Encounterlogs
Keiths Odd Encounter Sr Victoria 250217
In the quiet town of Haven, Keith, a newcomer working in the armory of the Forged Fortune, finds himself entangled in a supernatural encounter. Alone in the armory, with only the cold company of weapons and crates, the tranquility of his mundane task is shattered by an eerie disturbance. A malevolent spirit launches an assault on him, pinning him with an oppressive force and whispering threats. In a panic, Keith flails in resistance, his pleas echoing in the darkened room. However, his attention is soon captured by a misplaced box, compelling him to investigate despite the recent turmoil. As he opens it, revealing ancient tomes within, Keith is overcome by a bizarre urge to destroy his valued mullet with a pair of scissors found in a drawer, an action he resists. This leads to a surprising transformation into a wolfish form, indicating an even deeper, mystical influence at play, far beyond a mere haunted encounter.
On another front, Lilian, determined to retrieve a powerful artifact from the notorious Golden Shadow, transforms into a raven and scouts their location near an old fortification. Despite the preparations of the Golden Shadow to harness the artifact's fate-manipulating abilities, Lilian cleverly sabotages their ritual circle. Her actions cause chaos, with magical explosions disrupting the ceremony and providing her with the opportunity to snatch the artifact. Opting against confronting the Golden Shadow directly, she escape back to her college dorm using her shadow-walking ability. Faced with the decision of what to do with the Plate of Forthcoming, Lilian chooses to ally with the Order, negotiating a rewarding exchange for her efforts. Thus, the night concludes with Lilian ensuring the artifact's safety and securing her interests, while Keith wrestles with the shadowy depths of his own being, each entwined in the mysterious occurrences that pervade Haven.
(Keith's odd encounter(SRVictoria):SRVictoria)
[Sun Feb 16 2025]
In the secret armory of the Forged Fortune
There is a mirror leaning against the wall.
It is night, about 21F(-6C) degrees, There is a waning gibbous moon.
(Your target is possessed by an angry spirit that is forcing them to act out and putting themselves and/or others at risk. They must either defeat it or find a way to calm it down.
)
Working in the armory of the Forged Fortune, Keith doesn't do anything terribly special there. Carrying boxed and stacking them against the wall. A task he is very skilled and experienced at... For what that is worth.
Keith, a newcomer to Haven, finds himself in the armory, a place that offers a sense of security in a town where strange occurrences seem to be the norm rather than the exception. As the evening stretches on, he works diligently, the quiet hum of his tasks filling the secluded space. Perhaps, within these hidden walls, surrounded by weapons and sturdy defenses as well as the allure of piles of boxes, he allows himself to relax just a little, believing for a fleeting moment that he is safe- untouched by the peculiar happenings that lurk just beyond the armorys doors.
The dim glow of the overhead lights flickers for a brief moment, casting long, shifting shadows across the armorys racks and shelves. The silence around Keith suddenly feels heavy, pressing in, thick with something unseen but undeniably present. The lights flicker again- once, twice, before cutting out completely, plunging the armory into suffocating darkness. Before he has a chance to react, an unseen force slams into Keith's chest, accompanied by whisper slithering through the darkness, low and guttural, filled with rage.
"You don't belong here." His limbs go rigid for a moment, locked in place as if unseen hands have seized control.
Squinting his light blue eyes as he looks around himself, the cold chill of the phantom hands touching him, before flat out panicking, he declares, "Daaang man, this is the place I belong. I am at work!" And then it hits him, that someone isn't really talking to anyone, but himself. Delayed in reaction, even dumb animals respond instantly... But Keith ? No, it took him a moment, "DANG MAN!!!" And he starts flailing around, kicking, trying to jump away, flailing around as much as he can possibly manage, "No no, noooooO!"
Squinting his light blue eyes as he looks around himself, the cold chill of the phantom hands touching him, before flat out panicking, he declares, "Daaang man, this is the place I belong. I am at work!" And then it hits him, that he isn't really talking to anyone, but himself. Delayed in reaction, even dumb animals respond instantly... But Keith ? No, it took him a moment, "DANG MAN!!!" And he starts flailing around, kicking, trying to jump away, flailing around as much as he can possibly manage, "No no, noooooO!"
The momentary chaos that had gripped Keith's mind is suddenly gone, as if it had never been there at all. The air in the armory is still, the weight in his chest lifted. But something lingers, an uneasy quiet, a question unspoken, an absence that feels too deliberate.
The lights, steady now, cast their dim glow across the room, illuminating the boxes he's been stacking with meticulous care. Everything is as it should be. Almost.
It's then, that Keith would see it.
A single box in the farthest corner, where the shadows seem reluctant to retreat. It isnt large, nor particularly remarkable in appearance, but it doesnt belong there. Not with the others. Not with the perfect order he has maintained. Its off, just enough that the sight of it scratches at something in his brain, an itch he suddenly needs to scratch.
His feet move before he registers the impulse, drawn forward by something deep and insistent, something not entirely his own. There is no hesitation, no moment of decision. One step. Then another. The room feels elongated, stretched, as though the distance between him and the box is much farther than it should be. The closer he gets, the heavier the air becomes, thick with something waiting.
Panting as he approaches, Keith makes his way towards the box with determination, almost seeming to forget what happened just moments ago. Either because odd things are common place in Haven or it is just a matter of him actually forgetting when falling back to the task on hand, "That box doesn't go there." He says, totally missing the oddness of the shadow and more fixed on the box itself, "Boss would be pissed if I leave this place a mess."
Keith's fingers twitch mid-motion, hovering near his hair before finally making contact. The action feels foreign, like muscle memory that isnt his own, and yet he cant stop it. His hand rakes through his hair, a casual, almost absentminded gesture, but his body is rigid, the air around him buzzing with an energy he cant explain.
And then, like a firm hand pressing against his back, hes propelled forward. Not a violent shove- just enough force to tip him closer, to make sure he sees.
The box gapes open just a fraction more, offering a glimpse of what lies within. Yellowed pages, their edges curling with time, peek from the slit in the cardboard. The scent of aged paper, ink, and something deeper- earthy, old, wrong- seeps into the air around him. Books? No research. Tomes. Keith's breath comes shallow as he reaches for the lid, compelled, yet distantly aware that this is not a decision of his own making. The weight in his chest returns, pressing, insistent. A whisper slithers through his mind, a voice not quite heard but understood nonetheless.
"Open it."
A box of big spooky tomes in his boss' warehouse. Not exactly unusual and even the odd occasional curses that come along such things. All the otherworldly voices, spooky touching, and the like. NOPE, Keith just reaches over to his belt, pulling off a hammer that he carries with him while at work. He pounds the nails back into the crate and picks it up, making his way over to where the crate should be, stacking it back on the shelf, "Dang man. That was being feisty."
Keith had done what he was supposed to do. He stacked the crates, like any other day. He was supposed to turn away now, to move on. And yet, something inside him recoils as though hes left something unfinished, something important.
The thought barely has time to take root before the crate shudders.
The wood groans under its own weight, an unnatural tremor running through it before it lurches- wobbling, tipping, and then crashing against the floor in a thunderous explosion of paper and aged bindings. The mess sprawls before Keith, a sea of yellowed pages and tattered books, their contents lost to time. The words on the pages are too small to read from where he stands, but his attention snags on one object in particular. Amid the scattered chaos, a single rolled-up poster sits untouched, its edges curled but intact. His fingers itch, hesitation warring with an insatiable pull.
"Daaaaaaaang!" Keith lets out in shock as the crate falls over. He runs his fingers through his hair as he looks over at the mess of papers all over the floor. The sensation of panic returns to him as he realizes that he probably wrecked his boss's important...... important.... important whatever it was... But it was probably important. Whatever is scribbled over the papers though, Keith doesn't go to read it, sometimes it is questionable if the man can even read, but it is likely he has at least a six grade reading level. Regardless, the poster sticking out is one item he can recover from certain destruction, so he reaches for it.
Keith's fingers eagerly unfurl the poster, expecting something sinister, something important, but instead, hes greeted by a bewildering sight.
The image on the poster is of a man- no, /the/ man- glorious in his sheer, golden-haired splendor. A well-muscled figure, skin bronzed as though kissed by the sun itself, his smile a confident, almost smug curve as his long, flowing mullet catches the wind behind him. The hair- Keith cant help but stare- the /hair/. It's perfectly styled, a wild, flowing masterpiece that any man would envy. And its so unmistakably, ridiculously... fabulous. It takes a moment to absorb the full glory of it. The luxurious blonde locks cascade past the mans shoulders, a cascade of windblown perfection that makes Keith's own mullet feel lackluster in comparison.
In an action not his own, Keith casts a glance around, still processing what hes looking at. And it doesnt stop with the poster. The nearby books, their covers marred by the wear of time, are filled with the same man. Fabio. That same tanned, muscled figure, posing in various, increasingly ridiculous ways. Each book, each tome is adorned with his radiant image.
Then, his gaze drifts to a discarded scrap of wooden crate that had been tossed aside in the chaos. The words written in a hurried, scrawling hand send a strange chill through him: hair inspo.
Looking over the post for a long moment, "Daang, David Hasselhoff!" Keith lets out, clearly getting the star on the poster wrong and having no idea who 'Fabio' is really, but understanding the poster must be of someone famous, "Wonder why the boss had this?" Looking around as if someone would be watching him, Keith starts to tuck the poster away under his shirt to smuggle it out of the warehouse.
The books slip from Keith's fingers, the sound of their fall a hollow echo that fades into an unsettling silence. But inside his skull, something else is far more loud. A deep, throaty laughter, sharp, and sinister pulses through his thoughts, shaking his mind with its mocking tone.
It begins low, a chuckle that resonates like the creak of ancient doors swinging open, followed by another. Then, it grows, louder, more insistent, a cackling sound that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Pushed by invisible hands, Keith spins around on one heel, his feet moving like theyre attached to strings pulled taut by something unseen. His eyes dart toward a desk, within the room, his body already heading toward it, each step feeling foreign, not his own. He wants to fight it, to resist, but the laughter in his mind roars louder, urging him forward.
His hand reaches out with a jerk, fingers grasping the drawers handle as if it belongs to him. The drawer slides open with an eerie ease, revealing a pair of gleaming scissors. The metal catches the faint light, and a shiver runs down his spine. The scissors are sharp. Too sharp.
But its the second hand, his other hand, that betrays him. It moves of its own accord, curling a lock of his own mullet between his fingers, the strands soft and familiar against his skin. "I should cut this," his lips whisper, the words tasting wrong, as if the voice is his, and yet not. The sensation is horrifying, like an out-of-body experience where hes watching, powerless, as his own hands betray him.
Hurling the scissors away from himself with the spirit's efforts to destroy his rockin' doo, its finally gets Keith's totally undivided attention. "Heck no!" The mullet baring young man calling out, something about his language never breaching into the realm of actual real curse words. Tearing at his clothing, his form starts to snap, crack, shift, and become misshapen. Fur starts to burst out from under his skin, leaving its surface shredded as he starts to take on a wolfish form.
With a violent jerk, the scissors go flying, their sharp metal glinting as they cut through the air. They whirl past Keith(wolf)'s face, narrowly missing his snout, and slam into the wall with a sickening thunk. The noise hangs in the air, thick with the weight of something else, something darker.
For a moment, everything goes still. The laughter recedes, but it doesnt vanish, just pulls back, lingering in the shadows of his mind, wIts clear now: whatever had latched onto him, whatever had influenced him, it wasnt about Fabios hair. That had been the distraction. No, this was something else entirely. A transformation was on the horizon, something far more potentand far more dangerous.atching, waiting. A soft breeze picks up, whispering through the armory, carrying with it a scent not entirely human. It flutters through Keith(wolf)'s fur, teasing at the edges, much too gentle to be a normal draft, far too intentional.
The presence, that force that has latched onto him, shifts, growing more persistent. Its not just content with waiting anymore. Its pushing, urging, clawing at the edges of his consciousness. Something is changing.
Its clear now: whatever has latched onto him, whatever has influenced him, it wasnt about Fabios hair. That had been the distraction. No, this was something else entirely. A transformation was on the horizon, something far more potent, and far more dangerous.
(Your target and their allies have been tasked to retrieve a powerful artifact that has been stolen by The Golden Shadow. This artifact is rumored to have the ability to either hasten or prevent the impending apocalypse, depending on whose hands it falls into. The players must infiltrate the Golden Shadow's stronghold and retrieve the artifact, all while navigating the group's complex politics and avoiding their deadly mercenaries. They may choose to confront the group directly, negotiate for the return of the artifact, or try to outsmart them and steal it back. The decisions they make could have far-reaching consequences for the future of their world.)
Lilian sits on the granite counter and send soft some texts on her phone.
The night has already fallen upon the town of Haven, the last couple natural lights of the day being snuff out and allowing a veil of darkness slowly settle upon the resting town, which only seems more pronounced with the aid of the dark grey storm clouds that hover on the sky, threatening with a pour down, making it hard to see around in the street for those whose eyes weren't adapted to the lack of light.
To help fight this encroaching darkness, some street lights have been turned on, bathing at least the more popular routes in, allowing some visibility to those still roaming them. Not that there were many doing that, it was a late night Sunday, and people were already at home, leaving the last couple things ready before heading to bed, in order to have a good nights sleep and rest properly before going back to work on Monday.
It is in the middle of this silent night, that some of the not so peaceful societies and groups decided to act, shrouded by the night, the chances of getting caught doing anything they shouldn't was lower, as was that of being interrupted or having their plans thwarted. And such is the case tonight of the Golden Shadow - Known for their interest on ancient and powerful artifacts, with a disregard on politics or what other groups preach, just interested in exploiting the power of whatever magic trinket they got their hands in - In this case, the Plate of Forthcoming. An ancient artifact that once was retrieved from the Other, the world of the Fae, and that had been kept protected for a very long time inside one of the vaults of the Order.
This artifact has the power to bend fate in a way most of the smaller luck manipulative fey cannot, able to sway choices and change outcomes on the level which would be exclusive to those tricksters powerful enough to claim your life just by standing too close to you - But now it was in the hands of this criminal group, and although most hadn't noticed yet, some reports from the scouts are quick to reach the ears of some, in this case in particular, Lilian is one of the first to be informed of this valuable intel, a warning that comes with a decision to make.
In the form of a text message from one of the scouts from the Phalanx, she is informed of the dangers this artifact presents in the hands of the Golden Shadow, giving them the ability to simply rewrite fate itself for more favorable outcomes with a flick of their fingers, as well as the interest from both parties to have it back - The Order wants to put it back into one of the vaults in order to keep it safe from everyone intending to misuse it - While some of the Fae living at the other side of the Gate have also notified their desire to return this magic trinket back to its homeland, where it rightfully belongs, with the people that created it in the first place, and have threatened with retaliation if the relic isn't returned to them.
Now, the choice to make is up to those that first answer the call for help. Lilian has additionally been sent a location, presumably where the trinket is being held by the evil doers, who are planning a small ritual to try to get it working. The scouts have included the detail that while most of the Golden Shadow guarding it are unarmed, simply ready to activate its magic to get their way out of any sticky situation, to be wary, since a call has been sent towards their headquarters, asking for reinforcements and some aid in the transportation, meaning that whatever little resistance there is right now, is about to be increased right before the trinket leaves its place, planning a full blown operation to secure such valuable artifact.
Now what to do is truly up to Lilian, will she simply let this opportunity go and let the Golden Shadow keep their newly acquired treasure? Maybe she hopes some other group or society within Haven makes the decision for her or retrieves it, taking the decision of Fae or Order off her shoulders, and saving her the trouble of any of the groups being against her? Will she aid in this difficult task before something goes horribly wrong?
Unfortunately for the golden shadow, Lilian is very interested in the golden shadow given they're the number one suspects for the disappearance of her brother. The scouts have been on the look out for any news about the golden shadow and since this is the first piece of news Lilian has had in a while.. she was going to take advantage of it. She sends a few messages to her contact in the order -Jonathon Kong and then makes down the stairs. Tonight is a night for armor it seems and Lilian grabs her longbow and katana as well before she shifts into a raven.
Black as the night, the raven caws as it takes to the air, taking the air currents to the location she was sent by her scouts.
It doesn't really take someone much flying to get close to the location mentioned in the text messages, it was relatively close to the cemetery, which was just by the woman's house. A little southwards from the place where the spirits usually caused ruckus, coming back from the earth to torment their living for little whiles. Closer to the outer forest, a stone construction from another time seems to still be standing, somewhat, with cracks on the walls, and hardly having any ceilings in place, perfect for the raven to scout the place calmly before deciding a course of action.
The building she can see was likely some fortification in the past, not too big in size, in the forest and closeby to the sea, it was likely some sort of resistance or alarm against either pirates or incoming naval threats. With a tower that was more collapsed than standing nowadays, and tall walls of dark stone. And an inside patio that seemed to be where most members of the Golden Shadow were gathering, with the occasional one standing on top of the walls or walking around the tree line in hopes of detecting any incoming threats before it was too late, it didn't seem like they had many eyes on the sky.
And if Lilian was to fly any closer, she could probably even see the layout they were about to use. Around nine members of the group were inside the patio, five of them tracing lines on the ground, readying the ritual. Two of them on the center of what was a presumable circle, with the plate on some sort of makeshift altar, guarding it. And the other two were to the sides, checking every so often the few entrances by foot to the place. On the walls the count went to around three or four people glancing around, and outside the walls of the fortification, another four or five. Of these numbers, only about half of them seemed to be armed in some capacity, and three of them were showing heavy weaponry - But in a town like Haven, one never knows who might be ready to whip out sorcery or shift into something more threatening.
It doesn't really take Lilian much flying to get close to the location mentioned in the text messages, it was relatively close to the cemetery, which was just by the woman's house. A little southwards from the place where the spirits usually caused ruckus, coming back from the earth to torment their living for little whiles. Closer to the outer forest, a stone construction from another time seems to still be standing, somewhat, with cracks on the walls, and hardly having any ceilings in place, perfect for the raven to scout the place calmly before deciding a course of action.
The building she can see was likely some fortification in the past, not too big in size, in the forest and closeby to the sea, it was likely some sort of resistance or alarm against either pirates or incoming naval threats. With a tower that was more collapsed than standing nowadays, and tall walls of dark stone. And an inside patio that seemed to be where most members of the Golden Shadow were gathering, with the occasional one standing on top of the walls or walking around the tree line in hopes of detecting any incoming threats before it was too late, it didn't seem like they had many eyes on the sky.
And if Lilian was to fly any closer, she could probably even see the layout they were about to use. Around nine members of the group were inside the patio, five of them tracing lines on the ground, readying the ritual. Two of them on the center of what was a presumable circle, with the plate on some sort of makeshift altar, guarding it. And the other two were to the sides, checking every so often the few entrances by foot to the place. On the walls the count went to around three or four people glancing around, and outside the walls of the fortification, another four or five. Of these numbers, only about half of them seemed to be armed in some capacity, and three of them were showing heavy weaponry - But in a town like Haven, one never knows who might be ready to whip out sorcery or shift into something more threatening.
The raven scouts the area, gliding almost silently past the group, careful not to put herself between them and the moon to not cause shadows. For a moment she lands on the stone construction, simply listening a while trying to work out what the plans of the group are. She is also on the lookout for the artifact .. Maybe something she can snatch up without being seen... Lilian stays soft and quiet, a inky black shadow almost impossible to see in the night.
At first, not much can be heard, so the first couple minutes, Lilian is simply left waiting while she watches the busy members of the Golden Shadow work, but eventually, some conversation sparks between them, in particular, between the two men that seem to be guarding the artifact, the Plate of Forthcoming, displayed on that little altar in the center of what with time looks more and more like a proper ritual circle.
"Why are we even doing this? Wouldn't it just be easier to simply take it back? Why ask for reinforcements and transportation while we make some fucking magic?" The tone when mentioning the magic growing more into a growl, it sounds like a complain from a low voiced man, Lilian was lucky to have good hearing, most of this would have been likely lost in the night otherwise. But the other man replies soon after, with a gravely voice himself "It's not that easy - The Order is likely on our trail, and surely some supers or some shit will follow us here - We are going to make use of the artifact's ability to manipulate fate to make sure we can get out of here with it in our possession, that's why we need reinforcements and transportation, that's why we need to activate it with magic"
Listening to the men, Lilian sighs internally as she listens. Should she just drop in before they finish the circle? That... probably seems the best. However Lilian thinks about having some fun first. She hops down to the ground, leathers closing as she uses her feet to scuff a few marks in the circle, unsealing it here and there, scuffing a few runes for containment into runes of explosion by rubbing away a few more bits - all the while darting back into the shadows when anyone looks in her direction.
Not only the shadows, but also the form of a bird are quite the aid to have Lilian(corvus) go unnoticed, most of the members in charge of the ritual don't even spot her, and even if they did, it's just a raven, there's tons of animals in the outer forest. Not to mention, the plate, being an artifact from the Other, seemed to have a particular pull towards animals, so Lilian(corvus) wasn't the only bird to see around here, there were a bunch around the pation despite the hour of the night it was, even smaller mammals like mice or squirrels seemed to be gathering.
One of the men that were conversing, the one complaining about magic, spares her a look, but doesn't really seem too convinced, like seeing something out of the corner of your eyes before discarding it as your imagination. No amount of smelling or disdain for vampires was giving Lilian(corvus) away this time.
And so, she remains hidden tinkering with the runes as the members of the Golden shadow finish the ritual circle - At which point, some gun shots can be heard outside the fortification, seems like someone else had arrived to fulfill the same mission, but wasn't as discrete as the birdie.
And with that, the presumable wolf leaves towards the outside, starting to shift even before going into one of the hallways that leads out. The two spare guards follow suit, and even two of the arcanists join them, leaving the grand total of four people in the pation, one guarding the relic, the other three giving the finishing touches, allowing Lilian(corvus) to either attempt to retrieve the artifact now, or try to mess with them even further before doing so.
Hearing that the gunfire was pretty far, Lilian(corvus) scrubs out a few more runes and cuffs the circle in a few more places before lifting off with a soft rustle of her wings. She soars above the others before coming down from behind at the guard guarding the relic. Shifting into a human with a drawn katana, Lilian(corvus) goes to try and stab the guard from behind.
And as Lilian goes for the kill, an invisible presence stops her, holding her hands and stopping her in her tracks before she can even sink the blade inside of the man. It seemed that Sanctuary was protecting the man, making it impossible for the gal to deliver the killing blow or to even cause any severe damage to him.
But little matters, because even if she fails to land the hit, or even if the man slowly turns around to see her - The arcanists seem to have finished the circle and started the ritual, and only within a couple of seconds, the relic starts floating, hovering in the air while shining with prismatic light, multitude of color illuminating the surrounding area - But Lilian had messed with the contention before, and what seemed more like a beam of light at first, turns soon after into multicolored little lightning shooting in every direction, frying on the spot any of the animals it catches, setting some of the grass alight, one even reaches for one of the men that was gathered, burning him almost as if he had been struck by a laser.
And an instant later, explosions around the edges of the ritual circle. The ground shaking and cracking, the artifact falls to the ground, powerless, as so do many of the figures on the area, including Lilian, the tremors and strength of the explosions pretty much forcing everyone to either take cover, or fall down - But there was a chance now, everyone off their guard, on the ground, and the relic discarded in the same manner, it wouldn't matter if the town's spell would prevent them from killing each other, if everyone was knocked down in a pile of dust, with the surrounding area exploding and burning
Snarling that there was sanctuary.. why on earth did the guy have sanctuary... Lilian falls to the ground on one knee just as the ritual starts and everything goes haywire. She shifts into a cat, using her fast reflexes to dodge and dart this way and that, ultimately landing on the plate when it falls to the ground powerless. Grabbing it with her teeth, Lilian attempts to shadow walk back to the college with the plate in tow.
While the plate might be difficult to hold with a cat's mouth, being seemingly made out of stone, just keeping it there for a brief instant is enough for Lilian to properly shadowwalk to safety. Appearing within her college dorm room, with the relic safe and sound in her power.
Whatever chaos she has left behind, no longer known to her, the explosions would likely cease without the source of magic power, but the fighting outside would probably continue until both parties realize that the trinket is missing. Now all that would be left to do for Lilian would be to decide what to do with such powerful artifact, after all, two different factions were interested on it.
Would the woman return it to the Order in order for them to secure it back into one of their vaults, hopefully one more secure than the last? Having people in the Order that she had contacted before this whole ordeal, this seemed like a clever option.
Or would she return the plate back to the place it belongs, to the same creatures that had created it in the first place, the Fae from the Other that seemed interested in having the artifact back - Maybe she didn't have as many affiliations there, but it is always prudent not to anger those with the ability to shift fate and luck.
The choice is easy for Lilian, she contacts her contact in the order - she has been allied with the order for many decades after all. She negotiates a few more favors as well as a payment in both blood and cash... before telling Jonnie to come meet her at the dorms. College after all is a great place to meet people.
And so, the Order is quick to send the contact along with some representatives and escorting forces towards the college, not only to secure the relic, but also to deliver to Lilian her cut in blood for her services in the matter - And after some discussing of the conditions and payments, everything is dealt with. The order eventually leaves with the relic, going to put it back into a safe place, and now the woman has the rest of her night free to do as she likes, no longer burdened by stopping some evil organization from manipulating fate for their own interests.
On another front, Lilian, determined to retrieve a powerful artifact from the notorious Golden Shadow, transforms into a raven and scouts their location near an old fortification. Despite the preparations of the Golden Shadow to harness the artifact's fate-manipulating abilities, Lilian cleverly sabotages their ritual circle. Her actions cause chaos, with magical explosions disrupting the ceremony and providing her with the opportunity to snatch the artifact. Opting against confronting the Golden Shadow directly, she escape back to her college dorm using her shadow-walking ability. Faced with the decision of what to do with the Plate of Forthcoming, Lilian chooses to ally with the Order, negotiating a rewarding exchange for her efforts. Thus, the night concludes with Lilian ensuring the artifact's safety and securing her interests, while Keith wrestles with the shadowy depths of his own being, each entwined in the mysterious occurrences that pervade Haven.
(Keith's odd encounter(SRVictoria):SRVictoria)
[Sun Feb 16 2025]
In the secret armory of the Forged Fortune
There is a mirror leaning against the wall.
It is night, about 21F(-6C) degrees, There is a waning gibbous moon.
(Your target is possessed by an angry spirit that is forcing them to act out and putting themselves and/or others at risk. They must either defeat it or find a way to calm it down.
)
Working in the armory of the Forged Fortune, Keith doesn't do anything terribly special there. Carrying boxed and stacking them against the wall. A task he is very skilled and experienced at... For what that is worth.
Keith, a newcomer to Haven, finds himself in the armory, a place that offers a sense of security in a town where strange occurrences seem to be the norm rather than the exception. As the evening stretches on, he works diligently, the quiet hum of his tasks filling the secluded space. Perhaps, within these hidden walls, surrounded by weapons and sturdy defenses as well as the allure of piles of boxes, he allows himself to relax just a little, believing for a fleeting moment that he is safe- untouched by the peculiar happenings that lurk just beyond the armorys doors.
The dim glow of the overhead lights flickers for a brief moment, casting long, shifting shadows across the armorys racks and shelves. The silence around Keith suddenly feels heavy, pressing in, thick with something unseen but undeniably present. The lights flicker again- once, twice, before cutting out completely, plunging the armory into suffocating darkness. Before he has a chance to react, an unseen force slams into Keith's chest, accompanied by whisper slithering through the darkness, low and guttural, filled with rage.
"You don't belong here." His limbs go rigid for a moment, locked in place as if unseen hands have seized control.
Squinting his light blue eyes as he looks around himself, the cold chill of the phantom hands touching him, before flat out panicking, he declares, "Daaang man, this is the place I belong. I am at work!" And then it hits him, that someone isn't really talking to anyone, but himself. Delayed in reaction, even dumb animals respond instantly... But Keith ? No, it took him a moment, "DANG MAN!!!" And he starts flailing around, kicking, trying to jump away, flailing around as much as he can possibly manage, "No no, noooooO!"
Squinting his light blue eyes as he looks around himself, the cold chill of the phantom hands touching him, before flat out panicking, he declares, "Daaang man, this is the place I belong. I am at work!" And then it hits him, that he isn't really talking to anyone, but himself. Delayed in reaction, even dumb animals respond instantly... But Keith ? No, it took him a moment, "DANG MAN!!!" And he starts flailing around, kicking, trying to jump away, flailing around as much as he can possibly manage, "No no, noooooO!"
The momentary chaos that had gripped Keith's mind is suddenly gone, as if it had never been there at all. The air in the armory is still, the weight in his chest lifted. But something lingers, an uneasy quiet, a question unspoken, an absence that feels too deliberate.
The lights, steady now, cast their dim glow across the room, illuminating the boxes he's been stacking with meticulous care. Everything is as it should be. Almost.
It's then, that Keith would see it.
A single box in the farthest corner, where the shadows seem reluctant to retreat. It isnt large, nor particularly remarkable in appearance, but it doesnt belong there. Not with the others. Not with the perfect order he has maintained. Its off, just enough that the sight of it scratches at something in his brain, an itch he suddenly needs to scratch.
His feet move before he registers the impulse, drawn forward by something deep and insistent, something not entirely his own. There is no hesitation, no moment of decision. One step. Then another. The room feels elongated, stretched, as though the distance between him and the box is much farther than it should be. The closer he gets, the heavier the air becomes, thick with something waiting.
Panting as he approaches, Keith makes his way towards the box with determination, almost seeming to forget what happened just moments ago. Either because odd things are common place in Haven or it is just a matter of him actually forgetting when falling back to the task on hand, "That box doesn't go there." He says, totally missing the oddness of the shadow and more fixed on the box itself, "Boss would be pissed if I leave this place a mess."
Keith's fingers twitch mid-motion, hovering near his hair before finally making contact. The action feels foreign, like muscle memory that isnt his own, and yet he cant stop it. His hand rakes through his hair, a casual, almost absentminded gesture, but his body is rigid, the air around him buzzing with an energy he cant explain.
And then, like a firm hand pressing against his back, hes propelled forward. Not a violent shove- just enough force to tip him closer, to make sure he sees.
The box gapes open just a fraction more, offering a glimpse of what lies within. Yellowed pages, their edges curling with time, peek from the slit in the cardboard. The scent of aged paper, ink, and something deeper- earthy, old, wrong- seeps into the air around him. Books? No research. Tomes. Keith's breath comes shallow as he reaches for the lid, compelled, yet distantly aware that this is not a decision of his own making. The weight in his chest returns, pressing, insistent. A whisper slithers through his mind, a voice not quite heard but understood nonetheless.
"Open it."
A box of big spooky tomes in his boss' warehouse. Not exactly unusual and even the odd occasional curses that come along such things. All the otherworldly voices, spooky touching, and the like. NOPE, Keith just reaches over to his belt, pulling off a hammer that he carries with him while at work. He pounds the nails back into the crate and picks it up, making his way over to where the crate should be, stacking it back on the shelf, "Dang man. That was being feisty."
Keith had done what he was supposed to do. He stacked the crates, like any other day. He was supposed to turn away now, to move on. And yet, something inside him recoils as though hes left something unfinished, something important.
The thought barely has time to take root before the crate shudders.
The wood groans under its own weight, an unnatural tremor running through it before it lurches- wobbling, tipping, and then crashing against the floor in a thunderous explosion of paper and aged bindings. The mess sprawls before Keith, a sea of yellowed pages and tattered books, their contents lost to time. The words on the pages are too small to read from where he stands, but his attention snags on one object in particular. Amid the scattered chaos, a single rolled-up poster sits untouched, its edges curled but intact. His fingers itch, hesitation warring with an insatiable pull.
"Daaaaaaaang!" Keith lets out in shock as the crate falls over. He runs his fingers through his hair as he looks over at the mess of papers all over the floor. The sensation of panic returns to him as he realizes that he probably wrecked his boss's important...... important.... important whatever it was... But it was probably important. Whatever is scribbled over the papers though, Keith doesn't go to read it, sometimes it is questionable if the man can even read, but it is likely he has at least a six grade reading level. Regardless, the poster sticking out is one item he can recover from certain destruction, so he reaches for it.
Keith's fingers eagerly unfurl the poster, expecting something sinister, something important, but instead, hes greeted by a bewildering sight.
The image on the poster is of a man- no, /the/ man- glorious in his sheer, golden-haired splendor. A well-muscled figure, skin bronzed as though kissed by the sun itself, his smile a confident, almost smug curve as his long, flowing mullet catches the wind behind him. The hair- Keith cant help but stare- the /hair/. It's perfectly styled, a wild, flowing masterpiece that any man would envy. And its so unmistakably, ridiculously... fabulous. It takes a moment to absorb the full glory of it. The luxurious blonde locks cascade past the mans shoulders, a cascade of windblown perfection that makes Keith's own mullet feel lackluster in comparison.
In an action not his own, Keith casts a glance around, still processing what hes looking at. And it doesnt stop with the poster. The nearby books, their covers marred by the wear of time, are filled with the same man. Fabio. That same tanned, muscled figure, posing in various, increasingly ridiculous ways. Each book, each tome is adorned with his radiant image.
Then, his gaze drifts to a discarded scrap of wooden crate that had been tossed aside in the chaos. The words written in a hurried, scrawling hand send a strange chill through him: hair inspo.
Looking over the post for a long moment, "Daang, David Hasselhoff!" Keith lets out, clearly getting the star on the poster wrong and having no idea who 'Fabio' is really, but understanding the poster must be of someone famous, "Wonder why the boss had this?" Looking around as if someone would be watching him, Keith starts to tuck the poster away under his shirt to smuggle it out of the warehouse.
The books slip from Keith's fingers, the sound of their fall a hollow echo that fades into an unsettling silence. But inside his skull, something else is far more loud. A deep, throaty laughter, sharp, and sinister pulses through his thoughts, shaking his mind with its mocking tone.
It begins low, a chuckle that resonates like the creak of ancient doors swinging open, followed by another. Then, it grows, louder, more insistent, a cackling sound that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Pushed by invisible hands, Keith spins around on one heel, his feet moving like theyre attached to strings pulled taut by something unseen. His eyes dart toward a desk, within the room, his body already heading toward it, each step feeling foreign, not his own. He wants to fight it, to resist, but the laughter in his mind roars louder, urging him forward.
His hand reaches out with a jerk, fingers grasping the drawers handle as if it belongs to him. The drawer slides open with an eerie ease, revealing a pair of gleaming scissors. The metal catches the faint light, and a shiver runs down his spine. The scissors are sharp. Too sharp.
But its the second hand, his other hand, that betrays him. It moves of its own accord, curling a lock of his own mullet between his fingers, the strands soft and familiar against his skin. "I should cut this," his lips whisper, the words tasting wrong, as if the voice is his, and yet not. The sensation is horrifying, like an out-of-body experience where hes watching, powerless, as his own hands betray him.
Hurling the scissors away from himself with the spirit's efforts to destroy his rockin' doo, its finally gets Keith's totally undivided attention. "Heck no!" The mullet baring young man calling out, something about his language never breaching into the realm of actual real curse words. Tearing at his clothing, his form starts to snap, crack, shift, and become misshapen. Fur starts to burst out from under his skin, leaving its surface shredded as he starts to take on a wolfish form.
With a violent jerk, the scissors go flying, their sharp metal glinting as they cut through the air. They whirl past Keith(wolf)'s face, narrowly missing his snout, and slam into the wall with a sickening thunk. The noise hangs in the air, thick with the weight of something else, something darker.
For a moment, everything goes still. The laughter recedes, but it doesnt vanish, just pulls back, lingering in the shadows of his mind, wIts clear now: whatever had latched onto him, whatever had influenced him, it wasnt about Fabios hair. That had been the distraction. No, this was something else entirely. A transformation was on the horizon, something far more potentand far more dangerous.atching, waiting. A soft breeze picks up, whispering through the armory, carrying with it a scent not entirely human. It flutters through Keith(wolf)'s fur, teasing at the edges, much too gentle to be a normal draft, far too intentional.
The presence, that force that has latched onto him, shifts, growing more persistent. Its not just content with waiting anymore. Its pushing, urging, clawing at the edges of his consciousness. Something is changing.
Its clear now: whatever has latched onto him, whatever has influenced him, it wasnt about Fabios hair. That had been the distraction. No, this was something else entirely. A transformation was on the horizon, something far more potent, and far more dangerous.
(Your target and their allies have been tasked to retrieve a powerful artifact that has been stolen by The Golden Shadow. This artifact is rumored to have the ability to either hasten or prevent the impending apocalypse, depending on whose hands it falls into. The players must infiltrate the Golden Shadow's stronghold and retrieve the artifact, all while navigating the group's complex politics and avoiding their deadly mercenaries. They may choose to confront the group directly, negotiate for the return of the artifact, or try to outsmart them and steal it back. The decisions they make could have far-reaching consequences for the future of their world.)
Lilian sits on the granite counter and send soft some texts on her phone.
The night has already fallen upon the town of Haven, the last couple natural lights of the day being snuff out and allowing a veil of darkness slowly settle upon the resting town, which only seems more pronounced with the aid of the dark grey storm clouds that hover on the sky, threatening with a pour down, making it hard to see around in the street for those whose eyes weren't adapted to the lack of light.
To help fight this encroaching darkness, some street lights have been turned on, bathing at least the more popular routes in, allowing some visibility to those still roaming them. Not that there were many doing that, it was a late night Sunday, and people were already at home, leaving the last couple things ready before heading to bed, in order to have a good nights sleep and rest properly before going back to work on Monday.
It is in the middle of this silent night, that some of the not so peaceful societies and groups decided to act, shrouded by the night, the chances of getting caught doing anything they shouldn't was lower, as was that of being interrupted or having their plans thwarted. And such is the case tonight of the Golden Shadow - Known for their interest on ancient and powerful artifacts, with a disregard on politics or what other groups preach, just interested in exploiting the power of whatever magic trinket they got their hands in - In this case, the Plate of Forthcoming. An ancient artifact that once was retrieved from the Other, the world of the Fae, and that had been kept protected for a very long time inside one of the vaults of the Order.
This artifact has the power to bend fate in a way most of the smaller luck manipulative fey cannot, able to sway choices and change outcomes on the level which would be exclusive to those tricksters powerful enough to claim your life just by standing too close to you - But now it was in the hands of this criminal group, and although most hadn't noticed yet, some reports from the scouts are quick to reach the ears of some, in this case in particular, Lilian is one of the first to be informed of this valuable intel, a warning that comes with a decision to make.
In the form of a text message from one of the scouts from the Phalanx, she is informed of the dangers this artifact presents in the hands of the Golden Shadow, giving them the ability to simply rewrite fate itself for more favorable outcomes with a flick of their fingers, as well as the interest from both parties to have it back - The Order wants to put it back into one of the vaults in order to keep it safe from everyone intending to misuse it - While some of the Fae living at the other side of the Gate have also notified their desire to return this magic trinket back to its homeland, where it rightfully belongs, with the people that created it in the first place, and have threatened with retaliation if the relic isn't returned to them.
Now, the choice to make is up to those that first answer the call for help. Lilian has additionally been sent a location, presumably where the trinket is being held by the evil doers, who are planning a small ritual to try to get it working. The scouts have included the detail that while most of the Golden Shadow guarding it are unarmed, simply ready to activate its magic to get their way out of any sticky situation, to be wary, since a call has been sent towards their headquarters, asking for reinforcements and some aid in the transportation, meaning that whatever little resistance there is right now, is about to be increased right before the trinket leaves its place, planning a full blown operation to secure such valuable artifact.
Now what to do is truly up to Lilian, will she simply let this opportunity go and let the Golden Shadow keep their newly acquired treasure? Maybe she hopes some other group or society within Haven makes the decision for her or retrieves it, taking the decision of Fae or Order off her shoulders, and saving her the trouble of any of the groups being against her? Will she aid in this difficult task before something goes horribly wrong?
Unfortunately for the golden shadow, Lilian is very interested in the golden shadow given they're the number one suspects for the disappearance of her brother. The scouts have been on the look out for any news about the golden shadow and since this is the first piece of news Lilian has had in a while.. she was going to take advantage of it. She sends a few messages to her contact in the order -Jonathon Kong and then makes down the stairs. Tonight is a night for armor it seems and Lilian grabs her longbow and katana as well before she shifts into a raven.
Black as the night, the raven caws as it takes to the air, taking the air currents to the location she was sent by her scouts.
It doesn't really take someone much flying to get close to the location mentioned in the text messages, it was relatively close to the cemetery, which was just by the woman's house. A little southwards from the place where the spirits usually caused ruckus, coming back from the earth to torment their living for little whiles. Closer to the outer forest, a stone construction from another time seems to still be standing, somewhat, with cracks on the walls, and hardly having any ceilings in place, perfect for the raven to scout the place calmly before deciding a course of action.
The building she can see was likely some fortification in the past, not too big in size, in the forest and closeby to the sea, it was likely some sort of resistance or alarm against either pirates or incoming naval threats. With a tower that was more collapsed than standing nowadays, and tall walls of dark stone. And an inside patio that seemed to be where most members of the Golden Shadow were gathering, with the occasional one standing on top of the walls or walking around the tree line in hopes of detecting any incoming threats before it was too late, it didn't seem like they had many eyes on the sky.
And if Lilian was to fly any closer, she could probably even see the layout they were about to use. Around nine members of the group were inside the patio, five of them tracing lines on the ground, readying the ritual. Two of them on the center of what was a presumable circle, with the plate on some sort of makeshift altar, guarding it. And the other two were to the sides, checking every so often the few entrances by foot to the place. On the walls the count went to around three or four people glancing around, and outside the walls of the fortification, another four or five. Of these numbers, only about half of them seemed to be armed in some capacity, and three of them were showing heavy weaponry - But in a town like Haven, one never knows who might be ready to whip out sorcery or shift into something more threatening.
It doesn't really take Lilian much flying to get close to the location mentioned in the text messages, it was relatively close to the cemetery, which was just by the woman's house. A little southwards from the place where the spirits usually caused ruckus, coming back from the earth to torment their living for little whiles. Closer to the outer forest, a stone construction from another time seems to still be standing, somewhat, with cracks on the walls, and hardly having any ceilings in place, perfect for the raven to scout the place calmly before deciding a course of action.
The building she can see was likely some fortification in the past, not too big in size, in the forest and closeby to the sea, it was likely some sort of resistance or alarm against either pirates or incoming naval threats. With a tower that was more collapsed than standing nowadays, and tall walls of dark stone. And an inside patio that seemed to be where most members of the Golden Shadow were gathering, with the occasional one standing on top of the walls or walking around the tree line in hopes of detecting any incoming threats before it was too late, it didn't seem like they had many eyes on the sky.
And if Lilian was to fly any closer, she could probably even see the layout they were about to use. Around nine members of the group were inside the patio, five of them tracing lines on the ground, readying the ritual. Two of them on the center of what was a presumable circle, with the plate on some sort of makeshift altar, guarding it. And the other two were to the sides, checking every so often the few entrances by foot to the place. On the walls the count went to around three or four people glancing around, and outside the walls of the fortification, another four or five. Of these numbers, only about half of them seemed to be armed in some capacity, and three of them were showing heavy weaponry - But in a town like Haven, one never knows who might be ready to whip out sorcery or shift into something more threatening.
The raven scouts the area, gliding almost silently past the group, careful not to put herself between them and the moon to not cause shadows. For a moment she lands on the stone construction, simply listening a while trying to work out what the plans of the group are. She is also on the lookout for the artifact .. Maybe something she can snatch up without being seen... Lilian stays soft and quiet, a inky black shadow almost impossible to see in the night.
At first, not much can be heard, so the first couple minutes, Lilian is simply left waiting while she watches the busy members of the Golden Shadow work, but eventually, some conversation sparks between them, in particular, between the two men that seem to be guarding the artifact, the Plate of Forthcoming, displayed on that little altar in the center of what with time looks more and more like a proper ritual circle.
"Why are we even doing this? Wouldn't it just be easier to simply take it back? Why ask for reinforcements and transportation while we make some fucking magic?" The tone when mentioning the magic growing more into a growl, it sounds like a complain from a low voiced man, Lilian was lucky to have good hearing, most of this would have been likely lost in the night otherwise. But the other man replies soon after, with a gravely voice himself "It's not that easy - The Order is likely on our trail, and surely some supers or some shit will follow us here - We are going to make use of the artifact's ability to manipulate fate to make sure we can get out of here with it in our possession, that's why we need reinforcements and transportation, that's why we need to activate it with magic"
Listening to the men, Lilian sighs internally as she listens. Should she just drop in before they finish the circle? That... probably seems the best. However Lilian thinks about having some fun first. She hops down to the ground, leathers closing as she uses her feet to scuff a few marks in the circle, unsealing it here and there, scuffing a few runes for containment into runes of explosion by rubbing away a few more bits - all the while darting back into the shadows when anyone looks in her direction.
Not only the shadows, but also the form of a bird are quite the aid to have Lilian(corvus) go unnoticed, most of the members in charge of the ritual don't even spot her, and even if they did, it's just a raven, there's tons of animals in the outer forest. Not to mention, the plate, being an artifact from the Other, seemed to have a particular pull towards animals, so Lilian(corvus) wasn't the only bird to see around here, there were a bunch around the pation despite the hour of the night it was, even smaller mammals like mice or squirrels seemed to be gathering.
One of the men that were conversing, the one complaining about magic, spares her a look, but doesn't really seem too convinced, like seeing something out of the corner of your eyes before discarding it as your imagination. No amount of smelling or disdain for vampires was giving Lilian(corvus) away this time.
And so, she remains hidden tinkering with the runes as the members of the Golden shadow finish the ritual circle - At which point, some gun shots can be heard outside the fortification, seems like someone else had arrived to fulfill the same mission, but wasn't as discrete as the birdie.
And with that, the presumable wolf leaves towards the outside, starting to shift even before going into one of the hallways that leads out. The two spare guards follow suit, and even two of the arcanists join them, leaving the grand total of four people in the pation, one guarding the relic, the other three giving the finishing touches, allowing Lilian(corvus) to either attempt to retrieve the artifact now, or try to mess with them even further before doing so.
Hearing that the gunfire was pretty far, Lilian(corvus) scrubs out a few more runes and cuffs the circle in a few more places before lifting off with a soft rustle of her wings. She soars above the others before coming down from behind at the guard guarding the relic. Shifting into a human with a drawn katana, Lilian(corvus) goes to try and stab the guard from behind.
And as Lilian goes for the kill, an invisible presence stops her, holding her hands and stopping her in her tracks before she can even sink the blade inside of the man. It seemed that Sanctuary was protecting the man, making it impossible for the gal to deliver the killing blow or to even cause any severe damage to him.
But little matters, because even if she fails to land the hit, or even if the man slowly turns around to see her - The arcanists seem to have finished the circle and started the ritual, and only within a couple of seconds, the relic starts floating, hovering in the air while shining with prismatic light, multitude of color illuminating the surrounding area - But Lilian had messed with the contention before, and what seemed more like a beam of light at first, turns soon after into multicolored little lightning shooting in every direction, frying on the spot any of the animals it catches, setting some of the grass alight, one even reaches for one of the men that was gathered, burning him almost as if he had been struck by a laser.
And an instant later, explosions around the edges of the ritual circle. The ground shaking and cracking, the artifact falls to the ground, powerless, as so do many of the figures on the area, including Lilian, the tremors and strength of the explosions pretty much forcing everyone to either take cover, or fall down - But there was a chance now, everyone off their guard, on the ground, and the relic discarded in the same manner, it wouldn't matter if the town's spell would prevent them from killing each other, if everyone was knocked down in a pile of dust, with the surrounding area exploding and burning
Snarling that there was sanctuary.. why on earth did the guy have sanctuary... Lilian falls to the ground on one knee just as the ritual starts and everything goes haywire. She shifts into a cat, using her fast reflexes to dodge and dart this way and that, ultimately landing on the plate when it falls to the ground powerless. Grabbing it with her teeth, Lilian attempts to shadow walk back to the college with the plate in tow.
While the plate might be difficult to hold with a cat's mouth, being seemingly made out of stone, just keeping it there for a brief instant is enough for Lilian to properly shadowwalk to safety. Appearing within her college dorm room, with the relic safe and sound in her power.
Whatever chaos she has left behind, no longer known to her, the explosions would likely cease without the source of magic power, but the fighting outside would probably continue until both parties realize that the trinket is missing. Now all that would be left to do for Lilian would be to decide what to do with such powerful artifact, after all, two different factions were interested on it.
Would the woman return it to the Order in order for them to secure it back into one of their vaults, hopefully one more secure than the last? Having people in the Order that she had contacted before this whole ordeal, this seemed like a clever option.
Or would she return the plate back to the place it belongs, to the same creatures that had created it in the first place, the Fae from the Other that seemed interested in having the artifact back - Maybe she didn't have as many affiliations there, but it is always prudent not to anger those with the ability to shift fate and luck.
The choice is easy for Lilian, she contacts her contact in the order - she has been allied with the order for many decades after all. She negotiates a few more favors as well as a payment in both blood and cash... before telling Jonnie to come meet her at the dorms. College after all is a great place to meet people.
And so, the Order is quick to send the contact along with some representatives and escorting forces towards the college, not only to secure the relic, but also to deliver to Lilian her cut in blood for her services in the matter - And after some discussing of the conditions and payments, everything is dealt with. The order eventually leaves with the relic, going to put it back into a safe place, and now the woman has the rest of her night free to do as she likes, no longer burdened by stopping some evil organization from manipulating fate for their own interests.