Tome of Amnesia- Obtaining

[19:56] {NARRATION} Using some unknown Method, Aspen had convinced a fellow Vampire celibate and the Leader of Dawn to join her on a mysterious journey.

Where to, you might ask? Well! It was to some inconspicuous island off of Agartha's eastern coast.

Why this Island? It wasn't because Aspen is a bit deranged. Much rather there were rumors of a mage specializing in Mental Magics who lived on this island! Someone who could help the young women forget her troubles, in the form of a cumbersome and useless set of nature spells.

So off they went. By boat? By Plane? Sheer force of will? Truly the greatest mystery of this voyage but somehow they arrive on the coast. Venturing past the beaches they came across an open field where they notice quite a large, and generic, wizard's tower.

Gray stone bricks, fancy blue roof shingling, and overall just a tinge of that magical atmosphere that everyone knows and loves. Was this what they were looking for?

Was this the Tower of the Wizard Gogo?
[20:00] "Remind me again why we're here and how you roped me into this, away from my experiments and tormenting Vedran?" The ghoul asked as they stepped onto the island itself.

Jennifer hefts a staff made of her own blood over her shoulder to peer up at the massive, stone tower before them. No doubt the main entrance was warded, but who knows? Maybe the wizard would have forgotten to lock the door so they wouldn't have to kick it down.

"This it?" Jennifer asks as they start walking towards the tower.
(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[20:05] By flight from the altercations of Ipos and Salthiel's match, Aspen glided along the evening skies gracefully, keeping herself afloat with ease. However the other two happened to travel towards an island off the coast of Agartha approached, here they were presently!

Aspen remained in flight, blood wings beating gently with powerful blows against the air, sending gusts of winds with each flap. Her gaze drifts towards the strange, gray tower, approaching it curious, yet trialing along down towards her fellow sister with a cant of her head.

"A tome, akin to a mana amnesia, that allows one to forget a school of magics entirely, was rumored to be present here. It'd be perfect to acquire and learn its knowledge," she answers, glancing between the two of them.

The tower is scrutinized carefully for details. Wards, barriers bound around, whatever should it not be ordinary! "Mmh, seems so." With a nod of her head, the woman grinned faintly, approaching the tower vaguely hesitantly, inspecting the exterior carefully.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[20:08] "A tome, akin to mana amnesia." He said, humming slowly. Obviously, this sort of atmosphere was where Alastor felt himself at some ease- He did have some experience going on expeditions like that, and the fifth time was the charm!

But this was the fourth. Oh god, oh fuck. In any case- He moved around peacefully, even if the other two seemed to be extremely excited for it, or particularly Aspen did. He stared at it for details, before grabbing one of his -many- alchemical creations...

... A bomb.

And holding it in one hand, he continued the path towards the tower. "The surrounding region is probably dangerous, so be careful." He spoke, as if it was a way of simply making 'being careful' be someone else's job.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[20:10] {NARRATION} Anyone who'd look at the exterior would see a pair of cute blue doors. No windows what so ever, though!

Aspen uses her blood hound tier nose to sniff out anything, but she couldn't tell.

But man. Jennifer would step up to the plate. This girl was GIFTED or something! She also couldn't tell shit.

It seemed like a normal stone tower.

The doors loom in front of the party. They're wooden, too. Don't forget that.
[20:10] Alastor G. Vishkar says, "Okay."
[20:11] Doors.

Bomb.

It was an awful convenient combination that always had worked. The flask is held in his hand, fingers shifting around to grab at the top of the vial, and quickly enough, he takes a few steps back.

Likely hoping the others would do so too.

And throws the vial at the door.

He doesn't do 'subtle'.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[20:13] "Right," a mere nod of her head while the Ivanovich thrall twists back around, distancing herself from the tower. Her eyes drift towards Alastor's hand, viewing the alchemical weaponry he held in his grasp. A longer distance - just incase he planned to use the explosive!

Which he does! Thankfully she reeled back by then before the vial had gone off. Now.. for the smoke to clear.. her eyes stare forward, anticipating the view of the clearing.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[20:14] Jennifer Ivanovich says, "I mean-"
[20:14] Jennifer Ivanovich says, "That works too."
[20:15] Aspen Ivanovich says, "...Truth be told I didn't expect you'd be carrying bombs, Alastor."
[20:17] Alastor G. Vishkar says, "I also have poisonous gas to continue the work and push whatever's inside, out."
[20:17] Alastor G. Vishkar says, "Probably not enough for that but- Well."
[20:17] {NARRATION} Alastor, a master alchemist, someone who can't be subtle. Apparent but this recent epidemic of tattoos.

Obviously his first reaction is to blow the door the fuck open. And... it works! A master Alchemist should be able to make bombs, probably.

The doors blow OFF. Splinters go EVERYWHERE. Scorch marks trail inside and outside of the tower.

Yet deep down inside you can all feel something terrible. Like you just lowered the value of the tower. Now it's never going to sell.

Looking inside, there seems to be various alchemical stations. Beakers and vials and a few bugs on the walls. All giving you a feeling that... this place has actually been empty for quite some time.

At the center of the room... a gigantic leather-bound book. A boquet of herbs and flowers growing out of every nook and cranny. Neatly placed on a wooden pedestal.

What do y'all do.
[20:22] Jennifer wafts some of the smoke out of her face as the trio enter the tower. An alchemy lab, that definitely piqued the master alchemist's interest.

Aspen could have the book, for Jennifer? She was clearly here for the ingredients that were all lying out in front of her. She started to turn over vials and beakers, looking inside and sniffing at the concoctions to figure out what, exactly, this wizard had been working on.

It was like watching a typical vandal hitting a convenience store during the middle of the night. "Come on, has to be something I can use that this old fart won't miss-"
(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[20:24] Alchemical stations! Alastor himself moved around. Things were far too peaceful-- Almost suspicious. One hand kept at the vial for the poison itself; Sure, he wasn't wearing proper protection, and neither was his group, but if push came to shove, they might be able to weaken a stronger creature.

So, for a moment perhaps, he decided to be... Slower. Purple irises analyzed the bugs, vials, and everything that these contained, while keeping as much distance as he could from the central book- Or perhaps just examining in a touchy way.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[20:26] Oh my. Oh no. The thrall knew of Jennifer's interests when it came to alchemy. Her mahogany eyes peer towards the woman towards the side, curious about her own reaction to the plethora of ingredients, the bugs, vials, herbs, and what have you.

The leather bound tome sat within the middle. Could the task have been that easy..?

Aspen approached cautiously! Nearing the seared tower walls in flight following the clearing of smoke, leaning her head forward towards the interior to view more of the inside!

Yes, Jennifer was adamant on casually walking within, as expected. Aspen followed in tow, gently setting herself before the tome without placing a hand on it. "This.. can't be that easy.. can it?" A glance towards Alastor. She was definitely hesitant in placing a hand on that book. The sheer stupidity of never living down whatever repercussions might come forth from such an act! Holy shit!

Perhaps it was just her better judgement,or precautionary advances that stopped her from doing so? The woman's eyes settle back on the tome..

Then the bugs. "Mmh.. maybe I'm just paranoid." Again her gaze drifts towards the book, desiring to grab it, yet she doesn't reach as the other two collect their ingredients. For now, Aspen stands by the book and staaaaaaares at it.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[20:35] {NARRATION} The bugs vbrrrt. Or whatever bugs do.

The Alchemical stations are... empty.

The tome? A glowing beacon in this barren and disgusting dusty ass room. Nothing looks appeal, everything looks outdated. Imagine the equipment being some old geezer's rarely used Windows 95 computer.

It's a big mess, yet the goals in sight.

As Aspen approaches. Well of course everything goes wrong.

The grass outside gross and blocks the entrance/exit! A rumbling is heard before a mechanical churning could be heard.

Cogs clicking, for a few seconds while all the chaos is going on.

Suddenly a glint gives birth to a wide array of runic symbols on the wall.

Which, in turn, all spark and release a great blinding light.

Before the party knows it, they're gone. Roll for death please.


Wait a second, let's rephrase. They're knocked out, but wake up. Somewhere new, somewhere vibrant. A lush garden of many colors. Reds, blues, yellows, greens, even some you can't properly explain. Statues of cats, dogs, and even a duck line this massive garden. Also... a few other people? Laying about on the grass. Looking up at the sky and moving ever so carefree.


To sum it up?

You've awaken in the middle of a garden. Yet this setpiece is surrounded by thick hedges that obscure anything in the cardinal directions.

What would the party like to do?
[20:41] "Aspen."

Jennifer clasps a journal of notes closed as the rumbling of gears start to whirr.

"You're a fu-"

Before she could finish, she opened her eyes as the blinding light fades. Jennifer lifts herself up, looking around her surroundings. She didn't recognise this place, an odd garden?

Hedges blocked them from leaving. Jennifer scratches her chin as she frowns to herself. "Where in Agartha are we...If this even is Agartha."
(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[20:44] Immediately Aspen twirls around, watching the grasses of the outside block their exit. A multitude of noises overwhelm her ears accompanied with a birth of runic symbols casting a blinding light and suddenly..

Her eyes open, adjusting to the sight of a.. garden? All around are hedges that block the view of what lay outside its domain. The thrall traverses along the grounds between bundles of flowers, and people alike.

Didn't she just cause this issue to arrive by simply gawking at an object? Yet here she was going it again in absolute silence. Blinking her eyes while passing them along every body and detailed flower. It's almost like she was losing her head a bit with seeing this strange, unexplainable surrounding.

"Wha-.. I don't understand.. where are we? All I did was.. look at it!" She explains, breathing heavily in a faint fit of panic; attempting to recollect herself momentarily, her wings flex out, but she doesn't take flight as they bend back in towards her body, forming into an aura of blood - a protective veil.

"What the fuck happened? Should I just close my eyes and not stare...?" A faint, anxiously sounding chuckle protrudes as she advances around the garden, inspecting everything in sight.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[20:48] Ducks are great.

Period.

At the image of being in the garden, he simply looks to the side, towards Aspen. Both hands move to his waist. Arcanium blade is still sheathed, which is a good signal! At least.

"I have no idea where we are. So. You touched the book, and this is obviously your fault- Where do we go?" He said, still looking around to see if...

At least any of the hedges called his attention.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[20:49] Aspen Ivanovich says, "..I never touched it. I stared at it, Alastor.."
[20:51] {NARRATION} With Alastor's keen vision, he can see what might be a slight opening to the north!

With everyone elses nagging and questioning! They don't really get anywhere. Besides warming up a bit from all of that anger and frustration.

If they wanted to head north, they'd have to step over these half-sentient people on the ground! There was a decent group of them. Rolling over the grass - yet always avoiding the flowers. Occasionally muttering a "hhheeyy…."

You can't blame them, the flowers are very nice.
[20:54] An unamused mien fixes on her features, staring out towards Alastor whom happened to have caught sight of a way through the hedges. Clearly Aspen's confusion caused her to miss the opening, therefore, she follows in pursuit, aiming to avoid the rolling bodies who, questioningly, avoided the flowers.

Squints were had towards them, but the wonderous world they were within was of more concern, even if her curiously piqued towards their irregular actions. How'd they come to be like this? And why?

With a shake of her head, the woman dodges them continuously, assuming they were headed off in the northern direction.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[20:58] "Those are talking plants. We sure we didn't step on a trap filled with soothe reed blends?" She looked down at the flowers for a while. They looked INCREDIBLY creepy to her, and she wasn't really fond of the idea of walking on them.

So instead, she leapt forward, throwing her arms down by her sides with palms open as pressurised beams of water slammed down over the flowers as she "Floated" above them thanks to her makeshift water jetpack.

Eventually, once over, Jennifer closes the metaphorical tap and flicks her arms dry of water. "Well, that was queer."
(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[21:08] A single way to go. North. Alastor started walking in that direction, and it didn't matter if these people or whatever they were stood in the way. He had feet to step on things, and it didn't mean that he wouldn't do it just becuase they looked like people.

More the contrary.

"Let's just go." Obviously, he made one thing clearly.

Avoiding the flowers.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[21:10] {NARRATION} The trip was curious. Jennifer's [intellectual property of the Nintendo Corporation] wouldn't work. Yet.. it was easy enough to avoid these unwashed masses.

Yet the three would notice. What should be such a short stroll.. actually took some time. It'd be hard to tell if it was their movements being slow or something else but what should take two minutes of walking took twenty.

After this they'd happen open the northern edge of The Garden! Alastor would be right, the hedge had an opening.

And like all good openings, it would actually open! The hedge splits apart in some floral display of floral arrangements. Giving view to... a kingdom of sorts?

Small creatures would be scurrying about trying to make their way around what would seem to be a Kangaroo Court. Just the worst vision of poorly dawn law-enforcement you've ever seen.

Looking for another few seconds... these people would be vegetables? Carrot couriers, Garlic guardians, a great big Jicama judge resting at the end of this court. Sitting high in a great wooden podium.

This was, quite clearly to any expert, a vegetable kingdom. Plant creatures like Mandrakes and Dryads given free reign over some plot of land. Disgusting.

I mean. It was all a bit weird but alright. A courtroom with benches, a jury section, a judges seat, all of that. Outside! Exposed to nature!

The judge would stare at these intruders and nod.

"Are you the defendants Lawyer?"

Looking, yet again. A rutabaga dressed in a fine suit would be sitting next to a bandaged bell pepper.

On the other side? Presumably the defendant, a great big Dragon fruit. He sweats. He looks towards aspen. He reaches out a weirdly plant like hand and motions for her to come over.

Looking for another few seconds... these people would be vegitables? Carrot couriers, Garlic guardians, a great big Jicama judge resting at the end of this court. Sitting high in a great wooden podium.

I mean. It was all a bit weird but alright. A court case with benches, a jury section, a judges seat, all of that. Outside! Exposed to nature!

The judge would stare at these intruders
[21:21] An extended trip, with what presumably should've been something of a few minutes turned out longer than anticipated. Yet, they finally reached the end of the traversing, coming forth before a flowery threshold of the garden that peeked open to a view of.. a courtroom surrounded by floral décor all around.

A jury. A judge. A defendant. All beings present, creatures, whatever they were, took on the forms of vegetables! What acid did Aspen ingest for this odd occurrence to be presented?

The inquiry is answered with a cant of her head, questioning herself if stepping forth was the best decision, yet-

For the sake of whatever the situation could entail? Knowledge of some sort? Her eyes shifted towards Jennifer. Then Alastor. Curiosity far too piqued for her not to step forth towards the dragon fruit persona that sweat.

"Huh.." She spoke softly, pausing in her steps. Surely Alastor or her fellow ghoul might've stopped her. A brief is given back towards them before she attempts to continue forward. Clearly a trap; but the Ivanovich's interest in the situation was far too great!
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[21:24] "What the fuck." Jennifer says as she just sort of stares at all of the veggies and fruits sitting around in "Court." She had an urge to just snap her fingers and set this entire strange fever dream on fire.

But that wouldn't get them out of here if this was real, would it? Jennifer dropped her shoulders and let out a heavy sigh. "Do I look like i'm dressed for court?" She asks, while gesturing to the labcoat and bloodstains covering it.

Someone needed to get better cleaners.
(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[21:27] {NARRATION} The dragon fruit rubs up against Aspen. Trying its best to whisper into her ear. This was a sensitive matter after all.

"See that knight in the Back? The Corncob?"

Knight Cornish grimaces.

"He's accusing ME of Adultery! He's MAD! I'm a DRAGON FRUIT not a PASSION FRUIT! My lawyer's not in season and they're about to start this trial without me having a lawyer... Please help me out!"

The Judge bangs his gavel. Things were getting a bit heated and none of these veggies were capable of surviving hot climates.
[21:27] Alastor G. Vishkar says, "... Oh god."
[21:27] Jennifer Ivanovich whispers something.
[21:33] Alastor G. Vishkar whispers something.
[21:34] Aspen strides forward between the jury towards the defendant, who rubbed up against her uncomfortably. What a strange fucking thing. A step is taken back, however, she leans in for the defendants to whisper in the woman's ear, staring off towards the corncob that supposedly accused this Dragon fruits!

The Ivanovich can't help but to bite down on her tongue, holding in the laughter that desperately wanted to escape. "Aye... I.. see him.." She speaks, holding herself back between each word spoken from the unbearable desire to laugh. Holy shit.

From the corncob, the woman's eyes wander towards the Jicama Judge resting at the court, banging his gavel! Oh shit. Oh fuck.. did this mean suddenly she's stuck at this creature's LAWYER? She hadn't the experience for this sort of thing.. but after a quick scratch against her cheek.. Aspen glanced back, taking note of the view of her acquaintances, the other vegetable people, and kingdom's view.

"..I guess," she replies, returning her attention forward.

How the fuck did this happen..? What was she supposed to SAY? Well.. "I.. need more context, I think?" A quirk of her brow, this situation was entirely awkward.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[21:40] {NARRATION} As quickly as the accepted, the Knight Cornish would storm over to the table and drop three crucial pieces of evidence.

A jar of juice. Collected from the crime scene.

A piece of "flesh" dark pinkish in color.

Finally a... seemingly shoddy lab report going over the crime scene. Various numbers and accounts of viscera and "d n a" are listed.

The Judge rings out.

"With all this evidence AGAINST him I doubt you'll do much, but I'll allow these outsiders to continue the case. These three pieces of evidence were all submitted to the general council of my court and have been thoroughly investigated. If you can find FAULT in our evidence maybe we'll let him go."

The judge points over to the knight. Who'd return to his place far away.

"But I doubt my Knight would be wrong."


How does the party proceede? Can the prove the Dragon Fruit's innocence? Will we ever leave this juristic hellhole?
[21:48] A hand is risen. Alastor slowly moves to point at the 'flesh'. Obviously, the other two parts were accusatory and such; But this one?! This one wasn't.

The Dragon Fruit was there, and as such, Alastor decides to speak up. "May I point out something? Because there's a thing here." He says, before moving closer to the lab report, and pointing at some random data there.

"This part here is regarding to the KNIGHT'S dee-en-ah, not the victim's part. This is all to disguise that the knight has an affair himself." He says, coughing.

OBVIOUSLY that should work.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[21:48] Jennifer Ivanovich says, "...What he said."
[21:53] The pieces of evidence are laid out, most apparent being the lab report of poor-quality! Oh my! The woman clears her throat, taking up the report and scanning her eyes over the details as if she gave a care in the world.

The evidence of that, the information pertaining to whatever it held, mattered not to the thrall. While the judge spoke about finding doubt in his knight, Aspen drifts her eyes upward towards the rather aggressive vegetable with concern.

The piece of flesh is glared towards. Then the jar of juice - whatever it truly was. But most importantly, the lab report that Alastor inspected as well.

"Mmh, he's right. The plaintiff's evidence's quality is tawdry at best."
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[21:56] Alastor G. Vishkar whispers: We're already fucked so I might as well try to claim something.
[21:56] {NARRATION} "Well, this was honestly an experiment on our part."

The judge gives a fruity shrug. Not too sure what he expected from it.

"Our labs aren't... too good so it's quite possible. I'm willing to accept your plea and say there isn't enough evidence!

Since there's not enough Evidence we'll go to a duel! Cornish, fight. You three, fight in the small fruits stead."

It was a quick resolution, but hey. There's none better.

Cornish seems distraught and embarrassed by the results. He was wagering his honor on this series of obscure and weird pieces of evidence. But he steps forward and meets the party. Ready to fight.


[Restrained 3 round cap 0]
[21:56] Aspen Ivanovich whispers: Agreed.
[22:12] {NARRATION} As it turns out, this knight had an entire platoon of soldiers under him! Veggie squires and shock troopers would rise from the ground to aid him as he unleashed a "bullet hell" upon the party.

A few would go down, but ultimately it would be Jennifer who'd get the final blow.


Aspen - Roll Twice
Jennifer - Roll Twice
Alastor - Roll once

normal 1d6

And then post your battle rps
[22:16] Alastor takes the offensive in the case. Even if they were to fight in probably-what-were-meant-to-be-honorable terms, it didn't mean that he would indeed fight in these. The Oscuri was a dirty fighter, and this much couldn't change this easily.

He might not have been able to land the final blow, but the Oscuri tried to trade them with the Knight every now and then, his Rieka quickly forcing each one of the soldiers that did happen to come too close down to the ground, immobilized by the sheer emerald energy.

The blade was stained- With juice.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[22:19] A downed Jennifer was a mad Jennifer. She raises herself up as her eyes suddenly turned pitch black and her skin paled even further than normal. She grasps her staff as she finds an opening for the tendrils of blood lashing around her to strike.

They impale the Knight in both legs and arms before lifting them up into the air. And then, she snapped a pair of fingers. A massive ring of fire erupts from beneath the knight as the tendrils release them.

"Just like mum used to make." She pants out as the vegetable is set alight and burnt to nothing more than a shrivelled up husk.
(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[22:21] Alastor G. Vishkar says, "your mom wasn't a very good cook to miss popcorn like that."
[22:22] Success, it was apparent the Dragon Fruit was off the hook! Hah! A battle ensured with the corn on the cob bringing soldiers to assist him in the assault. Aspen wielded her blade, trading blows with the plaintiff back and forth, or with his soldiers.

It was Jennifer who'd gotten the final hit on the man, however! However the court room reacted towards the altercation wasn't unknown with her focus settled on those who'd been attacking, downed. Their leader burned to a crispy.

The vaguely panting thrall stepped back, letting the recollection of the situation retrace in her mind. Trying to grasp their point of the faulty evidence, or how they ended up here. "Well.. that's settled then! It seems the Defendant isn't guilty, your honor, and your Knight's been.. overcooked."
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[22:25] {NARRATION} The knight lies - or I guess cinders? Smolders? in a pile in front of the courtroom. Jennifer was fiery, for sure. Maybe too much. I think the only thing we can say for sure is that she's a bad cook.

Audible gasps, even from the Dragon fruit, are heard. Other, similar, knights seem to be mobilizing. Moving forward to apprehend the trio...

When the world shifts. They're pulled back from whence they came. The world itself dragging them back into the garden.

Where they'd see him. Quite a stereotypical wizard. Blue robe, blue pointy hat, both with a cute star pattern on them.

He looks at the tree and sees.. the juice on Alastor's blade. The battle wear and tear. Various leaves and other plant-viscera.

He grimaces.

"New arrivals! Welcome to my Dreamscape!"

The crooked hermit mage speaks. With the utmost excitement. Literally never-ending. How is he so excited?

"See you just got back from my Plant's section. She was such a nice Garden before. Well. She trapped me in here and ate me. Now I exist only as a dream inside my life's achievement!"

He drifts on before turning to the party.

"Tell me if I'm wrong. You came into my tower searching for my stuff. Got trapped. And now my Garden is trying to eat you?"

He laughs.

"Wanna know a way out?"
[22:34] Audible gasps surround the trio, whom was being apprehended when the world's view diminished before her very eyes, warping around, and in the blink of an eye? The view of the former garden came to light. Amidst the imagery stood its architect.

Robes of blue adorned with a starry pattern turned towards them, acknowledging their existences. His bubbly nature reminded Aspen of Nyphadora and her Glade in the Worldscape. Was this.. 'realm' akin to that?

No underlying, deathly ambiance overwhelmed by joy. Nothing. Aspen's eyes scanned the familiar surroundings for something. Anything, really, before settling back on the Wizard with a squint, along with a nod!

"There's a lot of things I'd like to know, actually." The woman stepped forward cautiously. My what this adventure brought forth thus far was both annoying and amusing.

"What exactly is your.. achievement? How did you create it? Would your belongings clarify this information?" Many inquiries, hopefully they were answered, but they don't stop there!

"And.. eat us? Is that what's.. happening? We're being eaten? Because.. if that's the case, yes, we'd like to know a way out."
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[22:36] Jennifer was really looking forward to frying a few more fruits and veggies...Oh well. "Right- How do we leave?
(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[22:37] Alastor was, for once, looking forward to continuing the onslaught. Not like he always did that- It was purely a reflex of the moment. Yet, even if he was still in the... Dreamscape, it meant that Alastor himself had to pay respect to the wizard.

Unfortunately.

Hand clenched around the sword's handle, but he for once allowed others to speak for him.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[22:38] {NARRATION} "My achievement! Simple really."

He nods, vigorously.

"I was an accomplished illusion magi in life! And a powerful runescribe. I combined one and one and got two. The power to "enter" into your minds! It draws from your subconscious and casts the same illusion on each of you."

He nods even faster.

"Which is why you're here. Sharing in my final dream! But it's quite easy to leave. Actually no it's nearly impossible!"

He points his hand to the east and once again the hedge opens. Revealing a darker dead garden. Large mirrors grow out of the ground and seem to reflect many things.

"Enter my Garden of Reflection and see if you can stand what you see. When you can overcome yourself, you can overcome my illusion. Of course you want to do it before my plant comes and eats all of you in the real world."

He laughs, before - disappearing.
[22:39] Aspen Ivanovich says, "**LMAO"
[22:46] An illusion formed by runes? That's the world, or Dreamscape, they resided in presently? An illusion magician with runes created such a world. Scary. Something to mentally note for the future!

A heavy sigh protrudes through a gaping maw as the wizard disappeared. The woman stared off towards the east, heading in that direction with no ounce of hesitancy. She didn't want to stick around - overcoming herself via reflection seemed like an easy challenge, right?

Therefore, the prolonged trek towards the opening ensues for Aspen to enter the Reflective Garden. The woman didn't care to wait for Alastor or Jennifer's pursuits in following. The assumption was made that they'd tag along regardless. This was the only way to leave, really. So why would they not?

Either way, the point is reached. Without pause, Aspen enters. What would it be that she'd see?
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[22:47] Well.

There was only one way, which was forward. The wizard itself was borderline insane; Or at least someone who probably fell to his own machinations. Kind of reminded himself, really- But it didn't matter.

They had only one place to go, and it was through the garden of reflections. To face himself. That was... Awful. There was only one person in this world that Alastor truly feared, and it was Alastor.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[22:48] Jennifer Ivanovich says, "Hmm..."
[22:52] {NARRATION} For poor Alastors sake.

The dying landscape would crunch under foot. The air was cold. Nothing was right.

Yet when she approached the mirror - for a second she saw naught.

Another second, she saw herself.

Yet another. Her fangs would grow and her eyes would become a blood red.

She'd see herself. What her path has set her to become. Bodies of those she knows behind her reflection. Bodies of those she cares about.

Alastor? A wrinkled old king ruling amongst a set of ruins. Not a single other being could be seen besides rusty suits of armor. The ceiling crumbles, and falls upon his visage.

Jennifer? Vedran leaving. Her research notes being destroyed. Every manner of gadget she's created rotting due to lack of use. All of her work for naught.


Yet, for Aspen there'd be something more. A pull. Jennifer could feel it to.

First an arm, and then it's entire upper body.

A dark armored man would approach. Carrying a sword of blood and bone. His presence gave off an unimaginable power. His lineage would cause Aspen and Jennifers blood to JOLT towards him. Physically drawing them closer to him.

Yet the being would stand there, saying nothing. Watching the two women with intrigue, but eyeing the Oscuri with hate.
[22:58] Her gadgets in this case was spilt potions falling down a sink. Research notes on ifre, Vedran simply leaving. This was clearly an illusion and yet...It was an isnight to her greatest fears. Her "father" leaving, her life's work destroyed and the fear an addict feels when they know their supply had been cut.

Her heart was racing as she gripped at her chest. She felt her blood pounding around in her body, towards the towering figure. It was someone she knew and yet didn't.

Was this Cain, perhaps? "...This isn't it." She held tight onto the focus of her bloody staff as wide eyes darted back and forth, trying to piece together what she saw and tried to figure out what was and wasn't real.


(Jennifer Ivanovich)
[22:59] Failure. Alastor knew, deep down, that this sort of thing could come for him. That there were times when he thought he could indeed fail, but these times were distant. His mind rushed to concoct possible scenarios that would have led to that, but he couldn't avoid to focus on one thing.

That old king was him.

To the very end of his days, he was in fact a king. This much was what mattered; Buried, along the rest of his own resources. Along whatever else he needed and wanted in his life. It was... A worthy end- Perhaps not the best. But he kept everything he wanted.

The only person that could stand in the way of his success, through whatever thinking exercises the Oscuri made, was himself. And that one was simply the result of a single failure- A thing that he couldn't allow himself to repeat. Failures took things south rather easily.

But of course. Another creature approached them. He knew that familiar Aura- It was way stronger than what he wanted it to be, perhaps. Or what he expected it to be. Yet, it was familiar. Alastor had a brief idea of what it was.

It certainly wasn't Vedran's final form.

His face contorted; A scowl was impossible to hold back, eyebrows knitting together at the sight. Fingers slowly balled up to fists, and he quickly took out the Arcanium blade.

"Dishonor."
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[23:06] She approached a mirror, staring at naught. The reflective surface displayed only what lurked behind the Ivanovich. Aspen blinked, now viewing herself. Another blink. An opened maw with elongated fangs, brighter crimson hues, and bodies settling behind her of acquaintances she cared for.

Had she been responsible for this? Perhaps. Was this her future?

The envisioned illusion descended her heart into her stomach- an anxious feeling coursed through her body albeit vaguely. This was the very future the woman knew she'd find herself before eventually.

Overcoming the imagery wasn't difficult. It was accepted with confidence as the thrall tilted her chin upward pridefully, taking note of the familiar man approaching. Aspen stepped sideways, glancing off towards Vedran and Jennifer. Their reactions by now settled, or not.

Aspen's attention was completely divided between her present mindset, racing heart against the vision the mirror displayed, and the form of her father. A familiar sensation, the woman's vitality reaped from her aura, but she fought back against its pull aggressively.

Should she find herself unsuccessful in prowess to force back the blood that jolted in his direction? The thrall would freeze it. Her strange reactions of the situation messed with her judgements currently.

"..Vedran?" She silently questioned, taking flight and wielding her blade. Was another fight going to occur? She'd be ready if so.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[23:06] Alastor G. Vishkar says, "aspen: "VEDRAN????""
[23:08] {NARRATION} The great question. Your sire? Or the Original Sire?

Impossible to tell, and the panic was setting in. As they'd grow more and more fearful, the creature would grow and grow! Feeding off their fears and insecurities.

Yet it was Alastor who'd attract his hatred. The being would turn to swiftly attack. Cut off the head of the brave one, let him continue his feast.


[3 round restrained 0]
[23:12] Jennifer Ivanovich says, "Oh god oh fuck."
[23:31] Apathy. A stoic mien adorned her pale complexion towards the fatherly figure. Cain himself? The abilities this vampiric illusion possessed made Aspen believe so. Vedran? The appearance was kindred to Vedran, making the fight quite difficult for her to end!

Between Alastor's Rieka and sword, Jennifer's fiery prowess and blood, and Aspen's sheer, crystalline vitality soaking and slashing into the illusive being's existence, it was she who ended the battle.

The woman neared, soaring through the Dreamscape's atmosphere smoothly towards the avatar with celerity, striking her blade across the neck, through the carotid arties and bone, and severing them from the aggressor's body without a hint of hesitation.

For what the woman wanted, this creature stood in her way of that! A mere display of her nature? Definitely. The swift action of the fatigued thrall fell before where she bobbed in the air, wings opposing the air while she lowered the blade to her side, staring down at the fallen creature.

"...where the fuck do we go now?" Turning a dimly lit set of mahogany eyes towards the others, it was clear she wasn't content with this- Oh my. "How do we overcome ourselves exactly?" She inquires, turning again towards the mirrors for answers.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[23:37] Cain. A definition of everything that went wrong with undeads when they weren't properly made. A mistake on Azrael's part- A disgrace that couldn't remain in this point of the world. Something that in fact, he couldn't dispute.

While he couldn't dispute in raw strength with any ordinary vampire, he could do more. He could use his own wit to it, and there was his own triumph. There was what he needed- Not the opportunity to be the last one to deliver the blow, even if the brimming emerald energy made it hard for him to stop.

Not like he would, anyway- Alastor never stopped in this. He simply moved towards the vampiric illusion and continued to hit thoroughly, even when it stopped responding.

He didn't care.

There were hatreds so primal that he couldn't control.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[23:39] ** Avatar of the Father has inflicted an injury upon Aspen Ivanovich. ("Shattered Reflection", "The fight against the nightmare avatar has left half your body frozen. Even when healed the deathly chill would remain. Forever reminding you of the terror you saw.", "Permanent", "Severity: MODERATE (-20 Vit)") **
[23:40] Alastor G. Vishkar says, "i have to ask since its like 1 am here"
[23:43] {NARRATION} In their great fight Aspen would win. Yet at a cost. She'd slowly notice half of her body has been.. frozen solid.

Yet that wasn't what mattered. She had driven her blade deep inside of the beast. And with that he'd vanish. Spreading into the winds as a mass of dust.

But not before finally speaking,

"I, am not your fear. If you wish to leave, see behind you."

Yet, everything else would follow. The once vibrant garden was gone. The mirrors were no longer there.

All that lays in this world would be a blood red web. On the center an egg. Pulsating with a powerful familiar to Aspen.

Emerging from it would be someone familiar to Aspen.
[23:50] Oh hell no. Not that guy. Cain himself was actually something bad by itself, something that Alastor would hate- But it was a good kind, delivered by faith and nothing more than the endless zealotry which the Azraelites found themselves dwelling on sometimes.

The other appearance however had fallen victim to a much, much more palpable manner of that. Most didn't get to see the pulsating Rieka spreading so strongly on the surrounding environment, powered by sheer hatred and nothing more than that for even a few moments.

No words were spared.

And given the fact that he didn't feel like waiting too much, the Oscuri wasn't about to allow the Boreale to spare words as well. They had to either fight or fight- There was no other way of getting out of this, and Alastor ached to finally feel himself ending their life.
(Alastor G. Vishkar)
[23:53] There is a horrible cracking sound, the ripping of flesh and bone as the egg hatches. The webbing below erupts, a river of blood circling whatever escaped from it.

A s p e n...

They all knew this voice. A man erupted from the egg, covered in gore. Bits of white showed under blood-stained hair, the blue of a familiar jacket under the crimson ichor.

Shadows began to coalesce the party, the stone replaced by... snow.

A mountain. A familiar mountain. The chill felt real enough to freeze to the bone, and the man before them stared all three of them down.

The blood on his body washed off, slowly forming blades. They surrounded him, spiraling around his form.

After this, he spoke.

"You left me to die, Aspen. Betrayed your own brother for safety. What would our parents think?"

The blades multiplied, eight turned intosixteen, sixteen into 32. He watched as Alastor fumed his Rieka, the shocked expression of his sister.

For Aspen, there would be a small pulse of energy. A reaction that lasted only a moment in her mana. Something responding to what stood before them.

The blades targeted them all, and he awaited for their movement.
(Zendrick Boreale)
(h)------ cut out a lot of the event with Zendrick's part bc it wasn't necessary: Aspen and Jennifer beat back Zendrick to get the book and return home. -------(h)
[02:03] The image of Zendrick flickered one last time, a flow of tears sparkled off his face, fading just like the rest of his body.

"No matter where I am, I'll always love you and look after you. If you ever want to talk, just put out a glass of vodka for me, alright?"

A quick joke, trying to distract himself from his own death. Nothing but his face remained.

"Don't ever give up on love, Aspen. Because I'll...

I'll never...

Give up on you..."

A final smile, and the last of Zendrick's soul departed from this plane, put to rest after all this time. The smell of Lemon and Peppermint filled the now-empty air.
(Zendrick Boreale)
[02:04] {NARRATION} With Zendricks departure, the illusion finally breaks.

The group wakes up within the tower. Garden far retreated and book in plain sight.

Alastor and Jennifer are also capable of retrieving a few herbs.

Now it's time to go home.
[02:11] A cascade of tears flowed from the brother's eyes, prompting her own. A single tear flows in her attempt to hold restrain from the forceful sorrow of his disappeared.

However.. Zendrick was laid to rest by his sister. The man's existence is put to rest now, causing her to sigh with relief. Despite the pain shooting through her body from the annoying frostbitten lower half, the woman's mind is soothed from guilty while she upheld the necklace of Hope laying against her chest.

Her hope lie in the future. Despite the now tranquil mindset presently being far above the corruptive nature of mental depravity, for now, Aspen turned with a swift motion. A wider grin along her lips.

"I'll never give up on what you truly wanted in life, brother," she whispers to herself, inhaling that familiar scent. Ah- home. It was time for it. The trio woke in the tower. Aspen once again rose ground the ground by blood formed wings, still unable to walk.

Her body ached all over relentlessly. It was all over. The tome was snatched up in her tight grasp. Alastor and Jennifer had plenty they could collect themselves with she herself keeping the tome.

This wouldn't be forgotten. Progress. Success. The all triumphed through the trial of this adventure. Now? It was time to depart back to Agartha's mainland once they other two finished gathering their useful materials.
(Aspen Ivanovich)
[02:16] {Item} You picked up Tome Of Amnesia. Dropped by SawbonesDM. .