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Prolouge; Harvest Thanks & Friendly Blessings
Topic Started: January 26, 2010, 11:52 pm (1,143 Views)
GM1
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It was a cool, brisk and snowy day outside as snow had begun falling earlier this year then last. The trees were barren and leaves blew in the wind with cold determination. The seasons had passed by fairly quickly as spring had given way to summer and then summer to autumn. The haphazard group of heroes had gathered together for the special day of Harvest Thanks which happened every year in the North Americas on November 25th. Families and friends gathered together on this day to feast, talk, and reminisce about the past. In some cases they did a little more then just talk as some families just didn't really get along together. But that wasn't the case for this group, they had all gathered together inside a Relic Link owned building although it was more of an old banquet hall no more then 1600 square feet of space total, it sat on the far outskirts of town just north of Apple Drive on Equal Avenue which ran parallel to Interstate 42 for a while before entering a series of subdivisions that eventually flanked out to small unnamed streets and roads that met up with roads that went around Freedom Lake and the park.

The banquet hall was small in comparison to what most would expect, the main floor normally had a series of small tables and chairs when it was utilized for bingo nights for the elderly but, thanks to careful choices made by Kalinda and Gail, it had been transfigured into a wonderfully decorated dinner room. The dull false wood panel walls and linoleum floor were hidden by the over lay of streamers of leaves, paper turkeys and corn husks. The windows, which sat high above the room and made the place appear to be more of a prison then a hall used for entertainment, had been covered over with brown curtains while the bingo podium had been covered up with dark brown cloth and had corn husks and little enchanted figures of Pilgrims and Native Americans dressed in authenticate outfits meeting, shaking hands, and dancing. The figures each stood 4 inches tall, were made of some kind of clay, and had apparently been around for ages made evident by their fading paint and at least one's loss of enchantment over the years as it barely moved at all sometimes.

The over head florescent lights had been turned off and only soft warm ambient light, provided by several candles, made the room feel homely and inviting. The banquet hall sat next to a middle school which was shut down for the holiday. The building was rectangular in shape from front to back. On the south wall and towards the back of the building and on the north wall the main hall double doorways which normally swung on hinges that let them go both inwardly and outwardly with out resistance. In the front of the building, where the double doors were, was a small foyer with a tiny hallway that lead to a single outside doorway painted red which clashed with the white painted brick on the outside. Near the large server's window was a small sliding doorway which lead down a corridor to the back of the building. This corridor went directly past the large kitchen on the left and down to a meeting room on the left which had enough space to, at least currently, store all the fold up chairs and tables from the bingo nights. The corridor continued a few more feet down and a shared restroom was to the left, finally it emptied into a large back room where the cleaning supplies were kept along with other miscellaneous objects.

The curious thing was that there was a back door which looked out onto the dumpsters and Freedom Park and, if one walked around to the where the door was and turned to look back, another restroom hidden here. The lighting back here was old flickering bulbs which buzzed and hummed with age-old memories of by gone eras. The restroom, oddly enough, was rarely used here mostly because it was just a long walk back. The walls were teal and aqua colored and it had both a men's urinal and standard toilet. It lacked a bidet, which the other restroom had, but at least had a sink, hand soap, and cloth-roll towels from a dispenser. There was also a cracked mirror back here but it was covered up with an old cloth as Kalinda had found it creepy to watch her self use the toilet. Just between the backdoor and restroom lay a small trap door with a handle, currently in the down position, which lead to a small storage basement that ran the length of the building. The Relic Link used this basement more then the actual owners of the building did but mostly for hiding things and as Kalinda knew from the records there was nothing in it besides some old junk.

Back up in the kitchen food was being prepared from roast turkey with sprigs of herbs to roasted rare baby abaia, a type of eel that grew to monstrous proportions in Lake Fiji in the Vanuatu Islands. There were even cooked gray slime skin, a delicacy amongst the indigenous people of what was now known as Virgina, and ophiotaurus jerky, a bull-snake creature that were bred for their wild meat in Greece. The vegetables included most autumn varieties of bean, corn, squash, pumpkin, and drakesprigs, a mysterious bush-like tree that bore small berries in the summer which contained a virulent poison but like rhubarb was partly edible when selecting the proper parts.

The feast was set, and as the morning slowly turned to noon, Kalinda and Gail were too. The first of the guests to arrive were Dan promptly followed by Sara. Then Frost and Solan came in from the cold as a they swiftly shut the double doors behind them and took in the sights.
Edited by GM1, January 28, 2010, 5:50 pm.
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Dan
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Dan walked around the place a bit, taking in the artificial scenery in with out much of a reaction at first. The place was dull to him and even with the snow outside it seemed more welcoming outside then in. Perhaps it was the lighting? He attempted to boost the dull glow by using what was already available and with a little push the candle's began to glow brighter and the scenery became a little more alive to him.

He smiled and let the light alone which faded to normal after a few moments, there was no way he'd be capable of carefully controlling that many sources of light for very long. Then the raccoon made his way to the back door by the server window and waved to Kalinda and Gail, whom both waved back as they prepared some food and exchange hellos.

He had to go to the toilet and followed the animoid figure pointing to the restrooms. The first one he came upon was well lit and bright white and gray. He smiled as he closed the door and began to seat himself to do the necessary. While he sat he began to think on the past night's dream.

The dream started with the world as if it was twisted and worn and here the city was damaged beyond repair. Aurora..no two Auroras ran around attacking needlessly an purposely hurting anyone they came across. Dan found himself, in different attire and a different kind of time, fending off these two. One was inky, purple, and black the other was fluffy, gold, and white..these two were not Aurora but only a shade of her and they were locked in battle with him.

He smacked them around, beat them up, got beat up, blasted by light or dark energies, and cut up by thousands of various methods. Eventually he won the battle and destroyed them....their bodies evaporating into pure globes of raw power that then became sealed inside a time lock he had created with his own body.

Then he was betrayed...someone he didn't recognize came to him and held up a dark cylinder which vacuumed out the darkness and light from his form, apparently he had absorbed them, but with their escape his freedom was not granted.

Then the scenery changed and he was no longer where he once was but instead inside a dark room lit only by candles and he saw himself in a mirror...tattered and torn. He was sure he had seen this place before but didn't know why or where from. It was at this point the dream began to fade...but was held up by the surprise vision of a familiar young girl. Rina...

"I come to you to warn you true for you must watch what you do." As always her rhymes annoyed him even in his sleep. "My angel may have been the cause of that in the past but now for you to last you must forget and move on. Her time is near but not yet for the change, your time is here and ready for the mange."

She giggled, her soft ghost-white eye shone through and her true form, an elderly one eyed feline with long scraggy hair and rotten teeth, smiled at him but it metamorphosed into the younger version with both eyes intact right before his vision.

"The ageless ones will soon be near to here and the children of Grala then must gather and feel their feet go pitter-patter with the onset of darkenss light those who can must prepare for a fight. To save the seals mortal born and mortal death the chaos goddess shall hold her breath and when time is done and if they fail the mistress of pain shall then unveil a wake she wants to never hail but only bring out forth the gale which can then part the very ways and release the gate from our gaze." She giggled and winked with the eye that normally was blind and began again: "The ageless ones will soon be near to here and the children of Grala then must gather and feel their feet go pitter-patter with the onset of darkenss light those who can must prepare for a fight. To save the seals mortal born and mortal death the chaos goddess shall hold her breath and when time is done and if that is won only she shall change a little and the mistress of pain wont see her day and all will be right with the world. Again if you fail the things that shall be the veil between worlds will open one....two....three..."

He had awakened from the dream but the weird warnings from Rina's voice still echoed in his mind. But back to the present he was finished remember the dream and washed up. He smiled and returned to the rest of the group, stopping in the kitchen to speak with their hostesses.

"Kalinda...do you need help setting the table?"
Edited by Dan, January 28, 2010, 3:56 pm.
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Boris
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Boris hadn't been to the banquet hall in quite some time. His duties in The Underground procluded him from venturing to the surface much these days. But it did not stop him from keeping a watchful eye on those surface dwellers he now called friends, at least in his mind. Using his gift of sight to see through most materials, he'd burrow along beneath the city streets, or lumber through a sewer duct and peer skyward in hopes to catch of glimpse of those he knew. Many times he'd go days without seeing anyone that he knew from the surface, but on rare occasions he catch a glimpse of Frost, or Dan and Kalinda bustling from here to there. He'd give a knowing grin to himself and continue traveling onward to his destination in The Underground.

But today was different as he burrowed up beneath the familiar building and peer up from inside the earth to the basement floors below. Today was a holiday, the day of feasting, that alone peaked the ole' badger's curiousity enough to bring him up from his dark, dank, apartment below ground. He knew his friends well enough, that if anyone was gonna celebrate, they would be doing here in the safety and comfort of the old bingo hall on the outskirts of the city.

He poked his head up into the basement after checking to make sure the area was clear. Then stood up, pulling his chubby frame up onto the solid concrete floors of the basement, amid the clutter of cast off furniture, office equipment, and old banners. His power of digging left no trace of the tunnel he had dug to get here, as it always collapsed inward some ten feet behind and returned the area to normal, as if his passage had never occurred.

He looked up through the concrete ceiling, water pipes, electrical lines and insulation to see a warm and inviting room alit with dim glowing candles. Boris thought to himself for a moment, "That looks almost as cozy as my apartment, just not as cluttered with brik-a-brak and stuff". He glanced to the stairs and realized he could walk up them and find this room he was peering into, but what fun would that be he thought to himself.

Boris only had to wait for a few more moments before he saw Kalinda cross the room from a table and then head out view. He decided to wait until there were more people before making his entrance, that is, if his stomach could keep quiet that long.
Edited by Boris, January 28, 2010, 8:15 pm.
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coatl

Hiding your healing ability isnt easy,but Coatl had it down to an art form.She would like to help so many more but even her powers had limits.There wasnt much different to say for working in the shelters.Same old stuff but just different days.Two glimpses of the rare Micha sightings,but she did look very happy.

Coatl had been secretly counting the days until this day.She spoke with sakura in depth,the first she heard of her friends holding this holiday fling.She was thrilled to be with her new friends again.Coatl had such small family ties.She stuck to herself most of her life.

She liked the city lights,but found herself looking up at the stars more often these few days nearing the feast.Coatl was trying to imagine what they had in store for her.Her new found sense of adventure with her new friends,although she met each of them she felt there was so much more to learn.

She took in deep breaths as she stood by the door.She was slightly shy by nature,but wanted to start this holiday correctly.She pushed open the door with glee to find the sights inside.
Edited by coatl, January 29, 2010, 10:59 pm.
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Sabella

Rayne smiled up, delighting in the soft fabric and gentle sway of the sling that bound her to her mother. She definitely looked more like her father, but Sabella didn't mind. The five month old smiled constantly, and her green eyes sparkled. And yet, Sabella had noted to Jay time and time again, she had an "old soul" feel about her. Grala had appeared in several dreams to tell her of the Crystal child, but she always woke up barely able to remember it at all. Grala still called Sabella "Indigo." While she still wasn't positive what this label meant for her, she was getting a better understanding of it. At the very least it explained her empathic ability, which seemed to be extraordinarily attuned to Rayne's emotional state.

Where Sabella was content, she also felt a tinge of worry. She had lost her parents, and had started dreaming terrible things about Jay. She hadn't said anything to him about it, but it bothered her. She hadn't come right out and said as much, but she loved him. Just the thought of something happening to him tore at her soul.

The memory of these dreams were in the back of her mind now as she came up behind Coatl. She smiled to see her pause at the doors before opening them. "Blessed be," she called out as she trotted a little to catch up. Rayne giggled at the change of pace. "Glad you were able to come."
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Kalinda
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Kalinda smiled over towards her good friend.

“No Dan, you’re fine. Thanks for offering though. Gail can take care of it. She didn’t run a diner single-handedly just ‘cuz of her looks.”

She turned back to put the final touches on the eel as all the tableware floated into place in a fraction of the time it would have taken by standard means.

“Go ahead and just try to make yourself comfortable. I know this place can be a bit, er, creepy but I tried to make it as presentable as possible.”

Dan nodded and walked back over to the large table sat with various dishes and wares. Solan and Frost appeared to be playing patty-cake while Sara was dancing giddily at something beyond his knowledge.

Boris immediately noticed Kalinda return to the room where she was arranging tableware using her magic. The badger shoved one over-sized claw into the concrete wall to hoist himself upward. Using his burrowing ability, the wall suddenly collapsed with a loud rumbling noise, causing him to quickly scamper unceremoniously up through the floor of the bingo hall. Dust was flying everywhere as Boris' unconventional entrance left him flustered and speechless.

Both Kalinda and Gail gasped as the freshly prepared food was now covered in dust and pieces of broken concrete.

“BORIS!!!” Kalinda roared through hacking. “I know I missed ya and everything….but really???”

She waved her hand in a broad arch and everything was cleaned back up, all the food now dirt-free.

Boris stepped away from the newly created hole in the floor sheepishly shuffling his big leather, fringed boots in a child-like manner. He looked down at the floor as he stated quietly, "Hello everyone!" Boris was not only embarrassed about his entrance in front of Kalinda and Dan, but now realized he had been so single-minded watching them that he missed the others already in the room.

Dan jumped back several feet; "BORIS!" He smiled as the ground underneath the badger collapsed back into place and Kalinda's magic took care of the rest of the dust and dirt." How you been!?" He ran over and embraced the badger, whom he had not seen in ages but had at least talked to through the channelling stone over the summer once or twice
As the ole badger took a few more steps away from the gaping hole it mystical closed up leaving no trace of the enterway into the room. He suddenly staggered back a step as Dan heartily embraced him. The embarrassment went away as his dark brown eyes widen with gleaming adoration. "I've been good my ole' friend" he said in his usual thick russian accent. " "And you?, hope things have been well for you?

Boris glanced over Dan's shoulder to meet eyes with Kalinda. "And my Kitz-ka, I see things have been very well with you!"

"So far they have been Boris, so far they've been normal." He smiled warmly and loosened his hug.

Kalinda stepped out of the small kitchen area and walked over towards him, her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face as if she was a mother about ready to chastise her child. She stayed silent for only a few seconds before she busted out a grin and hugged Boris, careful not to crush his ribs due to her strength.

“They have been. I’ve missed you.”

She started to make her way back to continue the preparations.

“And yourself? Where have you been all this time?”

At this point Frost got up and had Solan follow behind him where they stood on the other side of the table waiting to greet Boris.

"You know my work in The Underground is never done these days, Kalinda." Boris continued speaking as he slightly turned to look towards the other side of the room and put up a huge thick paw with over-sized claws to wave towards the others. "Hey there, Frost, and Sara!" With an eye on the new person's face and demeanor, Boris's attention was also on all the food, especially the pumkin pie with it's spicy nutmeg aroma. As the two men walked toward him, he took the time to stick a large claw delicately into the whipped cream sitting beside the pie and then sample it by licking it from his claw.

"Hello Boris glad you could make it." Frost bowed his head; "And I'd like you to meet my newest friend...Solan." He put his white fured hand on the contrasting black furred wolf's short shoulder, seeing as how Solan was only around ten years old Frost felt like a giant next to the kid.

The ole badger savored the last remaining bits of sweetness from the home-made whip cream. He then raised his deep gruff voice a bit, "SO Kalinda, did you slave in the kitchen to prepare this glorious feast, or did you just snap your fingers and conjure it up?" Boris then lightly nudged Dan's ribs with his elbow and winked in his direction, letting him know his statement was all in jest.

Kalinda smiled cheekily at the old badger, “Haha, very funny Boris.” Kalinda walked out of the kitchen and placed the eel dish on the table. “A combination of both actually.”

Boris nodded to the kid, and slowly and carefully extended his large clawed paw in Solan's direction in greeting. "Good to meet you, Solan." The black furred badger sweepingly looked across the room as he said, "Any friend of Frost's is a friend of mine!"
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Solan

Warily Solan sniffed the offered paw of the badger. Taking into consideration how well the old creature got along with Frost he decided to show manners and reached for the paw. "Hello," he said quietly, then cleared his throat. "I meant to say... Greetings." At this he perked up his ears and tried a smile, failing halfway.

He was shy about meeting any of the others, even though he recognized some of the faces from months ago. He had joined the group so late that he wasn't sure about who was on which side. And he wasn't sure whether he wanted to know. Nor where he truly belonged.

"You know all these people?" The Question had been intended for the badger. But glancing up at Frost he realized that he would like both men to answer.
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Andrew Duncan Clay

Just to the side of the Banquet hall, Jay was sitting on a small fabric couch watching tv. A slew of old TV shows where being broadcast as marathons today so with the remote in one hand and a beer in the other he enjoyed the day off.

He placed the remote down for a second and reached into the pocket of his shirt and slowly twirled a diamond ring between his fingers. He frowned nervously and grunted. His concentration was broken soon by the noise in the next room. He was sure that was Boris he heard and managed to pull himself up to greet him gently putting the ring back in his pocket. As he got up however Sara slithered around his legs and snatched the beer from his hand plopping on the couch where he once was.

“Bloody ninja.” He stated,

“There everywhere...” Sara responded.

He shook off what had happened as it was to random and fast for his hazy brain to process at the moment. Making his way outside the room he went to the fridge for another drink, kissed Sabella and Rayne, and then presented a hand to Boris.

“...hic!” he said with a smile.
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Elijia Pondimire

Meanwhile outside the soft snow crunched beneath the massive boots worn by the the Draconic Paladin Elijia. With him was Robert Whiteman the Dingo Summoner who had by his side a pleasantly plump female Coyote, who was wearing uncharacteristically for the weather, a loose hemp dress, a necklace with three bright feathers on it and had very long silver hair. The marks on her face told that she was very old but her stance and attitude was that of someone much younger and she glowed with pleasant feelings.

After all the obligatory security clearances and other bureaucratic nonsense that the Relic Link puts people through, they where finally inside greeted by warm familiar faces. Robert came over to Dan and Boris and Elijia, still feeling like the new kid stood back and watched. Several small heaters buzzed beneath his long black trench coat in order to keep him warm in this weather. The Dragon district was now up (the suburb referred to as Dragonspire in the center of the city,) and running with numerous immigrants showing up in the city daily. Dragons quickly became somewhat commonplace, and this being true reptile attire had become big business these including the heater-lined coat Elijia was wearing.

To his side he held a bag with some fruit in it. All native to his homeland they where gigantic in size when compared to normal fruit native to Trinton. When standing idly grew boring he laid them all out on the table and invited anyone interested to try some.
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Boris
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Boris shifted stances to return Jay's handshake heartily, "It's been a long time." He continued as he heard the loud thumping of something very large making its way into the room, "I know most of the people here...but...", as he nodded a greeting toward Robert. His voice got caught in his throat, raising one eyebrow, he peered at the massive dragon that stepped through the doorway and continued saying, "...then there are a few that I do not."

He took the time to make eye contact with those standing around him as he engaged them in conversation, including the young black wolf. "It's good to see everyone gathered in one place for a change." The badger shifted his stance as he swiveled his pudgey frame to look past those standing next to him. The enormous amount of food on the tables was a sight to behold. The variety of dishes presented looked more like a painting, than something to actually eat. Though the warm, inviting aroma's that were wafting in the air told his nose otherwise. "Seems Kalinda has outdone herself, hasn't she? He rubbed his stomach in anticipation of the delights that were forthcoming.

He looked to Jay, "And to think, the world is not crashing down around us either...haha...unless there is something everyone's not telling me?"
Edited by Boris, January 31, 2010, 11:30 pm.
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