Druza's Third Session

•Forge|GM> Forgery ((Starting from the Ugly Mug after getting out of the building. You have Domovoi, Loopsy, and Pat with you))
10:13 AM ||||
10:13 AM <Druza|Bob> ((And ghost mcgee!))
10:13 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((He's in you))
10:16 AM The afternoon sun has begun its languid descent over the bayou by the time Bob manages to crawl his way back to town, his legs still half mangled from the apartment complex, arm throbbing with a heartbeat asynchronous to his own. His return into the main square brings with it a less populous arrival; What had begun with only a few patrols has already blossomed into large swaths of cops, the tourists now fewer and far between despite it not yet being
10:16 AM sunset.
10:17 AM In front of the Ugly Mug, Bob can make out the silhouette of Mike shadowed in the entry, his hands crossed, face swathed by shade. Even without a face, its clear he's pissed about something, and looking directly at Bob.||
10:20 AM <Druza|Bob> The day had been going well, even with all the injuries, the serious amount of exercise that makes his throat feel completely parched, sweat all over his body, probably ruining his coat, Mike's pissed, something about the ghost.
10:20 AM But he got Loopsy
10:20 AM So it's all good so far.
10:21 AM He gives mike a little wave, trying to close in to him, "Mind giving a little help?" ||
10:22 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Where the fuck's the ghost, Bob?" Mike doesn't move, his tone terse, mannerisms tense. He looks down at Bob, not a glare, but intensely. There's no friendly familiarity in his tone, just a touch of anxiety.
10:23 AM As Bob limps over, trying to close the distance, Mike still doesn't move towards him, still standing angrily.||
10:26 AM <Druza|Bob> Ghost? is that what the thing he fought was?
10:26 AM "If you mean the thing that destroyed me legs then it's right here. He raises his left arm
10:27 AM ((" at right here))
10:28 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((kk))
10:28 AM <Druza|Bob> "It didnt leave me much choice, i was stuck in a circle bleeding out, would've killed me otherwise." ||
10:30 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "You let the ghost... possess your arm?" Mike lets out a bark, too stilted to be normal laugh. "You fucking gave a ghost your own goddamn arm? Do you have any idea how fucking stupid that is?"
10:30 AM → Turncoat joined (uid185268@ealing.irccloud.com)
10:32 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Mike fumbles in his apron, searching for something, before pulling out a monocle. "Come over here," Mike says, walking back into the bar.||
10:37 AM <Druza|Bob> "I was completely cornered, a circle of blood was the only thing keeping it away from me, it put some sort of spell on me i think, i kept falling and stumbling" He limps towards him.
10:37 AM "You should know I keep inside, I don't know much about any Others." He follows him, beckoning the rest of his pets and allies to come along
10:37 AM Speaking of which the Domovoi wanted bread didn't it? Bob makes a mental note to bring it up to mike later. ||
10:41 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery As Bob and his cohorts enter the bar, Bob's right arm begins to tremble. The actual air of the bar, as misty as always, suddenly feels colder, darker, like frost collecting on everything. The beating throbs of his now possessed arm accelerate, causing the limb to fluctuate wildly out of his own control. Neither Poloi nor the cats seem bothered, looking towards Bob curiously.
10:43 AM Around Bob, the mist collects into forms, nothing solid, but resembling the Other in the apartment. They flank around Mike, surrounding him in small, flickering swarms of nothingness that coil and twist in wild abandon.
10:46 AM Mike turns, now wearing the monocle he stored in his apron, and glares at Bob. "These fuckers," he says, gesturing at the mist around him, "are ghosts. Just like that little shit in your arm. They're the thing I make sure don't get out of the Rocks, the things I keep here. Part of the 'Family Business' that came with the dearly departed of mom and pops. They're in here, both are one of these."
10:47 AM "The only reason that Howles isn't on my ass is he knows the second I die, these shits get free. Its why I keep them here. And you taking one of the ghosts before I get to it is a real fucking problem."
10:47 AM "So let me show you why your fucking "trip is a giant pain in my ass"
10:48 AM ((So let me show you why your fucking 'trip' is a giant pain in my ass*))
10:48 AM Mike drags a chair out next to one of the tables around the bar, gesturing for Bob to sit down.
10:48 AM ||
10:56 AM <Druza|Bob> He takes a seat, looking around nervously.
10:56 AM "It's that bad, huh. Howles is going to be busy with the murderer for now at least."
10:56 AM Taking a breath deep he tries to keep his old arm under control, failing to do so.
10:56 AM "We made a pact, I gave it my arm for its protection, I don't know if its possible to renegoigate that pact or something."
10:56 AM He subconciounsly pets loopsy with his claw hand, lightly. ||
10:58 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "I can always tear off your arm; keep in nice and cozy in a mummified limb." Mike says this nonchalantly, looking down at Bob's possessed arm through the monocle. "Sure, you might not fucking like it, but its an option."
10:59 AM As Mike glances up and down Bob's forearm, he lets out a long, low whistle. "Oh boy, you got one doozy of a spirit here. Where'd ya find it?"
10:59 AM ||
11:01 AM <Druza|Bob> "Well, you know the thing when people start focusing on one thing really hard? i saw Loopsy and entered some decrepit old apartment, Kinda didnt pay attention to anything else, could show ya the location though."
11:06 AM He looks at his arm, "Well, not like i had much usage of the arm in the first place, but i ain't the back stabbin type. We made a pact im gonna stick by it for now atleast." His throat feels dry as all hell,
11:06 AM Best not to ask for any water though, it'd probably piss him off further.
11:06 AM What a fucking mess, and there's still a metric ton of shit to deal with after this, two more of his friends are running around exposed to the dangers like the ghost, atleast these things ignore them it seems. ||
11:11 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "I don't think you understand my fucking position here, Bob." Mike looks Bob in the eyes for once, and the anger there is mixed with desperation, touched by fear. "My family told the town they'd collect /all/ the ghosts that fuck about here. They forced me into this fucking job. I'm not going to be forsworn in the Rocks, not with all the shit I have to sift through, just because you feel like keeping a promise to some fucking ghost because you couldn't
11:11 AM walk right." Mike approaches Bob, looking him dead in the eye, wielding a butcher's knife that is covered with the misty imprints of spirits. "Now you can either give me an alternative way to get possession of that ghost, fucking take off that arm, or I can take off your head and keep your spirit with the rest of these shitters. Your choice."
11:13 AM → Thalia joined (secret@net-a1sgs2.or.comcast.net)
11:20 AM <Druza|Bob> He takes a deep fucking breath, "Alright. I'll warn you, it's gonna try to protect me, so it might lash out."
11:20 AM "I ain't about to let a friend get ruined because of my mistakes."
11:20 AM "Trade you an arm for a shot and some bread?" He chuckles
11:20 AM This is going to be fucking awful. ||
11:20 AM -|| "Bandages too, let's try to be clean about this if possible."
11:20 AM ||
11:26 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Mike breaks out in a relieved smile. "All of that, man," he says, the relief clear in his voice. "I'm sorry to fuck you over like this, but I can't afford to not." He snaps his fingers, and the mists around the tavern start to recollect by the bar, returning in a flurry to drop scotch and bandages at the table. The mist recollect around the monocle and butcher's knife Mike wields, obscuring both in a haze.e
11:27 AM "Drink the scotch now; you'll need it to dull the pain." Mike grits his teeth, looking down at the arm. "Try your best to keep still."||
11:31 AM <Druza|Bob> "I'll try to"
11:31 AM He takes the shoot with his claw hand, trying to not break the glass as he tries to drink all of it one go.
11:31 AM Deep breaths.
11:31 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((roll dex))
11:31 AM <Druza|Bob> ((Fuck me))
11:31 AM $roll 1d6-1 Im gonna break it
11:32 AM ((No dice bot :() ))
11:32 AM → [ATM] joined (ATM@net-vum.2cu.138.174.IP)
11:32 AM <Druza|Bob> $roll 1d6-1 Im gonna break it
11:32 AM
<[ATM]> Druza|Bob "Im gonna break it" [3] -1 = 2
11:34 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The glass trembles in his grip, wavering rapidly and spilling scotch across the table, but miraculously the glass stays intact, if only half full.
11:35 AM ||
11:35 AM <Druza|Bob> "This is gonna be a pain in my ass to deal, you know anyone who could get me a replacement maybe?" ||
11:37 AM ((Deal with*))
11:40 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Jasper? Ms. Morrigan? The Seamstress? The /Angler/?" Mike considers, waving the butcher's knife back and forth. "You know as well as I do how many places a person in need can go in town. Just need to know what type of price you're willing to pay."
11:41 AM "Anything else you need before I begin?"||
11:43 AM <Druza|Bob> "Tell me how to deal with ghosts some point down the line, other than that no."
11:43 AM He drinks the scotch.
11:43 AM "Make a clean cut eh?" ||
11:45 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Of course. I'll tell you about them right after this."
11:45 AM Thalia → Thalia|Phoebe
11:45 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((Roll Guts))
11:46 AM <Druza|Bob> $roll 1d6+1 Goodbye john i hardly knew ye
11:46 AM
<[ATM]> Druza|Bob "Goodbye john i hardly knew ye" [3] +1 = 4
11:47 AM Turncoat → Turn|GM
11:49 AM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery With a thunk, Mike buries the knife right into Bob's elbow, digging deep, sending pain after pain up through Bob's arm. The searing feeling of the cut seems to attract the motion of spirits, drawing the mists from the knife to the wound.
11:52 AM Strangely, little blood seeps from the wound, the mists coiling to fill every opening to flesh. With them, the pain is drawn out slowly, receding, leaving a gray misty stump.
11:56 AM The remainder of the mists coil to cover the now amputated forearm, Enshrouding it in mist until it appears bandaged and mummified. Despite being severed, the limb still moves and jerks of its own accord, shifting across the table. Loopsy and Pat both seem to eye it hungrily.||
12:01 PM <Druza|Bob> He grits his teeth, Breathing heavily. "Pat...Loopsy."
12:01 PM "Don't." He holds himself together, the reduction of pain helping him keep his composure.
12:03 PM He drinks the rest of the scotch, spilling most of it.
12:03 PM "Sorry about the messs" ||
12:04 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Don't worry about it, mate." Mike looks the most relieved that Bob has ever seen him, his shoulders slumped. Around him, the mists seem less pronounced, more focused on the actual mummified arm before the two of them, still twitching. "How's your stump?"||
12:06 PM <Druza|Bob> "Pain is receding, somehow."
12:08 PM He moves it about sluggishly, seeing if he has regained full control, "I thought id be screaming in pain, but most of its dulled."
12:10 PM He holds his breath for a moment, breathing out slowly. "You better now?"
12:10 PM Blinking he looks for Domovoi, making sure it hasnt ran away in fear or something. ||
12:13 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi seems to have made a home under the table, having begun to clean up the spilled scotch using his tail as a mop. "You wanted to know how ghosts work, right?" Mike says, gesturing at the spasming limb. "Pain reduction is part of it. Ghosts are drawn to reminders of their death. All those phantoms, little misty trails on your arm and stump, those spirits all died in agony. They want to feel alive again, reminders of their death. Your pain gives them
12:13 PM that."
12:16 PM "I'm much better. I'm sorry about rushing this, but with Howles rampaging, I can't afford to take my time. Besides, that spirit wasn't pacified, just housed. Whatever deal you made, it would've claimed more, expanded like a mold until every part of you was possessed. Last thing you want is to give the fucker time to do that. You had no protection, no safety, just a ticking time bomb at your wrist." Mike taps the limb, slamming the axe into the limb. More
12:16 PM spirit coils leak from it, driving deeper into the limb, turning it ash grey.||
12:20 PM <Druza|Bob> Holy shit, it was /that/ bad.
12:20 PM "Jesus, I never realized. How in the world do you deal with these things?" If these things are everywhere it's going to be hell to maneuver around them then, especially if they keep claiming buildings.
12:20 PM He squeezes the bottle in his hand, "Poloi can you take this?" He stretches his arm toward it.
12:20 PM Things wouldnt be completely awful atleast, he had the house servant to take care of his house and help him with things. ||
12:23 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Parents laid the foundation. This place is like a fucking bugzapper to the things, drawing them in even more than the Lookout. Anything that feels like a ghost thinks it needs to be near here. Plus some other stuff that I need to keep quiet about, but suffice to say ghosts like being here. Only exceptions being ones that can't think straight or are more about the place than the person."
12:24 PM Poloi reaches up, grabbing the bottle of scotch from Bob, cradling it like a baby in his own thick, stubby fingers.
12:25 PM Mike grins. "Plus, helps when you got a fuckload of other spirits to overwhelm the littler ones." He gestures to the limb, which finally has stopped moving besides the occasional twitch."||
12:34 PM <Druza|Bob> He gives him a slight smile, "Well let's hope you can contain them then!"
12:34 PM "What are their weaknesses and if I destroy one of them how does that affect you? assuming I run into another one."
12:34 PM Hopefully, never again, these things seem like a giant awful mess in general. Looping buildings, nausea, fuck that.
12:34 PM An arm and my legs for Loopsy, could be worse, could be dead. Just a matter of getting Poloi set in and finding the rest of them now.||
12:38 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Destroy one by letting it find peace." Mike waves his hand, and a few spirits appear by his hand. Faint things, closer to wisps than people. "These things ain't alive or smart like your cats; they're pretty shitty things, looking for rest at the drop of a hat. You find what killed them, bring it up, make them think about it too long, and they go poof nice and easy. Its like a murder mystery party. Only more murder and less party. Make sense?"
12:38 PM Mike smiles. "Do it right, and if I never hear about it, I could care less. See no spirits, foresworn by no spirits."
12:39 PM "Next time it comes up, don't call me about it. I like you Bob, but if you ask for help, its gonna fucking cost more than an arm, maybe a leg if you mess up again."
12:39 PM ||
12:44 PM <Druza|Bob> Fuck, well when dealing with ghosts I'll be on my own. Nodding at his words explains the questions it was asking.
12:44 PM "Won't' call you in regards to ghosts then, thanks for the help though, I appreciate it deeply."  Fucking with ghosts is just going to be a pain in the ass, let's avoid dealing with them if possible in the future.
12:44 PM "Speaking of which i should probably go home and check on Henry, you got any bread so i can buy off you? Poloi here needs it to be properly inducted as the house spirit." ||
12:44 PM -||
12:44 PM "Akin to an offering i think." ||
12:46 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Yeah, give me a sec, I'll grab some from the back." Mike disappears behind the bar, bringing out some loaves of bread. "Cats want some stuff too? Milk? Cream?"||
12:47 PM <Druza|Bob> "Sure, more of it wont hurt"
12:47 PM Atleast this mess is resolved, going to need to figure out a more effecient way to find the cats, running around blind wont help and i only have so many resources to spend. ||
12:48 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Mike grabs out some small cartons of milk and cream, considers tossing them to Bob, before putting them in a little doggy bag. "Here ya are."
12:49 PM "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to 'initiate' the new spirit you brought me." Mike nods towards the cleaver, before looking back at Bob. "And sorry, about this giant fucking mess. I just can't afford to piss off Howles. You know why."
12:49 PM ||
1:06 PM <Druza|Bob> "It's honestly not a problem." He waves his stump about, "this old thing was never that useful to me anyway. Maybe I can finally replace it with something much better."
1:06 PM Getting up he takes the bag with his claw, gripping it tightly.
1:06 PM Now to get some relaxtion and doing the ritual Poloi wanted to do, on the route home he thinks about what excuse to give Henry, Robbing? no, the legs could be explained with the truth, he feel down the stairs after all, keeping it secret would be dumb, Henry might not be able to talk but he can think and he'll see through his lies probably. ||
1:10 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The slow limp back home is supported by the gang of followers in Bob's wake, each seemingly intent on chowing down on the bag in his hands. Loopsy remains as slow and relaxed as ever, his pace more like leaps than actual steps, while Pat and Poloi continue their simple little trots. Its nearly dusk by the time Bob manages to make his way home, the face of Dozer pressed against the window, deforming his already malformed face.
1:10 PM The cat meows as Bob approaches, looking at the bag expectantly, shuddering the glass as he does.
1:10 PM ||
1:18 PM <Druza|Bob> Waving towards Dozer he smiles, seems like nobody has intruded on his home today thankfully, things were already awful enough. Getting close to the door he accidentally tries to open the door with his stump. Before realizing that well... he'll have to drop the bag, which he does, "Don't touch the bag." he says confidently, opening the door and then picking up the bag.
1:18 PM He heads towards his kitchen, getting ready to set up everything and check on all the cats.
1:18 PM Time to meet Henry or put it off until the ritual is over? let's do the latter. It'll be too awkward to explain everything.  ||
1:22 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi pounces up to the table, climbing up the chair to stand on top of the actual tablecloth. "Domovoi need 3 things for claim; Hen, Bread, and Yard."
1:22 PM With each word, Poloi holds up a finger, wiggling them around.
1:25 PM "First, need to kill chicken. Then, slice first bread from loaf, then bury both in ground."
1:25 PM "Now, where yard?"||
1:30 PM <Druza|Bob> "Y-You want a hen? as in a chicken?" Baffeled and confused, how in the hell was he supposed to get a chicken.
1:30 PM "Does it need to be alive when you get it?"
1:30 PM He points towards the window where his yard is, atleast he's got two out of three things ready. ||
1:32 PM ⇐ TheWhiteDuke quit (uid277976@highgate.irccloud.com) Quit: Connection closed for inactivity
1:32 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Domovoi family need to kill chicken. Part of ritual. Now, where your chicken?"
1:33 PM <Druza|Bob> He facepalms with his stump
1:33 PM And starts rubbing it towards his forehead
1:33 PM "I don't." this just gets worse and worse. "I don't have one."
1:33 PM ||
1:34 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi looks confused. "But, you have yard. Yard need Chickens. Why yard but no chickens?" He glances out at the yard, searchingly. Dozer and Smokey appear to be eying the cat man house spirit, hungrily, looking up at Bob as they do so.||
1:37 PM <Druza|Bob> He glares at them. "No, he's a friend."
1:37 PM Sighing deeply, "I don't have one, is there anything we can use to subsitute for it? like a store bought chicken?" ||
1:37 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Store bought live chicken?" The Domovoi looks up hopefully in Bob's eyes.||
1:37 PM <Druza|Bob> "Dead chicken." ||
1:38 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Only work if you kill chicken." Poloi looks stubbornly at Bob. "Family kill Chicken or no work."||
1:39 PM -|| "Pheasant also possible?"
1:39 PM ||
1:41 PM <Druza|Bob> Could he trust the cats to catch a bird? Maybe.
1:41 PM "Pheasants dont exist around here sadly."
1:44 PM ||
1:44 PM ((Forgot that bit))
1:44 PM ((Aren't native here*))
1:45 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Then need Chicken." Poloi sits down, crossing his hands. "No Chicken, no bond to house."||
1:47 PM <Druza|Bob> He grits his teeth annoyed,
1:47 PM Bob might not be the smartest but there is one person who might be able to supply him with a live chicken.
1:47 PM Jasper kingsley.
1:48 PM "Alright come with me, i'll go pay a visit to a guy who might be able to provide it. Unless you wanna be left alone with them." He gestures towards Dozer and Smokey.
1:48 PM "I'll need to re-dressed though, these clothes have gone through hell."
1:51 PM He goes to find a new pair of clothes, looking to grab some bandages with him too, just incase he gets into another fight. ||
1:52 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi jumps up from his seat, standing and waddling after Bob. "Good. Chicken, then ritual, then protect."
1:55 PM The search for clothes proves less than successful; the only spare clothes down on the ground floor show themselves to be dirty or ragged, and putting them on requires more hassle with the loss of an arm
1:55 PM The only ones that Bob manages to get on are a dusty overcoat and a stained tshirt.
1:55 PM ||
1:56 PM <Druza|Bob> He sigh, looking at the stairs
1:56 PM Alright well today cant get that much worse. He starts trying to climb up the stairs
1:57 PM ((Ath?))
1:57 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((Roll Ath))
1:57 PM <Druza|Bob> ||
1:57 PM $roll 1d6-1 Watchmefall
1:57 PM
<[ATM]> Druza|Bob "Watchmefall" [2] -1 = 1
1:58 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery It proves difficult to climb up the staircase, between the broken legs and missing arm. After climbing half the flight, Bob's feet prove too damaged to support him, leading to him tumbling back down to the base of the stairs.
1:58 PM Below, Dozer looks at his face curiously, as does Poloi. Both seem somewhat confused by the failure to go up stairs.||
1:59 PM <Druza|Bob> He screams inside.
1:59 PM "D-don't mind me, just a cripple trying to get up a stair."
1:59 PM He tries again. ||
1:59 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((roll again))
1:59 PM <Druza|Bob> $roll 1d6-1 Sir please
1:59 PM
<[ATM]> Druza|Bob "Sir please" [1] -1 = 0
2:00 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The second attempt proves even less successful, his legs giving out just 1 step up. He feel his weight shift, uncomfortably, making it hard to even move his feet. It seems like he can't climb up steps until his legs heal.
2:01 PM ||
2:04 PM <Druza|Bob> Oh no, no no no no no
2:04 PM He can't get fucking up the stairs
2:04 PM Henry is fucking up there
2:05 PM He'll die if he doesnt manage to figure away up
2:05 PM "Never mind, fuck the clothes. we're going /now/."
2:05 PM "Dozer come along."
2:06 PM He heads straight for the door. ||
2:06 PM -||
2:06 PM He also takes along the bread, just incase the cats try to steal it while he's gone. ||
2:08 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The walk to Jasper's barge is slow, arduous, and painful, every step sending throbbing feelings of pain through his feet and up his legs. It becomes hard to concentrate, hard to continue on forward, the pain of each step building on the last.
2:09 PM Finally, an hour later, he manages to find his way to the Barge, backlit by the light of the start of sunset.||
2:10 PM → Inksword joined (uid324427@brockwell.irccloud.com)
2:12 PM <Druza|Bob> He wants to scream out in pain and rage, the stairs have completely stopped him from accessing the man who took care of him for years, who made him into who he is.
2:12 PM Getting a live chicken is gonna fucking happen today, no matter what. ||
2:12 PM -||
2:12 PM Stepping up to the Barge he looks for the door so he can enter. ||
2:14 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Oy, what are ya doing here? Barge's closed. Come back tomorrow." From behind, Bob can make out the booming voice of Jasper, echoing against the surface of the ship. "Sold outta fish anyway."||
2:16 PM <Druza|Bob> "I aint buyin no fuckin' fish." He turns around to look at Jasper, "I got no time to fuck around Jasper, im here to buy a live chicken."
2:17 PM "Yes it's a fucking weird question, but i aint got any time to fuck about with all the talking."
2:17 PM "It's /really/ /REALLY/ important." ||
2:18 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "...a Chicken." Jasper cocks an eyebrow. "Really? Why do you think I have a chicken, let alone a live one."
2:19 PM "I mean, I can get you one, sure, but it takes /time/, Bob. I'm a shipper, not a miracle worker."
2:19 PM ||
2:19 PM <Druza|Bob> "Look, i life is at stake here, i need one ASAP, you're one of the few people who could get one."
2:19 PM "I'm willing to pay a hefty fucking price for it." ||
2:20 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "How urgent are we talking? Can you wait, say, an hour?"
2:20 PM ||
2:20 PM <Druza|Bob> "An hour, works yes"
2:20 PM "What price are we looking at here for it?" ||
2:23 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "As much as you can afford and more. Triple the upfront price of a live chicken, 3 favors, and I'm gonna need your help to replace some of the favors I need to call in for this. I don't work well under pressure, and I'm gonna need a lot of help to fix it." Jasper sighs, rubbing his chin. "Do your cats really need chicken this badly?"||
2:25 PM <Druza|Bob> "It's for a ritual, my fathers life may very well be on the line here, i need it /badly/. I wouldnt show up limping otherwise. ||
2:26 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Alright. I can respect the intent if its for a loved one. Are you willing to agree to my terms?"
2:26 PM ||
2:26 PM <Druza|Bob> "Name the amount of favours first."
2:26 PM ||
2:26 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "3 of them."
2:26 PM <Druza|Bob> "How much am i at risk?" ||
2:28 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Less than you would be taking a deal from the Angler, more than you would be going to Miss Morrigan. I want a promise of assistance with my own work in the near future, and the favors are going to likely be related to that." Jasper looks at Bob. "I'm naming the terms because you came to me, and I normally need time to get what people want. Without that luxury, I can't offer you the same."||
2:29 PM <Druza|Bob> "I accept, i just needed to know the information beforehand."
2:30 PM Thank fuck this was resolved, now all that remains is doing the ritual once the chicken is delivered. ||
2:30 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Mate, I'm human. More than you can say about the other options you have. Now get off the Barge, get together the funds, and I'll be back in an hour, chicken in hand."||
2:31 PM <Druza|Bob> "Alright."
2:35 PM He starts looking for the bank, which obviously should have the atm machine, once he has the money he returns here. ||
2:39 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery It takes a few minutes to walk over to the Bank. The tourists are gone, but the bank seems to at least be open. Getting the money, Bob returns to the now barren dock, making out the silhouette of someone on the end of it. The rest of the docks seem pretty deserted, the few who had been in the town square already off in the Nightclub district. The individual seems to be fishing off the dock, unaware of Bob's presence.||
2:46 PM <Druza|Bob> Fishing, hooks, it wouldn't be the angler, but he can't help but think of him with the fishing, a reminder of his mistakes, which just keep piling up, Howles on edge, the murderer on the loose, his cats out there. and now the three favors. So many things to do, so many injuries, after the ritual he's gonna have one long nap after he puts Henry to bed. ||
2:49 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Shoulda come to me, Bob," the figure says, with a voice like rotten crackling cardboard. "After allll, our first deal went so wellll." The thing turns, and Bob once more is privy to that long, needlesharp grin, those baited hooks on the brimmed cap atop his head. The Angler continues to fish, but it becomes clear he hasn't lifted the rod from the water yet, instead tying more bait and hooks onto the rod itself, dropping them in one after the other. "Why
2:49 PM wouldn't you want to continue our business? Don't you care about Henry?"
2:49 PM ||
3:01 PM <Druza|Bob> He so badly wants to punch the bastard, threating his family, "I remember our last deal /very/ well."
3:01 PM "Sometimes, you gotta spice things up, try other venues." Ones that won't end up destroying your arms permanently.
3:03 PM He deliberately ignores the threat against Henry, lest he'd send Dozer to mutilate the bastard, a fight he will inevitably lose.
3:04 PM "And while i'd like to continue doing buisness with your, im too injured to help you with any favours."  He shows his stump. "Getting a consumer killed wouldnt be good for future favors." ||
3:07 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Oh, that silly little thing? Aren't you just fragile, falling apart like that. Who'd take care of Henry if you were to go?" Another needlesharp grin flashes across The Angler's face, and a few of the dangling wires begin to dance back and forth from his cap. "You know, I could always stitch you back up, fill in those pesky little broken bits with some replacements, make you nice and whole again. Wouldn't you like that? Wouldn't you like being able to
3:07 PM care for Henry again, instead of being useless, having to wait on someone else who may not return?"
3:09 PM "Wouldn't it be a shame if your "Other venue" were to fail to make his way back? Humans can be so fragile, just like you or Henry. Why would Jasper be any less at risk? At least you know I can always follow through..." With another grin, the Angler turns back to the water, looking at where his rod dangles in the shallows.||
3:17 PM <Druza|Bob> "He may or may not arrive, but he made a promise, and us practitioners stick to them as you should know, he's gonna come through on it unless someone interferes, which is possible."
3:18 PM "We humans are not so fragile that a few lost limbs stop us however, im a living example. I'm fine with being like this, i made a mistake and paid for it, just like i have before."
3:20 PM "I don't need to be whole, because these injuries and wounds, shows me who I am, what I've done, it affirms the decisions I've made.
3:20 PM And I wouldn't have it any other fucking way."
3:20 PM "I'll fight for my allies and i'll give things up for them because that's what i do for my friends."
3:21 PM "I'll fully trust Japser until i have no reason to." ||
3:23 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "It must be such a shame that "who you are" is what's stopping you from caring for Henry, then. Those lost limbs, those injuries, they may not affect you, but just look at your father. Trapped alone in your house all day, watched by cats, unable to move, to breathe. As soon as you leave, his only activity is gone, and now look at you. Too feeble to help because of your own selfish choices." The Angler smiles that same smug smile, and pulls up his rod,
3:23 PM revealing dozens of fish still wriggling on their lines. "I guess your decisions to trust Jasper might bring the same sort of disappointment, then. The same fact that you give up so much to just try and fix what I could help you deal with in an instant."
3:25 PM "Half your family are out of reach, all because you don't care enough about them to not risk them dying too. Or is your death being the cause of Henry's not something that comes to your little, cat obsessed brain?" A chuckle escapes the Angler's lips, low and rumbling. "Adorable."||
3:30 PM <Druza|Bob> He'd give him the finger but well, he doesn't have fingers to do it again.
3:30 PM "The faster the deals the sloppier they usually are." He starts to move again, towards the direction of the barge, keeping an eye out for any hooks, and the angler himself of course.
3:30 PM "I'm not gonna budge on this unless Jasper falls through completely." ||
3:32 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Well, perhaps Henry's health isn't as important as caring for Henry is to you. I suppose I shouldn't offer the cure, then." A gritted smile emerges on the Angler's face. "Best of luck waiting on another... helper." The Angler begins to walk out, onto the water.||
3:32 PM <Druza|Bob> Wait, cure
3:35 PM He resists the urge to call out to him, he'd made his statement, a technical promise.
3:35 PM The cost of curing him would be dangerous, give him an in on his home, his life and Henry himself.
3:36 PM Just like he'd gotten an in on me.
3:36 PM He'd caught me off guard, but he's going to be asking for a deal eventually. He takes a deep breath, and tries to look calm despite his shock. ||
3:37 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The water echos in the Angler's wake, ripples leading out as the figure disappears over the horizon. "When Jasper's help proves not enough, you know where to find me."||
3:41 PM <Druza|Bob> "Of course."
3:41 PM Holy hell all this action is tiring this old body out, really need to get some degree of fitness at this rate.
3:42 PM After the tense talk he relaxes himself, a wave of relif, and then he starts walkimg slowly and safely towards the Barge. ||
3:43 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((Barge still isn't back yet))
3:43 PM <Druza|Bob> ((*Where he last saw the Barge*))
3:47 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery After another 30 minutes, the Barge appears over the horizon, chugging away as it crawls back to the docks. The ship seems to be virtually the same as always, apart from a layer of black ink on the hull.
3:49 PM Thalia|Phoebe → Thalia
3:49 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery As the ship pulls into harbor, Jasper appears from within, holding a cage. Within, Bob can see an albino chicken, clucking nervously.
3:50 PM "$350. That trip was a massive pain. You're gonna hear all about it when we work to replenish my stock." Jasper seems more annoyed than usual, his calm demeanor betraying a hint of weariness.||
3:52 PM <Druza|Bob> "Of course." He fishes out his wallet, Getting the bills out.
3:52 PM Seems like the angler tried something to him during the journey? "Someone try to stop you?" ||
3:54 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "I was on a time limit. That's bad for my line of work. Someone always tries to stop me. But to answer your question no, no one out of the ordinary."||\
3:58 PM <Druza|Bob> Holding with the stump towards his chest he somehow after a minute or so get the exact amount for the payment.
3:58 PM "You'll have come down here, i gotta get going soon." ||
4:00 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Aight." With a leap, Jasper lands on the dock, holding the chicken in 1 hand. "Come back tomorrow, I'll have a favor for you to complete."
4:00 PM "And next time you need something at this short notice, bother one of the Others please."||
4:01 PM <Druza|Bob> "I trust you more than i do the Others for what it's worth"
4:01 PM "Thank you for this, i deeply appreciate it."
4:02 PM He holds the bills with his claw hand trying to carefully hand him the money with out droppign it . ||
4:03 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "I wish I could say its been a pleasure, but really I just want to sleep and forget about that trip. Go, take that chicken, do something with it." Jasper sighs, then climbs back up the side of the ship, disappearing within the hull.||
4:04 PM <Druza|Bob> He takes the cage and starts limping home.
4:04 PM "So Poloi, let's get the ritual over with." ||
4:06 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi dances, trotting forward back towards the house. The last of the daylight fades when the trio make their way back to Bob's house, seeing the cats waiting at the window. Ignoring them, Poloi dances to the back of the house, seeming to pick a spot at random.
4:06 PM Turn|GM → Turncoat
4:06 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Dig for ritual." he says, darting about in a circle.||
4:11 PM <Druza|Bob> "This is gonna take awhile, he puts the cage down, and goes to the garage, looking for his old rusty shovel. ||
4:12 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The shovel is found leaning against the side of the shed, still caked in dirt and whatever else is on it.||
4:14 PM <Druza|Bob> He sighs, so tired, just want to sleep, his body has already been pushed to the limit and now he's doing even more excerise.
4:15 PM He picks up the shovel with his claw, dragging it to the yard. and tries to dig using his stump to keep it from falling off his hand entierly
4:15 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((Roll Dex))
4:15 PM <Druza|Bob> $roll 1d6-1 Let me go bed already
4:15 PM
<[ATM]> Druza|Bob "Let me go bed already" [6] -1 = 5
4:15 PM <Druza|Bob> ((Yay))
4:16 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The digging seems to go quickly, before long resulting in a small hole about a foot deep.
4:17 PM "Hole done. Now kill hen." Poloi points to the cage,  then mimics cutting his own throat.||
4:18 PM <Druza|Bob> "Can you hold it?" ||
4:18 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi grabs the cage, holding it in front of Bob. "This?"||
4:18 PM <Druza|Bob> "The chicken." ||
4:18 PM -||
4:19 PM "One arm, cant hold it if it gets out the cage really." ||
4:20 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi reaches in, yanking the chicken painfully through the door of the cage
4:22 PM It squawks and starts to struggle in Poloi's arms. Oddly, the chicken seems to shift in color as Poloi holds it, growing silver, then shifting to a darker gold.||
4:23 PM <Druza|Bob> What in the world, well it doesnt matter at this point since it's going to die regardless.
4:23 PM While Poloi is holding it he's going to see if he can get his claws on the throat on the damn thing. ||
4:24 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((roll Dex))
4:24 PM <Druza|Bob> $roll 1d6-1 Diediedie
4:24 PM
<[ATM]> Druza|Bob "Diediedie" [1] -1 = 0
4:26 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The grab for the chicken ends in failure, the struggles being too much for Bob to track. His wild strike instead scratches Poloi, who grunts heavily, nearly dropping the chicken in the process. With the loosened grasp, the hen increases its speed, managing to peck Bob's hand in the process.||
4:27 PM <Druza|Bob> "You fucking CHICKEN." He shouts.
4:27 PM "Stop holding it im gonna get a knife and stab it."
4:27 PM He goes back inside and starts looking for a knife to kill it with. ||
4:28 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ON the breadbox, bob manages to grab a sharp knife, his claw hand barely able to get purchase. Its trembling more than it had prior to being pecked by the strange chicken, but still in his control.||
4:30 PM <Druza|Bob> Fucking everything has to be difficult, He holds it as firm as he could.
4:32 PM He goes outside, looks taking slow steps so as to not put more pressure on his legs, and then he tries to stab it in the throat. ||
4:32 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((Roll Dex))
4:32 PM <Druza|Bob> $roll 1d6-1
4:32 PM
<[ATM]> Druza|Bob [4] -1 = 3
4:33 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery This time, the knife seems to do the trick, cutting off the chicken's head. Instead of normal blood, however, the liquid squirting from it is golden, pale and shiny. it begins to spill onto the grass, coating it in golden ichor, as the chicken stops struggling.||
4:33 PM <Druza|Bob> "What the fuck did he give me."
4:33 PM "i'll have to ask, this still counts though right?" ||
4:34 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery Poloi shrugs, tossing the body into the pit. "It Chicken. Now need first slice of bread and words."||
4:35 PM <Druza|Bob> ((Do i need to roll to slice the bread?))
4:35 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ((Nah))
4:37 PM → waxpapers joined (uid299478@stonehaven.irccloud.com)
4:38 PM <Druza|Bob> He puts the bread down, getting down on his knees sandwhiching the bread as the cuts a very shoody piece off.
4:38 PM "What words do you need?" ||
4:39 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery "Repeat after me." Poloi clears his throat, and when he speaks again, his voice is changed, loud and clear. "Our supporter, come into the new house to eat bread and to obey your new master. "||
4:40 PM Camtist → Camtist|GM
4:42 PM <Druza|Bob> "Our supporter, come into the new house to eat bread and to obey your new master."
4:42 PM ||
4:43 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery At the words, Poloi heads over to the hole, scarfing down the remains of the chicken and the piece of bread. Then, as quickly as he did, the domovoy vanishes, leaving Bob to sit by the side of a dirt hole in his yard.||
4:43 PM <Druza|Bob> "Are we done?"
4:43 PM "I sure hope so, i need some rest man."
4:46 PM He starts cleaning up the mess, putting the bread in the cage, and putting getting shovel back into the garage. Need to clean the place up, so many things scattered about, screws, dust and other gardening tools that he cant really use lay about. Maybe if Henry gets restored one day.
4:46 PM Eventually he heads back into the house, cage in his claw hand, he puts it on the dinning table. Looking around to see if anything is different. ||
4:48 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery The once grimy house has a layer of sheen to it, the actual interior now less mess and grime than Bob has any memory of seeing. The furniture and floor are spotless, free of cat hair and dust. Poloi is still nowhere to be seen, but the house is clean. Against the couch, a small note has been left: "Sleep, new owner. I shall care for all here tonight."||
4:50 PM <Druza|Bob> Bob collapses against the couch, too tired to do anything else, basically falling asleep on the spot. ||
4:51 PM
<•Forge|GM> Forgery ||||