Members[]
- Rosalie Balenciaga, Daughter of Aphrodite (Queen)
- Damianos Corinna, Son of Thanatos (Wolf)
Rue Moore, Daughter of Eros (Kitty)- Elenah Blacksmith, Daughter of Demeter (Cats ~ I, Owlz have permission to roleplay Elenah until the end of the quest.)
- Zale Psillidies, Son of Hermes (Zak )
Purpose[]
Go to Guangzhou in search of more clues about Lilith and Pagos.
Quest[]
1. Canton Tower[]
Rose: Arrives with Damian via Shadow Travel, wearing cream dress, navy blue blazer, and cream suede pumps. She carries her Balenciaga tote in one hand, with Gucci inside. Her other hand is holding Damian's. Ah, remind me next time that I hate shadow travel.
Damian: He chuckles, Will do, M'Lady. He looks at her I must say, those shoes suit you.
Elenah: She walks up to Rose and Damian. Hello. I'm Elenah Blacksmith...I don't know if you know me...anyways, I'm the Lieutenant Counsellor of Demeter's Cabin. So, what's the plan?
Rue: Jumps down from the tree she was resting in. Plan is that we wait for the last member before leavin, duh. Pushes some hair out of her eyes. Names Rue Moore, daughter of Eros.
Zale: walks back from the path to town Well i guess i'm here, so are we shadow travelling to China the way you two entered or something?
Rue: Rolls her eyes like Zale is an idiot. Okay two things. Firstly, who the hell are you? Secondly, unless the shadow travelling person is super strong, we will need a stop on the way to China so shadow travelling person can get energyy.
Zale: I am the final member on this quest, Zale, son of Hermes and second, yeah, forgot about that, so do you think we could hire a pack of hellhounds to shadow travel us there? I heard that a few campers had some. But before we go, shouldn't we discuss what we need to do once were there?
Rue: Gapes at him, now sure he is an idiot. You can't just "hire a pack of hellhounds". You realize there is only a select few hellhounds trained, and none in our reach? Idiots! Brushes some hair out of her eyes angrily. And "Zale, son of Hermes" discussing will not help if some people like you seem to have no idea why we're going to China anyway!
Damian: Reluctantly he lets go of Rose's hand and walks over to Rue and Zale, Calm down, both of you. We're going by plane.
Zale: oh, sorry, didn't know, so when do we go?
Rue: Ignores Zale and nods to Damian. And you are, plane boy?
Damian: He chuckles, Damianos, son of Thanatos.
Rue: Rolls her eyes. And your girlfriend over there?
Damian: Rose, Aphrodite
Rue: Smirks. Cool, I guess. And Elenah is obviously Demeter. Okay, so know everyone, tick. Figure out who are the bitches here, tick with Zale. Figure out the plan. No tick. So discuss time, sweet.
Zale: Heeeyyyy...
Damian: He calls out, Rose? Could you please come over here?
Rue: Mutters and rolls her eyes. Death boy and lover girl, best match in history, great sappy love in this quest. Looks away from Damian and Rose, looking back at the cabins from their location by the tree.
Elenah: She sighs Please, guys, there's no need to argue! So, we're taking a plane from here then...?
Rose: Clicks off her phone and taps impatiently with her shoes when a car went in from a corner. The car's gonna take us to the airport. Get in, guys.
The questors get in the car and soon they reach the airport. Without no real trouble they board the plane, and hours later, they arrive in Guangzhou Airport.
Damian: He looks around, out of pure habit trying to find all possible exits So, M'Lady, you have any plans for what we should do now?
Rose: Damian, it's Rose. Maybe we should check out the Canton Tower, it's the tallest building in China. What do you say, guys?
Elenah: Well, never been to China before...but, I trust you. I say yes.
Damian: Sure thing Rose. *He says 'Rose' in the exact same tone as he said M'Lady*
Rue: Rolls her eyes. China equals Chinese people and that equals Chinese language, right? Any of you speak Chinese?
Zale: Knew that being in Asia and learning Chinese in school for almost all my life would help, but thankfully, most locals can speak English, but its nicer to speak Chinese to them.
Rose: I can charmspeak in Chinese and I look Chinese enough I can easily pass for one. Come on, we're taking a cab.
They quickly get into two cabs. Rose and Damian in the first, while Rue, Elenah, and Zale in the second. After an hour, they reach the Canton Tower.
Rose: Here we are, should we go to the observation deck?
Rue: Rolls her eyes once again, knowing she should seriously stop. No, observation desk will probably wonder why one girl dressed as a model, a freaky deathlike kid, a flower power girl, an idiot and a major ADHD person are together looking for anything suspcious. The only thing suspicious would be us. In my opinion, we should use silence and skills to sneak up.
Rose: Frowns at Rue. I'm gonna take that as a compliment. But who are we going to sneak up on?
Rue: Grins and pulls out a flyer from her pocket. Nicked it from some old guy, eh we have better use for it. Shows them the picture.
Y'see, I think ahead, if we "borrow in intentions of not returning" some keys, or ropes. We can either climb up there to the top, climb the Staff Only Stairs showing all extra areas, or even steal some crane and get up from there. Looks around at the yellow cranes.
Damian: He smirks I like your way of thinking. Should I, collect, a crane? He smiles mischievously, though it somehow looks wrong with his eyes flashing dangerously.
Rue: Pouts. How bout we mix ideas together. We get a crane, then as high as the crane goes we go, then we hop out and scale the rest of the way up with a few ropes for safety.
Rose: Climb?! Collect a crane?! Asks in disbelief. And how is going by lift is not easier?
Rue: Rolls her eyes. All of us, plus other tourists which is ALOT in China, will not fit in a lift. It could take ages and monsters could find us! Looks curious. By the way, I have to ask, what's in your bag..Its moving....
Damian: He chuckles It's just Gucci, her chihuaha
Rue: Widens her eyes. Oh gods, awesome! Always wanted a chihuahua as a kid, couldn't seem to find any in Alaska....
Damian: Well, anyway, how about we knock out a person who works here, steal his key and use the service lift?
Rue: Nods. That would work, no people in there and we can knock someone out, awesome! So, um, looks around a bit lost in the foreign place, wheres the service lift?
Rose: Hey, there'll be surveillance camera as well. I still don't understand why we can't be a well-mannered tourists and take the passenger elevators, observe the decks, and get into their security room if necessary.
Rue: Sighs, finally giving in. Okay but if I punch some random person annoying me, it's not mah fault....So um looks around you gonna lead the way, Rose?
Rose: Smiles sarcastically. Of course it's not your fault to be unable to control your emotion, Rue. Come on, this way.
After a while, they reached the observation deck.
Rose: Ain't this chilly?
Rue: Glares at Rose, still slightly angry at her earlier comment so she ignores her and picks up a free map, and starts looking over it. So, we wanna go straight to the top or take stops or what?
Zale: I think we should go to the top, were not tourists here, were on a mission.
Elenah: After being silent for so long, Elenah deciedes to speak up. But we need to act like tourists, other wise we could get into trouble...
Rue: Nods. But also, we need to purchase binoculars or whatever they call 'em here in China. Cause no offence, but none of your eyes can be THAT good.
Damian: He pulls out a pair of somewhat old binoculars, Would these do? They're a bit old, I know, but they work just fine.
Rue: Looks around in her bag, and grabs out a pair of sunglasses and a phone. Eh, time to blend in. And yeah, they'll do. So, we just do stuff, that tourists do. Key the binoculars and phone, plus the sunglasses are just so cute I couldn't resist. Grins.
Rose: Smiles approvingly. Gucci, isn't it? Turns to Damian. See something?
2. Following the Shadows[]
Suddenly some of the clouds part and a massive dark shape descends upon the tower, circles around it for a moment as if searching for something, and then shoots off towards what looks like a run-down district of the city. Despite what just happened, the mortals around them appear unphased and apparently didn't notice a thing.
Rue: Holy Hades in underpants! If that's a normal cloud which just appeared, I'm a bird. Looks at the run-down district part of the city. My vote is we follow it.
Rose: We follow it. Rue, check on the map, which district the cloud's heading.
They quickly descends via elevators and soon they're back in front of the Canton Tower, though appear unsure where to head next.
Rue: Looks over the map. Left, I think. I guess we'll have to take the chance. And yeah Rose, Gucci all the way.
Elenah: Looks at the map Yeah, let's head left!
The group head towards the run down district, following the dark clouds/shapes.
Zale: Well, we cant just follow it all day, we need to somehow capture it or something.
Rue: Rolls her eyes, muttering 'idiot'. You can't capture a cloud, if it is a cloud. Presses the 'G' in Gucci on the side of her glasses, and then takes them off. These glasses should be working like pie, like binoculars. 'Cept it's moving to fast, can't keep my eyes on 'em.
Zale: So are we waiting to see where it lands or what.
Rose: Looks at Zale irritably. I'm not sure if you understand the situation completely, but it's not unlikely to land! The best we can do is find something odd, out of place, something weird near the cloud. Something like...
A deep growl comes from behind them, revealing 4 hellhounds staring at them, hungry. However, people don't seem to notice the hellhounds, and keep carry on with their own business.
Rose: Damn it. Glances at Damian and readies her sword. Damian and I will each take one. Rue, Elenah, Hesitates for a moment. Keep Zale alive.
Zale: Crud, draws sword Distract them, I think that i might have a plan. Slowly backs away and walks into nearby building, once out of the hellhounds sight, begins to run up the stairs, three at a time.
Damian: Pulls out his whip and laughs like a madman, shouting at the hellhounds, Come here puppies, come here to father death.
First hellhound charges
Elenah: Screams Why the hell do we need...hellhounds? Mutters And why keep Zale alive?
Damian: He slashes at the hellhound with his whip
Rose: Lift her knife when the second hellhound charges at her. She brings the sword down to its neck, slashing it, and rolls sideways to avoid its claws.
Damian: He ducks under the hellhound as it jumps towards him, barely avoiding the claws, and slashes at its side with his dagger
Rue: Keep a wary watch on Damian and Rose. Seeing they are handling it fine, she signals Elenah to help her with the other two hellhounds. Elenah, we can take Fido and Fluffy for a bit of a play, Rose and Damian have theirs under control...I think. Pulls out a throwing dagger from her boot and throws it at the hellhound, aiming the Celestial Bronze dagger for its heart.
Three of the Hellhounds drop dead, and dissolve into dust, however Rue's knife only grazes the final Hellhound which turns; preparing to charge her again. Before anyone can react, a crack like thunder is heard and the final hellhound also dissolves into dust as its head explodes. At the same moment, canisters of some sort drop from the rooftops above amd begin emitting a vile smelling gas in billowing clouds. The demigods begin to feel faint, and fall unconscious soon after.
When they wake, they find themselves bound in steel chains and in a dark room, lit only by the dull blue light of a disconnected TV directly in front of them. There appears to be a door to the right side of the room, though it lacks a window entirely and looks to be made of the same metal as the floor beneath them, the walls around them, and the roof above.
Rue: ........Oh shit, we are so dead...Her eyes widen as she sees her Gucci glasses broken. Whoever it was...Those bitches, they broke my glasses!!! Looks around and winces as the steel chains rub against her wrist. I repeat, we are sooo dead.
Damian: He growls as he sees the chains he is in When I get free of these, HEADS WILL ROLL. He tries to shadow travel out of the chains and to the other end of the room.
His powers seem to be nullified, and nothing happens.
Rue: Sucks ta be ya, now let's do some real work. A pin for her hair is in one of her hands, and she quickly unlocks her chains and stretches. Ah, being a girl rules. Unlocks all the other chains then, using her faithful pin.
As Rue stretches, the screen on the other side turns on and floods the room with light; showing a pretty 20 or so Asian woman wearing a flak jacket and sitting at a table. She yawns, looks at them, and turns to ask a question to someone to her right. She nods, and looks at them again, this time with renewed interest.
Asian Woman: So, you are the group from overseas! Very interesting... he said you'd be coming. Well now, how does it feel like to be mortal? I see some of you are resourceful enough to see beyond simply using your powers. I'm not sure whether to take that to be encouraging, or endlessly depressing... regardless you are here, and here to stay. At least until he asks for you anyway... I can't have a group like you running around and causing chaos, we've already got enough of you to deal with. She types something in to a computer on the desk next to her. I expect you've got a lot of questions... I don't see why I shouldn't indulge you... She puts her head on her hands and looks at them intently.
Damian: He glares at her, Who are you? Who are you working for? Why are you holding us here, other than the reasons already mentioned? Who are the 'we' you are mentioning? And how did you nullify our powers.
Asian Woman: I am Sayuri Soto, daughter of Takahiro Soto. I work in the light of my parents' memory, and for none other than myself. Your kind killed them, and so now I kill your kind in return. "We", refers to the rest of my team of course. At this, a man leans over into the camera's view, waves nonchalantly, and returns to his work. There are fifty six of us now, men and women alike, all strugglig to make a safer world! A picture fills the screen showing lines of men and women dressed in miliary fatigues and wielding various automatic weapons. Each of us has seen the damage your kind wreaks; the destruction, the havoc, the chaos, and we seek to stop it. Why should we sit here and tolerate you? Why should we let you ramapge through our streets destroying our way of life? Not everyone can see your kind, but enough of us can to make a difference!
Damian: He quirks an eyebrow, a small smirk forming on his lips, as he is obviously amused by her reasoning. So, because of the actions of a few, you are going to kill all of us? That is ridiculous. It would be the same as saying, that because of your actions, we would start killing off all of humanity. There's a word for that, Soto, and it's called genocide. It puts you on level with the likes of Adolf Hitler, the Crusaders and other people like that. He spits on the ground before the screen You're pathetic.
Sayuri Soto: And the way your kind indiscriminately murders innocents is not similar? When the water runs out, sometimes you must fight fire with fire, monster!
Damian: Monster? I think you're confusing me with the person who looks back at you when you look in the mirror. Listen here, we don't just indiscriminately murder innocents, not most of us anyway. Would you murder the population of an entire country or race, based on the actions of a few? That's what you're about to do. And believe me, if you go against all of us, you will lose Soto, oh you will lose. His eyes gains an insane glint as he continue We have powers beyond your imagination, and we are more than just your pitiful fiftysix members. Can you work against tidal waves? Earth quakes? A rain of fire? People able to teleport? Soto, you have no idea what you're up against. I have seen people go against demigods before, and it has never ended in a pretty way.
Sayuri Soto: And there is the monster I speak of, right before me! Listen to your own words, creature, do they not embody what your kind seek to do? You say you do not murder innocents? Then why are there fifty six people fighting alongside me? I will do what is necessary to save the lives of innocent people!
Rose: Wakes up slowly. What happened? We're not monsters, we're as innocent as any people. Shakes her head in confusion.
Sayuri: I have no way of verifying whether you are innocent or not, all I know is that you pose a potential danger to the people of this city, and the people of the world. Besides, you're not exactly doing a great job of proving your innocence anyway. On top of that, you were specifically asked for and so it isn't even my choice whether to keep you here or not. He wants you, so he'll get you, and after that our contract is complete.
Rose: Attempts to charmspeaks: Look, we just killed those big doggie thing, hellhounds, those are the monsters, not us. You have to release us. And who is 'he'?
Sayuri: You are not monsters? Then explain to me why you have access to the powers you do? Explain to me why you can see and fight you own kind? You may not call yourself as such, but labels do not change the nature of the product!
Zale: Begins to awaken. Die hellhound wauh. Wait, where's the hellhound?
Damian: He growls, Listen Soto, we are NOT monsters. I tried to WARN you. I tried to tell you, that you would not survive a confrontation with all of us. I do not WISH to fight you, or your men. However, just as you have suffered losses at the hands of demigods or monsters, so have many of us suffered losses at the hands of humans, but you don't see most of us going around killing you off.
Rue: Has been thinking hard and glares at the woman on screen. Wait a sec, so Massugi Rotto, want revenge on "my kind." What is our kind? Who do you think we are, you rotten bitch?
Rose: Humans, of course, perhaps more superior than her and her little pathetic cult. I'm going to ask you again, who is 'he'? Who's the man who asked for us? Suddenly remembers something. She gasps. Where's Gucci? Where's my little chihuahua? Turns to Sayuri with the deadliest expression. If anything bad, anything, happens to him, you'll be sorry for ever kidnap us.
Damian: Calm down Rose, getting angry won't help us in this situation. Neither will making threats.
Zale: sighs, if you want her to trust us, we need to show respect in order to get some.
Rose: Glares at the guys as if to silence them, then turns to face Sayuri, still wearing the same deadly expression
Elenah: Her hand hovers over her ring and thinks about turning into a spear. Please! We've done nothing wrong! Let us go!
Sayuri: "Demigods"?She pauses for a moment, thinking. Yes, I've heard that one before... it seems to be some sort of origin myth shared between a number of you? That would imply that gods exist, and a whole number of other ludicrous things... you could at least come up with some kind of convincing argument. As for "your kind", I mean monsters of course, what else? She raises an eyebrow Haven't you been listening to me at all? It doesn't matter whether you can transform or not, or whether you have done anything yet, you pose a threat to the wellbeing of people everywhere. I'm dealing with the problem before it emerges, I'm not even sure why I'm justifying my actions to you anyway...
Rose: Of course we're not monsters! How come you think we are, anyway? Have we been expressing any abilities only monsters could have???
Damian: Justifying you actions to us? That's not what it sounds like to me. To me, it sounds like you're justifying your actions to yourself. Killing of an entire race? That's madness. And you say that it would be a ludicrous thing for gods to exist, yet you sit there, preaching that we are monsters. Isn't that just as ludicrous?
Sayuri: You are calling the slaughter of my parents ludicrous? You are calling the fact that fifty six men and women stand behind me with similar stories, ludicrous? I have seen what your kind do, Monster! I have watched your kind turn entire crowds to stone, rip innocents to shreds, and exploit your abilities to achieve the worst of ends. You now ask me to believe that you are the spawn of some god? What kind of disturbed and debased god would choose monsters as his children? Certainly not one I would want to live under.
Damian: He growls You don't exactly have a choice. Just as no man can choose his parents, no human can choose his gods. What kind of proof do you need that we are not monsters? Tell me what would be required for us to prove that we are not monsters. That people like me have spent thousands of years keeping the real monsters from killing us demigods.
Sayuri: I still have no reason to believe your alleged "demigod" story, so your argument of choice is irrelevant. As for what would be required? I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps if you were to do some good for once... no, it doesn't matter. I'm getting paid damn well to keep you here and so releasing you isn't really an option at this point.
Rose: Tries her charmspeak again. I'm gonna ask you again, who is he? Who do you work for?
Sayuri: Laughs Ah, yes, you're trying that trick again? You do realize that we're hundreds of miles away from each other and communicating through a screen? I'm not stupid, I take the necessary precautions.
Rue: Looks at Sayuri through the eyes. You say "my kind" killed your parents, so this is just some revenge thing? I have a family too y'know, I have a sweet girlfriend, some great siblings, and a home. Are you gonna just kill us like someone did to you? And here I thought that the hellhounds had no feelings, looks like you are the heartless monster here. Smirks
Damian: He smirks, And you hopefully realize, that the moment I get out of here, I can appear right behind you, a dagger poised to strike? And you don't think we do good things? Remember the affair in New York some years back? That was demigods fighting, to PROTECT HUMANITY. But I suppose you won't believe that either, so I'm just going to let you rot until one of the gods have the decency to smite you.
Sayuri Soto: You don't know where I am, so I really have no reason to take your threats seriously. As for affairs in New York, I've never been to the place and I have heard nothing of monsters fighting to protect humanity. Most people can't see you or the powers you use so I hardly find that surprising. Your insistence that these "gods" exist continues to amuse me to no end, though. You claim to have a family? I find that hard to believe as well, considering that I've never seen groups of monsters larger than six in number. I had another monster make a similar claim a while back, and I almost believed her, until one of my men put a bullet through her head and she transformed into a serpent-like creature with snake hair... before turning to dust. Do you have names? A few in the past have... though they were few and far between.
Rue: Brushes her hair out of her eyes. You say we are humans, but we are the ones locked in rooms, with no food or water, no escape, pets taken from us and worrying to death, injuries from fights, a mission incomplete and a madwoman saying WE are the monsters? Look who's talking, bitch, cause at the moment it seems to be us the victim.
Sayuri: Are policemen monsters for imprisoning criminals? Is the President of the United States a monster for detaining individuals he deems dangerous to his country? Are those in charge of asylums monsters for ensuring the safety of those outside? I also never said you were human, were you human perhaps I would be able to see things from your point of view.
Rose: Where's Gucci?
Sayuri: Genuinely puzzled Gucci?
Rose: Looks as if she almost cry. My doggie! Not Gucci the clothing line!
Sayuri: Oh, that... I suppose I don't see any harm in you having it... it's just a dog... I'll have someone drop it off later... I'm surprised you keep pets.
Zale: That's because we have a heart, but anyways, there have been lots of people back in the 60s who were locked up because of no reason, because they were black, no insults, but they didn't go on trial, there were many that were locked up for no reason. I guess that your ways haven't changed.
Sayuri: African Americans are the same species as I am, and all other humans are. Your kind obviously are not.
Zale: And whats your proof behind that? I understand that your just scared of us, you don't know what we are, we sliced up the real monsters, and we were carrying weapons, but i can assure you, we are not monsters, but we aren't human, we are Demi gods, children of the gods, and we swear that we don't want to harm you or any humans, our swords would just pass through your bodys.
Sayuri: Yes... we did confiscate your weapons and they do seem to be of both an unusual make and an unusual metal; the same metal we use to coat our bullets in fact. I can only assume that you stole these from a museum, or found them somewhere else. I still have no reason to belive this "demigod" nonsense though.
Zale: We found them in our camp armoury, or they were given to us by our godly parents, so they are rightfully ours. And how on earth would a museum be able to get hold of Celestial Bronze?
Sayuri: Where else would you find Archaic weapons? Presumably not lying around, presumably they weren't randomly given to you, and so therefore I can only assume that you got them from a museum, or stole them. Again you refer to these "gods" but have no proof of their existence.
Rose: Wait, where do you get Celestial Bronze to coat your bullet?
Sayuri: During the Cultural Revolution in this country the government took action against local religion. A number of monsters resisted in organized and unorganized groups and so the government, despite the fact that many could not see them, was forced to take action against this threat. They produced a surplus of these special bullets and so we have access to them now through special means.
Zale: But where would the government get their metal? but anyways, how about we prove that we are children of the gods by doing you a great favour, any favour that you want, we do it, we get free, and you get what you wanted, let it be money, or... Just ask, then let us plan on how to do it, then we will tell you if its possible, if it is, we do it, if we run away, you will hunt us down again, if its impossible, we ask you to ask for something else.
Sayuri: That... may be reasonable... though I am being paid quite a lot of money... and I have no way of knowing whether you will do as I say either... not entirely sure how I can trust you even if I want to. Ah, hm, perhaps I can take something of value from each of you and you will not get it back until the task is complete? Yes, that would work. I will take, for example, that dog named... Gucci was it? Yes, now, what do the rest of you value? Tell me, and perhaps we can make some progress here.
Zale: *Takes out 2 golden drachmas* How about these, my coins, my... ancestor gave them to me, they are solid gold, like, 24 carat, test it if you want, keep it safe though.
Rose: I seriously want to knock you off, Zale. She thinks and decides to play along. Fine, you can temporarily keep Gucci. But I warn you, he's PETA ambassador and the face of We ♥ Doggies organization. So you better treat him with utmost respect.
Sayuri: I assure you, no harm will come to the dog. Besides, my father once had one very similar... it died a few years ago.
Rue: Glares at Sayuri. I aint giving anything to you, cause I have nothin to give. Only thing I have of value here is my twin, and he's dead, killed by the real monsters. Y'know, if ya wanna help your society, it could be by letting us out of 'ere and letting us defeat the real foes.
Damian: He sighs You already have it in your possession. The katana.
Rue: Sniffs angrily. Fine, as my team seems to go along with it...Hums. Well, I guess, the hairpin I got 'ere is pretty well value. It's from my friend, she says its pretty cool and goes with my hair. Flashes a grin at Sayuri. And of course, the other thing i value besides this fine hairpin, you can't get. So ha, now how you gonna get my hairpin?
Sayuri: The only items that actually seem of any worth are the dog and the Katana... if that's it, I really don't see why I should let you out and compromise my own safety all in one go.
Rose: Damian and I can go, then. Of course, we'll come back for the rest of our team. Would you like that?
Elenah: Wait, so your leaving us?
Sayuri: Only two of you would not be adequate for the task I have in mind.
Rue: Sighs and rolls her eyes. Well then, sucks to be you. Really, you can send us all out and expect us to all die, send us out and expect us to actually come back or send a few of us out and learn what happens when you mess with someones team.
Sayuri: Or, I can let you rot here for a while until you're carted off to wherever my client wants to take you. I think you're forgetting exactly who has imprisoned who. She smiles
Damian: Calm down Rue, it will do us no good to get angry or insult Soto. Turning his attention back to Soto, he asks, What do you propose Soto?
Sayuri: Exactly what I proposed before, except that you actually provide me with things you value instead of random coins and hair pins.
Zale: Sighs fine, take my sword, but what IS the task?
Sayuri: I need something from two more of you before I elaborate.
Rose: Looks at Elenah. Maybe your shield, Elenah. Turns to Rue. Anything? I could die of boredom here.
Rue: Chews her lip. Hmmmm I do have my belly-button ring I guess, but eh, you can't really get it....Hmmm well I guess you could send me out on threat of killing the others.
Sayuri: She sighs I suppose this will have to do. If you try anything, the dog dies and the others' valuables will be irrecoverably destroyed. So, the nature of the matter is that the very client who asked for your inprisonment, is also a monster. Originally it was my plan to capture all of you when the opportunity presented itself, She pulls over a number of documents and begins to look through them but information I have received as of late has implied that this monster is far stronger than I once feared. I also find myself unable to divert the majority of my forces to this issue as the majority are currently engaged in a variety of top priority operations around the country. The only thing that seems to be to my advantage is the fact that we set a specific meeting location where I may possibly ambush him. Besides that I know almost nothing, from his appearance, to the manner in which he may seek to strike back. Therefore it's essential that he is eliminated there once and for all. Your task will be to support me in this goal and once he is destroyed I promise you, on my honor, that you will be released with the items you put into my possession. How does that sound?She sits back in her char, waiting for a response.
Rose: So you work for a monster? Shakes her head. And here I thought you hate them. What's the monster?
Sayuri: Work for him? No, I work for the money. As for "what" he is, all I know is that the man I sent to find him after we traced his call was found dead a few days later with deep lacerations across his chest. We buried him yesterday. She Appears saddened.
Damian: I'm sorry for your loss. But, shouldn't we get to work? The faster we can get this over with, the faster you can get out of the business with this, monster.
Rose: Fine. We'll help taking down this monster. But, my team's gonna need weapons. She took her hairpin and starts fiddle with it.
Sayuri: Yes, of course. A small panel on the wall opens, and a package is dropped into the room, atfter which the panel quickly slams again. You should find micro mics in there, simply insert them into your ear and we can communicate even while we're in the field. You will also find a bundle of monster weapons we've accumulated over the past few years, I hope they prove useful. I'm unlocking the door now, meet me at the time and place you will find in the package, it's in the Industrial sector. I'll to see you there at 12:00, and in the meantime don't try anything stupid. The door unlocks with the grinding of metal on metal, and swings open revealing a sunlit alleyway.
3. Re-Armed and Re-Purposed[]
Elenah: She looks at her rings, and says: These rings transform into a spear and shield...how's that?
Rose: Keep it, you do anything stupid, they'll kill Gucci, and I'll kill you. Looks at the package, take one of the micro mics and insert it into her ear. Come on, guys, let's gear up. She reaches into her Balenciaga tote bag and take out her Battle Pumps, and changes her dress color to black and her blazer to red. Then she smiles proudly. Now, this is what I call 'dress to kill'.
Damian: A bit saddened he takes a micro mic and a random weapon, which just so happens to be a set of two daggers. I miss my katana... It's been with me longer than anything else...
Rue: Suck it up guys, you'll get 'em back for sure. Takes the micro set and some twin swords from the pile.
Zale: Takes a bow and arrows, plus a dagger and sticks an earpiece in his ear I did try archery once, and was good, so i guess ill take them.
Rose: I'll just stick with my sword, good thing they didn't take it. Her hairpin transforms into a sword. Maybe we can grab some food on the way, and I'm so going to buy a Chinese fan. Oh, and a qipao dress. Smiles as she walks off the room.
Zale: Rue, Elenah, want to go shopping for stuff or something? i suggest we stick together, as anyone could get lost here.
Damian: He leaves the room with Rose, Any special place you want to go?
Rose: Turns to Zale. Who said we're splitting up? We're just going to buy something on the way. We're going to the place Sayuri wants us to go!
Zale: We can meet again at the place sayuri wants us to go at 11:30, so we can do stuff, such as getting lunch, going to the library, or something.
Elenah: No...I don't wanna spilt up...
Damian: His expression softens somewhat as he looks at Elenah, You can come with us, if we are splitting up at all. He glares at Zale
Zale: Or, we could just shop in one big group.
The questors walk through the crowded Guangzhou streets.
Rose: Oh, look! Points to a boutique that sells qipao dress, pretty shoes, and chinese fan. She bought some clothes and a fan, stuffed them on her Balenciaga tote bag.
Zale: I'll need something to bring back for Cerie Splits from the group for five minutes and searches through stuff, returns empty handed. Nothing appropriate *:(*
Damian: He disappears for five minutes and returns with a small bag, which content he does not tell the others about
Rue: Looks around and sticks by Elenah. This place is sooo busy compared to Alaska's busy areas. Never been to the New York ones. Sees a tiny duckling waddling around, lost and picks it up. Awwwww, can I keep it?
Rose: Looks amused. Rue, have you ever tried Peking Duck? They're excellent.
Elenah: Her eyes widen. Rose! She turns to Rue I'd keep it...
Rue: Hugs the duckling to her chest. NO! Glares at Rose. I'm keeping it, 's gonna be called Rain, now no more being mean to Rain. Glares at them all in warning
Elenah: Sighs As if! She's so-o-o cute!
The questors walk further into the town.
Zale: Anyone up for lunch?
Rose: We'll have to get take-out meal, though. Comes into a food stall and orders fried noodle and dumplings.
Damian: He orders some tea as well, and some rice
Zale: Goes and finds a food center and gets laksa and satay, noms it whilst walking back.
Damian: Should we get going? We don't want to be late.
Rose: Yeah, let's go.
Right at 11.57, the group arrived at the meeting point.
Elenah: So, where to?
Rose: Uh, we're already here. Taps at her microphone. Sayuri? Whoever? What now?
Rue: Pets Rain softly. Maybe there is something we're supposed to see or find...
Zale: Possibly that big scary building over there. Points to a large scary building over there
Elenah: Glances at where Zale is pointing, then looks around. Or maybe that building, over there? Points to a large building.
Rose: If we're not here when she arrives, she'd think we break the agreement, they'd kill Gucci. In a dramatic voice, do you want an innocent dog's blood on your hands???
Rue: Glares at Rose. Says she who was talking about eating my precious baby, Hugs Rain to her chest. Hmmm I spy with my little eye......Looks around. Something blue!
4. Confrontation[]
A light rain begins to fall around them, and Sayuri finally speaks to them over their mics.
Sayuri: Sorry about the delay, one of my teams encountered some unanticipated resistance to the north. I had to be sure that they wouldn't interfere with what we're doing here. You'll want to proceed into the warehouse to your right, take a left at the first opportunity, follow that hallway to its end, and you should come out into its main chamber. Then I'll need you to hide yourself about the room, there should be a lot of old machinery in there as well as a number of boxes. I'll be entering on the same side of the room and the monster should come in opposite me. Wait for me to tap my ear mic before you act, I need to confirm that it's him.
Zale: So we hide when were in, got it Turns left and waits at the doorway, just outside, do we just enter? or sneak in and hide.
Sayuri: Enter as you will, he won't be here for another few minutes.
Zale: Charges in like a boss, sees a circular room, near the edges is piles of machineries, washing machines, dish washers, computers, but some unrecocnizable items too, They poke around and begin to find hiding places in the machinery, once they were done hiding, Sayuri comes in the doorway they came in, and what she thinks is the monster on the other end.
Elenah: Follows Zale.
Rue: Puts Rain in one of her coat pockets and gets an idea, and steps behind the others, swords ready. She bettah confirm soon..
The monster appears from a doorway on the other side of the room. As he slowly closes the space between himself and Sayuri, it becomes relatively obvious that he wants to keep his features inexposed as his face is obscured by a large hood, which is attached to a dark cloak covering the rest of his body. He comes to a halt about fifteen feet from where Sayuri stands.
Cloaked Monster: So, I assume you have the package?
Sayuri: Yes, though I need the agreed confirmation before we proceed any further.
Cloaked Monster: Laughs, and draws a small knife from the folds of his robe. With it, he makes a small incision in his palm and visibly black blood drips to the floor; creating a small puddle at his feet. I assume that is satisfactory, mortal.
Sayuri pulls out a smartphone, checks something, steps to the side, and motions to a large box behind her.
Sayuri: The funds have cleared, they're all yours. She covertly taps the mic at her ear, and begins to walk away towards them.
Zale: Sneaks around to the other side of the room hiding behind machines ever so silently, he motions for someone to follow.
Rose: Follows him quietly.
The monster slowly makes his way towards the box while Sayuri continues to walk.
Damian: He silently pulls out his knives, making sure to cloak himself in darkness.
Rue: Swears under her breath, and decides to take a risky move, and crawls closer to the box.
Damian: He sneaks up behind the monster, standing a few meters behind it, before running at it, and slashing at it with his daggers.
The monster takes both daggers to the chest, and crashes face-down behind the weight of Damian's charge. As it hits the ground, black blood spews from its stomach and it begins to emit a gurgling laugh as more pours from its mouth. The force of the charge knocked back its hood revealing sallow skin, hollow cheeks, and clouded eyes. While it finishes twitching on the floor, Sayuri puts her hand to her ear; clearly listening to an incoming signal. After a few moments, her eyes go wide and she presses something on her ear mic. The team hears the sounds of gunfire, yelling, and screaming through their own mics. A voice, clearly panicked, screams for help before being abruptly cut off. Other similar signals patch in, and Sayuri begins screaming into her mic:
Sayuri: 莲花? 莲花! 火焰? 刀片? 愤怒? 他妈的!
Her eyes go even wider, and she drops to her knees.
Sayuri: Weakly They're all dead... all of them...
5. Fallen Anew[]
Zale: Emerges from the other side of Damion What the f just happened?
Elenah: Shivers I don't know...
Rose: Points to the monster. Can we finish him?
Damian: He kneels by the side of the monster, raising both of his hands to stab it in the back. We won't know until we try. Holding his knives reversed, he stabs at the monster's back, around the area where the lungs of a creature would normally be
Rose: Stands a few feet apart from the monster and peers at it cautiously. Careful, it's just too easy, might be a trick.
It remains quite dead.
Elenah: What now?
Damian: What do you think? We check it for any clues on what, or rather, who it might be. It's no monster, since it is still here, so the question is, who is it?
Sayuri: Quietly It... was a ruse...
Damian: A ruse... His voice rises to near shouting levels, A RUSE! You are telling us, that we wasted this time, FOR A F*CKING RUSE? His grip on the daggers tightens, his knuckles growing white.
Sayuri: Composes herself somewhat, and slowly stands again, her face now filling with anger. You selfish debased MONSTER! You complain about WASTED TIME when over FIFTY brave men and women were just SLAUGHERED? They were my FRIENDS, like my FAMILY, everyone I knew and loved and CARED FOR! They died because of ME! Because of MY mistake! Now you complain about WASTED TIME? Do you place no value in human life AT ALL?
Damian: It is EXACTLY because I care about human lives that I am complaining about wasted time. Because the reason we are here, ARE TO SAVE THE F*CKING WORLD. We need to get information on a being, more powerful than far most known beings in this world, WHO SEEM TO BE HELL BENT ON DESTROYING THIS EARTH. So yes, I COMPLAING ABOUT WASTED TIME. Your fifty men is NOTHING compared to the world. I would personally kill an entire city, hell, an entire COUNTRY if it meant the survival of this world. So YES, I place value in human life, I JUST SEE THE GREATER GOOD.
Sayuri: OH YES, and I suppose that FIVE monsters are going to save the WORLD now? Are you going to go on some EPIC quest to strike down an EVIL archnemesis? GET A GRIP and LOOK AT THE WORLD AROUND YOU! You are saving NO ONE, and wouldn't be saving ANYONE from the confines of my special cell EITHER! Now my closest friends are DEAD! Everything I spent the last DECADE building was just DESTROYED! DROP the DREAMS kid! You'll just end up like ME! She pauses A sad and sorry woman with nothing remaining in the world but friends left to bury... friends who died miserably by her own hand... friends... maybe that's how it should be... maybe that's how it should end...
She pulls her pisol from its holster and holds it to her head.
Damian: He shadow travels next to her and kicks the pistol out of her hand You pathetic woman. Do you think you're the only one who lost people? I have lived THOUSANDS of years, and I have lost hundreds of thousands of people close to me. Do you honestly think you could go to war without losing any men, close friends, lovers? Well, THINK AGAIN. You WILL lose friends, YOU WILL lose loved ones. So pull yourself together you pathetic woman, and get back up, before I strike you down myself.
Sayuri: You inhuman... emotionless... monsters...
Damian: Inhuman...sounds about right. Emotionless, sorry to say, but not anymore. He looks fondly at Rose, And about the monsters, you've got the wrong persons. Now, do anyone have a small knife I can loan? I did promise Sayuri I would strike her down if she didn't pull herself together.
Rose: She's mortal, CB would just pass through her. Look, the real monster is still around. Do you think we can track him down? I just find it...unusual. Monster don't usually ignore five demigods' scent and slay mortals. Looks as she's deep in thought. Sayuri, what's supposed to be in the box?
Sayuri: You, of course. Didn't I explain that before?
Damian: Then what IS in it, since we obviously aren't?
Sayuri: Absolutely nothing, it's empty.
Rose: So, what now?
Zale: well we need to get the dog and our stuff back first.
Sayuri: I did make a promise... they're in my apartment... my car is nearby... I can take you...
Zale: we'll walk.
Sayuri: If you really want to walk all the way across the city in the middle of the night, be my guest. Sighs I guess I'd better see what's on this body...
She rummages through its pockets, and finds nothing.
Sayuri: Nothing on him... at all... he clearly isn't Asian though... he must've come from elsewhere...
Zale: Well he ain't Asian, but i don't think he's human either.
Rose: Looks at Zale, clearly irritated. Go walk by yourself. I'm going with her. Much faster, less time wasted. And he's clearly a human. The blood's not fresh, and the skin, it looks like he's been dead before he's here
Sayuri: That's what I assumed too... though the corpse was still somewhat warm when I searched it... maybe just due to whatever powers your kind use to reanimate the dead... follow me if you want a drive.
She walks towards the exit.
Zale: Fine, lets get to the car
The questors follow Sayuri to her car, they get in, and she starts driving to her apartment.
They arrive at her apartment about fifteen minutes later, and climb the stairs to the fifth floor. She opens to the door to a fairly typical apartment of about medium size. Gucci runs out from behind a door and towards Rose.
Sayuri: Ah yes, here's your dog. He seemed to get along with Shiro, my cat, just fine. Would any of you like a drink?
Rose: Lifts Gucci. Awww, I've missed you too, dear. Turns to Sayuri. Hey, thanks for keeping him, and... I'm sorry about your loss, it must be difficult. Smiles half-heartedly, At least... you're still alive, and well.
Sayuri: Slightly surprised I... wasn't expecting that... thank you...
Elenah: She gives a shaky smile. Me too, I'm sorry.
Zale: do you want the weapons back?
Sayuri: Looks at the floor take them, do what you want with them, and thank you as well... she walks over to a couch and sits down, her head in her hands. I don't know what you're going to do now, and I don't know what you're going to do either... whatever did this is smart... he understood better than I did that the only reason I was ever able to do anything, was because of them. I assumed he'd want to kill me, because I saw myself as the most logical target, the leader. My pride, my assumptions, got them killed... it's all my fault... and now I am helpless without them... everything I've done for the past ten years was for nothing... I suppose someone's found the bodies by now... I've got a lot of funerals to attend... and after that... I don't even know...
Rose: Crosses the room and sits next to her while petting Gucci. Well, there's not much we can do about that. Sighs. Sayuri, why did you work for him? And... have you always met the same person? Because Damian killed it pretty easily.
Zale: i think it was the fact that he was using the celestial bronze, and their bullets were lead.
Sayuri: My father, Takahiro Soto, owned a large Japanese electronics corporation that he built from the ground up. When he and my mother were murdered, I was left with all of the possessions... including a large fortune. Ten years of spending supporting my organization, my friends, and myself, with no real income has reduced me to being minorly rich, and I don't even know how long I can continue with that status. So, his money presented a great opportunity. This was the first time I worked for him though, I don't usually do contracts, most of my work involved keeping the peace. But not anymore...
Damian: Do you have any information on him? Anything at all?
Sayuri: No... nothing...
Elenah: Are you sure? Nothing?
Sayuri: Why would he give me information that I didn't need? It was a covert transfer. All I knew was that he was male, would be meeting me there at that time, and that he had five hundred thousand dollars that I didn't. When I asked how I would know it was him he simply said "look to where the blackness falls". I had no idea what that meant at the time, and assumed it'd make itself clear when we met, and it did. We all saw the black blood.
Rose: Thinks while fiddling with her black hair. Weren't we...following weird dark shapes before we were attacked? Could it be...?
Zale: ... the same shadow thing?
Damian: It would have to be a very powerful being to command a storm cloud through Zeus' domain, without being blasted to atoms.
Zale: or it could be the shadow...
Rue: Puts Rain back in her pocket, having finished making sure she's fine. Unless it's not a storm. It looked like a black cloud, not technically a storm or shadow. Think, Nyx can do stuff kinda like that, but not saying its her, just saying look at the options.
Rose: This Pagos, he's got Ouranos' blood, right? Do you think it could give him some power over the sky?
Rue: Chews her lip and rubs her temples. Yah, maybe, great thinking. Gods, all this is so stupid, wish life was easy sometimes. Okay, so what was Ouranos the titan or whatever of exactly? We didn't have Greek history in Alaska.
Zale: He was the father of the titans i think, his son chopped him up and his blood scattered all over the place, some got into Lilith, lots went into Pagos, if i remember right.
Elenah: She nods. That's right. Gaia told Kronos to chop him (Ouranos) up, if I recall correctly.
Rose: So, I'm fairly certain Pagos was behind all this, woman's intuition. Do you think we should continue look for the "darkness"?
Zale: Well it was our best lead so far, and if we come back with just this much, it wont be enough.
Rue: Well unlike idiot over there, I have a serious comment. I don't see no black cloud in the sky, so I have no f*cking idea of how we're supposed to find it and I bet nether do you.
Zale: Spose we split up, me and Damion go high, cause we can glide and shadow travel down fast. i guess you three split up over the city, and the darkness wouldn't get very far without us seeing it.
Rue: Rolls her eyes. No-ah, I'm not getting put aside by some sugar-gliding males, specially with one being an idiot. And "the darkness wont get far without us seeing it?" You realize we were locked up for hell knows how long and that it could be in Alaska?! We have no idea how fast it travels, if its dangerous or anything! Are you really that stupid?
Sayuri: If you're looking for this "darkness"... maybe go to wherever you saw it last?
Rose: That will be... the place we're ambushed.
Zale: Aye, lets go
Rose: You coming, Sayuri? This could be a chance to eliminate that monster. The one who slayed your men.
Elenah: Yea...you could get your revenge. She smiles.
Sayuri: sighs I expect that it's gone by now, whatever it is, but I suppose there's no harm in taking a look...
Elenah: Then let's go!
Soon, the questors and Sayuri reached the place they last saw the dark shape.
They find themselves on an old street within the city's residential district lit only by city lamps, light shining forth from stores, and the lights of neon signs along the street. Even though it's early morning, the streets are still crowded and the only areas without people seem to be the small side alleys leading behind many of the buildings.
Sayuri: Scans the scene. I... I think some of my men were stationed near here... before... well... you know...
Rose: Well, I see no dark shape. Unless it's hiding.
Damian: We may want to search the alleys though, just to be sure, if nothing else.
Rue: Rolls her eyesOkay, imagine you're some weird freaky maybe our imagination black shape. Would you hide in plain view, I mean, would you even hide? How do we know it hasn't moved on already i mean - Freezes. Did anyone besides me just here that sound?
Sayuri: This is a very busy street and I heard nothing above the crowd... I would suggest we search the alley ways near here. They may yield results.
Rose: I don't think I hear anything unusual, but it IS crowded here. Maybe the sound's coming from the alleys, Rue?
Elenah: Shives I do NOT like this place AT ALL...I reckon there is something here...
Damian: Well, we won't know until we see for ourselves.
Rose: Let's see, then. Heads for the empty alley.
Elenah: She follows Rose into the alley.
The alley is dark and only a little of the light from the street serves to illuminate the brick walls to the sides and concrete pavement below. A somewhat large lump can be barely made out a towards the end of the alley. It seems entirely inert.
Rose: What is that? Garbage?
Damian: He walks towards it, sword in his hand as he checks what it is.
Elenah: She decides not to go any closer, and walks backwards a few paces.
Sayuri: Oh my god! She runs over to the lump, turns it over, gasps, and puts her face in her hands. The lump appears to be a dead body, clad in similar clothing to Sayuri, but also bearing a striking resemblance to the man they killed only minutes before with pale skin and black eyes. Something small and cylindrical has fallen from his hand and onto the pavement.
Rose: She takes that small cylindrical things and moves closer to Sayuri. Do you know him? Is that... the corpse earlier...? No, their face aren't the same. But... do you think whatever happened to that corpse happened to this guy here? Both seems...died...for a while. Maybe they're like, Inferi, dead, controlled corpses, y'know, like the Harry Potter books. If Pagos is behind all this, it would totally makes sense, he could control them via the blood. Sees Sayuri and decides she should stop rambling. Sayuri, you okay?
Sayuri: Fights back tears I... I'm fine... I knew this man for eight years... there's been a lot of death today. I wonder where the others are, though... there were supposed to be four others with him... and what's that you picked up?
Rose: I'm sorry... And, I'm not sure... She looks at the small cylinder things.
Damian: He whispers in Rose's ear from behind, What do you have there dearest?
Rose: I'm...not sure... She examines it closely.
The cylinder is black and featureless, but strangely seems to be flickering; as if trying to fade to another apppearance using the mist to escape closer inspection.
Rose: Frowns. Am I the only one who thinks this thing's weird?
Elenah: She walks out from the shadows, where she was searching. Nope...
Damian: Frowns as well as he looks down at it over Rose's shoulder. No
Zale: Well there has to be more to it if it was the last thing he carried, maybe he was delivering this and tried to avoid the black thing by going through the alley?
Sayuri: He had no orders from me to retrieve any artifact of this kind... he and his squad were assigned to investigate a rumored monster presence in this area. To be honest, I have no idea what this is, but the manner in which it's flickering is... unusual. It looks almost like a lighter... but clearly isn't.