Ceiling Splat

Tenebrae - Tuesday, June 28, 2016, 8:14 AM

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-=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A05: Adventurer's Guild, Guild Hall *>--=--=--=--=--=--=-

As the phoenix is Alexandria's national symbol, so too has its Explorer's Guild, often called the Adventurer's Guild, risen from the ashes of its destruction.

Guards and mercenaries fill the interior of this huge building, one of the largest in its immediate area. Strong, metal walls divide its interior, crafting halls, briefing rooms and offices. A large space near the front has been set aside for mingling and stocked with comfortable charis to wait in.

This area is catered by one of the Society of Arcanists' more famous chefs, a small lucht with a predilection for otherworldly cuisine and tentacle soup. Security here is as tight as it is anywhere in Alexandria, even more so now after its recent destruction. Sharp eyed sentinels and guards are ever-watchful and all manner of security contraption is said to be residing within the walls of the building. The walls are pristine for now, though not for long, and artfully decorated with murals depicting heroic adventure by members of all communities and races of the region.

The windows to the Guild are now stained glass, artfully decorated to depict famous moments in Alexandrian history, ranging from the death of Altima at the hands of the Phalanx Falcis at the end of the Sorceress Wars, to the city triumphantly emerging from the Mists to a changed world. Many spaces have been set aside for new stories to be added, with numerous tale yet to be written.

No matter how many times the Guild has been rebuilt, the statue in the front remains the same: a lone warrior facing off against what is presumably thought to be 'Cuddles the Otyugh Queen', with the Guild's motto, below: Anything for the right price.

"I just did. I am Sorscha, Sunblade of the Shining Knight. A few of us came over when a man's friend called for help over his friend having convulsions. When we came over, he said our world will end, turned inside out and floated up to the ceiling. An Egalrin named Ezriya started shooting flames at it, but couldn't break through it's defense, as well as a few others. One giantborn called it a coward for flying out of his reach.....but anyone with half a mind seeing someone that big would fly out of his reach too. It also spawned a pair of Shadow crocodiles and....rather than let the ones attacking the floating one be hit from behind, I took one of them on, while the giantborn took on another."

There is a HUGE MESS of SPLATTER all over the ceiling. Some unfortunate sanitation workers are working on it.

Also, an otyugh.

Munch wanders in the front, idly nodding to a few familiar faces as he makes his way into the Guild, starting towards the notice board for new jobs. The redecoration of the ceiling does give the golem pause, however. "....it dead, or did it get away?" Cut to the important questions.

Svarshan has arrived.

Aldean's glancing up at the sanitation workers -- including an otyugh -- tackling a huge mess on the ceiling in the Guild. Carefully, he's not standing /under/ it, even though he listens intently to Sorscha as she tells her tale, thumbs hooked in his belt. "Yer world will end, eh?" The baritone sounds oddly thoughtful, and one thick-fingered hand scratches at the blonde stubble on his jaw as he listens. "Describe 'em, mayhaps, if ye can? Or was they disguised as sommat else?"

Kira has arrived.

Kusuma, the Xian journalist, makes a few notes in his notebook, in somewhat cryptic shorthand. Emphatically he underlines a few words, idly, nodding to Sorscha and Aldean. For a moment, he marvels at the war golem, but these things not being uncommon in Alexandria, the wonderment lasts not. "Were /you/ here last night, golem?"

Sorscha says, "A person turned inside out is the best I can decribe, along with the Shadow Crocodiles, one of which I faced. the big surprise was when when imps showed up.....and began to attack the demon on the ceiling, as well as the rest of us. the summoner himself yelled out 'Taara will not suffer the summoner's interference'. it surprised me, but I had my hands full with the Shadow. A war golem, wearing the same sunburst as I did, called to the Shining Knight and made the Imps disappear, while the Giantborn, even after he defeated the croc, fell himself.""

Munch shakes his head, peering idly at the mess. "Me? Nah, I was spider baiting up in the FellWood. Just back into town a bit ago. Sounds like I missed some fun."

Demons. Daemons? Svarshan crouches on all fours near the entryway. The sith's mouth hangs slightly open as he draws in air. He doesn't move then, becoming frozen in position.

The otyugh gets another wary glance from Aldean, and he's carefully giving it a wide berth. Rather than further involving himself in cleanup, though, he's scratching at the stubble on his jaw as he listens carefully to Sorscha. Dark eyes light up in interest and amusement at her latest description, though. "Aye? Sounds as if there be more'n one group, an' they had a pissin' match with ye lot in the middle." He scowls, then, the amusement fading from mobile features.

Kira had heard of some kind of commotion in the area and hurried as soon as she heard from the kitchens. This means she's carrying a basket of bread fresh from the ovens. Whatever the commotion, if anyone's hurt, maybe she can help. If anyone's hungry, she can probably help with that, too.

Ga'Elian has arrived.

The paladin settles down on his haunches, silent for a while. The scents drift through the mind, and over the tongue. Then, Svarshan looks over at the small group that gathered. "Daemonss, Void creaturess. Demonss, Hell creaturess. One, desstruction, other, corruption." Then: "All delissious." The last comes with a slow, certain satisfaction.

Sorscha says, "Mmmm....the assistance from the dark one was a bit of a surprise. Granted, the summoner attacked EVERYONE, but it seems there's an unlikely ally against this.......jerk."

Munch nods firmly to the Demon Chomper. "Better fresh, but also good roasted or fried."

The chubby journalist, Kusuma, has a look at the ceiling carefully, before glancing at the paladin and the other recently gathered. He scribbles rapidly. "So, what happened to the summoner? And, who were they? Can you describe them?"

Ga'Elian returns inside the guild hall from the stable outside where his animal companion has just been tended to. Seeing the group that has assembled and the clean-up efforts under way, he grabs a broom and says, "I happened to walk in on the mayhem just before the fight was over. Poor Kalkorth. I hope he is recovering well."

Aldean nods, but it's the paladin's hiss from the door that gets the bard's real attention. "Both, ye said?" He scowls, blackly. "Fair winds, mate. Need a word wit' ye a bit later, if ye've time," he adds to Svarshan before turning back to Sorscha. "Look, lass," he tells Sorscha, "if I be right, ain't neither o' these lots a friend to ye." He leans back against the nearest cleaned wall, thumbs still hooked in his belt. "Be thinkin' I know who sent 'em both. Lose the notebook, mate," he adds to the journalist, "or ye ain't hearin' nothing. This ain't belong in the city gossip, got me?" He levels a /look/ at Kusuma.

Sorscha says, "I already know....Aldean, you said your name is? The dark lady is not a friend of the light, only to power and to herself. Which makes her path a fairly lonely one." She hears the hiss and she looks over towards Svarshan....which brings a smile to her lips. "The Summoner died as well.....as far as I know. Like I said, I had my hands full.""

The Xian journalist Kusuma smiles obliquely at Aldean, and obligingly returns the notepad to a pocket, and the pencil to behind an ear. He places his now free hands behind his back, and stands at ease, listening to the back and forth.

Munch blinks at Aldean, and listens, giving the book writer a Look himself... though not quite certain on why they're eyeing the scribe.

Svarshan rests on his haunches as he follows the discussion. A slow thump, then flick-end of the tail towards Munch's words. "Both," though, he respond to Aldean specifically. The coal eyes almost twinkle as he says the words. He is so happy. "Ssuspect competing." He IS happy. He smiles towards Sorscha, and there's a faint suggestion of teeth to it. Just not aimed at her. Today is such a good day.

Ga'Elian pauses his sweeping and says, "As I mentioned, by the time I showed up, it was almost over, but yes, the summoner was killed. I barely managed to fire off a couple arrows before it was all over, but I saw a shadow demon in the guise of a crocodile, some imps, and a blood demon.

"Aye," Aldean nods agreement with the sith, then nods his satisfaction as the journalist tucks his pad of paper away. Once he has everyone's attention, he looks around. "Aye, but there be more to it than that, lass," he tells Sorscha, flashing her an easy grin. "As Svarshan here said, daemons of the Void an' demons of the Hells be two different things, an' they ain't get on with one another. Demons from the Hells be Asumit's thralls, an' we know they be in Alexandria. The Void creatures be another matter ... I'd wager m'last copper that Voice bastard be responsible fer that lot." He scowls again. "He likes to summon."

Ga'Elian asks, "Could the Voice and the Binder be collaborating?"

Kusuma almost can't resist asking the question. "Hold on a minute," he mutters, interrupting Ga'Elian. "Asumit I've heard of, but who's this Voice fellow?" One can almost see the cogs whirring in his mind, the hyper-alertness trying to take everything in.

The sith makes a noise of interest in the back of his throat as he listens. "Today," he says roughly, at length. "Iss a beautiful. Day." And he settles back then, basking in these thoughts.

Munch mmmms and nods to the BrightBlade. "Better if can find them before they slip away again."

Sorscha says, "there's usually more to it than minions attacking a guildhouse, Aldean. Pure destruction vs enslavement. Unfortunately, pure destruction tends to have enemies everywhere for obvious reasons. Finding them is never easy....." She then looks toward Kusuma.......and actually PEERS at him."

"Voice of the Void. Be a lich -- servant o' the Void -- as has plagued some of us here at the Guild fer a bit," Aldean explains. "Lost 'im in the sewers of Alexandria a bit back, an' he ain't shown himself fer a while. Dunno as they be workin' together. Asumit wants the Sea o' Mana fer hisself. Void ain't want nothin' but destruction o' all of Creation, not just Ea." His mobile features shift into a thoughtful look. "Ain't rightly know where Taara plays into all o' this, mind. Can't be a friend to either."

Sorscha's remark, though, draws a laugh. "Oh, aye. Been chasin' this fer a bit, crossed blades with this bastard a few times."

Ga'Elian resumes his sweeping, then stoops to pick up the broken pieces of his cold iron arrows shot the night before. Listening to Aldean, he bristles a bit and says, "My elders have taught me that there is power in names, and to exercise care in invoking the names of great evils."

Kira has left.

Munch shrugs. "Some power, but not much. Could call them Asshat and PussFace, if you prefer."

Sorscha says, "there are many reasons here why they would fight, Aldean. One of the answers is in your own words. The void seeks the destruction of all creation, including the gods. So, the dark lady may be fighting for her own preservation as well. Perhaps looking to spin it to where she benefits, but that could be the reason she fights."

Some might blush under the constant peering and glances from Aldean, Munch and Sorscha, but not Kusuma. Carefully he takes a step back from the group a little. "Right, right. So, a fight between demons, evil demons. And, hey---" He looks over at Ga'Elian, seemingly neutral in this. "---we should definitely be careful with names." He thinks carefully, his hands instinctively reaching to his notepad pocket --- then shifting them again when he remembers. "So, demons have been kicking around in the city lately. What side are those on?"

Svarshan makes a slow sound of contentment in the back of his throat. "The Binder. ...he hidess," he says. The word trails off into dissapointment. He looks over towards Aldean then, with wide, sad eyes. The wide, sad eyes say: won't you wriggle your fingers and make Asumit appear? It would be so nice. Like the best Yulesday present. A moment later, there's an otherworldly shimmer, like a heavenly tear.

Munch shrugs to Kusuma. "Asshat, mostly. Pussface I havn't heard so much about. He seems to sneak more."

Sorscha says, "I like the name 'asshat' for this 'Asumit' person."

Baritone laughter greets Munch's suggestion, Aldean's mobile expression lighting out of its thoughtfulness. "An' do ye fear to name a thing, yer givin' it power over yer mind, mate. Ye want the likes o' that bitch havin' free room an' board in yer head, mate?" he tells Ga'Elian, but with a smile.

"They be Asumit's thralls, mate," he tells Kusuma. "Got flushed into the open by the Father's Temple -- been in the city fer years, jes' hiding..." And as Svarshan looks at him, with those puppydog eyes, he throws back his head and laughs a belly laugh. "Later, mate. Later." He silent jerks his head at the crowd before returning his attention to the conversation. "Mayhaps, lass. Mayhaps," is all he says.

Ga'Elian responds, "The names I fear not, but especially the Dark Lady may hear when her name is uttered. I do not wish to invite Her. In any case, I appreciate your knowledge of these foes and have come to this city specifically to aid in its hour of need."

"I will hope. He watchss his name." The contentness is still there. It is a wonderful day. A wonderful WEEK. Svarshan looks up towards the ceiling, and the wreckage. And... "Rooftop," he says, and just that. He leaps, grasping hold of the doorway. ...and then pulls himself upwards, the tail flicking once, before it and the rest of him vanishes.

Svarshan has left.

Munch peers after the Demon Chomper a moment, peers at the somewhat cleaner ceiling, and heads over to the notice board to finish his orginal task of job hunting.

Sorscha quietly wipes off her blade. "There may be power in a name, but if you do not say it, you build mystery, confusion. They bring the curious and inquisitive, and before you know it...you have given someone a follower that didn't want to be a follower in the first place. Just say the name and be done with it. that summoner did mention Taara when it summoned the imps though."

"I'll /assume it/'s something to do with that business a few months back, at the Colosseum," Kusuma quips. "Would that be fair, Mister Aldean? You seem to know a lot about it." He pauses. "So what issue does the Voice have with this Binder?"

As he, sweeping, nears a guild employee, the employee hands Ga'Elian a note and mumbles something. The elf takes the note and hands the employee the broom. He says, "Of course, I'll deliver this right away." Then to the others in the room says, "I need to go deliver a message for the guild. May you all farewell, and may the gods bless your efforts to fight these foul things." He heads to the exit and bows before stepping out.

Ga'Elian has left.

For answer, Aldean simply winks at Kusuma, grinning broadly in a clear affirmative. "Aye, done a bit fer the Father's Temple on that count," he admits easily. The smile fades quickly enough. "Voice serves the Void. They jes' want the Source an' everything as Elhim spun from it gone. Ain't nobody wants that, and they ain't hold with aught of creation at all. Void be at odds with everybody. Asumit jes' wants the Sea o' Mana fer his own self, t'rip it from the hands of the Gods. To deny all magic."

You say, "In short, they're both jerks with no friends."

Sorscha says, "Only he has to contend with Eluna and Taara.""

Kusuma nods bleakly, mulling this over visibly. "Some of these legends are known even to children, right? So, why are you keen to keep this from the Tribune? Surely this is something of which the people should know." He takes another casual step back, as if on uncertain ground.

"Would ye have a panic, mate?" Aldean asks Kusuma intently, crossing his arms. "Do ye share that openly, that be what ye'll get. Panic in the streets. Ain't need that. Moreover, would ye openly tell their minions how much we know? Ain't need that either. Lot o' people'll get hurt if they decide we know too much." He pauses, looks over at Sorscha, then back to Kusuma without response. "Be thinkin' I've said enough," he adds, straightening from his lean against the wall. "That be what happened here. Two groups o' demons havin' a pissin' match at the Guild's expense. That be all."

Sorscha looks to Kusuma. "What Aldean said. On top of that...if you tell the people about this, you'll also be telling Asshat's minions, which would get word back to Asumit, who would go back into hiding. So, in this case, you'd be doing more harm than good, if you publish it. Sad to say, it is better to keep people in the dark until it is over." She then looks to Aldean. "he is brash but I sense no malice from his intentions, Aldean."

Munch nods. "Not all your readers are the people you want reading."