TDM#6: Welcome to Phlan

[balancemod]

I'd bring an umbrella and a good pair of waders if I were you. NAVIGATION WELCOME TO PHLAN Click on the map for a full view BACKGROUND. The port city of Phlan, located just north of the Moonsea region, is not an idyllic landscape, filled with images of swashbuckling sailors and brimming commerce. It's a place that's been razed and rebuilt so many times that even the people of this rough and tumble town seem to embody a particular nonchalance to the chaos that exists within it. Entire streets of the city remain either unfinished or abandoned. Farms on the outskirts of town lend prayer to the Goddess of harvest and bounty, and yet, year after year they struggle to make ends meet. The main road leading into town, called the Iron Route, splits at the path just outside the city's gates. To your left, a quiet and somber collection of headstones litter the grounds of the Valhingen Graveyeard. They remind all who venture into this city from the main road of one simple thing: those who are born and raised here rarely make it out. The Director has sent her Reclaimers here, and as the glass bubbles are shot from the Moon Base, they land with thuds against the lining of the Quivering Forest. There are rumors that there's a powerful item hidden deep, somewhere within the confines of towns dotting the landscape of the Moonsea region. Your purpose is simple. Ingratiate yourselves as travelers, offer aid where it's needed, and keep an ear out on the ground for any whispers that might give lead to the location of a Grand Relic. 1. THE WELCOMERS You've spent a few hours in Phlan already, and have probably seen the entirety of its less than stellar nightlife; it doesn't take incredibly long to walk from one end to the other. There's only one tavern in the entirety of the place, and asking any locals where the best food or ale around is will either get you a cold shoulder or a heartily responded "The Laughing Goblin, of course!" The Laughing Goblin is run by a staff of two; a boisterous human woman who everybody calls Bonnie (although no one actually knows if that's her name or a callback to the sailors who frequent the town during stints in the Moonsea), and a rather rotund man named Mar (who tends the kitchen but has a serious soft spot for cats or juicy gossip). You can almost hear the raucous shouts of vulgarities from just outside the doors of the bar. Even tonight's musical guests, a trio of halfling bards who call themselves the Dandy Warhalls, don't seem to be outpacing the chatter and heated conversations going on within. Opening the doors and making your way into the room gives you more of a sense of what Phlan is really about than any other moment you've spent wandering the streets and being a really unfortunate tourist who decided on the worst vacation spot this side of the Sword Mountains. This place is alive. And in some ways, it's a good welcome to the world of Faerun, as you'll be spending quite a lot of time within these sorts of establishments, attempting to make your way through the inner workings of a possibly unfamiliar world. A. WHAT THE BAR KNOWS. ○ Bonnie is running herself to death trying to keep up with the orders. She can't seem to pour ale quick enough to keep the patron's glasses filled to the brim. She knows that this is a dangerous crowd, but she's tough as nails. A skirmish begins breaking out between two humans at the far end of the bar, disagreeing on the roles of the local law enforcement and how helpful they've been to their beloved town. Bonnie flares up almost immediately. "ENOUGH OF THAT OVER THERE. ONE MORE PUNCH AND I'M CUTTING YOU OFF FOR A WEEK, NIFF." Whoever Niff is, he snaps to immediately and sheepishly scratches the back of his head. You can almost swear you hear a defeated "Yes, ma'am," before Bonnie's attention is drawn elsewhere. She could use a hand, if you're particularly good behind a bar, and won't object to the assistance, even if she's leery at first. She just doesn't trust a whole lot of people. Get to know her a little bit, and she'll even complain about how the lighthouse's lens going out last week has made everyone in town anxious as trade seems to have come to a halt. ○ Reizem, Mof, and Jimbob, the trio performing in the back of the room on instruments and trying to invent the concept of rock and roll, are not exactly being welcomed with the type of applause that they'd like. They'll take a break midway through the set list, and are more than happy to talk to some refined guests of higher culture. Jimbob, who's currently sporting a number of upper cartilage piercings, is happy to talk about how this place is the literal worst. Not just any "worst." The literal worst. He's also a little bit drunk. ○ Mar, the only cook and also the only waiter in the tavern, will be happy to stop at your table and fill you in on "The Happs" in town, much to Bonnie's absolute dismay. A loud voice, even among the patrons that are currently three sheets to the wind, he'll disperse a few gems with the promise that if you know anything, you'll return the favor: ○ The local police, named the Black Fist, have been up in arms over the last few days about a shipment that was supposed to arrive at HQ. No one would bat an eyelash at that, since trade seems to have completely stopped once the lighthouse has gone out, but Mar's friends with a few low ranking guards who play bridge with him on the weekends. Yeah, he plays bridge. They got "real quiet" when he mentioned the missing shipment, covering it up with something about their training supplies getting cut short. Seems fishy, even for a place that reeks of fish pretty constantly. ○ The lighthouse over at Sokol Keep has gone out. "First time since I've been alive, that's happened," actually. He'll explain that one of the few rich families of Phlan (old money, he clears his throat with a sound of detestation in his voice) controls the lighthouse. The Black Fist have been sent over there to investigate but no one knows what the hell is happening. ○ Be careful of the Welcomers, a group of bandits who run around trying to steal anything they can get their hands on. "You'll notice you came across one of 'em on a'count of them missin' a gods forsaken ear." B. EVERY D&D ADVENTURE BEGINS WITH "YOU MEET AT A TAVERN, AND..." And it's a good time to meet your fellow Reclaimers, as well. Some of you might have been paired up during the Test of Initiation into the Bureau of Balance, or maybe you dropped into an apartment room to meet a flatmate you never knew you had (or maybe wanted), but there hasn't been a whole stint of time available to you to really get to know each other. Take a seat, grab some ale, complain about the music. The meal of the day, as it has been every day for the last 2 decades, is cabbage soup. It's kind of delicious. You're going to need to figure out lodging for the night as well. The Laughing Goblin has some rooms, but it's definitely not enough to fit all of the Reclaimers in the upstairs apartments. Lucky for you, your handy-dandy Bureau Issued Adventuring Supplies (BIAS, for short) has a sleeping sack and a tent. Maybe it's time to rough it for the night. C. LIKE TWO SHIPS PASSING IN THE NIGHT On your way out though, should you decide to cut it short and head elsewhere, you should probably stick to the main roads within town. A little ways away from the docks district, you can swear you hear a woman crying. Following the source of the sound leads you into a back alley, and just as you approach, you and your companion find yourself cut off on both ends of the street as the woman stands up, sardonic smile twisting around her lips. "Welcome to Phlan." And wouldn't you know it? She's missing an ear. Let's roll some initiative. 2. AROUND TOWN Your first night in Phlan either went amazingly smooth, filled with nothing but a pleasant experience of pure country bumpkin culture at its finest, or knocking out some thugs in a dark alleyway who were attracted to you by the value of your silver armlet. Either way, don't be discouraged, because it's daytime in Phlan, and time to set out to see what this place is like in the light of day. A. THE MARKET There are various stalls open for trade and business. Several of them seem to be closed up; without fresh fish and meat traded in from the nearby cities, access to certain goods is nearly impossible for any of the residents of Phlan. It's cabbage soup all the way down, it seems. Either way, there's a bit of a crowd coming and going from the center square. It's a great place to meet any number of people, Reclaimers or not. B. WHERE'S MY WRIT? Attempt to enter any of the stores that sell weaponry or armor and the first thing you're going to be asked here is if you've obtained the proper license from the Black Fist in order to purchase weaponry. See, there's a bit of a pay-to-play scheme going on here in Phlan. The merchants are offered protection by the local (mafioso) police in exchange for a highly lucrative bribe system, requiring anyone who wants to purchase anything sharp or potentially stabby to head over to the Black Fist HQ to pick up a "writ." And wouldn't you know it? The old man sitting at the receptionist desk of the Black Fist mansion has a mountain high pile of paperwork to go through. But he supposes he might look the other way if you happen to grease his palms a little bit. Anyone who can distract the earnest, hard-working, underpaid administrator to check that stack of paperwork will notice that there's nothing written on any of the sheets below the top one, which is basically just a diary entry from the man to make it look like official paperwork. While accepting your bribe, he bemoans how hard it is to make it by in Phlan these days. C. THE TELLER OF MISFORTUNES Along one of the side streets, you'll notice that there's a dimly lit shop with a stuffed kraken-looking beast dangling from the window. The smell of burnt sage wafts under the main entrance, and you can make out a row of various gemstones and crystals lined up perfectly within the shop itself. For a small fee of 10 silver pieces, you can go in there and meet Filistrom Stromdoodle, a gnomish woman who'll be happy to read your fortune. No matter how bright your prospects may be, she'll alert you that there's some impending doom in your life to come. She's seen a dark figure in your past, an ex-lover, an obsessed stalker. It's never good news with Filistrom. Ever the lover of theatrics and flare, she'll put on quite the show, and offer to cleanse your spirit of dark influences. Although the ritual does work (you're bathed in sage for a solid 5 minutes straight), she charges a hefty 5 gold pieces for it. Refuse, however, and she will absolutely cast a hidden Bestow Curse on you. And your luck from there only gets worse. 3. MISSING CARGO You've heard that the Black Fist have been fretting about lately over a shipment of goods that they were expecting recently. Remembering the Director's advice here- keeping an ear to the ground, not starting trouble, etc- you may get the hunch that getting to the bottom of the missing cargo might prove to get you some information about what exactly was in that crate that the higher-ups in the police were getting so on edge about. There's a few options in front of you to begin your search. ○ Look around the docks. There's a container yard that holds crates waiting to be shipped to and from the city of Phlan. With the lighthouse out, they can't be loaded onto ships and sent across the Moonsea. The waters are just too dangerous to go without a guiding light. You see a number of crates with city seal of Neverwinter on them. Little weird, since anyone that's spent time getting to know Faerun at the library back on the Moon Base knows that Neverwinter is on the other side of the continent. Searching inside any one of the crates (don't get caught!) you'll mostly find grain and agricultural wares meant for trade along the sea route. But one crate in particular has a subtle acrimonious smell to it. Open it up inside and you'll see it's filled to the brim with statues of Tyr. Tyr is a very well respected and beloved God within Faerun, denoting justice and law. Smash open any of these idols and you'll notice enchanted ink dust. Weird. The shipping label points to an appointed spot outside of town. ○ The location that the label directs you towards is a farm just northeast of town. It's seen better days, for sure- but the one thing that stands out is the remains of a recently burnt down barn. The family who owns the farm tells you that there was an accident a few days ago when the kids were playing Hide and Go Boo by candlelight. The children don't say anything about this. ○ Taking a look at the barn itself, you notice there's a similar smell in the air that's reminiscent of the enchanted ink you found within the crate back at the container yard. ○ The family simply doesn't have anything else to say on the matter when questioned. They're still reeling from the loss of their 2 prized family cows, who have won them the Phlan County Fair Blue Ribbon 3 years running. "Best cream on the Moonsea... such a sad loss for us. We'll miss Ben and Jerry so much." The woman of the house will point out the 3 blue ribbons hanging on the wall. It's the only decoration they have in this place. 4. THE BROKEN LIGHTOUSE Figuring out that the lighthouse being out is a huge source of financial ruin for the town, you eventually make your way over the Sokol Manor. The administrative head of the house sits at her desk, one Leela Sokol, pure white hair tidied neatly with a combover part and bright red lipstick on. She taps her fingers on the desk, looking bored and disinterested in your offer for help, but the second you mention that you're not affiliated at all with the local law enforcement, the very edges of her lips perk upward. "Oh, I do love some adventurers just gallivanting about upon our private property." Thinking it over, she rolls her eyes upward to the ceiling, but she guesses this will just have to do. Those of you from Earth may notice two things: she's wearing a bright red pair of heels and happens to look incredibly similar to Meryl Streep. Anyone who mentions that to her will be met with a confused stare and a request for clarification, mentioning that the Streep family over in Melvaunt, a neighboring town on the Moonsea, has no ties to House Sokol. Whoosh. She relates to you that the lighthouse has been tended to by her beloved nephew, Philip, for the last decade and although she wears the fiercest poker face you've ever seen in your life, you get the sense that she has no idea what's going on over at the Keep. Communication has come to a halt both to and from Thorn Island, just off the coast of the city, ever since the only ferryman in town passed away 2 weeks ago. The lighthouse and the Keep are the only things of note on the island that she's aware of. Black Fist Captain Grim and a team of 6 Black Fist guards are typically stationed there, but attempts at talking to the Black Fist over at their HQ have been fruitless. The excuse seems to be the same; most of the force is out either taking care of a recent surge of bandit activity by the town's local gang, the Welcomers, or are otherwise concerned with finding some missing cargo that never showed up a little while back. She'll allow you to head over there and find out what's going on, provided you don't go and talk to anyone in the Black Fist. House Sokol has a reputation to keep up, after all, and tarnishing that by showing distrust in the militia of the city doesn't bode well for her or her family. "Oh, and should you get there in one piece, please do remember not to steal anything. I'll know." Time to get a group of fellow Reclaimers together to find out just what went down over on Thorn Island. A. ARRIVAL AT SOKOL KEEP The Keep is on Thorn Island, surrounded by water in all directions. It's a rough swim, as the Moonsea isn't exactly a calm body of water. Maybe you can scope out a rowboat to help you get there. Either way, coming ashore at the massive mansion will be rather quiet and uneventful. There are no butlers to greet you. No Black Fist standing watch at the gate. Maybe Philip was just that reclusive, or maybe there's another reason that this place feels abandoned. There are 5 main structures on Thorn Island- the Sokol Keep itself, the lighthouse, an eastern tower, a western tower, and the barracks, used to house the guards that come and go from the mainland during their stay here. The stone mansion itself has two floors, and up until recently, looks like it was incredibly well maintained. Funny, since you didn't see any attendants on the island to greet you. Not a speck of dust, anywhere. The banquet hall looks filled as if an evening meal was being served just a few hours ago. Unfortunately, whoever was served this delicious looking feast didn't have time to finish it. It looks like it's been sitting out for days, and the smell of rotting meat is more than just a little pervasive to your senses. B. LOOKING AROUND After searching long enough on this abandoned island, you start to notice a few things that don't quite add up. First of all, Philip's room has a number of books on the occult hidden neatly among the academic literature peppered about in his personal library. Although nothing seems to indicate a struggle has occurred anywhere, investigating the ground around the barracks on the outskirts of the manor indicates freshly upturned dirt that looks like it was recently tilled over to cover something up. Perhaps someone was dragged, but it's really hard to figure out who, or what, could've done that. Your examination of the lighthouse itself shows a crystal at the top of the structure encased in glass that's been warded off and reinforced through magical means. There's no indication that someone had come here to snuff out the light or steal the lens from which the lighthouse operates. It just simply... won't glow. Ransacking the eastern tower reveals a place that doesn't look like it's been touched in ages, aside from a chair that's been moved, uncovering a trail of clean floor in the midst of dust literally everywhere. The dust seems to be everywhere, and spending a particularly long amount of time in here makes your lungs hurt and your eyes water. You do, however, find a small Holy Symbol, a rosary of beads with a small coin on it, the image of a Faerunian god etched into the metal. You're starting to get the sense that this island has been dealing with some below-board stuff lately. Cults, religious symbols. And did you just hear that chair begin to creak? Why do those empty bookshelves up against the wall look like they're vibrating? Time to get the hell out of dodge on this one. Investigating the western tower, however, reveals a bare floor that's been broken into via a pickax. Move some of the earth away and you'll find a hatch. Wouldn't you know it? It's unlocked. C. THE CATACOMBS If you didn't get the chills from the seemingly haunted eastern tower, dropping down through the hatch reveals a damp, dark passageway after a drop of roughly 10 feet below. The catacombs smell damp, have a particularly unsettling feeling about them, and touching the walls reveals an ungodly amount of mud that never seems to quite settle. Prestidigitation that off, if you will. Going deeper, you realize that you're descending below sea level. Eventually, you hit a snag- in the form of a whirlpool that seems to block your way through to the other side. It moves concentrically, and trying to cross it without a plan will end up getting you sucked right into it. At the bottom? You're tossed around like a gnome being fired out of a canon, and hitting the bottom of that pool of water reveals sharpened bones. Most likely human in nature. Better move fast, you can almost feel something reaching out to touch you. Provided you don't drown to a group of skeletons sitting at the basin of the whirlpool, you'll come to a wide open room with an altar towards the back of the cave structure, emanating a sickly violet light. On a raised platform, the body of Leela's beloved nephew, Philip, lies sacrificed. There's a trail of blood that leads from the dais to the pool of water surrounding this statue. Looking closer, you notice that the statue itself depicts something with the body of a woman and 6 slithery heads of a snake, crested with jade jewels for eyes. A hollow laughter fills out from the room as a figure moves forward from the statue. Where the hell did that come from? "Stay for dinner, we've got the early bird special prepared, just for you." Of course, it's Captain Grim. Did you ever think that a dude named Grim wouldn't be evil? He's sacrificed the poor boy and is now currently possessed by some unrepentant six-headed snake beast. His tongue slides out of his mouth, licking his bottom lip. Yep, that's more snake than human too. Make sure you kill this guy. D. THE AFTERMATH Killing, or otherwise subduing Captain Grim (what's your alignment, again?) is enough to make the lighthouse mysteriously come back to life. Whatever desecration was going on in the catacombs below seems to be lifted. Too bad you can't be treated like heroes upon your return to Phlan proper. Leela has made absolutely sure to spread a rumor at the Laughing Goblin about how efficient the Black Fist were at resolving the issue on Thorn Island. Oh well, you weren't doing this for fame and accolades, right? 5. CALL TO ARMS (DEXTROUS): THE SCROLL THIEF The Bureau of Balance has done pretty much everything they could have for this small port town on the Moonsea. The lighthouse has been restored so commerce once again begins to breathe life into the docks district. Sailors have changed their tune from anxious boredom and nights at the Laughing Goblin to the simple blessing that returning to work provides. That is to say, they've (mostly) sobered up and got back on the straight and narrow for the time being. But it doesn't end here, not quite yet. There's the sound of a parade of footsteps emanating out from the direction of the Black Fist headquarters. The entire guard has begun to give chase, and the city is quickly mobilized to a state of apprehension that you haven't seen at all during your stay here. Wherever you are, you're stopped nearly dead in your tracks as a man, not much older than 20, knocks you or one of your party members over on a beeline straight to the ships. You see, tucked neatly under his arm, an ornate looking piece of parchment paper that's been rolled up tightly. The man smiles at you, apologizing, just as a battalion of Black Fist agents begin to approach off from the distance. The youngster who has just collided with you turns his head to look upon this scene and groans. "Typical lugheads. Just what I was expecting outta this shit hole." And he takes off for the docks. He needs to get out of Phlan, and quick. What do you do? OOC: A LETTER FROM YOUR MOD TEAM Hello everyone and welcome to the sixth and final TDM for Balance! The purpose of this TDM is to give you an idea of what our missions look like. It already assumes that your character has been initiated into the Bureau of Balance, and has been sent out on their first mission to retrieve a Grand Relic. To that end, threads in this TDM will not be considered game canon. What we're aiming to do with Balance is a little different from your typical DWRP game. In a typical setting, the mods set up some NPCs that have limited contact with you, the player, under a very structured set of conditions. For example, The Director is one of those NPC types, as are her two counterparts (Davenport and Garfield). However, in Balance, we'd like to take a moment to instill something early on as we run through the first TDM of the game. We've listed a few NPC's up there to give you a flavor of their personality and what their look and feel constitutes. Those NPCs are completely pilotable by any of you, at any time. What we're looking to do is give you all a structure for adventure and seeing where you all can take it. It's part of our core value and how we'd like to see things move along. Be amazing- not just in the sense of being amazing to each other and to your characters, but also with your character choices in-game. The world is completely malleable and up to you to meld, mend, repair, or bust. In a nutshell, what we're saying is... go wild. It's okay not to ask permission for something cool you'd like to do. We've given you some outlines of events, but the story that you create as you thread these out is entirely yours. And we, as a mod team, can't wait to see what you bring to the table. blurb code by photosynthesis

Comments

QUESTIONS?

[balancemod]

[cuttingremark]

About the fortune teller: Will she cast the Bestow Curse if you refuse the ritual or get the ritual and refuse to pay her?

RNG

[balancemod]

Want the outcome to a thread or scenario randomized? Want to take a shot at apprehending the scroll thief?

Reply here with what it is you'd like to do, and we will offer you a setup! (Note: it's not required, but if you have a class in mind for your character, let us know so we can give you appropriate modifiers.)

Monika | Doki Doki Literature Club | Merchant

[myliteratureclub]

((OOC Note: I am aware that friends of Sayori will probably not be happy to see Monika, and I’m totally okay with playing that out! Also please but sure to check out Monika’s CW out before tagging and be aware of DDLC spoilers!))

Welcomers - B

[The energy of the bar is a welcomed change for Monika. It’s to be assumed she hasn’t had… the warmest welcome into the Bureau for many reasons. But she’s trying to ignore that enjoy the lively atmosphere of the bar instead. She kinda even wishes she had something to write with in that moment.

However, her attention is pulled away when someone takes a seat with her. A flash of their bracer lets her know they’re a fellow member of the Bureau.]

Well hey! You sure you want to sit with little ole me?

[Either they don’t know who she is or maybe they just don’t care. Sometimes a mission is more important than personal feelings after all.]

Welcomers - C

[They warned her this mission is going to be dangerous, and it’s not that Monika didn’t believe them of course! But she had been hopeful maybe it would’ve been quick and easy. Oh well… nothing in her life is quick and easy, is it?

She slips behind her party member, dropping her voice.]

Do you know how to fight?

[Because she’s kind of a merchant class and pretty under trained…]

Lighthouse - B

[It’s hard not to pretend like Monika isn’t instantly attracted to the books. She grabs a nearby one and flips through it and then does the same with another.]

Geez, these actually seem like more of Yuri’s kind of thing. [But that’s not what’s important right now anyway. Setting the book down, Monika takes a closer look around and spots the drag marks. She motions a party member over.] Hey check this out.

[It’s definitely odd. Care to help her out?]

Wildcard

((Let's do it baby I know the law!))

C

[versusnurture]

[The look Monika gets is — let's start with incredulous. Let's continue with appalled. Let's conclude with tired. This is the emotional journey Abigail goes on as she pulls out what appears, unfortunately, to be a bow and arrow. God, she hates fantasy.]

You don't?

[What the hell is the point, then. Nocking an arrow directly towards the leader's chest, she refocuses.]

Do you even have a weapon?

Loki | MCU | Sorcerer

[cuttingremark]

1b. [Loki is sitting in a back corner observing the rowdy patrons of the tavern carefully, nursing his ale. Though the generally loud atmosphere nearly drowns out the bards he does visibly relax when they stop for their break. If you are already sitting with him he turns and speaks]

I sincerely hope that is not typical of music on Faerun.

1c. [Now this is what he's talking about. They said the mission would be dangerous and thus far the only danger he'd faced was loosing his hearing to those bards in the tavern.]

Ready?

2c. [He walks out of the fortune teller's door shaking his head. He'd been raised among seers and soothsayers and needless to say the gnome's abilities did not impress him. Of course he had refused the 'cleansing ritual', not wanting to waste his money or time.]

Two-bit hag...

[Somehow he misses the last step and falls hard on his backside]

4a. [Loki narrows his eyes as the party enters the banquet hall. The taste of cabbage soup still in his mouth he can only think how grand it would have been if they'd gotten here a few days ago.]

I suppose it could have been worse.

Wildcard!

2c

[eastofeden]

Oop! Do be careful!

[ Is it the curse itself, or the exception that proves the rule, that leads to Aziraphale's presence nearby as Loki exits the shop? Only time will tell. He hurries forward, extending a hand to help him to his feet. ]

What a nasty spill! Are you all right?

Phoenix Wright | Ace Attorney | Paladin

[wrightingwrongs]

1b

[To say that Phoenix is out of his element is perhaps a bit of an understatement. He's looking around a bit, looking a bit unsure about his bowl of cabbage soup. He cuts an irregular profile - spiked-back hair, ill-fitting... armor? And perhaps looking a bit more worried then you would expect from even the most fresh-faced adventurer.]

(Well, they say appearances aren't everything...)

[He's taking a bite, if he has a drink, it's something non-alcoholic - juice, perhaps, or even water. Well, at least it tastes good. He's looking around now at his fellow arrivals, feeling out of sorts. He's not really one to immediately broach the conversation unless he can catch someone who seems just as confused as he is.]

Excuse me... can you tell me where exactly we're supposed to start with this... uh, 'mission'?

2a

[After the first night, Phoenix has gotten his bearings a bit. But just a little bit. Which is to say, he's lost in the markets, probably perusing all the wares for offer and perhaps trying to keep a mental shopping list as he roams.]

(There's a lot of people here... someone has to have a lead on what we're supposed to be looking for?)

(Or at least, maybe there's something interesting in the stalls...)

[He's cutting the same profile as he did the night before - loosely-fitting armor, spiky hair, and the semblances of some blue... well, 'tunic' might be a word for it, but it might be closer to a suit.]

I don't know how much headway I'm going to make like this...

wildcard

[Surprise me!]

1B

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran, an older teenager tapping the edge of his cup of tea with a serious look of consideration on his face, turns his attention to Phoenix just as seriously when he's addressed.]

We need more information first.

[He's been through this enough to sound confident in what he's saying, although it comes off as more matter-of-fact than arrogant. He turns the well-used tome sitting open in front of him to a few pages near the end, making a note in some kind of code.]

In a town like this... we'll probably have the most luck by getting on the people's good sides. What are you good at?

mira delacroix | original | dancer

[philoxenia]

Welcomers - B1
[ Really, it's not the worst place to stay the night. Mira thinks nothing of having to rough it outside, either. A room would be kind of nice, she guesses, but there's something nice about sleeping outside under the stars. And, sure, Phlan isn't... the best-off place in the world, or probably any of the many worlds she's becoming more and more aware exist, but it's vastly preferable to her own. (She wonders what that says about her... or her world.)

Either way, Mira's inside the tavern, watching everyone with interest. She won't turn down anyone who wants to take a seat. Rather, she'll offer a tentative (and, honestly, slightly nervous) smile. ]

Hi.

[ Off to a riveting start here. ]

Welcomers - B2
[ And after dinner, Mira's currently outside. She doesn't mind sleeping in a tent, so she'd rather give up a space for someone who'd really rather sleep indoors. Though... She hasn't really pitched a tent before. She's trying her best, but she seems a little lost as she looks at the disassembled tent. ]

If only Noah were here...

The Market
[ Even if there aren't a lot of edible options, there's still things to be discovered in the market. It's a little (alright, a lot) upsetting that Phlan doesn't have access to certain goods, and honestly, she wishes she could help somehow... but she's only one person, and she's distinctly aware that she can't do much. Except, maybe, spend some money. Surely that'll help in some way.

Besides, she's genuinely interested in a lot of the stuff. Specifically, a lot of the handmade trinkets, jewelry... ]

I couldn't make anything like this myself... It's incredible.

(Mis)Fortune Telling
[ Well, why not? Getting your fortune read can never hurt, right? Except-- geez, she can't say she's surprised by the "impending doom" Filistrom Stromdoodle sees in her future. ]

Five gold pieces? That's a little--

[ There's something in the woman's look that makes Mira reconsider whatever she's about to say, and she clears her throat. ]

Fine--I guess it wouldn't hurt.

[ But after that, she hangs around for a little while, a small distance from the shop. ]

If you want to get your fortune read, [ she says in a low voice, to anyone who might express interest, ] it might cost a bit more than you realize.

[ ... goodness, that does sound ominous, doesn't it? ]

Lighthouse - A
[ She isn't certain what to expect, but she gets the feeling that she's in over her head a little here. Then again, she's been feeling a lot of that recently. It's not something you can get used to, but she can try to ignore it, which is what she is used to. Either way, she refuses to let her guard slip at all. Especially when she sees that banquet... ]

How long has this been out, I wonder...?

Lighthouse - B
[ Oh, wow.

Her brother's library back in her world had been considerable, but this is... it's a siren's call to someone who can't get enough books in her life. Throughout her exploration of the place, she's had a feeling of dread the whole time. But this... all these books, they kind of let her escape from all that. ]

If only there were some way to bring these back.

[ She's not foolish enough to yoink anything, since receiving the warning from fantasy Meryl Streep.

... probably. ]

Wildcard
[ hit me baby one more time ]

b2

[antiqueclasp]

[Flayn, too, had opted to rough it for the night rather than sleeping in one of the provided rooms. Her brother would certainly have insisted on the latter, she knows, but in his absence, she feels more driven to prove her independence as ever. She happens to overhear Mira nearby as she lays out the components of her own tent before attempting to start, offering a small but encouraging smile from across the way.]

I could help you, if you like. I am no expert, but I have done this a few times, though admittedly with assistance.

[Those long marches to battlefields away from the monastery meant there was a lot of sleeping in tents to be done.]

Perhaps we can muddle through it together?

Isabella "Izzy" d'Oro | OC | Chemist

[dralchemist]

[1-A]

[Being a chef is about one step removed from being a bartender, really, so when Bonnie asks for an extra hand behind the counter, Izzy is right there to help. Doesn't really matter that a) dragonborn aren't that common in Phlan and b) Izzy only barely matches the natural conception of a dragonborn to begin with; she's doing her best to keep the patrons of the Laughing Goblin tipsy and entertained. Because drunk townspeople are the best source of rumors and information. "Oh yeah, you guys are doing fine", to the Dandy Warhalls. Bards; bards never change. "I hear that", to Bonnie and Mar, at different times, on the breaking of the lighthouse. "Wish I could help, but I'm a chef, not an engineer," she'll say.

She's also more than happy to serve sub-par ale to her fellow Reclaimers. Because why not, right? Their whole wing of the Bureau is here for the assignment and it'll help to establish a rapport.]

[2-B]

Y'know, I've been in Phlan for all of a few days, and I've gotta say. Absolutely, literally nothing I've heard about these "Black Fists" have been anything but positive. Like, come on. Even the name is super ominous and weird. What kind of authority force calls themselves the Black Fist and expects not to draw some mmph hmphm rhgmrhgm?

[Aaaaand that's Izzy being grabbed by the mouth backwards out from the frame of an armorer's shop by one of said Black Fist enforcers. She, uh. Might need a little bit of assistance here.]

[3-X]

[It's probably Izzy's expertise in chemistry and alchemy that gets her and whoever's following behind on the scent of the adulterated idols to Tyr. Literally. She's spent a good chunk of time sniffing the air, muttering about how familiar yet out of place the weird smell is.]

So, we have enchanted ink coming from Neverwinter, which is on the wrong fucking side of the continent with no good water routes for it to come by here, being held up in storage by a mysterious lighthouse malfunction, hiding in suspiciously pristine religious iconography.

I smell a smuggling ring! And also a lot of dust. [All sense of stealth has gone far out the window for her theatrics... which is probably attracting some guards. Shit.]

[WILDCARD]
[Open to any other listed scenario, or anything else you can come up with!]

1a

[cuttingremark]

[Loki approaches the bar, despite for something other than cabbage soup, and is surprised to see a familiar face]

Wait, you work here?

[Not very familiar, mind you, but he does recognize the her from the moon base. They hadn't spoken more than a few words in passing, but it's hard to forget a dragonborn.]

Isabella, was it?

Rose Quartz | Steven Universe | Druid

[spacerock]

A; Bartying
[Ostensibly, they're here to gather information. Instead, Rose is immediately distracted by the atmosphere. It's so lively, she can't help but get caught up in it. And there's even music playing! Sure, maybe it's kind of rough, but that just gives it character.

Rose makes her way to the most open area close to the bards and dances to the beat they set. She's surprisingly graceful given her size, and she clearly has no problem drawing attention. In fact, if she spots another reclaimer watching her, she'll try to wave them over.]

Come dance, it's fun!

B; Like Two Ships Passing in the Night
[When Rose hears someone crying, she can't help but want to investigate and see if she can help out. She walks fearlessly into the back alley and is halfway to approaching the woman even as her expression changes before she actually notices the human's missing ear and the warning she'd gotten at the bar. She frowns.]

Oh, you don't actually need help, do you? [And it looks like Rose is cut off on both ends of the alleyway. But maybe someone else saw her following that frankly suspicious noise here and wants to help out?]

C; The Catacombs
[Rose is standing at the edge of the water, watching the whirlpool churn. Her first instinct had been to just jump across, but she can't do that here, and so it's halted her progress as she considers her options. Not to mention she's not alone here.]

Have any ideas?

B

[cuttingremark]

[Loki had just exited the bar himself when he saw Rose go down the alley. The crying noise had been suspicious, a bit too loud in his opinion, but he'd followed anyway. Unfortunately he was also blocked in to the alley with her.

Fortunately he was well accustomed to fighting multiple enemies at once.]

No, I don't believe they are. [He pulls out his daggers and readies himself for a fight]

Spike Spiegel | Cowboy Bebop | DANCER

[menarefrom]

Welcome

[Some path actions seem... kind of redundant. Others, like Quick Employment, are starting to show their worth on this mission. Spike's always been one for working freelance, but when you're trying to gather information on relics... it's good to blend in.

Not that it would be hard to resist the local tavern, anyway, not in a town so much like Mars. Spike needs the drink, and Bonnie reminds him of someone in particular-- two people, really. Especially in how she yells at him from across the tavern to earn his keep and pick up after the back corner table. Yeah, yeah, he's on his way, boss.

On the way back from that, with a tray balanced on his (tall, tall) hip, Spike passes your table and points to your almost-empty mug.]

You finished with that, or what?

[Hey, no one ever said customer service had to come first here. Okay Bonnie might care a little bit but she's busy right now.]

---

[Later, after his shift is over, Spike can be found outside the tavern helping himself to a cigarette. God is he happy to have a cigarette. That stupid shit orange cat would only sell him disposable foil-packaged watermelon flavored vapes. And yes, Spike had taken them for the nicotine but it wasn't the same, okay?

Out here he can relax with the taste of real tobacco in his mouth, even if it is a bit more... rustic. Or he would be able to, if he could find his lighter.]

Aw man, are you kidding?

[He pats himself down, looks himself over-- until someone passes him by.]

Hey-- wait, real quick-- you got a light?

[He'll even accept a magical one--]


wildcard

[[open to anything else too! or lmk if you want a specific starter or like a fight thread. fight with spike. he will love you if you fight with him please-]]

Outside

[cuttingremark]

[Loki looks at the man...Sam? Pike? Something like that.]

Here.

[He produces a small flame in his hand. He has half a mind to engulf the entire cigarette when the man goes in for the light, but decides against it. He needs allies more than anything right now, no sense pissing people off with silly pranks.

Yet.]

[royalresearch]

Welcomers B-1
[Not being one for ale, Zelda is more than content to sit here and try to figure things out. She's still not fully sure how she went from Hyrule to here... but without Link and the other Champions around, Zelda is a little stuck. She knows she is supposed to be a Reclaimer, and she has many, many questions. Staying here for the night is rather a better idea than camping in an unfamiliar place without her knight.

Anyone who looks like they may know something will be politely flagged down.]

If I may, would you be able to answer some questions for me?

Market - A
[If the bar is no good at being the place to find someone familiar, Zelda will wait in the square. This area was even more fascinating since there were so many more people to observe. She tries not to leave her eyes lingering on anyone for too long lest she be considered rude, just long enough to get a general idea of what they look like.

Still. She seems a little uncomfortable. New places were wont to do that to people not used to being somewhere alone. Help?]

Wildcard
[Hit me with your best shot! Anything not listed above is fair gaaaaaaame]

B-1

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael lifts his brows and swings back around at Zelda's wave. He's not unused to queries like this - with the body he's got, a lot of humans (and closely-related species, she's got weird ears) view him as an authority figure. Or, at least, someone who Knows Stuff.]

Yeah, shoot.

kamado tanjiro | demon slayer: kimetsu no yaiba

[coursingriver]

i. landing

[Despite how ruined and empty this port town was, it was a lot more familiar and comforting to Tanjiro than the Moon Base. Coming from the Taisho period, being on the moon with holograms and technology leaps and bounds ahead of what he's seen... kind of had him in shock for a little while there. So when his pod lands, and he's able to get out and see an older looking town ahead he can physically feel the stress lift from his shoulders.

He turns to the first Reclaimer he sees, sparkles in his eyes and an excited grin spread across his face.]

Let us do our best!

[And from there, he grabs their wrist and starts excitedly running along the dirt path leading into the small town.]

ii. bribing when you don't know how

Please accept this offer!

[Tanjiro stands in the office of the Black Fist, and he's been here for over an hour. Weaponless, he came across a very well-crafted sword that immediately caught his eye, but as everyone else had been told he needed a license to be able to buy it. He immediately went to get himself one, but has had no luck with bribes... he's not really the type and isn't quite sure what's worth this man's time. The desk is covered in random knick-knacks and objects that Tanjiro has tried, and despite the fact that this was attempt 32, he's still just as determined as attempt 1.]

"Listen, kid, I've already told you that I--" PLEASE ACCEPT THIS OFFER!

[He holds a beautiful blue flower in his hand, leaning dangerously close to the man with a stubborn look on his face, refusing to take no as an answer.

If you're here looking to get a license yourself.. you might want to stop this boy or help him so you can hurry up and get your own.]

iii. a fortune told

[Tanjiro smelled the sage a mile away, and it's entrancing scent brought him into the fortune teller's store. He was in awe at the accuracy of what she told him, being able to pinpoint the fact that evil had entered his home and tore his life asunder. She even guessed that the evil had inhabited someone he loved, and was heavily weighing on his shoulders. He clapped when she gave him that reading, but his excitement was quick to falter when she offered to get rid of that evil for him.

"Would that cure her?" He asked gently, not wanting to get into the specifics of his sister's situation but curious all the same.

"Yes, my child. For five measly gold coins I can cleanse you of the darkness that binds you, and she shall follow you no more."

Follow no more.. that's not exactly what he wanted. He asked again for clarification only to get the same answer, but he realized in the end it didn't matter anyway. He only had three gold coins, so he wound up politely declining the offer much to the fortune teller's anger.

And as soon as he leaves her shop, he trips on a rock that he didn't see when he came in and runs right into another reclaimer on the way down. Looks like he should've taken the offer.]

iv. rotten meat.

[Of course Tanjiro was going to help, when he heard news of the lighthouse unable to light and causing problems for the town. He's used to going out on missions to solve odd problems like this, though back home there was always a demon at the head of the issue. Not to say that wouldn't be the case here, but Tanjiro was prepared for just about anything to happen.

New sword on the belt of his pants, he arrives on the island looking calm and he turns to the first reclaimer he sees.]

I wonder what has been stopping the lighthouse from--

[He stops himself mid sentence, his face distorting to one of disgust and he quickly covers his nose and mouth. Despite being outside of the mansion, his amazing sense of smell can pick up the scent inside.. and it's not something he was expecting to smell.

He reaches out and grabs the arm of the reclaimer he was just talking to, suddenly looking extremely serious.]

Don't go inside... there are dead bodies in there.

[Or so the rotted meat smells like to him.]

v. wildcard

[fuck me up fam]

ii

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Okay, kiddo, let's leave the very busy man alone for a second.

[Tanjiro. Honey. No. Church lays a heavy hand on his shoulder to ease him back.]

That's not--why did you think a flower was gonna work here. [Like, it's an honest question, it's just asked in a flat and tired way. Who greases palms with a flower?]

Neku Sakuraba | The World Ends With You | Bard

[phoneafriend]

[A - At least it's not the Scramble]

[As he sits in the Tavern, Neku is extremely aware that he sticks out like a sore thumb. Obviously, shorts and a tank top aren't exactly the best clothes for here, but also his hair, headphones, everything about him says Outsider. It's why he's chosen an out of the way booth in the corner, and has his headphones on. Just, trying to stay out of the way, stay unnoticed.

In front of him on the table he's got pins and a pamphlet. The pins he's moving around with his finger, but with a look of concentration on his mind that suggests otherwise. The pamphlet gets glanced at but remains unopened.]

How do they expect me to be a bard? I listen to music, not play it.

[B - I'm not Good with People]

[Eventually he takes to the streets. There's a mission to do but no timer on his hand, so that's refreshing. He's out of the Game at least.

What's not is that, well, he's back among the living. He's back among crowds of people when he is very used to only being seen by a select few. And while that's something to be happy about it's also very overwhelming and he'll probably be looking to jump into the nearest, emptiest shop.]

I wonder what kinds of trends are even in this place. I doubt they sell Jupiter to the Monkey.

[C - Mission complete?]

[Neku stares down into the hatch with a frown on his face.

He's no real stranger to this. Certainly the Reaper's Game didn't have him sewer diving, but he's played enough RPGs to know how this goes.]

So, I guess we head down here? Also, I haven't figured out this magic stuff yet, so...

A!

[myliteratureclub]

[Monika carefully moves through the crowd, trying not to spill the drinks in her hands. This is definitely a lot more than she's used to, but she feels a little better when she sees her party member at a table. She makes her way toward him and sets the drinks down.]

If it makes you feel better, they made me a merchant, and I'm not entirely sure what that means.

[She sighs, pushing her ponytail back.]

I got us water, by the way.

Piper McLean | Rick Riordan's Wacky Adventure Teens | Rogue

[katopissed]

(ooc: hello! im taking piper from post-burning maze, which means!! i know it's a year old but theres a big Thing at the end and if you're not caught up or waiting for Trials to end then like..... not that it's even likely to come up but Lemme Know? I'mm gonna tag for spoilers, but if you don't want any to come up at all...)

Welcomers B

[ Well, this has all been a lot to take in, but Piper takes it all in stride a little quicker than most. Save the world, yadda yadda yadda, all they're missing is a prophecy. And honestly it's a little freeing not to have to deal with one! She's sitting at a table in the back, having talked someone into buying her a drink (non-alcoholic, it's like. cider, its fine, the YA gods don't have to come for me.) and looking down at... a handwritten list? ]

Man, never thought I'd have to learn a whole new list of them... kinda refreshing that they're less cagey, though.

Welcomers C

[ Hmmm this isn't great, let her just... pass along this cool Sunday she's having and share it with a friend, one might say! She puts an arm around whoever else is here with her's, and puts on a big smile to boot. ]

You know, thanks! We were just talking about how great things are here, weren't we? After, oh no, spending our last couple gold pieces at the inn! So, no harm no foul, but we're not exactly the ones your welcoming committee here is probably looking for!

[ Look, she's good at talking her way out of things, it's fine? It's probably fine. ]

Lighthouse A

[ Oof. That's not a pleasant smell, is it? ]

Something must've gone pretty wrong really fast here.

Wildcard

[ Got another idea? Lay it on me! ]

Welcomers B

[rockymountaindie]

List of what, people who go to taverns?

[ Alex glances idly at her drink, slowly realizing he didn't see her pay for it, but- you know, that's normal. A pretty girl, a bar, people are fucking sleazebags.

Kinda wishes he could have that sort of luck, though, with his completely-purchased-beer in hand.

Anyway, he's not going to look over what she's written, that would be rude and while he's a nosy piece of shit he's not a rude one. (Most of the time.)

(Shut up, Will.) ]

flayn | fire emblem: three houses | cleric

[antiqueclasp]

a | you meet at a tavern, and...

[There are all sorts of things that Flayn could be doing to make the most of her first day in Phlan, but the early afternoon finds her at the Laughing Goblin among fellow Reclaimers— some veterans, some newer additions like herself. She's spending a great deal of her time people-watching as she eats, smiling and watching the other Reclaimers with a kind of awe as she works her way through her bowl of cabbage soup— and while she'd admittedly prefer fish, the soup is delicious all the same, warm and inviting and homey.

When caught staring a bit too long at one of her table-mates, her smile turns sheepish, and she ducks her head just a bit as she quickly averts her gaze.]

My apologies! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I don't get to visit places like this very often— really, I think this place is wonderful, don't you?

[Everyone here is fascinating, even those two gentlemen looking like they're about to get into an argument down at the end of the bar! They simply add a bit of color to the place.]

b | teller of misfortunes

[The shop's window display is eye-catching all on its own, but the sign promising that fortunes will be told within is what really grabs Flayn's attention. She knows they're supposed to be gathering information about the area and various goings-on about town, but— well, it couldn't hurt to step inside just for a few minutes, could it?

She smiles impishly at whoever happens to be fortunate enough to have accompanied her to this part of town, inclining her head towards the door.]

I'd bet a fortune teller knows all sorts of interesting things about Phlan, and could answer any questions we asked!

[Alright, maybe the answers they got wouldn't necessarily be truthful, but it would be fun, wouldn't it?

Alternatively, Flayn will be very interested in what anyone else who's visited the shop might have to say! Should she happen upon the place just as you're leaving, her face will light up with eager curiosity as she asks:]

What did she say?! Was it thrilling?

[Well, was it?]

c | sokol keep

Whoever was here last certainly left in a hurry, didn't they?

[Flayn wrinkles her nose as she approaches the abandoned banquet table in the keep's dining hall for closer investigation. The smell of rotting meat and cream that's several days past its prime mean the room as a whole is ripe. To be perfectly honest, nothing about this island or the keep that stands on it feels right to her, but this room serves as absolute proof that whoever left this place behind didn't mean to.]

It looks as if they just stood up and walked out in the middle of dinner, doesn't it?

[Or perhaps their departure was more— forceful.

She doesn't want to think about that.]

d | wildcard

[Anything else your heart desires!]

C!

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran, for one, is immensely grateful to be met with nothing but an empty keep to explore. No monsters, no bandits, no illusions. Just a perfectly reasonable investigation.

That said, it absolutely stinks in here, and he conjures up a handkerchief to cover his nose as he looks about for any footsteps or indications as to where the diners might have gone.]

It would be nice if that's what happened.

[Sorry, Flayn. An optimist, Ferran is not.]

goro akechi | persona 5 (reverie crau) | ranger

[uragiru]

1. THE WELCOMERS — "YOU MEET AT A TAVERN, AND..."

[ it's strange, but even after a lifetime spent in a busy city, Akechi thinks he might have gotten used to the quiet of Reverie Terminal. he'd expected to be there for the rest of his days, after all; like an afterlife he didn't deserve, albeit one that was known to occasionally torture its residents. the tavern seems too crowded and almost deafening compared to the sterile, silent halls of Reverie, to the safety of his quarters or the comfort of Erika's room.

he doesn't last long before he sneaks outside, and he lingers at the docks near the tavern, inspecting the bow that he's apparently supposed to use now. it might be for the better to be outside, anyway, because he takes up quite a lot of space these days, and if you happen to pass him you'll surely notice why:

there are six black-feathered wings that curl around Akechi's body. the smaller pair is tucked up neatly on his head, feathers curved around his ears; the largest pair sits folded on his back, sprouting from just below his shoulderblades, the tips of the feathers brushing the ground; and the final pair spreads out from below them near his waist, hanging loosely and occasionally flaring out to steady his balance. there are feathers on his skin, too, around his neck and jaw, scattered about like a creeping infection.

when you're close enough to speak to him, you'll find his hair is fairly long, enough that he's pulled it back into a loose ponytail. and there's a cuff wrapped around the shell of his right ear, which looks like it's made of... a piece of copper wire?

either way, if you approach, he seems to ignore you. he nocks an arrow on his bow, draws the string taut, his eyes set out over the water, and then: ]

Can I help you with something?

[ his tone is carefully neutral. ]

2. AROUND TOWN — THE MARKET.

[ here is the problem with navigating a market lane when you are new to having many large, unwieldy wings: it sucks. Akechi spends more time being aware of his own body than actually looking at any of the wares for sale, just trying not to knock anything over. and eventually, inevitably, he fails. someone jostles him and his wings flare out on the opposite side to steady him; the long feathers sweep a bunch of things off the table of a stall, and they all go tumbling to the ground.

Akechi curses. ]

Oh, for god's sake— Yes, yes, I'm sorry. Of course I'll pick it all up. [ he goes down on his haunches to start picking up the things that have scattered — which means that, on automatic, his wings spread out to keep his balance. he's kind of impeding foot traffic. under his breath, long-suffering: ] How did Venus deal with this...

3. MISSING CARGO

[ he's not really supposed to be a detective anymore, but old habits die hard. whoever he's with will have to deal with Akechi suddenly taking charge of things when they reach the barn, casually giving them orders like he's the lead on a crime scene. it seems to be a thoughtless thing, rather than deliberately controlling or malicious. either way, he barely says a word to his new partner until he's finished examining the wreckage of the barn, with the two of them having noted the acrid smell but come up with no other clues. ]

It doesn't seem as though there's much else to find here, so we should interrogate the family again. Although, it's difficult to force the truth from someone without the proper authority to do so... [ said in all sincerity. would he abuse his power to solve this, if he could? you bet. when he resurfaced from having his heart stolen and the Devil reaching out to him, he'd decided to do Good, not be Good. ] I don't suppose you have any sort of truth-compelling spells handy? Shall we try good cop/bad cop, then?

[ he's definitely being sarcastic now. ]

4. WILDCARD

[ obligatory "anything else" option. ]

1!!! drv3 spoilers

[gotyourbach]

[He's not Kaede's Goro-kun.

Sometimes she can miss the obvious, blinded by her own reckless hope, but even she can't overlook the wings as belonging to Someone Else. His expression, even the way he carries himself is so far outside what she'd come to associate with her best friend that she hadn't known what to do at first, or even how to approach. She'd nearly given poor Akira a heart attack when she'd thought she'd been reuniting with an old friend, only to learn that he had only arrived on the base earlier that day.

So she'd waited, as much as it hurt her heart to do so. Tried to get a sense for if he was even open to having someone around him. She misses the easy camaraderie they'd formed, the bond between two people utterly convinced that the other deserved to be there far more than a murderer like themselves.

Eventually, though, she sees him alone, nocking an arrow. In the past, in spite of the drawn weapon, she might have tried sneaking up on him. Now, almost a year into her time with the Bureau of Balance, she's consciously sure to make noise so he knows someone is coming, so he doesn't get startled and try to fire.

His tone is cool and even, and it makes Kaede's heart ache. A hand comes up to her armored chest, one hand clenching into a fist as if that might somehow ease the way it feels to hear her best friend's voice address her as if she were a stranger. Which, of course she is.]

Umm... I was just going for a walk. The tavern was starting to get too noisy for me to play the piano, after all!

[Classical can only get her so far in these kinds of places, after all. She clasps her hands behind her back, mindful of the violin she has strapped to it, and ventures closer, trying to edge around the wings.]

And I kind of wanted to say hello. We haven't gotten to talk yet, right? I'm Kaede Akamatsu.

Reyna Ramírez-Arellano | Rick Riordan Books | Paladin

[audentiae]

Welcomers B

[ Hm. To say Reyna's been on edge since this whole thing started is an understatement. Like she's generally uptight, this is true - she's not a paladin for no reason - but she's been told enough about the situation in town that she's keeping an eye out at all times. It's what she does. It certainly helps her filter through any gossip she overhears while sitting at the table she's found!

If any other Reclaimers happen to show up, though, she'll skip pleasantries and get right to business. ]

So, what do you think about this place so far?

[ Awful direct for a... seventeen-year-old talking to literally whoever you are, regardless of age, maybe? ]

Lighthouse B

[ The second there's any indication where something strange is going on, Reyna is one of the first to arrive. She heads to Philip's library to investigate, since it seems like as good a place as any to start. Maybe he kept a diary, who knows?

She frowns, sorting idly through the library as she finds one of the secret Occult Books. ]

I get the sense this isn't the good kind of magic wizard book...?

Wildcard

[ hit me up! ]

Lighthouse B

[cuttingremark]

[Loki is across the room searching under something when Reyna calls out.]

Magic is neutral, neither good not bad.

[He straightens up, squinting at the book she's indicating.]

Oh, but that does look rather suspicious, doesn't it.

Leonard Church (well one of them) | Red vs Blue | Sorcerer

[motherfucking_ghost]

((I intend to play Church as his canonical self: a robotic suit of space age armor. So to natives...like, a really weird warforged or golem. But I've got like a jillion real boy face icons that are much better at expressions than a handful of armorface icons. Those are just there for emotional flavor and context! (Unless I decide to make him a Real Boy.) He also has magic now, so, everyone has to deal with how horrifying that is.))

1A
So we all agree we're checking out the lighthouse, right?

[That's Church, after chatting it up with Mar, learning about all the happs around town. Very very chatty, those two.]

I mean, mysteriously has gone out which no one remembers ever happening before, stranglehold on the city because their commerce is bupkis for it, local mobsters getting their panties in a twist about a shipment, seems like the obvious place to check out weird shit and, y'know, do goodwill or whatever.

2B
You're fucking kidding me, right?

[The sentient blue armor has his hands planted on the desk.] You wanna take a cut from the people out of town who don't have your little license? No no no, you fleece the sellers. You're gonna get more out of them than whatever hapless losers spend more than a couple hours in this town, and if said losers decide they're not gonna buy anything, then everyone's outta luck, you get that, right, buddy?

[If trying to tell a mobster to his face how to fleece people doesn't go well (spoilers: it won't), then at some point he's gonna see one of these writs.

And slap together some of his own.

And sell them.]

Heard tell you need a Black Fist writ. You're in luck.

[church no]

4B
[The lighthouse itself didn't reveal much of anything. Should be working. Isn't. Can't magic back into working. And now, the eastern tower doesn't seem to be giving them much of anything, either. What a fucking waste this seems to be so far!]

Dude, I'm pretty sure nobody's been here in years, except like...that chair, I guess? But without touching anything else. [Naturally, he's still going to look through things anyway, the few things that seem to be there, just in case, which only kicks up more dust.] Let me know if you find something expensive--er, uh, or weird or out of place? [who's looting definitely not him no he's investigating wait what's that rattling sound]

1A

[aceso]

It seems the next logical step.

[ Christine doesn't sound thrilled at the idea, but this is all definitely suspicious and it sounds like the town's commerce is going downhill pretty quick because of it. ]

We might have to go about this quietly if the Black Fist are still there checking things out. If they're being tight-lipped about this, they may not like outsiders snooping around.

[ She frowns and quickly goes over the actions she's learned as a Dancer so far to see if there's anything that might help if they run across any of the Black Fist. ]

Yuri | Doki Doki Literature Club | Warlock

[quiescis]

[1. B]

[Yuri dislikes noisy and rowdy places and she’d just been trying to find the best place she could go to get some simple information about everything going on. A pamphlet would have sufficed. But she finds herself jostled into the old tavern anyway with fingers pointing her in the direction of the tavern patrons and other Reclaimers saying they are the best source for anything she might need to know.

She frowns slightly but nods meekly.] There really isn’t a place where I can find somewhere to read up on this place and this world? Like a library or ... Information center?

[Why the tavern? It’s so stereotypical to most fantasy stories, she supposes...]

[2.A]

[The market is a busy place and she’s bound to wander through here eventually. She walks with her hands clasped close to her chest as she explores the various knickknacks and food hanging from various stalls and racks. In particular she sees her eyes drifting over a stall of weapons for sale. A beautiful collection of sharp knives, blades and everything wonderfully sharp.]

... Oh.

[If only she had some silver pieces to buy one of these beautiful pieces. The metal looks like it could glow. They’re so pretty.]

How much for one of your knives...?

[2.C]

[How could she resist trying out a fortune telling? While it might be all make believe and lies there’s something whimsical and wonderful about listening to her fortune. She wants to know about her future, her love life and everything else. It feels like she’s finally able to read a page out of her own book—

But what she hears isn’t what she wants to hear. Doom? A dark figure? Something about someone twisting her soul and personality into something else?

What’s going on-] S-stop... This isn’t what I wanted to hear today.

[She quickly gets up and gathers her things and rushes away from the fortune teller. But it’s too late. There is already a curse placed over her head and the first thing that happens is Yuri tripping and falling to the ground and badly scrapping up her knee.]

Ah... !

2.A

[myliteratureclub]

[There's a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder.]

Aw Yuri... you sure that's a good idea?

[Monika smiles at her, tugging at her arm gently.]

How about we go look at getting something for lunch instead?

2B | NieR: Automata | Fighter

[conciliant]

( 1-B )

["Sorry, ma'am, we're all out of rooms for the night."

That was what they told her when 2B asked earlier and to some, it appeared to be the worst news in the world. To 2B, it isn't as much a big deal as it is a minor inconvenience; she's spent plenty of time in the wilderness that the probability of having to rest outside doesn't put her off, and it isn't as if she absolutely needs to rest. The urge to sit back and relax doesn't come quite as naturally to someone like her.

However, 2B's time spent in the city ruins does not mean that she's well-versed in the sort of things expected of her. After being turned down for a room, she followed several others in the same predicament outside, and watched as they whipped out what looks to be a blanket, and a very large tarp. Upon checking her own Bureau issued Adventuring Supplies, she discovers the same items and lays them out across the ground in front of her.

...

There's a long period of silence where she just... stares at them through her visor, like she's waiting for something to happen on its own, but nothing does. 2B turns to the person nearest her and motions to a pitched tent.]

How do I make it do that?

[She isn't exactly programmed to know these things. That's what 9S and Pod were good at.]

( 2-A )

[2B is just going where the rest of the crowds go. When her fellow Reclaimers depart into town to check out the markets, that's where she goes, too. It's a little curious that so many of the shops are boarded up and closed, and some stalls unattended, but she isn't looking out for anything in particular. Maybe some weapons, since all she has is Virtuous Contract, a white sword, hovering at her back, but she's in no rush to find one. It works just fine for her.

It's the odd smell that lingers across the streets that gets her attention. It reminds her a little of the smell inside the Laughing Goblin, minus the strong odour of booze. The food stalls that are open all advertise the same thing – the humans referred to it as...]

Cabbage soup, [she proclaims suddenly, to no one in particular.] Why do so many people like it?

( 4-C )

[2B may be an android of few words, but this entire place has rendered her almost speechless. The descent into the catacombs was a far more adventurous one than she expected it would be and bless whatever poor soul has accompanied her down here. She is designed to fight, but there is always strength in numbers. Still, she's become a little cautious and maybe a touch protective of her partner, reminding them to be careful and trying to be the first around dark corners.

She didn't think that things could get any weirder than the fiasco that was the whirlpool, but boy, was she mistaken. Finding the boy laying lifeless on the altar, beneath a looming statue of – what the hell is that – is definitely the weirdest thing she's seen so far.]

What...?

[Her hand immediately reaches for the sword at her back, keeping it at her side and ready to strike at anything that might attack, and that's when she feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand up on end. That low, emotionless laugh seems to come from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously, but the owner of it soon steps into the light, his tongue flicking across his lips. She casts a look to her partner before her eyes go back to him.

"Stay for dinner, we've got the early bird special prepared, just for you."]

Dinner? It better not be more cabbage soup!

[She's SO! Sick! Of! It!]

( wildcard )

[You know the drill!]

2a

[oculusriffs]

Man, that's the best fucking question I've heard all day.

[swap out a Scanner's android parts for squishy organs, trade the visor for a pair of aviators, ditch the friendly curiosity in favor of vulgarity (but still pretty curious) and you've more or less got, uh



Dave.]

You'd think they'd at least have one goddamn Hot Pocket. Or a can of beans.

Lloyd Irving | Tales of Symphonia | Fighter

[materialblades]

1b. | "so you meet at a tavern..."

[ This environment isn't so unfamiliar to Lloyd. If he didn't know any better, he could have mistaken it for Palmacosta or Luin. It makes him feel a little bit more at ease about this whole situation; Lloyd has always rolled with the punches, but even this could throw him for a loop if he wasn't careful.

It probably didn't help that he had trouble focusing through part of the debriefing, though. He may or may not have dozed off at some point.

Lloyd manages to sit next to someone that he recognized (not names, but faces, definitely), trying to strike up a conversation. ]

So... what's the mission again? I-I just want to make sure that you know why we're here, is all.

[ Smooth. ]

1c | two ships (having sex)

[ As soon as he hears the crying, Lloyd's already taken off in direction of the sounds, turning the corner and rushing into the alleyway to check on the woman. ]

H-Hey! Are you okay?

[ He starts to kneel down but she's standing up, and it's clear that he's outnumbered here. ]

Shit.

[ He quickly draws his swords, looking in either direction of the alleyway. He slides into formation, waiting for either opponent to make a move. ]

3. | Docks

[ Once the team finds the boxes, Lloyd unsheathes one of his swords, using the pommel to get a good enough crack in one of the slats before popping it open with the blade. ]

Oh. Statues?

[ He picks one up, inspecting it closely. He doesn't sound too enthused by the discovery. ]

That's a little underwhelming, don't you think?

wildcard

[ If there's anything else you want to do, hit me up! You can always reach me at hnnng! ]

1B

[phoneafriend]

[If there's one thing Neku knows, it's how to pay attention to a mission. He's just glad this one doesn't have a timer attached to it.]

We gotta find that relic, or whatever it is.

Talk to people, follow rumours, that sort of thing.

[He sounds thrilled. And by thrilled, we probably mean not at all.]

gilgamesh (caster) | fate | cleric

[fwahaha]

i. like two ships passing in the night

What are you looking to me for? [Despite the eyebrow he raises, Caster could not look more bored with the present situation. He makes no move to stand closer to his companion. His posture does not shift and there isn't a visible ounce of tension to him.] You were the fool who wanted to help.

[It had actually taken some serious persuasion to get Gilgamesh to abandon the main street (if a path could be called that in a dingy little town like Phlan) and follow the sounds of the woman crying to the backalley. He didn't make any specific arguments as to why he was refusing, but he only conceded when an agreement appeared to be reach that whatever trouble was to be found would be up to his companion to resolve. Not him.]

It's your mess. Clean it up.

ii. the market

Pathetic, [he mutters to himself.]

[He is not referring to the state of the market as far as the stalls themselves are concerned. Uruk was really not in much better shape when he returned as far as closures and meager offerings were concerned. No, what he's referring to is the people themselves. It would be one thing if they had grown complacent, but that seems too generous a label. They seem to merely accept everything as it is, and Gilgamesh cannot help but see this as a lack of pride.]

[He's also real sick of cabbage soup already and pushes the bowl away from himself back to the vendor.]

iii. missing cargo

[The King of Heroes turns slowly towards his companion.]

Was I unclear about the importance of stealth?

[While true that it's difficult to pry open crates without making any noise whatsoever, the gusto or lack of care his companion has chosen to open them with leaves something to be desired. Gilgamesh cannot tell if the clattering has brought about any attention just yet, but that's clearly not stopped him from commenting.]

Perhaps I ought to head back and find those atrocious musicians from last night to serenade us while we work.

iv. wildcard

((want something different? go for it! feel free to hmu tho if you need/want to hash anything out by pming this journal or finding me at rebreather))

iii

[motherfucking_ghost]

Hey. [Church shoots sparkly mcsparkles a look, though it's very...subdued by the fact that he doesn't have a face, therefore it's just a golden visor looking in his direction--before rummaging through one of the crates.] You wanna try your hand at busting open some crates, you are more than welcome.

And I liked those guys, they had good rhythm.

ellie ; the last of us ; rogue

[backpacking]

1. welcomers - c. two ships in the night

Assholes.

[ This is not the first time someone has tried to take advantage of Ellie's kindness. It's also not the first time they've misjudged her. ]

So, how are we gonna do this? [ She asks of her companion, turning so she's back to back with them as she eyes the woman with the missing ear. ] Little outnumbered, here.

[ Not that that's ever stopped her and Joel before, but this is...definitively different. As such, she readies her bow, but eyes the other Reclaimer with a look of "what now?" ]


2. welcomers - a. the market

[ Today is better. Quieter. Less full of attempted robbery and maybe murder. Ellie peruses the shop with wide-eyed excitement, not quite oblivious to the world around her - after last night, she's definitely primed for anything suspicious - but still fairly absorbed in the novelty of everything. The girl swoops in close to several stalls, mouth falling openly slightly as she admires wooden dishware, ornate trinkets, and some glittering pieces of jewelry. ]

- Ugh. [ She wrinkles her nose, drawing back and looking around disdainfully. ] What's that smell?

[ Cabbage, probably. It's pretty overpowering. ]


3. missing cargo

Huh. [ Easy enough for a rogue to pop open a wooden crate without noise or issue. Ellie tentatively lifts the lid, as if she expects a spring-loaded punch to be waiting inside. When nothing seems actively dangerous, she peeks a bit more before moving the lid aside for her companion to see. ]

Just seems like...I dunno, rice? Vegetables? [ More cabbage, among it. There's definitely too much of that stuff in this place. A bit more rummaging doesn't reveal anything particularly interesting, and so she leans back with a confused frown. ] What's "Neverwinter" mean, anyway?

[ Not an indication of the weather, surely.

There's a pause before Ellie's brows twitch, and then she sniffs at the air. ]

D'you...smell something?

[ It's an unpleasant smell that, for once, is not cabbage. ]

2

[toremainbehind]

That would be the smell of cabbages unfortunately.

[And a very powerful one.

It has Izumo's nose wrinkling too but he ignores it in favor of continuing to look at the stalls.]

Misty Day | AHS: Apocalypse | Druid

[mistyday]

a. welcomers - what the bar knows

[Oh, what do we have here? Three musicians in need of proper appreciation? Have we got the girl for you, my friends. Misty is drawn to music like moth to a flame and though this halfling trio is no Fleetwood Mac, she nonetheless finds herself dancing along to the strange rhythm of their proto-rock beats. For the most part, she seems content to dance alone, but when she sees one of her fellow Reclaimers hovering nearby, she beckons to them with a cheerful wave and a big smile.]

You just gonna stand there all night?


b. the broken lighthouse - arrival at sokol keep

[As Misty steps out of the commandeered rowboat and onto the rocky shore of Thorn Island, an all-too-familiar dread creeps into her bones. Concilium, Transmutation, even Resurgence - all of her powers were gone, save for this, the recognition of Death, wherever it comes, whoever it comes to. Maybe it was all that time in Hell, maybe it is simply too innate of a part of her to ever be taken away. Whatever the reason, it’s here and it’s telling her to run, to turn back.

Eyes wide, she stands frozen at the edge of the water while the rest of her party continues on towards the mansion. Oh, she can’t do this, what was she thinking, what was the Director thinking, making someone like her a Reclaimer?]

Y’all? [She says it too quietly, no one seems to hear her over the waves. She forces herself to move closer to everyone else and tries again, louder this time.]

Y’all… I got a bad feelin’ about this.

c. wildcard

A

[myliteratureclub]

Oh! Me?

[Monika blinks in surprise, looking surprisingly a little nervous.]

I-I don't know how to dance though.

Yukari Takeba | Persona 3 | Ranger

[piercedyourheart]

WELCOMERS B (TAVERN HOPPING)

[ as nice as the atmosphere in the laughing goblin is and as interesting as the music has been, there are too many people inside for yukari to even consider asking for a room. too loud. too noisy. the faster she can get out of here, the better.

in her rush to leave, she hits the person nearest her while slinging her BIAS over one shoulder, possibly sending whatever they're holding to the ground. ]

Oh, sorry. [ yukari gives off an aura of Very Tired in more ways than one, but looks entirely apologetic. ] Can I help at all or...?

MARKET A (BOGO)

[ paulownia mall this ain't, but there's honest to god shopping to be done here. at least the hunt for a good bargain didn't change between worlds.

yukari wanders from stall to stall, holding up small pieces of jewelry and asking the merchants basic questions about what it's made of, where did they get it, did they possibly hear anything about whatever has the black fist in a tizzy, would they be so kind as to point the way to the docks and where shipments would come in, can she get these in pink.

the usual. ]

MISSING CARGO (CHUNKY MONKEY)

I'm sure Ben and Jerry were...beautiful. Really. [ oh, my god, can she be done with this. ] Is there a way we could go check out the barn? We, [ motioning to her companion, ] would like to.... Pay our respects.

[ can she be done with this ]

WILDCARD (ROLL A PERCENTILE DIE)

[ let's get wild. hit me with anything! ]

bogo bogo

[petsthedog]

[Okay he realizes they're doing legit information gathering here, but shopping for non-food things is still so much. Shinji's just playing the part of the pack mule around here, along with maybe stealth casting Rustic Hospitality to give Takeba a hand with particularly stubborn shopkeeps.

But also, he hates shopping??? What do people find fun about this, he does not know. As they're leaving one stall, more trinkets and a potentially useful clue or two in hand, he lets out a sigh.]

Where're you even gonna put all this stuff.

Cassie Chan | Power Rangers in Space | Ranger

[liketinaturner]

Welcomers B

[ This is... not her beautiful juice bar, not at all. If you asked Cassie where exactly she planned to go after everything went down, a fantasy tavern is around the last place she would have expected to find herself. And yet!

But that doesn't mean she has to take this laying down, since... look, she can be accommodating up to a point, but if there's magic, there's gotta be a way to get around the lack of blenders, right? ]

No, look, it's... you take some fruit juice and maybe some ice, and you just blend - mix it together! You could use a... you gotta have one of those mortar and pestle things, right? You could use that!

[ Perhaps someone should save the wait staff? Or save her from her own ambition? ]

Welcomers C

[ Man, it's not usually humans she has to fight... this blows, my dudes. Well, whoever else is here with her, she's going to just sort of instinctively try to get back to back with them, raising her arms and settling into a fighting stance as she does. ]

Look, I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish here, but it's not gonna work!

[ And then, very quietly, to whoever else is here: ]

You can fight too, right?

Wildcard

[ Wanna do something else? Hit me up! ]

C

[rockymountaindie]

[ How does he get himself into these messes? Oh, right, he's cursed. ]

Wh- [ Just as quietly: ] Yeah, sure, but it never works out too well.

[ At least Alex has finally learned this about himself. However, he does try and mimic her stance (not well), holding out his hands ready to fire his favorite energy blast. ]