Shepards Vampires 16

October 19
[21:25]	<[GM]Mary>	Shepard's Vampires, Part Two: Revenge!
[21:25]	<Phrine>	"I am a vampire! Revenge is probable!"
[21:25]	* Phrine	smiles innocently.
[21:31]	<[GM]Mary>	Last time, on Shepard's Vampires: Phrine shows Shepard to some... place where something evil exists. Eviler, surely.
[21:33]	<[GM]Mary>	They return to the house at next dusk, with Shepard urging the others to quickly prepare to set out. Joule also happens to finish whatever off-camera business she was tending to, and shows up in time for the start of the big scene.
[21:35]	* Phrine	practices drawing her revolver out of its holster at her waist and putting it back several times. She definitely lacks any sort of finesse.
[21:36]	<Phrine>	"...boom...boom...boom..."
[21:36]	* Joule	strides with a bright smile, looking very pleased about something.
[21:36]	* Phrine	"fires" each time she pulls out the weapon.
[21:36]	* Shepard	hastily marches about the manor, searching for Judith and Leticia.
[21:38]	* [huh]Letty	is packing the last of her things into a small bag.
[21:39]	* [Pyg]Judith	is with Letty, just sitting around keeping her company.
[21:40]	<Shepard>	Letty, Jude. Are you two ready?
[21:40]	* Phrine	sits down on a nearby chair and practices reloading her weapon. Her gun case has recently been fashioned into a backpack of sorts, which carries a few miscellaneous trinkets, extra bullets and gun parts, and of course her lucky egg.
[21:40]	* Joule	hums a tune, spinning on one foot.
[21:41]	<[Pyg]Judith>	Yeah, we're ready. Letty?
[21:42]	<[huh]Letty>	I think that's everything. I did not have much in the first place, after all.
[21:45]	<Shepard>	Be certain, now. This is it, if we fail we won't come home tonight. How's your blood? We don't have time to detour to the village. If your strength isn't fully with you, summon Cherish before we go.
[21:46]	* Phrine	packs up her "war supplies" and walks over to Joule.
[21:46]	<Phrine>	"...you're late, Jewel. Late-late~"
[21:47]	* Joule	's thoughts are seemingly interrupted, and she turns to Phrine.
[21:47]	<Joule>	For what? You mean getting my stuff together?
[21:47]	<[huh]Letty>	My blood is as thick as it has ever been.
[21:48]	<Phrine>	"...nnnoooo...? Haven't seen you in a while is all...fun times?"
[21:48]	<Phrine>	"I'm betting on fun times."
[21:49]	<Joule>	Oh, you have no idea how much fun I had.
[21:49]	* Phrine	dulls her eyes.
[21:50]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Don't worry about that, I had some earlier."
[21:50]	<Joule>	I did some research on electrostatics, made a theoretical model, invented some new devices, wrote a paper and sent it to the Vocational Academy in Charlottenburg!
[21:50]	<Phrine>	"No, no, I have no idea...'cause I'm no you..."
[21:50]	<Joule>	And do you know what they said?!
[21:50]	* Joule	throttles Phrine from excitement.
[21:50]	<Phrine>	"GaaAAakkakkkakhhakk!"
[21:50]	<Joule>	They said it was brilliant! BRILLIANT!
[21:52]	* Phrine	's beret flops around from the throttling, and now hangs on one of Phrine's horns like a hat rack of sorts.
[21:52]	<Phrine>	"Huz...zah...?"
[21:55]	* Phrine	has no idea was that smart Jewel is ever saying. Sad, really.
[21:57]	<Phrine>	"Do you want a reward or something? I could let you borrow my egg...Just borrow! Just for a little! It's my lucky egg, after all!"
[21:57]	* Joule	calms down, but furrows her brow after a second.
[21:58]	<Joule>	Egg? What egg?
[21:58]	<Phrine>	"Oh...never showed you...?"
[21:58]	* Phrine	takes off her backpack-case and fishes around for a little leather pouch. She slips out her lucky magic egg and shows it to Joule.
[21:59]	<Phrine>	"I got this from...somewhere, I think. It hums when ya' hold it close to you; feels really nice and relaxing."
[22:00]	<Phrine>	"...never found out how it's supposed to work, really..."
[22:00]	<Joule>	Hm... Mind if I see it?
[22:00]	* Phrine	cautiously hands the egg over, her eye on it all the time.
[22:01]	<Joule>	Hm... Vibrations... add a weight and gyrate it, but an engine this small?
[22:02]	<Joule>	Power supply... How long has this been working?
[22:02]	* Phrine	shrugs.
[22:02]	* Shepard	returns to the door, making sure everyone's there and at attention.
[22:02]	<Phrine>	"Not really sure. I found it before we all went to sleep, so I guess...fortyish years...?"
[22:03]	<Shepard>	Alright then. Is everyone prepared?
[22:03]	* Joule	's eyes widen in interest.
[22:03]	<Phrine>	"I just thought it was magic or something..."
[22:04]	<Joule>	If it's science, whatever's in it must be quite a treasure... Ah- that's right, can't get carried away. Here you go~...
[22:04]	* Joule	hands the egg back, but still looks at it with interest.
[22:06]	<Phrine>	"Yeah, I guess science can be pretty fun. I'm too dumb for that, though; my brain likes fun thinking, not hard thinking."
[22:06]	<Shepard>	Joule, it's not necessary for you to come with us. This is our fight, don't feel obliged to involve yourself needlessly.
[22:06]	<Shepard>	[er. obliged? try obligated]
[22:07]	<Joule>	Well, what's it entail? Besides, whoever the opponent is, they probably won't be expecting a scientific approach.
[22:07]	<Phrine>	"...or guns~..."
[22:08]	* Phrine	twirls her revolver around her finger, which promptly flies out of her hand and knocks over a candlestick.
[22:09]	<[huh]Letty>	I care not what the approach is, as long as I take that person's head.
[22:09]	<Phrine>	"Umm...I'm getting better at that...honest..."
[22:09]	* Phrine	gets back her gun and replaces the candlestick, blushing slightly.
[22:11]	<Shepard>	Phrine's summon is likely a trap. It most certainly entails mortal danger to the immortal kind, though if you wish to accompany, I have no objections. Come with us, at your own risk.
[22:12]	* [Pyg]Judith	flashes a grin at Letty.
[22:13]	<Joule>	Sure, I can do that. Best to join you in endeavors like these now that I've joined. Ah, I almost forgot. Take a look at this.
[22:13]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Sorry, sweetheart, but you'll have to be faster than me.
[22:13]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"
[22:13]	* Joule	pulls a glass container with metal tapers and a gauge attached, tossing it to Shepard.
[22:14]	* Shepard	catches it.
[22:14]	<Shepard>	What's this?
[22:15]	<Joule>	You mentioned something about ghost blood or something like that. I'm not like most ghosts, but I did some research anyway; that should be able to contain fluids that are part of my composition should something go wrong. They're a little more like what biologists are calling protoplasm these days, so it shouldn't work with the ghosts you know unless I modify it.
[22:15]	* [huh]Letty	grips Judith's hand, returning her smile.
[22:15]	<[huh]Letty>	We will see.
[22:16]	<Shepard>	Erm... right.
[22:16]	* Phrine	tries very hard to listen to Joule, with poor results. Her face becomes vacant and tilts to the side.
[22:17]	* Shepard	slips it into his coat pocket. I feel ya, Phriney. I feel ya.
[22:17]	<Phrine>	"Jewel...When you talk that fast, normal people can't hear you..."
[22:17]	* Phrine	pouts ever so slightly.
[22:18]	<Shepard>	Right then. If that's everything, we'll be going.
[22:19]	* Joule	considers.
[22:19]	<Joule>	Maybe I ought to try speaking more simply...
[22:20]	<Phrine>	"...Yeah..."
[22:21]	* Shepard	. o ( Yeah... )
[22:21]	<Phrine>	"Just say 'You put the thing in the thing, and it goes sparky and saves the day'."
[22:30]	<[GM]Mary>	And at that note, everything goes black and fades into the forest(these things are everywhere) with the crew arriving at the approach before the castle. Mission start!
[22:31]	* Phrine	narrows her eyes. This be serious business now!
[22:32]	* Shepard	forms long enough to give the others a message.
[22:35]	<Shepard>	Let's go over the plan one more time. Our objective is to find anyone involved with the incident forty years ago, and if possible, kill them. Seeing as they called us here, it's reasonable to assume they have something planned for us. Watch your back if it turns out to be a trap.
[22:36]	<Joule>	How should I distinguish them?
[22:38]	<[huh]Letty>	They're not us.
[22:38]	<Shepard>	The only one who survived the first encounter that I can distinguish is George Lucaste, but he apparently died years later of health complications. Judith and Leticia can tell you more about their killers.
[22:39]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Has technology advanced any while we were asleep? I'd hate to deal with some oddball contraptions."
[22:39]	<Shepard>	Just assume anyone in this area is dangerous.
[22:39]	<Joule>	Got it. And, Judith, right? Some advancements have been made, and some big things have happened in weapons.
[22:40]	<[Pyg]Judith>	Like what?
[22:40]	* Phrine	tries to remember what the face of her own killer looked like. He has to still be alive, in there...
[22:40]	<Joule>	Repeating rifles, some improvements in ballistics, volley firearms...
[22:41]	<Joule>	I brought a modified Sharps rifle, though I probably won't be using it. Still, long live America.
[22:41]	* Joule	chuckles.
[22:42]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Well, I'm sure the same philosophy applies when dealing with crossbows and such. Get in close enough, and it won't be a problem anymore."
[22:42]	<Phrine>	"I wish I could have seen America once...it seems so nice..."
[22:43]	* Shepard	smiles.
[22:43]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"It does. Untouched by most of civilization? I think I could live there."
[22:44]	<Shepard>	I assure you Phrine, we will, once we're done with this. So be good, listen to Judith and Leticia, and be careful.
[22:44]	<Phrine>	"I think my gun's French, though. So, umm...Viva Lah Raysistance, maybe...?"
[22:45]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"'Veev', my dear."
[22:46]	<Phrine>	"Okay, yeah that...Umm, can we go have fun times to be had by all, now?"
[22:47]	<Phrine>	"Bad feelings are better when you can see who's making them..."
[22:47]	<Shepard>	Alright. I'm going to find a separate entrance so we can cover more ground. If something happens, leave a signal.
[22:47]	<[huh]Letty>	I don't know about you, but this will be the most fun I've had in a while.
[22:48]	<Phrine>	"I...don't think I've ever had much fun killing peoples...Isn't it wrong?"
[22:48]	<Shepard>	This castle might be more familiar than you think... I'll leave any clues in the main hall.
[22:49]	<[huh]Letty>	It's point of view, isn't it?
[22:49]	<Shepard>	Any questions?
[22:49]	<Phrine>	"Ahh, not that again. I hate thinking about that..."
[22:51]	<[huh]Letty>	None, master.
[22:51]	<Shepard>	Alright then. Good luck to you all.
[22:52]	* Shepard	splits apart and disappears into the great, good night.
[22:52]	* Joule	nods, smiling. Her irises begin to glow slightly.
[22:54]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Well, Phrine, just for tonight, just think of it as getting rid of some pesky vermin."
[22:54]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Rats are annoying, right?"
[22:55]	<Phrine>	"You always pick the worst examples, Mom. I like rats. They were fun to watch back at the orphanage."
[22:55]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"They steal your food and carry the plague."
[22:55]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm."
[22:55]	<Phrine>	"I get it, Mom, I get it. I'm not stupid, I'm just...dumb."
[22:55]	<Phrine>	"Or...something..."
[22:56]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You're neither of those..."
[22:56]	* [Pyg]Judith	places a hand on Phrine's shoulder.
[22:56]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You're just silly."
[22:56]	* Phrine	smiles.
[22:57]	* [huh]Letty	stares at the castle, as though searching for her killer through the walls.
[22:57]	>Phrine<	She's lying. You really are just dumb.
[22:57]	<[GM]Mary>	The night is black, without a moon... The air is cold and still.
[22:58]	<[GM]Mary>	You leave the forest to find yourselves at a small clearing, and before you is Shepard's Castle; rather, how it was forty years ago, with no sign of decay or ruin. As you come closer, a dense fog builds itself around the structure, obscuring it.
[23:00]	* Joule	whistles quietly, impressed with the structure.
[23:00]	* Phrine	knows what to expect, but it's still very weird to see their old castle like this.
[23:01]	<Phrine>	"This is...I used to live, here...work, here..."
[23:01]	<[huh]Letty>	Judith... stay close. I don't want...
[23:01]	* [huh]Letty	trails off, then shakes her head.
[23:01]	<[huh]Letty>	I don't want a repeat of forty years ago.
[23:01]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Don't worry, it won't happen again."
[23:01]	<Phrine>	"We...don't know that..."
[23:02]	<Phrine>	"Bad feelings everywhere..."
[23:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh, I do know. No way in hell am I letting it happen again."
[23:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I don't want to feel what I felt back then again."
[23:02]	<Phrine>	"Just...Mom?"
[23:03]	* Phrine	looks to Judith seriously, imploringly.
[23:03]	<Phrine>	"If, I get caught, like last time...don't you get caught too."
[23:03]	<Phrine>	"It was my fault...I was stupid..."
[23:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We all were, we just got in way over our heads."
[23:05]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I had decades to think about this, I'm not about to waste all that time just to do it again."
[23:06]	<[huh]Letty>	I feel the same way.
[23:09]	<Phrine>	"We...we should get going. We might trip a trap if we just stand around..."
[23:09]	<[GM]Mary>	The trail leads to the castle, surrounded by a moat and with its bridge drawn up. Before it is a stone plaque with words engraved. Futher, the trail parts to the left and leaves to a large graveyard.
[23:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Neither of you learned to control the dead during our big down time, did you?"
[23:11]	* [Pyg]Judith	asks, eying the graveyard away from the path.
[23:11]	<Phrine>	"...I have trouble just controlling the living..."
[23:12]	* [huh]Letty	shakes her head.
[23:12]	<[huh]Letty>	I would not use such arts even if I had the power...
[23:12]	<Phrine>	"...just a little kid holding the hands of the adults..."
[23:13]	<Joule>	Haven't done any relevant research.
[23:13]	<[huh]Letty>	In any case... which way in? The front door?
[23:14]	<Joule>	Besides I never had a penchant for biology. As for the entrance, do you think they'd expect the front or predict we'd try another entrance from suspicions that the door was trapped?
[23:14]	<Phrine>	"...why do I want to think that they'd just trap both of them...?"
[23:15]	<Phrine>	"Maybe we should find an entrance that isn't an entrance..."
[23:15]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ah well, so much for the evil dead to work as a distraction."
[23:17]	* Phrine	wanders around a little, pacing to think. Her steps drop her into the impression of...what is this...?
[23:17]	<[GM]Mary>	Examining your surroundings, you notice footprints left in the dusty trail, leading towards the castle's bridge. There are two sets - one large, the other small. Further, You feel a strange breeze of cold air when you stand in the right spot, something like a static rushing sound from between the graves and the trail. It's accompanied by a smell of wet limestone.
[23:17]	<Phrine>	"Umm...hello...? Did I just find something...?"
[23:18]	<[huh]Letty>	You did.
[23:19]	<Phrine>	"Walking things? Big and small walking things. But vampires would just fly around, wouldn't they...?"
[23:20]	>Phrine<	A powerful foe awaits you on the other side, a test of both wits and strength. Try if you dare; one less foolish follows west to the cave.
[23:20]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"If they aren't us, yeah."
[23:21]	* Phrine	stands in a particular spot, and is hit with a feeling of dread, physical and mental.
[23:21]	<Phrine>	"Nnngghh...not, good..."
[23:21]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You okay?"
[23:22]	* Phrine	kneels down and looks towards where she feels the cold breeze hitting her shoulders.
[23:22]	* [huh]Letty	walks over as well.
[23:23]	<Phrine>	"The castle...no, that's bad. They're waiting for us...IT'S waiting for us..."
[23:23]	<[huh]Letty>	It?
[23:24]	<Phrine>	"I...don't know. But it's...something. I can feel it."
[23:24]	<[huh]Letty>	Doesn't matter what it is. If it's an enemy, I'll tear through it.
[23:25]	<Phrine>	"The breeze...if we follow the breeze, it feels safer."
[23:25]	<Joule>	Careful, Letty, might not be that simple. If they're expecting a frontal attack the worst thing to do would be to give them that.
[23:26]	<Phrine>	"But...what's safer...knowing where IT is...or not knowing...?"
[23:26]	* Phrine	rubs her head. This power...why does such a dunce like her have to have it?
[23:26]	>Phrine<	Where is Kenshi? Why is he blind?
[23:28]	<[huh]Letty>	Phrine says to follow the breeze...
[23:29]	<Joule>	Might as well. I don't think we have many more ideas.
[23:29]	<Phrine>	"I...I don't know, Letty. It just feels safer NOW. But...I just don't know..."
[23:29]	* Phrine	shakes her head back and forth. Can't decide, can't decide...
[23:30]	<[huh]Letty>	Her hunches usually turn out to be accurate, despite her nature. I'd say follow the breeze.
[23:31]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Huh, monster slayers employing monsters to do their work. I never would have thought."
[23:33]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We'd better follow the breeze then, either way, we have to get in there."
[23:37]	<Joule>	Lead the way, then.
[23:37]	* Phrine	stands up and rubs her temple. No, no, can't act like a baby right now. That's what happened last time.
[23:39]	* [Pyg]Judith	places a hand on Phrine's shoulder, giving it an encouraging squeeze.
[23:39]	<Phrine>	"I...could go first. In case I feel anything. We might only get a couple seconds; it's just a feeling, after all."
[23:43]	* Phrine	puts herself in the front of the group, unholstering her revolver. Just in case.
[23:44]	<Phrine>	"It's this way..."
[23:44]	* Joule	walks up behind her, her eyes glowing a little more brightly.
[23:44]	<Joule>	Go on, we're right behind.
[23:45]	* [huh]Letty	walks behind Joule, ready to react to danger at a moment's notice.
[23:45]	<[GM]Mary>	You make your way through the dense clouds of fog, following the strange scent, sound, and coolness, you happen upon an opening in the earth. A cave, its mouth wide enough for entry, gapes from the foot of a before unseen hill, sneaking beneath and down into darkness.
[23:48]	* Phrine	doesn't like the look of this darkness, even with vampire-vision.
[23:50]	<Phrine>	"I guess this is the secret, then..."
[23:51]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Somehow I feel like this is more than just a secret exit from the castle."
[23:51]	<[huh]Letty>	Be on your guard?
[23:52]	* Joule	nods, looking inside intently.
[23:53]	<Phrine>	"Can you see better than us in sparklyvision, Jewel? I don't see much down there right now..."
[23:55]	<Joule>	Sort of. I can't see too far inside since it bends after a few meters.
[23:56]	* Phrine	shrugs. Oh well. She starts climbing into the darkness slowly.
[23:57]	<[GM]Mary>	The opening goes down almost like a slide; slick stone, about a sixty degree angle, sinking down twenty or thirty feet before leveling off. The cavern is pitch black, though not so dark to blind those supernatural vision. There's a few twists and turns, and some places that require crawling on hands and knees, but soon you find yourselves within a high-ceiling cavity, with plenty of room to move.
[00:00]	* Phrine	is loosening up a little. This might not be so bad. It's better to be loose when fighting anyways, right?
[00:01]	* Joule	looks around. Tough to orient oneself without any knowledge of the place, but that's not the real problem.
[00:01]	<[GM]Mary>	The cave is peculiar. While there are indeed staples such as stalactites and small bats, they're all covered in thick spiderwebs, the size of them impossible to replicate with any earth spider. The little bats are caught in these webs, and spiders ranging from the size of a human hand to mere milimeters feed on them. They cast their own webs among the most monstrous ones, creating a labyrinth of silk.
[00:03]	* [Pyg]Judith	reaches out to grab a spider to get a better look, but changes her mind, withdrawing her hand.
[00:03]	<Joule>	There's probably something else at work here, though... I don't think I've heard reports of spiders of the size of the bigger ones around here.
[00:03]	* Phrine	doesn't even need supersenses to have a bad feeling about this...
[00:04]	* Phrine	takes off her gun and backpack-case and hands them to Judith.
[00:04]	<Phrine>	"Here, hold these. I'ma try somethin'..."
[00:05]	>Phrine<	Ha ha. You're fucked now.
[00:05]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"O-okay."
[00:07]	* Phrine	stops mid-give. Something doesn't feel right...her conscience-type-thing whispers to her.
[00:07]	<Phrine>	"Wait...n-no, never mind. It was stupid anyways."
[00:08]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What were you going to do?"
[00:08]	* Phrine	puts the pack and gun back on. She can't let herself forget; that gun is the difference between this time and last time.
[00:09]	<Phrine>	"I just thought, if we misted around the cave, the spiderwebs wouldn't be any problem."
[00:09]	<Phrine>	"...bet we'd set off some trap, though..."
[00:09]	<[huh]Letty>	I can't turn to mist, anyhow. I would just get caught in these webs...
[00:11]	<[GM]Mary>	The large webs are elastic, yet stronger than steel. They net the winding path onwards through the cave, making progression difficult. You can hear running water more clearly in this area.
[00:12]	<Joule>	You two are rather insensitive... I've started to learn to glide with electrical fields in the air, but I can't deconstruct to that extent.
[00:14]	<Phrine>	"It's a...vampire thing. I'm still getting used to it. Shepard's way better, though. Prolly comes with age..."
[00:14]	<Joule>	Perhaps. In the end, you'll know better.
[00:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"So, do we keep going then?"
[00:18]	<[huh]Letty>	No way else to go but forward.
[00:21]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Then let's go."
[00:24]	* Phrine	wanders ahead as best she can, not wishing to let go of her revolver. There's just GOT to be a giant spider somewhere...
[00:25]	* Joule	follows, eyes scanning overhead for any potential threats.
[00:25]	>Phrine<	Your spider senses tingle.
[00:25]	* [huh]Letty	keeps alert.
[00:25]	* Phrine	holds a hand out to her side.
[00:26]	<Phrine>	"Stop. Close. Real close."
[00:26]	* [huh]Letty	halts
[00:26]	<Phrine>	"Gotta be the spider...where are yoooouu~?"
[00:28]	<[huh]Letty>	A spider.
[00:28]	<[GM]Mary>	Upon contacting the web, two red eyes light up in the far side of the room. They look in your direction, then disappear, leaving you with blackness and echoes of a quiet gasp.
[00:28]	* Phrine	chokes on her sing-song words.
[00:28]	<Phrine>	"Uugek."
[00:28]	<[huh]Letty>	Oh, there it is.
[00:28]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...'The hell was that?"
[00:28]	<Joule>	Tch.
[00:29]	* Joule	narrows her eyes, the air getting a little colder.
[00:29]	<Phrine>	"Spider. Big spider."
[00:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	clenches a fist, poised to throw it at whatever threat lunges at them.
[00:30]	* Phrine	wishes she was a better aim with this gun; maybe she could shoot its eyes out if she was!
[00:30]	<[GM]Mary>	"looks delicious~"
[00:31]	* [huh]Letty	wets her fingers with blood.
[00:32]	* Joule	begins muttering some formulas under her breath, sounding a bit like an incantation.
[00:33]	<[GM]Mary>	For a moment, nothing happens. Then, A blonde girl rappels upside-down before you, and frowns. Or, smiles, rather, except it's the wrong way.
[00:35]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Wha-"
[00:36]	* Phrine	is so started that she can't help herself from firing off a shot reflexively.
[00:36]	* [Pyg]Judith	was expecting some hideous creature to appear, but it's something else. Her arm reflexively cancels the punching motion. This unexpected enemy probably can't be brought down with just a strong punch.
[00:36]	<Joule>	!
[00:39]	* Spidergirl	is shot, and scared to bits.
[00:40]	* [Pyg]Judith	shields and braces herself upon hearing a gunshot go off.
[00:40]	<Spidergirl>	Aaaaiieee!
[00:40]	* Phrine	barely knows what's happening, except that this spider isn't a spider!
[00:41]	* Spidergirl	scurries back up her rappel line.
[00:41]	<Phrine>	"Greeewaahh?!"
[00:41]	* Joule	quickly gets on her guard, looking around to see if she sees the girl again.
[00:41]	<Joule>	What the hell!
[00:41]	<[huh]Letty>	Ah, damn...
[00:42]	<Phrine>	"What...that wasn't a spider...but it was...?"
[00:42]	* Phrine	can barely hear herself talk. Loud gunshot is loud!
[00:43]	* Spidergirl	clutches her bleeding forehead and cries, hiding behind a stalactite on the ceiling.
[00:45]	* [Pyg]Judith	tries to look around for that upsidedown...person?
[00:45]	* Phrine	tries to shake off her bewilderment and focus. It's a spider-girl, looks like...? She feels something odd about this one, definitely odd.
[00:46]	<Spidergirl>	Ah-, Ah-, Aoow! That hurt! Why would you do that...
[00:46]	* Phrine	fails to comprehend who is talking, and responds.
[00:47]	<Phrine>	"I-It was a reflex! I'm working on it!"
[00:47]	* Joule	, despite her efforts, sees nothing, but keeps alert.
[00:48]	* Spidergirl	nurses her injury, sticking some little spiders in her head and ordering them to retrieve the bullet in Spider-language.
[00:48]	<Spidergirl>	skit... skitter skeet... skitter-skitter-skeet...
[00:49]	* Phrine	holds her gun at the ready, looking around her for movement. This is such an odd place to fight anything, and this feeling...why is she getting this feeling?
[00:50]	>Phrine<	Spider sat down beside her spider sat down beside her spider sat down be cider
[00:51]	* Phrine	mumbles inane whispers to herself.
[00:52]	<Phrine>	"...along came a spider...sat down beside her..."
[00:53]	* Phrine	looks over beside her. Hello there, beside her. How are you doing today?
[00:56]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: advancing, you almost get caught in one of the webs. You manage to avoid or free yourself from it, however, and find where the girl is hiding.
[00:58]	<Phrine>	"...I'm not Miss Muffet...I'm not frightened away...I'm not Miss Muffet...I'm not frightened away...I don't know what curds are..."
[00:59]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I see you!"
[00:59]	<Spidergirl>	!
[01:00]	<Joule>	The induced electromotive force in any closed circuit is equal to the time rate of change of the magnetic flux through the circuit... Ah-ha!
[01:00]	<Spidergirl>	G-get out of my cave! I don't want to fight rude people!
[01:01]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh, it talks!"
[01:01]	* Spidergirl	pouts at being called "it".
[01:01]	<Phrine>	"She talks, even!"
[01:01]	<Phrine>	"At least, she looks like she's a she..."
[01:02]	* [Pyg]Judith	lets her eyes adjust a little more.
[01:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ah, yeah, you're right, Phrine."
[01:02]	<Joule>	How conductive are you, little lady?
[01:02]	<Phrine>	"Looks can be deceiving, though. Maybe she's an it, or a he!"
[01:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Quite cute for a cave dwelling monster."
[01:02]	* Joule	grins evilly.
[01:03]	* Spidergirl	is getting mad.
[01:04]	<Spidergirl>	Grrrrr! What do you want?
[01:04]	<[huh]Letty>	You shouldn't agitate her. She's right, she hasn't really done anything to us, yet.
[01:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Just poking fun, just poking fun."
[01:05]	* Phrine	can't shake this feeling. A feeling of...oooohhh...maybe that's why...
[01:05]	* [Pyg]Judith	says, grinning at the cave dweller.
[01:06]	<Phrine>	"Hey Mom, where'd she go...? I'm lost again."
[01:06]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Right there, see?"
[01:06]	<Joule>	Eh- where?
[01:06]	* Spidergirl	isn't amused, and fires something gooey at Judith from her wrist while making the I-love-you sign.
[01:07]	* [Pyg]Judith	tugs Phrine over to where she is, pointing at the spider girl.
[01:08]	<Phrine>	"Oho...oh gah!"
[01:08]	* Phrine	flinches as a something flies through the dark cave near her!
[01:09]	* [Pyg]Judith	nonchalantly twirls to the side a few steps, bringing Phrine with her, looking almost like a dance.
[01:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Tsk tsk, and you're calling us rude."
[01:10]	* Spidergirl	grows red with anger now.
[01:10]	* Phrine	notices the gun in her hand. Oh yeah, she still has that.
[01:10]	<Spidergirl>	I'm not the one invading someone's home! Get out!
[01:10]	<Phrine>	"I did shoot first, though..."
[01:11]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We'll get out, as soon as you just let us be. We're just passing through."
[01:12]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Maybe you should apologize for the bullet-in-the-head-thing."
[01:12]	* [Pyg]Judith	whispers to Phrine.
[01:12]	<Spidergirl>	Liar! No one ever comes to Cain's castle for no good reason. Especially not through my cave!
[01:13]	* Phrine	nods, putting the gun away for now.
[01:13]	<Joule>	Er... Sorry for my ignorance, but who's Cain?
[01:14]	* Spidergirl	falls to the ground, landing on her feet, and fires a web of silk between a stalactite and stalagmite, screening the party from further entry.
[01:15]	<[huh]Letty>	Now, see childe, I'm going to have to ask that you not do that.
[01:15]	* Phrine	wishes she could do cool stuff like that. She wonders if Shepard can, since he's so old and stuff.
[01:16]	* Spidergirl	blows a raspberry at Leticia.
[01:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"How inelegant."
[01:17]	<Phrine>	"...maybe we should start over."
[01:17]	* Phrine	waves a hand towards spidergirl.
[01:18]	<Phrine>	"Hello, I'm Phrine. But sometimes people can me Hilda. What's your name?"
[01:18]	* Joule	stays quiet for the time being, to observe and collect information.
[01:18]	* [huh]Letty	watches. This can't work...
[01:19]	* Spidergirl	wrinkles her nose and narrows her eyes at Phrine.
[01:20]	<Spidergirl>	...Apologize.
[01:20]	<Spidergirl>	Get on your hands and knees and apologize. Or else I'm not talking to you!
[01:20]	* Spidergirl	hmphs!
[01:21]	<Phrine>	"Well that's pretty easy."
[01:21]	* Phrine	crouches down on the ground and looks at the webs beneath her. Wow, these are actually pretty cool...
[01:21]	* Joule	turns and catches Phrine by the shoulder. She shouldn't need to grovel, at least.
[01:22]	* Phrine	catches Joule's eye and gives her a look that says, "What? What'd I do this time?"
[01:23]	<Phrine>	"It was my fault, Jewel."
[01:24]	<Joule>	Good you realize that, but should you really have to humiliate yourself?
[01:25]	<Spidergirl>	Hey, no one asked you! She came into my home and shot me in the head, she should be my servant for the next forty years!
[01:25]	* Spidergirl	points to the big, bloody hole.
[01:26]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You're lucky you're no human then."
[01:26]	* Phrine	would say something about that hole, but she's still looking at the ground.
[01:26]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Unlucky for us since we won't be able to pass so easily."
[01:26]	* Phrine	is getting miffed. Hey, she's trying to make a friend here!
[01:27]	<Phrine>	"Hey, hey Mom? Mom person who I love? Hey, shut up."
[01:27]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hm? All right, all right."
[01:28]	* Phrine	returns to her regularly scheduled penance.
[01:28]	* Spidergirl	twitches at "mom", and has an awful feeling come over her, besides the head wound.
[01:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	turns her head to face another part of the cave. She can't help but feel a little annoyed at being told to close her trap, especially by her daughter.
[01:29]	<[huh]Letty>	Spider Miss, I know being shot in the head is not fun, but...
[01:30]	<[huh]Letty>	Does the Lord not teach to turn the other cheek?
[01:31]	<Phrine>	"So...I'm really very quite sorry that I shot you in the head, Ms. Spider. I'm pretty much an idiot and get too excited a lot. I deserve a lot more than I deserve."
[01:32]	<Phrine>	"Accidents happen, but if I was smart then accidents wouldn't happen. I'm sorry for being so stupid, Ms. Spider."
[01:32]	<Joule>	Isn't that 'a lot more than I get'...?
[01:32]	* Spidergirl	purses her lip a bit, suddenly feeling like the bad guy. She skirtingly(I don't care if it's not a word) casts her gaze to the groveling Phrine.
[01:33]	<Spidergirl>	She's your... mother?
[01:33]	* Spidergirl	blinks at Judith.
[01:33]	* Phrine	doesn't know if she's supposed to raise her head or not.
[01:34]	<Spidergirl>	But... wait...
[01:34]	* [Pyg]Judith	turns her head to glance at the Spidergirl before returning her attention to the far cave wall. She said to shut up, so I'll shut up.
[01:35]	* Spidergirl	peers more closely at Judith, Phrine, and Leticia.
[01:35]	<Phrine>	"Not...well, sorta. We're all vampires, see, and she's the one that bit me. I guess sometimes that counts. But we can be like family even if we're not; I really don't have real family anyways..."
[01:35]	* Joule	leans over so her head goes in front of Leticia, a little miffed at being overlooked. Again.
[01:36]	* [huh]Letty	steps to the side.
[01:36]	* Spidergirl	sits on a rock next to the silky fence, staring at her shoes.
[01:37]	<Spidergirl>	That's nice... I wish I had a family.
[01:37]	<[GM]Mary>	A huge spider crawls down next to her, petting her back with two legs.
[01:38]	<[huh]Letty>	Aren't these spiders sort of like family?
[01:38]	<Spidergirl>	One of my own... The spiders keep me company, but, you know... it's not the same...
[01:38]	* Spidergirl	pets the huge arachnid, which whimpers like a dog.
[01:39]	* Phrine	peeks a look upwards from the ground. Aww....
[01:39]	* Spidergirl	sighs.
[01:40]	<Arani>	My name's Arani. Arani Minerva. And I live here, alone.
[01:40]	<[huh]Letty>	Alone, huh...
[01:40]	<Phrine>	"Oohh...that's...I never liked living alone..."
[01:40]	* Phrine	remembers her years at the orphanage.
[01:41]	<Phrine>	"People didn't really care 'bout us orphans much...thought we were too much trouble..."
[01:42]	<Phrine>	"...I bet my mom and dad thought that too...maybe that's why I was there..."
[01:42]	<Joule>	I moved along by myself for a while, so I know it's rather lonely. Why do you keep down here?
[01:44]	<Arani>	The Master makes me. I used to live in the castle, but they said I couldn't anymore.
[01:45]	* Phrine	shudders at "The Master".
[01:45]	<[huh]Letty>	That's terrible...
[01:46]	* [Pyg]Judith	remains quite. Man, this is getting tough.
[01:46]	<Arani>	I'm supposed to keep people from getting in or out of here. So I guess you'll have to find another way around. Sorry.
[01:46]	* Arani	's contempt has been drowned by the blues.
[01:47]	<Phrine>	"The other way is worse. I could feel it. Bad things."
[01:47]	<Joule>	Hm... ah. Now that I think of it, why do you follow their orders?
[01:47]	<Phrine>	"At least here it's just sad things...making me sad too..."
[01:48]	<Arani>	Yeah, Ruth is pretty tough. She'd probably let you in if you made her laugh or something, though.
[01:49]	<Phrine>	"...oh, that's no good...people get too angry at me before I can make them laugh. Or just annoyed."
[01:49]	<Arani>	As for that... it's not really any business with you. It's just how it is.
[01:49]	* Joule	shrugs.
[01:50]	* Phrine	thinks she can get up off her hands and knees now. She scootches over closer to Arani, sitting cross-legged.
[01:50]	<Phrine>	"That's...that's wrong though, isn't it...?"
[01:50]	<Arani>	What is?
[01:51]	<Phrine>	"...I mean, things are how they are because they're not how they aren't. You have to make them that way, don't you...?"
[01:52]	<Arani>	I said it's none of your business. I'm down here because I have to be, okay?
[01:53]	<Phrine>	"Oh, okay...I guess I'm down here 'cause I have to be too."
[01:53]	<Phrine>	"Master Shepard wants us to go around doin' things and killin' folk. I still don't understand much of it myself..."
[01:54]	* Arani	rubs her belly. Oh, how I wish it could grow...
[01:55]	<Arani>	Oh, are you the "guests"? They don't really tell me anything anymore, but some of my spiders overheard...
[01:55]	<[huh]Letty>	What did they say about the guests?
[01:55]	* Phrine	scratches her head. Why does she always have to be the one that things about the hard questions?
[01:56]	<Arani>	Not much.
[01:57]	<Arani>	skitter skeet skeet...
[01:58]	* Arani	's huge spider departs further down the cavern.
[01:59]	<Joule>	Er, sorry to interrupt, but...
[02:00]	<Joule>	Is there something here relatively conductive that you don't mind me damaging? I've built up lots of potential difference and would probably shock someone if I stay like this.
[02:01]	<Arani>	Uh...
[02:01]	<Arani>	Touch the web, I guess? If one of you shoot me again, I'm sealing up for good.
[02:03]	<Joule>	Ah, thanks. One second, then.
[02:04]	* Joule	walks over to a part of the web and grabs it, causing it to seize and flash along with a rather loud sound.
[02:06]	<[GM]Mary>	Joule: The electricity lingers, turning the web barrier into an electric fence.
[02:06]	<Phrine>	"Ooo...more cool things I don't know how to do."
[02:06]	<Arani>	...
[02:07]	<[huh]Letty>	...
[02:09]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks at the electric display with interest.
[02:10]	* Joule	smiles at the effect, thinks it over a few times and then walks back to her previous position. Though the omnipresent bolts in her eyes remain, her irises no longer glow.
[02:11]	<[huh]Letty>	So, in any case...
[02:11]	<[huh]Letty>	Will you let us through?
[02:13]	<Arani>	No.
[02:13]	<[huh]Letty>	No way you'll change your mind?
[02:14]	<Arani>	...
[02:15]	* Arani	thinks about it.
[02:15]	* Arani	blushes.
[02:15]	<Arani>	W-well...
[02:16]	<Arani>	Maybe...
[02:18]	<[huh]Letty>	If what?
[02:19]	* Phrine	looks on with childish interest. She's just like she was before she was turned...
[02:20]	* Arani	touches the web gingerly, recoiling from the shock, then pulling a bit of it out. She meekly wags her fingers for Letty to approach.
[02:20]	* [huh]Letty	approaches.
[02:21]	<Arani>	if-if you do something for me... You gotta swear you'll do it.
[02:22]	<[huh]Letty>	Sure.
[02:22]	* [huh]Letty	gives her a small smile.
[02:23]	<Arani>	Swear! Swear on your love.
[02:23]	<[huh]Letty>	My love?
[02:23]	* [huh]Letty	glances back at Judith.
[02:24]	<[huh]Letty>	I swear.
[02:24]	* Arani	considers.
[02:24]	<Arani>	...Okay.
[02:24]	* Arani	whispers in Leticia's ear...
[02:25]	* [Pyg]Judith	tilts her head at Letty looking her way for a moment.
[02:26]	* Arani	's blushes goes full bloom.
[02:26]	* [huh]Letty	nods.
[02:27]	<Arani>	You'll- you'll do that for me?
[02:27]	* [huh]Letty	nods.
[02:27]	<[huh]Letty>	I'll do the best job I can.
[02:28]	* Arani	gets her hopes up. So high, they might kill her if they come down.
[02:28]	<Arani>	Th-thank you!
[02:29]	* Phrine	wonders what just transpired between those two. And also how she knows the meaning of the word transpired.
[02:29]	* Arani	tears away the web and hugs Leticia.
[02:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	wonders if she can break her silence.
[02:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	tilts her head again. A hug? Now she's really curious.
[02:30]	* [huh]Letty	gives Arani a small pat.
[02:30]	* Joule	decides to keep quiet. Never been much good at tact, but even I can tell in this case.
[02:31]	* Arani	holds her by the shoulders. That bullet wound is healing up quite nicely.
[02:31]	<Arani>	W-what's your nay-name?
[02:32]	<[huh]Letty>	Leticia, Leticia Black.
[02:34]	<Arani>	Leticia... Okay.
[02:34]	* Arani	takes a deep breath and steps back.
[02:34]	<Arani>	Be careful, you guys. Especially with each other. The master has a special "ability"...
[02:36]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks curiously at the spidergirl. She's letting us through? I wonder what she's getting Letty to do for her.
[02:39]	<Arani>	Hmm...
[02:39]	* Phrine	has bad suspicions about that warning. Careful with each other...?
[02:40]	<Arani>	skit-tit-skitter-skeeter skeet, skit skee?
[02:41]	<[GM]Mary>	In a few moments, a humongous wolf spider comes into view. Arani spider-talks at it.
[02:41]	<Arani>	Ah, good.
[02:42]	<Arani>	There's a maze up ahead. Charleston here will help you get through it.
[02:42]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston... nods.
[02:43]	<Phrine>	"Charleston, that's a nice name. Not silly like Phrine."
[02:43]	* Phrine	offers a hand out to Charleston.
[02:43]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston blushes and shakes.
[02:43]	<Joule>	Or extravagant like Boltzmann.
[02:44]	* Joule	curtsies.
[02:44]	<Phrine>	"Hello, Charles. Thanks for helpin' us out."
[02:44]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston skitters.
[02:44]	* [huh]Letty	smiles.
[02:44]	<[huh]Letty>	Thank you, Arani.
[02:45]	<Arani>	He says it's no problem. One more thing, if you ever get hurt, go see Artemis. She should be... in the kitchen, or something. If she gives you something to eat, just eat it and don't complain.
[02:47]	* [Pyg]Judith	stays at the back of the group, feeling a little shunned. Ah well, maybe I can practice staying below detection this way.
[02:48]	<Joule>	Artemis; alright.
[02:50]	* Phrine	walks up to Arani, and after fiddling with something in her backpack, offers a small trinket to her: a bullet.
[02:50]	<Phrine>	"I'm not really sure if you forgave me or not, but here."
[02:50]	<Arani>	...huh?
[02:50]	<Phrine>	"Next time you see me, you can go ahead and shoot me too. I won't get mad, and then we'll be even."
[02:50]	* Arani	never seen a cartridge before. She takes it and looks at it oddly.
[02:51]	<Arani>	Uh... sure, I guess.
[02:52]	* Arani	isn't sure what to say with all the spiderflies in her stomach
[02:54]	<Arani>	Well, good luck to you. and hurry back...
[02:56]	<[GM]Mary>	Saving state... [5:30 CAVERN 8.8%]