking shipments coming and going to the Troll Market. I can't have that going on, so I'm seeking anyone who might be disposed to do something about it. Get rid of it however you wish, just do so as fast as possible."

He considered for a bit as he added thoughtfully.

"You'll need a guide...Possibly others. The Troll Market would be your best bet to seek out your, ahahaha- Fellow adventurers. You can of course, look around here but I would think it'd be a rare person without a grudge, willing to work with you two."

He gave a shrug.

"Ah well. Finish this task for me, you have my word upon completion that I'll help you, at whatever cost to myself in this venture of yours to its end."

And that was that, the two quickly escorted out. The troll who had accosted them earlier scratched the end of his nose as he rumbled.

"Soon as you lot get people, come meet me at the Train Station in the Troll Market. I'll be guiding ye part of the way."

@Michale CS @chrono @Greenie @Hospes @Ellisra @DNA @Rookry

GM note: Sorry, flu has been wrecking havoc on me. Still, I'll run this for anyone interested. If you wanna join, IC we'll be meeting up at the Troll Market. Which looks something like this. More information should be in the OOC thread. Post for a PC if ye wanna join in there and we'll take it from there. Thanks.
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[Ellisra]

~After a particularly nasty night with a shapeshifter who'd apparently been stealing people's faces, literally, Bes wanted to just head straight to the bar to relax. That said she wanted something strong to drink. Walking into the bar she'd take a seat and casually look around at the other patrons. It wasn't exactly full, but it wasn't devoid of customers that's for sure.~ "Could I have a Bullet in the Head?" ~She'd ask the bartender.~

 

[Ringmaster]

~After a particularly nasty night with a shapeshifter who'd apparently been stealing people's faces, literally, Bes wanted to just head straight to the bar to relax. That said she wanted something strong to drink. Walking into the bar she'd take a seat and casually look around at the other patrons. It wasn't exactly full, but it wasn't devoid of customers that's for sure.~ "Could I have a Bullet in the Head?" ~She'd ask the bartender.~

The Troll Market had been experiencing a few shortages, at least in terms of the more magical items in bulk, including certain variations of liquor which was confusing to more then a few who learned there was a buy limit. As evidenced by the bartender who was nailing a sign describing such.

Coming back to Bes, he smiled and slid over the drink in question as he said casually.

"Quite a night, eh? I've seen some strange nights in my time, but yeah. This takes the bread-and-butter."

@Ellisra​

 

[Ellisra]

The Troll Market had been experiencing a few shortages, at least in terms of the more magical items in bulk, including certain variations of liquor which was confusing to more then a few who learned there was a buy limit. As evidenced by the bartender who was nailing a sign describing such.

Coming back to Bes, he smiled and slid over the drink in question as he said casually.

"Quite a night, eh? I've seen some strange nights in my time, but yeah. This takes the bread-and-butter."

@Ellisra​

"Tell me about it. A shapeshifter stealing people's faces? He even had a couple of elven and werewolf faces on him. Just sick!" ~She'd say taking a sip of her drink before cringing at the strength of it and downing the liquid soon after.~ "Tried to convince him to stop stealing faces, turns out he was just one of those sickos. Trying to appeal to a person's better nature can get real old sometimes..." ~Taking the time to take another sip she'd set the drink down and place her face on the counter and sigh.~ "Is it even possible for the dead to get tired? Cuz I feel like I know what it's like, regardless."

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"Tell me about it. A shapeshifter stealing people's faces? He even had a couple of elven and werewolf faces on him. Just sick!" ~She'd say taking a sip of her drink before cringing at the strength of it and downing the liquid soon after.~ "Tried to convince him to stop stealing faces, turns out he was just one of those sickos. Trying to appeal to a person's better nature can get real old sometimes..." ~Taking the time to take another sip she'd set the drink down and place her face on the counter and sigh.~ "Is it even possible for the dead to get tired? Cuz I feel like I know what it's like, regardless."

He'd seen it all before. There was always a thriving market for freelance agents among the great factions, most of whom came down to the Troll Market. He shrugged and began to polish a glass as he kept an eye out for customers.

"Maybe? I know I've seen a few get tired, though maybe its just mental? Depends on the sort you are- Zed, Bolt or Doll?" He asked politely.

The slang for either a zombie, flesh golem a la Frankenstein or Homunculus as some powerful mages crafted.

@Ellisra​

 

[Ellisra]

He'd seen it all before. There was always a thriving market for freelance agents among the great factions, most of whom came down to the Troll Market. He shrugged and began to polish a glass as he kept an eye out for customers.

"Maybe? I know I've seen a few get tired, though maybe its just mental? Depends on the sort you are- Zed, Bolt or Doll?" He asked politely.

The slang for either a zombie, flesh golem a la Frankenstein or Homunculus as some powerful mages crafted.

@Ellisra​

"Well, necromancy was involved. So I'd have to say Zed. I never really put too much thought into it. Though I do get the craving for flesh now and then. Good thing I retained my intelligence." ~She'd say in a rather joking manner. Looking at the bottom of her glass she'd give a slight sigh.~ "Hey, you ever heard of a group calling themselves the Dead Circle?" ~Slightly waving her glass, indicating she wanted some more of her drink, she'd lift her head from the counter and cross her left leg over her right while looking at the bartender.~

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"Can't say I have miss."

He said helpfully before jerking a thumb over behind him, where a picture of the pub was as he added.

"Been doing this for a long time now, since the forties. I've met all sorts, but they ain't so keen to tell me much about their work. You between jobs?"

@Ellisra​

 

[Ellisra]

"Can't say I have miss."

He said helpfully before jerking a thumb over behind him, where a picture of the pub was as he added.

"Been doing this for a long time now, since the forties. I've met all sorts, but they ain't so keen to tell me much about their work. You between jobs?"

@Ellisra​

~Feeling slightly disappointed that she couldn't get anymore drink for now, she smiled at the bartender's lack of rude behavior. She'd met a few rude bar tenders in her long life, but she always enjoyed it when she could find one that just wanted to shoot the shit with her.~ "Well, I work as a Social Service Worker. I'll do anything to help out aside from Law and Order. As a side job I try and keep the streets clean at night. I won't lie, it could sometimes be considered being a vigilante but I make no attempts to hide the fact that I do my city a service by helping to catch criminals. I also try to stay inside the law as much as possible." ~Scratching her head she leaned back a bit.~ "As for the Dead Circle, it was a rumor mostly. Several Undead supposedly banded together to form a group in order to fight off persecution from the mage's association. Apparently some people didn't think servant class undead deserved to have rights. These undead seemed to differ on that."

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

~Feeling slightly disappointed that she couldn't get anymore drink for now, she smiled at the bartender's lack of rude behavior. She'd met a few rude bar tenders in her long life, but she always enjoyed it when she could find one that just wanted to shoot the shit with her.~ "Well, I work as a Social Service Worker. I'll do anything to help out aside from Law and Order. As a side job I try and keep the streets clean at night. I won't lie, it could sometimes be considered being a vigilante but I make no attempts to hide the fact that I do my city a service by helping to catch criminals. I also try to stay inside the law as much as possible." ~Scratching her head she leaned back a bit.~ "As for the Dead Circle, it was a rumor mostly. Several Undead supposedly banded together to form a group in order to fight off persecution from the mage's association. Apparently some people didn't think servant class undead deserved to have rights. These undead seemed to differ on that."

@Ringmaster

"I wasn't aware the Mages Association dealt with Undead. What with their close relations to the Church and all that."

To say nothing of their penchant for familiars most of the time, or human servants. They were aristocratic like that and necromancy was still a dark subject, one the White Council sought to quash ever since the Halloween Incident in Chicago. That was apparently something to see, but he pretty much discarded rumor from his usual line of work.

He had enough to do with running his bar here.

@Ellisra​

 

[Ellisra]

"I wasn't aware the Mages Association dealt with Undead. What with their close relations to the Church and all that."

To say nothing of their penchant for familiars most of the time, or human servants. They were aristocratic like that and necromancy was still a dark subject, one the White Council sought to quash ever since the Halloween Incident in Chicago. That was apparently something to see, but he pretty much discarded rumor from his usual line of work.

He had enough to do with running his bar here.

@Ellisra​

"Well, mind you, this was a long time ago. I'm probably older than a lot of the patrons you see here. I just thought perhaps some rumors might become myths in the future should they get spread around enough. Of course, I really don't put much stock in rumors either. Just something to talk about and pass the time in my opinion." ~Her fingers would idly rim the top of her glass as she spoke, her interest in the conversation becoming more casual by the second.~ "So. Do you got any stories? I'm sure you've seen a few things happen in your time. Anything interesting?"

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"Well, mind you, this was a long time ago. I'm probably older than a lot of the patrons you see here. I just thought perhaps some rumors might become myths in the future should they get spread around enough. Of course, I really don't put much stock in rumors either. Just something to talk about and pass the time in my opinion." ~Her fingers would idly rim the top of her glass as she spoke, her interest in the conversation becoming more casual by the second.~ "So. Do you got any stories? I'm sure you've seen a few things happen in your time. Anything interesting?"

@Ringmaster

Hmmm...He considered for a moment.

"Well....Got a shortage of trinkets, ingredients and goods in the market. Not the mundane stuff, we get a steady supply of those. But rather the other things- Mouler Glasses, Troll Grog, Eye of Newt and Unseelie knows what else. Disruption in the Goblin Train but I don't suppose you'd be interested, would you?"

@Ellisra​

 

[Ellisra]

Hmmm...He considered for a moment.

"Well....Got a shortage of trinkets, ingredients and goods in the market. Not the mundane stuff, we get a steady supply of those. But rather the other things- Mouler Glasses, Troll Grog, Eye of Newt and Unseelie knows what else. Disruption in the Goblin Train but I don't suppose you'd be interested, would you?"

@Ellisra​

"To be honest, anything involving Goblins I try to stay far away from. But, if it's important I could try taking a look at what the problem could be. So yeah, I might be interested." ~Being a Social Service servant she just had the need to help others. That included figuring out where things were going other than their proper places.~

@Ringmaster

 

[Ringmaster]

"To be honest, anything involving Goblins I try to stay far away from. But, if it's important I could try taking a look at what the problem could be. So yeah, I might be interested." ~Being a Social Service servant she just had the need to help others. That included figuring out where things were going other than their proper places.~

@Ringmaster

".....Right." He said neutrally before considering.

"Hmm....Happened a week or so earlier actually. Thought twas just a hiccup in the works, it happens ye know? And then the stories started filtering through. Might be attacks, might be accidents or perhaps even a curse. Few know what and why, save those who was guarding the loot. Got a few in the Market now actually, now that I think of it."

@Ellisra​