The Witch and the Dark Forest (IC)

[GilgameshKingOfMemes]

The Witch and the Dark Forest
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Section 1: Magisfair

"You asked me what was the purpose of creating a Hell such as this. The answer isn't that complicated at all. You see, when man and the Devil meet, a demon is born."

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Charapalos Kallergis
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Basement Morgue

Broken away from the stressful organization of the expedition, the cold stillness of the hollow crypt was a relief. Age had eroded the solid stones, drops of water rolling down the cracked walls continuing the slow erosion of the basement’s structure. The space was decrepit but not neglected, the subtle marks of human activity remained strewn about as if someone was using this as their own personal space. Cups, stickers, cigarette trays and even a poster for what you assumed to be a male idol or model could be spotted amongst the nooks of this maze in stark contrast to the melancholic malaise of the stored dead.

With the widespread reaches of the Magisfair organ trade, it was perhaps a little comforting to see corpses treated with some modicum of respect, regardless of the personal flair put up beside them. Most of the dead simply went missing, lost in the dragon’s tomb or scrapped for parts, thus the mourning of genuine bodies in such a place, even if it was damp and dirty, must have been a mercy of God.

Of course, you lacked the time to indulge the silence or honor the deceased, a body which apparently lacked the grace of the Lord was in need of your intention. A request from Grandmaster Gabriella had been given to investigate a corpse mangled by the degeneration of demonic possession. “You’ll know it when you see it” is what you had been told, but the labyrinthian halls of what should be a compact structure had left the location of this target obscured. Your wandering taking much longer than expected.

“Heya, Heya. You one of the knight dudes from upstairs yeah?”

After a little pursuing you are eventually able to find a small rectangular room at the back of the crypt. A short woman greets you as she puts out a cigarette upon her ashtray, one amongst many. With a very casual and subdued demeanor, her friendly cadence somehow blends in with the crypts frigid atmosphere in an unusual blend. What you had found was most certainly the women's workshop, the personal touches you witnessed earlier smattered all around a messy coroner’s table. A single body bag rested lifeless on the table, the shape inside clearly malformed.

Elyra Reissford
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Church Nave

Between the bustling of knights of the Church and the sacks of gathered material sat a small back room that was mostly empty. While every space in the church had the space maximized with their supplies, that one spot stood as a sole exception. Left on top a large wooden crate sat a lone figure resembling a strange doll, lifeless and ethereal. It seemed much like a puppet without strings, unmoving but with a lingering will. Of all the things entrapped within this holy house there seemed to be nothing so fundamentally unnatural, uncanny and out of place. Yet in spite of this strange soldier’s tainted vibe, you couldn’t help but feel strangely about it. The thing was almost pitiful.

While important talks carried on behind you, your eyes were naturally drawn towards the entity just out of reach. What was it? Was it alive? Many such questions had swirled in your head and the heads of everyone who saw it, but it appeared to be a mystery reserved only to the Grandmaster.

“Miss Reissford. The Grandmaster has requested your immediate service. You shall be under the care of one Thekla Holzknecht.”

A voice suddenly manifests behind you. A tall and lanky man calmly looks down as if he had been there the entire time. Despite your honed senses, he had been able to appear without warning. Perhaps the differences between mere executors and the Cavalieri d'arme really was no mere exaggeration you wondered. Still, it seems you have been granted orders.


Thekla Holzknecht
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Church Nave

The North Star were a peculiar bunch. Some folks walked around with genuine blinds, and despite some of them lacking knowledge of the radio, cherished a hulking automaton. They were a collection of disparate elements with cultural characteristics you had never heard of in your life. Still, like many in the Churches ranks, the only thing that mattered about their character was how it affected their ability to do what was asked of them. The North Star in particular were well renown for their dedicated loyalty and manpower. Thus, while they had a variety of quirks to put it lightly, the Order had thus far, not given anyone a real reason to complain.

In the middle of the preparations however, there was suddenly a shift in the atmosphere. Hushed whispers spread through the forces as the Grandmaster had finally set foot in the Church, a notable knight by her side. You had to wonder what she might have been up to until she had personally confronted you between the church pews.

“Before we depart, I have a special request for you, Thekla.”

Reaching into her cloak, the woman pulls out a single white envelope.

“I’d like for you to partake in an urgent joint mission with Captain Charapalos Kallergis. It is to be done as swiftly and quietly as possible, time is of the essence. I’ve selected two Executors to work as back up, I’m sure they’ll serve you well.”

The woman flashes a smug smirk before finally placing the envelope in your hands.

“Enclosed are photos of one Christopher Green and an Elliot Byrne. They went missing following the death of excavator David Brayford at approximately 10:30 pm yesterday evening in a back alley slum. Find out what happened to them.”


John Hopkins
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Courtyard

You had heard of the Church experimenting with augmentation. Strange inventions that resembled things out of sci fi novels, mysteries which surpassed what regular tech could do by decades. You had imagined something like a metal arm or leg, perhaps even an eye enhancement. Yet the thing before you was marvelous in its complexity. It was awe inspiring. It was abhorrent. A complete and utter deviation from human form and shape, this person had the totality of their flesh replaced for steel. You weren’t a short man by any means, by regular standards you were actually quite tall. Despite that, you had to strain your neck to look this behemoth in their singular, unblinking eye.

“Heya! I’m Sofia!”

The automaton spoke in a feminine but distorted voice, its cadence always accompanied by a metallic ring like speaking through an old intercom.

“Our sweetie Grandmaster’s got a mission for ya. You’ll be under the orders of um, uhhh….”

One of the many metal hands hidden below the large cloak they wore pulls out a little piece of paper that they start staring intensely at.

“Kall-err-gis….. That guy. Funny red man. Ya can find him in the crypt in the basement.”



Alina Eltnam Ardiansyah, Owen Ariafiction, Farrah Harcourt
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor - Tindal Office

The Sariel manor was a strange ornate wooden building overlooking Magisfair. A large complex hoisted on the cavern's wall, it often appeared as if it was hoisted into the sky to the excavators below during the day, but at night it appeared to just be another artificial star. Originally constructed by a wealthy member of management for personal use, it was now rented out as a temporary residence to the highest bidder. From Lords of the Clocktower to heads of the Zoa, many folks have taken residence here for a variety of purposes. Today, it served as the base of the Tindal expedition.

You weren't expecting to catch much attention as students yet the three of you were called to the highest point on important business. It seemed like something exciting, but now you can only just awkwardly stare out the window behind your current employer towards the sprawling city below.

“Elizabeth, this is outrageous!? This isn’t a field trip, it's a serious expedition!”

Mathew slams his hands down onto Tindalls desk as he gestures to the three people sitting on the opposite side of the noblewoman.

“They’re adults who can make their own decisions.”

“They are students!”

Despite the lecturer’s many complaints, Elizabeth maintained the same stoic expression, hands clasped together on the desk maintaining her professional demeanor. Mathew had apparently raised quite the fuss upon hearing the prospect that students had been approved for the trip down into Albion, resulting in everyone gathering for this important meeting. Despite that, it seemed like the bickering of a married couple about what they should allow their kids to do.

Though, it had mostly consisted of Mathew stressfully worrying about the students safety while Elizabeth shrugged off each and every complaint with barely a word. Eventually though, perhaps fed up with the noise, Elizabeth moved to shut the man down once and for all.

“I won’t have them doing anything dangerous. In fact, I have a simple job they can take care of. So easy a monkey can do it.”

Unrolling a map of Magisfair onto the desk, Elizabeth points a finger at a specific dot on the map labeled the Cat Sith Casino.

“There’s a bar around here, The Pig and Whistle. I need you to pick up the enforcer Helen Bygrave who has failed to show up today and bring her back here. Should be an easy back and forth.”

“You’d send them out into Magisfair on their own!?”

“You’re right. Congrats, you’re on chaperone duty. Have fun.”

With a smirk Elizabeth pats the man on the back much to his annoyance.


Lyn L Lynhammer
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor- Outside Tindal Office


There were many concerning factors at play in Magisfair today. You didn’t have to be anyone special to tell from merely looking around that there was more than just the Clocktower running about these city streets today. But you could sense that there was something more sinister in motion just out of sight. It wasn’t clear, merely an energy that’s hit a nerve, and sent a shiver down even your spine. There was sinking feeling that something terribly unnatural was prowling the city right now.

Well, there was one other thing that tipped you off. Many times, often in the most innocuous of moments, there’d be a young girl you could make out at the corner of your eye. Never there when you turned your head. She never acted, simply watching. It didn't exactly raise your confidence about things.

You were all for twiddling your thumbs and going with the flow, but that pressure was beginning to weigh down upon your shoulders. It was hard to go with the flow when it seemed something was fiddling with your head. It seemed that Lord from Lore who was running the operations was caught in the affairs of organizing the young folk that had gotten wrapped in these affairs when in all honesty the group should be moving on already.

You thought about taking a look around the area but there was always the option to help them get a move on, already hanging out right before her office, but there was also the thing right before you that prevented you from moving your way in there.

“You must wait your turn. A meeting is ongoing.”

Stand outside her bosses office was Alice Wagner. One of the Tindall lackeys from Lore stood as the barrier between you and the door. A tired, hulking, peculiar figure, they scrawled relentlessly upon a clipboard. They didn’t even stop when they looked up at you. They sadly seemed like one of those stoic serious figures, you'd doubt they'd let you just listen in.


Tiffany White
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Cat Sith Casino- Main Hall

Wherever you were in Magisfair, the haunt of death wasn’t far. In every dark corner the cruelty of survival was displayed.

The Cat Sith was the house where mysteries go to die. Those whose luck was already spent wasted the slim value of their life on the hopes that fate will save them from certain destitute. Of course, in Jessica’s house, the Fates played with weighted dice. Thus, when an excavator's efforts turned bottom up, there was often a bloody mess you had to mop up when you went looking for work on the side.

You often couldn’t even slack a little on this task.

“Magi are a dying breed. We can’t afford to waste the fruits of their labor regardless of the decay.” Was the policy you remember the old man had started enforcing with the Zoa's power.

Their lives weren’t worth preserving, but their works and their bodies would fetch a price greater than you could get on the surface. Even blood, diluted by the water of mop, could be sold to certain desperate sods eager to do who knows what with it. It wasn't your interest to bother with the inner workings of their heads, you only had to focus on the task ahead of you.

“Tiffany White.”

The steady sound of footfalls approaching behind you give way to a familiar face. It was hard to call it pleasant, Luvah’s solemn face producing an ever melancholic air, but it was someone who proved to be consistently reliable. She was after all, the one to be leading you down deeper than you’ve ever traversed before.

“I need you to put your ear to the wall again so to speak.”

Shuffling over to you, hands stuffed in her pockets, carefully navigates around the stains on the floor before speaking with a light whisper to avoid being picked up by any passerby.

“Our patron suddenly wants to find the source of the Dark Forest rumor. Find the origin of the tale. This takes priority over part timing. I’ve hooked you up with some folks from management and some hired muscle.”

Luvah suddenly slips a list of names and locations into your palm, before standing back and returning to a normal tone of voice.

“Don’t disappoint.”


Angelica Durand
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Markets- Wandering River Avenue

“I respect the attempt, but today wasn’t his day. String him up.”

Taking a huff from his cigar, Urizen motions for a subordinate to pull on a rope raising the body up above the street for all to see. It wasn’t an unfamiliar sight, but you wanted to move supplies in peace. Your lunch break today was ruined with the familiar stench of gunpowder and blood as some gutted debtor was made an example of on a market street corner. Bastard wasn’t a magus, so the Zoa had no hesitation in stringing him up without the intention of breaking him down for parts. Regular folk were dime a dozen, the rats could have him now for all they cared.

It was carnage like this that made taking contracts from the Zoa a real pain, but it was hard to find groups that pay better than they do. Plus they tended to be men of their word. It was thus merely a quirk of the job one simply had to put up to make sure food was put on the table the next day.

This is all especially important considering what they offered for accompanying them on this Black Forest expedition. Bankrolled by the wealthy owner of the Cat Sith Casino, a number of other excavators had come on board with you in search of the great rewards offered afterwards. Most were merely regular workers, but the one who sat next to you couldn’t help but draw a number of prying eyes.

Clara Nuallaini, a candidate by many for the strongest excavator living in Magisfair, she had procured a number of wild rumors, surely inspired from her strange appearance. Even so, she seemed to be preoccupied with eating a sandwich in spite of the stares. Everything about her seemed to make her hard to approach.

“Urizen sir!”

A subordinate suddenly reports to the old man, speaking to him in a quiet whisper as he nods along. It didn’t seem to be worth your time, until suddenly he pointed the woman in your direction. You sadly had to put your lunch down as the woman makes her way over to you.

“Angelica Durand, Jessica Renwick has requested your service. You have been tasked with protecting two important informants.”

Like the others had, the woman bestows to you an envelope with pictures of the two informants and directions to the Cait Sith Casino. It seemed like an odd request considering your specialties, you were a monster hunter not a bodyguard. Regardless, scratching your head over it wasn’t exactly going to do you any good.


Anima
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Management Office

The work at management never seems to end. Stacked upon your desk was a variety of papers concerning many of Magisfair ongoing affairs. It was as boring and tedious as paperwork could be despite the mystical affairs they sometimes covered. Though reviewing so much info for so long meant that your eyes would inevitably glaze over regardless of content.

But currently, a new up and coming rumor which gripped the city by storm was making your job all the harder, even if it had caught your attention quite strongly. It wasn’t anything disastrous yet, but the data was proving that this was a constantly growing problem that needed to be nipped at that bud before it bloomed.

“That forest has been gobbling excavators like it’s nobody’s business.”

Jun Yutani leans against your desk as he takes a drag of his cigarette, looking down at a collection of papers in his hands.

“Excavation deaths and disappearances are up 20%. We’re close to a new record at this rate.”

Jun suddenly places a single paper down onto your desk.

“The boss is more eager than ever to find where these rumors started coming from considering it’s a place no one has credibly returned from. Knowledge is power if you're gonna be down there.”

Looking down at what he handed you is a collection of names and faces. It was clear by his words that this “boss” wasn’t referring to anyone in Management.

“They want you to do some digging with these folks. Surely you’ve worked here long enough that this shouldn’t be too hard a task.”


Yvonne Llanfair
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Criegula - Sector 6 Terminal Office

The sound of mechanical clanking could be heard muffled in the distance as the Criegula’s industry labored away. The familiar noise of tinkering approached the height of intensity as they finished last minute orders for the big expedition. All of that vanished behind you as the door to the “Office” closed.”

A massive circular room existed at the end of the entrance hallway, the wall plastered with a mix of metal plating, tubes, wires and monitors. Your gaze followed the flow of these rusted walls to their end point of a massive terminal in the center.

There’s a buzz of static as a monitor on the wall to your side suddenly comes to life.

“Llanfair! You’re finally here! What’s taking you so long, we can’t be slacking! That’s no good, it’s not good at all!”

A distorted metallic voice echoes out an intercom as a flashing arrow on the screen urges you on. You were surprised to get a request from Criegula Sector 6 Manager, Vasiliki, on such short notice but maybe that just means they have faith in your abilities. Though, you’re sure many would be skeptical to say hard work pays off in these parts. Either way you couldn't turn down his orders.

Finally standing before the main terminal, numerous monitors stare down upon you with a watching gaze.

“Wonderful! I felt the money bleeding out of my wallet every second I was waiting! Luvah has requested this item be delivered to one Jun Yutani. And make sure no one opens the damn thing! It’s both our heads on the line!”

A compartment suddenly opens out of the floor below you, a pedestal rising out with a single, brown box sitting atop it. The thing didn’t seem particularly special, the box was only about the size of your head and fairly light to boot. It was a peculiar request for you to get, that's for sure.


The Cult of the Enlightened Sun
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
??????

While four main entrances to Magisfair existed, blood was constantly spilled over the ones who escaped management's watchful eyes. Occasionally, like bubbles rising to the surface, holes to this underside world would arise and vanish just as quickly. Knowledge of such events was invaluable in the city, so a permanent exit was a dream worth more than could be understood. It was endlessly peculiar then, that despite there being one such hole in the eastern wall, it remained functionally abandoned.

All that surrounded it was a ghost town of empty housing. A mural painted haphazardly on stone was enough to keep it desolate. To bear witness was often enough to seal the fate of any weary excavator. Indeed, it was an empty spot on the map for no one returned alive to speak of it. The defenseless nature of the exit merely a lure in the dark.

Deep down the cavern's maw, a terrible evil lied…..

(BGM)

“And that’s when I heard the entire civilization was made up by the Americans. (⋒ ⌣̀_⌣́)”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. ”

“Well how would you know!? ᕙ[◣益◢]ᕗ”

“I was alive back then dumbass!”

A spectral figure argued with a woman covered in tendrils at her side. Another mindless topic which often filled the days these creatures spent together.

“Hehe! For real? That’s pretty crazy….”

A smaller white haired girl chuckles as she exhales a thick smog. Smoke had completely filled the trios darkened abode creating an infernal hot box as they inhaled their way through Drosera’s seemingly endless supply of drugs. After her one big inhale, she passed the bong the giant ominous specter to her left, who due to lacking lungs, instantly hands it back to Drosera.

“Why do I gotta be the middleman for your addictions! (˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥)”

“You’re the one sat there ya dope.”

Drosera continued to bicker with Des as she took the bong from her decrepit hands, the entire time their leader simply stared off into space with a distant expression. She was at least subdued today which was generally considered a good sign. Slowly a figure made their way through the smoke to stand behind her. He waited for a moment before having to wave his hand in front of her to catch her attention.

“Mistress? Might I have a word?”

“Hm? Yea? I’m not doing anything, hehehe.”

The Dead Apostles giggled to herself, clearly out of it.

“Wonderful. I must simply inform you that the Church has finally set up shop in Magisfair. It seems they will pursue the Witch rumor after all.”

“The Witchy? The lil Witch gal? That sounds like fun! (๑>ᴗ<๑)”

Des throws her hands up in excitement while their zoinked out leader places her hand on her chin as if dutifully considering the situation.

“You and the rest of the guard can go out there and check it out. Tell me if it’s interesting or not.”

The woman suddenly gives him a dismissive wave making the man raise an eyebrow.

“I figured you’d be more excited. It’s not often you get an event like this.”

“I don’t want it to be a dud like last time.”

“I warned you that the emperor of America wasn’t real.”

“I know. Just go so this story doesn’t end too early.”

As she gave the man a dismissive wave he simply nodded in response.

“Very well. I’ll report back this evening”

[Bugs]

Owen Ariafiction
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor - Tindal Office

Falling from great heights is a primordial fear, supposedly. An autonomic response derived from chemical changes in the basolateral amygdala, humans evolved to avoid heights as a simple means of survival.

Magi, of course, rejected these sorts of laws out of hand. Conquest of the self wasn’t the first step in becoming a magus, it was inextricable from the very concept. Facing down death, whatever form that took, was an expected aspect of magus identity. A building located hundreds of meters directly in the air was nothing new. Ordinary, perhaps, given Albion’s circumstances.

Despite this, Owen Ariafiction was close to pissing himself.

The confrontation happening in front of him and the strange women he found himself roped to weren’t helping. At the moment, he wanted nothing more than to crawl back into his dorm room with his beloved comic books. But no, that wouldn’t do. Not anymore. It had been made very clear to the boy that the time for innocence was no more. No songs could yet be written without experience. Not yet.

So he would do it. He would put himself out there. It’s not that he wasn’t capable of it, it was just…such a pain in the ass.

He began to wonder if the people below were always aware of the Sariel Manor, or if it slipped their minds sometimes. Just another star in the false sky, perhaps there were dozens others like it–all hidden from view.

Did it even count as being high up if you were underground in the first place–

Oh, right. They were saying something. Standing up a bit straighter, Owen coughed helpfully into his sleeve.

“Um. Sir…”

Shit. Now he’d be expected to actually follow through.

“I don’t have a problem with it. The, um, finding this person thing, I mean. Don’t students usually come down here in groups anyway? With you we’d just be one below the average size…I think.”

Yes, that was good. Something obvious but easy, he could absolutely do that all day. If his compatriots felt like outing themselves as the spunky sort, that'd be just fine by Owen.

[Bloble]

Anima
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Management Office

Though the soft, heavy embrace of sleep had not graced Anima for years now, she had nonetheless become familiar with the mental weariness that comes with staring at papers and punctuation all night and through the morning. Like a prickly helmet it chafed at her thoughts, frayed nerves giving them a harshness normally absent from her serene countenance. Adding on top of that a particular flavour of paperwork she was not fond of - that of blood and bone - was a recipe for a disgruntled secretary.

Anima reached into a drawer close at hand, withdrew something cold and hard and pitch black, and let it grace the desk between her and Jun Yutani, one of her many beloved juniors, with a crude thud.

There was a third factor. A contributor to why, as she slid the object across the desk, leaving it beneath Jun's hands, Anima's placid smile had just a hint of strain to it. A stray vein bulged slightly at the side of the girl's forehead. She opened her eyes, which had been closed, and finally looked to confirm what her nose had told her seconds ago.

"Mr. Yutani," she said most gently. "Please refrain from smoking in improper areas. If you must, then take responsibility. Let us agree, yes?"

Under his nose was a coal-black ashtray.

Her hand caught the paper as it withdrew, and Anima's golden gaze moved from Jun to the list. "Now," she whispered as she scanned the familiar names. "A serious force, friend sends. For rumours. No, for data. The papers don't lie."

When she moved her gaze back from the paper to the smoker sitting across from her, all traces of ill mood had vanished. Anima's pointed ears twitched happily as she clapped her hands together and smiled, brimming with enthusiasm.

"Then, if my knowledge can serve in the field, I'll gladly venture out! Trees are but paper unprocessed. By volume these pens and pencils have chewed through many woods already! So to the forest, yes? My first dive, to investigate, detect, and divine?" She tilted her head. "Or do I mistake, in my over-eagerness, Mr. Yutani, may I say Jun? Does he wish for an investigation in the city? A sideways delve through Magisfair? That, too, can be accomplished with these names. A dig into dirt, or dirt?"

Anima smiled, showing teeth.

"It's no good, for comrades to fall so quickly. Management ought to support them. Through field work, if need has arisen. Does Jun think the same?"

[Katie]

Angelica Durand
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Markets- Wandering River Avenue

Her stomach churns. The brioche sandwich in her hands falls limply into her plate. She’s already turned away, but the noise makes her wince as she does her best to look unfazed. It’s all fair and normal in Magisfaire, especially under the thumb of the Zoa, but it makes her hope the check at the end is worth it. At some point, there’s enough blood money that it makes you forget it was wrung out from the bottom of society.

At least, Angelica hopes so. Her will had already begun to waver when she had to sit next to Nuallaini. Being in close proximity to big wigs only led to trouble. The orphanage taught her to keep her head low, put the work in. That way, when they take notice of you, you’re kept hidden. Better to be an asset to someone than treasure to be fought for.

“Angelica Durand, Jessica Renwick has requested your service. You have been tasked with protecting two important informants.”

She takes the envelope and flicks through its contents with a frown. Bodyguard duty? She doesn’t know if she has the heart to go around killing people.

For a moment Angelica wants to pipe up, question the plan, but she thinks back to that guy getting his organs carved out in the street and merely sighs. Work is work, even if it’s the worst.

“I’ll be on my way then,” she says, getting up. Some scavenger can take whatever remains of her food. “Anything else I need to know?”

[Mithras]

John Hopkins
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Courtyard

With a short yet still polite nod, John turned about and walked away from 'Sofia'.

Exiting the courtyard, he allows his thoughts to slip from the professional mindset he has worked so long to cultivate.

Hopkins knew well that impiety infested the church, however, the abomination he had just met was a bridge too far. Who dare deem themselves pure enough to so brazenly play God? Embracing the weakness and degeneracy brought about by industrialization was one thing, but to so shamelessly attempt to build Eden out of steel? Besides... why did they need to make it so tall?

Catching himself with such conceit, Hopkins dismisses his train of thoughts. Though the thing calling itself 'Sofia' is an abomination, he has no right to consider himself any better. Clearly John has failed to tame his sinful flesh and will need to rectify this undue pride with the lash.

Focusing only at the task ahead of him, John walks down the aged stairs to one of the few places the dead could truly rest in Magisfair.

Seeing no signs of the knight near the entrance to the basement, John ventures deeper in until he reaches a room occupied by a knight, a corpse, and a girl dressed improperly for handling the dead.

The room's original occupants see a man clad in a black cloak who, were it not for the lack of buckles and a shorter hat, would fit well as a caricature of an American Pilgrim. Looking over at the knight with a face defined by a wispy beard that resembles a billy goat, John states, "John Hopkins, I was told to meet a 'funny red man' in the basement. Would I be correct in believing that you are said man?"

[Spartacus]

Alina Eltnam Ardiansyah
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor - Tindal Office

"heeeh~, not bad Clock Tower, not bad at all," she murmurs as she stares out the window to see the underground sight of Magisfair.

An underground city is nothing new for her, as the Atlas Academy she once was a part of has more or less the same concept. But she must admit, to be able to observe the entirety of the city that the dwellers themselves are unable to see, she can appreciate such theatric. There is nothing more delightful for a former Atlas alchemist than to capture every movement of humanity with their own eyes.

Most importantly, down there on the north side of the city, lies the black forest that can turn a theater into reality.

Or at least that's the kind of melancholic mood she wanted to feel, but the bickering adults in the background actively ruin the atmosphere.

"I appreciate your concern, Prof. Reid. Please be at ease, I believe we are chosen because we have the necessary capabilities for this," she says politely.

It seems that even a prolific lecturer like him still harbors such an old fashioned view. She can understand the preference for more experienced allies, so it's not like his concern is entirely illogical. But in the end, the biggest metric in everything in this world is the ability to get the job well done.

And Alina Eltnam Ardiansyah believes she is that kind of super perfect genius prodigy capable of doing everything right.

[FlameStrike]

Elyra Reissford
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Church Nave

Elyra watched the Cavalieri d'arme slink back into the shadows before turning her gaze back onto the doll-like figure. With a controlled step she moved in front of it and looked it in the eyes. When Elyra heard that the Church would be deploying a specialized weapon, she was curious to see what manner of soldier they would send.

“Yet here you are, asleep on the job. I guess that’s efficient for a weapon.”

She resisted the urge to apply some physical stimulus. When it comes to autonomous weapons, it wouldn't do to provoke them without knowing what Logic they operated under. It was one thing if it had reasoning functions, but another if it simply responded to threats and targets. Elyra was confident in her speed, but adding too much chaos to the equation this early in the mission would make a terrible first impression. Especially with all of the people in the nave.

She rarely took on team based assignments, but the current situation was highly abnormal. The Church wouldn’t have assembled such a specialized group if it wasn’t. There was another “weapon” she would be working under for this mission.

One rather infamous Thekla Holzknecht. It would be interesting to see if she lived up to her reputation. Ironically enough, she wasn’t all that worried about working under someone so zealous. It was easier to select the “correct” response when dealing with the straightforward zealous types. If her orders made no sense, she would just use her own judgment and discard them. For now, she would follow the expected path.

Without sparing Subject D a second glance she made for the Crypt.


“If you’re going to sleep just sleep tight. Since I’m here I doubt we’ll need more firepower anyway."

[SleepMode]

Charapalos Kallergis
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Basement Morgue



The crypt echoed with the Knight-Captain’s leaden steps, finally arriving at his destination.

It had taken Charapalos a good while to reach the morgue, but the extended stroll was just what he needed. Coordinating Hospitaller attachments to the North Star had been a chore, with the Weaver being preoccupied only to give him this simple assignment. Not that he was against menial tasks, now having no one but himself and the sleeping dead.

The cold air of the dead doesn’t bother the Knight- it is even comforting. A solemn chill, an atmosphere of sanctity, permeates these halls despite the litter strewn about. Through this lens, it is funny how this place was more “holy” than the chapel above. Was it sacrilege to compare tombs to a house of God? Perhaps. But is it not in these silent echoes where one feels the total weight of His presence?

“Heya, Heya. You one of the knight dudes from upstairs yeah?”

Charapalos laughed and gave a nod. Even if it is obliviousness on her part, to be regarded with such informality was refreshing.

“Hah, a ‘Knight dude’ I certainly am. I take it you are this sanctuary’s caretaker, then?” The armor-clad frame looked around, further taking in the mortician’s office. “To think of such a sprawling complex laid beneath a simple chapel. Almost gotten myself lost for a moment.”

To fraternize before settling one’s objectives should be frowned upon, especially with it so simple in its intent and the resident expert right before him. …Still, there is no harm in a bit of socializing, especially with someone so dutifully tending to this final refuge. Moreover, the coroner struck him as a casual soul. Pleasantries in their world are rare and far-between, and the dead can surely wait.

“It was hardly a problem, mind; the personal flourishes made the walk rather homely. To give some embers of life in the place of the dead, there is some comfort in that.”

Charapalos ran his hands across one of the sticker-laden walls, appreciating the act of vandalism as would an old home. Such words could be easily dismissed as shallow flattery, were it not for the genuine admiration behind his voice and gesture.

“— –But ah, where are my manners? I am Charapalos Kallergis, but you may call this Knight Charos.” Placing his right fist over his heart, the Knight-Captain nodded to the coroner — or it would have been a nod, had his sluggishness not made it a half-bow.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintances, Miss…?”

[Dreamerless]

Lyn L Lynhammer
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor- Outside Tindal Office

Lyn held his hands in the air as though he was under arrest. He backed away from the woman and gave her one of his winning smiles that made people wonder if he was about to murder them. Inconvenience besides, one should not pick fights with the Lore Department for many reasons.

“Oh, of course, my dear. Do you know by any chance when the meeting will end? Maybe we’ll have time to grab lunch together.”

He stood back and waited for the answer. The meeting was going on and he should learn more about the younglings he supposed. So, the meeting was ongoing, what was it about? Using his stupid comment as a distraction, he then used [DATA EXPUNGED] as an attempt to spy on the room. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be observed and even if he did, no one would know it was him trying to find the secrets of the Lore Department. No one notices the smallest things in life, least of all this ugly hound of the Tindals.

“So, Madam, what will it be? Lunch? I know a fabulous restaurant. Or maybe you’d prefer me to cook? Hm?”

Not waiting for the reaction, he continued his spiel to the hulking brute who shared a last name with a musician. He had been waiting a dreadfully long time.

“Or maybe you’ll stop delaying me further and tell me when that meeting ends?”

[Draconic]

Farrah Harcourt
Phase 1
Day 1 – Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor – Tindal Office





Well, it was nice that they had someone to supervise them. Better safe than sorry.

* * * * * * * * * *

Tindal had been a surprisingly ordinary woman – if a little detached – when she'd finally met her face-to-face. She hadn't been particularly pleased that she'd threatened Eos on their first meeting, but to her credit, she didn't do everything she possibly could to seem inhuman for the sake of that all-too-common delusion that doing so somehow made you better than humans. Her messenger boy had been like that, but that was probably why Farrah was here and not him.

It had felt incredibly wrong putting Eos in a cage, large as it might have been. Almost like putting a lion in a cardboard box. But Tindal had insisted that it was the only way that she was going to get him into Magisfair. And Eos had been far more amenable to the prospect than she was expecting — which was to say he didn't outright refuse. Although she couldn't help but feel annoyed when she felt him laughing at her when she referred to him as her familiar. There hadn't been a lot of questions, fortunately. Then again, as one of their escorts had pointed out, it only made sense that a girl who's name meant 'falconer' would have a hawk for a familiar. She breathed a sigh of relief at that. The last time someone had commented on her name, it had been because they thought it referred to the French Harcourt, meaning from a court, or to put it in more modern terms 'from a field.' She was really sick of people assuming she was some illiterate farm girl because she came from Chicago.

She really had the worst luck when meeting mages. Yes, Chicago was in America, that did not mean it was literally the boonies.

Another thing she'd been glad about was that no one had asked her about her father. Hopefully they hadn't heard of how he'd committed social suicide for his entire family. Tindal knew about that incident, that much was obvious, since she'd vetted her right down to why she had a nest in her dormitory. But she seemed more interested in her capacities as a magus than those of her father. Not a first, of course, but still the preferable outcome.

Getting to Magisfair itself had been surprisingly easy after the bureaucracy had been taken care of, and from their entry point they'd gone straight to the Sariel manor. Which was weird. Kabbalah aside, what mage willingly named their home for a relatively high-profile angel? And she would know — she’d been hanging out with a church dog every day for nine years.

It had been a relief to be able to let Eos out of the cage. At a certain point, Farrah started to feel antsy just looking at the cage door. Which was admittedly a moot point since Eos could probably open it himself. When they finally made it into the massive cavern, she was couldn't unlatch it fast enough. And to her dismay, and thoroughly unjustified aggravation, he did not burst from the cage like a majestic bird of prey. He did not let out a screech of victory over his shackles. Instead, he shuffled his way over to the back of the cage and tucked his head under his wing. He wasn't fooling her; She could see an eye open and it was was positively glowing with mirth.

"Come on, don't do this to me," she whined.

'Apologies, Farrah, I was starting to get comfortable in here,' his voice tittered in her head.

'You can't be serious. I mean, I can keep carrying you around in this cage, but you don't really want that, right?'

Her avian companion untucked his head, ruffled the feathers on his neck, and took a few cautious steps outside the cage before taking off, soaring up towards the false sky.

"Stay safe!"

He didn't answer, but he also didn't have to.

* * * * * * * * * *

But back to the present. Mathew was obviously the type to worry about people. He was concerned about the well-being of a couple of students which hopefully said something positive about his character.

The map was easy enough for her to read, and even if she got lost, she could have Eos find it, and he could help her navigate from his literal bird's eye view. Still it wouldn't hurt to have some extra insurance.

"Sorry to be an inconvenience, Professor," she turned to her fellow students. "We should be able to do this quickly enough, right? And Lord Tindal, is there any chance that I could get a spare map somewhere?"

That aside, how were they getting down from here?

[zikari8]

Tiffany White
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Cat Sith Casino- Main Hall

The Cat Sith Casino was a familiar locale for Tiffany White. She had been here countless times in the past, mostly as an employee like right now, serving drinks to customers and mopping bloody floors. She was more than familiar with both its layout and its clientele.

When she was younger, Tiffany had often wondered why people bought lottery tickets. The chances of winning were so low that the people who bought tickets were basically just throwing their money away. It just seemed like an act of stupidity to her, even dumber than smoking. Her father had tried to explain it to her, claiming that the gamblers were spending their money to “buy hope”, but she didn’t understand that either. It was only now, as an adult, did she understand what he meant.

Just like every other day, the casino was awash with desperate fools spending the little money they had on the slimmest of chances – the same type of idiots she had once looked down on. But now, whenever she saw the glimmer of light in the players’ eyes in the brief moments right before the cards were flipped or the roulette wheel stopped, she couldn’t bring herself to blame them.

Down in these parts, hope was a rare commodity. One well worth its price as long as one could pay. Of course, the irony was that those who couldn’t afford it were the ones who needed it the most. And Tiffany White was also one of them. She too was eager to buy herself some hope even if it costs her life.

Which was why she smiled when she heard the solemn voice of Luvah approach her from behind.

Well, in truth, she was basically always smiling whenever she was in public – if only because her market value went down whenever any other emotion reached her face – but this was a proper smile that came from her heart. She was happy to see Luvah, because whenever she did, it meant a new mission. And a new mission always meant more money.

“Good afternoon, Miss Luvah.” She greets the crime boss in a soft, upbeat voice in stark contrast to Luvah’s ever melancholic state.

Then, as Luvah informs her of the request and slips her the intel, she just listens and nods along without saying anything before responding once Luvah has stepped back.

“Got it, Miss. I’ll get these stains cleaned up right away!” She proclaims before turning her back to Luvah and returning to her vigorous battle with the bloody carpet.

Nothing about the request itself escapes her lips. She just returns back to work as if she had only been told something innocuous or didn’t hear anything at all.

For one, this was to keep things as low-key as possible; one never knew who was watching them at any moment in this underground city and her occupation required discretion.

On top of that, though, she simply had no need to accept or even acknowledge Luvah’s request. There was no question as to what she would do with the request. Her obedience was already guaranteed. Therefore, any verbal agreement was simply unnecessary.

Thinking about it, that sense of pragmatic efficiency of hers is probably the only thing she shares with Luvah.

Now then, as for the request itself… the source of the Dark Forest rumor, huh? Seems simple enough. The Forest certainly seems to be a hot topic recently. Death rate up 20%, was it? How terrifying. Especially when factoring in the usual already high death toll. True or not, it’s worth looking into.

The only thing weird this time is that she’s apparently been connected to some other people; she usually does this kind of stuff alone. She isn’t sure what to expect with these people Luvah has hooked her up with and is more than a little nervous about them. Especially the one from Management. It has always been her policy since entering Albion to stay away from Management members as much as possible, so she’d have to make sure to keep her distance.

Now, unfortunately, despite her new mission, her shift at the casino still wasn’t over and she still had plenty of work to do around the place. Fortunately, however, her shift at the casino still wasn’t over and she still had plenty of work to do around the place. Which meant it was time to get started on her job.

“Let’s start with seeing what I can get in the main hall…” She thinks to herself as she quickly formulates a game plan.

Then, as she flits around the main hall of the casino, Tiffany discreetly positions herself close to the tables and groups of customers, while casually cleaning like any standard good employee. Even as she’s scraping bits of splattered flesh from underneath a poker table, she keeps her ears peeled for anyone talking about anything even remotely related to the Dark Forest. The time for direct interrogation will come later, if necessary. For now, until her new associates show up, she decides to see what she can learn about these rumors when her targets think nobody important is listening…

[GilgameshKingOfMemes]

Lyn L Lynhammer
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor- Outside Tindal Office

Within the Tindal office, a colorful insect perks up as an unnatural presence worms it’s way into its minuscule brain. A vibrant moth, one of Mathew’s specialties and pets, attunes itself to your senses sharing its eyes and ears with yours. With Moths possessing one of the most sensitive ears in the animal kingdom, the groups conversation and much more was laid apparent for your observation.

Yet perhaps disappointingly, it was all bickering rather than valuable secrets, but you did get an understanding of things. It seemed, as they wrapped up their talks, that they were going to pick up the Enforcer Helen Bygrave. Sounded like an amusing excursion for their little field trip. Gotta go see the sights and all that.

While that was amusing, you still had to juggle your conversation and justify the space you were taking up outside her bosses office.

Originally Posted by Lyn L Lynhammer

“Or maybe you’ll stop delaying me further and tell me when that meeting ends?”

“I do not know when the meeting will end.”

The woman replies to you in a blunt, cold manner.

Originally Posted by Lyn L Lynhammer

“So, Madam, what will it be? Lunch? I know a fabulous restaurant. Or maybe you’d prefer me to cook? Hm?”

“I will not be heading out until my shift is over. Ask again some other time.”

Your attempts for a smooth conversation seem to bounce right off her serious demeanor, falling flat leaving an awkward feeling in the room. The entire time, your brain still focused on what was happening on the other side of the door.


Alina Eltnam Ardiansyah, Owen Ariafiction, Farrah Harcourt
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor - Tindal Office

Originally Posted by Own Ariafiction

“I don’t have a problem with it. The, um, finding this person thing, I mean. Don’t students usually come down here in groups anyway? With you we’d just be one below the average size…I think.”

Originally Posted by Alina Eltnam Ardiansyah

"I appreciate your concern, Prof. Reid. Please be at ease, I believe we are chosen because we have the necessary capabilities for this."

Originally Posted by Farrah Harcourt

"We should be able to do this quickly enough, right?"

“You see Mathew, even if their students, they’re competent folk. They’ve prepared their hearts for this and shown the tenacity to make it down here. It’s disrespectful to deny them when they’ve shown such will.”

With the student’s retorts Tindal seems quite pleased with herself, nodding along in agreement. Mathew meanwhile looks at the students solemnly, swallowing whatever words he wanted to say. In the face of their rejection and the pressure of Tindal's authority weighing on him, resistance leaves his body with sigh.

“Very well ma’am. We shall fetch the enforcer. We'll go there and be back in an hour so. We'll make it quick.”

Defeated, the professor leans over the map on the table to double check the location of the inn.

“What’s she doing drunk this early in the afternoon? Is this woman really worth the effort to fetch, Enforcer or not?”

Tindal gives another nod as she crosses her fingers together.

“She’s invaluable for this mission. Her character matters little in this case. So long as she remains an unstoppable force, she will be useful.”

“I’ll simply have to take your word for it.”

Mathew grumbles to himself as he moves to pick up a briefcase he had been carrying around him from off a side table. Various moths flutter around him making him feel all the more ethereal.

Originally Posted by Farrah Harcourt

"And Lord Tindal, is there any chance that I could get a spare map somewhere?"

“If you need the map, simply take it.”

Rolling up the map in her hands she places in front of the students at the other side of the desk.

"Is there anything else you need? If not, then you are dismissed and I hope to hear from you soon."


Anima
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Management Office

Originally Posted by Anima

"Please refrain from smoking in improper areas. If you must, then take responsibility. Let us agree, yes?"

“Sorry ma'am, merely a leftover from outside. An expensive brand this one is, you, can’t let it go to waste can I?”

Letting out one last cloud of smoke, Jun casually extinguished his cigarette at his senior’s request, nodding along to her words with an expression that made it hard to tell how much he was listening.

Originally Posted by Anima
"Or do I mistake, in my over-eagerness, Mr. Yutani, may I say Jun? Does he wish for an investigation in the city? A sideways delve through Magisfair? That, too, can be accomplished with these names. A dig into dirt, or dirt?"

“Just Jun is perfectly fine.” The man flashes her smug smile now that his hands are free.

“Everything is up to your discretion ma'am. Just take a trip through Magisfair with your new buddies there and get what info you can is all they’ve asked. It’s by any means necessary we ain’t judging here, just return with everything you are capable of digging up.”

The man crosses his arms, returning her smile with a smirk. His superior way of speaking was something he hadn’t gotten used to but it was certainly charming in its own way. Of all the bosses he’s got on his back, they're at least the only one he could call charming. That sort of thing was a little easy on the soul, while on the clock it certainly made time pass a little smoother.

Originally Posted by Anima
"It's no good, for comrades to fall so quickly. Management ought to support them. Through field work, if need has arisen. Does Jun think the same?"

“Of course I do. Comradery is important, especially in this line of work. We have to have each other’s backs if we’re going down together, no? If you need a subordinate's assistance, simply give the order. The pay’s good enough for that to not be worth a complaint.”

Angelica Durand
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Markets- Wandering River Avenue

Originally Posted by Angelica Durand
“Anything else I need to know?”

Urizen’s subordinate ponders for a moment, thinking back to the exact words of the orders she had been given.

“Hm…? Their words specify that you are to help preserve and facilitate the collection of information, and said information should be the priority over anything else. Otherwise, I don’t…..”

The woman suddenly stops herself as he eyes are drawn a short distance away. In fact it was only a few inches, right next to you. The unsettled look on her face inspires a similar anxiety as your eyes slowly drift to your right.

Your vision turns to suddenly observe a batch of red tendrils growing towards you right off Nuallaini’s face, the woman seemingly totally oblivious. They spread like roots, even clinging to stone walls besides you, creeping in like stalking predators. The uncanny mass not stopping their bloom, finally reaching your legs. It was an uncanny sight, an presence of unsettling horror, marching towards you at a slow consistent pace.

“Hm…? Oh shit!”

Suddenly catching wind of the gazes on her, Nuallaini nearly jumps out of her seat as she recognizes the growth reaching out towards her neighbor. It was startling to see be just as surprised as you did, her manically reaching out to suppress the ominous tangle of threads. The nature of your surprise shifts as the excavator flounders around embarrassed.

“Sorry! Sorry! I try to keep it well behaved! It just gets, well…..You wouldn’t happen to have, say, a fairy item or something similar on you?”

In a truly bizarre display, Nuallaini helps those scary red growths recede back into her face and shoulder as if what happened was merely a dog getting off their leash. Her body quickly returns to about as close as normal as she can get, ending your mini heart attack in a terribly awkward manner.


Charapalos Kallergis
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Basement Morgue

Originally Posted by Charapalos Kallergis
“It was hardly a problem, mind; the personal flourishes made the walk rather homely. To give some embers of life in the place of the dead, there is some comfort in that.”

“People rarely come down here so it’s my workshop to do with as I please. All we do for the dead is also for the living, so I like keeping things homely.”

The woman keeps the same subdued smile as she rubs out her cigarette in the ashtray as a guest finally arrives. She watches the knight give an awkward bow with amusement.

Originally Posted by Charapalos Kallergis
“A pleasure to make your acquaintances, Miss…?”

“Gwyn. Magisfairs top coroner, or so It’d be nice to believe. It’s good to meet you, Charos. Make yourself comfortable, but not too much. Most people who rest here do so forever so you can’t get too cozy. “

Gwyn chuckles to herself as she moves herself in front of the body bag on the table. While you had some medical experience, you weren’t knowledgeable enough for a full autopsy so Gwen’s expertise is all you had to rely on. Still, now that you had a closer look, the odd uneven lumps distorting bag made you wonder if knowledge of human anatomy would actually help in the first place.

“You’re here to check up on the autopsy report yeah Knighty boy? How unfortunate. It’s not a fun job at all this one, I’m hoping you got guts.”

Gwyn digs through the messy clutter on the table before pulling out a notebook with some hand scrawled notes.

"To not waste your time, shall we get to work?"

Without even waiting for a confirmation, she slowly unzips the bag.

“The face is well, unrecognizable. Identification came down to clothing and an ID card. Name is David Brayford. Time of death, approximately 10 pm yesterday evening.”

The sight inside is gruesome and a mockery of the human form. More than torn to part, flesh had grown and distorted into a terrible mass, monstrous growths parts rising out of twisted corpse.

The head had unfurled into tendrils, the man's eyes hanging off the end of two of them. His skull was mostly unrecognizable as fleshy growths bloomed on top of it like a flower. His chest a single hollow cavity, hanging open like a beast's maw. You noticed that his nails were growing wildly on his hands, enveloping them in a thick, blocky shape. In all your days, you had never seen anything like it.

“Chest cavity is mostly empty. All flesh and muscle a few centimeters below skin are missing in the area from the neck down to the groin. He’s effectively hollow, the Zoa wish they were this good at harvesting. There is one interesting thing of note.”

Putting on a rubber glove, Gwyn reaches into the back and points towards an area of the neck which seems mostly undistorted.

“We can see here that there are clear signs of asphyxiation and severe injury at the neck. Considering what was found at the scene of the incident, he was at some point most likely hanged. For what reason, unknown. Though if you’re willing to indulge my pet theory, it's to get away from whatever was inside him.”

Moving away from her neck Gwyn moves back towards the chest cavity.

“I’ll spare you the exact details, but it’s clear from the trauma here that something burst out from the inside, rather than carving in from the outside. I brought it up with your Grandmaster when they asked for an autopsy, but the assumed cause for this is demonic possession.”


Tiffany White
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Cat Sith Casino- Main Hall

The Casino was bustling with gamblers, the flashing lights and clinking sounds of slot machines resounding far throughout the hall. While those pulling slots were silent as the mindlessly poured their money in, the various ongoing card games were always more lively.

Various excavators passed the time has hands were played or the roulette wheel spun with idly chatter and the occasional bit of gossip making them perfect targets for information gathering.

While most of it was irrelevant to your current task, a few things seemed noteworthy to push forward with.

“Ya know I think I saw the Shadow of Zazel the other night at the market”

“I’m sure it’s just another magus causing a ruckus, it ain’t anything special.”

A bearded man in cowboy hat chats with a woman next to him at the roulette wheel, chatting about a rumor you had never heard of before. It seemed like another irrelevant tale until he retorted to her comment with something odd.

“No way, that thing’s some kind of demon or somethin, I’m tellin ya!”

While it could easily be a turn of phrase, considering the rumors association with the demonic, it might be worthwhile. Moving along however, there was one other thing that seemed to have caught peoples attention this morning.

“Heard there was a gruesome murder in the North West last night.”

“What’s new buddy?”

“Heard it was more ghastly than your usual fair in these parts. The witness called it the Devil's work.”

Two stuffy workers from management discuss a terrible murder over a game of poker, the two wasting their paycheck on a variety of card games hoping to make a quick buck. While such events weren’t unfamiliar, checking over the list of locations showed that crime scene was clearly on there to check out. Thus, it was another potential lead to jot down.

Finally, there was one thread you’d hardly call yourself happy to be pursuing.

Alton Azan. One of Renwick's underlings, they were effectively the Casinos manager. They were nice and friendly in all the ways charlatans are. A slick and Weasley amoral huckster was his general vibe and a number of unfortunate names were often ascribed to his character. Yet he was manipulative and clever enough to rake in the dough.

He was, in every way, perfect for his job. A creepy little mascot for the casino. But that also meant he was an asshole.

“They still have the body somewhere, yeah?”

“Well, um….Nuallaini had successfully defeated the Imp and actually left it mostly intact this time. But, it’s sort of….. gone”

“What do you mean gone!? It’s a dead imp! It didn’t just fuck off somewhere on its own! Someone has it! Get the M.S.D! Find! It!”

Alton furiously chastises an employee in front of him, forcing them to scurry off towards the security office. You were lacking context, but clearly the corpses disappearance was a big deal to him.

It was also, the bit of information most clearly connected to the Dark Forest. While the rumor had existed for a while, it was merely something interesting to talk about until actual proof started surfacing. Sometime several months ago, excavators began to bring up these Imp creatures that resembled some of demons discussed in the Dark Forest tale. Such discoveries were one of the major factors that had snowballed into such a major expedition like the one the Zoa wished to undertake.

The Imps corpse was surely already Zoa knowledge if he prepared it for the expedition, but the reason for its disappearance might not be.

It was hard gauge if any of these hooks might lead somewhere, but it was the threads of interest which stood out to you.

[Spartacus]

Alina Eltnam Ardiansyah
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor - Tindal Office

“You see Mathew, even if their students, they’re competent folk. They’ve prepared their hearts for this and shown the tenacity to make it down here. It’s disrespectful to deny them when they’ve shown such will.”

“Very well ma’am. We shall fetch the enforcer. We'll go there and be back in an hour so. We'll make it quick.”

Alina satisfiedly nodded in agreement. She is glad that they do not dwell in that insignificant matter too long.

That being the case, it's time to focus on the important matter:

They need to meet up with an Enforcer named Helen Bygrave. From how Mrs. Tindall worded it, it's clear that her combat prowess is extremely valuable and suited for this expedition. The problem is her personality, it doesn't seems the Enforcer takes this mission seriously enough to show up on time, and people that capable enough for their poor attitude to be dismissed is the most troublesome to work with.

"Is there anything else you need? If not, then you are dismissed and I hope to hear from you soon."

"I have heard that Helen Bygrave is experienced in dealing with matters in Albion before. What kind of matters is that, exactly?" she raises her hand.

Of course, Alina already did her homework before coming here. She learned that this particular Enforcer has 'an experience dealing with magi who have caught the association's ire', but it would be much helpful to know the details regarding the event. After all, they are dealing with one of the Enforcers, an unit in Clock Tower that was specifically created to hunt other magi.

Well, speaking of doing her homework. Alina look at the boy and the girl next to her with a smile.

"Hello, nice to meet you two. I'm Alina, a transfer student in Modern Faculty. I guess we are going to stick together for a while?" she says casually.

The boy is Owen from Lore. If she recalls, the Lore Faculty research mystery rich phenomenons that even magecraft can't fully explain. Even as an Atlas, she finds that's very impressive.

While the girl is Farrah from Zoology. This one faculty is self-explanatory, but she is always curious with those Phantasmal Species from the myths. Perhaps they will meet one of them down there, wait no, maybe Farrah herself will forge a contract with them.

These two are her peers that valued the same by Mrs. Tindall. People that were specifically chosen for this expedition.

Or in other words, her fellow exceptionally talented young magi!



"Hey, hey! Tell me about yourselves!" she ask excitedly.

[Mooncake]

Yvonne Llanfair
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Criegula - Sector 6 Terminal Office

Click.

Click.

μz=qℏ/2m=0.928×10−23 amp⋅m2.

“Llanfair! You’re-"

Click.

∇⋅(E+P/ϵ0)=0

∇×E=0

"What’s taking you..."

I started beating a drum line into my thigh. I think I might put speakers in the project.

Tap tap taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap.

∇⋅B=0

∇×(B−M/ϵ0c²)=0

"...not good at all!”

M/Msat =tanh x

"Wonderful!"

x=

μB_a/kT=

"-delivered to one Jun Yutani-"

μH/kT + (μλM_sat/ϵ0c²kT) M/M_sat.

"-no one opens the-"

??????????????????????

"-on the line!"

ϵ₀c²kT_c/μλM_sat=1.

"You got it, boss!"

What?

I snapped up the box with one hand, marveling at it. Brown box, light, not too large? This is in the bag. A drop-off after finding Yutani - I think I know where they are - and I could finish grinding out the secrets of magnetism. The magnets are the key, right now. If I can crack them...

Either way, I don't question orders if I can get back to work after they're done, so whatever's in here is painless to me. Small peanuts.

The earbuds went in, the wheels in my boot heels came down, and I sped out, looking for Yutani. I forgot to say goodbye, but that's okay. Another time.

Yutani. Yutani. Yutani.

It's somewhere. I'll find them. I can probably find them?

Yutani.

They have to be here somewhere.

[FlameStrike]

Elyra Reissford
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Basement Morgue

Elyra made her way down to the Church basement with precise and efficient steps. She registered the faint stench of a fresh cadaver and gave a quick glance towards the body.


So this must be David Brayford, or what’s left of him, the expired Excavator we are being asked to investigate.

She overheard the North Star’s Grandmaster ask for Thekla’s aid in solving the mystery of his death and missing compatriots, but she had to wonder why their team was selected for this task. She made note of her two future collaborators standing near the local funeral director.

Charapalos Kallergis, or Charos as he preferred, was a known entity to her. A Knight Captain of no small renown, his long and distinguished history meant his competency was not in question. He was clad in his iconic crimson battle armor. Some might consider it odd given that they were deep in allied territory, but Elyra appreciated the pragmatic value of maintaining combat readiness at all times.

The Executor on the other hand was an unknown factor. Generally she only kept information pertaining to Church officials of higher rank. Although to be fair to him, being unknown was not an uncommon status given the nature of their work. There wasn’t much logic in being a world famous assassin. An Executor was not a mercenary after all. She could tell with a cursory examination that he was physically capable, but that much was given for Church Executors. A slightly more interesting fact was the degree of redundancy in their skill sets. Elyra could think of a number of reasons for this. One possibility was that they would split into pairs, one Executor to assist Thekla and Charos respectively. Another was that the Church lacked confidence in her abilities, or perhaps they still doubted her loyalty? From a logical perspective her long track record of success should speak to those doubts, but she had enough experience to know that not everyone behaved logically.

Hmm, in the event of the second possibility, perhaps a demonstration is in order? If we are to work together in a hierarchical structure, it wouldn’t do not know where each person stands. Although as interesting as it might be, a thorough limit test would be impractical. A scaled down contest would work better. What would be the optimal framework to goad- no, convince him to accept?

Elyra gave Charos a curt bow before moving to stand perfectly still in a corner. She chose a position close enough to the stairs to make a quick exit while maintaining a wide field of view on the entire room. This might be another instance of over-preparation, but there was no reason for her not to pick the best tactical location. She decided a brief introduction was in order.

“Elyra Reissford, Executor.”

After taking the measure of her allies, her early misgivings only solidified.

We have Thekla, the Saint of Killers, an offensive specialist. Knight Captain Charos, a proven leader and defender. Myself, who is suitable as a scout/vanguard in the Dark Forest. And also a backup Executor for extra muscle. Our composition is well optimized for our original mission to descend into the Dark Forest. Yet our group of specialists is being side tracked onto an unrelated task. Is the North Star making this request in bad faith? Are we being delayed on purpose? It is unlikely that they lack personnel. Even if they do, there are many people more suited to investigation within Magisfair.

It’s not as if she couldn’t imagine certain scenarios that required their attention towards this matter. However, at the bare minimum she thought she should make her observations known.

“I’m not one for mincing words so I’ll get straight to the point. David Brayford’s death is tragic, and the state of his corpse is a curiosity. However, what does that have to do with us?”

[RacingeR]

Thekla Holzknecht
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Holy Church - Church Nave

Thekla Holzknecht, Saint of Killers, Judge-Executor of the Holy Church, wished that the Grandmaster of the North Star could’ve caught her in a situation appropriate for the gravitas of her exalted position. Maybe inspecting the preparations, nodding and confirming important details, maybe teaching some of the greener members of the expedition a trick or two, something like that.

To be fair, that’d been what she’d been doing until not very long ago. But that was not what she’d been doing when Gabrellia had happened upon her. Instead, she’d been sitting at one of the pews, polishing off the remnants of a late lunch that Margit had scared up then practically forced her to eat. It wasn’t the most respectful of places to consume food, but with the preparations so busy and so extensive, surface availability had been at a premium, and eating down in the crypt had just felt wrong. Well, Thekla was sure that the Lord didn’t particularly mind.

Either way, it was hardly the most dignified of positions to be caught at for an actual Saint. Yet, the white-haired young woman’s face didn’t betray any embarrassment, merely wiping her lips carefully with her napkin, before placing it aside, and extending her hand to acquire the folder. The simple gestures emanated effortless elegance, albeit one that’d been studied and practiced to be so.

“My, fancy seeing you here, Miss Gabrellia.” Thekla smiled at the woman politely, nodding at her. “Here I thought we wouldn’t have the pleasure of seeing you here today.” The smile and tone of voice took the edge off any barb intended by her words… or rather, made anyone doubt whether said barbs existed at all. Only Thekla knew the answer to that, and that was how she liked things.

She opened the folder, and gave the contents a quick once-over at the same time she listened to the Grandmaster’s words. Speed-reading was a useful ability to have, according to her late master, and she agreed: it was quite practical. And reading the folder’s contents still gave her a bit of time to put her thoughts in order before answering.

By and large, she had nothing bad to say about the North Star so far. Yes, they were quirky as hell, sure, but in her experience ‘quirky idiots’ defined practically most of those who worked for the Holy Church’s hidden side. Including one Thekla Holzknecht, as her best friend/chief of staff liked to remind her on occasion.

Sure, the big talking robot was a bit beyond the pale even for the kind of shit Executors like her got up to, but the Lord used what tools were available for his Holy Task.

Besides, Gloria was a darling, so she was fine. So decreed Thekla.

But even now she still didn’t know what to make of the woman in front of her. Gabrellia looked too smug, sounded too smug, and was overall too smug. What was she so smug about? To the paranoid portion of her mind, it made her think she had something to hide, something that made her keep that air of superiority.

Besides, why was the i in her name in the wrong place? So irritating! She kept constantly mispronouncing that damned name all the time, which was pretty embarrassing as well. At least Margit also kept getting it wrong, which she thanked the Lord for. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to handle double the smugness she was enduring right now.

Well, there weren’t many people who had the authority to order Thekla about. In fact, even a Grandmaster from the Chivalric Orders, while outranking her in the Church’s messy hierarchy, didn’t normally have the authority to make her move. But of course, her being in said Grandmaster’s territory did dictate that she could indeed order her about. As long as she phrased her orders as requests, like right now.

Well, she’d accept the request nonetheless. It went well with her own orders from the top, and it was a good excuse to survey Magisfair, like she was supposed to be doing. And Gabrellia probably knew that as well. It didn’t mean she couldn’t make herself a wee bit difficult, however…

Her accelerated train of thoughts was brutally interrupted when she read the words ‘demonic possession’ in the file. Her eyes narrowed, quickly reading through the rest of the data, then irises the disquieting color of freshly spilt blood peered up at the North Star’s Grandmaster.

“I see. This is a grave discovery indeed.” She wasn’t in the mood to make a pox of herself anymore. A certain fire smoldered within her, as she set to the Lord’s work once again, at long last. But she was far from being merely a simple fanatic (otherwise her superiors at the Church would probably be sleeping a lot more comfortably at night) and she wasn’t about to jump in blind.

“... You know this ‘Zoa’ a lot better than I do, Miss Gabri- Gabrellia. How likely is it that they are involved with this incident, given the victims’ debts?”

[Bloble]

Anima
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Management Office

"Good, good!"

Anima is all smiles after Jun puts out his cigarette and explains the actual task at hand. It is not, alas, a delve, but rather a romp through the city to find the origin of the sordid rumours surrounding the forest.

"If detective is her wish, who can refuse? A Holmesian performance, then! Or mayhap a Marple, as fits an amateur," Anima muses as she starts pulling more objects from drawers and setting them on tables. Out come a comb, a magnifying glass, a steel slug... "The Autopsy Division are one big unhappy family. Better than boss and subordinate, yes? It's nice to think so. So, from me to you, no orders, only 'would you kindly'."

The girl stands - she is shorter than the young man by a fair bit - and flits about the room, grabbing random knick-knacks and packing them neatly into her purse. At least three books, one English, one Sanskrit, and another in French, follow suit. She stops at the long gun mounted in a recess in the bookshelves lining the wall, pauses to consider, and then moves along, leaving it in place.

"Jun," she says suddenly. "These names and faces. Strength in numbers is the intent. But clue-hunting is most often solo or duet. It needs no strength... unless secrets are buried and protected both." The girls on the list before her are not Management. They are more martially inclined than Anima, who has never been known to possess any sort of combat prowess. To simply sniff out clues, she alone would be sufficient. For others to be involved... Boss must anticipate a faction with some strength is backing these rumours. One with a vested interest either in more Excavator deaths or the forest that recently appeared in the depths. Anima has heard the rumours herself, of a witch who speaks to demons, and has wished to meet that witch ever since.

She smiles gently at the young man, knowing she will have to throw some authority around first.

"Accompany me to our friends, please? I'd like to see them before Lady Renwick's teeth clamp down. Oh, and what sort of sweets do you like? There is a nice bakery on the way to the casino..."

[Dreamerless]

Lyn L Lynhammer
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor- Outside Tindal Office

Lyn had heard everything from the three promising youngsters in Tindal’s office. How fortunate that that Matthew had moths. So they were planning on going into the forest. Sounded like a nice field trip for children. But of course, they needed a chaperone. Plus, he was planning on going in the forest anyway. He’d always wanted to have children call him professor.

Speaking of children, the girl behind him was still there. He was no stranger to the odder sides of mage life, but a floating three eyed child following him around was unusual even for him. And that pressure on his head was getting worse… He needed a drink.

Oh, the ugly cow in front of him was talking and rebuffed his conversation. He needed to justify why he was taking up space in front of her boss’s office. Let’s continue the conversation.

“Dinner then? Excuse me for flirting, but I just can’t resist. And besides, eating is always much more fun with two."

[zikari8]

Tiffany White
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Cat Sith Casino- Main Hall

“Hm? What’s the Shadow of Zazel?”

Tiffany asks the bearded man and woman, casually sliding into the conversation as if she had been a part of it the whole time.

Like always, she had ended up overhearing a number of intriguing conversations as she did her job at the casino. A gruesome murder in the North West. A dead imp that disappeared. They were intriguing cases that brought many questions to mind, including the question of whether or not they were connected to the Dark Forest rumors.

But in the end, the one topic that catches her interest the most and causes her to break her silent eavesdropping is the conversation between the cowboy and his companion. Genuinely curious, she decides to follow this lead. Her instincts tell her that it’s a thread worth pursuing.

“I’ve never heard of the Shadow of Zazel before. What is it?” She questions the two, naturally approaching them as a curious passerby.

“Oh. And can I get you two anything from the bar to drink?” She suddenly adds, smiling gently as she abruptly remembers to show them proper hospitality.

Despite her mission, these questions were motivated by legitimate personal interest for once and that gave them a natural friendliness befitting an amicable waitress.

She wondered to herself, in a mental giggle, what exactly this Shadow thing they were talking about was. Probably something horrible and terrifying as usual, but it’d be nice if it was something joyful. Yes, she would like that. Although that kind of rumor probably wouldn’t bring her any closer to the requested info.

But if that gruesome murder in the northwest was worth people gossiping about, it was probably a high-profile case with plenty of leads she could follow elsewhere. And she could always just ask Alton directly about the missing imp. But right now, her gut is telling her that she needs to jump on this Zazel thing. It was definitely a thread worth pursuing that would definitely bring her closer to the mystery of the Dark Forest rumors.

Now as for how reliable her gut was… only time would be able to tell now.

That and the two customers who held the answers to her questions…

[Bugs]

Owen Ariafiction
Phase 1
Day 1 - Afternoon (New Moon)
Sariel Manor - Tindal Office

"Hello, nice to meet you two. I'm Alina, a transfer student in Modern Faculty. I guess we are going to stick together for a while?"

As he opened his mouth to speak, one of the ghostly moths flitting about the office picked that moment precisely to land on Owen’s head. Fighting the urge to slap the thing away as it crawled about with its creepy little legs–it’d be rude to both Professor Reid and the moth itself, it didn’t know any better. Probably.–Owen began the laborious process of finding where his runaway train of thought had gone.

Instead, he found himself focusing on the strange Enforcer they were being tasked to retrieve. Were so many people really necessary to bring one person back to the office? It spoke to either Tindal’s lack of confidence in the little gaggle of students despite her words to the contrary, or something else. Most students--even ones with Owen's chronic absentmindedness--were generally aware Enforcers were decided somewhere a few miles beneath their feet, and of the immense strength each one was required to possess.

A writhing snake of black paranoia tickled the back of Owen’s head as he turned golden eyes towards Elizabeth.

Did she know?

Elizabeth Tindal. Though she and Owen were both compatriots in the sense that they both belonged to the mysterious Department of Lore, he knew incredibly little about her. But that was just how Lore was, after all. Questions, as a general concept, were treated with the same caution in Lore as one would expect from a nuclear technician.

Still, that meant that he was representing their shared background for this expedition. Couldn’t she have been from any other department instead? The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass himself in front of cute girls.

The moth, which had seemingly enjoyed its impromptu perch on the blonde boy’s head, concluded its temporary lodging with a dusting Owen’s face as it lifted off for greener pastures. Stifling a sneeze with one hand and readjusting his glasses with the other, Owen turned to finally address Alina. So much for keeping a modicum of self-esteem today.

Actually, it needed to be said. Wasn't this girl annoyingly bright? It must be nice to be able to approach the world with that kind of glowing confidence, but people like that shouldn't have to burden the rest of humanity with their oppressive sunniness. Especially with that floating mechanical donut on full display for everyone to see.

"...Owen. Hope we can get along, and all that. I thought exchange students were something that only happened in stories. What brought you here?"