The slums are a rundown, old heap of a town tucked deep in the jungles, with townsfolk consisting mostly of poachers, black marketeers, thieves, and fugitives. While the ideal tourist spot, some travel to the Slums to make use of the black markets. (+2 Defense, +2 Speed)

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Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/08/2016 12:59 PM

Avery | Korre
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Perhaps it was bad luck that had taken them there. Perhaps it was a string of bad decisions, of missteps and mistakes and maybe just the result of that one card that wasn't hidden well enough. Avery the street magician's last performance certainly did not go as well as it was supposed to be. The booing of the crowds still echoed in her head.

The performance left her in a bad mood, which somehow escalated to this moment: hungry and penniless, lost in the dank alleys of the slums. She'd been in this position before, but she wasn't in the mood to remember how she survived the last time.

The small, savage Shartile was still at her heels. He sniffed uspiciously at the trashes around them, hunting for food. Avery hoped he'd find something edible soon, or she might be his next meal.

[[OOC Note: This thread is pretty open-ended. It's more of a way for me to get back in the groove of roleplaying than anything, but anyone is welcome to jump in. I'd rather to move at a brisk pace though, about two posts a day, with varying qualities. My two characters here are creatures, but you may jump in with a human character if you like.]]
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/08/2016 11:11 PM

"Sir," Avery said to the first reputable-looking person she encountered on what passed for streets there. Despite the dirt and the humidity, the man was wearing a nice suit and carrying a shiny-looking bag. For Avery, he smelled like a city-dweller, or at least someone rich enough to spare a few coins. "Would you like to watch a magic spectacle?"

The man glared at her suspiciously, and then shook his head and ran off; the sort of running one would do if one's life was in grave danger. Avery sighed. Everyone here was either depressed, criminals, or just as poor as the two of them were. Well-off people, the people who occasionally kept them fed, if Avery's performance was a spectacle enough, wouldn't touch the place unless their life depends on it. Even if their life depends on it.

"We've got to get out of here," Avery said while turning around to look at her companion, which she followed with a, "Korre, where did you get that!"

The Shartile was carrying a small head, which at this point was already more like a skull. Most of its flesh had fallen off, torn, and--a fact that Avery did not at all miss--eaten. Korre sucked a bit more juice out of the flesh that was left before indicating a trash heap a bit behind them.

"Oh. I. I don't want to know what it used to be," Avery said. "Come on. Let's try to find a way out."
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/09/2016 12:01 PM

The two wandered and wandered and wandered, but somehow they could not find a way out of the slums. All they saw around them was the same shanty houses, the same dark alleyways, the same sneering faces from the shadows. Once or twice, they had to escape a gang fight or two. A couple of times they had to move at a brisker pace, often running, to avoid pickpockets. Once, Avery had to cast an illusion to distract a criminal away.

The two of them were quick on their feet, and they were both small enough to hide in the tiniest nook and crannies, but it wasn't long until they were exhausted. Korre was the first to indicate his fatigue. The small Shartile collapsed right in the middle of the street, clutching on the skull he'd found earlier and whimpering quietly to Avery.

"No, we can't stop here," Avery said. "Come on, let's find somewhere safer to sit."

The Shartile frowned, but then he stood up and dashed right to the side of his Meji companion. They walked on to the nearest shanty house and took shade under the awning that stretched a little off what would pass for its front door. The house itself was tiny, made of scraps and cardboards taped together. More importantly, it was dark, disused. Avery peered into it and found nothing but debris. "Well, it seems safe here. We should rest."

Korre said nothing, as he wasn't even able to say a thing at that point, and lied down next to the Meji. He sucked more on the skull he'd found, even though it was polished clean by this point, and then begun to snore. Avery sat down and looked around. There wasn't anyone close enough to notice them, they should be safe for the while.

The sun, however, was starting to dip.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/12/2016 2:37 AM


Melville hadn't been to The Slums in a while. He thought he'd had it this time. The job had sounded promising: a missing person case all the way in the grand city of Lamenolai. From what he'd heard, in bits and pieces of gossips, the hirer was a respectable sort. A Duke of some sort, complete with mansion and money and perhaps enough goodwill that, if he did the job well, he might earn his reputation back. Where he ended up, instead, was the dump, with more scratch and bruises than one ought to ever have, courtesy of his old rivals. They'd spread the rumour themselves, the bastards. Four years and they're still out to get him.

So it was back in The Slums, where at least he could lick his wound in peace. He didn't think the old house would still be there; the layout of the area changed faster than anybody's thoughts. He took all his belonging with him anyway, which at this point had been reduced to nothing at all, so he didn't mind much sleeping at the streets again. But then, when he arrived back to where his old shanty house was, he was surprised to see it still standing, roof, porch and all. Funny no one had looted it for materials yet.

Night had fallen, but he'd never had problem with the dark before. He conjured a witchlight and padded softly to the old house, unaware that its porch had already been claimed by two souls.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/13/2016 2:49 AM

[OOC: Oh haha. Man my writing here is crap and all over the place.]

Despite his instinctive disregard for civilisation, Korre's snoring was quiet and melodic. For Avery it sounded almost cute, like a little lullaby. There wasn't much she liked about the Shartile, especially when he was awake, when he was often looking at her like she was food, but she liked it when he was sleeping. It reminded her that he wasn't a savage, just a child. There'll be time to teach him everything.

Suddenly she saw a light, just off the corner of her eyes. A witchlight, if Avery's memory of her old magic lessons were right, and following it was a savage-looking Tavil. He looked bruised, wounded in some places, and probably not in the mood for conversations. He was also coming straight at them. Avery started to panic, but he couldn't leave the little Shartile behind. She waved her hand clumsily and cast an illusion. It wasn't much, just so that the Tavil would not notice that they were there.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/16/2016 12:15 AM

Melville pushed the door to his house, but it wouldn't budge. He pushed harder, kicked it with his good right leg, but still nothing. When he peered into the house, he discovered that the door was blocked by some debris. Parts of the walls on the other side had fallen down, but with the way they piled on top of each other, it was not any sort of entrance either. Melville cursed under his breath. On better days he'll be perfectly able to kick the debris aside, but his entire body still hurt after the charade in Lamenolai. For now all he can do is find somewhere else to rest.

He turned around and looked outside. The Slums was dark and quiet, which means, if anything, that it'll be dangerous. Somewhere far off, someone screamed, and then it quieted again. It didn't seem likely that he'll be safe out there, anywhere. All his acquaintances here hated him; they'll either try to kill him or are too scared of those who will.

So he sat down on his own front porch and started examining his wound. His tail was cut halfway, one of his ear had its half ripped. Both his back legs were bruised and battered and decorated with red marks. His right was better than his left, which had one unpleasant gash of its side. The bleeding had largely stopped, but when he touched it it was still damp with his blood. He examined his hands next. More bruises, more scratch marks. Most of his previously sharp claw were chipped down into rough broken edges. He touched his face, and found a scar running below his left eye. That wouldn't look pretty. None of this looked pretty. Maybe he'll even have to find a doctor. Ha, what a terrible luck that would be.

He stretched his arm, ready to lie down and sleep and pray he'll still be alive in the morning, and then his hand struck something. Something soft, but solid, over on his left where there didn't seem to be anything at all. No, wait. The air was shimmering.

Avery had been holding her breath this whole time, but when the illusion started to fall apart, her breath became quick and uneven. "Ouch," she whimpered.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/16/2016 11:58 AM

Her illusions weren't the best in the world, but she tried her best. As long as no one pay too much attention to where they were, it'll held. She muffled the Shartile's nose--just enough for him to breath but not enough to make the sound--and waited. The Tavil looked even fiercer the closer he got, with his chipped claws and the light scar on his face. When he tried to open the door, Avery held her breath and clamped her soft paws closer to her companion's face, who carried on sleeping. He didn't seem to feel the disturbance in the least.

After the Tavil failed to open the door, to Avery's horror, he sat down right there next to them. He seemed to be examining his many wounds, which wasn't a problem until he moved his arm just a bit too far to the left and hit straight at Avery's nose.

"Ouch," she whimpered, and with one look from the Tavil, the illusion was gone. One Meji and one sleeping Shartile against a fierce-looking Tavil.

Melville, on his part, was not expecting company. "Agh," he exclaimed in surprise, but then lowered his voice when he gave the two freeloaders a better look. They seemed to be just kids, lost, and as decrepit as he was. "What are you two doing here?" he asked, probably in a rasher tone than he was hoping for.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/17/2016 9:18 AM

Korre is the type of Shartile who can sleep through anything. Skies can fall and worlds can end, but if he's asleep he's going to stay asleep. But it's possible that on this particular night he was feeling more on edge than usual. He didn't quite like the slums, and despite his find (a skull! A skull all his own!) he still shared Avery's restlessness. He didn't sleep easily then, and he dreamed that a large monster was threatening Avery. His bunny friend, Avery! So Korre got up and snarled and bared his fangs ... and woke up.

"Whoa whoa, easy there, easy!"

It was a male voice, almost human, not Avery. Korre opened his eye and saw that he was only inches to biting some creature's leg off.

"Korre, sit down. It's fine," Avery said from behind him. Avery. So he backed off and sat down and hugged his skull again.

"Yeah, that's right. Back off," Melville said. He stroked his leg, which hurt even more now that he knew he might lose it any time at all to the crazy Shartile. "Korre, huh? And who are you, bunny?"
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/18/2016 3:19 AM

Avery looked up and down the Tavil. He looked dangerous alright, what with all the scars. But he also looked tired, almost desperate. She had no doubt that he had the power to hurt them, if he really wanted to. But from the look of his eyes, he seemed to only want the same thing she wanted: rest.

Melville looked up and down the Meji and her companion Shartile. The bunny's a girl, and she can talk fine like a human. Her friend, on the other hand, did not seem like the sort you can sit down and have tea with. But he listened to her, and he obeyed. Like a pet, maybe, if you ignored the way they look at each other. Or their different sizes.

"I'm sorry," Avery started. "... sir. I'm Avery. And, yes, this is my friend, Korre. I'm sorry if we're bothering you. We're just looking for somewhere to rest."

"Well so am I," Melville huffed. "What are you doing here, though? You don't seem like the slumming sorts." If fact, from the way she talks, and the way she dresses, she seemed more like a city kind if anything. If you ignore a Shartile. "And what's up with your friend?" Melville added.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/19/2016 1:16 AM

"He's ... well."

Korre sat where he had to sit, clutching the skull like a comfort plush. But his eyes were wide and fierce, and if anybody does anything he doesn't like then they'll definitely be getting the sharp end of his teeth. He gave the skull a small lick and glanced Avery's way.

"He's my friend," Avery affirmed. She tipped down her hat. "We came from the city, yes. But we don't really have a place to live there. We're wanderers. I'm a magician." She waved her hand and a flock of tiny birds flew out of her hat, only to disappear into thin air a second later. She was a magician, a showman. And no matter how savage his audience is, she'll always try to impress them. Besides, the Tavil doesn't seem like he's going to murder them anytime soon.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/19/2016 3:12 AM

"Magician?"

During the course of his career, Melville had met a lot of different people and a whole lot of different jobs, hobbies, eccentricities, but his job usually keep him stuck in the cities. A magician wasn't someone you see often in his line of work, much less someone so young, so small, and so weak. Now that he thought about it, his job usually involved criminal lords and high-end society types. A lot of different people, but more or less the same social structures.

The birds that busted out of her hat took him by surprise, but he quickly found his composure when he realised that they were fake. So she's more like an illusionist, then. "Magician, huh? Well, that's new. What are you, a performer? What's a performer like you doing in a place like this?"
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 06/21/2016 6:06 AM

Avery gave the Tavil a look. It was a discerning look, the sort where she try to guess the chance of the Tavil being a serial killer. They'd been living in the streets long enough to get used to the less savoury sides of society, any society at all. She didn't like the Tavil's tone of voice, and the scars couldn't rule out the serial killer possibility, but either way he didn't seem like he'll be dangerous at the moment. Avery decided to carry on with the conversation instead of casting an illusion and jumping away.

"We're lost, sir. I don't really remember how we got here, but now we're here and we don't know how to leave," said Avery. "Do you think you can help us?"

Korre sat at the back, watching. Avery was glad of his company. If the Tavil bust out a knife then her friend had claws sharp enough to protect them.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 07/12/2016 1:04 PM

Melville looked the two kids (well, one kid and her pet. Or maybe they were two kids. He still wasn't entirely sure how to handle the sapience deal in this world), thought it over, and shook his head, confounded. He'd never dealt with kids before (Well, except for that one kid his friend adopted), much less homeless kids who somehow found themselves lost in The Slums, of all places. On most occasions he'd just tell them to get out of his sight and fend for themselves, but after being beaten himself, he somehow just couldn't wish the same thing for anyone else.

"Huh. Huh," he said. "Arright, let's get one thing straight. I'm not a charity case. And I'm not going to guarantee your safety or whatever. If you get on anybody else's bad side, I'm jumping out, y'hear?" He stopped, looked them in the eye to say he meant it.

"That's fine, sir. We know how to jump out of trouble ourselves," Avery said, in a squeaky, scared, but somehow defiant voice.

"Don't sass me, kid. I'm not going to take a punch for you." He sighed. "But, all right. It's dangerous out there right now, but tomorrow, when the sun's up, I'll help you get out of here, okay?"

Avery's ears perked up. The Tavil might sound mean-spirited, but he didn't sound like a bad person after all. "Thank you, sir."
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 08/09/2016 12:30 AM

They took turn sleeping that night. That was the plan. Neither Melville nor Avery, in their own way, trust the old porch to keep them safe from whatever danger lurks in the nights of the Slums. But then halfway through the night, Melville couldn't help himself. He had a headaches, his wound was hurting all over, and he was starting to get dangerously hungry. He told himself to stay awake, but then he fell asleep anyway. Avery watched the old Tavil snored, and thought of the kind of company she was with. Soon, however, she was snoring just as well, the day's running around taking its toll.

Korre seemed to be sleeping peacefully the entire night. But his ears were sharp, and if anything came to attack his friend, he trusted his instinct that he'll know.
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Re: Bad Luck [Open]

Postby PseudoMon » 08/09/2016 12:47 AM

The morning came quickly, without either of the two realising it, deep in their sleep. Avery woke to the sound of shuffling. She opened her eyes lazily at first, getting them used to the sudden light, climbing her way slowly out of her dreams. But then she heard the shuffling again, someone stepping around the room, and, suddenly remembering where she was, she bolted upright.

Melville was still snoring in the corner, his wounds seemed to be starting to heal. Korre was already awake, his eyes bright, pacing around the place and ready to go on with the day. He made an excited cry when he noticed that Avery was up, and started to dash at her direction.

"Whoa, whoa. Settle down, I'm fine." Avery said, as Korre butted at her. She stroke the Shartile's head. "So it was you making noise? How long have you been awake?"

The Shartile made no reply, only looked up at her excitedly. There was an undeniable affection in the way he looked at her, and Avery was glad that he was there the entire night. But she couldn't help feeling just a little bit scared, that she'd been asleep and he might have been awake. It seems impossible, looking at him now, but he could have chewed her head off any time.

The Tavil next to he mumbled and shifted, taking Avery's mind off. He kicked, feebly, and snored again.

"Excuse me, Mr... Melville?" Avery started. "Do you think we ought to wake him up, Korre?" Or should we just make a run for it?
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