Estylwen

Magic in the Park

I look away for a second and half y'all have posted

@Asuras

Totally wasn't kidding when I said your posts are like drugs. xD

Magic in the Park

It might be a cool idea to have a place to put enchanted objects. :) Please let me know if there's anything in my post that needs changing!

Magic in the Park

Asher Estate, Realspace

_@Asuras

---

Fifteen minutes.

That's how long it would take for the disciples to form the portal. Not much time to do anything, but for Reina, it would do.

While the heads sat in the lounges idling away the time, Reina stepped out the back door of the estate, rain touching her white and black hair as she made her way to a steepled chapel, huddled in one area of the courtyard. Graves were laid out beside the cobblestone steps, silent as she passed.

Reina slipped inside, walked down a dimly lit aisle, past neatly rowed pews, all the way to the altar under an arched stained glass window. With a snap of her fingers, candles were lit, and she knelt.

Yusei may have been her master, but she certainly didn't worship him.

Head bowed, words flowed from Reina's lips.

“Receptor glorise,
Ad pedes tuos me offero.
Magister dominii de Man.
Tenebrarum, etc.
Labyrinthus.
Ego sum pulvis arenae;
Pulvis macula;
Petentes ad pedes tuos.

Afferte honorem domui meae;
Salus populi mei,
Et Victoria ad Descensum meum

(Receiver of Glory,
I present myself at Thy feet.
Master of the Domain of Man,
Of Darkness,
And the Labyrinth.
I am the speck of sand,
The spot of dust,
Begging at Thy feet.

Bring honour to my House,
Safety to my People,
And Victory to my Delve.)”

By the time Reina rose, Isabella had joined her in the chapel, holding a small suitcase. Isabella held it up, and Reina popped the tabs, pulling the lid back.

Inside, nestled in foam, was a gleaming engraved pistol, along with six bullets, each engraved as well. Not only were they beautiful to look at, but each bullet was enchanted. They were specifically geared to shatter through most basic-to-adept magical barriers. Since these weren't curses or soul strings, Reina had reached out to an enchanter to commission her Delving pistol. Expensive, but worth it. Delving itself had an… unpredictable nature.

And this night, it would be much of the same, except exacerbated.

Reina picked out the pistol, letting it gleam in the candlelight, before she nodded to Isabella.

“This will do.”

***

It wasn't long until Reina joined the heads and their disciples in the belly of the Asher estate, pistol strapped to her hip. She looked over the disciples’ handiwork of the portal, and gave an approving nod. It was stable, and in the correct shape. It was a fine door to pass through.

Reina moved past the disciples ringing the door, and in front of Cygni and Erina. She eyed them both for a moment, before she turned and addressed the room.

“Fear not. Yusei would not abandon us. We have faced darker uncertainties and passed through safely.

“I have faith that our dutiful disciples will hold the Way open. If we don't return in twenty-four hours, send a search party.

“Though, I'm certain we will not tarry long in the Labyrinth. We will ascertain what's happening in our territory to create this… foreboding feeling, and return.”

With that spoken, she turned back to Cygni and Erina, gave them a nod, and walked into the portal. There was no need to doubt, or hold off. Better to walk confidently, upright, like the head of the House was supposed to. Yes, though she had her own concerns for what exactly they were walking into, and if bringing one who could very well stab her in the back at any moment was a good idea.

But she didn't have the luxury to doubt herself. Not here, not ever.

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

@SporkoBug No worries, they technically speak Sylvan, though in-world it's called Aes. You can have chatGPT create phrases for you. :> And no questions are stupid!

Iris Ascendis

Awesomeeee. :D I'll probably wait for Otis to set Ciara in a bed or whatever before posting.

Iris Ascendis

Oof, fair enough. Though to be fair, everyone except Otis is toast rn.

Boooossssss! Boss Nanaya! We thirst for more IA goodness!

Magic in the Park

God, we ate the plot like a pack of ravenous beasts. All responding in a little over 24 hours.

We really went, "Asuras, more story pwease~"

@Kronshi

My feelings exactly. xD Can't wait for the next shot of drugs, Asuras.
We be hooked already.

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

North Ehlm, Val's Safehouse

@SporkoBug, @Herald, @rabidbacon, @Qia, @Abstract Proxy

---

“Who are you?”

A

Le Frey's eyes narrowed in the darkness. His voice was a measured whisper. ”That don't matter right now. What matters is that you do what I-”

A gunshot.

VV's eyes opened, and she shot up.

Le Frey cursed under his breath, their eyes meeting. The gun in his hands seemingly criminal now.

But, before VV could attack with her darkness, or A could respond. Two scaled objects slammed into both girls, wrapping around their necks and pinning them to the floor. Closer inspection revealed them to be tails, one emerging from Le Frey's tailbone, the other from his arm. The one from his arm, in particular, had a greenish aura around it.

"Nae cael-laen. (Don't be foolish.)"

Another otherworldly voice rumbled through Le Frey’s lips. Inu, his Wild. Wise and majestic, and wholly prepared to impose his will.

The ghost in VV's head translated the Wild language in real-time, and she struggled under the tail closing around her throat.

That was when the roof started to crumble. Le Frey, cursing under his breath again, yanked his tails, dragging A and VV out of the tent and in front of the campfire. Just in time to see Val de-transform back into himself, and surrender to Wren.

Ley Frey, looking at Wren and his foe in alarm, seemed to relax a bit. Wren had it under control, after all. So, with the two girls still pinned by his tails, he walked to the third tent, tails extending after him. In a couple seconds, he had Teresa by the arm, and threw her in the direction of VV and A, where she stumbled and fell.

Le Frey stood over them, glancing at Val, before crossing his arms, his voice crisp and commanding. ”I am High Captain Le Frey of the Ghost Corp, my partner is Captain Wren. We were sent here to apprehend you lot and bring your back to our base. Your… Connection with Umbra needs to be ascertained.

“Come quietly and you won't be harmed. Resist…” His eyes flashed a brilliant green as claws formed on his one hand. “And I will subjugate you myself.”

No sooner had he spoken, however, before the safehouse was flooded with hooded, masked scavengers from all entrances. Dogs on chains among them barked and howled, snapping at Val, VV, and A as if they wanted to devour them whole. And with the way these hooded intruders looked at them, with their mundane pistols, there was certainly a… ravenous quality to them.

The leader, dressed similarly to the rest, emerged at the front, one hand on his hip. He regarded the Ghost Corp captains snidely, before he spoke gruffly.

“Surrender your hearts.”

He gestured to his men, brandishing their guns.

“Or we open fire.”

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

Dex, Leader of the Ravagers

Dex

39 | Human | He/him | Lawless, Leader of the Ravagers

Abyssal Connection: None

---

Description: Dex has always been the leader of the Ravagers, the one reason why humans with a Possessive Subjugation are few and far in between. However rare to find, Dex owns tracking dogs that are able to sniff out hearts with a Possessive Subjugation or Forced Subjugation in humans.

The Ravagers elicit cold fear in most Lawless for a good reason. Dex and the Ravagers don't let anyone get in the way of them and their target. However, they differ wildly compared to the Bears, Red Embers, or other factions.

Dex never sells the Wild hearts he finds. Never pursues Wilds, only humans. Humans that dare to even look at Dex the wrong way… Well, just like the Wild hearts, they end up on him and his mate's plate.

Yes, they are cannibals of the heart. They'll eat any human heart, but they prefer ones touched by Wilds.

Iris Ascendis

Ciara Ventura

Iris Record, Second Floor -> The Door -> Wingram Clinic
_@Nanaya

---

“I gave you a potion, which you drank.”

Otis

Ciara spluttered drunkenly as she was picked up like a wet kitten. ”B-but-”

"Rest easy, Ventaura. Arillo did not lie. Opioids help ease pain by triggering the brain to release endorphins. Although you received a higher dosage compared to mine or Kyrios's, you should save your grievances for tomorrow. Now is not the time to fight, again.”

Chunji

Opioids… Opioids. The name bounced around in Ciara's mile-wide head, but it only brought up visions of doctors in crisp clothing and wide, sterile smiles.

Before the world swayed as Otis stepped through the door a beat after Chunji. Within, Ciara found her eyes drawn up. The stars caught her head, floating as it was like a balloon, and cradled it. She felt as if she were on a boat, swaying serenely with every step Otis took, a mote among infinity.

Chunji… Chunji said something about the drugs being opioids. She didn't quite know what that meant, but. But she wasn't left behind. Otis could have left her behind, alone in the ivory tower, leave her to the screams. But he picked her up, and carried her through the nebula of stars. Surely, that meant, on some level, he cared?

Chunji's words were reassuring. Reassuring enough that Ciara stopped fighting the ride she was on, fighting the euphoria that threatened to split her mind, and instead… leaned back, and let the stars embrace her. It seemed he too, was not adverse to her breathing, to her living, free of the screams. Perhaps he too, was like Otis.

A blanket fluttered over Ciara's face, blocking her view of the stars. But that was alright, they lived within her now. The blanket had a warming effect, doubling the euphoria curling through her insides. Everything was soft and fuzzy, and with Otis’ measured footfalls, there was a lull, a serenity, a blanket of safety as her mind wheeled and whirred somewhere high up in the sky.

Yes.

Yes, perhaps she could talk with them. Negotiate. With the screams, that was. When they stopped screaming, when they found her, perhaps she could convince them that she was worth it.

Otis and Chunji seemed to believe so. And Iraleth had the opportunity to exact revenge, but… perhaps… she believed so too.

Shapes of light moved against the blanket as Ciara drifted through the air. She had no desire to move the blanket. Couldn't, anyway.

“My friends were attacked by the Umbralist in the tower. First aid was done, but one of them needs more medical attention, and the others need a room to rest in. Which rooms are open?”

Otis

"What my classmate said is true, and the one in my arms needs urgent care. It would be prudent to take him off my arms as I will soon collapse from hypovolemic shock, approximately in one minute, after losing at least 25% of my blood from today's events."

Chunji

Ciara stirred limply under the blanket, trying desperately to listen to the conversation. But the blanket was too soft and fuzzy, and her head too light and disembodied. Scraps of conversation floated around her head, while most of it sailed away to the skies, far away from her. Far away from her properly grasping it and embedding it within her short term memory. Far away, within midnight stars.

So she hung there serenely over Otis's shoulders, and let the stars wash over her.