Dark Descent - RPLOG

Participants

• Bleu
• Iao
• Narwen
• Pteryx
• Randel
• Waconet

Date

22/7/2026

Log

(Bleu) Bleu looks between himself, Randel, and Pteryx, and then looks down at his laser pistol. "Well, captain, I mean, I can't make any guarantees, of course. I'm not a physicist. The fabric of space-time is torn... But I'm a priest of Dionysus, so hey, maybe I can pour a few wine libations alongside blowing the heads off any monsters we might encounter... I mean, if there are any monsters."

(Waconet) Captain Eden appears to consider his options as he mulls over the groups responses, while Pteryx's response doesn't appear to leave him hopeful, having Randel's commitment to keep an eye on the moth winged hyena does lend some credibility that this gambit might actually work, and not to mention having such a high ranking priest from a divinity who is, at least tangently, familiar with what they're all up against. "Alright, if you believe you can resolve this crisis, we'll provide what support we can from here." He says, gesturing to both the rifle armed guards as well as medical supplies that the two were starting to unload from crates. "The apparitions will be drawn to any distraction that you may have while you step into the apeiron and while we've discovered that rounds on target are surprisingly effective, they will eventually swarm forcing you to retreat, lest they completely overwhelm your team. Our scouts have reported that the aperitions will try to drag any unconscious away. We don't know where to as in each instance the team was able to fight them off, and fell back to safety with their downed comrades." And with that, Eden dismissed the party to their own plans and the objective of stopping the leak of realties.

As the group departs from the field HQ they are now able to view the park's square in its fullest. The normally peaceful square is now bubbling over with the dark ichor flowing from the fountain. And while it is midday with the sun out, it is inexplicably darker than what feels as normal. The two siren guards stand idle, but with weapons drawn, ready to provide supporting fire should anyone find themselves distracted. The area is mostly quiet, with only the occasional sound of couriers arriving and departing with reports and directives, as well as the rare truck dropping off supplies or sand for more sandbags to be filled and added to the wall which is all that stand between them and the slow ominous rise of the dark pool. Looking over the darkened landscape, Narwen's cobbled together device starts spinning and whirring to life as the duct taped hoover starts spinning the needle and attempts to order packages with two day shipping from a defunct warehouse. But while the order fails to process, the needle does point in the direction of the fountain. Which may, or may not have been the obvious source of the dark ichor as it is jetted up and outwards from the fountain.

(Pteryx) Pteryx really ain't fer them front line fightin! If one of them others get hurt, maybe they could patch 'em up! But they're no stranger ta emergency situations! They're also real easy ta distract though! "Why's this place dark? Shiny sky light looks up!" A lotta guards 'round here... and whatever thingy then science skunk made is makin noises! "What was them thingy fer again science skunk?"

(Bleu) Bleu follows the guards to the square, readying his M4 Carbine, and looking around, with his ears perked as he listens for any unusual ambient sounds. "Yeah, Pteryx, I'm not exactly a fan of the darkness. Honestly, I should probably be more careful, in my condition, and not go in guns blazin'."

(Randel) As the group heads to the fountain, Randel starts to get ready as best as as he can. He puts on a very durable collar on his neck and takes the ID badge from his lab coat and clips it onto his collar. He then takes off his lab coat and puts it in his equipment back, followed by his baggy jean pants. In the process of disrobing his form shifts to that of a wolf. Not a particularly muscular wolf anthro, but a young good looking one, on par with native Fairhaven forms. He looks almost naked as his body suit shifts to match his fur color and texture, on top of his assets showing. Though, to some he very well could! Out of reflex he summons up his Nanomagic to create an illusion around himself, one that seems to best fit what the onlooker expects to sees. There is a feral look about his furry and muzzled face, but that fades as his claim demeanor comes back.

(Narwen) Narwen , gizmo balanced on his broad back, pads towards the sandbag wall and peers over it. "RSX security are great for beating up ferals and setting up perimeters, but I wouldn't trust 'em to solve a quadratic equation, let alone analyse a spatial anomaly. When they said black goo, I just assumed slimes had backed the sewers up again. But this is for real," he continues, gesturing at his device as though that made it obvious. "Spacetime isn't closed, and there's a, uh, discontinuity in the fountain. How to fix it, though?" He shakes his head. "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's a magical problem, and that it's going to need a magical solution. If there's a portal in there, are we closing it? Going through it?" He absently takes out a specimen jar and begins fiddling with it, but is defeated by the childproof cap.

(Waconet) The two siren guards from before are still posted nearby and are ready to provide any amount of support they can, if the amount of support is that of taking shots at any apparitions that appear nearby. The captain did say that they were effective at that so, the group should be fine. Probably. Bleu's caution is well rewarded, as with anyone examining him carefully would see he's about a week away from being due, and would probably need some help getting over the barrier anyway. The two siren guards take a glance over at the transforming Randel, but promptly disregard what they are seeing. That's not the wolf boy they are looking for anyway. The specimen jar sits within Narwen's paws idly, as if stubbornly refusing to open due to the money that the science skunk owes it for the last sample he used it for. The pool idly sits by as the fountain looms darkly ahead in the square. No anomalies in sight at the moment, but there's always the chance of a surprise.

(Pteryx) Pteryx thinks all them Bleu's money can sure buy 'em a lotta weapons! "Purdy hard ta see in them dark!" It would be real inconvenient ta try stitchin or bandagin folk in the dark! But always good ta have a flashlight! Speakin o' flash though, them shifter starts ta disrobe?! The moth winged hyena can't help but stare at the sight 'fore seein Randel turn inta sum sorta wolf form... purdy easy on the eyes a form at that! Quite a view ta appreciate!

Pteryx just looks completely confused at whatever them words the science skunk is sayin, they ain't smart 'nough ta comprehend all that! But magic solution fer magic problem makes sense! Shame they ain't know magic! Actual magic anyhow! Hmm, turnin ta them guards, they may as well wonder! "Any of them medical supply thins ya can spare fer whatever sorta trip we're doin? Ain't sure where are how we're s'pose ta go... sumwhere, though! But luck favours them prepared!"

(Bleu) "Fortune favours the bold," Bleu replies to Pteryx. "You're better read than I expected. Pliny the Elder famously uttered those words as he stood on the beach at Misenum, facing the full fury of the exploding Mt. Vesuvius, in 79 AD." The satyr ahems. "Sorry, I was a history major in college. ANYWAY." He checks his gun, then peers over the sandbags. "Can I get a little help over here?"

(Randel) The somehow not all that interesting and plain looking wolf boy walks up to pool with focus, starring into the inky abyss-like goo. "So this is how we enter?" he asks as he tests the goo with a claw-like hand, "I guess I'm ready when others are. I'll hold back a bit just in cause someone loses focus." His ears swivel back, listen for the rest of his team as he keeps an eye on the goo, and has claw-like hands open and looking to tear into something.

(Narwen) Narwen looks at the strange black substance with some trepidation as Bleu clacks up beside him. "We're going to end up in that, aren't we?" he mutters. "Ah dammit." He can't lend the heavily pregnant satyr a hand, but he can carry him: Narwen lowers himself loaf-style while Bleu slides on board next to the gizmo, then gets back to his feet and steps easily across the barrier, giving an extra little high-step as his hind legs go over. Once they're in, the skunk beast sloshes his way through the viscous liquid, shivering in discomfort as the fur at his ankles gets tugged at. "Well, let's at least try the obvious thing first, in case this is the one time it works," he says as they approach the fountain. "Brace yourself, nanite density's going to drop."

(Waconet) Pteryx starts to see something rather interesting happening with Randel, but is oddly confused, and realizes that there's nothing interesting about the transforming naked wolf boy, even before Randel mentioned that he's not interesting to look at, as the wolf's illusion nanomagic seems to take perfect hold of Pteryx's sight. Randel's proverbial testing of the water reveals that the temperature doesn't quite register. It's not ambient with the air, and yet, not hot or cold either. It's as if the temperature just doesn't seem to exist or matter within it. It's not uncomfortable, it... just /is/. As Bleu straddles upon his new noble skunk steed, the unsettling effect of nanite depletion his the center of the fountain, it sputters for a moment, but the flow returns to its previous normal rate, as if not a product of the local nanite bubble. But as you step into the pool, the errant thought of what it would be like to actually have Bleu ride on top of you at an actual pony show?

And with that bit of distraction, a single apparition appears before the group.

(Pteryx) Pteryx ain't got a clue what them Bleu meant! "Just hear folk say that a LOT when workin with emergeny situations, sorta ma job ta help with them sorta situations! Folk that're prepared ain't need as much fixin as folk that weren't! Ain't sure... whatever them hist tree stuff is!"

Wonderin ta how they would enter with them wolf boy wonderin 'round, the hyena gets an answer quick enough as them science skunk gets mounted by Bleu! Not the usual sorta mounted they think of! Less sex mountin more transportin mountin!

Them Randel wasn't that interestin a view after all! But what would be is sum sorta... shadowy thin? The mothly hyena ain't really sure what ta make of it? "Huh, where'd ya come frum feller? Ya uh, lost or sumthin? Is this fountain like yer home? Sorta makin a mess of them park with it leakin! Ya need a plumber or sumthin?"

(Bleu) Bleu settles onto Narwen's back, with a chuckle. "Hey, thanks, dude. I wasn't sure how I was gonna waddle over that there sandbag barrier." He gets comfortable, then peers back at Pteryx. "One of these days I'm gonna lock you in my bedroom and spend hours teaching you hist-o-ry. No sex, just a LOOOONG history lesson. With a slide projector..." Is he joking? But there's no time to care about that now, because suddenly a weird...thing, appears, and all at once the satyr readies his M4 Carbine. "We gotta hostile!" He points the weapon at the apparition, finger on the trigger. "Should I shoot?" He looks over toward Randel. "Any suggestions?"

(Randel) Randel keeps watch of the goo as he listens to the rest of his team enter. However his ears perk up when hearing something about nanite density going down and then makes a very uncomfortable grunt, as if splashed with a cold glass of water. "Fuck-" he growls under his breath, "It's magic, not nanites." His illusion collapses and shows him as he is, a good looking, but very much covered wolf anthro with a hoody of sorts. He glances around to see how the entery is going, but then sees a shadowy figure form. He then growls and moves to intercept it, making note to not get into the line of fire of the two guards. As he gets into position, he hears the satyr shout out the warning. "I'll pounce as soon as you shoot! Shoot if it acts hostile." he barks, squatting down and getting ready to leap.

(Narwen) Narwen shivers as an intrusive thought runs through his mind, then shakes it off to focus on the nanomagic. It doesn't seem to be helping, sadly, and it's probably not a good idea to suppress the team's nanite powers and healing if there's trouble coming -- not to mention, it's uncomfortable as heck -- so after waiting a few more seconds he shuts it off again. "All right, plan B!" he calls, then turns his head back to Bleu. "You got a plan B?" He takes a couple of cautious steps, putting his forepaws into the basin of the fountain, while circling away from the spectre.

(Waconet) As the group considers their actions, and Randel rallying the guards with an order, the two sirens readied their rifles and the moment Narwen stepped clear of the shadowy figure, they both opened fire on it. The first one getting a solid hit but the second siren missing, sending the shot harmlessly into the murky depths. The apparition seemingly unphased by the impact, floats over to the skunk and takes a swipe at the previously distracted scientist.

(Waconet) The figure swipes its ghostly claws at the beastly skunk, only for it to show even further, beyond being hit by physical bullets just a moment before, that despite appearances, its still quite affected by the physical realm as its claws bounce harmlessly off of your armored rainbow pants.

(Pteryx) Pteryx ain't ever been the academic sort o' lad, just spendin hours in sumone's bedroom without so much as givin 'em a handy ain't sound too fun! Other matters goin on ta wonder too much on that though!

Not very friendly them shadow thin is! Pteryx ain't no fighter, so they oughta look fer cover! Behind them guards? Or Randel and Bleu seem ta be ready fer fightin? But then shadow critter is on Narwen with Bleu on top o' em... Welp! If them shadow critter's ain't playin nice, neiter will this mothly hyena... well, rather them others if they can do this right! They wanna attack, let's see how they deal with a riot! Takin a deep breath, Pteryx rants and raves with a boomingly loud voice! "Hey shadow critter! We ain't hit ya first but ya go fer them science skunk! And yer flood them park with them weird soup! If yer itchin ta make a mess, hope ya ain't mind gettin cleaned up with it! Bleu's armed ta the teeth and them Randel's got a lotta shiftin tricks! And I ain't think they're just gonna stand while ya do all that! So clean up on isle you!"

(Bleu) Bleu looks down at Narwen. "Plan B? I've barely even formulated a Plan A, yet!" He holds onto the skunkbeast, and grits his teeth, staring at the monster as it makes a swipe at Narwen. "OH NO YOU DON'T! NO MORE MR. NICE GOAT!" He squeezes the trigger off his gun, popping off three rounds in quick succession, aiming for the center of the creature's mass, but not really having a good angle to aim at the moment, so he cannot be sure if he actually made contact.

(Randel) There is a feral growl as Randel taps into his form's behavior, leveraging its drive to protecting 'his pack' but still waits for the shots to be taken before attacking the interloper. Years of being shot while in the field, being mistaken as a feral, has made him acutely aware of lines of fire. There is an mean wolfish smile on his face when he hears the smack talk from the hyena. Wanting to drop this unknown thing fast, he goes all into his attack, pulling up a focused rage as he darts towards the dark figure. He is about to go for the thing's throat, but the rational part of his mind says that it might not have working anatomy given how it reacted to the bullets, and steers for center mass. Two claws aim for whatever chest the shadowy figure has, backup with a bloody minded will of removing it from this reality.

(Narwen) Narwen shakes his head, startled for a moment that these shadowy things actually pack a physical wallop. Before he even realises what he's doing, old instincts kick in and the skunk beast roars, fur and tail puffing out. He suddenly seems much bigger, lunging forward at the apparition and swiping with one heavy forepaw, long claws slashing across the ghost to knock it off balance before his jaws close around where its neck would be with a vicious snap. He dances back after the attack, growling, body automatically starting to line up the next shot...

(Waconet) The party fights back fiercely at the ghostly figure, but each time they think that they have a sure fire hit, it gleefully dances out of the way as if to mock their every attempt. But as the guards fire at it again, it calls back to the party, "My, my, what such a delectable group you are, you should all join me inside." It giggles gleefully "Or don't it matters not because in your riotous rage you were all focused on me, you forgot to look over each other~" The shade then submerges into the depths of the pool only to pop back up a moment later, along with two more figures who were holding onto none other than Cinnabun. Then all three drag the chocolate bun over the lip of the fountain's lip and dive into it. Pteryx hears the alluring call to follow in after them, to join them in the depths of... something he can't quite make out, but he knows he wants it.

(Pteryx) Pteryx needs ta catch their breath after all them rantin and ravin, they could've oversold it, but they ain't no fighter ta judge how others fight too much! Them commotion might just be what they need ta look fer a spot ta duck fer cover in! If them shadow critter ain't too angry at their words ta target 'em directly anyhow!

Seems them critter can speak! They could understand them?! Oh heck... Seein more shadow critters, they seem ta got... Them bun frum earlier?! And they're draggin 'em inta the weird soup! ...why do they think them soup is weird.. It ain't actually that weird at all! They sorta hear sumthin comin frum it, maybe there are more folk in there other than them bun! Are they missin out on sum sorta party down there?! They ain't wanna miss out on that! Maybe them bun just got their invitation in advanced! No point waitin 'round and missin all that fun! Runnin towards the fountain, they jump up, flappin their wings inta the sky! "Cannonball!" They'd yell 'fore rollin themselves in ta dive straight in!

(Bleu) Bleu bellows out an angry yell when his shots miss, and then he has to hold on tighter as Narwen lunges at the monster. The satyr is readying another shot when the monsters speak up, and then reveal... "A HOSTAGE! GET YOUR PAWS OFF OF HIM, YOU DAMN, DIRTY...uh...Apes?" His angry retort kind of sputter out at that point. He huffs. "Nar... CHAAAAARGE!" May as well follow Pteryx to rescue Cinnabun.

(Randel) Randel looks incensed by the mockery and appears to be more enraged than before, but behind those angry eyes is still a non-feral directing steering the actions. He focuses a moment on the information coming from his tactical scout hood, noting people's comms and in turn location. But when he hears that one of their own is captured, he snaps his head around see Cinnabun is being dragged, rather than moving on his own! "Fuck!" he barks. Then he sees another team mate, Pteryx apparently go crazy and jump into the goop. "Fuck, FUCK!" There is a moment of clarity in his deep growling voice as he verbally notes for some sort of record, "We've got one captured, and one influenced team mate that dove in. Giving chase. Will update on supernatural mind affects." He then points at the apparition in contempt, and shifts form again. Bones pop, and muscles tear as his body painfully reforms into a stronger wolf beast, yet his face gives no visible sign of discomfort. "You!" he howls "You will not take my pack mates!" and charges in following Narwen and Blue.

(Narwen) The apparition's speech takes Narwen by surprise enough for the skunk beast to comes back to himself, finding he's still growling low. He shakes his head again, and does not Skunk Blast the fountain. "All right, through the portal it is. First, though--" He summons some nanite shielding for Bleu and himself, to take the edge off the next blows, just in time for the satyr to yell "charge!" Welp, charge it is: he jumps forward, forepaws plunging into the centre pool. If it's a portal, they're both going through; if it's solid, he's going to look silly.

(Iao) Diving beyond the veil the air itself starts to melt, a great darkness overwhelming the vision as all sense of up and down dissolves away. We're you falling? ARE you falling? The first to arrive was Pteryx, launched headfirst seemingly in a trance and as if expecting them, two tendrils immediately lash out from the dark to grab them by the arms. Pulling them out to the sides. Swiftly they are moved next to the already captured Cinnabun, placed in sequence alongside them.

Positioned underneath her captives Iao kneels with her hands on her lap and head bowed down in solemn silence. The silence does not last as not long after Narwen and Bleu quickly pierce the veil with Randel not far behind them. Thus, she begins to rise to her feet in an almost unnatural fashion, almost as if beginning to float. Slowly she turns to face her audience, eyes opening with a grin creeping across her face. "Call... and response. Call and response.... We may begin. Speak oh ye interlopers! That you may behold the first Acolyte, are you of covenant or apostasy?" drifting in the dark she starts to lean forwards as if laying down with her head propped up on her arms, spiraling around until she is gazing upon the crowd from a seemingly upside-down position.

(Waconet) As Iao spins around a new voice comes forth from her mouth, deep, regal, "Welcome interlopers, to my personal domain. I am, of course, Khaos, in the very state of being." The deity, for the waves of His being leaves you no doubt of that status, "You've already had the pleasure of meeting my first." A shaded arm wisps into view gesturing to Iao's form then promptly ceases to exist without fanfare, "I must ask, what brings you are here this lovely era?"

(Pteryx) Pteryx made the most awesome cannonball ever! How big was them splash! This sure is one deep pool though! And dark... uh... why the heck did they dive inta them weird soup fountain?! Havin already fulfilled them irresistable call to dive in, Pteryx seems ta get their senses back... little of it as there was, only ta get all four of their arms nabbed by sum sorta tendrils?! And endin right next ta Cinnabun... them bun seems knocked out though! The moth winged gets ta see the others also havin dived inta the fountain too! And sum sorta feline below 'em... Call and response? Was that sum sorta song type?

Did them cat's voice just change? Then disappear?! Not havin their maw tied up or nuthin, Pteryx is as loud as ever! "This is yer house uh, Khaos? Not the wierdest name I've heard! Howdy! Names Pteryx! I think ya gotta plumbin problem! Yer house is like, leakin inta Woodfield Park! Think ya could like... make that stop? Sorta makin a mess! And uh, were them shadowy critters yer kids or sumthin? They gotta mean streak! Probably need ta reign 'em in!"

(Narwen) Narwen drifts in, falling slowly and weightlessly, tumbling gently head over tail. The spin brings him down onto the ground butt-first, which is briefly disorienting for him and his rider, but with all the weight of a feather he tilts slowly forwards, Bleu still sitting "upright" on his back, until all four paws come into contact with the ground. Gravity finally reasserts itself, and he adjusts his paws a little, taking the satyr's weight easily as it returns.

He's about to make a smart-alec reply, when Pteryx begins jabbering, and, for once, the skunk is quite content to stand there quietly and let it flow, giving him time to reflect for a moment. "Indeed, mighty Khaos," he replies. "Things here that do not belong bring us here," he says, gesturing to the captives with a forepaw, "and things not here that belong here brought them."

(Randel) The wolf's rage is derailed as he falls into the void. A void so black he can't even see his own dark furred form. Reflexively Randel shifts his fur white so to at least see himself better, which causes his suit and hood to shift white in reaction. "Well, in the pool now" he says quietly into a personal recorder in his hood, "Hard to describe. It's just... nothing. No frame of reference. Can't tell of I'm falling or not. I see the others around me too. ... wait, I hear something." As he 'floats', he hears wordless voices come from the nothingness, whispering temptations to let go of the world around him. They sound sweet at first until another part of him fights back in a panic. "Wait, no!" he says under his breath. "Not like this! It was a mistake to go in! Share notes with Nothingness, my ass!" He takes a few deep breaths as he steels his mind and tries to clinically document, "This places seems to give out a tempting call of... nothingness. To let go. That's its domain, the void, nothing, primordial chaos. Ferals and people with mental illness... should stay away from this place, as the urge to give in maybe..." He breaks down again and curses in a stifled voice, "Fuck, just shut up, will you!" His custom made hood starts to buzz slightly as it works at reinforcing his will. The hood was also made to help rein in feral behavior if he got too deep into the act, but it wasn't quite built for this.

Before old feelings haunt Randel further, he gets pulled into the group, landing on his feet, and sees the source. It takes him a long moment to take in the scene, seeing Khaos' first acolyte. She seem looks familiar, but her white fur also unnerves him more than it should have. He looks down at his own white fur, which then turns gray by his will as if at least partly rejecting the temptation. He's in a realm of a god, and he knows it. There's a wince in his muzzle as one retorts back. He quietly looks at Bleu, and hopes that he's a bit more diplomatic at this than the rest.

(Bleu) Bleu yells, "YIPPEE KAI-AY-YAY, MOTHERFUCKER!" as Narwen charges headfirst into the miasma, the satyr going in gun blazing. He finds himself in...nothing. A dark void, tumbling, tumbling. Weightless. He can't even see or feel Narwen for several moments, but he does hear faint voices, but he tries to block out the sound. Before long, he finds himself alighting in the pit, on Narwen's back, still, somehow, and faced with an apparent deity. He raises his M4 Carbine, and peers at the entity. "If you are truly a god, then you should be able to sense that I am the ordained priest of Dionysus, bearer of all privileges that post entails. You will not be able to sway me from my path." His voice is surprisingly firm, but as a gesture of goodwill he lowers his weapon.

(Iao) Iao can't help but cover her mouth, stifling a laugh as she twists and turns to face Pteryx with a knowing grin on her face. "Oh now isn't that rich... that we may just stop because the apostates cry it so?" twisting back to face the group in but a blink of the idea she appears uncomfortably close to Narwen's ear only to whisper to them, "And who made you arbiter of what belongs where?" and as quickly as she appears, Iao appears right at Pteryx's side to caress their head turning her attention to Bleu.

"How uncouth! Rude even! Oh poor interloper... you come bearing demands and no gifts in return? Do you perhaps think your title grandiose?" she shakes her head as she turns back to face Pteryx, floating over to Cinnabun and giving their top of their head a quick pat. "In due time the devil collects his dues... hehe, though we be not devils the lithurgy begins. You felt it didn't you?" she narrows her gaze as her eyes fall upon Randel in particular. "Don't you..." her grin would turn vicious then, showing off her sharp fangs. "The covenant gathers, and you deny it's call. You shoot our children and yet it is I who needs to be reigned in?"

(Waconet) Iao's presence dims after she taunts the bound hyena, The mutitextured tendrils squeeze a little tighter binding Pteryx a bit more snuggly against the wall pressing the four armed hyena up against another at the moment your tongue leaves your mouth forcing you to lick the unwitnessible wall, almost as if to say 'The adults are talking. Try to keep up.' Khaos' presence focuses on Narwen, "Who is to say here does not belong there? Who can claim that there should not belong hither. There are others who have claimed there and brought themselves from other to there and yet I do not here your contention for them no?" Khoas is amused by the record keeping efforts of the white wolf, and permits himself a single chuckle upon your internal hopes.

Khoas turns to the little satyr, "So, a son of Dionysius comes to visit. How is my Great Grandson doing anyway? Is he keeping out of trouble, or is trouble keeping out of him?" Khaos gives the little satyr a smile, and most eager for one of his direct descendant's response.

(Pteryx) Pteryx gets ta watch all them others fall in frum the... where are they even hangin frum? Nearly all o' em seem ta try chattin up them Khaos feller... 'xept Randel, was them shifter a wolf beast earlier? Looks like they're goin through sum stuff!

Them cat below seems ta be starin at the mothly mutant! "I got no idea what an apostate is!" Is purdy much all they can say 'fore the shade of a cat appears beside Narwen! How the heck did that... Before Pteryx could even comprehend what they just saw, they feel their head gettin caressed? How the heck can sumone move so fast?!

They listen ta chatter 'fore gettin a quick pat on their head frum the shade cat. Guess those were their kids then? Pteryx would say, "They hit f..." 'fore their mind actually catches up with their maw... The guards did shoot first... Welp, can't use that!

Not that they can say much after as them tendrils tighten 'round them! Their tongue seems ta be lickin... sumthin... nothin? Whatever they're lickin, they can't speak with it in that state! So guess all they can do is listen...

(Narwen) Narwen flicks an ear uncomfortably as the cat appears next to him, addressing her this time. "You've called us interlopers twice. And mighty Khaos has called us interlopers too," he continues, now addressing both. "Three times it's been said we don't belong here. I, of course, would not dream of denying the truth of that." He pauses for a moment. "But mighty Khaos is right, of course, that others have come from other to there. Some of those others, I have met." Another little pause. "They seemed to value some of what the world out there has, these little flecks of power." He dips his head into a saddlebag and pulls out a vial that sparkles and glows in the darkness, shedding a scintillating light that stands out in here. "An offering, freely given. As I have before with some of those others," he says, lowering the vial and setting it rolling across the floor with a tinkle.

(Randel) Randel isn't unfamiliar with being the prey when given a mean grin toothy grin and stand firm against the taunt. Years of work with Zephyr to document ferals first hand has put him on both sides of the predictor and prey dynamic and got used to, for lack of better term, being used. But this time is different. It feels like the first days of P-Day, it feels like he could lose some of himself, again, here. "You being you" he says quietly to himself, but feeling it will still be heard anyway, "You know why I want to deny it." and hopes that the 'Dionysius diplomat' can resolve things. His mind goes through what to do next, looking at his own claws is if about to do something. He summons up his feral impulses, hyping himself up about 'his pack' and his 'protective rage', and is about to say something... but it goes flat. He even thinks to shift back to human, but he doesn't want to let go of the distraction of a Fairhaven form and face this as his more true self. He is stuck, staring at... nothing. For years, after being jaded and hollowed out by his job, he was afraid of nothing, but besides maybe himself. Now, his afraid of Nothingness. He holds his head with a claw as he shakes his head, backing away from the group as something starts to shift. Shortly after, it smells like something has died, like me maybe has died. The wolf is looking more aged and whithered as his feelings are manifesting into physical in this place.

"They want more than that." The old looking wolf says after seeing a glowing vial being offered, "It's clear they want... followers." He looks up and asks, "What would it take to keep your apeiron from pouring into our realm. If the mutual intrusion doesn't stop, it could ruin both our realms. If it is that stuff, fine, we know how to get more. If it is something more... well..." He winces again, as if in pain, but leaves the obvious unspoken.

(Bleu) Bleu lifts his gun again as Iao teleports to right beside Narwen, and then when Khaos addresses him directly, he shakes his head. "Your flattery won't sway me," he declares resolutely. The satyr seems to be the only one here not remotely being influenced by whatever weird atmosphere the chaotic deity is cultivating. "Dionysus is as debauched and drunken as ever, but he also does not take pleasure in chaos and psychological torment. He's nothing like you. You don't frighten me, and I won't succumb to you, so I find myself at something of an impasse here." He looks over at Randel, and frowns. "Are you doing that to him?" he asks Khaos.

(Iao) Iao closes her eyes as if in contemplation and solemnly speaks, "You call it torment... has the apple fallen so far from the tree? The roots dig deeper than you know..." her pose stiffens as she points an accusatory finger at Natwen. "And an interloper you are! Times, places, intentions. Do you deny the truth of their significance? Does the clergy deny the bearer of the torch? I see that flame burns with a desire to burn us down. Thus you are labeled, a recusant for your actions." she raises up her arms to smuggly shrug and shake her head then only to bend down and accept the tithe. "But alas forgiving I am willing to be for I may be the first but I shall not be the only acolyte."

She suddenly warps ahead, just behind Randel to whisper to them. "You are afraid of what we represent..." she would then raise her voice to address both Bleu and Randel. "It would not bring ruin to both our worlds, you fear collapse? Are you so blind to see that this is always how it ends. We end as we began. This is who you are... beneath your skin and under your breath." she seems to grasp up a handful of Apeiron from the dark that oozes from between her fingers. "All as one, one to make them all. Do you not see the beauty in it? To return your souls to that which bore you, an everlasting darkness, an eternal dream. Think of what you could want and who you want to be? It is not too late dreamers... I'll allow you to renounce this apostasy and join us."

(Waconet) Khaos' eyes alight when the glowing vial rolls over the aether, its focus is rather taken in by this sparkling mako, sushing its own, or rather Iao's mouth as those eyes stares transfixed upon it. After several moments of internal contemplation, Khoas' voice returns, "This substance, this ... mako. It is beyond priceless. And you would just simply gift it to me?" Turning to Randel, "You are implying that followers would simply come to me and gift me this delightful ... trinkets? Freely and willingly?" Khoas returns to silence once again, as if thinking of countless different possibilities. "Of course, that is why the Others all remain here..." The shade's eyes dance to and fro. This all fit well into his future plans. Khaos was eternal, true, but this, this changed several things. "Would you tell others of this place? To let them know that they too could be welcomed into this aether. To join themselves into the Void, and to bring a tithe so that they too can experience all that it has to offer?"

(Pteryx) Pteryx can't do much but listen right now, but a lot of them words are just too confusin fer 'em! They can see sum real shiny vials bein given by them science skunk, and them shifter really goin through thins, and a mention of... followers? That's what them Khaos feller wants? Or what Randel thinks they want? Them Bleu seems standin firm on... sumthin. Golly, not bein able to move yer hands or chatter gets borin! Well, they're already in here, so Pteryx may as well ponder a whole lotta distractin thoughts! These tendrils sure are tight, can these be used fer like, bondage? Is them weird black soup sorta like water? If them whole ocean was filled with the stuff, how would beach days go? And if them Khaos feller was on that beach, would they be wearin a bikini? A speedo? A wetsuit? Wet... is this weird soup wet? Soup... what did they have fer lunch earlier? Lunch! What would make a good lunch, tacos? Tacos! Could they use this weird soup as a sauce fer tacos? The weird soup is sorta borin though. And just all black? What if it was orange! Or blue, or pink! There's so much more ya can do with differences than all this monochrome black! If only it could turn inta sumthin else... Do any of these thoughts matter? Probably not! Just Pteryx's mind no longer havin ta worry 'bout gettin distracted, so they freely let their mind wander anywhere and everywhere! Not like they can say much of these aloud! And it ain't like anyone can read their thoughts either!

They still ain't got a clue how them shade cat moves so fast, but whatever then science skunk offered seems ta have worked! Are these tendrils gonna let 'em go anytime soon now?

(Narwen) "Freely and willingly," echoes Narwen. "It pleases me that it pleases you, mighty Khaos. Perhaps others might come and offer the same, if they were able to come freely," he continues, looking pointedly at Pteryx and putting emphasis on the words, "and willingly."

(Randel) "It's too soon." the aged white wolf says quietly in response to Iao as he slowly sits and puts his arms on his knees, "I don't want to go... I don't want be apart of the void... but yet..." He looks up at Khaos with melancholic eyes when addressed, and says "As you likely heard from my log, there would be people that would find your offering... very tempting... Some not realizing what they'd be getting into, but be willing and happy none the less." He winces again, with a tear soaking the fur around his eyes and admits, "I don't like the idea of sending people into the void, but I have to fill a report. I have to tell others. And those others will likely spread the news to more, even with the warnings I'm obligated to do as a doctor. Word about you will spread, one way or another... and partly by my hands, as well as Zephyr's and RSX'." He pauses for a moment and asks, almost in a desperate tone, "Please tell me there is more to this than black-nothingness. It's said things come from here, yet I really don't see it."

(Bleu) Bleu is less inclined to be offering any presents, considering his own affiliation, but at least he lowers his gun again. "Okay, okay, if you're willing to accept that Mako as compensation, *and free Pteryx,* then I'm willing to leave and offer no further interference to your little pocket dimension. But you gotta stop mucking up the park, too, yeah?"

(Iao) Iao's smug and almost gleeful demeanor instantly shatters as Pteryx's thoughts start to manifest, a pink bikini and speedo combo forming onto her. Immediately she flies into a rage, dashing up to Pteryx practically shrieking, "H-how dare you!" out to the crowd and she frantically begins to claw and tear at the imagined clothing shredding it just into inky apeiron. Flexing her digits she would summon her void claws onto her right hand and brings one claw within inches of Pteryx's neck. "Sacrilege! Heresy!" she snarls with her face practically turning red and the air near her face seeming to steam. "Which one of you... y-y-ypu perverts! Would dream of a deity in such filth!"

With a huff she shoves off and turns away, snapping her fingers seemingly vanishing where she mutters. "Khaos... my lord you cannot be serious accepting these heathens... look at how they would defile us. Defile ME! Your most loyal of servants, the most devout! Are you not content to devour what is rightly ours? Bargaining? Am I not enough for you? I know you are strong enough to beat them... that I am strong enough. So why?" and after her brief deliberations she snaps and reappears only to glare down at the crowd, and especially at Randel. "At any rate it isn't soon enough it seems... ahem. SOME of us are a bit more imagninative than thou."

(Waconet) Khaos was amenable to these requests and demands so long as this mako was freely given and the ranks of followers filled with those eager to experience all that the Void had to offer. As these things were all considered, until bikini appeared. Khaos was even a tad surprised that the strength of Iao's response, and let her vent her righteous anger out. Several shade arms patted over her head just out of sight, as well as a taco that came out of the aether and was rapidly flung into Pteryx's torso just as he was released from the tendril's bondage. Sending the hyena off into the distance... the same direction they had all appeared from. Tisking, Khaos replies to Iao, "You are very much my treasured follower, and while true you are more than enough for me, we must look towards the future, my first one. Do you not wish to have those that would follow you as well?" Khaos turned back to the party returning to view. "Go forth, and let others know of where they can join us. Take your chocolate companion with you, for the other will find that the apeiron will cushion his fall back in your reality, it will flow into your realm, no more."

(Pteryx) Pteryx is just losin themselves ta their own imagination and loose train o' thoughts 'fore they notice them science skunk remember they were here! And them Cinnabun's still knocked unconscience. They probably needs a gurney fer that one, if only they brought one in... but they ain't think they could've done a big cannonball carryin one of those around! They should ask the guards if they made a big splash with the weird soup when they get out! Would be easier if them tendrils were balloon animals instead of whatever these are though!

Oh golly them shifter is really goin through stuff! With tears and everythin! Is Bleu tryin ta bargain fer 'em! Neato burrito! If that works they'd probably owe them a real big favour! Hopefully a sex favour! Or they risk gettin trapped in them satyr's room... only fer them hist orally lesson thin... Pteryx ain't good at lessons, not at all!

Seems Pteryx's overactive imagination did have sum consequences... The sheer rage and loudness of them shade cat's voice finally strikes sum sorta fear inta the mothly hyena! Them shadecat is armed too... with claws that could've sliced their neck inta ribbons! A red and steaminly angry Luckily, it seems that wasn't followed through... but them shadecat snapped their fingers and vanished... did they blink ta sumwhere else again? Another frum Pteryx's imagination strikes them, a taco! And their freedom! If only they got a gurney and... maybe a ladder to grab them Cinnabun too... With their tongue free now though... they could uh... Wherever them two in one shade cat is, they holler out, "Not a fan of beach wear then! What 'bout uh, overalls? Goth stuff... fancy dresses? A goth dress? Can... can anythin I think up turn inta sumthin in here? ...ain't got a clue what one of yer followers would do, probably not gonna get ta understandin it too much, but if it gets me a ladder and a gurney and probably sum ice packs ta get them Cinnabun outta here! Uh... what did ya ask fer... shiny vials?" Rifflin through their oversized first aid kit... maybe they got sum of those to offer...

(Narwen) "... a small price to pay for a life," says Narwen a few minutes later, as they pad back towards the camp. "I mean, what better use is there?" He steps carefully over the sandbags once more, the goop already ebbing, before stopping to let Bleu down. "She was crazy, but I didn't want her to die."

(Bleu) Bleu lowers his gun, when the deal is done. "I leave your domain," he says solemnly, letting Narwen to carry him away. Once back in the real world, the satyr lets himself down. "Thank you for helping me not over-exert myself, man."

(Randel) Randel blinks in amazement when his last question gets answer, and in an ironically chaotic way at that. He can't help but chuckle when seeing Iao humbled by the realm's own powers being unwittingly used on her. The stink of his emotions starts to lift and his advanced decrepit age regresses as both his mood improves and starts to realize the nature of the place. "You clearly haven't seen the Internet back when it was up. Talk about chaotic and perverted." He starts to see more thing happening when the overactive imagination of Pteryx starts kicking in. He manifests a bucket of popcorn and watches as the series of wild ideas come to form. "Ok, maybe this place isn't as bad after all..." he says to himself, before telling the others, "I'll catch up with you guys. Got some research and... huh, some soul searching to do. The real world can wait."

(Iao) Iao is evidently frustrated by this outcome and huffs even when she's pat only to chirp back to her patron. "B-but... yes that sounds good... we were doing so well though. Do I rally the troops then?" she seems to get lost in thought watching as most of the group starts to take their leave with an ice cold glare of a predator until only her and Randel remain. "You... we're not done here, I assure you of that. If it is soul searching you want, it is soul searching you will have. Leave this place, you are not welcome..." and she begrudgingly looks away and grits her teeth as she sputters out, "For now...." training her gaze back on them she furrows her brow and adds in. "You'll be hearing from me. We're not done here." and with the snap of her fingers, she was gone though a strange air suggests she's still lingering to see out any unwanted guests.