Between a Rock and a Strage Place. - RPLOG
Participants
Date
14/5/2016
Log
It is a cool day, and the light rain isn't helping things. There is nothing out here. Why on earth would anyone call for people to meet out here?
Rihko takes a few sniffs at the air as she reaches the designated spot in the open prarie. Her hands are in the pockets of her bright, red leather coat, and her tails slowly curl back and forth as she settles in to wait calmly.
"Bit of an odd place to meet, isn't it?" Edel asks as she steps up besides Rihko, her own tail flicking back and forth as she folds her hands behind her head. "Been a while though!" She adds, flashing the other cat a smile.
Lina looks around and frows at the weather, she was playing with nice ferals, but she makes her way to the meeting if she was called. She is happy that her armour shields her from the rain, the demonic cat is not in mood to get her silky smooth fur wet. She checks her gear some more making sure her extra milk and healing items are loaded. She greets the two other agents with a nod.
Aranor strolls in and stretches herself out a little. She looks at the others. "Hmm? Hello." She waves to everyone. "Wasn't there a call on the comms about something?" She yawns and lets herself down on her gravid lower belly. Both her bellies seem swollen with life, jutting out quite a ways from both her torso's, indicating how far along she is. Her tail curls around her pillowy flanks as she relaxes.
Possibly the only one aware of why the agents were out here, Redd strolls in appearing relaxed, his pace picking up as he spots Edel and Rihko. "Edel! Rihko! How've ya been? It's been a while." The coyote carries a large stone bowl, held close to his chest. "Bowl's still safe. And I haven't seen hide nor hair of Coyote nor Raven since Glenstock."
And there was that odd but familiar red beam Redd had seen before. In fact, he had seen it not too long ago as it scanned the interior of a warehouse.
As the beam stopped, a familiar figure stepped out of seemingly nowhere, the Giant Robot which some of them had a run with previously. Slowly stepping closer, she waved towards them. "Hey. So you were all called here too? I got here just a couple of minutes before you all arrived." Glancing towards the Coyote for a moment, she added. "Hmm. Didn't expect to see you so soon too, how have you been, lad?"
Now that the gang is all here, it probably falls to Redd to explain the situation. The bowl is made of cool, heavy stone and seems as ordinary as anything. Aside from a strange scent of ozone that accompany it.
After nodding in agreement with Edel, Rihko takes a moment to survey the other arrivals. Her neutral expression twitches towards a frown, but cracks with a grin as Redd approaches, followed by a curious look. "So what's this all about, then?" she asks the 'yote.
"Hello Redd. Glad that the bowl is still safe," Edel says, smiling and tugging up her hood a little further against the rain. "Long story short, Rihko... I don't know," she says with a grin, nodding. "But I suppose we will find out, huh?"
Redd sets the bowl on the ground, before sitting beside it. "So, Edel probably remembers this bowl, Bird Woman gave it to us, and Raven and Coyote were greedy and thought it was Bird Woman's seeing bowl, of course, it wasn't, and it trapped them inside." The yote's tail wags, his expression still one of amusement. "Now, they've been stuck in there a week, so probably best to get them out. Coyote still has duties in this world, after all."
Lina meows lightly at the sight of the bowl "if this is an other trick to pull his followers into something nasty, he will have have a cute paw print on his ass." She flex her fingers a bit and put it on the spirit bear head that's guarding her. She seems to be a bit cranky, must have been quite a nice play with the ferals as there is still some "milk" on her muzzle. She sights "So how we get his tail out of it?"
Aranor is surprised at the beam of light, her eyes widening at the giant robot that emerges from it. Looking up, she blinks. At least it doesn't seem too hostile. She looks to the stone bowl, then to Redd as he is seemingly addressed about it. As she listens to Redd, she nods and giggles a bit. "A coyote getting tricked, huh? Well, how do we get someone out of a bowl, of all things?" She mirrors Lina's question, rather curious herself as she stares at the thing. She seems to ponder something to herself, but eventually looks to Redd. At least she thought to take a pill before coming, this would probably need less distraction from her otherwise heated genitals.
"Blow it up?... Hmm. No, that would probably kill them then." Analyzing the bowl, the kemo robot crouched closer to them, wondering. "Perhaps there's a sort of seal keeping them trapped? Something on the outside?" Even though Naiko did not know how the hell could something like this happen to deities, her curiosity was surely drawn to the situation at hand. "You said it. A coyote getting tricked, talk about irony." She smirked.
As if it can hear the conversation, the bowl suddenly begins to glow and vibrate. It suddenly seems to expand and the patterns in its stone surfaces start to swirl and change! If anyone wants out, bow seems to be the last chance to run!
Rihko makes a small noise of surprise and shifts her weight, her feet bracing, as her fur stands up. She doesn't bolt, though, ready to save Coyote again.
Edel reaches out to pat Rihko on the back. "It should be fine! I was there for it. It was a pretty neat way to turn the tables, I must say, but we can't leave them trapped in there forever. I'm sure they'll find their way out."
Lina looks at the expanding bowl, "why couldn't be something easy? like filling the bowl and spill out the content with coyote in it." She waits for the bowl to swallow a few others first to move in the middle of the line, keeping her hand on her battle axe.
Redd watches with interest, if nothing else, this makes for good research material later. With only a slight hesitation, Redd reaches out and touches one of the swirling patterns. "Welp, here goes nothing."
Aranor gives naiko a look. "Yea, lets not blow up supernatural objects. I wouldn't want to blown up if I happened to turn myself into an object..." She thinks on that for a moment, but is soon interrupted by the expanding bowl. "What... is going on? Pretty though!" She steels herself a bit as others allow the bowl to blanket them. Seeing Redd touch one of the patterns, she tentatively reaches out and does the same. "Well, hopefully we won't get stuck in this thing. Who'd rescue the rescuers?"
As the bowl began to expand, Naiko tapped Redd's shoulder, hastily asking. "The hell? Is this normal?!" As if bracing for some sort of impact, the Kemo Robot's exposed skin was quickly covered by layers of solid steel along with her head which quickly morphed into some sort of full blown robotic head. Considering she was the tallest, biggest figure around, perhaps she would be the first one to be drawn into the bowl?
Up is down and back is front as the swirling bowl somehow expands to engulf the whole world! It is like being on a rollercoaster without restraints!
Then it suddenly stops! The party finds themselves in what seems to be a hospital lobby. It is immaculately pristine and there is a little reception desk. Careless Whisper seems to be playing softly from unseen, tinny speakers. Aside from the group, the place seems empty.
Rihko looks around the lobby, her ears pinning back; after a moment she looks at Edel and nods. "Oh, I know," she says. "... this isn't the first time I've been here, or a place very like it. It's still..." she sighs, the sound part huff, then shakes her head. "Whatever. Let's find him and hope they let us check out any time we like." She looks around and gives the rest of the group a small smile, then sniffs at the air, searching for traces of Coyote.
Edel winks at Rihko. "We can always check out when we choose," she says, tugging her hood back down and glancing around. "But yes, let's find them and get out of here as quickly as we can. Knowing them, they're probably being kept as nurses rather than patients."
Lina listens to the speakers with her long ears, while looking around. The corner of her mouth perks up as she thinks up something fun. Her form as she transforms into a nurse. " This place looks vaguely familiar."
"Well then, I suppose there's only one thing to do. Find Coyote and Raven, then go home. Not like we have other choices." Redd sniffs the air too, before heading behind the desk to look for a directory or something similar.
As the bowl swallows Aranor she gets nauseous and almost vomits as she puts a hand to her muzzle, but suddenly, it stops. "Urg..." She wobbles on her four paws a bit, trying to steady herself after losing all sense of orientation. Once she gains her balance again she looks around, and is surprised by her new surroundings. "Whoa..." When everyone starts mentioning a likeness, she looks to the others and shrugs. "I've been to the hospital at Fairhaven once or twice, but this place is... clean." Following Redd, she looks over his shoulder and looks over the papers, her eyes drift around the desk however as curiosity takes over for a moment, doing a quick check for anything of note. Despite her seeming distraction, she does try to stay out of Redd's way.
Naiko opens her.. Camera lenses? It was always odd being a full blown robot. With some mechanical whirring, she stood up, looking around, relieved that the group was still here, she vented... Hot air. Out of her exhaust pipes and beeped towards Rhiko. With her voice in a rather robotic tone, she said. "Hmm. Seems I can't change back. I suppose we're under supernatural influence by now.. It's like that mayan ruin aaaaall over again." After a brief pause, she gently asked, "Is everyone alright? And what the bloody hell is this place?" She seemed rather... Confused. At least the Mayan temple had smoother transitions.
Naiko is correct, as Lina finds out for herself. Looks like we're not in Fairhaven any more. Transforming doesn't seem to be an option here. Then there are all the other complications that come from being outside of a bubble. Hunger, permanent physical damage, clarity of thought uninterrupted by nanite-induced lust.
There is no one at the reception desk. But there is a directory posted on the wall, pointing out floors and directions to reach different parts of the hospital. Operating rooms, the ICU, pediatrics, maternity, the psychiatric ward, and an assortment of patient rooms. For a moment, there is an impression that it is written in strange, illegible characters, but a blink later it is all written in English.
Careless Whisper repeats over the pa system.
Rihko spends a few more moments looking around the lobby, the ends of a couple of her tails flicking in time to the music. Then she turns back to the group and grins. "Well then. We could page for the orderly over the PA, start exploring, or try the psych ward first. Unless you found something back there, Redd?"
Edel rubs her chin, pondering as her whiskers twitch. "Hmmm. Exploring hospitals never seems like a good idea. They're usually big! So my vote is we try the psych ward or check the PA."
Lina shakes her head. "my head hurts like hell." She looks at the places "10000 freecred on psychiatric ward." she steady herself using her companion and search for any speakerphone. " I hate places with no nanites."
"Annd... the directory is totally useless. Every entry, John Smith. Did smell something though, owl, I think. Or could be Raven, maybe." Redd closes the patient directory and heads down the hall. "I guess we just start looking."
Aranor glances on Naiko, having experimented with mechanical forms before, but never staying in them for long, she gives her a curious look as she beeps and blows. Her eyes go back to the curiosity in front of her before too long. Looking at the directory, she is stunned by the letters rearranging themselves into english. She takes a moment to memorize the layout of the hospital for now, then looks to Redd as her own attempts to read the scrawl on some of the papers fail her. On Redd's discovery she nods and backs up to give Redd space to move, then follows him as he walks off. "What do you think of this place, Redd?"
"Right. So I suppose It would be best if we did not split. These kind of supernatural environments tend to be nasty and tricky... And for the record, Careless Whispers. Seriously? This sounds totally like something Coyote would do. Maybe we should investigate the PA system booth. Every hospital I've ever visited had one separate room for it." Following Redd as he walks off too, she added, "Well.. I just know Redd over there because of some work we did together, but I don't know the rest of you... My name is Naiko, it's a pleasure to meet you, even under these circumstances, I suppose."
There is a phone behind the counter, and it seems to have a button to connect to the PA system. Hard to say who would hear it, though. Or what they might do.
The directory sign says that the psych ward is on the second floor and helpfully points toward an elevator. Or you could take the stairs instead.
Rihko smiles softly as she follows after Redd, nodding her head. "Owl, yes. Who was it who gave you the bowl again?" she asks, tails shifting from side to side. "And Careless whispers of a good friend, to the heart and mind..." her head tilts. "There's no comfort in the truth, pain is all you'll find. Fitting, for Coyote."
"Bird Woman," Edel answers, glancing back towards Naiko and spinning to give a little bow before she continues on following. "I am Edel Lin! Nice to meet you, too. Things are finally getting interesting in life again, it seems! How exciting!"
She takes up the phone and listens to it. "You guys want to make a call?" She asks the others and depending on their answers she reacts her finger is howering over the PA button.
Lina pushes the PA button, Mister Coyote and Owl is needed at the reception desk, Minster Coyote and Owl is needed at the reception desk she speaks into the phone.
"Ain't nothing compared to that vision quest trip, if you ask me." Redd shrugs, checking doors and rooms for occupants. He sniffs occasionally, trying to catch that scent of owl from the lobby, or whatever avian it might have been. "I wonder if Bird Woman is normally an owl. Would explain the scent."
Aranor looks behind herself as Naiko introduces herself, she jumps in shock a bit as she forgot to introduce herself. "I'm Aranor." She says so the group can hear, "Nice to meet you all. I don't think I've met anyone here before.... At least as far as I can remember..." When Red responds, she notices Redd sniff the air and does the same, trying to smell what Redd is smelling. "Is Bird Woman nice?" She passively listens to Rhiko, but doesn't think on it too much. When Lina tries her hand at the PA she cocks a brow. "Is it ever that easy when it comes to coyotes?" Returning to the matter at hand she stays a little ways from Redd as he sniffs, not wanting to add her own scent to the air to muddy things.
As it followed Redd, the robot's servos whirred and its sensors continued scanning, beeping every now and then.
The robot then glanced forth towards Edel and then over its shoulder, replying the two. "Right, so.. It's a pleasure to meet you too, Edel and Aranor... Even in this situation." Glancing forward again, she asked, "If I may, can anyone tell me the story of how this situation came to be? I still find it... Rather odd. The whole concept of supernatural is still alien to me, as if nanites weren't enough. However, I'm quite interested."
The repeating track is briefly interrupted by Lina's announcement, the returns to its endless cycle. "Never gonna dance again! Guilty feet have got no rhythm!" Nothing else seems to happen. . .
"Rihko," Rihko introduces, nodding at the others, then returns to scanning the area as they move along. "It's been... a while, a long while, since I last got tied up in this kind of situation, but the important thing to remember is the stories. They like their stories, and story logic tends to apply. We'll probably find the place empty, but I want to make sure before we move on to anything else."
Edel nods at Rihko, rubbing at one of her own ears. "Yes, well! I'm usually pretty good at their whole metaphorical vision quest things. But... Well. This is kind of different! There are no forests, or spirit beasts to hunt. This is a bit different from what I usually expect! And I'm not sure what else that'll entail."
Lina puts the phone next to the reciver so it will be heard through the PA system if someone moves loudly around the reception desk. She follows them using the spirit bear as support, trying to catch up to them. She shakes her head. "Just moving and doesn't leaving behind signs. It could be a maze." She thinks about the thing in her invetory to heal her, she may have many usefull things. When she cought up she asks them. "Did you find something?"
"Consider it this way, how many times do you get to meet a real god when you're sitting around in that little city. Most people never will." The coyote checks each room quickly, moving down the hallways. "Nothing yet, I think. Damn, this place is more sterile than any hospital I've ever seen, even before the nanites."
Aranor looks to Naiko and nods with a smile. Her question is on her mind as well, she hopes Redd would answer in the meantime. As she sniffs about in the hallway however, her ear perks a bit. Looking to the others she thinks a moment, but then walks a little closer to Redd and says with a lowered voice, "I think I heard an elevator or something, I'm going to go check it out." She backs of a bit and makes a slow approach towards the source of the sound, but considering where she is and the lack of nanites, she decides against straying out of earshot or sight of the group and focuses her attention down the hall intently.
"And Rihko. Nice to meet you too then!" The robot gently added. "Hmm. So you've all been in situations like these more than I have. To tell you the truth, I've only met one face to face, her name was Ixchel. She seemed like a nice lady, cursed someone though... Anyway. Back to business." She continued walking, not really noticing what Aranor had whispered to Redd, focusing on scanning the rooms ahead. "Well.. I'd say it's clean with deific perfection. I can't seem to pick up anything either."
The rooms and offices of the first floor are immaculate and lifeless. If this really is a hospital, it is one that has never seen patients or staff. The group reaches the end of the hallway where they are faced with the choice to take either the elevator, or the stairs.
Aranor's exloration takes her away from the group to peer around a corner. At the end of this new corridor a large service elevator rattles open and something enormous shambles out! It looks vaguely avian, with thick, scaley, taloned legs and an owl like head, but it fills the hallway with its bulk and has great, shaggy arms like a bear!
"Not every vision quest happens in a forest," Rihko replies. "And for whatever reason, you get to meet real gods all the time in Fairhaven. Some times it feels like you can barely walk down a street without tripping over a-" she cuts off as Aranor heads towards the elevator, then narrows her eyes as the owl-bear-thing comes out. She steps forward and past the group, lifting her hands in front of her
"Where can we find Coyote?" she asks it, just for kicks.
"No, they don't all happen in a forest, but a hospital?" Edel rubs her chin and pauses to adjust her glasses, looking between the stairs and elevator. "I say we take the stairs," she says plainly. "I don't trust elevators in a place like this."
Lina moves after the group to cought up to them. She doesn't want to left alone in a place like this. "Wait up, guys."
The coyote turns towards Aranor and sees the owlbear. As Rihko approaches it, his hand moves towards the magnum in its holster. "Elevators... Yeah, Aranor, might want to get back."
As Aranor peeks around the corner, she sees the creature in front of her. Her eyes go wide as she slowly backs away, not wanting to cause too much movement in an attempt to remain unnoticed. She backs up slowly to the room where Redd is, "Redd, a scarry owl... bear... thing is here.", she says in a hushed tone. Taking her place amongst the group again, she keeps all her senses trained at the corner. As she waits for the others to react, she starts radiating a gentle warmth and stays close to the back of the group. She may be good at medicine, but not so well at beating things up.
Still following Redd as they "Hmm Good, an elevator, I wonder if supernatural land has weight and and size limitations." The robot.. Snickers somehow. More like a series of reverberated noisy whirrs. "Stairs? Gods, I hate stairs. Also, wh...Where are you going?" Naiko asked loudly towards the corridor where Aranor and Rihko stepped away. "I thought we were supposed to stay together?" The robot had clearly not noticed the Owlbear for some odd reason, not having any weapon systems ready at all. "What did you say was over there?" She added, speaking towards Aranor.
The door to the stairwell is unlocked. No resistance there. And at the same time, the elevator door chimes in a friendly way, opening on a very clean, very ordinary elevator.
Around the corner, the owlbear shambles slowly diwn the corridor, huge, feathery head swinging from side to side to peer into rooms. It does not seem to have noticed the group yet.
Rihko watches the owlbear for a moment, then relaxes and nods her head. She points the group towards the stairs, then heads that way. "Good. Alright. Let's keep searching."
Edel tilts her head, glancing over her shoulder before she scoots into the stairwell. She didn't want to be here when the thing shambled closer! And she wasn't getting in some mystical elevator that'd probably take them on a trip through time or something. Stairs were a safe alternative.
Lina catch up to the group and curses as she sees the thing. "Blueball licking fleabag dogs. Is that a new type of totem, melted together of bear, owl and snake" she shakes her head a bit "i liked the classical indian totems better." She ready her axe and claws and back away with the others.
"Not what I was expecting, but OK, let's head upstairs." Redd nods and heads up to the second floor, scanning for any sign of more owlbears. "I'm thinking the owlbear came after you called on the PA."
Naiko whispers, "So.. Whatever that is, it's an owlbear? Hmm. I believe I might have limited ammo considering there are no nanites around, so I'm coming up with you." If the stairs allowed, Naiko would follow Redd up and look over her shoulder, adding, "No time to waste, get up here before they see you. Hurry up." She tried her best not to draw much attention, climbing said stairs slightly slowly so the servos wouldn't make much noise.
The stairwell is clear and the party has no trouble reaching the second floor. There is a helpful sign there directing hospital patrons to the left for maternity and pediatrics and to the right for the psychiatric ward.
Aranor, unlike the rest, darts into the elevator, which slides closed behind her. Hours later, she will come to alone in a field. When asked about the experience later and what happened to here after entering the elevator, all she says is, "Owls," before changing the subject.
Rihko glances at the sign, then begins shuffling down the hallway to the right, her hands slipping back into her pockets. "S' not always all about totems, you know," she says. "Totems and great spirits and gods are all different things. Owl-bear could just be a story thing that slipped in here, or Bird Woman could have a fondness for them."
"Hard to say," Edel says, nodding as she glances around the second floor hallways before moving off towards the psych ward. "My guess is a lesser... Spirit of some kind. Though I'm still curious as to why the hospital of all things is a back drop."
Lina shakes her head and follows Redd up the stairs "i think that's Bear, owl and snake. Only the trickster is missing from the mass and if my cat sense is correct they are searching for the coyote, to beat the hell out of him." She points to the psychiatric ward and follows Rihko. "We should search for him at the place where one would put him in a spirit world to punish him for stealing."
Redd whistles, trying to get the group's attention. "Rihko, Edel, shouting from pediatrics, though there's something canine towards psych. Let's check the shouting first." He gestures down the left hallway, and heads towards the noise, however muffled. "Shouting's more urgent than a scent, or a hunch." His fingers wrap around the revolver's grip, the coyote pressing an ear against each door to listen for sounds inside.
"That's why I agree the Psych ward might just be the best place to look for him." She says so, coming up the stairs and noticing the signs, following Redd along. "Plus, we even have our local 'yote' to guide us... So, come on." And finally, noticing as Redd had his fingers around his magnum's grip, she readied one of her weapon systems. With some mechanical whirring, a cannon extended on her back, sliding on a rail over to Naiko's right shoulder. It seemed awfully intimidating to say the least. "Ready. Do you need some cover? I've got a shield too, mister."
I am confused.
The trio marching off toward the psych ward are met with quiet halls and closed doors on either side. There are little sliding windows to peek in to should anyone choose to.
It does not take much walking for everyone going into the pediatrics ward to make out the shouting that Redd heard. A great, glass window is open onto a large nursery. For the most part, it is empty. But toward the back, a large matronly looking being has her back to the window and is rocking someone or something in a large basinette that is shrieking and howling in some foreign tongue.
Careless Whisper continues to play from unseen speakers.
Rihko eyes Naiko, and her cannon, for a moment and then whistles softly. She steps up behind Redd and gives the coyote a pat on the shoulder, then leans against the door of the pediatrics room, watching the figure and trying to place a name to it.
Edel turns to follow after Redd, and the screaming, resting a hand on her sword's hilt. "What do you think is making all the noise?" She asks as she approaches, trying to peek into the room from behind the others. Does she want to find out? Well, she's a cat today so curiosity wins out and the answer is 'yes.' Yes she does.
Lina waits doesn't want to make a funny sceen at the door being the 4th that tires to look into the room. She rolls her head lightly and rest, trying to keep her body in form as she caress her guardian back, whatch out for their back. "Next time i gonna grab some multi functional weapon. That will be good out of the bubble too, not just claws and axes."
Redd wastes little time getting to the window, and when he does, he knocks on the glass, gently. If there's no reaction inside, he knocks again, a bit louder. He stands back from the glass, and waits, his arms crossed.
The matron continues to rock the shrieking cradle, but turns her head in a rather alarming 180 degrees to peer out at the gathered group with huge, owlish eyes!
The coyote opens the door, stepping inside. "Err, Ma'am, have you seen Raven or Coyote around here? If you have, would you please tell us where we may find them?"
Meanwhile, the robot plainly follows the coyote around, not hiding the whirring that followed as she walked around. It might be too close to use the cannon if it became hostile, retracting it to her back, especially considering whatever was in the cradle. She didn't do much other than adding as Redd asked the owl creature, "Please."
The strange Owl matron rises gracefull from her chair. "I have not seen any of the mud people for a very long time," she says airily, "and I certainly did not expect to find them here." She points a long-fingered, human hand at the door. "This is no place for you, and none of your business," she says, "Leave this place! And leave Raven and foolish Coyote to their punishment!" She mashes a button on her own nearby office style phone and the repeating chorus of Careless Whisper turns into a whooping Claxon!
Rihko narrows her eyes at the owl matron, her ears pinning back at the noise; she steps into the room after Redd and shakes her head. "We will leave, but Coyote's children want their leader back. Surely there is a way the two of them could make amends?"
Edel grimaces at the noise, remaining by the doorway for now. "Yes, we'll be happy to leave! But we must take coyote with us, I'm afraid. He has been punished for a time, thanks to some of our doing, but it is over now."
"Bird Woman implied this punishment was not permanent, and as it stands, I cannot leave Raven and Coyote here. Coyote, at least, still has duties he must fulfill in our world." Redd's ears flatten in apparent discomfort, but it doesn't stop him. "If we truely must leave, would you open a path to Bird Woman's house?" The yote glances at Edel and Rihko. "We can't exactly leave a god locked up in a stone bowl."
"It doesn't sound like they're in the mood for company or amiability." Naiko turned her back to the doorway, letting Redd and the rest figure the owl woman out, in order to face the way out to the corridor. She waved her left arm, extending a large, heavy metal shield labelled 'H.I.V.E.' from an opening in her left arm's armor, should it be needed. She didn't seem to believe that things would go north on this one, but considering the creatures actually spoke, perhaps it was a good start. Even with the alarm buzzing on their ears and all, which might just have clearly stated the Owl's intention in the first place.
"It is not for the mud people to decide for the sky people!" the owl woman says firmly, "Raven will soon return to the world, once he has learned his place. But coyote will not even confess to his crimes! No. You will leave this place empty handed!"
Out in the hallway, the large, service elevator dings pleasantly and its doors slide open to reveal the owlbear from earlier! This time, however, the beast comes charging down the corridor!
Rihko frowns, then nods at the owl matron. "Yes. That is who Coyote is. What Coyote must be. He will never learn; but he takes his punishments. Surely there is a way?"
Edel steps back from the door to face the charging owl beast. "Good luck with the negotiations. I do not want to turn to violence today, but it may come to it." She rests her hand on her sword's hilt again and drops into a ready stance, prepared to draw should the creature not halt its path.
Redd steps closer to the owl-woman, his hand hovering over his revolver. "If I might note, Coyote's duties involve being an intermediary between two rival powers in our world, I am not going to let my home become a battlefield over someone else's belief that Coyote needs to be punished indefinitely." His ears fold back, a hint of a growl in the yote's voice. "So, let's make this simple, I would like to bring Coyote back to our world, failing that, I want an audience with Bird Woman again. One of these two are going to happen."
"Wait for it." Said Naiko, as the bulk in her torso's armor slid open to reveal a -bunch- of huge audio speakers, wrapped around in dangling wires and connected to a large digital soundboard which seemed to have all values over the maximum allowed value, set to 256. The words 'Say hello to the bass cannon!' were lit on the soundboard's LCD screen, along with a smiley face. How quaint.
The Robot then glanced over its shoulder and said. "Please, cover your ears and stand back." Before turning back towards the charging creature, and should it continue on its path.. "Aaand.. Now." She fires it as it gets closer and the result is an agonizingly loud shockwave of sound down the corridor, loud enough to deafen and strong enough so the shockwave generated can knock things down. This was quite literally the only non-lethal weapon which Naiko had, and it seemed to excel at crowd controlling back in Fairhaven.
"Ha!" the Owl woman laughs, "What do you think you can do to me here, little Mud people? Not even Coyote's brother Fox has come to speak in his behalf! The stupid oaf continues to cling to his deception. Claiming that he is not Coyote at all! It is laughable!"
"It is pretty pathetic," comes a croaking voice from the cradle, whose occupant has finally stopped crying. A sleek, black, avian head peeks over the top. "Usually he just pretends to be sorry and we're both out by now! It's his fault I'm still stuck here!"
Out in the hall, the owlbear does not stop, or even slow. Until it experiences level 11 from Naiko's speakers! The huge beast staggers, slamming itself into a wall in its confusion. Looks like that will only work once, though. It lurches back to its feet, shaking its shaggy head.
"Let us go see him then, Rihko here can tell us if he is Coyote or someone else, Courtesy of the norse god Fenrir. Neither the Kitsunes, Tanuki, nor even Loki can trick that nose, I would be surprised if Coyote manages it." Redd gestures towards Rihko, his eyes not leaving the Owl-woman.
Rihko gives the owl woman a small smile, glancing over at Redd and then back to the owl-matron. "It would not be the first time that Coyote tricked some poor soul into taking his place. Call off the guard, please, I would hate to have to eat it."
"Fine!" the matron says, slapping the button on her phone and rising as the familiar strains of Careless Whisper fill the air again, "And when you find that you are wrong, you will leave." She puts a cover over the Raven in its basinette which gives an indignant squak, then strides from the room.
In the corridor, the owlbear braces to charge again, then the alarm stops, and simply stands still, looking curious now instead of murderous.
Edel relaxes her stance once the owlbear stands down, straightening up again and dropping her hands to her side. "Great. Let's see if we can solve this, then," she says, nodding towards Rihko. "I trust her nose, certainly."
The coyote visibly relaxes, straightening up. "You lead the way, Ma'am." Redd holds the door for her, following a few paces behind. "And if he isn't Coyote, then what?"
That was a good moment, as Naiko was about to raise that bloody Flak cannon again and give the owlbear a lil' taste of it. Lowering her guard and sliding the chest bulk armor closed again, she looked back to Redd and the rest of the group, tilting her head with a whirr. "Well.. Whatever you've done, it was useful. Thank you." She bows towards Redd and others which were talking to the matron Owl, making way for them to pass to the corridor.
"If it isn't coyote," the matron says, leading the way into the psych ward and to a heavy door, "Then that fool has lost the last friend he had in this world or any other." She slams open a little viewing window with a mesh grate over it. Inside is a rather bedraggled fox in a custom straight jacket and muzzle. He can only grunt in recognition from his cot at the group's arrival. The owlbear ambles along behind.
Rihko stands there for a long moment, peering through the grate as her tails slowly swish back and forth. "... that is a fox," she finally declares. "May I go in, please?" she asks.
Edel remains silent now, folding her arms as she watches. She didn't have a nose for sniffing out deities, so she had little to contribute aside from what her eyes saw. And that was apparent to everyone.
"I can tell you from a glance that is not Coyote. If Rihko doesn't think so, and I don't think so, there's no way under the stars that you have Coyote in that bed." Redd turns towards the owl woman. "So, I suppose that means Bird Woman trapped Fox inside her bowl. Will you release them now?"
Following the group and entering the door along with Rikho, Naiko peered through the grate, scanning. After some time, she tilted her head with a whirr, saying in that same robotic tone they were used to by now. "My sensors tell me that.. You have a fox. What if it -is- Fox, lady owl?" Naiko peered at the matron Owl, asking said question. "And if you don't mind me asking, do you have a name?"
The Owl woman frowns at Redd. "As if I would trust the word of one of Coyote's children," she sniffs, but opens the door. She steps back and folds her arms, watching warily and answering no more questions.
Rihko waves her hand at Redd and flashes him a grin. "I just said it looks like a fox, not that it wasn't something disguised as one. Give me a moment." She nods her head, then steps into the room and makes a show of sniffing at the air, then stepping up to the captive, leaning forward and peering as she looks him over.
Edel tilts her head, watching Rihko do her thing. "Wouldn't it be something if this was all some double-trick and it WAS coyote with Bird Woman in the first place."
"I'll wait for Rihko's verdict, but I do take offense to the presumption that I would be lying." Redd leans on the door. "I swore an oath to protect the innocent before I ever met Coyote, and I don't consider it null because I follow a trickster." He stares at the owl woman, then at Rihko, and the fox in the bed. "In any case, that ain't Coyote, I can feel it."
"While you may not trust the Coyote's children, I assure you that you can trust me. I am most likely the most neutral party here. I'm Naiko." The robot vocalized, adding not so shortly after Redd spoke his part. "Likewise, I protect and when I'm not busy, I research and take care of others back in Fairhaven. Which is what you probably call the mud world, considering you call us mud people."
The owl only taps her toe and waits for the final verdict.
Rihko wrinkles her nose for a moment, then shakes her head. "Nope. Definitely not Coyote, no god, and not even a follower of his. Can we ask him how he got in here, then?"
Rihko wrinkles her nose for a moment, then shakes her head. "Nope. Definitely not Coyote, and not even a follower of his. It's Fox. The Fox. Can we ask him how he got in here, then?"
Edel lifts her shoulders in a little shrug. "Well! If it's not Coyote then who knows. If it's Fox, welllll. Very curious, then. Quite the trick indeed," she grumbles.
"Now that we're agreed this is indeed Fox, can we untie him?" Redd starts towards the bed, looking for the ends of the jacket's bindings.
"So that is Fox? The Fox?" Naiko waved over to the strapped in fox. "Hey there, we'll get you out in a bit, Fox." She followed Redd as he attempted to undo the straps, providing help if necessary.
The matron sighs and waves her hand. The hospital disolves away, leaving the group and a bound and tied fox in the middle of an empty field. The strains of Careless Whisper fades away along with the matrons parting, "Damn."
Rihko gives the matronly owl a small, apologetic smile and shrugs her shoulders, then moves to Edel's side while Redd works on the jacket. "So... what happened, in the first place, anyway?" she asks quietly.
Edel stretches out and glances around the field, taking a deep breath. "Well, Rihko! Coyote disguised as fox, or so we thought at the time, asked us to take a bowl from Bird Woman because that bowl was coyote having been trapped. When we got there it was explained to us that Bird Woman and Fox were lovers and Coyoted wanted us to create strife by stealing the bowl. So they gave us a bowl to trap raven and coyote in for their duplicity."
Redd gets the muzzle off Fox, letting him speak for himself. "Of course, Coyote couldn't have done this alone, you know." He slices the binds on the jacket with a knife, watching the others. "Part of me thinks Bird Woman was in on it. At least partially."
"I doubt it," Fox growls, struggling out of the rest of his restraints with help, "He had you rubes to do his dirty work. Probably had the Brid Woman believing that he was me for weeks to set all this up." He frowns at Redd. "I can't believe you fell for it," he says, rising to his feet and dusting himself off.
Rihko lifts a hand to rub behind her ear, then gives Redd a small 'sorry, this is your pantheon' shrug before she slips her hands back into her jacket pockets and listens to the talk as things get sorted out.
"So that's the story?" Naiko shook her head with continued whirring. "...I'm thankful that I had no part in such.. Ruse." While the robot seemed displeased, it was... Happy to have helped at least a little. "It's an honor to meet you, however, Fox."
Edel turns her gaze heavenward and shrugs. "Tanuki and Kitsune do things a bit differently! I was never terribly keen on the coyote and fox brands of mischief."
"So, who told you Coyote was trapped in a stone, then?" Redd tilts his head. "Besides, not like both of you haven't pulled such tricks before." The yote shrugs. "At least we came back for ya, you know."
"Probably Coyote," Fox admits, "Thanks anyway for the save. You are all welcome around my place any time." With that, the godly fox vanishes. Well. That was something!
Rihko perks her ears and then gives the empty space formerly known as Fox a proper bow, her hands clasping in front of her. Then she gives Bird Woman another bow, before offering the others of the small group nods. "I hope Coyote turns up somewhere, Redd. S' been a pleasure. Nice to meet you, Naiko, and always fun to be on an adventure together Edel."
Edel smiles and nods at Rihko. "Yes! We must go on more adventures. Or we should go on that hunt! That would be a lot of fun, too!" She chimes, linking her arms at the sleeves of her robe. "And yes, with luck you will find him, Redd. Luck and cunning."
"I'll find him soon enough, won't be long till he gets his fuzzy butt kicked out of Bird Woman's house. He'll show up back where he belongs, then." Redd chuckles, picking up the stone bowl again. "Suppose I'll have to find a way to put this on display somewhere. Rihko, Edel, Naiko, don't be strangers, stop by the warehouse more often."
"I'd love to stop by sometime to hear a story or two." She told Fox as the Deity vanished. "With that done.. Thank you for bringing me along too. Don't be shy to ask me to lend a gun, a shield or a hand... And.. What warehouse?" The robot asked, also looking around to figure out where they were at.
