Defiled Dedication - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/11/476
Log
Another somewhat muggy afternoon out by the coastal mangroves, although the onset of winter has made it somewhat cooler and less humid than usual, with the accompanying decrease in the number of insect buzzing around. A small group of rangers have arrived from Firmament on various transports along with the hired Freeswords, looking deathly serious as both beings and goods are unloaded onto the mud trail that leads to the beginning of the boardwalks. Several briefings are going on concurrently, each to small, individual groups of rangers, and everyone is pulling their proverbial socks up, as it were.
Selena arrives, stretching out and looking around the briefings. A glance to the request that had been posted, and then she moves towards the nearest being that looks to be in control of things. "Excuse me, you were looking for some beings to help in your investigations?" She queries, hazarding another vexed look at the other beings present. "This seems a little more serious than the note implied."
Angus sighs a little bit, a little annoyed that he was once again in this swamp. Hopefully this time there was no encounter with an Old one, but if there was hopefully this time they would be able to handle it! He tips his hat, looking around a bit before he follows Selena over towards the Rangers. "Evening everyone, so how are we going to do this?"
With the hint of alcohol brushing off his figure, Dio makes his way to the briefing with a slight sway to his step, complimented by a somewhat lost look within his eyes. Mane in a bit of disarray and prized coat creased and various places, the lion finally immerses himself within the briefing area. "How ya do- HICCUP! - doin' there, fox-kit," he waves. "An' ya too, lass! It's been quite awhile since I've seen ya last."
At the request of Angus, Mirana walks along behind him, not too far off. She takes it slow and easy, "Sweet brother, this better be important, I've got the kits down for a nap, and they should be out for a few hours, and I know things went easy, but..." she is cut off as she looks around the place. "So, this is where you have been running off to sweetie." she says. Looking around, she notices Selena and Dio, "Good evening Selena, sweetheart Dio." she says with a bright smile. She watches the actions of the beings unloading their cargo, pondering a moment, "Sweetie, Angus, any clue what is happening?" she asks.
Rixo slept for most of the way there, but from behind her greathelm it was probably hard to tell. Indeed, when they arrive and she awakes, she stands and hops out of the transport as if nothing had happened. After taking a moment to make sure all of her plate is on properly, she hoists her shield and makes her way over towards the others. "Fine day for a jaunt in the swamp, eh?"
"Thank you all for coming. It is indeed somewhat more serious than we'd implied." There doesn't seem to be any one singular being in charge, but the closest one gets to is a clever-clanned owl. "We were a a bit short on hands, even after sending out missives to much of Sweetwater - most of us can't leave our posts, since our duties involved watching the land of our posts, and when things start changing in an anomalous manner there's cause for concern. Whatever Francis wrote of in his report, it sounds a bit incredible, but changes to the local ecology are always taken seriously."
"From here on out, we're splitting into small groups - best to cover as much ground as possible without being vulnerable. Freeswords, you'll get someone to lead you around. What we're looking for are beings - anyone is out of place further into the swamps - and depressions in the ground filled with...an unknown substance not much unlike tar. If you DO encounter any of the former, the suggested action is to not alert them and instead see what they're up to. We don't want them to know we're on to them just yet."
Selena nods politely as the situation is explained a little (Lot) better than the document she carried. "That seems reasonable enough; I've got no objections." She replies simply, looking back to the others gathered in the area with a somewhat tired-looking smile. "Dio, I haven't seen you in a long time either... Mirana. And that armor looks familiar; Rixo, wasn't it? I haven't seen you for even longer. I suppose this isn't really the time to ask how you've all been, though."
Angus frowns at the explanation. "Why don't we just go back to the same location that we found last time? We have to spirit dedicants. We can fight the old one." He comments bluntly, still angered by the words that the 'Lord of Decay' had spoken to him. He still wanted to get revenge.
"Good day to ya, Lass of Sudden Disappearance," Dio waves, stumbling a bit as he turns around to look at Mira. "Jus' all kinda 'appy -HIC- reunions. Shame we're on the clock an' don' 'ave any time to catch up fer the moment." After another violent hiccup, the lion returns his attention to the briefing at hand. "So to be more specific," he comments, "Ya want us to see what those cultists 're up to, ya?"
Mirana looks over Dio a moment, "Sweetie, if you are going to answer missions, you shouldn't be drinking. What would your clan think?" she asks, smiling very warmly to Selena, "No time for long greetings, but I'm doing alright, and very happy everyone else seems to be." she says. A tap to Angus with her staff, very slight, "Now sweet brother, lets not go looking for a fight, unless we are sure it is one we can win." she says, "Rixo, Sweetie, good to see you too." she says. Listening to the grave situation, the motherly vixen ponders if this was a good idea coming out here, but, then again, a threat to the land would be a threat to even her most intimate family eventually. "A guide of some sort would be best darling, thank you, but please, give me a moment to prey." she asks. Deplomacy might not be the best ability to have ready, so she takes the distraction to switch her gems around unseen.
Rixo thumps a plated fist to her breastplate and give Selena a curt bow. "Right, no time for long chats, but long story short I have been well!" She turns back to the others. "I am ready to go on the word. I will let those more familiar with the place take the lead, certainly. I come out here seldom enough."
The owl cocks his head at Dio. "That would be it, more or less. Francis was more or less adamant about the term...and look, here he is now."
As if on cue, the coral snake detaches himself from another group of rangers and steps to the group, giving Angus and Dio a nod by way of greeting the familiar faces. "Looks like the cavalry finally came," he says to them, giving everyone else a glance. "And seems like you brought your own people, too. Took them long enough, but here they are - me, I'd have liked the whole Sweetwater army at my back, but they're good folk and will do for now. Let's go back to that...that place and see if we can't find anything to warrant more folk here, shall we?"
Selena rubs her forehead for a moment. "I did just say this was hardly the time or place for chatting, didn't I?" She comments back to Mirana before turning back to the front. "There's no reason to be waiting, then... where are we heading, and when are we heading there?" She asks simply.
Angus turns to face Mira a little bit. "I agree with you sister, but considering this thing has taken over a hundred innocent beings lives. There is no point in letting it linger so it can kill again." Turning back to Selena he gives her a smile. "A small cozy place in the swamp. I want to make good on my threat to Akros, if you would help me?" Not to mention he wanted to get revenge for Alef, who was still recovering from the spell she created to help them flee.
"I didn' drink that much," Dio say, raising up a hand and counting off a few digits. "Jus' one, two, three, fo... I mean, it was jus' a little. Trust me, that lioness lass can tell ya from seein' me last night." With a cough, he once more returns his gaze upon the owl. "Besides, I'm better after a few," he mumbles under his breath, giving a solid nod to the familiar snake. "I'm good to go, lads. We can't let that thing linger 'round any longer." With a hand to his sword, he takes half of it out of the sheath and slams it back in for a wonderful metallic noise and a symbol of his fiery passion!
Mirana gives a slight curtsey to Francis, "Hello, and thank you for your assistance." She says giving a smile to Selena, "You did, but if I don't have time to say hello, there must be a fire under my tails sweetie." she says, not quite catching herself that time, "Oh, sorry Selena." she corrects, making no comment to Dio, "But enough dilly dally darlings, lets do get on with things, as the good Selena says." she says, waiting for directions, but taking a moment to whisper to Angus.
Rixo makes one final gear check and adjusts the way her cloak sits before nodding. "Lead on! I am very much interested in seeing this place."
"Wonderful. If there's nothing else, let's be off."
Already, the other rangers are beginning to disperse, melting into the mangroves and muck, leaving Francis to lead the less inclined abross the boardwalks as far as possible. The journey through the swamp, at least, is largely uneventful, past the monolith, and the ranger shack which makrs the end of semi-civilised territory, and out into the watery unknown. Although most everything looks the same to the untrained eye, Francis manages to find his way around unerringly - there're occasional flutters of movement here and there, but a few calls - obvious some sort of sign - reveal them to be other rangers out on the hunt.
Eventually, though, the group reaches their destination - the old ritual grounds that Angus and Dio were at the last time. The place has been abandoned - perhaps at the behest of the old one - and most of the remains rotted away, but the mark they've left behind is clear: most of the trees about the small clearing appear stronger, in a twisted and sickly sort of way, some of their exposed roots steeped in the festering pools, now more virulent and ivscous than ever. An acrid mist hangs low over the area, searing one's nose and throat when one tries to breathe, and once more, there is that feeling on unease. Searching the area may be hard on the senses, but it has to be done.
Selena moves through the dingy atmosphere, glancing back at Angus - "So it's that place, then?" She asks cryptically, then shakes her head. "I'd rather not run into any old ones, if that's possible. Consider it this way, you at least have an advance warning this time. It's probably for the best."
At the old ritual grounds themselves, the woman simply looks around in a mixture of disgust and awe before the mist's acidic effects start to sting at her. A quiet few moments of concentration and an uncharateristically large gesture at the area ahead and the biting stuff is blown out of the clearing for the time being. "Well. I'm not sure how long we'll have. The pits are probably a good place to start looking."
Angus blinks, turning to shake his head at Mira. "No, that's not the only reason I asked you to be here sister." He was rather surprised that she asked honestly. As the came closer amd closer to the location where they met the old one he begain to brace himself for a headache, drawing his rapier as they stepped into the clearing. As soon as Selena's wind blows through he grabs his hat before it can fly away, giving the wolf a nod of appreciation as he steps in to investigate.
After a nod, Dio follows along with the snake, dragging his feet through the swampy environment that doesn't much phase the somewhat stinky lion. At least mentally, as one couldn't ignore the the tangling roots, mud, and other awful factors that slow down poor travelers. As they approach the fog, he draws his sword and trusty shield, giving a nod to the wolfess as it dissipates. "This is the place alright," he comments, moving closer towards the area along with Angus. "Can't 'elp but feel they'd be waitin' fer us, ya know? After last time we saw 'em an' all."
Mirana walks along with everyone as they go, smiling mostly to Selena, "Glad you are here, wish Ictus could be as well, and Wulf, if something does happen, we could use all the help we could get." She says, not a meek statement, but one weighted with caution. She works to memorise where they are going, incase it should be needed. As Selena works to clear the area, Angus goes to checking around the pits, she decides some information gathering could be useful, "Excuse me, Francis sweetie, could you tell me about what this place was before all this started happening? I understand it is a swamp dear, and under quite a bit of decay already because of that, but, how has it changed from this Old One's presence, and his part of the cult? Besides the obvious, is there anything you can think of dear that would attract him here?" she asks, a look to Rixo, "I wouldn't be so excited about seeing an Old One, dear, they are not the most... pleasent of things to encounter." The smell, however, and the area itself stings at her senses, making her cough gently.
Rixo trudges through the swamp after the others, taking in the area from the slits in her helmet. "Wouldn't be the first time I've encountred one. Remember that time in the mountains? They would make a challenging adversary, that is for certain." She makes her way over to the edge of a pit, peering into it from a 'safe' distance. "Though whatever did all this is quite different, I think."
Interestingly enough, Angus doesn't seem to suffer any headache this time around - perhaps the Old One is too busy with other matters to give the poor tod a headache, and neither are Dio's fears realised - no cultists leap out from the trees to ambush the group. Whatever that means in the larger picture of things, the smaller one is that the group is safe for now - although it doesn't make sense to let one's guard down.
"Well, for starters, those pits aren't supposed to be here, and neither are the trees supposed to be this way," Francis replies as he kneels down to check the abandoned ritual grounds. "They don't look exactly healthy, but nor are they dying, aye? As for why it's here, ask that fellow over there." he jerks a thumb at Angus. "It claimed that this place was its before we beings landed on Promise. Well, doesn't matter who owned the land - I don't know if things like that recognise squatter's rights, but we've worked it for a long time now. Come on, now, help me look. There's got to be a clue or something that points to where they might have gone, unless we just want to follow the trail of pits to where they lead."
Selena shakes her head sadly, looking around the place again. "Time in the mountains..? Hm. I don't recall an old one there, only a servant of one. It might be another time that you're mentioning though." She comments, walking around the perimeter cautiously and taking a look in one of the holes near her path. "The trail of pits might be the best bet for now. If someone pacted to an old one or an old one shows up, I'll be able to give an advance warning." With that, she returns to the others. "Tracking isn't exactly my forte, though. I'll try to keep the swamp ground stable if it comes to that."
Angus glares as he looks around, tapping the blade of his rapier against his side. "Come now Akros, I thought you said you feared no mortal." He mutters to himself, ears perking as he turns in Mira and Francis' direction as they speak. "Think following the pits might be the best idea. But be careful, tar or not that is what the Old one created a form from. So we might want to be cautious."
Dio gives the ground a solid poke with his sword and lets out another loud hiccup from his chest. "Where there's tar," he comments, "Perhaps we'll find ourselves an old on'. Maybe we'll start to get those 'eadaches when we get closer an' closer towards our foe, but I've never felt 'em, even the last time we came out 'ere." The lion takes a moment to observe all the awful tar and decay, and of course, the lingering stink one simply couldn't ignore. "Is there anywhere the tar is more concentrated than in other places?"
Mirana shakes her head, this was no good, a quick flip of things under her battledress, and a bit of a wait. She grips her belly as a sharp pain moves through her, grimicing slightly, "Dear Angus, I do hope this doesn't last too long." she says, and feeling a slight mood swing coming on as well. She knew what it was all about, and tries to steady herself, "Though I thank you for the outting." She says as a slight teasing to him. She looks close to the ground, and over the trees after her soul gems are done whispering to her, nodding slightly, "Over there, to the east, but, I think we should be careful, very careful." she warns. Then listening to Rixo, "Out in the mountains sweetie? I haven't heard anything about that, a full summoning of an Old One at least, can you elaberate, after we are done here of course." she says. She takes note of what Selena, Angus, and Dio say though, thankful to have braught her medicinals.
Rixo waves her hand about in the air in a vague gesture. "I don't remember much about it," she says as she scans the outskirts of the location with her eyes. "I think it was the mountains, anyway. Big undead bear thing, I think it was? With all the dead soldiers. Kind of like an army of corpses. Or something. It's been a while."
"Really? I meant it as a bit of a joke...but if you've got a lead, let's get a move on." Leaving it up to Mirana to point out the appropriate direction, Francis takes care of the nitty-gritty of moving through the swamp without any mishaps - a task that gets more troublesome as the ground softens perceptibly underfoot. Eventually, the groupis forced to more or less keep to the roots for fear of sinking into the mire, sharp as they may be.
The first telltale sign of something being amiss is the acrid atmosphere increasing in intensity, accompanied by the pervading stench that threatens to overwhelm one's sense of smell.
Hidden amongst the mangroves, on a small outcropping of poured stone, is something vaguely large and flat, etched with symbols and covered with dripping ooze. The place looks to be as abandoned as before, but there is definitely something amiss that makes the back of one's neck shiver.
Selena shakes her head, looking back to the guide - "Well, do you want to get anywhere with this or otherwise?" She queries, glancing back to the group. The encroaching stench seems to bother the wolfess at least a little, groaning and rubbing her nose, prompting her to pull a piece of cloth from her back and secure it around her nose, quietly lamenting that it still wouldn't stop the smell. "That... That stone..." She comments, looking over the ooze-coated rock. "I don't like the look of it. At all."
Angus gives his sister a nod as he starts to follow, but as the ground softens and the way starts to get worse the fox sighs. "Hold on a second." He shouts to the rest of the group as he takes off his cloak and boots, removes his armor and wraps up the clothing in the cloak. Closing his eyes he takes a deep breath, before his form starts to shift. Fur falls, being replaced by scales as wings burst from his back. "Alright then." The new dragon mutters, rolling his shoulders as he gets use to the feel of his new wings as he continues on, the acrid atmosphere not even bothering him as he eyes the ooze-coated rock. "Continue on or retreat?"
Dio lets out a heavy cough and a slight gag as he takes in a heavy whiff of the area around him. Perhaps this was a sort of divine retribution upon the lion for the many times he cleared a room with his own awful stench. "Somethin' mighty awful right there. Don't know 'ow those cultists get use to that." Trying to regain his clarity, and get used to the smell the best someone possibly could (not very much), the lion coughs, removes his hand from his mouth, and nods. "If we're all in agreement, that I'm up fer it. The longer we let this thing stick 'round, the more innocents get put in danger."
Mirana walks along, leading people around. The smell is so strong it makes her wretch, but she shakes her head and tries to keep going. Angus called her out here and she was going to be useful. She is careful about her footing. Seeing the stone she tilts her head, looking back to Angus as he changes!? "Brother... when did you... no, another time." she says, pushing curiosity away. She focuses on the stone, but, it is creator steel, other then that she can't figure it out, not like this. She carefully switches her gems again, almost giving up the pretence of not being a soul gifted. But... not yet, she still wasn't comfortable. "I remember now Rixo, up at Anima, near Mossy Stone, yes that was a summoned old one... we.. we never did figure out who or how she was summoned though did we?" she asks, putting that to the back of her head for later use. She waits for her new gems to be dont speaking to her, and then, "It is a dedication site, this is a sacred relic, but... it is so perversy defiled, I ... I can't make out if it is still active, nor what dedication it would be for." She gives, and not quite willing to go over to it just yet.
Apart from a brief coughing fit, it's hard to tell exactly how strong Rixo's reaction to the stench is, from behind her helmet. "Egh, that's foul." She draws closer, but does depart from the group. "I will leave the decision on handling it up to you, but I'd probably try to see it destroyed. Maybe that'll help clear up some of this... Mess."
Selena shakes her head. "That one I mustn't have heard about at all. As for a summoned old one, Mirana, it's not hard to conceive how they'd appear. You've called Shaila probably dozens of times now." The wolfess states a little boredly, looking over the lines of the equation herself. A notebook is taken out of her bag, reading for a few moments as though expecting it to fall apart at any moment in the oppressive atmosphere before she snaps it shut and deposits it back. "There's no reason to consider restoring this dedication point if - pardon - the old one is actively using it. All the latent energy in this site is being siphoned off for whichever purpose the old one has for it. If you remember when we first met the spirits, you'll remember that speaking their names is almost like raising a beacon in places far from communities. I'd like to recommend against it for now."
Mirana nods to Selena, ignoring the comment about how, remembering the first spirits didn't get called, but called them instead. Shakes her head though, thinking about how this site could have been defiled like this, "It is a shame, a horrible shame, this is where the Sacred Family Cerebrus could be worshiped... until this happened." she says, "Understandable that this old one wouldn't want that where he is trying to lay claim." she says, looking around, "And anyone who even thinks to call to him, I'll send to a time out." She says, though it is hard to tell if she is joking or serious. Then, a coughing fit from the stench, and she grips her belly, bending over a moment, her hand comes to her forehead, a bit more coughing.
Angus looks over the sacred relic, an idea forming as he walks up towards it....But then both Selena and Mirana crush all thoughts of using it. Turning to Selena he frowms, but nods his head instead of just speaking. "Whatever is causing the air to be this toxic and bad for all of you isn't getting any better. We should leave soon." At least they now had a way to summon this Old one, which means they could fit it at anytime if they wished.
Rixo folds her arms and frowns. "Cerberus, hmm? Shame. I don't suppose restoration is possible?" She glances at Mirana for a moment before nodding at Angus. "We likely should. This is even getting to me." And nothing gets to her, obviously! "We could always try to come back another day, more prepared."
"A dedication point, ya say?" Dio brings a hand to his fuzzy chin and stares upon the stone object, not really understanding much compared to the others within the group. Luckily, they created a rather well put summery for the old lion! "Think there's a way we could break the connection between the ol' on' an' the point? Perhaps summonin' yer spirit o' what 'ave ya? But ya think they'd be protectin' somethin' as important as this. Can't say I feel too confident 'bout goin' all out."
"This is all a bit over my head," Francis says. "But it's related to that thing we saw the other day, wasn't it, Angus? I know what a sacred family is, but this old one thing is new to me - I may be an decent hand at the swamps, but you're the experts here. I'll go with whatever you decide to do." He waits off to one side, perhaps a little too expectantly and fidgety.
Selena shakes her head. "My immediate thoughts? This place needs to either be destroyed or reclaimed. The latter seems like it'd be a significantly harder venture and with little benefit." She replies - "I think it should be destroyed. The math used to create dedication points has been studied well enough as it is. Unfortunately if Mirana's not feeling well, then we shouldn't do so now either; I don't doubt destroying this would draw its attention. For the same reasons among others, I don't want to try rendering the magic inert."
Angus stares at the dedication sight, tapping his chin as he looks over everyone else around him. "....Dammit." It wasn't the time, he wanted to wipe the Old ones smile off his face....but not now. "Francis, to be honest. I would love to fight this bastard right now, but my sister isn't handling the air very well." Walking over to Mira he puts a hand on her shoulder. "Alright, lets get you back home."
After another wrenching cough, Dio sheathes his sword within its rightful place, but still keeps the shield securely within his hand in case defensive action is needed. "I think we got some good information to go on, lads.
After another wrenching cough, Dio sheathes his sword within its rightful place, but still keeps the shield securely within his hand in case defensive action is needed. "I think we got some good information to go on, lads. Now we can come up with a plan o' somethin' before jumpin' into the fire. I'd 'ate to leave 'gain, but I don' wan' an ol' on' crashin' down on us before we're prepared."
Mirana coughs a bit more, before waving a hand, "Just, getting back into things after..." she doesn't quite finish that statement holding her belly again, "Yes, please, thank you sweetie, we have lots of information, and a plan can be made," cough cough, "excuse me sweeties, I don't mean to be a bother." she stands back up fully, with a bit of effert. "Thank you for bringing me, and glad I could help." She says with a slight smile, "And thank you Selena." she says. She starts feeling a bit overly sentamental, "Missed you all.." she gives.
Rixo tosses her head back in a laugh that quickly gets interrupted with a hacking cough. "Yeah, missed you too. Let's get out of here, then? I could use a drink, some food, and perhaps a nap." She rolls her shoulders and turns back in the direction they came, ready to start the march back.
"Well, if that's what you want. I'll tell the other rangers about this, too, include it in my report proper..." Francis gives the defiled artifact another glance and shudders. "All right, we can decide what to do with this later. For now, let's get you all back to safety." With that, he leads them on out from the place and its unsettling aura.
