#plotdrop001

rumor had it that there was a supernatural killer on the loose and those who were aware of the attack were on edge . it didn't help that the newbie vampire was attacked the moment he stepped in new orleans . but now there were actual murders happening in the city . heads severed and bodies bound and set on fire . this was enough to keep the redhead on guard , understanding that anything could happened at any given moment . andrew looked back when he heard a noise .

   So, Ridley had managed to steal quite a bit in the few days she’d been in Port Vale, active mostly in the night time as she grew used to the concept of legs and body language and human rules. A phone, easily swiped though getting it charged had proven to be a tougher challenge. Clothes, stuffed into a brown, unfashionable sack, mostly shoplifted from the thrift store - the cashier was a horrible bore, nodding off half awake at the counter, making it too easy to for the siren to take as she wanted. And, finally, a job - though that was far from luck, and took a fair bit of lying and fraud to weasel into. Last on her list?

   Somewhere to live. Luckily, earlier in the day when Ridley was lurking waiting to steal a cute pair of shoes from a street stand, she’d caught sight of the Mediterranean captain. Naturally, she’d followed behind her, figuring out where she lived, and now as night was beginning to fall and the brewing storm was howling across the ocean, Ridley was rapping her knuckles on Val’s door, bag in hand, fully expecting that this half-thought plan would go just as nicely as the rest of her efforts in Port Vale. 

   “Surprise!” The siren chirped the moment the door opened, a smile on her face and her hair lightly blowing in the wind as she greeted her friend. It had been a few months since seeing each other; with Val running to land, and before that, the revolution in the Black Sea, and Ridley being on one of many adventures into the further reaches of the open. She was never one to stay still for too long. “Aren’t you thrilled to see me?”

   If Isidore had the option, or the ability, he would close both eyes and ears to the recent stress placed on the town. He was a big believer in deflection & distraction, but that could only take you so far for so long... so he had resumed his semi-routine of late-night walks across the shore. This time, his feet pointed him in the direction of the lighthouse, following the path closer to it rather than the sea. 

   Storms didn’t scare him; but possibly being spotted by one of Victoria’s task force members and guilted into helping (or worse, a scolding from Xander himself) kept Isidore clinging to the shadows, eyes watchful as he made the trek to the lighthouse. He knew next to nothing about the operation and function of such a human device; but still, Isi found that it’s presence was calming even in the alarming darkness it emitted. It didn’t surprise him to see the vague silhoutte of the lightkeeper; Moray was a usual sight on these nighttime adventures that Isi took in solitude, and in the past, they’d always been but two silent ships passing in the night. 

   Both seemingly accustomed to their own company, and not in any particular hurry to share it. 

   Tonight weighed differently on Isidore’s shoulders though, and that feeling of sinking dread only grew as he approached the stark darkness of the north star. Without it, the town had a sense of lost direction, as if a plug had been pulled. He could feel it changing the air around him, though it was still brisk and salty and smelling of the sea. Of home, he couldn’t help but think as default. Port Vale was home now, but the hippocampus couldn’t ignore 700+ years of existence, either. Tonight - yes, tonight was different, and Isidore decided on a whim to act upon that when he had approached both the lighthouse and the figure standing guard. “Waiting for the storm?” Isi asked Moray, coming to a stop a few feet away and turning to look out towards the vastness of the ocean, eyes trained on the horizon. There were no lights; no ships, a good sign, in this case. “How- how are you doing?”

Sunday 20 September 2020; Afternoon. You have been approached by a Ten of Spades. She has heard about your ability to transform into a bat and thus, you have been voluntold to survey the wilds outside of Kadeu and made a note of all the bodies of water. If possible, she would also like you to denote whether or not the water is corrupted but understands if your blindness will prevent you from being able to ascertain this information.

The severe water and food shortage plaguing Kadeu was making tensions run high. Eva could smell the anxiety, dissatisfaction, and unease among her Spade colleagues. She could hear the whispers that worried over the rising anger among other factions. She was worried for her friends who did not have a rations system in place like Spade. How long would this last. She wished she could do something to help instead of sitting around handing out paperwork and messages.

Her wish came true in the form of a Ten of Spade. Eva could make out the strong smell of boot polish, the crisp scent of freshly pressed uniform. The shadow that approached her seemed smaller than most. She couldn’t be sure. Everyone was taller her. The voice that came from above her confirmed that much.

“Me? You want me to survey the land’s water supply?” The Three did nothing to contain her excitement. She decidedly ignored the implication that this was not an offer but rather a thinly veiled order. I can finally show them what I’m made of. With an eager nod, Eva agreed to do the survey and report back. They did tell her she could bring someone along, but Eva didn’t want anyone to think she was incapable of handling a simple survey on her own. With reassurances she’d be fine by herself, Eva set out the next evening.

“Alright, Eva, here we go.” With a deep breath, she changed into a bat and took off into the night. Her wings carried her across Spade, over Club, then finally, over the wall into the wild. This was not the first time she’d been out here, but it was the first time she was here on a Spade mission. It filled her with apprehension and excitement in equal measures.

She used her echolocation to make her way through the trees, searching and searching. Every body of water from the smallest of puddles to the the largest lakes and rivers Eva analyzed. She used her wolf senses to sample the taste and scent. While the water did not smell any different from the safe stuff, the taste offered something else entirely. It was stale, making her spit it back out faster than she had put it to her tongue. Her mouth twisted as the moisture was sapped from her tongue.

The night passed like that, the shapeshifter growing more grim as she took note of her findings. There was hope as the dawn started to come over the horizon. Two small bodies of hope. It wasn’t much but perhaps it would be enough for now. She knew she was now a great distance from Kadeu. Exhaustion wracked her body as Eva wasn’t used to the long distance and using her shifter powers for such a long period of time. But she needed to report her findings.

He wasn’t the type to run away from danger, considering the fact he usually was the danger. But, he wasn’t ignorant, and he kept his eyes sharp in case there was something darker and stronger following him.

He was halfway to his place when he felt a rumble under his feet, and the surprise caused his flame to go out. The next things happened in a flash. He was pushed to the ground by some unknown force, shaking and shifting with the earth. The building to his left felt the same strength as well, and it shuddered alongside him, throwing debris. Lukas did the best he could to avoid the raining materials, rolling to dodge and throwing quick bursts of fire. But, eventually, the crumbling building got the best of him, and he was eventually pinned down by slabs of brick and steel.

Luckily, it fell in a righteous way where he was safe, save for his right leg, which was trapped in between two boulders. He couldn’t feel much, and he wondered if he was just stuck or if his leg was broken. He quickly glanced around to find some sort of assistance, and there was a small opening at the far right of his head. He began yelling for help, fire spraying from his mouth like a dragon, until he could not produce a flame anymore. He was left in darkness, throat scorched, and he just hoped someone would find him.

Citizens of Oakwood,

I trust you've enjoyed your festivities - Unfortunately, I'm going to have to bring an end to your summer celebrations. I've left you all in your blissful ignorance but no more. I bet you've all been wondering how your secrets made their way into my hands, well you have four of your fellow citizens to thank for that. Your secrets only landed in my hands after the capsule had been stolen. If my demands aren't followed, then you might have someone to blame that wasn't poor, innocent Michelle.