Encounterlogs
Eloras Odd Encounter Sr Ash 241018
In the cozy, rustic atmosphere of The Sleepy Dragon Inn, Elora, adorned in attire from another realm, faced a tense situation veiled under the guise of roleplay and cosplay. The night unfurled with the arrival of a panicked man in a lupine fursuit, shaking with fear after a presumed encounter with supernatural wolves. He sought refuge and solace at Elora's table, his plea for a drink and to share his terrifying ordeal drawing her attention. Despite her outward apathy, Elora engaged, offering a drink and an ear, enveloping the man in a dance of words and subtle magic to ascertain his story's truth while keeping the other patrons, lost in their late-night games and in-character banter, blissfully unaware of the dire conversation at their midst.
As the fursuited man recounted his tale of a harrowing chase by what he believed was a werewolf, Elora, cloaked in both mystery and literal magical illusions, manipulated the scenario with her enchantments, aiming to disarm and disorient. Her tactics, paired with Emily's timely intervention, veered the conversation from public panic to a private, controlled exchange within a staff room. Emily, though seemingly more concerned with upholding the tavern's peace than engaging in supernatural hunts, played a crucial role in pacifying the man's fervor with a mixture of professionalism and a hint of skepticism towards his account. Ultimately, Elora's mastery over illusions led the man to question his own experience, attributing the night's terror to an overactive imagination fueled by roleplay enthusiasm. Relieved yet confused, he departed, leaving behind his phone, ensnared in the web of Elora's magic, and the crisis quietly averted with the patrons none the wiser to the brush with potential supernatural exposure.
(Elora's odd encounter(SRAsh):SRAsh)
[Thu Oct 17 2024]
In the tavern main room of The Sleepy Dragon Inn and Retreat
This is a warm and welcoming establishment in the heart of Haven. The interior of the inn is cozy and inviting, with a rustic charm and you're immediately struck by the warmth and light that fills the room. The air is thick with the smell of roasting meat and freshly baked bread, making your stomach growl with hunger.
The main room is spacious and open, with a large wooden table at its center.The walls are adorned with wooden paneling, and the floor is made of worn wooden planks. A cleverly accurate gas fireplace crackles and spits in the hearth near the entrance, casting a golden glow over the room. The fire is surrounded by comfortable chairs, where guests can lounge and share stories.
Off to the side of the main room, there are several smaller tables and nooks that offer more intimate seating areas and to the east the pub continues into a cozy tavern bar proper.
It is night, about 55F(12C) degrees, There is a full moon.
(Someone in Haven has found out about the supernatural and is freaking out about it. They're at risk of exposing the secret, hurting themselves, or hurting others. Your target and their allies are tasked with containing the situation.
)
Elora had been in the Sleepy Dragon Inn and Retreat, a headquarters of sorts for the Knights of the Silver Dragon. As was common in the tavern there were plenty of people wearing cosplay. Elora was one of them, it would have seemed, though her garb was not cosplay. It actually did come from an Other place. It had felt prudent after being attacked outside her home earlier in the day to keep her equipment both with her and ready. Danger could be lurking around any corner, even the corner of her van as she hopped out of it. Now she wasn't in a place likely to be full of danger. She was in a place of video games and roleplaying and good food. A comfortable place. That comfort didn't sit on her well though. She was restless, anxious, fidgeting. Playing with her 'costume' as she looks around for people she recognized. Her brother was largely lost to her - too close to the problem and too paranoid to offer her any help. Her various friends were sleeping, none of them having the same issue as she did with anxiety claiming their night time hours.
Right in the heart of Haven, a sleepy town of myth and fantasy hidden in the urban sprawl, is the Sleepy Dragon Inn. Hidden in the urban sprawl, the inn is a place of myth and fantasy. Modern, urban people walk among literal dragons and fae creatures, without a blink or a hint of recognition. The unaware are as sleepy as the Inn, unaware and unawake to the dangers and powers that be.
At least it's warm in here, and cozy. There's food, for those that need it, there's witnesses, both aware and otherwise. There's laughter, and Elora knows that she can safely keep her blade on hand, sheathed - after all, it's just an expensive prop to most here. In the crowd around her, still full despite the late night, more costumed and cosplayed people pass to the computer room, or coming in and out of the tabletop room - especially the latter, as late night gamers dress up as their characters and roll dice.
Not long ago, a group of gamers had just finished for the night - just after Elora had arrived. An overweight latina lass with elf ears spoke cheerfully in her Boston accent to a pair of twin males, one in cheap wizard robes, the other wearing a plastic chestplate over his normal clothes, with a plastic sword hooked to a belt loop. A bard, an androgynous asian person with a dress on and a real ukelele was talking avidly with the last member of through troupe, a tall, lean man wearing a fur suit.
This was long and past by now, so much so that Elora may have furgotten - until a form in fur burst into the tavern quickly, heading right fur her! She's not quick enough to move before the figure is practically on her... but as she turns her head to look, she will see... it's the tall man from earlier. Largely because he's taken from his head as he moved a wolf head from his own, revealing him as a fursuiter - not a werewolf.
But, from up close, the fear is practically a stench on him. His skin is soaked in sweat, despite the weather outside, and his eyes are dilated. "A drink! Please! I - I need a fucking drink!" He drops his head on the nearest table to Elora, flagging down a server in cosplay, and getting a glass of water, while they go out to get him alcohol. He slams the water back, then collapses in a seat, near Elora. "Fucking... fucking wolves... gods. I- where's my phone? I n-need... I need to tell *someone*!"
Elora watches the man approach her with teal eyes. If there is any care for his obvious terror it doesn't show on the apathetic look she gazes at him with. Her words though are quickly lilting out of her in tempting offers, "You need a drink? I'll buy it." Then after a brief pause, cooing as she leans closer she offers, "And I'll listen too."
Elora pays attention to the man while listening for the sound of claws, growls, or other heralding warning. Her nightmare charm is a comforting weight and she is more then a little thankful at the way using it in public leaves some of the people around her with a sense of deja vu. Useful to be able to step somewhere safer if the wolves were coming.
The man, with native blood, blinks in response to Elora's offer. Apparently, he hadn't even seen her there. He's still panting for breath when he nods to her. "Y...yeah. Yes, yes please. And... I don't think you would believe me." He looks down, as if incredulous himself, but then he glances around. "Well... if you hang here, maybe...." He leans forward, exhaustion turning to urgency as he - perhaps foolishly - looks her right in the eye. "Do... do you think...." He glances around again, before leaning in more, almost half lying on the table. His voice drops to a whisper, ask he asks, "Do you think, like... the supernatural is... real? Possibly? Like... werewolves and... uh... vampires and shit."
He looks at Elora in complete desperation, as wide brown eyes search her apathetic face for a sign. His slightly dusky face, long with a straight nose, is contorted in something between a gasping grimace and a plea. His hands, removed from paws that connect to the wrist by velcro, hanging, are curled on the table, nails almost digging into them. Wavy brown hair is tousled, wild, tamed only by the damp sweat pulling it close to the scalp.
Is it fortunate that Elora cannot hear wolves coming? Is it because the tavern is too busy, or because there are no wolves? Either way, she's given no sign if there are - at most, there is simply this young man, and his experiences.
He looks her over suspiciously, as if her words made her less trustworthy. But, he considers it, before asking, cautiously, "...why am I lucky to have run into you?" The poor fool assumes that this is *good* luck, of course. "...do you actually believe? Are you a believer?" He speaks this with growing hope, his suspicion tossed aside in a *need* to have someone he can talk to. He sets his phone down on the table, focused entirely on Elora.
reaches out with her subtle magic, letting an illusion fall over the man's mind, clouding it so that the place on the table where he set his phone becomes bare. Just plain wood rather than a spot where a phone is. She doesn't move herself to reach for that phone or draw attention to its loss. Tricks are best played with attention helping. She lets her teal eyes widen and look back into his hopeful gaze. "I believe lots of things," Elora offers vaguely. "What do you think you say out there?"
reaches out with her subtle magic, letting an illusion fall over the man's mind, clouding it so that the place on the table where he set his phone becomes bare. Just plain wood rather than a spot where a phone is. She doesn't move herself to reach for that phone or draw attention to its loss. Tricks are best played with attention helping. She lets her teal eyes widen and look back into his hopeful gaze. "I believe lots of things," Elora offers vaguely. "What do you think you saw out there?" (fix)
He taps his fingers on the table anxiously, looking Elora over, breathing a little more quickly as the moment of decision, before the words suddenly gush forth in a flood. "I was just finished with the game - I was playing a Galliard Totem of Strength Garou, so I brought my fursuit, right? Then I went out, I started walking home... the moon was full, so I put my suit on. Figured, y'know, it's October, right? Maybe I would spook someone! Except... except, the wolf came! As huge as a house, slavering, with a maw that could snap me up! It snarled at me... and something... something in its eyes... it was too smart. I started to run - and it was playing with me! Like cat and mouth... but, it was way too smart, way too big... I think it was a werewolf!"
Elora sniffs the air trying to catch the scent of the wolf on the man; maybe its one of the wolves in town that she's heard of. But maybe it isn't.
Elora nods her head along like she understand the various gaming terms that the man is throwing out while having a lost look within her eyes. She probably looks the part of someone who would know those things in her fine faux-cosplay actually Other bought outfit. "How do you know your not just imagining things? Did you drink anything tonight? Take any drugs?"
The man winces, then falls back. "I didn't drink *anything*," he huffs. "I don't drink while gaming... I normally don't drink at *all*, but I *definitely* need one after that." He crosses his arms, looking aside. "Don't do drugs, either." He suddenly gains some fire in him, then declares, "You know what? I don't need you, I just need to...." And now, there. He's looking for his phone. He glances at the table, lifts his wolf-head, then sets it back down - half on top of his phone, blocking his view of it. He's glancing around, under the table - she's losing him.
Elora is at the center table and she is dressed up in seeming-cosplay; complete with an actual swords, sheathed of course. She's talking to a man in a fursuit of all things and the man is scrambling around to look for his phone; a hidden phone, shrouded under illusions and also the man's fursuit mask. "You don't need me, but I've been where you're at before." in the literal sense, she had sat in the same chair he was sitting, before. "Did you know they have medicine for these kinds of things? Seeing things, I mean. Like you do." And she's cruel enough that she follows up that word with illusions. She shows him something that she saw not so long ago. A malevolent spirit, gravecloth shrouding her form, hair black and matted and falling down into her face, with eyes with nails gouging into them. The horror doesn't say anything and it doesn't last long. Just enough to startle him out of that searching and confident air he was starting to get.
A man in a lupine fursuit is sitting at a table with Elora, looking around for something. He came in a short while ago, sweating, demanding a drink. His behavior has been a bit erratic, moving forward and back, though before Elora speaks, he says more loudly, "You know what? I don't need you!" He says something else, trailing off. Though, after a moment, he falls back in his chair, the whole thing falling back, leaving him on the floor, staring at... nothing. Only he sees this illusion, after all.
Emily comes into the tavern room through a door marked "staff only", wearing a classic renaissance-faire barmaid costume - ankkle-lenght underskirt, knee-lenght red overskirt, brown underbust corset and a blouse with frilly sleeves. After fussing about her costume a little and exchanging a few friendly words of greeting with the waitstaff around - a short laugh, a quick smile - she picks up a tray and walks though the room, jotting down orders, smiling, greeting, seemingly unaware of Elora and the fursuited man at first until she comes to their table. "Heya, Kath!", a warm tone is in her voice and she looks curiously from her to the man, seemingly unaware of his distress and greeting him more in-character with a "Greetings, traveller! Can I get you two something to drink?"
"Hello Emily," Elora lilts out in return greeting while sitting up a bit in her seat to peer down - for once! down! something or someone actually below or beneath! - at the fallen man. "This man is a loopy garoo player in a game they have here, but he's saying things and acting out in a way that makes me think he went loopy in the head too."
Elora would try to grab up the phone while the man was on the floor; unable to see what she was doing above him on the table.
The man looks up from the floor, looking bewildered at Emily, then glancing back around. He frowns up at Elora, though, and growls, "I'm not loopy! And that's loup-garou -" Pronounced loogaroo -" So, fuck your pun! I'm telling you, it was a *real* werewolf!" His fall gathered attention, so his yelling, now, is doing more. People are looking over and concerned - though a few look away with slight annoyance. The tabletop room must be full, is the whispered words around the room - though the man misses this.
Emily hugs her empty tray to herself and furrows her brow, as she stares down at the man as well, concern only showing after Elora's explanation. "Sir? Sir! Do you need an ambulance?" She sets the tray onto the table and fusses with her skirts as she gets down on one knee. "How many drinks did you have at the bar? Did you hit your head? Are you feeling faint?" Her gaze wanders to Elora, a faint frown on her expression as she does indeed notice her swiping the phone, but she elects not to say anything, instead holding up three fingers over the man's face and waving them around wildly and distractingly. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
Elora tenses up, cringing a bit from the cussing and yelling, shrinking back into her seat. And she of course adds an illusion for the man: extra fingers blurring out of Emily's hand.
The man waves off Emily's hand, saying, "No! I'm fine! I haven't had a drink at all but some water - she said she'd buy me one, then she started calling me crazy!" He points at Elora, jabbing his finger at her, before he reaches out to grab the table and stand himself up.
The man misses the table, earning a snort from one of the onlookers - earning him a red face. "...fuck this. I'm not... where's my phone?" He rolls over onto his hands and knees, looking for it on the floor. His bulky fursuit, couple with his stuffed tail, makes him look particularly goofy, even earning a "Puppy!" from a giggling, pointing child.
Elora interjects to man, "Listen, lets make a game of this okay? If you can tell us how many fingers she's holding up? Then clearly you're right and so I'll help you find your phone and we'll do whatever we have to make sure the Right people know what you've discovered." She then pauses. "But if you get it wrong then you're going to need to forget that this whole thing happened."
Emily furrows her brow some more as she rises with the man, holding up a hand to him, palm facing him as if signifying to stop. "Sir! Stay calm. Stay calm! Do not cause a scene and do not harrass other customers!" She glances behind her to half-whisper to Elora "Is this man harrassing you, Kath?"
Elora has illusions which hide some of the fingers on the hand, making it look like Emily is holding up fingers still rather than making a stop sign.
The man sighs, at first, growing more frustrated. "Why make it into a game? You're not taking this seriously! Why should I bother?" He gets up now, more carefully - he can't find his phone, for some reason. When Emily demands that he calm down, he does what everyone does when told to calm down - he gets mad. "I'm not harassing anyone! She is harassing me!" He points to Elora, then at himself, then hold out a flat palm, upright, towards Elora.
Elora continues playing the part of a confused sick girl in her cringing manner as the irate man freaks out. In public with attention on her she is not about to doing anything strange or start hissing at him in anger for his refusal to play.
Emily sighs deeply and nervously looks around as she too notices the swelling unrest in the other patrons and the attention the scene is causing. "If you have a complaint or a report to make, please not in the public room, sir!", her voice lowers a little and she points towards the door marked "Staff Only", her voice tense despite trying to give it a calm tone. "Follow me, please, an' we can sort everythin' out...", a gesture towards Elora indicates that she means her too.
is angry - but not with Emily, so he grabs his wolf head and stomps after her... softened by the pads at the bottom of his paws.
He is angry - but not with Emily, so he grabs his wolf head and stomps after her... softened by the pads at the bottom of his paws. (fix)
Elora rises and follows after Emily as well heading back into the private area.
Emily breathes a sigh of relief after a quick: "This way, please!", ushering the pair towards the staff room, making gestures towards her colleagues as they pass them as if to indicate that she has everything under control and doesn't need support.
He follows right after her, even going ahead as he does, until he's in the staff room, a fist on his hip as he turns around to look at Elora. He seems unaware of what this may mean for him - the room is empty. All of the staff is present today that works on this shift - and they are all out on the floor, or in the kitchens. It's no one's break time, and the place is too busy for any of the staff to be nosy. It's just this furry, Elora, and Emily in here, now.
Emily closes the door after Elora and takes a deep breath. "Awright...", she starts, her enunciation slipping again as she seems to relax just a touch and puts her hands onto her hips. "So, first a' all... what happened?"
Emily gestures towards some chairs as a silent invitation for Elora and the fursuited man to sit down.
Elora has a tone dips, voice lower, more of a hiss now than a coo as she lays out the important facts. "He doesn't want to play a game. I liked to him, but he doesn't want to listen in return. Instead he's making a big scene, attracting Attention. I don't like that."
drops into a seat - or tries, the tail knocks it back. He sighs, then pulls the seat forward, pulling his tail to the side. He flops down, staring at Elora, listening with anger before he starts to speak, pointing a finger as he starts to tell Emily his side.
The furry drops into a seat - or tries, the tail knocks it back. He sighs, then pulls the seat forward, pulling his tail to the side. He flops down, staring at Elora, listening with anger before he starts to speak, pointing a finger as he starts to tell Emily his side. (fix)
Emily leans against the door, blocking the doorway and keeping it "locked", her weight providing at least a bit resistance to anyone who'd try to open it. A frown answers Elora's words and she mumbles: "Relax, Kath... no one's gonna disturb here... we can just... ya know... talk it all out...", before turning her attention fully to the furry.
Elora takes a deep long-suffering breath as she waits for the man to speak.
He jabs his finger at Elora with, "I was looking for someone to talk to after I was attacked by a-a... a wild animal. She said that she'd listen to me, and when I trusted her, she called me crazy! So, I was going to leave... but I lost my phone. And she wants to play around, making a game out of whether or not she'll help or call me crazy! Who the fuck does that? If you don't believe me, don't even bother! Do I look like I'm five? That's not going to calm me down!"
He jabs his finger at Elora with, "I was looking for someone to talk to after I was attacked by a-a... a wild animal. She said that she'd listen to me, and when I trusted her, she called me crazy! So, I was going to leave... but I lost my phone. And she wants to play around, making a game out of whether or not she'll help or call me crazy! Who the fuck does that? If you don't believe me, don't even bother! Do I look like I'm five? That's not going to calm me down!" (repost)
Emily takes a deep breath and answers with a practised smile, her enunciation getting clearer and her voice sounding a little mechanical again: "Sir, why would I doubt you if you told me you were attacked by a wild animal? Have you been injured? Do you need an ambulance? You should get rabies shots first thing tomorrow morning..."
"So you're saying I should just believe whatever you say?" Elora asks. "Even if you're making a fool of yourself and me in public?" She shakes blue and teal hair. "You're not entitled to that from me. You should stop acting like a petulant child yelling and sulking and making a scene. if you don't want people to act like you're five." As she talks she walks toward the man, closing the distance between him and her. She is much smaller, probably.
Emily narrows her eyes at Elora and tenses a little, getting visibly nervous as she watches her walk to the man, but doesn't say anything and doesn't seem to react to his accusations, other than whispering very quietly with clenched teeth in a moment where the attention of the two people is not on her. "Jeez, Kath... take your fuckin' pills..."
He starts to quiet at Emily's words, but his emotions surge again when Elora speak. He turns to her, looking her right in the eyes as she insults him, grumbling back, "I'm not entitled to your belief, but you don't get to act immature then blame me for it. I had a near-death experience - what's your excuse for being a bitch?"
He's losing his energy, even though he's angry, the adrenaline stretched thin... he's tired, his voice betrays a sense of having lost his confidence - arguing with Elora may be easier for him than facing his memories, especially the one that caused him to fall over. She can see the growing seeds of doubt, finally, as he realizes that he's just arguing with strangers instead of accomplishing anything.
Emily interjects with a chirpy: "You look remarkably healthy for having been near-death today, sir...", for the first time tonight she eyes his costume up and down stifling an unprofessional giggle only by managing to bite her lower lip just in time. "Are there more people dressed like you out and about tonight?", she seems to want to pull the conversation back into her grasp and away from the two people bickering.
The man looks away from the small woman, to the slightly less tall woman. He blinks at her, before explaining with frustration, "Yeah... I got away. It chased me for... felt like forever. Then, the clouds covered the moon and... it just stood there, and let me go. It was... bizarre. Especially since that wolf was hunting me with such focus before... I guess it got bored?" He frowns as he finally starts to question it, admitting distractedly, "Nah, no furry convention in town... I mean, furries like to come here to the Dragon, yeah, but didn't see any here tonight...."
"You are quite lucky that it is as late it is," Elora tells the man as she finally relents. Having drawn closer her teal eyes are more prominent now than they were before. Easy to look at. "This whole nonsense with werewolves is just a bad dream" she mumrmurs softly.
Emily has a slight, lopsided smile on her lips and looks at the man with pitying curiosity. "-What- chased you, sir? The wolf? And then it let you go?", she sighs softly, "It is no shame to be scared of wolves and dogs, sir. If you'd like a drink to calm you down, I can get you one... after making sure you are not drunk already...", a short pause, then an apologetic "...regulations, ya know?"
Emily shrugs and taps at the door she is still leaning against. "Moonlight, misty night... all the bloody howlin' ya can hear here...", her professional demeanour slips for a moment, "...ya wouldn't be the first ta fall for a prank of their overexcited imagination..."
looks back to Elora, staring at her for a moment, several seconds, then blinking. "Hmm? Sorry, what? Wolves? Yeah - my fursona is a wolf. I ain't scared of them!" He smiles to Emily, motioning to his fursuit head, before lifting it up. "Sorry... it's late. I was supposed to be home right after game - Em will be *pissed* that I've taken so long... mind if I head out?"
It's as if he's completely checked out and forgotten. He recognizes the passage of time, but not what was in it. "Prank? Is that why...? Oh, right! My Werewolf(tm) character!" He snaps a finger, grinning at Emily now. "Yeah, I'll call it a prank next time a mundane sees me... blame it on Halloween, or something." He chuckles, his brain shuffling her words around until it finds an easy, lazy explanation.
Emily blinks a few times, her look of curiosity shifting to confusion. "A mundane? Is that what you call... uhh... normal pe... I mean, people who are not into this furry cra... thing?", she shakes her head, a little enervated, "Look... if ya don't want ta get a drink, I'll have ta ask ya ta leave, sir... I am jus' glad we could solve this issue here without having ta call the -police-..." She puts emphasis on the last word. "So, anythin' else I can do for ya?"
Emily blinks a few times, her look of curiosity shifting to confusion. "A mundane? Is that what you call... uhh... normal pe... I mean, people who are not into this furry cra... thing?", she shakes her head, a little enervated, "Eh, anyway... so issue 's sorted? I am jus' glad we could solve this here without having ta call the -police-..." She puts emphasis on the last word. (fix)
He blinks, just as confused. "What? No... I'm talking about Werewolf the Apocalypse... World of Darkness? You know?" He seems unsure about the police, brows furrowing at the word, but seems unconcerned. "Can I squeeze by you here? Lemme just...." He tries to get by.
Emily shakes her head and mumbles a very unprofessional: "Weirdo..." as she steps aside to let him pass.
The furry leaves, not realizing that his phone is missing until he's home. He may return another day to ask about it, but it will prove a fruitless task. Not the most fun game, and yet, Elora and Emily have both won, anyways. The goal of defusing the man, at least, was reached.
As the fursuited man recounted his tale of a harrowing chase by what he believed was a werewolf, Elora, cloaked in both mystery and literal magical illusions, manipulated the scenario with her enchantments, aiming to disarm and disorient. Her tactics, paired with Emily's timely intervention, veered the conversation from public panic to a private, controlled exchange within a staff room. Emily, though seemingly more concerned with upholding the tavern's peace than engaging in supernatural hunts, played a crucial role in pacifying the man's fervor with a mixture of professionalism and a hint of skepticism towards his account. Ultimately, Elora's mastery over illusions led the man to question his own experience, attributing the night's terror to an overactive imagination fueled by roleplay enthusiasm. Relieved yet confused, he departed, leaving behind his phone, ensnared in the web of Elora's magic, and the crisis quietly averted with the patrons none the wiser to the brush with potential supernatural exposure.
(Elora's odd encounter(SRAsh):SRAsh)
[Thu Oct 17 2024]
In the tavern main room of The Sleepy Dragon Inn and Retreat
This is a warm and welcoming establishment in the heart of Haven. The interior of the inn is cozy and inviting, with a rustic charm and you're immediately struck by the warmth and light that fills the room. The air is thick with the smell of roasting meat and freshly baked bread, making your stomach growl with hunger.
The main room is spacious and open, with a large wooden table at its center.The walls are adorned with wooden paneling, and the floor is made of worn wooden planks. A cleverly accurate gas fireplace crackles and spits in the hearth near the entrance, casting a golden glow over the room. The fire is surrounded by comfortable chairs, where guests can lounge and share stories.
Off to the side of the main room, there are several smaller tables and nooks that offer more intimate seating areas and to the east the pub continues into a cozy tavern bar proper.
It is night, about 55F(12C) degrees, There is a full moon.
(Someone in Haven has found out about the supernatural and is freaking out about it. They're at risk of exposing the secret, hurting themselves, or hurting others. Your target and their allies are tasked with containing the situation.
)
Elora had been in the Sleepy Dragon Inn and Retreat, a headquarters of sorts for the Knights of the Silver Dragon. As was common in the tavern there were plenty of people wearing cosplay. Elora was one of them, it would have seemed, though her garb was not cosplay. It actually did come from an Other place. It had felt prudent after being attacked outside her home earlier in the day to keep her equipment both with her and ready. Danger could be lurking around any corner, even the corner of her van as she hopped out of it. Now she wasn't in a place likely to be full of danger. She was in a place of video games and roleplaying and good food. A comfortable place. That comfort didn't sit on her well though. She was restless, anxious, fidgeting. Playing with her 'costume' as she looks around for people she recognized. Her brother was largely lost to her - too close to the problem and too paranoid to offer her any help. Her various friends were sleeping, none of them having the same issue as she did with anxiety claiming their night time hours.
Right in the heart of Haven, a sleepy town of myth and fantasy hidden in the urban sprawl, is the Sleepy Dragon Inn. Hidden in the urban sprawl, the inn is a place of myth and fantasy. Modern, urban people walk among literal dragons and fae creatures, without a blink or a hint of recognition. The unaware are as sleepy as the Inn, unaware and unawake to the dangers and powers that be.
At least it's warm in here, and cozy. There's food, for those that need it, there's witnesses, both aware and otherwise. There's laughter, and Elora knows that she can safely keep her blade on hand, sheathed - after all, it's just an expensive prop to most here. In the crowd around her, still full despite the late night, more costumed and cosplayed people pass to the computer room, or coming in and out of the tabletop room - especially the latter, as late night gamers dress up as their characters and roll dice.
Not long ago, a group of gamers had just finished for the night - just after Elora had arrived. An overweight latina lass with elf ears spoke cheerfully in her Boston accent to a pair of twin males, one in cheap wizard robes, the other wearing a plastic chestplate over his normal clothes, with a plastic sword hooked to a belt loop. A bard, an androgynous asian person with a dress on and a real ukelele was talking avidly with the last member of through troupe, a tall, lean man wearing a fur suit.
This was long and past by now, so much so that Elora may have furgotten - until a form in fur burst into the tavern quickly, heading right fur her! She's not quick enough to move before the figure is practically on her... but as she turns her head to look, she will see... it's the tall man from earlier. Largely because he's taken from his head as he moved a wolf head from his own, revealing him as a fursuiter - not a werewolf.
But, from up close, the fear is practically a stench on him. His skin is soaked in sweat, despite the weather outside, and his eyes are dilated. "A drink! Please! I - I need a fucking drink!" He drops his head on the nearest table to Elora, flagging down a server in cosplay, and getting a glass of water, while they go out to get him alcohol. He slams the water back, then collapses in a seat, near Elora. "Fucking... fucking wolves... gods. I- where's my phone? I n-need... I need to tell *someone*!"
Elora watches the man approach her with teal eyes. If there is any care for his obvious terror it doesn't show on the apathetic look she gazes at him with. Her words though are quickly lilting out of her in tempting offers, "You need a drink? I'll buy it." Then after a brief pause, cooing as she leans closer she offers, "And I'll listen too."
Elora pays attention to the man while listening for the sound of claws, growls, or other heralding warning. Her nightmare charm is a comforting weight and she is more then a little thankful at the way using it in public leaves some of the people around her with a sense of deja vu. Useful to be able to step somewhere safer if the wolves were coming.
The man, with native blood, blinks in response to Elora's offer. Apparently, he hadn't even seen her there. He's still panting for breath when he nods to her. "Y...yeah. Yes, yes please. And... I don't think you would believe me." He looks down, as if incredulous himself, but then he glances around. "Well... if you hang here, maybe...." He leans forward, exhaustion turning to urgency as he - perhaps foolishly - looks her right in the eye. "Do... do you think...." He glances around again, before leaning in more, almost half lying on the table. His voice drops to a whisper, ask he asks, "Do you think, like... the supernatural is... real? Possibly? Like... werewolves and... uh... vampires and shit."
He looks at Elora in complete desperation, as wide brown eyes search her apathetic face for a sign. His slightly dusky face, long with a straight nose, is contorted in something between a gasping grimace and a plea. His hands, removed from paws that connect to the wrist by velcro, hanging, are curled on the table, nails almost digging into them. Wavy brown hair is tousled, wild, tamed only by the damp sweat pulling it close to the scalp.
Is it fortunate that Elora cannot hear wolves coming? Is it because the tavern is too busy, or because there are no wolves? Either way, she's given no sign if there are - at most, there is simply this young man, and his experiences.
He looks her over suspiciously, as if her words made her less trustworthy. But, he considers it, before asking, cautiously, "...why am I lucky to have run into you?" The poor fool assumes that this is *good* luck, of course. "...do you actually believe? Are you a believer?" He speaks this with growing hope, his suspicion tossed aside in a *need* to have someone he can talk to. He sets his phone down on the table, focused entirely on Elora.
reaches out with her subtle magic, letting an illusion fall over the man's mind, clouding it so that the place on the table where he set his phone becomes bare. Just plain wood rather than a spot where a phone is. She doesn't move herself to reach for that phone or draw attention to its loss. Tricks are best played with attention helping. She lets her teal eyes widen and look back into his hopeful gaze. "I believe lots of things," Elora offers vaguely. "What do you think you say out there?"
reaches out with her subtle magic, letting an illusion fall over the man's mind, clouding it so that the place on the table where he set his phone becomes bare. Just plain wood rather than a spot where a phone is. She doesn't move herself to reach for that phone or draw attention to its loss. Tricks are best played with attention helping. She lets her teal eyes widen and look back into his hopeful gaze. "I believe lots of things," Elora offers vaguely. "What do you think you saw out there?" (fix)
He taps his fingers on the table anxiously, looking Elora over, breathing a little more quickly as the moment of decision, before the words suddenly gush forth in a flood. "I was just finished with the game - I was playing a Galliard Totem of Strength Garou, so I brought my fursuit, right? Then I went out, I started walking home... the moon was full, so I put my suit on. Figured, y'know, it's October, right? Maybe I would spook someone! Except... except, the wolf came! As huge as a house, slavering, with a maw that could snap me up! It snarled at me... and something... something in its eyes... it was too smart. I started to run - and it was playing with me! Like cat and mouth... but, it was way too smart, way too big... I think it was a werewolf!"
Elora sniffs the air trying to catch the scent of the wolf on the man; maybe its one of the wolves in town that she's heard of. But maybe it isn't.
Elora nods her head along like she understand the various gaming terms that the man is throwing out while having a lost look within her eyes. She probably looks the part of someone who would know those things in her fine faux-cosplay actually Other bought outfit. "How do you know your not just imagining things? Did you drink anything tonight? Take any drugs?"
The man winces, then falls back. "I didn't drink *anything*," he huffs. "I don't drink while gaming... I normally don't drink at *all*, but I *definitely* need one after that." He crosses his arms, looking aside. "Don't do drugs, either." He suddenly gains some fire in him, then declares, "You know what? I don't need you, I just need to...." And now, there. He's looking for his phone. He glances at the table, lifts his wolf-head, then sets it back down - half on top of his phone, blocking his view of it. He's glancing around, under the table - she's losing him.
Elora is at the center table and she is dressed up in seeming-cosplay; complete with an actual swords, sheathed of course. She's talking to a man in a fursuit of all things and the man is scrambling around to look for his phone; a hidden phone, shrouded under illusions and also the man's fursuit mask. "You don't need me, but I've been where you're at before." in the literal sense, she had sat in the same chair he was sitting, before. "Did you know they have medicine for these kinds of things? Seeing things, I mean. Like you do." And she's cruel enough that she follows up that word with illusions. She shows him something that she saw not so long ago. A malevolent spirit, gravecloth shrouding her form, hair black and matted and falling down into her face, with eyes with nails gouging into them. The horror doesn't say anything and it doesn't last long. Just enough to startle him out of that searching and confident air he was starting to get.
A man in a lupine fursuit is sitting at a table with Elora, looking around for something. He came in a short while ago, sweating, demanding a drink. His behavior has been a bit erratic, moving forward and back, though before Elora speaks, he says more loudly, "You know what? I don't need you!" He says something else, trailing off. Though, after a moment, he falls back in his chair, the whole thing falling back, leaving him on the floor, staring at... nothing. Only he sees this illusion, after all.
Emily comes into the tavern room through a door marked "staff only", wearing a classic renaissance-faire barmaid costume - ankkle-lenght underskirt, knee-lenght red overskirt, brown underbust corset and a blouse with frilly sleeves. After fussing about her costume a little and exchanging a few friendly words of greeting with the waitstaff around - a short laugh, a quick smile - she picks up a tray and walks though the room, jotting down orders, smiling, greeting, seemingly unaware of Elora and the fursuited man at first until she comes to their table. "Heya, Kath!", a warm tone is in her voice and she looks curiously from her to the man, seemingly unaware of his distress and greeting him more in-character with a "Greetings, traveller! Can I get you two something to drink?"
"Hello Emily," Elora lilts out in return greeting while sitting up a bit in her seat to peer down - for once! down! something or someone actually below or beneath! - at the fallen man. "This man is a loopy garoo player in a game they have here, but he's saying things and acting out in a way that makes me think he went loopy in the head too."
Elora would try to grab up the phone while the man was on the floor; unable to see what she was doing above him on the table.
The man looks up from the floor, looking bewildered at Emily, then glancing back around. He frowns up at Elora, though, and growls, "I'm not loopy! And that's loup-garou -" Pronounced loogaroo -" So, fuck your pun! I'm telling you, it was a *real* werewolf!" His fall gathered attention, so his yelling, now, is doing more. People are looking over and concerned - though a few look away with slight annoyance. The tabletop room must be full, is the whispered words around the room - though the man misses this.
Emily hugs her empty tray to herself and furrows her brow, as she stares down at the man as well, concern only showing after Elora's explanation. "Sir? Sir! Do you need an ambulance?" She sets the tray onto the table and fusses with her skirts as she gets down on one knee. "How many drinks did you have at the bar? Did you hit your head? Are you feeling faint?" Her gaze wanders to Elora, a faint frown on her expression as she does indeed notice her swiping the phone, but she elects not to say anything, instead holding up three fingers over the man's face and waving them around wildly and distractingly. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
Elora tenses up, cringing a bit from the cussing and yelling, shrinking back into her seat. And she of course adds an illusion for the man: extra fingers blurring out of Emily's hand.
The man waves off Emily's hand, saying, "No! I'm fine! I haven't had a drink at all but some water - she said she'd buy me one, then she started calling me crazy!" He points at Elora, jabbing his finger at her, before he reaches out to grab the table and stand himself up.
The man misses the table, earning a snort from one of the onlookers - earning him a red face. "...fuck this. I'm not... where's my phone?" He rolls over onto his hands and knees, looking for it on the floor. His bulky fursuit, couple with his stuffed tail, makes him look particularly goofy, even earning a "Puppy!" from a giggling, pointing child.
Elora interjects to man, "Listen, lets make a game of this okay? If you can tell us how many fingers she's holding up? Then clearly you're right and so I'll help you find your phone and we'll do whatever we have to make sure the Right people know what you've discovered." She then pauses. "But if you get it wrong then you're going to need to forget that this whole thing happened."
Emily furrows her brow some more as she rises with the man, holding up a hand to him, palm facing him as if signifying to stop. "Sir! Stay calm. Stay calm! Do not cause a scene and do not harrass other customers!" She glances behind her to half-whisper to Elora "Is this man harrassing you, Kath?"
Elora has illusions which hide some of the fingers on the hand, making it look like Emily is holding up fingers still rather than making a stop sign.
The man sighs, at first, growing more frustrated. "Why make it into a game? You're not taking this seriously! Why should I bother?" He gets up now, more carefully - he can't find his phone, for some reason. When Emily demands that he calm down, he does what everyone does when told to calm down - he gets mad. "I'm not harassing anyone! She is harassing me!" He points to Elora, then at himself, then hold out a flat palm, upright, towards Elora.
Elora continues playing the part of a confused sick girl in her cringing manner as the irate man freaks out. In public with attention on her she is not about to doing anything strange or start hissing at him in anger for his refusal to play.
Emily sighs deeply and nervously looks around as she too notices the swelling unrest in the other patrons and the attention the scene is causing. "If you have a complaint or a report to make, please not in the public room, sir!", her voice lowers a little and she points towards the door marked "Staff Only", her voice tense despite trying to give it a calm tone. "Follow me, please, an' we can sort everythin' out...", a gesture towards Elora indicates that she means her too.
is angry - but not with Emily, so he grabs his wolf head and stomps after her... softened by the pads at the bottom of his paws.
He is angry - but not with Emily, so he grabs his wolf head and stomps after her... softened by the pads at the bottom of his paws. (fix)
Elora rises and follows after Emily as well heading back into the private area.
Emily breathes a sigh of relief after a quick: "This way, please!", ushering the pair towards the staff room, making gestures towards her colleagues as they pass them as if to indicate that she has everything under control and doesn't need support.
He follows right after her, even going ahead as he does, until he's in the staff room, a fist on his hip as he turns around to look at Elora. He seems unaware of what this may mean for him - the room is empty. All of the staff is present today that works on this shift - and they are all out on the floor, or in the kitchens. It's no one's break time, and the place is too busy for any of the staff to be nosy. It's just this furry, Elora, and Emily in here, now.
Emily closes the door after Elora and takes a deep breath. "Awright...", she starts, her enunciation slipping again as she seems to relax just a touch and puts her hands onto her hips. "So, first a' all... what happened?"
Emily gestures towards some chairs as a silent invitation for Elora and the fursuited man to sit down.
Elora has a tone dips, voice lower, more of a hiss now than a coo as she lays out the important facts. "He doesn't want to play a game. I liked to him, but he doesn't want to listen in return. Instead he's making a big scene, attracting Attention. I don't like that."
drops into a seat - or tries, the tail knocks it back. He sighs, then pulls the seat forward, pulling his tail to the side. He flops down, staring at Elora, listening with anger before he starts to speak, pointing a finger as he starts to tell Emily his side.
The furry drops into a seat - or tries, the tail knocks it back. He sighs, then pulls the seat forward, pulling his tail to the side. He flops down, staring at Elora, listening with anger before he starts to speak, pointing a finger as he starts to tell Emily his side. (fix)
Emily leans against the door, blocking the doorway and keeping it "locked", her weight providing at least a bit resistance to anyone who'd try to open it. A frown answers Elora's words and she mumbles: "Relax, Kath... no one's gonna disturb here... we can just... ya know... talk it all out...", before turning her attention fully to the furry.
Elora takes a deep long-suffering breath as she waits for the man to speak.
He jabs his finger at Elora with, "I was looking for someone to talk to after I was attacked by a-a... a wild animal. She said that she'd listen to me, and when I trusted her, she called me crazy! So, I was going to leave... but I lost my phone. And she wants to play around, making a game out of whether or not she'll help or call me crazy! Who the fuck does that? If you don't believe me, don't even bother! Do I look like I'm five? That's not going to calm me down!"
He jabs his finger at Elora with, "I was looking for someone to talk to after I was attacked by a-a... a wild animal. She said that she'd listen to me, and when I trusted her, she called me crazy! So, I was going to leave... but I lost my phone. And she wants to play around, making a game out of whether or not she'll help or call me crazy! Who the fuck does that? If you don't believe me, don't even bother! Do I look like I'm five? That's not going to calm me down!" (repost)
Emily takes a deep breath and answers with a practised smile, her enunciation getting clearer and her voice sounding a little mechanical again: "Sir, why would I doubt you if you told me you were attacked by a wild animal? Have you been injured? Do you need an ambulance? You should get rabies shots first thing tomorrow morning..."
"So you're saying I should just believe whatever you say?" Elora asks. "Even if you're making a fool of yourself and me in public?" She shakes blue and teal hair. "You're not entitled to that from me. You should stop acting like a petulant child yelling and sulking and making a scene. if you don't want people to act like you're five." As she talks she walks toward the man, closing the distance between him and her. She is much smaller, probably.
Emily narrows her eyes at Elora and tenses a little, getting visibly nervous as she watches her walk to the man, but doesn't say anything and doesn't seem to react to his accusations, other than whispering very quietly with clenched teeth in a moment where the attention of the two people is not on her. "Jeez, Kath... take your fuckin' pills..."
He starts to quiet at Emily's words, but his emotions surge again when Elora speak. He turns to her, looking her right in the eyes as she insults him, grumbling back, "I'm not entitled to your belief, but you don't get to act immature then blame me for it. I had a near-death experience - what's your excuse for being a bitch?"
He's losing his energy, even though he's angry, the adrenaline stretched thin... he's tired, his voice betrays a sense of having lost his confidence - arguing with Elora may be easier for him than facing his memories, especially the one that caused him to fall over. She can see the growing seeds of doubt, finally, as he realizes that he's just arguing with strangers instead of accomplishing anything.
Emily interjects with a chirpy: "You look remarkably healthy for having been near-death today, sir...", for the first time tonight she eyes his costume up and down stifling an unprofessional giggle only by managing to bite her lower lip just in time. "Are there more people dressed like you out and about tonight?", she seems to want to pull the conversation back into her grasp and away from the two people bickering.
The man looks away from the small woman, to the slightly less tall woman. He blinks at her, before explaining with frustration, "Yeah... I got away. It chased me for... felt like forever. Then, the clouds covered the moon and... it just stood there, and let me go. It was... bizarre. Especially since that wolf was hunting me with such focus before... I guess it got bored?" He frowns as he finally starts to question it, admitting distractedly, "Nah, no furry convention in town... I mean, furries like to come here to the Dragon, yeah, but didn't see any here tonight...."
"You are quite lucky that it is as late it is," Elora tells the man as she finally relents. Having drawn closer her teal eyes are more prominent now than they were before. Easy to look at. "This whole nonsense with werewolves is just a bad dream" she mumrmurs softly.
Emily has a slight, lopsided smile on her lips and looks at the man with pitying curiosity. "-What- chased you, sir? The wolf? And then it let you go?", she sighs softly, "It is no shame to be scared of wolves and dogs, sir. If you'd like a drink to calm you down, I can get you one... after making sure you are not drunk already...", a short pause, then an apologetic "...regulations, ya know?"
Emily shrugs and taps at the door she is still leaning against. "Moonlight, misty night... all the bloody howlin' ya can hear here...", her professional demeanour slips for a moment, "...ya wouldn't be the first ta fall for a prank of their overexcited imagination..."
looks back to Elora, staring at her for a moment, several seconds, then blinking. "Hmm? Sorry, what? Wolves? Yeah - my fursona is a wolf. I ain't scared of them!" He smiles to Emily, motioning to his fursuit head, before lifting it up. "Sorry... it's late. I was supposed to be home right after game - Em will be *pissed* that I've taken so long... mind if I head out?"
It's as if he's completely checked out and forgotten. He recognizes the passage of time, but not what was in it. "Prank? Is that why...? Oh, right! My Werewolf(tm) character!" He snaps a finger, grinning at Emily now. "Yeah, I'll call it a prank next time a mundane sees me... blame it on Halloween, or something." He chuckles, his brain shuffling her words around until it finds an easy, lazy explanation.
Emily blinks a few times, her look of curiosity shifting to confusion. "A mundane? Is that what you call... uhh... normal pe... I mean, people who are not into this furry cra... thing?", she shakes her head, a little enervated, "Look... if ya don't want ta get a drink, I'll have ta ask ya ta leave, sir... I am jus' glad we could solve this issue here without having ta call the -police-..." She puts emphasis on the last word. "So, anythin' else I can do for ya?"
Emily blinks a few times, her look of curiosity shifting to confusion. "A mundane? Is that what you call... uhh... normal pe... I mean, people who are not into this furry cra... thing?", she shakes her head, a little enervated, "Eh, anyway... so issue 's sorted? I am jus' glad we could solve this here without having ta call the -police-..." She puts emphasis on the last word. (fix)
He blinks, just as confused. "What? No... I'm talking about Werewolf the Apocalypse... World of Darkness? You know?" He seems unsure about the police, brows furrowing at the word, but seems unconcerned. "Can I squeeze by you here? Lemme just...." He tries to get by.
Emily shakes her head and mumbles a very unprofessional: "Weirdo..." as she steps aside to let him pass.
The furry leaves, not realizing that his phone is missing until he's home. He may return another day to ask about it, but it will prove a fruitless task. Not the most fun game, and yet, Elora and Emily have both won, anyways. The goal of defusing the man, at least, was reached.