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Tenken	The festive atmostphere of Great Forks had diminished somewhat in the previous weeks, namely because of the disappearances... the townspeople were somewhat spooked, and that made the nights rather still and quiet - a strange thing for a place called Decadence by many. On this night, the harvest moon shone down on the city, broken by thick clouds obscuring much of the sky. A chill wind blew through the streets, rocking wooden signs, causing houses and shops to creak and groan as if in protest of the chilled air.
Amethyst	Amethyst walks through the quiet streets. It's a quiet and tired walk. Today was a long day and she isn't particularly paying attention. Of course she has an ear out, her miniture radar dishes moving and pivoting with the noises she hears, but her eyes just look forward. Maybe tonight'll finally be the night, she wonders, as she heads towards her shop.
Amethyst	Amethyst makes her way to her shop and stops, squinting her eyes at her door handle. And briefly she wonders if she had some sort of reagent on her hands. No no, they would've burned between now and there without some sort of neutralizing agent. She boops her head a little and draws her ears back. Carefully, she turns the knob.
Tenken	As Amethyst turns the doorknob, her hand feels a slick substance on the surface and recalls the same type of feeling from her experiences with the poison and anti-toxin she and the group has become all too familiar with recently. Just as this thought crosses her mind, she subsequently feels a change in her mental state and motor functions. She is not unconscious, and has not lost the ability to stand, but a sense of warmth and euphoria, as well as lethargy has begun to set in.
Amethyst	Amethyst blinks a bit and oh boy here we go. They're finally decided to make a move. She almost wishes she wasn't so familiar with their poison so this could've caught her slightly more off guard. She makes a groaning noise and tries to concentrate her will into a focused rage, the sort that she does before she does any sort of sorcery. "Alright, come out! I know you're here somewhere." She enters her home and grabs her athame. It's not much of a weapon, but she does't typically use as a weapon either. She could begin doing her sorcery, but she wants to give them the advantage, after all.
Rishi	Rishi is lightly dozing in the pocket in Ammy's side, when she's jostled enough to wake her from her stupor. After a cute mousey yawn, she looks around and stays alert and ready, once something changes.
Tenken	Seeming to appear from within shadows themselves, two figures step from the darkest corner of the shop off to the left of the doorway. The two figures at a glance seem to imply a pairing along the lines of the stereotypical 'rookie + grizzled veteran'. As they step closer, one is revealed to be a man in his 20s with wavy chestnut-colored hair, joined by a tall and slender man with shoulder-length grey hair who looks to be in his late 40s or early 50s. Without speaking, they turn and look further into the darkness, and from it a spider of some type materializes, an anuhle to be sure - it is nearly the size of a warhorse and is shaped like a huntsman spider. and drips ichor that smells similar to the toxin referenced earlier... an odd note that implies sorcerous manipulation of this lesser demon. It pauses, seeming to take the measure of amethyst, and its chittering noises communicate that Amethyst, the only visible target, is indeed a supernatural, and at this point the two men pull their hoods over their heads and bring the cowls low, and toss a vial of liquid separated into two sections at Amethyst's feet. Upon impact, it breaks and when the liquids combine, gaseous fumes begin to rise around her.
Amethyst	The alchemist almost looks relieved to see the figures reveal themselves. A flash of sliver is in her hands in a moment's notice, and then there's the spider. Scared ears go wide. She takes a step backwards, "What, what the fuck is..." And then the vials combine and gas starts rising. "That." She shouldn't have played dumb. She releases the sorcery she was starting to concentrate on and tries to hold her breath as she backs out of her home. Of all the things she didn't expect a demon enchanted to have fangs with the toxin in it. There's no way she could have taken those guys even if she was fully prepared. And this fact has quite frightened the little alchemist who thought she was going to have to give them the fight.
Rishi	Rishi scents the gas and gets ready, bracing herself for Ammy to fall over
Tenken	As Amethyst falls unconscious, the two figures move to stand over her, and their faces appear to be veiled sorcerously, as their robes are workings that shield them from the noxious fumes. The anuhle skitters over as well, and begins to spin webbing that binds the feet and hands of the little alchemist, still unaware of the pocket allies hitching a ride. Shortly after, the two men hoist her up and carry her out of the shop, and one motions, materializing an agata familiar, as the beautiful demonic steed allows the alchemist to be loaded on its back. The older man mounts up as well, and waves to his partner who curiously stays behind, but is seen pulling out a medallion with an opened eye and seemingly disappears after muttering a short incantation. The agata takes to the air, and flies to the West... just out of sight two forms follow - Tenken and Hoarfrost (in owl form) attempt to track the agata visually for as long as possible, as they have some misgivings about this plan.
Tenken	The flight continues for approximately an hour, mostly weaving through thick clouds and fog attempting to stay obscured. Suddenly, Rishi and Spring can feel a drop in altitude, as the agata begins a high-speed descent toward its destination. Below is a sprawling forest, with elder trees reaching towards the skies standing over 100ft tall on average, with a thick canopy covering any views from above creating a seemingly impenetrable shroud of foliage. As the agata approaches the ground, an unnatural clearing can be seen amid the dense forest canopy, where several towers of unknown material rise nearly as tall as the trees that surround them, each one bearing the unblinking eye found on the medallions of the cultists the group had interacted with. This area was not near any city or township, not even a village or trading post to be seen for miles, and the secluded nature of the place is obviously intentional. On its final approach, the agata levels out and takes a spiraling flight path leading to a soft landing in the clearing of tall soft grass and violet flowers blooming. Various rare herbs can be seen (and smelled) in the clearing, and as the agata sets down, its rider dismounts and takes the limp body of Amethyst off the demon mount's back and begins walking towards the nearest tower. Now in the clearing, four distinct towers are seen, each different from one another. One had a charred and sickly sweet smell of death and fire, which was the furthest away. Nearest to the group, the first tower seemed to have 10 levels above ground, with no windows and iron bolts and mounts in the walls belied the purpose - a prison tower.
Rishi	The scents that Rishi is smelling are truly very worrying. While the plan was for them to get settled, then break out...Risi is starting to suspect that this group is more dangerous than we've given them credit for. So, she grabs a nearby fold of skin, bites down on it and, once she draws blood, she holds the bitten section in her mouth, as her saliva deploys the antitode she'd previously had her body make.
Spring Wind	Sniff. Sniffsniff. Spring is worried about the current situation too, scurrying out of the flesh-pocket to take a peek at the area near Amethyst and likewise stand watch. This can't be anywhere good, that's for sure.
Amethyst	The return to consciousness is gradual for the alchemist. The guard is momentarily distracted by something blowing behind him so he doesn't notice her move just slightly to tell that she's tied up and inside of the building. And it takes a lot of focus not to start panning her ears around. She isn't in a great position here, but at least she's awake.
Amethyst	Carefully, another breeze blows through and this time it ruffles the guard's hair just enough to make him dramatically turn. And then he turns back to stare at the alchemist in her grasp, who still looks as sleepy as ever. Unbeknownest to him, it was a tiny motion for her to grab her canister. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the right moment to use it to summon her blood whip. For now, she keeps her eyes just open a tiny, tiny crack so that she can see what's around her. Hopefully no one looks too close at her.
Tenken	Raj, the cultist carrying Amethyst toward the Prisoner's Obelisk is momentarily distracted by something, but thinks nothing of it as he moves toward his destination. The tower looms above the group, it's strange shining material glinting in the moonlight. The tower, upon closer inspection, is an obelisk that seems to be built in a manner that defies some of the natural laws - such as gravity - as there are floating blocks outside each level. One section even seems to have sustained large-scale damage and even the broken rock-like pieces remain floating within the air near the shattered section about 3ft wide. At the base of the obelisk is an iron gate, and further within, a staircase spiraling both up and down, leading into an apparent underground section previously unseen. Raj moves through the wrought iron gate, as his medallion lights up - seemingly triggered by proximity - and it closes behind him as he moves through teh antechamber and reaches the staircase.
Amethyst	As they cross the threshold into the tower, the alchemist can tell they're getting close to where she's going to be taken. If she doesn't act soon she'll be imprisoned and that might be hard to get out of. And so instead, the dormant black runes on her body suddenly come to life has a prismatic display of what she's done in the past. The air circles around her and with a moment, a blinding flash from the canister, drawing out blood from her tattoos into a whip that's first goal is to slit the ties that hold her down.
Spring Wind	In a flash, Spring leaps fully out of the fleshpocket and changes back to her human shape in a flutter of cloth. Before the guard is likely aware of more than that, Weal and Woe announce their presence with the ringing of drawn metal as the moonsilver fangs close in to find purchase on the hapless cultist's neck.
Amethyst	For her part, the alchemist's whip steadies between her legs. With the same precision she would cut a leaf, and with the same supersonic force with which she would rend stone, she works to cut the webbing.
Amethyst	And as she cuts she rolls, and lands just in front of the man. She grins. "Didn't expect this, did ya?" Her whip widdens and thickens and heats up into something more suitable for bashing skulls in. A jump back as the whip swings wide. But then jump becomes a spin where the whip follows her moves to bring it closer and right into the man's side.
Tenken	After the onslaught of blows, Raj is off balance and bleeding heavily, with the latest attack rending a large gash in his side due to the blood whip's impact.
Amethyst	"Hey, one of you, steal his shape!" Amethyst says to the Lunars. Her swing ends with her coming to rest and looking quite triumphet
Rishi	Rishi slides out of the hidden pocket and lands on the ground, resuming her human form on the way...which then grows into her perferred form, wings, tail, and most importantly claws extending out. She stands over the injured cultist and says "So, what are we to be doing with you? Am I to be stealing your shape? Shall I be transforming your lungs so that you are only breathing water? Or...?" She cocks her head to the side, regarding him clinically, like a human would examine a mildly interesting beetle, "Or are you going to be helping us, by telling us that which we wish to know? And I might be making sure you do not bleed to death."
Amethyst	"First question. There's a Dragon-Blooded, another water aspect. Looks tough, could've killed you in your sleep if fought on an even playing field. Name's Yim Jarana. Any idea where he is?" Amethyst stands there herself with her whip hovering above her in a line, as tho ready to fall like a guillotine. "If not, who can tell me?" Her eyes glow just a little.
Tenken	With his face twisted with pain from the gash in his side, mixed with an expression of horror at Rishi's comments, Raj can be seen almost literally 'breaking' as he has reached his limit entirely. The veteran Order member was an expert summoner and covert operator, but this kind of interaction was far outside of his wheelhouse. Having reached his limit for witholding information, Raj decides that in the interest of self-preservation he would rather just answer these questions - what would it matter anyway? Telling them where one DB is wouldn't matter ultimately... he hoped. "Jarana...." Reaching into his cloak, Raj pulls out a notebook, now bloodied with his own injuries, and trembling visibly, he turns through pages until he is about a third of the way through the notebook. "Jarana... Yim.... father of Ametis, Dragon, detained at Central Underground Facility: Infinity Prism..." his eyes widen a bit upon reading the entry, and looking at Amethyst in realization. "Your father is alive... that is something, though the place he is held is very diffferent from here. He's being held with the big wigs... the ones that have presented problems being detained... the guards there... they are on an entirely different level than me." Raj coughs, splashing blood on the notebook. "The guards assigned at Infinity Prism, they're the elite guard - to become one of them, one must be capable of single-handedly controlling and/or rendering helpless every prisoner at the facility, with only their bare hands. Your father must actually be dangerous, because he's being held at the facility that doesn't even allow any weapons on the grounds at all." Raj coughs again, bloody phlegm dotting his hands. He tosses the notebook to Amethyst - "Knock yourself out, go find him." He cackles and laughs maniacally, and then falls unconscious.
Rishi	Once he falls unconcious, Rishi relaxes slightly, no longer quite looking like she's about to stab someone. "...I do not think I can complete the rite quickly enough to take his shape. Shall we simply kill him or would you like me to bind his wounds, in case we have further questions for him?" She regards him with a scrap of pity in her eyes. "I do not like to hurt or threaten people. But, this thing you are doing.... I think that destroying it is much like the removing of an infected limb. Sometimes you must be hurting things to help everyone to heal.
Spring Wind	"If he's willing to do this kind of thing... To stare death in the face without remorse for cruelty-" Spring says, then positions her moonsilver daiklave for a strike. "He's too fargone." she says, "The man that was will be mourned, the man that is has forsaken compassion."
Amethyst	"Ametis." The alchemist repeats. Reflective ears go up. She takes the notebook and looks down at the man. "It's been a long time since I've been called by that name." And then frustrated eyes go down as she pinches her brow. "So he's at a more secure facility. Considering how easy it was for them to ambush and capture me to begin with, I can't imagine we'd do well going there right now." And then she looks towards the others. "So now we're here. My father isn't. All I can think is to look for information. If this is the best they got." She looks at the man. "We should be able to clean up shop. I say we send the signal to the others, tell them to move in. We'll investigate here a bit more and then regroup. Frosty'll find me." And the Dragon looks in a given direction. And then back to the cultist. "As for him? It's unfortunate you didn't get his shape. But I don't know what else he could tell us. Just, do you wanna drag him with us? Or leave him for his friends to find?" Ametis looks towards Rishi. "It's strange. I wonder if I should feel remorse. Or maybe between dealing with the fae, having my heart broken, restarting my life twice, losing a good part of my religion and becoming ana-" And she stops herself. And she looks herself over for just a moment. Now's not the time to be questioning herself. "Maybe I lost my soul somewhere in between." The Dragon kneels down and takes her athame. With a flash, she slits the man's throat. "At least he will pass in a dream. Oh Heslesh, please let him rest. For all he has done, let his soul return to and be reborn in a better place." There's a sudden warmth that eminates from her as the wound she left catches fire, and quickly burns away the man's corpse. And then, in high realm she adds, "<<And please let me not lose my own path.>>"