Log:Drexler's Friends, Scene 4

Drexler's Friends 2013/06/20 	 Drexler Porter Obsidian Butterfly Lily Himinglaeva Aegirdottir|Himinglaeva Lady Red 4

Champions Mush - Thursday, June 20, 2013, 9:47 PM

Drexler arrives as he did before: through a circular portal. He is dressed *much* more flamboyantly than he did at the meeting a week earlier.

Drexler

''He is amazingly thin, with long white hair and pointed ears, but what makes him really stand out is his clothes: shoes with big red bows on them, white knee socks, poofy knee length pants with purple and red stripes, white silk shirt with a lace craveat and a big wide purple hat with a three foot long feather in it. ''

Drexler says, "Thank you for coming. I know that most of you who were unable to attend the meeting I held last week have seen the recording that was made on my behalf so I won't repeat myself other than a brief summary." Then pauses, again surprised that he didn't get the twenty superheroes he keeps expecting.

Lily wanders in to see what this is all about!

Lily 

''A very cute young woman with fair skin, perhaps in her early twenties. She stands about 5'2" (157.5cm) tall with an average, verging on slender, build. Her light brown hair hangs in bangs to just above her eyebrows in the front, with long side-locks that hang down to her ample breasts; in the back it hangs to her waist, with a large red and black cloth ribbon tied around the middle strands of hair at neck length. Her eyes are a pale green, with cat-like pupils. ''

''She's wearing a tight cloth red one piece minidress with a mandarin collar and bare shoulders. On her arms she's wearing long black cloth detached sleeves ending in trumpet flares that hang down to her knuckles. On her hands there is a hint of black bridal gauntlet style gloves that serve to anchor the bottom of the sleeves to her hands. She's wearing thigh-high sheer black stockings that end a couple inches below the hem of her dress. On her feet, she's wearing black suede ankle boots with thick 1 inch heels and silver buckles on the outward facing sides. A black leather belt with a silver buckle hangs loosely around her waist. ''

Porter thinks that twenty might've been aiming high. Then again, Drexler did give Porter a coin. That all but confirms that Drexler's an optimist. On the bright side, Porter did bring nearly all of his friends with him... which is anyone in the immediate vicinity who did not flee or become unconscious under mysterious circumstances.

Porter 

''This young man is several inches under six feet with an average build. Brown hair is cut in a short but current style and coffee eyes are bright yet generally unremarkable. As a whole, he could probably be overlooked in a crowd fairly easily. ''

''His clothes are fairly common, with comfortable jeans, name-brand sneakers, and a tee that varies by mood. Most common are popular bands or catchy quotes. When it's cold or wet outside, he covers up with a jacket. ''

In preparation for Drexler's return Regan has changed into costume, adopting the persona of Obsidian Butterfly. She has also made announcements across the gym's social media and various connections that an excursion into the fae dominion of Haverdeen has been proposed with the purpose of combating some cannibals. She does not seem surprised when Drexler appears through a rift in space-time. "Greetings."

Obsidian Butterfly 

''The young woman before you is of moderate height, about mid-way between five and six feet tall. Her movements carry the easy, fluid assurance of a natural athlete, an impression that is reinforced by her powerfully compact frame and the quiet poise with which she carries herself. Lustrous black hair curls softly to bounce against her cheeks, it's color so dark it gleams a soft royal blue. Her skin is the colour of mist-veiled moonlight, pale and ethereal over a round, intelligent face still flush with the strength and promise of youth. High, full cheeks and soft, expressive lips hint at both the dazzling intensity of her smile and the dangerous thunderclap of her temper, hovering for the moment somewhere in between. Above a fine, slightly upturned nose slate-grey eyes glitter mildly as they take in her surroundings. ''

''An immaculately tailored dress of jet black silk snugly sheaths the compact athleticism of her form. The material is tightly woven but supple, fluid, and faintly gleaming. The play of light across the fabric reveals a subtle but intricate embroidery of elaborate loops and whorls, the delicate stitching done in a matt black thread that contrasts with the lustre of the silk only when light hits it at just the right angle. A conservative mandarin collar gives way to loose sleeves that stop at mid-forearm, the skin of her wrists and hands hidden from view by a thin layer of lightweight onyx fabric that may form some sort of body-suit. The slenderness of her waist is emphasised by a knotted sash of raw satin resting atop her hips, the dress's skirt flowing smoothly over her hips and thighs to stop just above her knees. Discrete pleats at front and back allow the young woman a full range of movement, her bearing one of quiet poise and assurance. From beneath the hem of her dress, the onyx bodysuit reappears briefly before vanishing into a pair of low-heeled leather boots that rise to mid-calf. ''

''After a moment's further inspection the abstract curves of the embroidery coalesce into a recognizable image of a large butterfly, its wings seeming to ripple and shimmer as she moves. ''

Drexler shakes his head, "Well, I cannot afford to delay any longer. We will send what aide we can and hope it is enough." He takes a deep breath and continues what is obviously a prepared speech. "We are going via a portal of my creation to another world, called Haverdeen, where a friend of mine runs a hotel. She has several guests who refuse to leave and are eating other guests. Because all landowners in Haverdeen are a law unto themselves, they are also expected to enforce their own rules. In short, there is nobody she can turn to, other than friends like me, to eject them. Although I have the means to bring aide to her, I am neither a fighter or particularly courageous. That is why I need your help. Lets go."

Lily cracks her knuckles, "Ooh! Will I get to fight? This sounds fun!"

At this point, Drexler turns and a circular appears behind him. Through the circle can be seen a long roofed bridge with a stone castle at the end. The bridge is open at the sides, but impenetrable gray fog is all that can be seen. As Drexler steps through the circle onto the bridge, he says over his shoulder, "This is the bridge into Haverdeen. Any attempt to travel into Haverdeen from off-planet arrives here. The fog you see beyond the bridge is fatal. Stay out of it and do not attempt dimensional travel in Haverdeen." He pauses for the supers to join him.

Obsidian smiles to Lily. "It sounds like a fairly direct sort of mission." Her shoulders lift. Though the journey there will involve navigating fae terrain without breaking any of the local taboos."

Lily follows along humming cheerfully to herself.

Regan's expression becomes more sombre at the description of the lethal fog. "Cheery, so here's hoping this isn't some sort of trap I guess." She moves through the freshly opened portal to follow Drexler along the path.

Well, rumor spread of a way for heroes to be useful. Himinglaeva showed up for the previous meeting, but far too late. She has yet to -really- be on time for much of anything. Aside for trouble, which seems to find her on its own schedule. She has her costume/uniform (otherwise known as a far too revealing bikini) worn and floats down to land outside the gym's doors, flowing inside and towards the back without so much as a word to the staff. She's just... here it seems, to be a part of something suitably epic.

Himinglaeva 

''An inch or two under six feet tall is this young looking woman. She doesn't have the ultra-petite look that many women seem to idolize these days. In fact, her hips are a bit more broad than would seem ideal, and her skin doesn't quite have the same tone one might expect. There's a distinctly blue-ish tinge to it and the flesh itself is far more pale than most human flesh ought to be. Her features are lovely if one were to look closely at them, with a short nose, and high cheekbones. But one of the most intense features of her face would be those stunning and eerily sea-blue-green eyes of hers. They almost glow in any light, not literally but it just might seem that way. Tousled hair the color of sea-foam, almost pure white with hints of silver and blue that seem to flicker through it as if it were flowing up against a sandy beach as it moves about with either the wind, or its bearer's movements. This hair is worn long and hangs down to almost her narrow and well muscled waist. Overall, one could not call her anything but Nordic, but her specifics are reminiscent of the sea, down to the smell of sea-salt that seems to be around her weakly but there at all times. ''

''In a response to seeing modern beach garb on women, it seems that Himinglaeva has decided that a bikini is in order. However, she has selected the sort of thing that gamers seem to envision female warriors in... a chainmail bikini. The outfit is golden colored, and scintillating in the light almost like the light was being refracted through water. Indeed, there is little actual material to the outfit, just enough to bring it just this side of an indecent exposure charge. But she is wearing clothing, right?! ''

Lily says, "That's OK! Even if it's a trap, I'm invincible!"

Porter just blinks. "Fatal fog...?? !! Oh...kay..." And he thought he might know a little more than the average person about magicy pixie fae type... stuff. Apparently not. When in doubt, and now would be one of those times, he follows the butterfly. If nothing else, if she keels over, he'll know not to walk that way.

Drexler smiles at Himinglaeva and waits for her to join the other three before closing the portal.

As the group nears the castle, they see a sign that says, "Welcome guests to Haverdeen. Guests are only allowed within the castle and bridge. Trespassers will be killed." Those who do not speak English as a native language see the magical sign in their native language. As an added precaution, the words on the sign are repeated verbally to those that look that direction.

Drexler ignores the sign and walks straight through the large entry hall and toward the far side like a man who knows where he is going. He says, "Guests can claim ignorance of the law as a legal defense, but guests of the barony are not allowed out on the roads unescorted. We will be entering Haverdeen as 'friends of the barony' so will not be afforded that right when out on the highway.

Lily seems unconcerned.

A trap. Himinglaeva raises a brow, "We are walking into a trap?" she asks as she simply flows along with the others. Oh look, a portal. She is familiar with portals, and has used several herself. She finds herself wondering if she could find any portals of the deep in -this- realm as she steps through without hesitation. "Fog can be deadly." she says to Porter, "Believe me.... quite often, the fog is of the sea, and the sea... can kill quite easily."

Obsidian moves at an unhurried pace though she seems far from comfortable while surrounded by killer fog. She comments over her shoulder to Himing. "I'm hopeful we're not walking into a trap, but that's extraordinarily difficult to know ahead of time." She walks as close as she can to the centre of the road as though that might be some help. "I gather we have to act with utmost respect to most people we meet, the laws regarding hospitality and manners on the Baronial highways are strictly enforced."

Drexler walks straight toward a man at a closed portcullus. The man is just as thin as Drexler with the same pale hair and pointed ears but manages to somehow convey bored disdain without moving a muscle. He reaches for a tray and draws a slow breath to start a prepared speech when Drexler snatches one of the little bits off the tray and pops it in his mouth. Around the food, Drexler says, "You can skip they speech, they know the rules." The bored man manages to look even more disdainfully at the energetic Drexler but drolls, "Very well." Then turns to offer the food to the quartet of heroes.

Lily pops a piece of food in her mouth.

Regan extends a gloved hand to take up the sliver of foodstuff. "By this action we are indebting ourselves to the hospitality of our hosts and are bound to oblige them in matters of our conduct." She places the food in her mouth and chews a moment before swallowing. "In all the fae stories I've read consumption of food and drink is very risky."

"That sounds to me like we should just talk as little as possible..." Porter offers aside in a stage whisper when they get close to the portcullis. And then they offer food. "Oh. Thank you..." It seems Ok to say that much as Porter takes some of what is offered. He gets it all the way to his mouth when Regan speaks up. "Ok..." His first thought is to ask whether they should be eating it, in that case, but everyone already did. So he pops the morsel in his mouth.

The gateman nods when all have eaten and says formally. "By Haverdeen law, only friends and trespassers eat of a host's food. Your status as guests has ended and you are now welcome to travel the Baron's roads as long as you remain Friends of the Barony."

Snorting, Himinglaeva shakes her head. She doesn't say anything but those good with facial expressions can read: Rules? What do I care of Mortal Rules? on her face. But she just follows along with... more like flowing than walking.

Outside, the weather is pleasant and sunny and a well-traveled gravel road winds between fence rows of various types off into the distance.

The party steps only a short distance outside the castle when Drexler indicates a stone circle on the edge of the gravel road. Beside the circle, a wide cobbled lane leads up to two-story stone building with a decidedly Victorian feel. A chest high wooden fence, painted white, lines both sides of the lane all the way to the house and the side of the road. On the other side of the road, an eight-foot tall chain-link fence topped in barbed wire separates the road from a thick woods.

As the party watches, an ocelot pounces at a bird on a high branch. The bird flies away and is electrocuted in a shower of sparks as it hits an invisible wall fifty feet above the chain-link. Its corpse falls back onto the ground just inside the fence, where the ocelot retrieves it and carries it into the woods.

"Welcome to Haverdeen and the Red Estate, the only hotel outside Haverdeen Castle," Drexler says with a sweep of his arm toward the white-fenced stone manor house on the opposite side of the road from the electric fence. "Shall we introduce ourselves?"

Lily says, "Aw, that poor bird., but I guess the cat gets to eat so it's ok."

Lily follows along

Obsidian inclines her head in understanding. "I was intending to act with due deference to local sensibilities throughout my stay." She blinks as she watches the interplay between ocelot and bird, her lips compressing. "It's nice that the wildlife get their food cooked for them." She nods in answer to Drexler's question. "Certainly. Let us greet our hostess."

"So, all this fancy...ness, and they still just hang a fence like- Nevermind," Porter thought it was very anachronistic and anticlimactic to have just a fence. Not any more. Not that he was planning on running off the beaten path. The fog was enough. "Sure. We don't want to be rude." Being a friend is better than being a trespasser.

On the front porch of the manor house, a waiting servant bows to Drexler and says, "I shall inform my lady of your arrival. Please wait here."

Drexler gestures to a porch swing at the end of the porch and a padded bench that runs along the length of the porch along the rail.

Drexler says, "Just as most Haverdeen lands have clear property lines, most also have a waiting area at the entrance. This allows the occupants to make the property acceptable to guests' sensibilities without keeping the property guest-ready twenty-four hours a day. Just as property lines are usually marked by fences, waiting areas usually contain seating and a servant or bell." Gesturing to the hanging chain right next to the steps leading onto the porch, he adds, "Lady Red has both."

Just then the door is flung open and a buxom woman in an elaborate dark red and black dress with beet red skin and a mussed but elaborate black hairdo storms out the door.

Spotting Drexler, she exclaims, "Drexler! Thank god! They just killed my last servant!"

Obsidian moves slightly to the side as the taller woman emerges, creating an angle from which she can intercept anything emerging behind the red-clad fae. She then tilts her head. "You are our hostess?"

Lady Red pauses when she realizes Drexler is not alone and struggles between fury, urgency, and a vital need to be a pleasant host in this weird place.

"Yes," she finally says with forced calm. "But you will excuse me if I'm not prepared to receive guests right now."

Drexler backs up and says to the heroes, "I cannot be any assistance here. Have at them!"

As Regan moves, Himinglaeva almost dismisses the hostess at this point. She simply goes from being watery, to being -water-... and flows right around the hostess's body. One might expect for the hostess to be quite drenched, dripping from head to toe.. but in fact, as Himinglaeva passes, she is left totally dry.

Regan inclines her head. "I am here to help remove a group of trespassers from your property. Do I have your permission to enter your house for this purpose?"

Lady Red blinks once in surprise and almost yells, "Yes!"

Inside, the heroes see a large entrance hall, at 20 meters wide by ten meters deep and ten meters tall with a curved stair in the back and doors to the sides... much bigger inside than a building this size on the outside should contain. The floor is ripped up in places. Gathered in the center of the room are four humanoids, about four feet tall with stony black skin. the skin in cracked in places and glows orange within the cracks. They are chuckling with a deep "Hur, hur, hur" sound and pulling body of the servant apart.

"Begone foul creatures!" offers Himinglaeva. She summons all of the authority into her voice that she can project... but she's not exactly accustomed to ordering folks about. She usually just floods 'em.

Obsidian nods. "Thank you madam, We will try and keep the inconvenience minimal." With that she moves forward into the room. Once beyond the doorway she moves to her left, checking that corner of the room for anyone that may be lurking there. Her neck cranes as she also checks overhead before finally her gaze settles on the four figures over the servant.

Porter is not as brave as others, or is just being practical. He doesn't rush for the doorway. He does move closer to try and see what's going on, but will stay in the vicinity of the doorway.

Two of the creatures, rush toward Himinglaeva and two rush toward Obsidian Butterfly, but they arc out a bit as if to trap the pair between them.

Lily leaps in and clobber one of the lava men! "Hi! Stop killing people!"

Obsidian weaves slightly to the left to avoid one massive fist before abruptly spinning and twisting to evade the other. "they're not much for witty banter and by-play it seems." Her brow furrows as the massive fists hiss through the columns of water that is Himing and the Lily bounces into view to launch one of them into orbit. "nice punch."

When Lilly kicks it, the creature, flies through the air, and slams into a wall hard enough to put the creature into it. It doesn't move.

Lily says, "Thanks! I was a little off balance, but I guess I hit hard enough!"

So, apparently, the water goddess who knows fire and heat hurt, just stood there and got herself burned. For whatever reason, she couldn't even explain it. It's the first time she's ever done that in 8 centuries. But, she gets burned a bit, steam rising from her form as she topples backward and simply flows back erect. "Huh." she remarks softly. "The sea, is steamed." Yes, she made a joke. But she can't actually attack right now, so she simply lifts off the ground and into the rafters of the building to prep for her next move.

Porter sighs. Flaming lava guys. That's new. At least the room isn't on fire. On the other hand, they're lava... So they're legs are lava. Lava's a liquid. How does that thing get traction? Maybe it doesn't!

Obsidian Butterfly looks less than impressed as the acrid wash of hot air billows from the two rock monsters. But without hesitation she rocks backward and lashes a powerful kick at the centre of mass of the one on her left.

Obsidian Butterfly's booted foot thumps squarely into the beasts sternum, knocking it straight off its feet and back nearly ten metres where it seems dazed. She winces slightly at the flare of heat that erupt on the impact, stamping her foot against the floor to douse any lingering cinders.

Porter is just trying to help out and isn't playing favorites. Once he knows that what he wanted worked with the last one, he looks to the one that was near Himinglaeva. Again, all that heat. What happens if there's an air bubble or something not rock that superheats inside there?

The lava gnome does indeed appear to have something under his skin and as Porter watches, it bubbles forth and pops - towards him!

Up there in the rafters, Himinglaeva shakes her head. She does know one thing. When volcanos are involved, the sea is what cools them and turns them from deadly fires, into smoke and then eventually rock. She is hoping that the weakness she has to them, is shared in the reverse. So she unliquifies as it isn't helping anyway, and she selects a single target... points a hand and then FWOOSH! A flood, a veritable torrent of firehose strong water spray (but salt water) blasts at the one that just bubbled and popped a lava zit all over Porter.

And the firehose likely catches the creature off guard. At first, it turns to face the water, leaning into it a bit and seemingly less affected than one might think. But.. the sea is inexorable, and the water flow picks up the beast and sends it slamming into the far wall, cracking its head there and falling unconscious. When the water stops flowing, he is revealed to have his head and one arm jutting through the wall.

The lava gnome that Obsidian Butterfly struck shakes his head as if clearing it and looks like he is done fighting if he can get away. The one embedded in the wall is still unconscious. Obsidian Butterfly's other opponent, despite wobbly legs, steps forward to swing at the brave heroine again. The drenched one does not rise from the floor.

Obsidian Butterfly steps round the clumsy creature's attempt at a blow and swings a backhand strike at the side of the thing's neck. As her fist scythes through the air it glitters, surrounded by a crackling nimbus of energy. Just before impact her blow slows and the impact seems strangely non-violate though the energy dissipates against the lava-mans rocky hide.

Lily looks at the recovered Lava Man, "Next~!" She hops over and punches!

Lily buries the lava man in the floor like a tomb stone.

Lady Red runs into the room, despite Drexler trying to hold her back. "Don't let it swim away! Earth is like water to them!"

Porter only sees one left, and that's the one that Obsidian Butterfly is striking. That one seems a little tougher than the others. They are made of rock. Semi-molten rock. Now, if only the thing could cool just right to make for some nice, brittle foamy rock or glass.

Obsidian Butterfly moves a few paces to the hole in the floor that the lavaman was blasted through by Lily. Dropping down, she grips the creature using an exotic looking arm lock that she uses to lever the beast upright, in one smooth motion she twists and heaves, hauling the lava-man over her shoulder and up to smack against the floor.

Despite being unconscious, the lava gnome is still hot!

Regan winces at the scalding heat of manipulating the lava gnome thus but her target lands flat on its back with a satisfyingly loud thump.

Up there in the rafters, Himinglaeva smiles and lets loose with another FWOOSH! Another flood, another veritable torrent of firehose strong water spray (but salt water) blasts at the one still standing.

With the lava gnome's defenses shattered, Himinglaeva's flood is more than enough to finish the job, and the creature falls in a wet heap.

Drexler stands, holding Lady Red's arm, with his mouth hanging open. When he finally has words to speak, he says. "Four! Just four of you did this... in seconds!"

Lady Red hugs Drexler and says in a voice verging on tears, "Thank you! You have saved me!"

Regan springs lightly out of the floor. "Our apologies for the damages madam, was this all of them or are there more?" She turns to survey the hall, as though satisfying herself that the gnomes are completely hors-de-combat.

Lily also makes sure that any lava gnomes down for the count, stay down.

Porter is rather surprised, himself. Surprised that the place didn't burn down, even if the "wood" isn't flammable. That doesn't mean that he has to let the hostess or Drexler know that he's surprised. "You're welcome. They were nice enough to stay down after we asked them not-so nicely." He shrugs some.

Lady Red turns to the four and explains, "The lava gnome tribe lives under the fire grass on either side of the entrance lane. These four were expelled from the tribe, but instead of leaving my property entirely moved into the house. I would be grateful if you would take them from my property and dispose of them in any way you see fit as long as I never see them again."

Drexler stares at the lightly smoking bodies trying to figure out how to move them without touching them.

Regan returns her attention to Drexler and then Lady Red and blinks at the last part of the request. "Oh..... kay." She thinks for several long moments before continuing. "Do you have any wheel barrows or luggage carts that aren't flammable?"

Lady Red smiles. "Nothing here is flammable. I'm certain I can find something that will serve. Before I do, would you be interested in a bite to eat?"

Obsidian Butterfly looks to Drexler. "So, as a stranger in this land I have no idea what means of restraint are available for these creatures, can we hand them over to the baronial authorities? Is there some form of indentured service we may be able to place them in? I'm not about to kill them, I'm not an executioner."

Drexler says, "If we can get them to the bridge, I can exile them somewhere where they can't hurt anyone other than each other."

Obsidian Butterfly nods to Drexler. "Then we should do so as soon as we are able, they won't stay unconscious forever and if they recover consciousness during the journey they will be able to slip into the ground and elude us." She returns her attention to Lady Red. "Thank you for your very kind invitation but I've no wish for these creatures to have even the remotest opportunity of doing you any more harm."

Porter was wondering about the whole 'not see them again' part, himself. Moreso than about snacks. "Um, I don't think we'll starve or anything before we get these things somewhere were they can't hurt anybody." It's basically what Butterfly said, but it's still true.

Lady Red curtsies and says, "Some other time then. Thank you again, brave heroes."