let's set d o w n some (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
groundrules) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
westwhere2022-08-01 07:33 pm
groundrules) wrote in westwhere2022-08-01 07:33 pm
the mouse house
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.
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!
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.
✘ 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
- ■ 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!
NPC CONTACT
GAINS
GRAB A FRIEND
no subject
( If Hades were able to reach her, he would have destroyed her by now for her insolence then remade a new Cerberus who wasn't so human, wasn't so capable of breaking the rules. It doesn't smell like the afterlife - something she's so intrinsically connected to, but like living and breathing and movement. Auras and souls are more vibrant, changing because they have the possibility to change. There could definitely be gods hiding around somewhere in this world too, but she hasn't seen them yet. )
Not that I trust the Merchant either, but I don't think he's behind the mystery soup. ( She's curious about what she thinks, but - She notices the canine scrawled on the card below, the moon written above. ) What are you doing?
no subject
The undead forces want you. Supposedly all of them had been intended for such, but she knows that when the time comes, it's her they'll really want; they'll want to consume her. Though Satan's whisper hasn't been tickling her ear since arriving, she does feel that call from beyond. They hunger. The Thing inside her feels it, too.
She's biting her lip a little, concentrating with a careful eye; she's not in a hurry. Knowing she isn't a classical artist in any professional sense, she purposefully keeps the design overly simplistic. A tribute to the archaic. ]
The Tarot de Marseille. ...A crude interpretation.
[ Not actually so crude, and her humility is false. Vanessa purposefully keeps her answers clipped, allowing those who seek more to be forced to ask. It's the rite of passage for any knowledge worth knowing, and it's paid in full when she's in a cautious mindset. Friendly, certainly, but not reckless with it. Not accidental about it. Her card's design certainly isn't. ]
My hand has been forced by the absence of better possessions, but it may yet suit. [ Another little glance. ] Does it make you uncomfortable?
no subject
Her shoulders tense as she simultaneously feels herself draw closer to the drawing, to the energy. Shit. The question feels like it's acknowledging it - her, the Cerberus that wishes to sit and obey, to follow orders of something more powerful, to follow Death again. It's not the card that makes her uncomfortable, but this goddess-soul in the shadows, especially when she doesn't understand it. She doesn't answer the question, because the tension can be so clearly read in her body language. )
Tarot doesn't actually have any ability to tell the future or shit where I'm from. ( It's just something the teenagers would play at, pretend they had any future at all when they were all in Purgatory because they'd died. Purgatory High was all about letting them find themselves, journey through to figure out what they needed to. )
Can you sense things about people?
no subject
She appreciates the girl's boldness in this case, and there's a nagging sympathy for the girl's tension. Vanessa is often tense to the point that it's easily assumed to be her state-of-being; her poise is not born of social niceties but of personal safety. That doesn't mean she'll ignore the safety of others if all she needs be is kind; that doesn't take so much energy, does it? Even when one is terribly thirsty.
Vanessa sets aside obscurity as a reward for the girl (more than a girl; something old) and her ferocity. The fact that she seems to be overcoming trepidation makes her all the more deserving. ]
Not always by choice. Not always at will.
[ The pen hovers, and she'll tilt her head. It isn't a little glance this time; it's remarkable how long Vanessa can stare without blinking. This is a world of magic and the girl looks at her in such a way. Why waste time with 'can'? ]
And you? What do you sense?
no subject
She swallows through the scent of blood and the taste of bitterness on her tongue. In time, she adjusts to auras a bit more, but when they're especially powerful, it takes longer. The smoke seems to curl around Vanessa as if it has hold on her but as if some part of her embraces it too.
Her throat feels dry, but she speaks. What's the point in pretending like she doesn't see anything at all? They both know better, and neither of them are fools. She clearly has no ability to return to where she's from or return Red to where she belongs either. She keeps her voice quiet so no one else will hear. )
I see dark, black smoke. I smell blood and taste bitter. ( like venom )
I see the soul of a goddess - It's yours but it isn't, but it is. ( Her expression scrunches in confusion. ) I feel your power like a moth to fuckin' flame.
no subject
Even with Ethan, she hadn't been able to so clearly sense the beast within him. She had always known there was Something, but it took time and trauma for understanding to be found. He had fought too hard to repress his monster; he tried so hard to hide it, even when he couldn't resist her, even with her acceptance... Something in the girl is similar, but louder. She doesn't want to be locked up. Vanessa can relate.
So can the Thing inside, and deep down where it's too dark for shadows to survive, it ripples at the acknowledgment. It's dangerous to acknowledge it; it's dangerous for Vanessa to invite recognition. The line that divides can always grow thinner. Her voice is a whisper; it scratches, yet croons. ]
But you are no moth. The flame would not consume you, would it? ...Would you revel in it?
no subject
Like she is waiting for that darkness to make itself known and obliterate her here and now. She shouldn't be challenging anything that is so much more powerful than her. She got away with it in the Underworld in the end because Hades wasn't present to tighten her collar and call her to heel.
Her hand clenches at her side as her jaw locks. She does not look away, wondering how much is the woman and how much is the darkness, and aren't they one and the same? She doesn't know what the flame would do to her now. Her body is different, more mortal, but that's a question she knows better than to answer - same with whether or not she'd revel in it.
Cerberus probably would and they're one and the same but not too. )
I am no moth. But I'm no flame either. ( It's her way of saying she's not like Vanessa, not like the soul of a goddess, not that level of power especially not now. )
no subject
No matter what the girl thinks or says, Vanessa can feel that hint of flames whenever the chains rattle in the back of her thoughts. Don't turn from it, the Thing whispers. Touch the fire. Smoke and fire. It will— ]
...Dark, black smoke...is it?
[ The wonder in her eyes dims, and Vanessa lifts up the card to gently blow on it. The corner ripples. She has never had the darkness inside of her described so poetically, aside from when her dear, ancient mentor first told her of its gravitas. I knew it the first time I felt you, this danger. I wanted to scream and bolt the door, curl up in my little bed and sleep and sleep. But you came closer. And what had happened? She brought danger with her.
It's no different now, and she ought to be more reluctant to invite another Old One into the fray of blood and smoke. Danger. No doubt, Vanessa must resist the draw. ]
Best to keep a distance, then, lest it choke you.
no subject
Something that says she's maybe not so alone in her- in everything that she is even if obviously, this woman's way more powerful. )
I'll adjust. It's mostly strongest the first few times or if it's been awhile.
( When Hades goes for awhile to one of the other Underworlds then returns, it's like choking on it - his immense power and command over her. She'll get used to this power and aura over the time they're all here together, and it won't feel so strong any longer.
Like when someone's eyes adjust to a bright light after enough exposure. )
You said when you sense things it's not always by choice? Cause of... that darkness?
no subject
She asks too many questions. Her pull is too poignant. There is something raw and primal in this girl-who-is-not-a-girl, and Vanessa wants to stroke her bright red hair. She wants cradle her cheek and tell her she'll be fine, while the Thing sings a song for others with monsters inside.
Satan thinks himself the puppet master, does he? Unwilling to be so easily seduced, she pushes the card aside and reaches for a different piece of paper to try something different, no longer looking at the girl, but unwilling to completely shut her out. Vanessa nods.
It shouldn't hurt so much, should it? To have her fears confirmed again and again. Is she ever to touch the light, or will her fingertips burn should she try? ]
Such is the case when you're in the darkness for too long, I suppose. It isn't always a good thing for one's eyes to adjust to the sight. We think ourselves comfortable, only to witness truths we couldn't bear.
[ She wants to ask her own questions about the girl's origin, but she doesn't want to be lured anymore than she already has. It doesn't matter, it's a ploy to put Vanessa off-guard. She must gain control of this. She must deter from her own discomfort, so the subject change is abrupt. ]
For now, perhaps, we play pretend around the others, hm? [ At least when it comes to Vanessa. She isn't sure everyone else will be so welcome to the concept. ] ...And find you something other than soup?
no subject
( How would she even describe it? What good would it do? That's one quick way to get all that dark venomous smoke aimed her way, and Red is a monster at the end of the day - a monster in the shape of a girl. She doesn't know how much of her is girl, what she can even call herself. She's never known - not from the moment she was carved into existence being teeth and claws and fire, but also a girl, a teenager. Someone who could stay in the same space as all the teenage spirits that had to find their path in Purgatory High.
Red blinks at the subject change, but rolls with it easily enough. She breathes out and looks back at the bowl, which she had abandoned. It doesn't smell appetizing. Honestly, she's ravenous for meat (and she knows where that comes from). She walks back to the soup to pick up the bowl, turning to look back at her, adjusting again to the waves of shadow and dark and familiarity and not, and nodding. )
I think other than this there's like the bread which isn't much better...
no subject
At this point, she doesn't know if her stomach twists from thirst, hunger, or brushing so close with another being of power. All of the above. She's aware that the change in topic is sharp and out of place, but she's been unnerved. The Thing inside of her had momentarily gotten too comfortable, and Vanessa is safest when she's uncomfortable. Acceptance...is risky, as much as she desires it. ]
There may be different fare elsewhere, such as the ports. [ A different 'questionable' soup, maybe. There may not be; she hasn't looked for food. It's not exactly safe to go wandering around, either, but Vanessa isn't afraid of thieves and scoundrels. Even without their magic, aren't they children of the night? She can't think unkindly towards them. ] A shame there are no pomegranates to enjoy. We may try looking for something more appetizing, though I would not expect much success.
[ She has a feeling Red would be in no danger on her own, but there's that little part of Vanessa too intrigued to not offer her company, despite becoming aloof with it. ]
no subject
She nods then, starting to walk away. )
Let's go see then.
Better to check then assume, right?
no subject
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. ]
no subject
( Red looks back in her direction as they walk. She wondered if she would follow - there seems to be some conflict inside of her. The darkness, but there's more than that too - the desire to be different than the darkness, to lean into the light. )
Uh, well, I kicked some guy's ass in arm wrestling. You could... see why I could.
( The claws, the danger, the guard dog with three heads- All of that. )
Wouldn't have made it out of there if Fei hadn't helped. He was really fuckin' pissed that he'd been beaten by a girl especially after he won so many times and everyone bet against me.
no subject
She's impressed, though not surprised that those two women specifically were able to conquer. There's a distinct pride in the fairer sex upon hearing this news. ]
I am sorry I missed it. [ Truly. It would have felt satisfying. ] Miss Zhou has a warrior's spirit if ever I've seen one. They are lucky it was not a more severe contest, with you two to dominate. I fear I would have been useless.
no subject
( For some reason, she feels like Fei commonly ends up in bar fights. This was a first for Red, but Red does frequently end up in fights in general. She's brash - acts before she thinks, spits before she has an escape plan. Things like that. )
Honestly, she's the one that took care of the entire crowd. I can only call up that strength briefly. ( She thinks? Still figuring out how everything works now. ) And I don't have formal badass training like she does. ( But still it's weird to think of how powerful Vanessa is and yet when it comes to a fight like that, there's not much she can do. )
no subject
Vanessa is curious about the training Fei may have had, but it isn't fit to ask Red about that. Besides, she's much more curious about this strength that the girl claims to be able to summon. But not for long? Why? ]
Only briefly?
[ It is good to know, should they be in danger. This is so very curious. Vanessa knows she wouldn't be able to summon that kind of strength at all, not without losing complete control of her identity.
Oh, when life is threatened, she can fight... She can kill, and she has, but not without taking a beating herself. Not without risking her fragile frame. There are ways she could be stronger, to protect herself, but that power is a last resort. Not something to be used in...bar brawls. Vanessa would rather take a light beating than further damn her soul over such things. ]
Does it hurt? To keep that strength inside? ...Or to release it?
no subject
( Maybe it's temporary. Maybe she can hold on to it longer or do more bursts in a row, but everything seems off. It's the first time she's been in a living body too and so far away from any sense of the Underworld she was created for. It's a wonder she gets to keep anything at all.
Amazing that her powers weren't immediately stripped from her when she landed in the city after swimming through the River Styx to make it to the living world. )
...no, not really. It's a part of me. Then again I'm new to all this like I said so- ( She's not sure if that will change at all. ) Guess time will tell if there's any weird side effects.
...what about for you? ( Obviously she keeps her own power all locked up. )
no subject
Her thumb rubs anxiously at the back of her own clasped hand, and a troubled gaze drops low while considering the question. She's unfair, after all, too afraid to admit overmuch about her pain. ]
It is never...peaceful.
[ It always hurts, and she can't remember what anything else feels like. It's a piece of her, but it isn't kind. She always feels that simmering pain; some part of her is forever writhing and scratching within. Even when she summoned it from within to banish her foes, a measure of it remained trapped. That near freedom (so close, so close) had been the cruelest suffering.
Her soul curses her thoughts, and her thoughts stab into her heart. She hurts herself as much as the Thing inside does. Vanessa never plans to find out if it would be less painful to let that piece of herself go free. Her control is too precious. Really, she fears...that it might feel wonderful. Then there would be no stopping it. ]
But releasing that part of me would not bring peace... Only pain for others. I would never have it so.
[ Yet, shouldn't this girl be trying to lure it out? Isn't that what anyone from the Underworld would do? Vanessa is wary, but still she follows. When they're out of the matron's, she'll slow, but only because she's looking around, still thinking on something more appetizing for the girl to eat. Vanessa ignores her rumbling stomach. How human. ]
no subject
I'm sorry.
Sounds like a prison.
( And she knows what that is like.
Her gaze lifts though to the stalls as they head out. She's following her nose a little, trying to smell if anything might taste better. Honestly, she's not all that used to eating, but even without that, the stew and bread were honestly so bad tasting.
However, with her extra strong senses, she also hears Vanessa's stomach rumbling. ) You're hungry too. Are you gonna eat?
no subject
...Haven't had a taste for anything. I will be fine.
[ So perhaps she is torturing herself by following Red like this, but she's never claimed to make the smartest decisions for herself. She'll need to hold fast, even if they find something delicious. Her only comfort is that it's unlikely they'll find something to really tempt Vanessa, but hopefully it will be more manageable for Red. Whatever it costs will surely be a drop in the bucket compared to what they need to earn back. ]
no subject
No, I think actually you won't be fine, cause mortals need food. I'm one now so... yeah. ( She needs it too. Without that, she'll pass out or something. That's the way it feels anyway. The gnawing hungry in the pit of her stomach. )
I can't make you, and it's your choice, but-
This place is dangerous enough without passing out cause you're hungry. It's your choice though. You don't trust this place, huh?
( It's clear enough. )
no subject
While coming to terms with the fact that eating may not trap her forever, there's too much uncertainty. Vanessa has gone longer than this without eating, though she will admit that in those days of willful starvation, she saw much less physical activity. She's dizzier now than she was then. ]
Do you? Trust anything here?
no subject
I'd know if this was an afterlife.
( There's no doubt to her about that at all. This all feels so entirely different from what she knows, from the static world she was in.
She stops at a stall, looking at the fresh food here. It's definitely better than what was at their last location. Some lightly charred fresh corn. Some bread and meat slammed together with a bit of onion. )
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)