#meta-rp

In order to give the Metaphysick some well-needed downtime and a change of pace, and mostly to bolster the dwindling inventory of ingredients in the Bastion infirmary. Chloe Lombardi gathered some of the willing and available members for a little wander around the Shroud. In the end, Otte Dreamwalker and Vieaux Valintaire volunteered their assistance, the smaller group perhaps a boon when it came to finding the elusive herbs and mushrooms.

Besides a surprise spider, an unnervingly sticky fungus and a wade through the waters, the group managed to find what they needed, and finished the trip with a nice picnic before heading back home!

What a busy few days I’ve had! Well, me and Cinnamon, I suppose I should write, since she has dutifully worn a cat costume for me to be my companion as Sailor Moonkeeper. She hasn’t seemed to mind. I went to a Haunted House tour called “Midnight at the Bastion,” which featured some really frightening ghosts telling their stories, and artfully creepy décor. It was really creepy, in a good way! 

From there I went to the Wayfarers Haunted Hall, where I had heard Savo would be performing. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see her--she was just going on when I had to leave. But I did see some other performers. I met a girl from the Lucky Sparrow--E’rin--and got the chance to tell her how good their recent show was before she went on. She seems nice. Savo and Fhey said she is a dawncat, so I guess that’s sort of my opposite. I wonder if she has any similar characteristics to me? Like how alcohol doesn’t do much to me? Tastes good, though. I’ll have to ask her sometime if I see her again. Or would that be awkward, since she didn’t tell me she is a dawncat herself? Hmm . . .

As I said, I had to race out of there to help the Palazzo Aldenard with our production of Nevermore! I wasn’t in the show, I was house staff. I had to greet everyone at the door, and direct them downstairs to where the show was. So I didn’t get to see the show, unfortunately, but I could hear it, and everyone sounded in fine voice. The crowd was excellent. I liked being able to help out, since I wasn’t in one of the plays. Also, it was kind of fun being the house manager, and getting to say things like “5 minutes until the house opens.” Like I was in charge or something. In charge of the door, I guess.

The next day, Silvergrace Academy had a haunted event also. They had a haunted maze, and an escape room. I went for the haunted maze first, but I had to wait in the café for a tour guide. I met another Lucky player there, Ellmida, and told her the same thing I told E’rin. I’ve seen both of them at so many events, it’s sort of weird that we’ve never, umm, spoken. I don’t normally talk to people so much, but I really liked their performances. Ellmida seems nice to. Maybe that’s a rule at Lucky, no mean people. Ellmida and I ended up teamed up with another woman--who claimed she was a witch, by the way--and we went through the maze. The maze had a story to it, and things were popping out of walls, and dolls were coming to life--it was amazing! And scary. I loved it!

After that, it was back to the café for me, waiting for the escape room, which my friend Jean was the host for. I managed to lose horribly at a trivia contest while waiting, and then a man named Sebastien and I got called in to the room. We had to find clues that would eventually unlock the door to leave the room. It took us a while, but with our combined efforts, we eventually figured it out. My favorite part was the map that was triggered by color-coded weights.

I don’t know what I’m going to do when this season is over. This is so my favorite time of year. On the upside, my hair will go back to its natural color, which will be a relief quite honestly. On the downside . . . well, as I’ve said before, Starlight and that whole holiday season is hard for me, without family. I mean, I have some friends now . . . and that helps. But . . . well, it’s just me and Cinnamon at home, once Ona and Sayashi finish their work for the day. I love Cinnamon, but she doesn’t hold up her end of the conversation. Of course, she may be lonely for another fox sometimes, I suppose.

Following a long period of silence in the hunt for a greater voidsent which had unearthed and absconded with a scythe that once belonged to a Dark Knight of the past, dubbed “Jester”, for it’s mad antics bordering on comical, Metaphysick was at long last alerted to the creature’s reappearance on Hydaelyn by way of special sensors set up by one @aethersent. Rallying whoever he could find (though that turned out only to be @fuckrust), Rufus and Tara made their way to Mor Dhona, where the Jester had taken control of an area saturated with corrupted elemental crystals. The dynamic duo were to take part in an assault alongside the forces of Temple Knight Captain Armond Therieux. The bulk of the Temple Knight forces would assault one path to the Jester’s seat of power, while the other, comprising of Rufus, Tara, and a squadron of Temple Knights, would take the other passage and break through the enemy’s defenses, putting an end to the voidsent’s defacto leader. The assault began, and our intrepid fellowship clashed against what few defenders were devoted to their path, cutting a swathe through the enemy’s numbers until they came upon the Jester itself, one hand clutching the dark-steel greatscythe known as ‘Stigma’, as the other was raised to the sky, channelling a gate through the fabric of space. Thanks to some quick wit on Tara’s part, and the aid of an unusual contraption, the voidgate was summarily sealed, and after some brief nonsensical banter, the battle was joined. The Jester held nothing back, as its first attack claimed the lives of the Metaphysicians’ (pending) back-up, leaving just Rufus and Tara to face this greater voidsent. They struck back in kind, sparing no effort to put an end to the threat. Aggravated by the lasting presence of the pests around it, the Jester unleashed a vicious swing on Rufus that, in an instant, severed a major portion of the man’s left arm. It was then that Tara, fuelled by the pooled aether from the battles taking place, unleashed an almighty barrage of magicks that literally tore the Jester to pieces, leaving only Stigma in its wake. With the leader dispatched, the remaining voidsent proved easy prey for Captain Therieux and his forces, clearing out the area with military efficiency. Chirurgeons were immediately dispatched to see to the wounded and the slain. The Captain then offered his gratitude to the non-responsive Rufus and the slightly irritable Tara, asking that Metaphysick take the scythe into their care, as no Ishgardian wants to ever think about the accursed object again. Begrudgingly, Tara agreed to do so at the behest of a vaguely cognisant Rufus. The pair were then escorted home to see to their wounds, and the scythe to be taken into containment.