Log:Chaos Reigns, Scene 3

Chaos Reigns 2014/11/20 	 Chen Grimm Carpenter Yameen Lia

3

The interior of City Hall is a resplendent example of the neoclassical architectural style, which is like taking a walk into the past. The gothic style architecture is the main highlight of this older building. From the street, a short entrance hall leads visitors across polished marble floors into the center of the building with its high vaulted dome ceiling. The high arched dome with the murals painted upon the interior gives anyone entering into the City Hall a glimpse into history. A large chandelier hangs from the domed ceiling into the center of the lobby area, which provides ample light to view the magnificence of the structure. Two grand stairways, on opposite sides of this cavernous hall, allow access to the offices and archives on the upper floors. The walls bear bas-relief carvings reminiscent of the ancient Greek style, spaced out at even intervals, and fluted decorative columns flank most of the doorways and archways.

Here stand the grand buildings of the city constructed during the rapid 19th-Century expansion, on low land reclaimed from long-lost Harrisburg Creek. Main Street is broader here that to the south, though still paved with cobbles, and surrounded on all sides by grandiose edifices (though at any time at least one seems to be under renovation): the heart of this district. Around this are narrower residential streets with a flavor much like that of Old Town, all with faux-gaslamp street lighting.

Grimm(#2694PeACcF?)

A fair skinned young woman standing at 5' 6" with layered, textured long hair. Shes wearing a half-buttoned up red flannel shirt with blue and dark red cross-lines on it, and an army green tank top underneath. Charcoal grey cargo capris end just below her knees, finished with ankle-high flat brown boots with a series of straps and buckles. The flannels sleeves are rolled up to her elbows.

On her right wrist is a black banded bracelet. A silver banded ring adorns each thumb. Her left eyebrow is pierced with a silver ring just past the arch. Her left ear has a helix piercing with a simple silver loop earring, with standard lobe piercings with black spiral hoop tribal earrings. Her eyes vary from blue to pitch black depending on her powers and mood. Dark eyeliner and eyeshadow shade her eyes, and her fingernails are painted a dark purple.

There's a press conference going on. Detective Carpenter is just about to give a statement, and a dozen members of the press, as well as a handful of protesters wait relatively patiently. The protest signs say things like 'All Life is Sacred.' 'The Homeless Are People Too!', etc.

Dasher is among the protesters shouting alongside them and waving a sign stating, "Work for Equality. Knock down all homes."

Detective Carpenter walks up to the small podium that has been set up, and he clears his throat before speaking into the microphone, "I realize the news that hit this morning is grave, but in an attempt to quell the rumor mill, I've been tasked to set the record straight on the current situation." He looks supremely unhappy to have been given the task.

Grimm is strolling out of the police department, after being spoken to as a potential witness involving the recovery of kidnapped child. She was actually the one to bring him in, but they asked her back for additional questions involving the incident. She's sipping a cup of the department's coffee, which is just...lacking. But it's caffeine. She slips her other hand in her pocket as she looks about and spies the press conference and protest scenes. That's....interesting. She strolls over to mingle with the crowd and stands near the edge of the protesters. "What's going on?" she asks one of the protesters with a sign.

Carpenter continues, "There have been reports of a mantis creature on the west side of the city, roaming the Harrisburg and Alien districts. I can confirm that more than one citizen has been taken and killed by this creature." This sets the crowd murmuring, and the press start to take notes.

Dasher tells Grimm, "Aliens have been kidnapping homeless people and experimenting on them."

The protester Grimm asked shakes his head, "No, it's not experiments. Word is it's been eating people."

Dasher(#2559PeACcF?)

This young woman appears fit and athletic. She's tall, almost 6ft in height and slender without being thin. Her face is marred by the jagged scar left behind by a broken bottle wielded in a fight. Her eyes are greenish brown and with a piercing stare as if mirroring a tendancy for random violence. She's dressed in a mixture of Hellions' gang colors and tatty secondhand ex-military garb.

Here stand the grand buildings of the city constructed during the rapid 19th-Century expansion, on low land reclaimed from long-lost Harrisburg Creek. Main Street is broader here that to the south, though still paved with cobbles, and surrounded on all sides by grandiose edifices (though at any time at least one seems to be under renovation): the heart of this district. Around this are narrower residential streets with a flavor much like that of Old Town, all with faux-gaslamp street lighting.

Yameen(#1310PenACcF?)

This figure is feminine and petite, though few other details are readily apparent. A black and gray patterned headscarf (keffiyeh) covers most of her hair, leaving only a few raven strands exposed. The same scarf is also folded across her nose and mouth, leaving only her brown eyes exposed.

The remainder of her clothing speaks of militant activity. A simple black shirt snugly covers her lean frame, tucked into a pair of camouflage patterned pants with a number of cargo pockets. The belt that holds them up also bears numerous small knives. Pairs of gloves and boots complete the ensemble, both in black leather.

Grimm(#2694PeACcF?)

A fair skinned young woman standing at 5' 6" with layered, textured long hair. Shes wearing a half-buttoned up red flannel shirt with blue and dark red cross-lines on it, and an army green tank top underneath. Charcoal grey cargo capris end just below her knees, finished with ankle-high flat brown boots with a series of straps and buckles. The flannels sleeves are rolled up to her elbows.

On her right wrist is a black banded bracelet. A silver banded ring adorns each thumb. Her left eyebrow is pierced with a silver ring just past the arch. Her left ear has a helix piercing with a simple silver loop earring, with standard lobe piercings with black spiral hoop tribal earrings. Her eyes vary from blue to pitch black depending on her powers and mood. Dark eyeliner and eyeshadow shade her eyes, and her fingernails are painted a dark purple.

Grimm raises a brow at Dasher and sips her coffee quietly, eyeing her sign. Then she looks to the protester. Conflicting reports. But the others seem to be more harmonized in their protest and Dasher the outlier. Her attention slips back to Carpenter as he begins talking. "Aliens...?" She purses her lips at the announcement of the deaths, her eyes growing a little darker. Literally. The shade of her irises him a little.

"Aliens." Dasher confirms. "How many human Mantis creatures do you know?"

The detective holds up a hand, "The department is doing everything it can to deal with the situation. We're working with Starguard on the matter, as it is currently believed that the creature is either of extra-terrestrial or extra-dimensional origin."

Grimm raises a thin eyebrow in interest. Extra-terrestrial, she doesn't know so well. But Extra-dimensional? She's seen a thing or three. Sluuuuurp. She takes another slow pull of coffee as she listens. "Can't say that number ranks all that high," she admits to Dasher without taking her eyes off of the Detective.

Carpenter says, "I will attempt to take questions at this time, though anything considered too sensitive, I'll have to declare 'no comment' on, since...it's an open investigation."

A member of the press corps raises his hand, and when he's called on he says, "Exactly how many deaths are we talking about here, detective?"

Dasher hands Grimm her sign. "Wave this for me will you," she asks Grimm. Then she fades back into the crowd and emerges from the rear of the protesters. Heading for the Maglev and then Harrisburg.

While the ingestion of indigents is not an international crisis, the rumors of extra-terrestrial involvement expands the scope easily into that realm of possibility. Ariya attends the press conference amidst the crowd in an attempt to gather more credible information.

Carpenter considers the question and then says, "At least two. That's all we have confirmation of. Anything else is conjecture at this point."

Grimm takes the sign and stares at it, reading it again. Knock down homes..?! That's not what she wants to be associated with. She sets the sign down on the ground and pays attention. She raises her hand to ask a question.

Lia pages: Is it alright for me to pose as though Lia has been watching, but perhaps just hasn't made herself very known?

Carpenter calls on Grimm. "Yes?"

"Where did these occurrences happen? Are there places citizens should avoid for their own safety?" Grimm asks. "Harrisburg and the Alien District are big areas."

Lia is about, watching what's happening. But she's not exactly in the crowd, so to speak, but instead is sitting up on one of the rooftops, watching from afar.

Carpenter hesitates a bit, as he doesn't want to cause a stir. "I would recommend staying in pairs if possible. And keep out of dark secluded places if at all possible. That's the only comment I can make."

Scion of Antherion(#1397TOn)

A floating geometric shape. It alternates between a sphere, a cube, and a triangular pyramid. The shapes repeat in the same order, over and over again. Its surface is a golden hue, and it seems to give off light from inside it.

Carpenter halts a bit as he looks over to the side, seeing Dasher standing in front of what looks like a small floating geometric shape. He shakes his head and turns back to another media member to handle a question...

A reporter asks, "Has Starguard given any indication as to what their plans are for the situation?"

Carpenter answers, "Spirit himself has let me know that SGG is on the case. That's all I can say for now. Next question?"

The floating shape goes to move around Dasher, intending to head toward the press conference. It emits a high pitched warble, like a carrier signal. Like it might be trying to communicate.

A reporter was in mid-question, and everyone turns to look in the direction of the object. A couple of nearby policemen draw their firearms, keeping them at the ready.

Dasher steps sideways to stay in the path of the sphere/cube/pyramid. "Uh, no. No can do." Raising her voice she calls out, Anyone know what this thing is or can communicate with it?"

Carpenter says into the microphone, repeating Dasher's question, "Can anyone communicate with that thing? It sounds like...binary, maybe?"

Grimm starts to make her way through the crowd and towards the geometric shape, still casually sipping her coffee. She raises a brow at the mention of binary.

Grimm keeps striding towards the shape. "Aren't you a orderly little beaut," she gazes over the shifting shape. "If you'll allow, perhaps we can have a meeting of the minds."

Carpenter says to one of the officers near him, "Get Starguard on the line. We might need assistance."

The object hovers, making a warbling sound again.

Lia tilts her head towards the geometric shape, and hmms. With that, she fliiiies down from the rooftop she was resting on, over towards the object. She looks towards the object. "A magical construct forged from Order Magic. I know not how you are attempting to communicate, though. I can't imagine magical binary being a thing." Lia observes, contemplating.

Communication is established between Grimm's mind and the object. It does indeed communicate in bursts of binary. In brief succession, Grimm gets the following statements. << I am an Emmisary of Antherion. We search for the Ataxianate. My foes already have a lead on the artifact. We must stop it before all of reality is destroyed. >>

Grimm sips her coffee slowly as she peers into the things mind. Her face screws up a bit. Man, that is a bitter brew. She lowers her cup thoughtfully. << Show me what the Ataxianate looks like. What does it do? How do we stop it? >>

Ariya is far from an expert on beings magical, nor are the sounds a language with which she is familiar. While her attention turns to and remains upon the construct and those attempting communication, she merely observes for the present.

"Binary is...orderly in a way. We're just lucky it's not communicating with mathematics. I hate math," Grimm comments. She seems to be nodding along in conversation with the geometric construct.

The object warbles again. << Its shape is always changing. We cannot be sure entirely what it does except that it creates more entropy where none existed. I am sure the process, once started, will devastate this planet. >>

Lia nods towards Grimm, and continues to analyze the construct, trying to figure out how exactly to make sense of what its doing.

Grimm frowns at that dire news. She looks over her shoulder to Detective Carpenter and waves him over to try and explain this to someone who may understand. "I don't want to repeat myself, so everyone who needs to know, gather in."

The detective raises a brow, but he walks over. Needless to say, the members of the press do as well, but they stay back to bit to give some room.

Looking back to the Scion, Grimm continues the conversation. << If it's always changing, we may not know how to find it. Is there a way we can locate it? Let's work together to find this thing. Who is your foe? >>

Dasher edges away from the detective slightly and gives him a wary look. Just to maintain her cover.

Ariya moves nearer with the members of the press, yet remains at the peripherary and unobtrusive.

The Scion warbles, << We have agents on this plane. I am looking for the Cartesian. We believe he may be able to sense where the Ataxianate can be found using his magic. Antherion has sent word to him, but there was no response. We believe that the Anarch known as Lazare may have confronted him. >>

Grimm looks to the Detective, with a half glance at the odd Lia...wondering what she is. She's not sure if she approves of her yet. Her attention returns to the detective and she explains some things. "It's trying to warn us about something. It says it's an Emmisary of Antherion, and is looking for something called 'the Ataxianate'. It's some artifact that's always changing shape, and the Emissary thinks will destroy all reality." She pauses and then adds the extra bad news, "Oh, and its foes already have a lead and are after it."

Lia is a 3'3 tall pixie with pale skin, ankle length burgundy hair and gigantic blue eyes. The wingspan of her blue opaque dragonfly-like wings is approximately double her arm span at 4'2. She wears no clothing, though her nudity is perfectly safe for work.

To those with Detect: Magic, she looks as though her body is made from something similar to the mana present in Undermoon, with a distinct flavor on its own right. Regardless, she has /a lot/ of mana in her body. In addition, there's a spell cast on her which 'binds' her to looking like she does.

The detective raises a brow again and starts to take notes, "Is this connected to the mantis thing we're dealing with?"

The scion warbles again, apparently able to understand Carpenter, <>

Lia blinks. "Do we have any clue as to where we can find the Ataxianate?" She's obviously concerned with the ramifications of such the artifact.

Grimm looks back to the Scion. She decides to have her side of the conversation aloud for the benefit of others, but she telepathically transmits it as well. "The Cartesian? Never heard of him. But maybe somebody else has. So he can possibly find it? Good to know. --ohhh. He's in danger, then? So how do -we- find the Cartesian?" She looks to the Detective and says, "Seems we need to find a guy named the Cartesian to find the Ataxianate, but someone named Lazare may have gotten to him first. Do -any- of these names sound familiar to you? Because I'm lost."

Grimm purses her lips at the Detective's question, then looks back to the Emissary. "Does this look like one of your foes?" she asks as she projects an image of a ...normal praying mantis, since she hasn't seen the mantis creature the Detective's talking about. But then she gets her answer. "Oh. Yes. It's an agent of chaos and is probably also looking for the Ataxianate." Her brow furrows. "So I take it Lazare is working with the mantis creature? Are they both agents of Chaos?"

Carpenter shrugs a bit, doing a quick search on his PDA, "I received some reports about a guy named Lazare...and a mantis creature, now that I think about it. Near a gun shop in Harrisburg several months ago."

The scion warbles again, << The Cartesian would normally respond to the summons. He must be unable to do so. We must find him. We believe we may be able to find him at his ancestral home. >>

"Lazare and Cartesian..." Lia mulls over. She thinks for a bit, contemplating those names. "Lazare is a man with the powers of Chaos Magic at his side, while Cartesian is his counterpart. Lazare is also known as the Anarch."

Grimm nods slowly. "So where's his ancestral home? It could be a start to finding him." She looks over to Lia's explanation and nods.

Carpenter waves off the media folks, "Okay...nothing further to see here, folks! We don't need this guy's place mobbed with paparazzi!" The media members complain, but with some help from other policemen, they get pushed back to a good ten yards away at least.

The scion answers, << There is a old home north of the city, in the countryside. (It then lists coordinates, with latitude and longitude) >>

Grimm pulls out her qPid with her free hand and starts typing some numbers in while she can still remember them. Then she holds out her smart device to show the detective. "We need to check here at these coordinates."

The detective takes down the numbers and looks them up on a map. "Huh. Okay. Well, I guess I'll head out there next."

With a spreading grin, Grimm offers her assistance to the detective. "Right. Good. Need a translator?"

The scion warbles one final time. << Message delivered to agents of law. Mission accomplished. >> Its body breaks up into a series of geometric shapes...hexagons, pentagons, squares...and those pieces break down further, and further...and then it's gone.

"Ohh..." Grimm mutters as the Scion falls to pieces on her. "I was really starting to like it."

The detective says, "Do you really think this 'Ataxianate' is as dangerous as it said?"

Grimm slips her phone away and rubs her head as if she has a headache. "Binary. Man." She raises a brow at looks at the detective. "Not really sure. But it bears some looking into. Maybe I can dig something up. It certainly seemed to think it was that dangerous."

Dasher slips away. She's going to talk to the Hellions and the Harrisburg Watch. There's still a Mantis thing eating people. If she can find it she'll call in Starguard to deal with it.

Carpenter nods to Grimm, "Thanks for the help, by the way. How did you 'speak' to it?"

"I'd sooner believe it's not reality-breaking, but I can imagine that it's dangerous, and certainly worth getting before it falls into the wrong hands." Lia offers.

Lia then seems to notice something, something she didn't before now. Something about Grimm. She frowns, and stares at her. "...Assuming you're telling us what it actually said." Lia seems /highly/ suspicious of Grimm.

"Ohhh, you just gotta know how to read people. Or geometrical shifting entities." Grimm frowns at that one. "Order entities. Chaos. That's a tall order. But your Mantis thing is one of the chaos people after this item. If you can tell me where it's been, maybe I can track down a trace of it," she suggests. "Not really sure if I could. Too much time may have passed. I'd have to know what to look for to get it's 'scent'." Grimm turns to regard the pixie creature insulting her. She narrows her eyes in suspicion as well. "Hey, why would I lie about something like that? I -like- this dimension. It's where I keep all my stuff!"

"I dunno. You're a trickster's incarnate. There's any /number/ of reasons you're could be lying, or perhaps, selectively telling the truth." Lia points out.

Grimm snerks at the comment. "This coming from a three foot tall naked pixie? Really? Go put some clothes on," the modestly dressed college student shoots back.

Carpenter raises a brow as he listens to the exchange.