"I've never dealt with any full-blooded fey directly. I only know what we've been taught... so probably as much as you guys. Not the glitter and lipgloss kind I'm afraid, that would be a lot more fun." Ling gives a half-hearted laugh. "They should be a lot more friendly towards a warlock than towards nephilim, that's for sure. And our Nikolai here is the charming sort, aren't you?" She smiles as she says this, but she seems uncomfortable. Fairy negotations can take forever, and who knows what they'd do with nephilim who wander into their realm. I was hoping we were on our way out of here now...
Her impatience gets the better of her. "Screw this. I'm ready to get out of here, seelies or not." Without waiting for Nikolai to come up with a possibly much more safe plan of action, she pushes through the door from which she pulled back Caio only moments ago. On the other side, she tries to focus. There it is again, that... cackle. After carefully checking the walls, she steps across the small bridge and finds a claw mark on the other side, indicating this path to be the correct one. "It's this way!" she whispers to the others, and begins walking, witchlight in hand.
After Nikolai runs through a quick ritual of cleaning all the muck from everyone, he jogs to catch up to Ling. "Hold on just a moment, young one! I think perhaps just a little more caution would be prudent in this situation. Fairies are very, very proud and they are angry at your people for being suddenly cast out of this..." He gestures vaguely. "Concords. Allow me to go forward a bit and see if I can see anything up ahead. As you said, they are more understanding when it comes to warlocks. Especially this warlock." He grins confidently. "Afterall, I do business with a large number of them in my shop. You're not the only ones that get to loiter around my bookshop all the time." He winks at the three young shadowhunters. "So, if we do encounter any of them.... please let me do the talking. We already did things your way in the restaurant." He gives you all a very long, fatherly look.
Ling sighs, slowing down. "Fine, fine, you are right. We'll follow your lead and blame you for anything that goes wrong," she says, sticking her tongue out at him. From now on, the shadowhunter moves carefully and quietly, following directly after Nikolai.
"Didn't have much of a choice back there." Caio says, mostly under his breath but loud enough for the others to hear. He follows the others, hand resting on his bow ready to snap it out if need be.
The tunnel stretches on and on, ever the same stone walls and sloshing channel of sewage. The minutes seem to take hours and it's unclear exactly how far the group have gone when they come across a four way junction.
Nikolai glances over his shoulder toward Caio. "There is always a choice. The question becomes whether the outcome of that choice is one you can accept." He looks back forward to the upcoming junction. "All of you should remember that. You always have a choice."
Turning to Caio, Ling grins and whispers: "Wise old warlock, of course we could have chosen to let ourselves be killed by the strix, couldn't we? That would have been the pacifist choice!" When they reach the next junction, Ling finds the claw mark again, indicating that they should keep going straight ahead. Trying to distract herself, she asks Caio and Alaris: "Have either of you ever dealt with any of the fair folk?"
"I had a couple of fey friends back in São Paulo. Satyrs. They didn't really get involved in the court business though, all they wanted to do was party." he says, clearly a bit nostalgic.
Caio returns her incredulous look. "Do we get in trouble for paling around with Nikolai? Look Ling, the only creatures that are inherently evil are demons. Fey, werewolves, warlocks, even vampires... well they're just people. You can't have these rigid assumptions about them because people are unpredictable. Bias is what gets you in trouble." his tone is serious, almost like an older brother giving a sibling advice. He starts walking again as he continues talking. "Besides, at the time I didn't give a **** what the institute had to say."
"It's not really an assumption that they sided with Valentine in the war 10 years ago... I'm guessing your Institute wasn't among the worst hit, didn't lose many? Hong Kong was practically wiped out. My mum, as you know, my aunt, pretty much everyone I knew there besides my dad died at the hand of the seelie warriors." She shakes her head, trying to dispel the memories of returning back to the Institute afterwards. The blood stained floors. The broken seraph blades. The dead. No, don't go there. Not now. "Besides, warlocks are an entirely different story. They have worked with shadowhunters in the Spiral Labyrinth for... well, for a long time, I don't know how long. Nikolai would never stab us to death, right Nik?" She grins. "Anyway, fey creep me out, okay? I don't mind werewolves, they're alright. Vampires... don't get me started - I would loooove to hear more about those parties though? Please, something to brighten this dark tunnel!"
There's a pained silence from Caio. "No... São Paulo wasn't hit hard at all... I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to lose someone but... my point still stands. Holding onto that hatred just blinds you." he clears his throat uncomfortably. "The parties? I mean I barely remember a lot of them, that's how you know they were good. I do remember this one time, I was at this house party in Campo Belo. The dj was incredible, I've never been to another party where everyone, I mean everyone, was on the dance floor. Which is probably why it collapsed. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt, and the party kept going in the yard afterwards. I had to drag my friend Ignacio out of the place, he was so trashed. ****in lightweight." he says wistfully.
"Wow, that does sound like a good party. Almost as good as one of Nikolai's bonanzas, right?" She smiles at Caio, recalling the warlock's famous parties that they have enjoyed in the past. Ling opens her mouth to say something more, but then holds out a hand to signal "stop". "I hear the giggling again. Up ahead." Her hand comes to rest on her blade.
Alaris stays uncharacteristically quiet, soaking up information about the faerie realm - while the London Institute was dealing with faerie nonsense on a daily basis, Alaris wasn't exactly the studious type of Shadowhunter...
They do keep their eyes and ears open for more creepy cackling, though.
It seems Nikolai isn't the only one who can't take their attention off of Ling, though...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
As the group wander down the tunnel it eventually opens up into a larger chamber, illuminated only by their witchlights. There is silence for a moment and then arrows fly at them from the shadows on all sides! Caio, Nikolai and Ling are all struck and they see unseelie goblins cackle in the darkness before disappearing from sight.
"I've never dealt with any full-blooded fey directly. I only know what we've been taught... so probably as much as you guys. Not the glitter and lipgloss kind I'm afraid, that would be a lot more fun." Ling gives a half-hearted laugh. "They should be a lot more friendly towards a warlock than towards nephilim, that's for sure. And our Nikolai here is the charming sort, aren't you?" She smiles as she says this, but she seems uncomfortable. Fairy negotations can take forever, and who knows what they'd do with nephilim who wander into their realm. I was hoping we were on our way out of here now...
Her impatience gets the better of her. "Screw this. I'm ready to get out of here, seelies or not." Without waiting for Nikolai to come up with a possibly much more safe plan of action, she pushes through the door from which she pulled back Caio only moments ago. On the other side, she tries to focus. There it is again, that... cackle. After carefully checking the walls, she steps across the small bridge and finds a claw mark on the other side, indicating this path to be the correct one. "It's this way!" she whispers to the others, and begins walking, witchlight in hand.
As Ling continues down the damp passage it twists and turns and goes on for some time. She finds no trace of the source of the mysterious cackling.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
After Nikolai runs through a quick ritual of cleaning all the muck from everyone, he jogs to catch up to Ling. "Hold on just a moment, young one! I think perhaps just a little more caution would be prudent in this situation. Fairies are very, very proud and they are angry at your people for being suddenly cast out of this..." He gestures vaguely. "Concords. Allow me to go forward a bit and see if I can see anything up ahead. As you said, they are more understanding when it comes to warlocks. Especially this warlock." He grins confidently. "Afterall, I do business with a large number of them in my shop. You're not the only ones that get to loiter around my bookshop all the time." He winks at the three young shadowhunters. "So, if we do encounter any of them.... please let me do the talking. We already did things your way in the restaurant." He gives you all a very long, fatherly look.
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Ling sighs, slowing down. "Fine, fine, you are right. We'll follow your lead and blame you for anything that goes wrong," she says, sticking her tongue out at him. From now on, the shadowhunter moves carefully and quietly, following directly after Nikolai.
"Didn't have much of a choice back there." Caio says, mostly under his breath but loud enough for the others to hear. He follows the others, hand resting on his bow ready to snap it out if need be.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
The tunnel stretches on and on, ever the same stone walls and sloshing channel of sewage. The minutes seem to take hours and it's unclear exactly how far the group have gone when they come across a four way junction.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Ling checks the walls again and finds another claw mark. "Left here!" She whispers and continues, as if time was of the essence.
Nikolai glances over his shoulder toward Caio. "There is always a choice. The question becomes whether the outcome of that choice is one you can accept." He looks back forward to the upcoming junction. "All of you should remember that. You always have a choice."
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
The tunnel continues for another two hundred meters until it reaches another junction with a side passage.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Turning to Caio, Ling grins and whispers: "Wise old warlock, of course we could have chosen to let ourselves be killed by the strix, couldn't we? That would have been the pacifist choice!" When they reach the next junction, Ling finds the claw mark again, indicating that they should keep going straight ahead. Trying to distract herself, she asks Caio and Alaris: "Have either of you ever dealt with any of the fair folk?"
"I had a couple of fey friends back in São Paulo. Satyrs. They didn't really get involved in the court business though, all they wanted to do was party." he says, clearly a bit nostalgic.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Ling once more hears the distant cackling, this time echoing down the tunnel towards the party.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Stopping mid step, Ling looks at Caio incredulously. "You had fey friends? What did your institute say? Didn't you get in trouble?"
Caio returns her incredulous look. "Do we get in trouble for paling around with Nikolai? Look Ling, the only creatures that are inherently evil are demons. Fey, werewolves, warlocks, even vampires... well they're just people. You can't have these rigid assumptions about them because people are unpredictable. Bias is what gets you in trouble." his tone is serious, almost like an older brother giving a sibling advice. He starts walking again as he continues talking. "Besides, at the time I didn't give a **** what the institute had to say."
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
"It's not really an assumption that they sided with Valentine in the war 10 years ago... I'm guessing your Institute wasn't among the worst hit, didn't lose many? Hong Kong was practically wiped out. My mum, as you know, my aunt, pretty much everyone I knew there besides my dad died at the hand of the seelie warriors." She shakes her head, trying to dispel the memories of returning back to the Institute afterwards. The blood stained floors. The broken seraph blades. The dead. No, don't go there. Not now. "Besides, warlocks are an entirely different story. They have worked with shadowhunters in the Spiral Labyrinth for... well, for a long time, I don't know how long. Nikolai would never stab us to death, right Nik?" She grins. "Anyway, fey creep me out, okay? I don't mind werewolves, they're alright. Vampires... don't get me started - I would loooove to hear more about those parties though? Please, something to brighten this dark tunnel!"
There's a pained silence from Caio. "No... São Paulo wasn't hit hard at all... I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to lose someone but... my point still stands. Holding onto that hatred just blinds you." he clears his throat uncomfortably. "The parties? I mean I barely remember a lot of them, that's how you know they were good. I do remember this one time, I was at this house party in Campo Belo. The dj was incredible, I've never been to another party where everyone, I mean everyone, was on the dance floor. Which is probably why it collapsed. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt, and the party kept going in the yard afterwards. I had to drag my friend Ignacio out of the place, he was so trashed. ****in lightweight." he says wistfully.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
"Wow, that does sound like a good party. Almost as good as one of Nikolai's bonanzas, right?" She smiles at Caio, recalling the warlock's famous parties that they have enjoyed in the past. Ling opens her mouth to say something more, but then holds out a hand to signal "stop". "I hear the giggling again. Up ahead." Her hand comes to rest on her blade.
Alaris stays uncharacteristically quiet, soaking up information about the faerie realm - while the London Institute was dealing with faerie nonsense on a daily basis, Alaris wasn't exactly the studious type of Shadowhunter...
They do keep their eyes and ears open for more creepy cackling, though.
Perception: 5 (rolled on Discord)
It seems Nikolai isn't the only one who can't take their attention off of Ling, though...
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
As the group wander down the tunnel it eventually opens up into a larger chamber, illuminated only by their witchlights. There is silence for a moment and then arrows fly at them from the shadows on all sides! Caio, Nikolai and Ling are all struck and they see unseelie goblins cackle in the darkness before disappearing from sight.
Caio, Nikolai and Ling all take 5 damage.
Everybody roll initiative.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva