the mouse house

[groundrules]

Welcome to Serthica’s Mouse House — a mini plot roll for recent newcomers, lasting until 11 August. Characters who opted in are in a different physical location but can contact the group at sea through their communicators. You can use the log post below to top level and mingle, or you can make your own logs and posts.

THE MOUSE HOUSE

---

Characters awaken in the dessert, unburied from high sands, recovering in medical tents or drifting towards a caravan. After a day to mend, they are presented to the caravan leader — the Merchant, who provides them translation and communication devices.

He explains they are outsiders who have reached the world of Akhuras, where undead factions wage war with each other and the living. The undead summon otherworldly conscripts, to enslave or weaponise them in the conflict. The Merchant finds and transports such newcomers east, where beacons might return the visitors back to their home worlds. Other otherworldly guests are currently travelling the haunted Crossing Seas — the Merchant offers their names.

The group at sea will reach the beacon-bearing clockwork citadel of Serthica within days. Caravan newcomers are supplied 10,000 coins each, blade weapons and ship passage to the impoverished Mouse House — the underground outskirts of Serthica and home to beggars, smugglers, contrived thief networks and mercenaries. Here, they must complete a set of tasks to wrangle, muscle, thieve or bribe coveted Serthica passport papers for themselves and their incoming comrades. Good luck!

Image source.

CHEESE FOR THE WHINE

■ The Mouse House is the literal industrialised underworld that surrounds Serthica. Coarse and labyrinthine, it has the gargantuan width of a very large vessel (50m). Here and there, crumbled makeshift stone roads show defunct rail tracks underneath. One train still runs in the outmost pathway of the Mouse House, taking daily imported coal shipments from the port to Serthica.

■ Often filthy, dangerous and entirely cavernous, the Mouse House comprises several crammed community homes — ‘rat mounds’ — some small illicit trade and forgery shops, and hideouts for opiate suppliers, slavers and thieves. Sleep lightly and watch your backs.

■ A pathway leads out to the ports. There are no windows, and the stuffy air is unhelped by limited ventilation. A strong scent of sedative incense blooms in the air to keep the criminal population tame(r).

■ Characters are taken in by Ma’am Mariol, the benevolent matronly leader of a ring of orphans who provide courier and espionage services for the various overlords of the Mouse House. Enjoy her hospitality: dried bread, questionable soup and a resting place in her breezy enclosures.

■ Ma’am Mariol looks after 12 valiant urchins. You can enlist their services but expect they’ll want pay.

■ Twice a day, at 6:00 and 18:00, the Mouse House suffers a dull shudder for a few minutes, as if suffering the echoes of a distant, rippling earthquake. Ma’am Mariol shares this is because the two city halves of Serthica are starting to swap places: Eidris comes up in the morning, while Minaras is overground at night. They only meet for one hour during the swap.

Image source.

✘ PRIME OPPORTUNITY

Win passage into Serthica by completing quests from the list below. Multiple people can tackle the same assignment. Report in by 23:59 GMT on 10 August for your gains.

PLOY & PLUNDER

Highly superstitious gang leader Artemius Bale is holding a festivity to celebrate conquering the territory of former rival Edward Three-Hands . The crème de la crème of the Mouse House’s underworl attends in a bustling, tight space. Despite his recent victory, Artemius remains heavily paranoid and keeps his cronies on guard.

■ Steal decent garments and function invitations from attendees to join the party.

■ Ease the pockets of the many criminal merrymakers, while they’re enjoying their fine wine. The more coin you can collect for later bribes, the better.

■ Pass for one of the many séance holders and ‘necromancers’ Artemius Bale has commissioned to entertain his guests. Coax attendees that the dead want them to patron incoming travellers — You may need to pair up and simulate a few ‘haunting’ tricks to persuade them of your great necromantic talent.

■ Why not pull a fast one on old fox Artemius? You could even persuade him he has been cursed by Edward Three-Hands and will fall deathly ill or unable to enjoy his gains if he does not make amends for his wrongdoings… to your benefit.

ALL ABOARD

A time-honoured fixture of Serthica, the single coal train typically enters the Mouse House each day at 11:00 without threat or trouble. Loaded to brim, it brings in fuel and smuggled goods.

Come early morning, Ma’am Mariol’s orphan scouts mention the latest 6:00 shake has toppled large pieces of stone and metallic debris over a segment of the railway. As the train approaches, Serthica officials send word that anyone who breaks their backs helps clear out the tracks by 13:00 will earn considerable good will with the citadel’s distraught customs office.

■ Grab a shovel. Use it wisely.

■ Careful with the various oversized rats that haunt the filthier depths of the Mouse House — they typically avoid groups of humans, but will jump you if you’re alone.

THE SCRIBE

Serthica’s most skilled forger, Rayssa is returning to the Mouse House after months of imprisonment in the citadel. She brings along decades of experience crafting passport papers — and a wealth of debt collectors who want the coin she owed before her disappearance.

It is widely known she will visit One-Eye Calliope’s tavern as her first point of call, to enjoy a first drink in freedom. Her pursuers will be waiting for her, armed, prickly and ready.

■ Win Rayssa’s good will and services by rescuing her from the inevitable bar brawl.

■ Head into her heavily watched quarters in the Mouse House to collect her tools of trade — inks, parchments, pens and stencils.

■ Hold her watch or her hair while a heavily inebriated Rayssa writes up your forged passport papers.

LADY LUCK LOVES YOU

If you’re no fan of honest looting, leave your fate to chance: the Mouse House’s various taverns and gathering places host nightly gambling games, from cards to bone dice, arm wrestling and a local favourite, mouse races.

Pair up to rig the games in your favour, and win coin, passport forgeries, clandestine passage or a crime lord’s patronage. You never know what favour the right name can earn you later!

QUESTIONS

NPC CONTACT

GAINS

GRAB A FRIEND

Comments

[growlies]

Red forces herself to focus on her partner's words, which are very good and effective. She does not look away from Henry at all even as she fights past the burning at the edges of her eyes. Her hand is still gripped into a tight fist on top of the table, but she's not going to fuck this up now. Thankfully, the man's sister would probably be this upset too so it all works, but Zeus dick this is overwhelming, and she can tell what she's getting is muted? Fuzzy?

This explains the grief she never understood, the reason so many spirits came to the Underworld hoping they could go back and not leave their family too early, too soon. They knew what it was like to rip their connections from family and friends.

Suddenly, it feels very wrong that the man thinks she's his sister, and she's not. But there's not really any going back now. She's regained herself at this point, and she can join in.

"I want to see you be the good person I know you can be," Red says - voice shaky but carrying more strength than before. Henry's hand has clasped over her own - the tight fist on top of the table. His touch is calloused from scars, from a life of hard living. "There are refugees coming to the city. They need your help, your support. Anything you can offer. They're like us, Henry. Like we were."

Henry looks between the both of them before he nods, emotional but full of hope too. No one's ever talked to him about grief before. Grief counsellors don't exist here on these streets where everyone's scrambling to survive, but it's clear he is deeply affected by the Doctor's words and what he believes to be his sister's presence. "You're right - you're both right. Belle, I won't let you down."

"I know. Go tell our story." Red's eyes close, and her head falls down again - her hair a curtain covering her face. It gives her another moment to catch her breath.

[sansdoute]

...you could be wrong.

( He murmurs, and he can't say why and so, only the petulant turn of his mouth betrays him. A child, to the core of him.

He doesn't recoil, holds his ground. But wonders: )

You've never seen me shine a shoe, or... or stitch or... I am good, though. I am.

[thedreamer]

Before I got here, well, it used to do everything, my sonic screwdriver. Everything at all. I suppose that would have been a dangerous tool in a place like this, so now it's just a screwdriver.

[ He's definitely not happy about it, but he'll keep trying to fix it somehow. ]

[matermali]

[ His wheels are turning, and Vanessa is cautious as something clicks into place. How 'honest' should she be, now, with these lies? Lies are for the Devil. Yet, she's not that weak. She won't be so easily corrupted. These lies are for good.

It isn't just herself she risks, though. She doesn't care if she's ignored, denied, or at worst thrown out of the party, but should she be willing to mention just how many of her new folk are also...from...elsewhere? What if the wrong attention finds them. Stop worrying. They're set dressing. They're not real. She's the only thing that's real. Remember that, remember that, remember that. The sigh she lets escape is too small to make noise, and her clasped hands tighten a moment before she nods. She suspects he'll want a larger payout, now, if he agrees. Or a dangerous favor. Perhaps a future IOU that will haunt her. Would it really matter? So long as he agrees to help in any form. ]

...You have found me out. My intentions are laid bare, leaving me vulnerable to your mercy, Mr. Bale. Please know I do not make such a request lightly, or without care for the risks posed.

[thedreamer]

This isn't the first time in his very long life that the Doctor has manipulated someone because he needed something from them, and it won't be the last. But he tries, at least, to avoid situations like this if he can, or to at least, not cause more harm than necessary. They've lied - and that's something he's also familiar with, one of his rules in fact, the Doctor lies - conned this man, technically. He's felt what Henry felt, the sadness and grief, and it rests heavy on his dual hearts just now. He meant what he said, though. He wanted to leave the man with hope and a purpose if he could.

He can see the toll it's taken on his partner, though, and his thoughts switch to her, to making sure she's okay. He didn't know exactly how this would go and he miscalculated, he thinks, with how this has affected her. He reaches out to rest a light hand on her shoulder in genuine support.

"Be well, Henry. You're going to be alright," the Doctor leaves him with parting words, now focusing on the young girl beside him.

"Are you alright?" He asks her, only after the man has left.

[thedreamer]

There we are! See, I'm not wrong, because you've just told me. You're good, of course you would be. And even if you weren't, even if it was something you'd never even done before, that's okay, eh? Anything can be learned.

[ Though, he has to make a very important point. ]

But some things can just be gifts, my boy. And you don't need to do anything at all to have them. You like the caramel apple so it was my gift to you.

[growlies]

Red's shoulders are tense, but they relax some with the touch to her shoulder. She watches Henry go and then scrubs at her face to wipe away the rest of the tears. There's some embarrassment at her own display of emotions - unused to that level of concern aimed her way.

But she nods in answer, and it's true enough for the moment anyway.

It's not like there's time to go into detail about how she was created to be the guard dog of Underworld, a monster - how she has never really been alive before, and everything about this world is new and overwhelming despite the fact she's also ancient as fuck.

"Yeah."

She stands then, meeting his gaze.

"But we should discuss - later. That was one helluva trick you've got there, Ace."

the doctor & red

[growlies]

The Doctor and Red have a very emotional séance with some fake possession to convince Henry to be the hero he always knew he could be and help some refugees out.

[groundrules]

Rizzy in here, cashing in her checks, making that sweet bank —

The refugees really are just like you, Henry :(

Twelve passport papers + two "exotics" — to be used on either humans or groups of animals (you've got the wolves and Drogon.)

[matermali]

[ Now Vanessa worries a little about over-promising. What if they can't find anything sweet for them? She hasn't forgotten the mission, but it should cost so little. She still doesn't want to deliver a promise she can't uphold. ]

Maybe best not to mention it to them unless we find something. I would be horribly ashamed to lead them on.

[ She'll bring up the rear, so that none of the children can... Wait, can they get lost? They know their way around far better than her, but there's the smallest sense of responsibility once the children are assembled and the smallest seems insistent on clinging to her skirt. ]

[ ooc; So sorry for the delay. Because of the time limit and ~inner panic~, I'm gonna go into boomerang mode when applicable. ]

[matermali]

[ He is thinking big! She's impressed, and it shows with her smile. Vanessa is having to really dig into deception here. Prayer can come later, if she wants to seek it at all. ]

As a patient of yours, you mean? If it would help, then certainly.

[ ooc; So sorry for the delay. Because of the time limit and ~inner panic~, I'm gonna go into boomerang mode when applicable. ]

[matermali]

[ Vanessa's left wondering if she ought to follow, despite it being her suggestion. She is truly the worst when it comes to resisting temptation, and she isn't making the progress on the cards that she had hoped

They're left on the table, aside from the few she's decided will suffice. They're carefully collected and slipped into her skirt's pocket before Vanessa stands to trail after her, staring at that bright red hair. ]

Too, perhaps opportunity will find us while we're out... [ She clasps her hands together. ] I'm not certain how to offer my skills beyond divination, which I believe is best saved for the upcoming celebration. Have you met any success in gaining coin or knowledge, yet?

[ ooc; So sorry for the delay. Because of the time limit and ~inner panic~, I'm gonna go into boomerang mode when applicable. ]

[hatejakku]

Oh, that's a good idea. Hopefully, we can still find something for them.

[ He's actually kind of doubtful now that she mentions it. But either way, the kids are already gathered outside of Ma'am Mariol's. It's just on him to give a little promise of (supervised) adventure, and they're off.

Finn takes up position somewhere around the middle. The older kids know the way best, he figures, and he can keep better eyes on them this way. If one of the smaller ones ends up riding on his shoulders, well, maybe the walk is just a little too far for little legs. ]


[ ooc: I'm late to this thread by days, you've nothing to apologize for. I'm sorry. x.x ♥ ]

[hatejakku]

[ Ah. Before the desert. That brings Finn's spirits down a little. He's spoken to one of those on the outside, and the leading theory is that they're apparently in another universe. Even if this ship can sail at hyperspeed, it'll take... quite a while to reach them.

He doesn't say that. The Doctor looks so hopeful. Also... maybe a little crazy. That's not even a screwdriver, Finn's pretty sure.

He can't help but already like this guy, though. ]

Being here-... Do you think we can recharge it somehow? [ Because what if this thing is real??? ]

I mean, if it can help you find your ship, it's worth trying, right? I'm not sure what kind of technology the rest of this planet has, though.

[matermali]

[ It seems Vanessa has opened a trap door for herself. She does that too often... Fei is gone before Vanessa can stop her, and she sighs at herself. There will be no relaxing. Of course, she wants a drink. But she must resist.

While she waits, one of the previous onlookers approaches Vanessa now that she's alone again. Cornered! Vanessa hasn't the heart to turn this man away, as meek as he seems. He had noticed her gather up her cards, but still he holds his hands together. 'Please? I need to know what's out there. Are they only nightmares? Are he coming for me? He has to be dead.' the man whimpers. So she sits with him and tells him to close his eyes.

Vanessa waits for Fei to return, allowing the anticipation to work on the man while she lays the cards back out, insisting he keep his eyes closed while he 'feels' the cards do their work. As soon as she spots Fei returning with liquor (good God, it's so tempting), Vanessa gives an apologetic smile in her direction to her before nodding to the man in the hopes she understands. One quick job before they give themselves a break? He looks so pathetic, how can they deny him?

She may not need the help, but she would be remiss to admit it isn't nice to have the company. ]

[ ooc; So sorry for the delay. Because of the time limit and ~inner panic~, I'm gonna go into boomerang mode when applicable. ...Yes this was me trying to boomerang! ]

[matermali]

[ Vanessa's smile is earnest. It almost hurts, really. She's attempting to be aloof, of course, but then one of the small ones tugs on her skirts to grab her attention, pointing a stubby finger at something he wants to show her every now and again. To be fair, there is plenty that she hasn't seen before, and so she doesn't have to overly exaggerate her awe when she leans down and covers her mouth in while listening to his secret or looking to where he points (although the little gasp is certainly just for the child). Each time, he giggles, pleased that he knew about something she didn't.

Then she spots Finn pick up one of the tiniest to boost him on his shoulders. It twists her heart. This is cruel, because it isn't real. She will cut out Lucifer's heart for this and so much more.

Vanessa doesn't speak up until they're near their destination, and it's clear that she is...very much where she doesn't belong. She's dressed far too fine. Up ahead, she can see remnants of debris scattered with some people grunting to lift a large piece of stone. Ah, something had been mentioned to that effect early in the morning. Not the most pleasant view. ]

...How awful. I wonder how often the tremors cause such trouble.

[ ooc; It's ok, boo, we got each other's backs~ ]

[matermali]

[ His interruption seems to grab her attention and hold it, her hand frozen and her daydream of a gaze almost beginning to focus again; as if she were just shaken awake. For the slightest of moments, Vanessa is wide-eyed and stunned, her confusion apparent in how her head tilts to the oddest of angles. Almost playful. She's still Vanessa, of course, but she's hardly Miss Ives, anymore.

The tole it takes is high, no doubt. This was a risk that she...perhaps, shouldn't have taken so quickly. ]

You already asked your question, Doctor.

[ Now, her smile is coy. She's being carried by the reading, unable to stay rooted in her own reality. Vanessa now exists in the in-between—the demimonde—and here there's no cruelty or kindness. There's only truth and secrets. But the secrets are opening, and Truth hurts.

Vanessa squeezes her eyes tightly shut as if blinded when she flips the next card. The Hanged Man. ]

But it's in your nature to seek answers. To flip them on their head. To look at them back to front, side to side, inside and out. To sacrifice yourself for them. You must know that truth is not the same as justice. Yet...you wanted it to be so, didn't you?

[ Her eyes stay shut, her hand settled over The Hanged Man, his simple form drawn upside down with one leg tucked behind the other. She's having trouble drawing her hand away to the next card, as if trapped. Then, there's the softest little hum that can be heard if one listens closely through the distant shrieks of laughter and endless chatter. She doesn't speak any words; she just hums. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Finn doesn't think that she's dressed too fine for their walk. It's the demeanor that matters, he thinks, and the kids like her plenty. And she's certainly not one to shoo them away either, always giving in to their little wants and prods and questions. Finn notices these things.

But he does slow to a stop with the rest of them when he spots the debris and workers trying to clear it. A large part of him wants to run over and help, but he's kind of got obligations going on right now that he shouldn't just leave Vanessa with all on her own. ]

At least, no one was hurt...

[ He doesn't consciously realize why he knows this, just that he does. Nothing bad happened except, well, the debris itself. So there's no reason to usher the kids along and try to keep them from looking.

Only, they don't seem too terribly interested, and one of them mutters in response to Vanessa that these happen all the time. Far too regularly, Finn thinks. And the city above clearly doesn't care.

Well, the rubble is large and the day's still young. ] I think I'll come back later and help. Can't hurt. [ Meaning, with their ultimate goal here. Might be pay in it for them. Might even be connections... But mostly, he just wants to help. ]

[sunnydaymonic]

[He didn't expect her to agree so easily. She had been nothing but polite and amenable but that didn't mean she wouldn't willingly help a stranger in their deceptive ploys. His smile is small, but there.]

Your assistance is very much appreciated, thank you. It is my hope that showing them my medical skill early, there will be less to fake later on when seeking information and funds from them. Without needing someone to be injured or in danger.

[Since the party was meant to be a way of gaining enough for them to use to support the oncoming travelers.]

Did you have any plans of your own?

[matermali]

[ She won't be pleased if he turns out to be a charlatan, but there's no sense of any lies when it comes to his talk of medical skill. Then again, she doesn't know if she can trust her senses around him, with the little glimpses of smoke and light occasionally dancing across her vision. ]

If it is to be a séance, then I will play the part I am best suited for and seek the dead. Such things were quite common in London. I'm not fond of using my...abilities for the amusement of others, but these are the most unique of circumstances.

[ Like him, she has to find her own ways to contribute. The morals of the waking world would only hinder Vanessa here. So would the dangers. ]

[matermali]

[ Vanessa is reminded of those in the London undercity who likely suffer similar fates. She has never gone out of her way to care for them, at least not without first being guided, because she has never had a free moment to fear for anyone other than herself. She is, at least, aware of how lucky she is in this singular regard. She may not be lucky in much else, but Vanessa must be thankful for not struggling with funds. Any time Vanessa has dirtied her hands, it's been by choice. ]

Are you accustomed to such labor where you come from?

[ She wonders how much it will pay, watching the men work as one of the children tries to tug her along by her skirt. It's a sad thought to have, as if they might be taking the funds from another needy soul. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Perhaps they will be taking funds, but Finn figures that their team needs it pretty badly, too. He's not sure what will happen if the rest of the group is unable to enter the city... ]

Sort of, yes. [ He's a soldier, but Ma'am Mariol told him not to mention such things around the kids, so- ] I just do what I can to help people. There's a whole group of us back home. Sometimes, it's labor like this.

[ And other times, it's... not. But he readjusts the kid on his shoulders, bouncing them a little to get them giggling. ]

[hatejakku]

I'm not sure at all if these can even count, but I thought I'd put them here for no better reason than to just have them for the record's sake.

First, the train: Finn worked to clear the tracks and had help from Sylvain and the Doctor. He previously had a network thread with Jim where he realized they could smuggle in people from the ports and mentions as much to Sylvain. Never got around to officially doing an NPC thread, though, so I'm not sure about this.

Second, gambling: Finn used a touch of the Force to win a lot at arm wrestling and got some coin, goods, and favors from the locals. He celebrates a little with Red and Zhou Fei. Though, it should be noted that he spent some money on the kids, whoops.

should we wrap and report in for gains?

[snowcleave]

Fei nods, the barest hint of a smile ghosting over her features. "If you use the sword well first." She had not expected her reputation as the Blade of the South to precede her the longer she traveled back home, but it had come in handy on more than one occasion.

"My mother was my grandfather's successor, she handed his blade form down to me." If only the Chief were here now. Fei doesn't let herself dwell, instead eyeing Red with interest while they continue their walk back.

"What did you learn then? What sort of life did you have before this?"

[sunnydaymonic]

[Skilled doctor yes, prolific liar no. He would like to avoid having to spin any tales that he will contradict later.]

Unique indeed. Although, perhaps your skills may be more intriguing than my own to those seeking entertaining and titillation.

[...Still, she was very right in what she was saying. Circumstances had all but urged him soon after arriving to seek out more magical means of achieving his goals. Their goals. But the thought of breaking his moratorium on magic left him feeling vaguely anxious. Just because it was easier didn't mean it was the only option. He could fix lanterns and barter and offer his medical skills and he would not need to slip back into magic, no matter how familiar it all was even after eight years.

He could do this. And to prove it, he finished the lantern and grabbed a match to light it, testing the mechanisms to make sure it was working properly again.]