Verdict Heart (Princess the Hopeful Quest)

Pangolin · Mar 3, 2019

'Verdict Heart. It's either gibberish, or it's dangerous.'

Apollo 11 was the key, and on July 20th 1969 it found the lock. A light of hope ignited in the skies and across the planet, ushering in a new age for the Enlightened after untold years of festering shadow.

Those are magical girls and boys, by the way, and you're one of them. Mahou shoujo, Enlightened, Nobility, the Hopeful -- whatever title it may be, you were born again in brilliance and given a simple task; To make the world a better place than how you found it. That was your Blossoming. It is a quest that all Hopeful take up gladly and, much like the Hopeful themselves, such a nature carries with it all the diversity and different perspectives you would come to expect. A simple task it may be, but the solutions are many and with vast differences. Yet each approach could be called tiring. Yet, you must still continue.

The Hopeful rise to confront the Darkness. It is this battle which lets them know in their heart of hearts that good and evil are real things, where one must be upheld and the other defeated, and it is a battle they know to be never ending.

Yet, you must still continue, and hope. It is that fight which gives you purpose, that war which makes you feel complete. To defeat the Darkspawn, or to better a community -- it is a part of who you are now, a member of a lineage spanning back to before written history. When times are hardest, when it feels as if the weight of the world's shadow is too much, then just hope, as you always have.

You are the Light of this world. Never forget that.

London of 2019. A city which houses a large community of the Hopeful out of necessity, for the shadow cast by London is vast and the land coveted by forces beyond our war. But such was the case even before recent times.

Recently, it has become worse.

You are…--

---

The Heir
You are a member of the Hopeful, a human who has become something more and in turn taken on a task that is far greater than them. At some point in your recent life, you touched the seed of magic in your soul by facing a problem that was beyond yourself -- and even the authority figures around you -- and resolving to solve it. In a critical, sometimes life threatening, moment you did not falter but instead you affirmed your agency and manifested your ideals through action. If you had not, or if you had failed, you would not have been able to forgive yourself.

[ ] Name the Newborn Heir.
As Nobility, you may very well have two names to match the two lives you now lead; Your given birth name, and the name you wear when you are Transformed. Each carries with it a weight.

[ ] Give them form.
The Princesses and Princes are not necessarily confined by age, and ones Transformed self can look nothing like their mundane self. Instead it is your 'perfected' self, the ideal. Some hardly change at all, while some appear worlds apart from their mundane self. Also consider your age and experience. Where are you in your life? How will this impact your duties and dual-life? How much does one life reflect the other?

Go into as much depth as you will, be it at-a-glance or something which pries at even your personality.

Heir's Calling
How do you solve your problems? What kind of problems do you solve? What responsibilities have you accepted to carry? These are the questions that create the cornerstone of your soul's magic. Certain behaviour is expected of particular Calling's, but no Calling restricts you in your role, even if there are those who believe it should. Ultimately there will be times when you will need more than just a narrow selection of solutions. The Calling represents your duties, which in turn come to define who you are and who you wish to be.

[ ] Champion
Defender of the weak and helpless. Adventurers and heroes of old, take up the blade to slay the Darkness, such is your Calling.

[ ] Grace
Voice of hope and diplomat of your Court. The speaker, the community leader and passionate activist. You help and resolve others to confront their fear.

[ ] Mender
Healer of wounds, both physical and spiritual. Though the Darkness may yet be defeated, it will leave its mark, and it is your Calling to heal those scars.

[ ] Seeker
Hound of the truth. The scholar and scientist. Investigator of the mischievous and dark.

[ ] Troubadour
Artist and performer of joy. You inspire others into greatness with your art and, through it, begin a journey of self-discovery for those around you.

Heir's Court
Once, there were the Kingdoms. And then they were no longer. Yet the Radiant Queens live on beyond the veil of sleep, and their kingdoms live on in the name of the Light. In the Dreamlands they rule, mentoring the Radiant who swear themselves to her Court. To join a Court is ultimately a choice, and prospective followers often choose based on which Queen closer aligns with their own beliefs and vice versa. The bond between Queen and Heir is not simply that of a personal relationship, but it also enables her followers to better use her associated form of magic -- her Invocation. Where members of courts will find themselves specializing in them, the Courtless may pick and choose, although they may not be the best at them.

[ ] Court of Clubs; Queen of Wilds; Invocation Legno
She leads the coven of princesses who seek to live in harmony with the world. If you believe that self discovery and mutual understanding brings people together in harmony you will always be welcome in the court of Clubs. The Queen of Clubs teaches the principles of harmony and inner strength in the Invocation of Legno. Think of… elves, if that is easier for you.

[ ] Court of Diamonds; Queen of Lights; Invocation Acqua
She leads the conclave of progressive-minded who believe in constantly adapting and refining the Kingdom's techniques. If you believe that clear and careful thought will lead us to a better tomorrow you'll find minds that think alike in the court of Diamonds. The Queen of Diamonds focuses the lights of knowledge and reason into the Invocation of Acqua. You endeavor to improve the world through reason.

[ ] Court of Hearts; Queen among Queens; Invocation Terra
The Queen among Queens leads the court of Princesses who focus on communities, and their place within society, first and foremost. If you believe that a Princess' role is to build and lead communities into the light then you have a place in the court of Hearts. The Queen of Hearts builds her society upon a foundation of the Invocation of Terra. Ever polite, ever trustworthy and trusting, ever dutiful.

[ ] Court of Spades; Queen of Knaves; Invocation Aria
The Queen of Knaves leads a confederacy of winking scoundrels and good-hearted rogues who believe the best application of the rules is to break them. If you believe that the world's ills are best solved outside of any boxes then you'll fit right in at the court of Spades. The Queen of Spades teaches the Invocation of Aria, the enviable lightness of being. Be sure to laugh, and don't get caught.

[ ] Court of Swords; Queen of Heroines; Invocation Fuoco
The Queen of Heroines leads the company of Princesses who believe that inner strength and passion should always light the way. If you believe that the world needs individual heroes led by all consuming passion then you can proudly join the court of Swords. The Queen of Swords raises passionate devotion into magic in the Invocation of Fuoco. Love is the most powerful of emotions. Inspire through valiant example.

[ ] Courtless; Queen of Choice; Without Invocation
You have yet to choose, or for one reason or another refuse to choose, a court. You lack the support structure of the court, and the benefits it would otherwise confer, but you are not bound by a structure of ideals. While you must still align with a Queen's ideals to make deeper use of her Invocation, you can nonetheless dabble in an Invocation of your choosing without fear of squandering the gift of a Queen.

It may be best to set a plan for yourself, no?

Pangolin · Mar 3, 2019

Name: Anne Josephine
Calling & Court: Mender of Spades

A small young woman with an infectious grin and relaxed verdant eyes. Your hair is a natural sunlit blonde, which you more often than not wear in low twintails, pooling around your face and giving it room to move about. Your build could otherwise be described as a 'tiny but vaguely fierce', having been an active member of your school's rounders team, and otherwise a fairly outdoorsy person. While not a fighter in the same vein as your father, you body nonetheless contains its own physical strength when it comes to explosive running.

When garbed in your Transformed Regalia, a golden mask covers the area around your eyes, nose, forehead and upper cheeks, leaving holes for the green of your eyes -- surrounded by a warm sun-like limbal ring -- to peer through, overall giving the mask an owl-like appearance. Your Regalia overall is something between an oracle and a hoplite, wearing a white tunic with golden chest armor layered over it, and a lengthy sash in turn layered over the armor. Your shins and forearms are similarly armored in this state, with lightning and feather designs etched into each respectively. The robe you wear flows down past your knees, but beneath it is a hidden armored skirt, which almost blends in with the light, airy fabric covered over it. Your hair comes together into a singular, dense compact braid going down to your lower-back.

Your height doesn't change. You accept the fact you are a shorty.

Invocations

Aria ●●○○○
- Magic of Wind and Invocation of the Spades. It is the principle of detachment, the paradoxical unity of speed with forethought, and the laughter in the wind. Situations where the Aria Invocation comes naturally to a user include: When she is in strong winds, running, falling from a height, targeting something in the air with a Charm. It also applies if she intends to make someone laugh, to cast doubt, to expose pretensions and humiliate arrogance, and to subvert the formal rules of an organization or society. However, if she tries to assert authority over another, she will lose access to the Invocation for a time.

Legno ●○○○○
- Magic of Wood and Invocation of the Clubs. Legno encourages a Princess to work with, not against. To find balance not overpower. To defend not attack. It also guides a Princess to seek inspiration in the natural world. Legno applies with greater ease when the target of a Charm is a non-sapient, natural form of life such as plant and arboreal life, and when she intends to restore things to their 'natural' state. As per the principle of harmony, it aides in restraining the reckless and calming the fearful, defending others from harm, conservation and cultivation over time, and when seeking to influence without drawing attention.

Merits

Contacts ●○○○○
- Boy in the Church
  - A very strange kid. He found you through your own social media not a few days after you first Transformed and helped someone, and said he was a fan. He used an account on Twitter of all things, with the handle @gonegalgalimgo. An apparent source of knowledge within London and beyond, he shared with you some important things, such as places to avoid as a Princess, and the location of your current 'safehouse'. He has yet to lead you astray so far, and has shared his location with you. His Twitter account is now gone. Visiting him without someone to take you there would take some time.

Circle ●○○○○
- Dad
  - Markus Josephine is your father, and you can't call him anything other than a pretty darn good one. Although somewhat absent due to his working hours, sometimes working twelve-hour days, other times working twelve-hour nights, he supports you whenever he can and doesn't step on your toes at all when it comes to what you want to do. Due to your mother being absent, he is the only real parental figure you've had in your life. You don't know what you'd do without him.

Safe Place ●○○○○
- The exact number of abandoned, closed or outright unfinished tube stations in London numbers in the realm of forty, with somewhere in the realm of twenty to be found on a map of the underground, and another twenty completely unmarked. After asking the Boy in the Church, you have taken one of these unmarked, lost stations as your hidden reprieve. Although unused for literal decades, the station is still connected to the underground's powergrid likely out of necessity, and although you expect it to get swelteringly hot in the summer it is not something a portable AC unit or two can't fix. You think you have a neighbor, because sometimes things are cleaner and less dusty than when you left it.

Fast Reflexes
- You react quickly to surprise and suddenness with your own sudden movements. A notable step above the norm.

Small Framed
- You are 4'9. It is a Merit, honest.

Transformed Merits

Iaijutsu Kensai
- Quick draw for Princesses, and the benefits that conveys. You can manifest your weapon on reflex along with your Regalia, attacking in the same motion and catching an attacker off guard with a dazzling and surprising attack.

Charms

Javelot Chakram (Fight ●)
- Your weapon of choice is a chakram which has named itself for you; Fulmine. Although not fully aware, it has enough presence to know when to recall to your hand after being thrown.
Laugh It Off (Restore ●, Aria ●)
- Laughter is the best medicine, and in the case of a Mender of Spades this can be literally true. You are capable of easing if not outright curing diseases, so long as you are able to make the afflicted laugh. Depending upon your efforts, you may even send the most dire of diseases into remission.
Balm (Restore ●●)
- Your magic allows you to heal wounds. By placing your hands upon the flesh of the harmed, you may expend your magical energy to mend minor injuries. Numerous minor injuries require several applications of Balm.
  - Upgrade: Currently not available.
Barrier Jacket (Perfect ●)
- You are a healer at your core, but that does not mean you have to be defenceless. Your Transformation confers to you the benefit of protection, hardening both your body and your Regalia. You are armoured, but not impervious.
  - Upgrade: Currently not available.
Bubble Shield (Shape ●)
- A preventative measure. You may create a protective shield around a circular area anywhere in sight, with its size determining the difficulty of manifesting it in the first place. Raising a shield for a moment is inexpensive on your stamina and reserves, but it demands a consistent feed of magic otherwise.
  - Upgrade: Currently not available.

Nothing here yet, fellas.

Pangolin · Mar 6, 2019

Anne Josephine. Age sixteen. Gap year. Future uncertain.

You had an older brother once.

Now you don't.

It's a scary world, isn't it?

You Blossomed too late, but that's fine. You have been given a gift to make sure something like that never happens again. You have been given a gift, and you intend to use it to make the world a better place.

Life goes on, although different from before. There is a drive in your chest, pushing you outwards into the world. You recently began volunteering with a cancer research charity, offering a handful of hours every few weeks to help with fundraising and the occasional event, although that is secondary to your volunteering at the Royal London Hospital. A notable partner of many London university medical departments, it is a renown teaching hospital with one of the largest children's wards in the UK.

Although the staff at the hospital hold you to no real responsibility to show up unless you want to, you know they can use the help. You're still a new face, but porter staff and nurses are quick to put you to work. They appreciate how you're not easily fazed by hard work, letting the pressures of a busy day wash over you like water off a duck.

When you can, you try to take the time to talk to more long-term patients. Simple conversation with a light humour is all some people need.

Your volunteering also serves as a convenient cover for other activities of yours -- notably, the work of Nobility. Changing from the white shirt volunteering uniform into something more comfortable, you Transform in the cover of London Royal, garbed and bleeding wonder and awe, breathing magic into the air around you. It did not take long for you to encounter your first enemy, hunted down by a starving facsimile of a humanoid the night after your enlightenment. Your victory was earned but not finalized, the Darkspawn crawling off into the night while you adjusted to your new-found power through the haze of additional memories inherited through your first Transformation. Two weeks on, and it has not been all action.

Menders are supposedly in high demand across the whole of the UK, let alone London, and your hands burn for something else aside from victory.

They burn to help others, and the Knaves were eager to facilitate that. You were introduced to the Knaves by a chance meeting with a fellow Noble called Virtue In-Lens -- "but Specs will do" -- who, through her dry and unflappable humour contrasted against your own light and teasing manner, saw some sort of comedic potential in you. Her ability to lead a conversation in whatever direction she wishes aside, Specs has proven to be a reliable acquaintance if nothing else.

That same night, past the veil of sleep in the Dreamlands, you met with her once more. She lead you to the land known as the Confederacy of Four Winds, home to the Court of Spades. From her kingdom forged from the clouds themselves, above the mountain-side settlements the Queen of Knaves rules from her sky domain.

Or… supposedly. She is not home. Out and about, exploring the kingdom probably. You did not get a chance to meet her. Nonetheless, you were introduced to several senior members of the Queen's court, fellow Nobles with years of experience who made up the 'administration' of the kingdom in the absence of their Queen.

Your first meeting with the Spades felt… right. A collection of severely distinct attitudes, with the only real similarity between them being underlying humour which in and of itself came in many forms.

It's like lunch hour on a non-school uniform day that happens to be in the sky and never ended. Only, y'know, without the weird school stuff.

On reflection, it's not exactly like a non-school uniform day.

With a connection established between you and the Spades, you now have something of a network to keep you up to date on developments around the world, although a fast moving network to say the least. Specs herself is more than willing to tell you where you may be needed on any particular night.

"I assure you, I am not being lazy. It is delegation."

So she says.

Heir's Merits
You are Anne Josephine, Mender of Spades. Your circumstances grant you 1 level in the wind-based, flighty Invocation of Aria and the following Merits:

[X] Contacts 1 (1 / 2)

You honestly don't know how you managed to get a fan in the first fortnight of going out at night like some sort of superhero, but you've got one. And they're not just a fan. In another part of the city, there is a church. Next to that church is a telephone box. Through that telephone box, you can meet your contact.

A boy only a little younger than yourself. Doll-like -- 'perfect' in a sense -- in appearance, pleasant in mannerism, mature in behaviour yet he is at times petulant like a child. An uncanny creature, he is clearly more than just a child, and that is no normal church. He has taken a liking to you and your abilities, finding some sort of artistic value in them. Although it still unnerves you how he managed to find you on social media, he does not seem to have an aggressive bone in his body. Cryptic, well informed ones for sure, but nothing malicious.

Although travelling to where the church is more-or-less amounts to a trip which takes up a not-insignificant part of the day, he is more than willing to share some information with you in exchange for showing him some of your abilities at work. He is clearly hesitant to reveal too much to you, but as it stands… well. He's not an enemy.

The boy in the vacant church. Very strange.

[X] Circle 1 (1 / 2)

A Circle is the group of people who keeps you above water, providing a restoring breath of fresh air when you spend time with them. Although the realities and responsibility of being Nobility may at times be heavy, you can always return to for solace. A particular part of the Circle may only be able to handle a certain level of 'weight' as it were. Be mindful of who you open up to about what.

Your current Circle consists of...

Your father. Former soldier, one-time professional MMA fighter, security manager. Opposites in interests, similar of heart. You inherited his live-and-let-live behaviours and arguably his humour, although his can be embarrassingly bad at times. He has an explosive anger, although it is one he has never directed at you -- it's funnier to you, more than anything, how he can blow at a TV screen at two near-naked men rolling around on the floor. Talking to him makes the world feel better.

Choose a Merit of the mind.

[ ] (Un)Common Sense

A vote is initiated. Once per 'arc'. This vote may be used to ask the Quest Master one question relating to the context of the situation you are in.

[ ] Trained Observer

With a honed eye for details, you can easily notice slight changes or points which would otherwise go unnoticed.

[ ] Fast Reflexes

At the hint of danger or urgency, you body does not hesitate to move. This is not to say that you yourself are fast, but rather your body reacts closely in time with your mind.

Choose a Merit of your body.

[ ] Double Jointed

You can dislodge your joints at will, allowing you to escape from otherwise difficult, yet mundane, holds and bindings.

[ ] Small Framed

Small people are good at hiding, right? That may or may not be true, but try to use it to your advantage.

[ ] Hardy

A strong immune system and a tough stomach. You would be a monster on a wild night out, and probably not have to suffer the cold that comes after. The effects of disease, poison, deprivation, suffocation and unconsciousness are lessened.

Choose a Merit of the self.

[ ] Defender

When protecting you loved ones, you are at your strongest. However, this comes at the cost of proximity. When faced with the loss of these people, you enter a crisis of grief or retribution.

[ ] Peacemaker

You have a knack for talking people down out of anger and potential danger, up to and including the sorts of supernatural rage held by certain beings. However, this comes with the risk of fixation. Should this fail, their anger will be turned on you in full.

[ ] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)

You have your own little get-away. With time, effort and resources, you can build this in to being a home away from home, seemingly safe from the worries of the world. You may eventually Sanctify this location, saturating it with Noble magic and protecting it from more than just worries.

When you Transform, you transcend. You become more powerful physically, spiritually and magically. Your body, garbed in your Regalia, your mind steeled by resolve and confidence, and your Invocations roaring to be used.

Arm yourself. Choose a Fight Charm to protect yourself and others with.

[ ] Kensai

You have a melee weapon as a part of your Regalia. Swords, spears, baseball bats, your Invocation empowered fists -- you understand. Weapons summoned with your Regalia are equally as fantastic as your Regalia itself, and this goes for the other choices here. Similarly, upgrades are available to each weapon type in exchange for experience, some requiring particular levels in Invocations while others require none. Choose the form it takes.

[ ] Levinbolt

You have a ranged weapon as a part of your Regalia. Bows, crossbows, guns, slingshots and even staves and wands. Choose the form it takes.

[ ] Javelot

You have a thrown weapon as a part of your Regalia. Aerodynamic things, such as playing cards, shuriken, frisbees and the likes make up the Javelot Armament. Choose the form it takes.

Choose a Merit of Nobility.

[ ] Royal Tongue

Upon your Blossoming you gained knowledge of the language spoken by the Queens themselves. The practical use is that the extravagant language is that empowers your Charms when you call them out in Royal Tongue.

The Royal Tongue itself is undeniably the most dense, confusing and near outright pointless languages to possibly exist. Were it not for the ability to empower yourself with it, there would be near no reason to ever use it. The Queens themselves neglect the very tongue named after them, and each has an interesting reaction when asked about it.

Meaning is conveyed not just by words but also tone and the placement of stresses, two different words could be completely identical except for where it's grammatically acceptable to use them. A monosyllabic prefix or suffix can completely change a word within it's conceptual space; the Royal Tongue has over a thousand words for friend, (and just as many for lover or sister or brother) each defines the exact details of the relationship and not only do they all come from the same root word, they all sound like that root word.

The hardest thing to do with the Royal Tongue is speak a straight sentence. Between the grammatical rules and the enormous amount of information in every word a simple sentence like "thank you for helping" would, if translated into English, look like two paragraphs of flowery purple prose about the inherent virtue of teamwork.
To anyone else it sounds like someone singing in an unknown melodic language, the emotional intent comes across clearly but the words are incomprehensible. The Royal Tongue can't be recorded by mundane means either, a Princess who hears a recording of the Royal Tongue catches at best the occasional word, it sounds as though someone has removed 40% of the syllables and all the grammar. This is considerably more confusing than it would be in a normal language.

In essence this language of song, when utilizing it to declare the use of a Charm, becomes an amplifying force. However, to 'declare' something in Royal Tongue does take a moment or three compared to simply not doing that.

[ ] Iaijutsu Kensai

A technique of the Regalia Arm. When you successfully transform reflexively in the face of danger, you attack immediately and suddenly, surprising any your opponent and reducing their ability to defend against it. While simplistic in nature, the execution is more difficult than the otherwise two-step process indicates. Iaijutsu Kensai requires the perfect synchronization of mind, body and magic in order to transform immediately and attack in the same gesture. Those who master it are usually those with an exceptional sense of calm in times of crisis.

While it does not quite work twice against the same opponent, it is nonetheless a technique that is valued among the likes of Champions and beyond. It is the (somewhat) delicate art of making the act of Transforming a weapon. There as possible applications in defence as well as offence.

[ ] Unfinished Business 1 (1 / 3).

As Nobility, you have past lives. Your 'self' has existed as other 'selves' in the past, each most likely an awakened Noble too. Your line of wonder possibly leads as far back as man itself can remember, and one of those lives has Unfinished Business.

Older and more experienced, this other 'you' may at times attempt to take over your Transformed self in order to pursue her Unfinished Business. Your past incarnation is not malicious, and does not manifest completely, often borrowing parts of your own personality to complete her own, but she is single-minded in her task. As an entity out of time, your past self has difficulty relating with the world around her, or even bringing herself to care that much about it; Emotional attachments are difficult and slow to form outside of possibly the present you, and only that which relates to her Unfinished Business can truly form a meaningful connection with her.

Not every Princess agrees with her past self and others simply don't have the time. Some find closure through therapy rather than a quest, and others seek inner peace through meditation or in their Crawlspace -- the metaphysical representation of their mind and soul, their door to the Dreamlands.

It is known, though, that a veteran and fully realized Noble is nothing if not a force to be reckoned with, even in such a partial state and no matter their specialization.

Investing in this Merit makes communication with your past self easier, in turn allowing one to either coordinate with them towards finishing their task, or reconcile with them. Who knows what completing this task will yield. At 1 / 5, communication with your previous incarnation is hazy and almost nightmarish, a headache inducing experience that attempts to drive you towards their end, the clarity improving with each level.

You have a level in the Aria Invocation, the magic of wind and Spades. You may level two more Invocations by 1, or a singular invocation by 2. If you wish to spend two on one invocation, please format your vote as '[X] Invocation x2'

[ ] Aria

Magic of Wind, that which is whimsical, and the lightness of being.

[ ] Legno

Magic of Wood, inner peace and harmony with the world.

[ ] Acqua

Magic of Water, knowledge and absolute reason.

[ ] Terra

Magic of Earth, the great resilient foundation of society.

[ ] Fuoco

Magic of Fire, passionate devotion and burning love.

And most importantly…

Choose a Transformed aesthetic.

[ ] Military Mender

At times, the wearing of military garb can be counter cultural in and of itself. Yet in this instance, it remains similarly true to its original intent. Born from the love and dedication of your father; Army doctors are one thing, but even regular doctors can be considered soldiers, and the War of Hope rages on.

[ ] Shadow Surgeon

The white coat of a doctor is an unmistakable piece of iconography. To the patient, the sheer white is a light of hope amidst dire times. Reassured by the good-natured professionalism you exude, you are the rock for those in need to lean on. Your hands can remove the malignant growth of Darkness. Your actions can heal them.

[ ] Hopeful Hierophant

Wielder of mystic ways. The magus and alchemist, the wise and powerful. Born of your affection towards your sibling, and your memories of him -- strange boy, he was. You have the appearance of a mage of old, or like one of those healer support sorts from video games.

Quite a bit there. Maybe a plan will help?

Adhoc vote count started by Pangolin on Mar 6, 2019 at 3:53 PM, finished with 6 posts and 6 votes.

2 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Peacemaker
[X] Kensai
-[X] Halberd
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[X] Hopeful Hierophant
- DeepWaters
- Krule
2 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[X] Levinbolt
-[X] Bow
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[X] Shadow Surgeon
- darknessworld
- LordKill90908
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[x] Unfinished Business 1 (1 / 3).
[x] Legno
[X] Hopeful Hierophant
- Nevill
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[x] Javelot
-[X] Chakram
[X] Iaijutsu Kensai
[X] Aria
[x] Legno
[X] Hopeful Hierophant
- Mother Nyx

Adhoc vote count started by Pangolin on Mar 6, 2019 at 5:00 PM, finished with 17 posts and 11 votes.

3 people have voted
[x] Plan Warm Hands, White Coat
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Levinbolt
--[X] Bow
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Shadow Surgeon
2 people have voted
[X] Plan Firebrand Pacification Style
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Kensai
--[X] Halberd
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Hopeful Hierophant
- DeepWaters
- BunnyLord
2 people have voted
[X] Plan: Xena Warrior Mender
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[x] Javelot
-[X] Chakram
[X] Iaijutsu Kensai
[X] Aria
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Mother Nyx
- Timaeus
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[X] Levinbolt
-[X] Bow
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[X] Shadow Surgeon
- LordKill90908
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[x] Unfinished Business 1 (1 / 3).
[x] Legno x2
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Nevill
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Peacemaker
[X] Kensai
-[X] Halberd
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Krule
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- JackOfAll

Adhoc vote count started by Pangolin on Mar 7, 2019 at 12:26 PM, finished with 37 posts and 21 votes.

5 people have voted
[X] Plan Firebrand Pacification Style
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Kensai
--[X] Halberd
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Hopeful Hierophant
5 people have voted
[X] Plan: Xena Warrior Mender
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[x] Javelot
-[X] Chakram
[X] Iaijutsu Kensai
[X] Aria
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
4 people have voted
[x] Plan Warm Hands, White Coat
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Levinbolt
--[X] Crossbow
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Shadow Surgeon
3 people have voted
[X] Plan: Xena Warrior Mender
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[X] Levinbolt
-[X] Bow
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[X] Shadow Surgeon
- LordKill90908
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[x] Unfinished Business 1 (1 / 3).
[x] Legno x2
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Nevill
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Peacemaker
[X] Kensai
-[X] Halberd
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Krule
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- JackOfAll

Pangolin · Mar 7, 2019

Update 0.1
Reunite Unseen

The sun sets behind moody clouds and over the city, as a shutting door and a closing blind to the room of a child. In the dark the imagination of the young comes to life, for better or worse.

Pitter patter, pitter patter.

She smiles, feet dangling from atop the Shard of Glass piercing the sky above the Thames and the concrete-glass sprawl around it. Little dots of paired lights stall in giant lines, little honks of reaching her ears. The lines of cars and marching feet people on the pavements gave the city a writing appearance akin the beat of a heart and the stilted flow of blood.

The sun has set, and the people move.

The last time she was in a city as big as London was a long time ago, from her perspective. It is not something she misses, but it is something she finds entertainment in. The City of London holds a unique place in her world, and seeing it live in such a manner, no different from any animal, serves as a lesson to her.

This place has seen change.

Her silent companion breathes out into the rain-heavy air through a ferocious maw, the warmth visible on the air. It lurches over her, its body of night and bone trying to shield her from the open clouds, an arm held out and then crossing over her head.

Her eyes remain firmly fixated on the city beneath her.

This must be what a star feels like.

"You can't stop the rain, you know?" she asks the creature, raising her hand to rest atop its own, an sensation coming from the contact. Natural, angular armor covers the flesh beneath -- if there even is any.

It doesn't care about the rain. It just reacts to her and her will, a near-mindless beast with only the semblance of human form, an outline hidden in grisly armor and a bestial mouth and non-existant eyes.

"Haaaah…" it says in response, tilting its head to look at her, a hint of curiosity in its senseless state.

"You can't even fly, you're not going to punch the sky," she affectionately retorts, wagging a finger at it. "Just relax. The rain's not hurting anybody. It's your first time in it, right? Just enjoy it, live in the moment, maaan," she says in her best impression of the hip young ones, despite being a mere girl herself.

The creature draws away slowly after a few moments of what appears to be serious thought. It finally yields to her, spreading its arms out and standing at full height, towering over her by more than just a few heads, a nonetheless agile looking figure despite that.

It gazes up at the sky, the rain colliding against its hardened body and the jagged shapes it consists of. Its mouth opens slowly, and a panting bay echos out into the skies.

It basks in the rain for the first time in its seemingly eternal life.

She smiles once more.

"Good boy," she says, completely and utterly soaked through without her monstrous barrier.

Patter patter. Patter patter. Bare feet gently step through puddles behind her, emerging from the metallic staircase leading up to the Shards peak.

"I hate to say it, but it almost looks like it's learning," the newcomer tuts. She looks back to meet the triumvirate of eyes that drift to her.

She at least made some effort to try and fit in with the times, but he…

Exposing your torso to show off your golden tattoos isn't exactly fitting in. Nor is the third eye upon his forehead, brimming angrily with the power of Father and similarly gold. The pigmentation of their condition, a sort of pale dark -- a deep grey -- that does not naturally occur in humans was not a quality he made any effort to hide beneath any magic or craft. It contrasts against the bedhead of sandy blond hair that juts up and out in weird, uncombed angles due to his neglect.

It's not hard to use a brush! He knows how to use one! He just doesn't, for some ungodly reason!

He is a sore thumb. There's a reason they have a hierarchy.

"He is learning, thank you very much. Remember when we found him?!"

"Unfortunately," he sighs, shaking his head as he wades through the heavy rain, unnoticing of it.

"Compare then to now, and he's a whole different beast. He's under my control for starters," she points out with some pride. Not as much as he could otherwise display by just waking up on any given morning, but it was something.

The young man looks up at the creature, evidently somewhat uncomfortable at its presence. The creature, for its part, was tolerant of him. "... Control, of course. If that is what we will call the Buenos Aires incident…--"

"Under. My. Control." She snaps her fingers with each pause, the creature snapping its head to her and looking about, on guard from the non-verbal command, letting out a huffing sound.

He sighs again, shrugging at the display. "Whatever. This is a stupid way to start this whole thing of ours. I had this great image in my head; Us, looking over the city and talking about deep and relevant things, wind blowing past us and unfazed… and not talking about this thing and how much of a 'good boy' he is," The alien-looking young man said, thumbing to the thing in question.

"Then say something meaningful, oh supposed cool one. You've got to give me something to work with!" She gestures dismissively, turning her nose up at her other companion.

He tuts. He steps forward to be beside her, hands moving to the pockets of his strangely normal pants. Of all the things he remembers to put on, it's the regular pinstripe pants.

"It's happening. Boss Man's given the go-ahead," he says, lingo ever modern and with the times. The air of amusement fades. "I've spent years working my ass off, unthawing big angry idiots, and I don't even get time to take a vacation and acclimate. Typical though, I suppose. That's the kind of man he is," he gripes.

"The ideal type to work for, for now. He spent a long time getting this city ready, you know!" she points out in a pleasant manner.

"Easy for you. What have you been doing these past years?" he says, looking down at her, third eye burning bright in the night, the golden flames of its iris flickering furiously in the wind and rain. His task has never been easy, but neither has hers.

"Sleeping. Dreaming. The more important task, of course. Do remember where we stand." the girls retorts, her lax gaze turning unnervingly intense as their eyes lock, wide and full of ancient animosity.

Although they are more likely to call it sibling banter.

"I remember. Sleeping, tch. Little Sloth."

The creature snapps to life after moments of stillness, suddenly very close to the young man, leaning into his personal space with a snarl. He didn't budge, sneering at it.

She pulls her fingers into a fist. Unseen tethers move. The creature pulls back in a stilted manner, an unwilling marionette.

None of that now.

"I'll get to work then, if it saves me having to hear you whine for another minute," she says with a relenting sigh. They both as much could see that it is not a true surrender, but a backhanded one. She is not the sort to simply roll over for him, after all. There is a hierarchy in place, after all.

"Glad to hear it," he grumbles, turning on his bare heal and stuffing his hands in his pockets. "We'll talk later, pipsqueak."

"Don't get lost, meathead!"

She chuckles, a hand coming to her lips. He plays the messenger for now, informing her that it was time to move. A role he chafes in, for sure. That small bit of amusement is enough to inspire her, and when she is inspired she can reach into those undying dark dreams of hers --

-- And pull from them a fraction her true herself.

The creature moves first, darting off the top of the Shard into the unknown -- down towards the city below. Where they are heading, she did not know nor particularly care. It is something she is going to improvise on in the next few moments.

She slips off the edge. She fell through the radiant lights of the Shards gallery, passing the thousands upon thousands of glass panes. The shadow cast, unspeakable.

And even still it smiles.

Adhoc vote count started by Pangolin on Mar 7, 2019 at 9:50 PM, finished with 40 posts and 22 votes.

8 people have voted
[X] Plan: Xena Warrior Mender
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[x] Javelot
-[X] Chakram
[X] Iaijutsu Kensai
[X] Aria
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
5 people have voted
[X] Plan Firebrand Pacification Style
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Kensai
--[X] Halberd
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Hopeful Hierophant
5 people have voted
[x] Plan Warm Hands, White Coat
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Levinbolt
--[X] Crossbow
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Shadow Surgeon
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[X] Levinbolt
-[X] Bow
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[X] Shadow Surgeon
- LordKill90908
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[x] Unfinished Business 1 (1 / 3).
[x] Legno x2
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Nevill
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Peacemaker
[X] Kensai
-[X] Halberd
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Krule
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- JackOfAll

Adhoc vote count started by Pangolin on Mar 8, 2019 at 10:39 AM, finished with 42 posts and 24 votes.

5 people have voted
[X] Plan Firebrand Pacification Style
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Kensai
--[X] Halberd
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Hopeful Hierophant
5 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[x] Javelot
-[X] Chakram
[X] Iaijutsu Kensai
[X] Aria
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
10 people have voted
[X] Plan: Xena Warrior Mender
- Mother Nyx
- Timaeus
- Aspiring Dragon
- Wind-Up Citrus
- wingstrike96
- 13th Bee
- 1337Procrast
- veekie
- TheZorker
- Jrin
5 people have voted
[x] Plan Warm Hands, White Coat
-[X] Trained Observer
-[X] Hardy
-[X] Peacemaker
-[X] Levinbolt
--[X] Crossbow
-[X] Royal Tongue
-[X] Aria
-[X] Fuoco
-[X] Shadow Surgeon
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Safe Place 1 (1 / 2)
[X] Levinbolt
-[X] Bow
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[X] Shadow Surgeon
- LordKill90908
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[x] Unfinished Business 1 (1 / 3).
[x] Legno x2
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Nevill
1 people have voted
[X] Trained Observer
[X] Hardy
[X] Peacemaker
[X] Kensai
-[X] Halberd
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Aria
[X] Fuoco
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- Krule
1 people have voted
[x] Fast Reflexes
[x] Small Framed
[x] Defender
[x] Javelot
-[x] Cards
[X] Royal Tongue
[X] Legno
[x] Hopeful Hierophant
- JackOfAll

Pangolin · Mar 9, 2019

1: New Year, Incredibly New Me

January 04 2019.

You are Anne Josephine, a freshly certified magical girl and healer, currently in the middle of a gap year which you haven't been doing much with until recently, and you're about to start a new day.

The empty service tunnels of the London underground made for a unceasingly quiet yet strangely calming trek. When you first made your way to the abandoned station you have been calling your 'base', the walkway at the side of the unused tracks was coated in dust, aside from the tracks of critters, and there had been more stuff just laying around the service tunnels.

Now it is clearer, both due to your frequent trips there over the past few weeks and the efforts of… what you can only assume to be your neighbor? Maybe an invisible gremlin of some kind? Whatever it is, it has since came to the conclusion that your frequent visits necessitate some dusting and cleaning on its part.

Part of you wants to be a bit concerned, but the slacker in you is just glad you won't have to do it yourself. Thanks, tunnel gremlin.

You enter onto the platform of the abandoned station, lights buzzing quietly in the back of your senses, a dusty smell in the air. Luckily, there's no urine smell anymore. You've got to count your blessings, no matter how small, and this little hideaway had its number of them. An out of service train rests at the other end of the platform, white in colour with red accents, dim emergency lights on as it continues to siphon power even while unused. Unmoving escalators lead up to station actual, which has nothing in it other than a bunch of early 00s posters and advertisements that have worn from age, creating a sort of nostalgic, back to the past feel about the whole place. From there, it leads out into a somewhat central location without being too obvious in its placement -- likely the reason why it was closed in the first place.

It needs a lot of work before you can actually call it a base. As it stands, it's just an out of the way place that nobody else as claimed yet. But… you're not sure what the place needs to make it yours. You'd think on it.

Moving closer to the escalator, you dropped your red sports bag onto the ground and took a deep breath, shaking off your wrists and then your legs. You begin to bounce on the spot, limbering up. Were anyone to see you, they'd think you some sort of runner taking a strange route, given how you wore your old Physical Ed clothes whenever you decided to transform.

It makes it easier in case you need to make a break for it, and it's easy to make up a story about being a young runner caught in any strange business.

Your eyes shut as you bounce.

The Transformation comes naturally. It's just a matter of finding that feeling, the one that's unlike any other.

The gold owl-shaped earring pulses, its tiny green gem eyes alight with that very same feeling, a comforting warmth that crawls outward.

How else to describe it...?

A gale rushes through the platform, sending stay posters through the air, coalescing around you. The warmth from the earring reaches a crescendo, and radiant arcs of energy spark from the earing and around your body, hugging you in the feeling and a gold static light.

Showtime.

Light white fabrics emerge from the storm that surround you, enveloping your body and outright replacing the mundane clothes. The chiton is short, only going to just above your knees, but still airy and ethereal in appearance with slight glints of light reflecting off points. The energy clumps together at your chest, forging from it golden emblazoned chest armor depicting lightning around the edges, similar pieces covering your shins and forearms. Beneath the skirt of the chiton is another skirt, an armored one. Behind you, your hair manages to weave itself into a dense mid-back braid.

You draw your hand across your face, the light following, adding the finishing touches in the form of a mask hugging your upper-face in an owl-like fashion, the cover of the nose crown over as a downwards beak would. A laurel forms at the back of your head, sprouting around and connecting with the mask. Your eyes open, verdant irises surrounded by a the warm glow of their limbal rings, a circular horizon of a setting sun.

Your throw your hand down, another resting on your hip as you stare forward, the feeling now resonating from your chest through your entire body. The wind comes to a sudden halt, and the lightshow ends with a crack

That's right. It feels a bit hopeful.

It's only then you spot the pair of cat-like eyes staring at you behind the shadows of a comically large deer stalker hat and the collar of a similarly large coat.

The pipe held up to the curtain of face-covering shadows blew out bubbles.

Your confident smirk quivers momentarily.

"Not the flourish I would have gone for, but alas. Have you considered a spin? I bet that'd look wonderful." the other Princess says in a proper yet dry sounding voice, the gurgle of forming bubbles following soon after.

"...Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. How many rotations, you reckon? One? Two?" you shoot back, placing your other hand on your hips too, smirk holding strong.

"Actually -- instead of Swan Lake, give me Cats. The choreographer for that died recently, you see. En memoriam and all that," the goofily dressed Princess corrects herself, tapping her fake pipe against a hidden cheek.

You blink at her.

Then you strike a cat pose. It feels ridiculous but if it can make her laugh, then you win.

"Like this?"

"Eugh, awful. I hate cats," she says immediately, getting a snort out of you. You drop the pose with a disappointed shake of your head. No laughter out of her today -- like milking a rock.

"Of course you would say that. For real though, how long have you been there?"

"All of a few seconds, actually. I tried to get your attention while by sliding down the escalator, but I misjudged and slipped down here. Luckily, you were quite preoccupied with your Transformation. So only one of us has the embarrassment of being seen to be doing something lacklustre today."

Somehow, she manages to sound pleased with herself even while speaking in a clinical tone.

"That's me every day, buddy. I embrace my garbage. No shame no gain." The best way for you to endure Specs' brand of humor is to roll with it, same as any other.

"We shall make something out of your garbage yet, young padawan. That aside, the agenda for today..." The taller-by-virtue-of-her-giant-hat magical girl reaches into her absurdly large cloak of a coat and procures an entire folding desk somehow hidden within the confines of it. She sets it up with a flick, and then starts taking out some paperwork. Printouts and cleanly formatted reports.

"Is it weird that I always feel like I'm about to fall asleep whenever you do this? It's like you're about to help me with my homework."

"I work better with paper," she says simply, layering out the relevant items. "I've got some work for you, should you wish to undertake it. Naturally, I cannot force you by and form of authority, but I can politely request it of you," she says, picking her words carefully.

As members of the Spades, they're not really allowed to give orders as an authority figure would, but Specs held an undeniable position of authority over you and a lot of the Nobility of London. Not a leader, but someone largely respected for her contributions to the wider community as a sort of watchdog against the Outer Dark.

"And I can't really turn down someone in need of help, can I?" you say with a wide grin, puffing your chest out. You didn't say no to many things, and that's a point of pride. "What've you got for me, Specs?"

The Sherlock caricature pushes a particular print off forward, followed by a page of the report. The print off is an image, one you can't quite make out. It looks like a construction site, but… you can see odd marks on the floor, like intentional clawing into particular shapes.

"Between this and a police report detailing an odd incident of 'loitering' between several individuals, there may be some activity of the nefarious kind at work. If it's our direct enemy, I cannot say for certain, but given it happens to be located in Bloomsbury…" the Seeker pauses, taking another puff of her bubble pipe. "And that's fairly close to your first encounter with our enemy, it would not be unreasonable to consider a possible connection."

Ah. Your first actual fight.

You swallow, but despite yourself you continue to grin. "I'm not opposed to finishing the job on the ugly twig that tried to hunt me down. Don't think I'd be much good alone, though. I barely beat the guy."

Fighting is a terrifying thing, let alone fighting monsters. But things like the Darkspawn exist, and that's a fact you're trying to force yourself to accept. If they exist, then you've got to stop them -- or at the very least help.

Specs raises a hand. "I'm not expecting you to hunt it down. If I did, I would arrange help," she reassures in her own way, reading your own state with the greatest of ease. Even if you did not present unease at the thought, she spotted it. "Rather, I believe this is part of an unfortunate pattern which started in December. It's one which has increased tenfold in the time since, spiking notably two nights ago on the 2nd of January. It was raining a lot that night, you remember?"

You nod, recalling how you actually went home early after helping out Specs with another job involving someone in the hospital, one you're still working on actually. You got utterly soaked. "It tends to rain a lot around this time of year, but I remember, yeah."

"Twelve potential related sightings to creatures of the Dark and possible collaborators. I narrowed that down from a lot more than just twelve reports. That's the most Central London has had in five years."

You raise your eyebrow. "You'd think it'd be on the news."

"There were one-hundred and thirty eight known homicides in London last year. Anything short of a mauling won't get the time of day. And given the rate of things... "

"You think we're due for one," you finish arms folding across your chest, lips pressing together in thought.

"Something to that effect. I'm working on trying to find a reason, but… it's difficult," Specs paused, her golden feline eyes focused on the paperwork. The humor fades somewhat, replaced by an honest seriousness. "The reason I have been putting you to work is because we just don't have enough of our numbers -- Nobility -- in Central London itself. The other boroughs are covered, and those present here are more often than not the senior sort who came about in the eighties and nineties, preoccupied with other matters. And asking other groups and individuals to commute in isn't an option. We're not alone in our struggle."

"If things are getting worse, then we need to rise to the occasion with what we've got."

Specs bubbled away on her kiddy pipe.

You reach out and pat her shoulder. She glances at you.

"Sounds like you need a vacation," you tease with titter.

"Delegation is hard work, it's true. I want you to meet up with Burning Heartsink tonight, if you'd be so kind. I'll send you a time over the phone, but I'm expecting eleven, top of the British Museum. "

"...What kind of name--"

Specs comes in before you can even finish asking. "Heatsink. Heartsink. He uses a light-based gun of some description. He's alright, just don't ask him about the name. Besides, it's not like yours is much better. We don't judge around here, Starlight Nightingale. Your aesthetic doesn't even match your name. It's an owl. A bloody owl. Not a nightingale."

You raise your hands, firmly defeated. "It just came to me, I swear."

"It happens to all of us. We just think of it, and it works." She waves off that particular point of conversation, blowing a few bubbles into your face. "Until then, do as you will. Now, I must go and delegate more work. Such a hard job I have."

One last jab for the road. "Don't burn out, Virtue Under-Lens."

"Virtue In-Lens, thank you," she parries, just like a pro.

♠️

You have half a the rest of the day to yourself after some practice with your Transformed self. You will…

[ ] Spend time at the hospital before meeting up with Burning Heartsink. The prior bit of work Specs left with you still needs some attention, and a patient who needs care.
[ ] Bite the bullet and meet the Boy in the Church. Strange but knowledgeable, you nonetheless don't really know where you stand with him. But if anyone is going to know anything, it's him.
[ ] Call your dad and see if you can have lunch with him, maybe. Between volunteering and your adventures at night, you only see him briefly when you're home. If he's on lunch (or awake, depending on his shift), then you can both meet up.

Pangolin · Mar 17, 2019

2: Burning Heartsink

"...So by that point, it turned into a whole thing. I'd already been called from the security office to see this guy, and let me tell you, he looked like ass. Scraggily beard, busted shoes and clothes that looked like they hadn't been washed since I joined the forces."

Your father has a lot of stories from his work, and today is one of the times he gets to assault you with his raw capacity for talking. He leans back in the McDonalds chair, putting on an expression you can only call 'vacant'.

"Gave us this kind of look, bloodshot eyes." He snaps back to his normal self, a wide grin on his sunkissed features. "And then says, with absolutely no nonsense about him: 'I own one of the apartments, you dickhead.'"

You snort, childish enough to find amusement in your dad's blunt delivery of a vulgar word in a public place.

"So at that point we're about five seconds away from escorting him off site when Mister Helmbrook just strolls past us and says to the guy… 'Morning Clive.'"

Your dad pauses for effect. "'Morning Francis,' he says back. So just like that, it turned out he did in fact own one of the apartments. His first time there since the Shard was built, apparently. Surprised the Qatari let a guy like that have it though… fifty-million quid, at the very least, to buy one of those things, and they're not even up for sale. Means they asked him. Bloody baffled."

"C'mon, dad. You know what they say about books and covers," you gently remind him with a nudge of your foot beneath the table. "Maybe he just… likes the look?"

"...What, hoboshique?" he asks with a befuddled expression.

"It's a thing. People like the grimey look."

He pauses in thought, eyes narrowing as he regards you. "I dunno, smelled pretty weird too. Is there a new body spray I don't know about? Didn't think Lynx Africa meant 'Seal Island'," he mused with a smirk.

You squint. "Bring that one back. Seal Island?" you ask, unsure if you really want to know.

"Place off a Cape Town. Smells like fish guts, seal musk and shit."

"Dad," you intone, gesturing to the chicken nugget in your hand, eyes filled with an, admittedly put on, incensed glint. "We're eating!"

A blur darts for your nugget, threatening to snag the crisp-encoated chicken flesh out of your grip.

Not today.

Of the many ongoing contests between you and your father, it is the arena of 'reaction times' where you exceed him.

The blur, faster than anything, can't beat how you effortlessly pull your hand back, a wide grin spreading across your your face at your preemptive and correct movement as your father's hand snaps at air.

"Hah!" he declares, raising his other hand. One of your six nuggets is held between his fingers, snapped up while your focus was drawn by his other hand.

Flanking. Your father cannot shake that soldier mindset.

"You were eating, you mean," he says with childish pride, popping the nugget in his mouth. "Now I am. Delicious." With his mouth full and everything.

You almost fume -- almost. Reason grips you at the last second, dragging you back down as you inhale through your nose. "I'm not even upset," you say with a pleasant, totally not mad smile.

"Hi, Not-Even-Upset--"

"DON'T!"

♠️♠️♠️

And that's how it tends to go.

The reality is that around people your age, you tend to be just as immature as your dad. Something about him brings out the need to be the adult, because someone has to be in the house.

Still, he's refreshing.

"I'm heading off. What's your plans for the day? Going to work?" he asks as you both stand outside the garbage food establishment, your father something of a gorilla in a fine suit and you a girl who looks like she got lost in the middle of PE, a resemblance between the two of you outside of the raw size discrepancy.

"I'll be going in tonight. Friday nights are busy, they can use the help," you make up on the spot, giving a good enough reason why you wouldn't be around in the evening. It's a white lie, and one you're willing to use. "I'll get someone to give me a lift home, so don't worry."

"I'll be honest, hard not to," he said with an uncertain edge to his voice, smile fading as he shrugs. "I thought you said they weren't going to let you go in on Fridays? Something about stress and the type of crowd?"

Drunks. He means drunks.

"I insisted," you insist.

He sighs, shaking his head. "You're working like they're paying you. But whatever, I won't get in your way. Just remember what I taught you…" he raises a finger, about to go into lecture mode.

You cut him off. "'Go the for throat, and if that's not an option, the balls.'"

"And?"

"'If there's a knife, don't stick around or you'll get stuck,'" you recite with an impatient look. It wasn't patronizing as much as it was perfectly reasonable, but he likes to give you your space. He'll warn you, teach you how to joint-lock someone, give you advice like a doting mother-hen, but he hasn't stopped you from going out. Yet.

Part of you can't help but feel a sort of grief over that. Someone would expect him to get more protective of his daughter after what happened to August, to try and preserve her.

But it was the opposite. He didn't want what happened to August to happen to you. Cooped away on a hospital bed, a prisoner suffering a willing poison for his own good. He wants you to live. That's good.

You want to think it is, at least.

Your dad is a man in mourning, and it wasn't something…-- it didn't feel right. Doing a sparkly little dance then trying to destroy that sobbing shadow clinging to his being isn't what you need to do. You're his daughter, and that's what you need to be to help him. It's perfectly natural for people to be sad, so you just need to work through it beside him.

He needs your help. And you can do that by just being there for him, reminding him that you're not going anywhere any time soon.

You both part ways after a brief hug, smiles all around. You're ready to face the day.

♠️♠️♠️

Supposedly the Courts have people and friends in high places to make sure that even in a place as heavily monitored as London, the Nobility can operate with some measure of freedom in their movements.

Good thing too, because you're flashy as all hell. Golden sparks and posing to Transform aside, dressing in white and gold isn't exactly something that lends to stealth, but you nonetheless have a bit of a knack for it. A benefit of your size is that you can hide behind things far easier than most and get into pretty tight spaces with relative ease.

But getting across the street in the middle of the night just needs a blunt and simple sprint, something you are also pretty good at, in your own humble opinion.

It helps that you're generally just faster when you Transform, turning you into a golden bullet without the need for any Charms or magic. That is how you'll view it until someone turns into a literal bolt of lightning to outpace you, because that does not sound too impossible these days.

Despite the flash and fanfare you still can't fly, so getting to the top of the British Museum requires a bit of climbing amateur parkour -- jumping and tumbling -- from the buildings behind it to get there relatively unseen. London's weird enough that some people will just pass off some strange shenanigans as 'a thing that happens in central London' as opposed to 'freaky'.

You land atop the meeting spot, doing your version of a combat roll, messy and about as graceful as a drunk swan--

And right in front of the person you're supposed to be meeting.

You look up at them, the height difference noticeable with you in your crouch, and it doesn't get much better when you straighten up.

The most notable thing about Burning Heartsink is the theme of their Transformed self; cowboy, but on fire. A crimson scarf wraps around their neck and mouth, mildly torn and battlescarred, the trailing off end burning with an immortal flame in the cold January night. From what little you can see of their face, their eyes have a similar effect to yours, the lapping wisps of a suns crown flicking around the edges of their iris, but unlike you even their hair has a burning quality to it, a vein of heat running through the bang of gentle brown hair curtaining one of their eyes.

A slender, crimson burning cowboy. Despite Specs using 'he' to describe them, you couldn't actually tell if they were a girl or a guy. There's a harmlessness to their silvery, suncrowned eyes that almost runs in contrast to the image of their Transformed self.

"Hey there. You're Specs' helping hand?" they ask, voice soft and without judgement despite your entry.

You brush off your knees, giving the taller Noble a smile. "Starlight 'Helpful' Nightingale, that's me. Burning Heartsink, I guess?"

"Right." They nod, extending a gloved hand to you. "Pleasure to meet you. You prefer Starlight, Nightingale, or…?"

"Star will do."

"Uh-uh. No can do. Already know three 'Stars' in the area, and I don't think we'll be wanting any more confusion there."

Well, figures a society of magical princes and princesses would have several people using the name 'Star'. It was a nice try.

"We'll go with Nightingale then," you reply, not one to be dissuaded by not being able to have your first pick in nickname. "How about you?"

"Sinker'll do. You're new to this whole deal, right?" You give an affirmative nod. "How much has Specs told you about this whole business?"

"..."

You pause. You think back to your interactions with the cat-eyed Sherlock caricature. Apart from introducing you to the court, and then helping you out with finding things to do…

"...Not much."

Sinker sighs, but it's a good natured sound. "Of course she hasn't. Girl's got the brains, but it all moves too quickly, thinks too far ahead sometimes. And your Court? Had much time to get anything out of them?"

"Nada." You didn't spend much time with the Court when you were there, and the time you did spend was mostly just getting to know a few people, Nobility from across the world who meet in their dreams. It's unique, but… yeah, not much in the way of work education. "I've just been trying to get into the groove of setting time aside for this whole thing, you know?"

The magical cowboy chuckles at the familiarity of your problem. "I get that. Ain't easy fitting in the hours when we barely got enough in the day as it is. But hey, we figure it out. Anywho, we can use tonight to sort of get you up to speed while we're working. Part of the reason I was open to some backup tonight was for a second opinion too, so if you could give me a hand there, it'd be much appreciated."

You grin confidently. "Wouldn't be living up the Helpful name if I couldn't give you that, would I?"

"Great. I'll cut the crap then. I'm a Seeker, and we've got a knack for sniffing out the bad guys. Past few weeks I've been trying to pin down the location of this group of questionable folk, but I had to put that on hold because of all the Darkspawn that've been showing up around town. Been driving my senses nuts, making it harder for me to focus," Sinker begrudgingly admitted, a hand coming to rest on their hip. You nod along.

"You can feel when Darkspawn break through?"

Sinker regretfully smiles behind their scarf. "Boy, can I. Hurts like hell, so I've got a vested interest in making doubly sure they stop coming over from the Dark World. But I'm going to focus on that there group tonight -- don't want to get too distracted, there are other Nobility around, and I'm trusting them to take the fight to those nasty little creatures." The senior Noble beckons you to follow her as they move to the edge of the roof, pointing past taller buildings and into the sheltered eastern distance. "But it has its benefits. I can also see places where they're most likely to be coming from, if I've passed by them or if one has recently popped through. S'one over there, part of a council estate. Another to the north-east, I think it's a night club. South, a warehouse."

You ask the first thing on your mind. "There anyway to get rid of them?"

Sinker stares out into the distance, quietly considering your question. "Yes, and no. Usually takes more than just one of us to purify a place that has seen some real grisly stuff. I don't think we'll be doing that tonight, but we should check one out. I'm just not sure where to start, and if I was going to go to one, I'd want back up. S'why you're here."

Must have been short on hands to group Sinker with you. A Mender of some description you are, but you have only really had one fight in your few weeks, and as she observed you don't really know much.

But like hell are you going to let that stop you from helping.

"Then what's up with this group, then? Can't really give my take if I don't know what we're dealing with."

"Ah, fair enough. My bad, should have started with that," they say with an embarrassed rub of the back of her head. "I don't have a name or anything, but it's just a pattern I noticed around a few neighborhoods. Young people, ages anywhere between sixteen to twenty-five, growing more distant, letting out more negative vibes than usual -- severely so. Another thing I can feel, and something you might be able to do in the future, who knows. I started using my other identity to start asking around, turns out a lot of younger people have been… running away from home, I suppose. Abandoning school and jobs, breaking off contact after a brief period of acting a weird and detached. Too much of it to be a coincidence."

You squint behind your mask, an idea coming to your head immediately. "Sounds like a cult, one with a particular audience."

"That was my thought, but I can't find any actual information. And finding these lost people is difficult -- there were eleven thousand missing people cases in London last year which didn't see the missing returned in twenty-four hours. Probably more if we take into account the unreported. People can just vanish around here." The cowboy Seeker's mood takes a turn for the frustrated, eyes shutting as they fold their arms beneath their chest. "Feels like I'm stumbling around, so I need a fresh take."

Young people acting weird, letting out a notable negative miasma of emotion, and then vanishing without a trace. There are three obvious options in the area to investigate:

♠️♠️♠️

Burning Heartsink needs to take a step back and let someone else make a decision, feeling that her direction with investigating this group has become unclear. She looks to you to decide where you'll be looking tonight.

Even if it is not related to the case, each location is Tainted. A Tainted place is created when grave sin or suffering is inflicted in an area, or where acts of cruelty occur regularly -- traditionally even. Each location has a differing level of severity to the Taint, although Burning Heartsink is unsure to the extent.

These kinds of locations are infamous for making heinous acts that much easier to commit, and are an unpleasant location for any member of the Nobility to experience, but encountering them and cleansing them is a necessary part of their task.

[ ] Warehouse : Fairly off the grid. If the person currently renting or in ownership of it is in support of whatever this group is up to, it's likely the best spot to conduct their business in private.
[ ] Night Club : Under the cover of noise, blinking lights and packed bodies, many things can occur. If you're looking for young people, then this is the place. The exact nature of the venue appears somewhat generic with the name 'Feverous', but Sinker has noticed the unmistakable stench of Darkness coming from it.
[ ] Council Flat : Within a tower of relatively small, pushed together residences is one in particular that emits a concerning air of unease. Sinker's impression is that it is a newly created Tainted space, as it has yet to completely bleed out into the rest of the tower estate. If it is connected to the supposed cult, then someone or something is likely operating out of there.

Either way, the journey to any of those locations won't be the fastest. If you so choose, during this time you can ask Burning Heartsink any number of questions about life as a Princess in London and they will try to answer. As helpful as Specs has been, she's not exactly a mentor. This is not a vote, but a prompt to see what sorts of things Anne would like to know, which will then be taken into account in the next update.

Verdict Heart (Princess the Hopeful Quest)

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