“Certainly, darling. Felt peckish, m’self,” Ruarc responded as he looked down towards Jane’s eyes with a warm smile, using the opportunity to get a good look at the Librarians in his periphery. Continuing his portrayal of a Brit, Ruarc strode towards the vendor with an air of importance that only a British traveler could carry. Posh, self absorbed, and inducing the desire to ignore him entirely; or pick his pocket, but he had taken steps to prevent that specific eventuality. Greeting the vendor with a chipper smile and a friendly wave, Ruarc proceeded to butcher a language with utter confidence.
“Fajr jayid! Nafsi sawf akhadh 'amrayn min 'ajl balah el sham, hasanan ya rajul,” Ruarc dove head first into his passable understanding of Arabic while putting zero effort into selecting the right words, doing his best to sound like a simple yuppy tourist as he pointed towards the fried treats. With little attention given to speaking properly, he poured all his focus into laying on a Londoner accent. “Habibi jayie.”
[Cairo] Swift and Sure
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
Safe? Safe? How could they even believe that? Was this the conceit of the Lamplighters? The librarian, Scurlocke, had almost been embarrassingly conceited, but perhaps this was the mind of a group that fought for a higher cause. The taller woman was clearly a look-out, and if she was looking now, she had likely been looking before. Ruarc and Jane would be familiar faces at this point if she had been paying attention.
It took everything she had to ignore their voices, Ruarc's horrendously British accent, and the fact the two were playing it off like they were a couple.
Ruarc and Jane? A couple? It made…
… perfect sense, more sense than Ruarc and Caoranach, more sense than… Jane and herself.
Eryl's foot began to tap rapidly, as she unintentionally let her mind spiral. All of the tension she felt pendulated into a maelstrom of jealousy. Eryl wasn't just jealous of Ruarc, but of Jane as well. Her fingers began to coil on each other as she went over everything, while trying to appear patient.
Both of them were rugged, country-living styled people, carrying out rustic lives. They appreciated simple things, and had an inherent desire to distance themselves from the busier world. Jane and Ruarc were solid, sometimes brash, but dependable and built like trucks. They shared a similar temperament, and were taciturn when serious. As this line of logic made more sense, Eryl found herself getting angry and paranoid.
"Is this really the time?" asked the small triclops, tugging her headscarf close to her head, "What if I am being followed? No one may recognize your faces, but what if someone is searching for me?'
It took everything she had to ignore their voices, Ruarc's horrendously British accent, and the fact the two were playing it off like they were a couple.
Ruarc and Jane? A couple? It made…
… perfect sense, more sense than Ruarc and Caoranach, more sense than… Jane and herself.
Eryl's foot began to tap rapidly, as she unintentionally let her mind spiral. All of the tension she felt pendulated into a maelstrom of jealousy. Eryl wasn't just jealous of Ruarc, but of Jane as well. Her fingers began to coil on each other as she went over everything, while trying to appear patient.
Both of them were rugged, country-living styled people, carrying out rustic lives. They appreciated simple things, and had an inherent desire to distance themselves from the busier world. Jane and Ruarc were solid, sometimes brash, but dependable and built like trucks. They shared a similar temperament, and were taciturn when serious. As this line of logic made more sense, Eryl found herself getting angry and paranoid.
"Is this really the time?" asked the small triclops, tugging her headscarf close to her head, "What if I am being followed? No one may recognize your faces, but what if someone is searching for me?'
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Mr. Blackbird Lore
- Posts: 722
- Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
The man rolled his eyes and looked to the tall triclops. "Ophelia?"
Ophelia shook her head, and briefly spared a glance for Eryl. "Were you being followed?" Suspicion crept over her face. "What exactly were you doing when you ran into us and nearly gave us all away?" She caught her shorter companions eye and they shared a concerned look. Ophelia put a hand on Eryl's shoulder. "Look around," she ordered. "Are any of these people familiar?"
While the women worried about the potential of folks like Jane and Ruarc, the man continued his conversation. They seemed to be gossiping, waiting for some food Eryl wasn't quite sure had even been ordered...
Jane followed after Ruarc with an easy smile and took one of the treats from her partner before taking a large bite. She closed her eyes in bliss; she didn't have to put in much effort to make it convincing. "Perfect, hon. Perfect. Now c'n we slow down? Maybe sit awhile? Ma feet er killin me." Of course, she could walk another ten miles no sweat. There also was nowhere to sit, but she was a tourist, and a modern woman. Far be it from her to be entirely aware of her surroundings.
Ophelia shook her head, and briefly spared a glance for Eryl. "Were you being followed?" Suspicion crept over her face. "What exactly were you doing when you ran into us and nearly gave us all away?" She caught her shorter companions eye and they shared a concerned look. Ophelia put a hand on Eryl's shoulder. "Look around," she ordered. "Are any of these people familiar?"
While the women worried about the potential of folks like Jane and Ruarc, the man continued his conversation. They seemed to be gossiping, waiting for some food Eryl wasn't quite sure had even been ordered...
Jane followed after Ruarc with an easy smile and took one of the treats from her partner before taking a large bite. She closed her eyes in bliss; she didn't have to put in much effort to make it convincing. "Perfect, hon. Perfect. Now c'n we slow down? Maybe sit awhile? Ma feet er killin me." Of course, she could walk another ten miles no sweat. There also was nowhere to sit, but she was a tourist, and a modern woman. Far be it from her to be entirely aware of her surroundings.
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
Ophelia was the suspicious one, chances are the man was actually the Librarian of the group. Ophelia was the inheritor and the human was possibly a cultist. Eryl let herself be led around for the duration of this thought, but when she was turned out to rat out her friends, she rounded on the taller Triclops. There was a wide, wild look in Eryl’s eyes.
“Are you blind? Sheltered? Both?” hissed Eryl, keeping her voice desperately under a whisper, “Two members of the Menagerie walk by and it isn’t worth your notice or mention? Over there. The two giants that look like Americans?”
Jane and Ruarc’s friend gripped Ophelia’s wrist, staring at her with deadly intensity. “Look over my shoulder; the woman with blonde hair and the man with her with the scars on his face. Clearly the rumors of their engagement were not unfounded. They are honeymooning in Cairo.”
Then Eryl’s gaze faltered and she gently gestured, “Do you not read M4GE Monthly?”
“Are you blind? Sheltered? Both?” hissed Eryl, keeping her voice desperately under a whisper, “Two members of the Menagerie walk by and it isn’t worth your notice or mention? Over there. The two giants that look like Americans?”
Jane and Ruarc’s friend gripped Ophelia’s wrist, staring at her with deadly intensity. “Look over my shoulder; the woman with blonde hair and the man with her with the scars on his face. Clearly the rumors of their engagement were not unfounded. They are honeymooning in Cairo.”
Then Eryl’s gaze faltered and she gently gestured, “Do you not read M4GE Monthly?”
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
“I could always give you a piggy-back ride, gemheart,” Ruard joked with a distracted laugh. Making a slight show of reaching for his wallet to pay for the food, a number of coins fell out of his pocket. With a simple “Whoops” he quickly knelt and plucked most of the coins back up. Left behind was a silvery unconverted hundred yen coin; unassuming in appearance, but with a tracking rune hidden within the cluster of flowers on the front. Noticing the coin, the Irishman picked it up, only for it to slip once more from his hand that still held his other coins and onto the tip of his shoe. Huffing as the coin rolled inconveniently away from him, he cut his loss, stood back up, and paid the vendor.
“Well that was properly embarrassing,” Ruarc said as he turned to Jane before taking a bite of his own treat. It was sweeter than he would have preferred, but opted to just roll with this one. Mouth still partially filled with fried dough, he gestured down the alley. “Ah fink dehr hwas a sqwaywa… ahem, sorry, I think there was a square down that way. Had we gone to Munich we could probably have found a park to sit in. With luck there’ll at least be an awning we can sit under to get out of this blasted heat for a time.”
“Well that was properly embarrassing,” Ruarc said as he turned to Jane before taking a bite of his own treat. It was sweeter than he would have preferred, but opted to just roll with this one. Mouth still partially filled with fried dough, he gestured down the alley. “Ah fink dehr hwas a sqwaywa… ahem, sorry, I think there was a square down that way. Had we gone to Munich we could probably have found a park to sit in. With luck there’ll at least be an awning we can sit under to get out of this blasted heat for a time.”
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Mr. Blackbird Lore
- Posts: 722
- Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
Ophelia snorted derisively and folded her arms. "No, we don't read trash rags." She looked to her female counterpart, silently begging her aid. The mousy woman came forward, placing a hand on Eryl's shoulder. "We have it on good authority that the Menagerie's Gunslinger is in fact not courting-- least of all, a man. Most intelligence suggests she has a budding--" She left off and recoiled, as if struck, studying Eryl fiercely. "Link!"
The portly man spun at the urgency in the woman's voice, hand darting into his vest. "What?"
The mousy woman shoved Eryl back and also reached into her pockets. "The Lost One!"
"Idiots!" Shouted the 'merchant' as he scurried from one side of his stall to the other.
Jane turned at the sound of a voice being raised and saw the merchant moving with haste. She let the dessert fall from her hands and rushed forward. The wind swept back her duster, giving her hands easy access to the pair of Colt Lightnings strapped to her hips. The guns came up and--
--The merchant slapped a button on the wall. A watery wall of mana spread out like a bubble, rapidly enveloping the librarians, Eryl, and Jane before collapsing back in on itself.
For Ruarc-- and anyone else on the street close enough to have potentially witnessed the event-- there was a sudden loss of memory and mild confusion. He knew where he was, and he remembered why-- but he couldn't remember what he'd just been doing, or where his companions had made off to.
As he processed this sudden amnesia and he searched for clues as to what in the hell he was doing, a glint in the sand caught his eye. A coin- his coin. And just as quickly as his memory had fled, it returned. He had lost precious seconds, and his friends were likely now in the viper's den without his support.
In the Viper's Den
Those that had been enveloped by the transportation spell were still in the same approximate orientation: Eryl stood in the center of the room and the center of attention. In front of her were two angry women, and behind her a portly Librarian drawing his wand. To her right was the 'merchant,' now revealed to be a front man. Finally, on her left was Jane still in full sprint, guns drawn.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
The sound was overwhelming in the small space, but when it ended, Eryl found herself the only three-eyed person still standing. In Jane's two eyes were the warring emotions of anger and concern. She sheathed one firearm as she closed the gap so she could put a hand on Eryl's shoulder. "Y'alright?" Steely eyes scoured the triclops' sleight frame for wounds, but found none. Fast hands had saved the day once again, but now they were in deep. Alarmed voices could be heard through the lone door in the room. The room itself didn't seem to have a purpose beyond serving as a landing point for the transportation spell. The walls and floor were bare, meaning they had no cover nor concealment should anyone open the door.
Jane raised both guns toward the door. "Thoughts?"
The portly man spun at the urgency in the woman's voice, hand darting into his vest. "What?"
The mousy woman shoved Eryl back and also reached into her pockets. "The Lost One!"
"Idiots!" Shouted the 'merchant' as he scurried from one side of his stall to the other.
Jane turned at the sound of a voice being raised and saw the merchant moving with haste. She let the dessert fall from her hands and rushed forward. The wind swept back her duster, giving her hands easy access to the pair of Colt Lightnings strapped to her hips. The guns came up and--
--The merchant slapped a button on the wall. A watery wall of mana spread out like a bubble, rapidly enveloping the librarians, Eryl, and Jane before collapsing back in on itself.
For Ruarc-- and anyone else on the street close enough to have potentially witnessed the event-- there was a sudden loss of memory and mild confusion. He knew where he was, and he remembered why-- but he couldn't remember what he'd just been doing, or where his companions had made off to.
As he processed this sudden amnesia and he searched for clues as to what in the hell he was doing, a glint in the sand caught his eye. A coin- his coin. And just as quickly as his memory had fled, it returned. He had lost precious seconds, and his friends were likely now in the viper's den without his support.
In the Viper's Den
Those that had been enveloped by the transportation spell were still in the same approximate orientation: Eryl stood in the center of the room and the center of attention. In front of her were two angry women, and behind her a portly Librarian drawing his wand. To her right was the 'merchant,' now revealed to be a front man. Finally, on her left was Jane still in full sprint, guns drawn.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
The sound was overwhelming in the small space, but when it ended, Eryl found herself the only three-eyed person still standing. In Jane's two eyes were the warring emotions of anger and concern. She sheathed one firearm as she closed the gap so she could put a hand on Eryl's shoulder. "Y'alright?" Steely eyes scoured the triclops' sleight frame for wounds, but found none. Fast hands had saved the day once again, but now they were in deep. Alarmed voices could be heard through the lone door in the room. The room itself didn't seem to have a purpose beyond serving as a landing point for the transportation spell. The walls and floor were bare, meaning they had no cover nor concealment should anyone open the door.
Jane raised both guns toward the door. "Thoughts?"
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
The triclops was still shaking under Jane's hand.
That had almost been curtains for Eryl Maelgwyn, she had let herself get caught up in the moment. Her mind had spiraled so quickly that she had already been planning some terribly elaborate scheme to unfurl the terrible knot she had tied. It involved pretending to sacrifice her friends to some dark god and using it as rationale for getting them inside.
Coming back to reality was like being dunked in cold water, being recognized had been a possibility, but she didn't expect it to happen at the worst time. The Lost One. That was their name for her. Whatever it meant, it didn't compare to the hate in their eyes.
Eryl needed a hug, but there wasn't time for it. Jane had made it through, but Ruarc was on the other side. Without him, they would be overwhelmed quickly if they came to be swarmed. Jane had the highest-single target damage potential, but lacked the wide range control.
"Keep your eyes on the door, and don't look back," said Eryl balefully as the curved blade-wand was drawn forth. There was nothing inherently ugly about blood magic, but no one could be called beautiful for using it. There was only one spell she could rely on from her memory that could help.
With a whip of her want, she called upon the blood of the dead, and it rose from the gun wounds in spiralling columns
Draw the blood, and shape it…
The red lines whipped like a ribbon, before folding over itself into a rod.
Breathe words into this form…
The rod glowed, and whipped sharply, orienting one end towards Eryl and the other towards the creature she wanted. It was a summoning spell, an aggressive, costly summoning spell. It was called Conscription, and the somatic component was fitting.
"Ruarc Flynn. You are needed. Fight for me."
The rod erupted into a dimensional tear, to bring forth the Archdruid of Osaka.
That had almost been curtains for Eryl Maelgwyn, she had let herself get caught up in the moment. Her mind had spiraled so quickly that she had already been planning some terribly elaborate scheme to unfurl the terrible knot she had tied. It involved pretending to sacrifice her friends to some dark god and using it as rationale for getting them inside.
Coming back to reality was like being dunked in cold water, being recognized had been a possibility, but she didn't expect it to happen at the worst time. The Lost One. That was their name for her. Whatever it meant, it didn't compare to the hate in their eyes.
Eryl needed a hug, but there wasn't time for it. Jane had made it through, but Ruarc was on the other side. Without him, they would be overwhelmed quickly if they came to be swarmed. Jane had the highest-single target damage potential, but lacked the wide range control.
"Keep your eyes on the door, and don't look back," said Eryl balefully as the curved blade-wand was drawn forth. There was nothing inherently ugly about blood magic, but no one could be called beautiful for using it. There was only one spell she could rely on from her memory that could help.
With a whip of her want, she called upon the blood of the dead, and it rose from the gun wounds in spiralling columns
Draw the blood, and shape it…
The red lines whipped like a ribbon, before folding over itself into a rod.
Breathe words into this form…
The rod glowed, and whipped sharply, orienting one end towards Eryl and the other towards the creature she wanted. It was a summoning spell, an aggressive, costly summoning spell. It was called Conscription, and the somatic component was fitting.
"Ruarc Flynn. You are needed. Fight for me."
The rod erupted into a dimensional tear, to bring forth the Archdruid of Osaka.
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
Cough cough cough. Shaking his head against the sudden onset of fuzz, Ruarc tried to recollect what had just happened as he tried to avoid choking on the second bit of food he had taken. One moment he had been pretending to be affably British, and then wham. Had he just had a stroke? He’d been putting on a show for Jane, and now she was gone somewhere. No, wait, that wasn’t right. There’d be no reason to put on a show for Jane… and Eryl? Eryl had been there too. As he cast around for clues, he saw something shiny. A Japanese yen coin in Cairo, Egypt? It was definitely his, but it was unlike him to lose his money. No, wait, this wasn’t money. Well, it wasn't just money. It was one of his tracking runes. He was tracking Eryl because… the Librarians!
It all came back to him. The jig had been up. Eryl’s cover had been blown, and the Librarians had acted while Jane had rushed in. He had been slower on the draw, which apparently meant he had missed the trolley and was left at the station. Scrambling around the vendor stall Ruarc didn’t stop to wonder how odd he must look as he quickly began searching a now vacant stall. Around the time he was beginning to scan the wall he felt… something.
Ruarc’s body suddenly felt like it was growing heavy, and he could hear a voice in his head. It wasn’t like when he was talking with Laoise or Maeve. This was heavier and more oppressive; like a pillow being pressed over his face. Impossible to ignore, it felt like chains were wrapping around him and drawing him forward. He was needed. He had to fight. Stars and stones! Was this a summoning spell?!
Before he could properly take in being treated like some common imp, Ruarc’s being was pulled through the void to the summoner’s circle. As he stepped through the columns of blood he was in part relieved to see his comrades safe. He was less than thrilled to see he’d been pulled through a blood fueled summoning circle, but he felt compelled to ignore it along with his opinion towards Eryl for having put him through this. He was needed, and he needed to fight.
Dead bodies. The sound of alarm. Jane focusing on a door. Empty room.
“Cloch a oscailt agus a ithe,” Ruarc chanted as soon as he cleared the tear. This room was lacking any cover to benefit his team, so he changed that. Three rough hewn stone pillars erupted from the floor and punctured the ceiling as the Druid channeled his will into the earth below him. Wasting little time, the Irishman hurried forward and pressed himself against the pillar to the left of the room.
“Sorry I’m late,” Ruarc’s tone was steady, but still bore a slightly amiable lilt to it as he pulled out some runes.
It all came back to him. The jig had been up. Eryl’s cover had been blown, and the Librarians had acted while Jane had rushed in. He had been slower on the draw, which apparently meant he had missed the trolley and was left at the station. Scrambling around the vendor stall Ruarc didn’t stop to wonder how odd he must look as he quickly began searching a now vacant stall. Around the time he was beginning to scan the wall he felt… something.
Ruarc’s body suddenly felt like it was growing heavy, and he could hear a voice in his head. It wasn’t like when he was talking with Laoise or Maeve. This was heavier and more oppressive; like a pillow being pressed over his face. Impossible to ignore, it felt like chains were wrapping around him and drawing him forward. He was needed. He had to fight. Stars and stones! Was this a summoning spell?!
Before he could properly take in being treated like some common imp, Ruarc’s being was pulled through the void to the summoner’s circle. As he stepped through the columns of blood he was in part relieved to see his comrades safe. He was less than thrilled to see he’d been pulled through a blood fueled summoning circle, but he felt compelled to ignore it along with his opinion towards Eryl for having put him through this. He was needed, and he needed to fight.
Dead bodies. The sound of alarm. Jane focusing on a door. Empty room.
“Cloch a oscailt agus a ithe,” Ruarc chanted as soon as he cleared the tear. This room was lacking any cover to benefit his team, so he changed that. Three rough hewn stone pillars erupted from the floor and punctured the ceiling as the Druid channeled his will into the earth below him. Wasting little time, the Irishman hurried forward and pressed himself against the pillar to the left of the room.
“Sorry I’m late,” Ruarc’s tone was steady, but still bore a slightly amiable lilt to it as he pulled out some runes.
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Mr. Blackbird Lore
- Posts: 722
- Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
Jane was about to jest, "Why, ye gon change outfits real quick?" She changed her mind when she saw the wicked edge of Eryl's wand and fixed her eyes on the door... until she heard what she was doing. "Didja jus..."
She didn't need to finish the question: the answer was standing right behind her, looking none the worse for wear. She offered a soldier's smirk. "Nice o ye ta join us," she shot back before pressing herself to the far right pillar. Never one to be idle in a siege, her hands instinctually reloaded. Then she took a calming breath.
She was in her domain-- and this time, she had allies. Although they had been detected, they still retained an element of surprise. The momentum was on their side, and the gunslinger was going to keep it that way. "If y'all can whip up a trap on that door quick as lightning, that'd be peachy. Eryl, gimme yer best ward. Soon as they open that door, I'm goin through it. S'time ta clean house."
Speed and violence of action. That was her teacher's motto. If you're going to fight, fight hard and fight fast. There is no slow and steady, there is no mild combat. Sudden, swift, and severe.
She didn't need to finish the question: the answer was standing right behind her, looking none the worse for wear. She offered a soldier's smirk. "Nice o ye ta join us," she shot back before pressing herself to the far right pillar. Never one to be idle in a siege, her hands instinctually reloaded. Then she took a calming breath.
She was in her domain-- and this time, she had allies. Although they had been detected, they still retained an element of surprise. The momentum was on their side, and the gunslinger was going to keep it that way. "If y'all can whip up a trap on that door quick as lightning, that'd be peachy. Eryl, gimme yer best ward. Soon as they open that door, I'm goin through it. S'time ta clean house."
Speed and violence of action. That was her teacher's motto. If you're going to fight, fight hard and fight fast. There is no slow and steady, there is no mild combat. Sudden, swift, and severe.
Re: [Cairo] Swift and Sure
Eryl let out a wheeze as she recovered from the last spell. Pulling someone of Flynn's strength through the void was not an easy task, but she was satisfied knowing she made it look that way. She raked some sweat off her brow, and then drew out another wand. Unlike the other focus, this one was narrow and long, resembling a stiletto.
A wand in each hand, she whipped them towards the floor, and a disc of energy appeared. With a quick upward motion of the wands, her staff rose from the disc and floated in the air. Another wide sweep downward planted the staff on the ground and a dome of resistance spread outward. That would handle and slow any incoming spells.
The stiletto twirled one way, and whipped Jane on the rear, with the flat of the blade.
"Don't you overextend," asserted Eryl, as a defensive barrier washed over the gunslinger, "we are with you."
The triclops' gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before she whirled the other way. Ruarc would feel the back of the curling wand brush on him, granting him a similar barrier.
Sorry, mouthed Eryl, unable to look Ruarc in the eyes.
The Abjurer returned to her staff, and readied her mind to channel and manipulate her barriers.
A wand in each hand, she whipped them towards the floor, and a disc of energy appeared. With a quick upward motion of the wands, her staff rose from the disc and floated in the air. Another wide sweep downward planted the staff on the ground and a dome of resistance spread outward. That would handle and slow any incoming spells.
The stiletto twirled one way, and whipped Jane on the rear, with the flat of the blade.
"Don't you overextend," asserted Eryl, as a defensive barrier washed over the gunslinger, "we are with you."
The triclops' gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before she whirled the other way. Ruarc would feel the back of the curling wand brush on him, granting him a similar barrier.
Sorry, mouthed Eryl, unable to look Ruarc in the eyes.
The Abjurer returned to her staff, and readied her mind to channel and manipulate her barriers.
Last edited by Kokuten on Thu Apr 20, 2023 9:01 am, edited 1 time in total.