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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Jan 17, 2023 18:20:22 GMT -5
Quiet villages like this one were Del's favourite. At least, some of the time. There was a certain level of disinterest with the travelers passing through, like her, that lended to a certain level of anonymity. They did not expect her to linger in what was their home, but they were happy enough to take her coin. On the other hand, when one person was suspicious or keen eyed enough, in small groups like this, they suddenly all were. There was a strong sensation in the back of her mind that was very wary of unfamiliar faces that were deeply unfriendly.
At the moment, though, that wasn't too much of a problem. She accepted her bag of rations from the vendor along the side of the road with a smile and nod, before moving to the communal fire in the center of the little hamlet and have a few bites while she people watched.
Village folk were fascinating. They all knew eachother and had certain terms between them all. It wasn't merely observing others on their day-to-day comings and goings, small populations gave the opportunity to observe real interactions. While she quietly ripped into a piece of alligator jerky, her eyes traveled the group.
"Did you hear what Jeanne said to Tobias the other day? I won't be going to her house any time soon!"
"The bread is stale because I sold it to you a week ago and you left it on your door step!"
"Bit cold this morning, make sure you take your scarf if you're going out into the marsh."
"Bloody heard that ghost again last night."
That caught Del's attention. Her gaze shifted as she locked on to the two men beside the well as they pumped water into buckets, having a chat.
"Saw it too."
"You did nooot." His companion responds with a huff, hauling the bucket onto the yoke.
"Did so. Out in the woods. There was a glowing light that moved between trees, and it sang to me, like my mum did, and beckoned me into the forest."
His companion makes a disconcerted face at that, a little less convinced of whether or not his friend had seen something. "You sure you weren't just sleep walking again?"
"Talked to Old Hanngarath this morning? She saw it too." Finished pumping water into the buckets, the first man also hauls his yoke onto his shoulders. "Said it was spirits of those clamed by the marsh, she did."
The second man snorts as they walk away. "Old Hanngarath told me to tie a live chicken to my boil last week, she's not as good a reference as you think she is."
"I know what I saw!"
The man insisted. Soon the two vanish around a corner. Del chews her jerky thoughtfully. That sounded like an issue, potentially. A little self-concious, suddenly, at having been watching these two openly for so long and not minding her surroundings, she glances around to see if anyone else was looking her way.
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Post by Plague on Jan 19, 2023 13:10:18 GMT -5
Despite having lived most of her young life in Sol City, Plague was the most at home here in the Marshflats. She had only recently discovered this part of the world, instantly falling in love with everything about. Being a street urchin who was use to living in muck and filth, Plague was the most comfortable in an environment like this, one that was so familiar to her own life style. The dirt, the forest, the stink, even the locals attracted her, silly creatures with little manners, most of them un able to even speak common. After only a few weeks she already considered this her home away from home.
A pair of thick boots would splash a random puddle of mud as the short women strode through the small homestead, one of many minor camps that sprouted up across the swampland. Her entire body was covered in heavy, green clothing, with a hood and mask to match. She wore a random miss match of clothing ripped off of many locals, and fashioned her outfit to look like a plague doctor from the cities. Her crystal blue eyes peered from behind tinted goggles, the woman stopping at a nearby campfire, one that a huddle of people had already formed around. The village was busy for its size this time of day, a decent crowd of people out doing chores, resting by the fire or just working. Conversation was slowly moving around the village, something about a ghost out in the swamp causing issues. Whatever was going on, it had this hamlet in a buzz.
Now with the group by the fire, Plague just relaxed and warmed herself, scanning the faces, keeping tabs on people. Her gaze would rest on a young woman eating, just a few feet from her on location. This woman appeared to be doing the same thing she was, watching, observing. She also did not look like one of the locals, standing out among a group of poor, dirty beast folk. This woman was more elegant, better dressed and sharper, being the only other person here to be so observant. This peaked the gutter rats interest, now wanting to learn more.
"You ain't from around ear are ya?"
On the other side of the bog two children were setting up camp among the trees, weeds and vines. Mouse and Sparrow, two of Plague's minions, had been sent out here by the girl to set up the con they had been pulling for the last week. While the sun was beginning to set over a cold Marshflats, the two little orphans began to hang dyed sheets among the thicket, before draping sheets over their own bodies, sticking twigs and branches out from both sides. They looked like a pair of silly kids playing ghost, and well, thats what they were. But to the locals in the dead of night, these two became something far more sinister, real actual ghost. They had been tormenting the village for days, crying into the night, saying strange and odd things.
Plague had been setting up a scheme, wanting to scar the hell out of the locals before arriving, claiming to be a world renown ghost hunter and charging them to rid the area of its spirit problem. The first phase of the mission had gone so well, having successfully tricked the civilians here into thinking a real ghost was haunting their woods. Now, she needed to convince them she could help.
-Mouse and Sparrow are minions from Warlord
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Jan 20, 2023 15:44:05 GMT -5
The accented question jarred Del from her quiet reverie, turning her head to find she was, in fact, being addressed. By someone in a beaked leather mask wearing goggles. Del blinks. Had they been here when she sat down? She didn't think so. She would have definitely remember seeing a plague doctor. Probably.
"...Was it that obvious?" Del chuckles wryly, and tucks away her little bag of rations. That was rhetorical; of course it was. Even her road-weary countenance set her apart from the folks who lived and breathed this swamp life. Or maybe it was something else, and that was why she was continuously being followed. Speaking of, was that the situation here? If so, it was a lot less of an aggressive approach than she was used to.
"I'm on the road offering carpentry and smithing services to places and people in need of a skilled hand, so I stopped here to see if there was anything I could help with." There wasn't much she'd caught about folks needing repairs, but the ghost thing was still on her mind. "What about yourself, are you from the area?" Her head tilts a little; the accent of the person she wasn't as good at placing, but it definitely didn't sound like the way most folks around here spoke, but, she was wearing a lot of the similar cloth of those she had seen so far, and certainly didn't look brand new. "I'm Del, by the way." She held out her heavily scarred, calloused hand to shake.
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Post by Plague on Jan 22, 2023 14:37:54 GMT -5
"Oh no, I'm from the capitol, but I've been spending a few weeks here in tha swamp, its kind of my home away from home." Internally excited to meet someone who could hold a decent conversation, the masked girl scooted over some, staying near the fire but getting closer to the stranger. It was rare to find an outsider here in the flats, at least one who was not quickly trying to leave, so Plague was going to absorb as much of the woman's attention as she could.
"Tha locals around here like to do tat stuff themself, working on their homes is kind of a past time round ear, so you might not find much work." Life in the swamp was pretty simple, and because there was not much to do outside of work or labor, the villages were pretty well built despite being located in a muddy swamp. Carpentry was a big trade among the locals here, and those who used weapons often crafted them on their own, using bone, branches and other things commonly found in the marshes.
"I to am looking for a little work, a different kind tho. Heard there has been some kind of spooky thing lurking out in the swamp, figured I could offer my services and help rid these locals of their pest, for some coin of course. I don't know how skilled you are at hunting ghost, but I could use a little help. " She was not going to admit that it was in fact her who was responsible for the haunting, no need in spoiling the scam so early in the evening. She had already agreed to the job, receiving a promise from the town elder of a sack of Solars for the job complete. How easy this was going to be.
"Oh, you can call me Plague by the way. " Her leather gloved hand met Del's scarred handshake, giving her a firm shake and a nod. It was always good to meet new friends.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Jan 25, 2023 1:25:10 GMT -5
"Ahh, I see," A small smile appeared on Del's face as she watched the masked wearing person scootch intently closer, the birdlike visage of the mask only adding to the curious energy. To her credit, she did certainly have Del's full attention. This was the most interest she'd gotten being in the Marsh Flats in ages, and it was always best to remain on your toes. Though, she didn't get any sense that this person was trying to bring her harm.
Her tongue clicks, though, hearing more about the habits of this particular area of the Marsh. "That is a shame, though it makes sense. The folks around here are certainly resourceful." She holds up her bag of rations, a mix of edible mosses and meat from the creatures hunted here, and tucks it back into her bag. As she wonders what she could do instead, either move on or try and sell some of her little trinkets and toys, though, that is immediately answered for her, as if the masked person was reading her mind. Or, maybe she had just been observant. It was still fairly rare to meet people who were open and just plain willing to talk, especially out here, so she was not keen to decline. And, she could use the coin, of course, but mainly knowing it would help out the locals here was a worthy reason in and of itself.
"Plague," she echoes. An interesting person indeed. "Well met. I haven't made a habit out of fighting ghosts, save for my own,"-- that was a bad joke, "--but I would be up for the challenge," Del gives them anothers mall, crooked smile, returning the firm grip of the shake. "I heard two folks chatting about it earlier. You've been here a while, as you said; have you hunted a lot of ghosts before? Do you have an idea of the shape or nature of this... spirit?" Was there an etyomological difference? Not that Del knew, anyway.
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Post by Plague on Feb 2, 2023 1:22:19 GMT -5
Plague firmly shook the woman's hand, smiling from underneath her mask. It was rare for her to have a civil conversation with someone in the marsh, which was both a good and bad thing depending on the day. But the real reason for her joy was the successful duping of someone, and a smart person at that, not one of these hill billy lizard people. Was she getting better at lying? That must be the only explanation right.
"Well I am not a ghost hunter per say, but I have been doing it for a few weeks now, I've been on the trail of this particular specter for the last few days, and I got a spot set up just outside of town, where I plan to ambush the spooky thing."
She was very proud of her scheme, almost getting caught up in the story herself.
"Well the sun is going down, I was about to head out to my spot, if you wanna join me? Would be nice to have someone to help, keep me company."
This was all a ploy after all, a character designed to extract sympathy and earn this woman's trust. If she agreed, Plague would help the woman up and begin to lead her into the marsh, the last bits of sunlight slipping beneath the horizon.
It was now dark, both Mouse and Sparrow had draped sheets over their bodies, having scary faces painted on them with mud and dirt. They started to lurk through the woods, smacking limbs together, snapping sticks and howling into the night air like a wild animal. They were instructed to do this for an hour, just randomly moving through the marsh, making all kinds of terrible ruckus. Within less than ten minutes of travel the dup would have been able to hear the crying in the night.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Feb 4, 2023 16:30:53 GMT -5
Del, usually a very wary person, was honestly none the wiser to Plague's deeper mechanations. While she hadn't ruled out that this was a hoax, it would not have occured to her that the person who was responsible for it would simply walk right up to her and ask for help in resolving it. Most people tried to avoid that level of scrutiny-- Del simply didn't see herself as a mark for this sort of thing. But then, Plague's whims were beyond her ken. She could never have guessed.
"It sounds like you're very well prepared." Del nods appreciatively. She glances to the horizon-- the sun was indeed beginning to set. Picking up her bag and putting it over her shoulder, Del gives the masked person a smile, taking the hand to stand up. "I am up for the challege and the company. Lead on."
Following Plague out into the Marsh, Del does her best to make note of where they are, exactly. Noting certain trees, the borders of the tiny village. She had been through the marsh before, moving easily across the broken and soggy ground, but she is still careful as she walks, each step carefully placed.
As the sun diminsishes more and they truly are in the marsh proper, Del freezes, holding out a hand to stop her companion. Her brow furrows-- the sounds were certainly troubling, wailing and gnashing of trees and voices. Her head turns in the direction of the noises, though she speaks to Plague in a hushed tone. "I hear something. How far away are we from the site of your ambush?"
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Post by Plague on Feb 6, 2023 22:23:07 GMT -5
The scene would have looked almost comical to anyone watching from afar, a short girl dressed head to toe in a makeshift doctors uniform scurrying across the marsh with a stranger in hand, as the sun set behind them. She never believed the plan would be so easy, everything falling into motion without a hitch. The bait was set, the job established, now it was for phase two, the performance, and her two little actors were already playing their part so well.
Del suddenly halted, poking her head up and listening, the faint sounds of commotion being heard on the wind. Plague smiled, but played the fool, almost acting scared of the howls now echoing out from the dark bog. They were close, with her little camp only being a few hundred feet from here, but that would be to easy, she had to make this believable. She would hold onto her new traveling companions arm, squeezing and gripping tighter every time another sound was delivered.
"Delaela, I have a confession to make....I um, I have never caught a ghost before. I'm trained and know what to do, but this will my first time actually confronting one. I am a bit scared."
Another perfect lie, hook , line and sinker. Making this woman feel for her, want to protect her, it would make the surprise reveal even more rewarding! She needed to scare the ever living shit out of this woman, then have her spread the story all across Charon. The little trouble maker was going to make sure everyone heard about this night.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Feb 8, 2023 20:31:30 GMT -5
Feeling the tug on her arm, Del looked down at the-- well, what Del assumed was the scared expression of Plague, it was hard to tell behind the mask. Her expression shifts, from confusion to concern, to a quiet understanding. They had said they had been a ghost hunter for a couple of weeks earlier in their conversation, but hearing this heartfelt, totally sincere confession, Del releases that expectation. This was someone who was in over their head, and Del felt a protective urge to at least provide what help she could.
"I appreciate that you fessed up to that now, rather than later." Unfortunately, it meant that Del would be taking point in an unfamiliar area, with an unknown source making a hell of a racket, all while they were burning what precious little daylight was left. Still, she offers Plague a gentle smile, still minding the direction of the howls and the noise from a distance. "I'll be right beside you. You've been trained for this, you just need to get your feet wet. Come on, lets get you to get that Ghost Hunter title so you can add this story to your qualifications. I can go ahead, if that will ease your mind. Stay close, alright?"
Del reaches up to lightly pat the hands squeezing her arm, and starts moving again, to see if she can either get a better look, or stumble across the ambush point that Plague had mentioned before. She moves along on soft feet, taking care to not disturb the branches that line the path and deadfall on the mucky ground, trying to leave no trace whatsoever as she helps to pursue this ghost.
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Post by Plague on Feb 15, 2023 16:15:46 GMT -5
Why was this going so well? It was rare for one of her schemes to actually work, let alone pay off. She could not get too excited however, there was still a little bit left to do, and she still had no idea how skilled this woman was. Her agreeing to take point and help Plague out was perfect though, and would provide the best opportunity for phase two. Plague gave a light nod, and in the attempt to appear more helpless, changed the pitch of their voice to mimic one of a scared child.
"Thank you so much, and don't worry, things should go well, I'm not expecting anything to go wrong. But if you want to take point, ill keep a look out in the rear. "
She was glad once more that Del could not see her grin. Slowly at first, Plague began to lag behind, gradually getting further and further away from her lead as they moved forward. Dusk was now settling in and the sounds her little minions were making just got louder and louder. Bangs, screams, howls, it was a rather frightening thing to listen to if you did not know the truth behind its source. The mix of the dimming light, the cries, and her stealth abilities made falling behind extremely easy and in a matter of moments, Plague was able to completely step away, leaving Del by herself in the dark.
Sparrow and Mouse were doing what they loved, banging on metal and screaming into the night. Any chance to cause mayhem thrilled the little duo. They slowly moved through the marsh, making sure to stay random with their movements as to not be found out. Plague had indicated a meeting spot, just a few hundred feet away, a spot where the three would meet up to finish the scheme. The last few days had proved to be a let down, as their leader was unable to convince anyone to come out here. They had their fingers crossed that tonight was the night.
Plague now hurried through the marsh, trying her best to intercept the kids and reconvene so that they could scare Del, who was now closing in on their general area. As she ran, Plague uncorked a tiny vial and consumed the black liquid inside. Her eyes instantly grew blood shot, muscles expanding as rage and anger began to creep their way into her mind.
Used: Silent Step Shadow Hiding
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Feb 16, 2023 13:01:46 GMT -5
That Plague wasn't expecting anything to go wrong was no comfort for Del whatsoever, but she chalked that up to the maked woman being green to the whole... ghost hunting thing. Del had no such ideas about things going to plan at any given time. More often than not, it didn't, and the ability to adapt and pivot was as vital as the process of strategy itself. It was that crucial factor that had kept her alive all these years;
Never, ever, underestimate your opponent.
Del nods to Plague, offering a comforting smile, and takes point, quietly leading the way. Her head moves in the direction of the noise, and finds herself stopping regularly to make sure Plague is following they are, though further back. That doesn't strike her as odd, precisely; if she was truly scared, it made sense for Plague to hang back. But that was too far. "Stay close," Del called out, reminding her. When she hears no reply, she turns her head again and finds herself alone.
"Plague?" There's genuine worry in Del's voice as she loses track of her. She curses under her breath and ventures closer to the noises; if she had been taken by what or whoever was making these sounds, that seemed a likely place for them to be.
Her eyes catch something in the shadow, ahead, though she can't quite get a detail of what it is just yet, not behind the trees and shrubbery. The source of the noise seemed to be in this general area, though Del had no idea what to expect, or what she might find. Plague was missing, and as soon as she found out if she was here, at the location of the noise, Del would go look for her.[1] "Show yourself." She calls out, an firm edge to her voice that is decidedly not a suggestion.
[1]Shadow Sight
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Post by Plague on Feb 25, 2023 14:55:43 GMT -5
Mouse and Sparrow had just barely managed to catch up with Plague as the affects of her potion began to quick in, clouding her mind and taking control. As her tiny frame began to expand, ripping the olive jumpsuit, Plague's features would take on a very grotesque, disturbing appearance. Fur would protrude from her flesh as her mask was quickly replaced with the muzzle of a giant rat. Ears sprang from her blonde hair, crystal blues eyes replaced with black beady rat eyes and a pink, thin tail now found itself sticking out from her backside. Plague was now in full were rat form.
The two children had seen this form many times before, and knew the risk that came with being near her when she was like this. They also had enough experience calming the girl down and working around her while in this form, so they knew exactly what to do when the chemist arrived, mid transformation. They both tossed a massive sheet over the beast, a long thin piece of string attached to the front of the sheet, acting like a leash. They loved when they got to guide Plague around, but the excitement of the job would have to wait, for both children could now hear a voice in the distance, calling out for Plague, and telling whatever lurked in the shadows to show itself. The time had finally arrived.
It was show time.
Both children took off running as fast as they could towards Del, pretending to be scared to death, yelling and screaming for help as Sparrow held the other end of the rope, pulling Plague behind them. Their small frames would come into view through the dark veil of night, running right up to Del, and then past her, paying no attention to the woman who was sure to be confused at this point. All she would be able to hear through the screaming and crying was the word Monster.
No sooner than they had passed her would the woman be able to see a large figure draped in white lumbering out of the marsh. She came fast, roaring beneath the sheet she was now trying to tear through. As Mouse and Sparrow vanished into the night again, she would let go of the rope, fully freeing Plague and allowing her to go off. Claws tore the now limp sheet, her maw snapping at the fabric and trying to free herself, all the while still rushing right for Del.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Feb 27, 2023 1:10:06 GMT -5
Hearing the sounds of children yelling, Del's body drops a few inches as she falls into a stance, preparing for whatever was chasing them. Their cries for help --of monster-- spurs a painful urge to help within her chest, compelling her to surge towards them. "You're safe, I--" She pauses; the children do not run to Del for safety and help, but past her. Looking back for a second over her shoulder as they flee, just an instant of time in order to try and rationalize what had just happened. That was... a little strange. Not too strange, if they were simply scared and running that could be reason enough to avoid her, but odd enough that it pulled her face down into more of a scowl as she faces the thing in the darkness.
Through the darkness, a clarity takes shape as something wretched lurches down the path, barrelling after the kids. It was covered in white, spilling around them like a dress or... a sheet? There was a sound of roaring, of wildly gnashing teeth as it hurtled towards her. Something tearing at the sheet from beneath it. What in the world... Del set her jaw as it got close, ready.
She did not know where Plague was, but if she could neutralize this threat, maybe she could ask the kids who had fled past her if they knew where she was.
Del took a few running steps forward and hit the ground in a slide[1], aiming to take out the lashing, wild thing down to the ground. If that succeeded, the next thing would be to leap back at the creature, pinnig it's head to the ground with her knee while she used the torn and dirty sheet effectively as a blindfold around the creature's head, to keep it from getting it's bearings.
[1]Cat's Grace
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Post by Plague on Mar 10, 2023 14:57:21 GMT -5
The effects of her transformation were now in full swing, the desire to kill having completely taken over her mind. Plague barreled forward, tearing and ripping through the flimsy sheet that confined her, the rat snout beginning to poke through as her claws freed both arms on either side of her. If this was a different situation she may have looked silly, but here in the dark of the swamp, Plague looked like the monster everyone back in the village feared, because she was.
What the chemist did not expect was for Del to fight back, her quick slide knocking the rat to the ground in a heap of fabric and mud. The next few seconds were a blur, the woman mounting Plague's giant rat body and pinning her to the ground with the sheet. While it was a clever surprise move, Plague was no push over, especially in this form. Anger continued to surge, being the primary driving force of Plague's motives now, allowing her to summon more strength that her normal, frail human body was capable of.
Teeth snapped, claws swiped, and Plague did everything she could to buck Del off of her. With a mighty heave, the transformed girl attempted to place both clawed hands around the woman's. She was going to throw Del off of her if she could, chucking the woman into the mud. If her adversary remain atop her, she would surly get grabbed, and if she decided to dismount to dodge, it would give Plague the freedom to move again.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 12, 2023 19:02:14 GMT -5
The creature, whatever it is, is certainly spirited, fighting back in an almost... intelligent way. It bucks, writhes, gnashes its teeth against her blindfold. She manages to tie it secure, but it would still be all to easy for the creature to rip off its head, especially with claws like that. Feeling its grip latch around her hands, trying to throw her. She hops off the creature's head and into the mud and darkness, vanishing once more into shadow.[1]
She gives the creature a chance to get its bearings once its free of Del's influence as she side-steps silently around it from the side, eyes fixed on the frame of the beast. She couldn't see anything on it that indicated it had killed or injured Plague. The girl should be her biggest priority, but she knew trying to find her while this was on the loose would be all but impossible.
How little she knew.
She picks a rock off the ground and tosses it a little ways left, striking the underbrush with a soft rustle of leaves. If this was enough to get the rat creature's attention, Del would pounce, launching from the shadows to drive both heels into the small of the creature's back, hoping to send it flying. If it didn't take the bait, or worse, turned towards Del while she was coming from the shadows, her tactics would pivot; snatching up mud from the marsh to fling it into the eyes of her opponent followed by a driving knee into the hollow between rib and abdomen.
[1] Pass Without Trace [2] One with the Shadows
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