Definitely go up. If you wait for her to come down, she'll come down on her guard.

If you can spare a few seconds, tie his hands behind his back. Make it look like an execution.

1/3 Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)04:18 No. 535692 ID: a68e3e
File 137691113656.png - (162.71KB , 800x600 , 12.png )

>>535691
Done...
Good idea.

>>535689
>>535690
Right.

As quietly as he can Mar goes around leaves the basement and makes it into the house. He hears noise coming from upstairs and slowly walks up with a blade at the ready. As he opens the door he hears a crackling sound.

Oh sh-

Dozens of spears of ice break through the door and slam into him sending him smashing through the railing of the stairs and down to the floor below.

2/3 Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)04:22 No. 535693 ID: a68e3e
File 137691137896.png - (83.28KB , 800x600 , 13.png )

Mar lays down, a chunk of ice sticking out of his body.

Shit shit shit shit...
Ugh...
Losing blood...
I think my arm is broken.

Dammit.
How did it get this bad?

He hears someone walking down the steps.

"You know, I was wondering why that little undine bitch wasn't screaming."

Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)04:26 No. 535694 ID: a68e3e
File 137691158462.png - (65.82KB , 800x600 , 14.png )

"You killed Johnny, didn't you? You son of a BITCH."

With that last word she kicks Mar hard in the ribs.

"Ugh..."

"You're gonna pay for that one. You're gonna pay. Who the fuck sent you? Was it those Sons of Asam punks? Or did Holly finally grow some balls and send someone to rescue the kid? Huh? WHO THE FUCK SENT YOU!?"

She kicks him again.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way you little Aelor fuck. You don't need all your teeth to give me a straight answer. Now talk."

Ugh...
Could use bomb.
Would hurt us both at close range.
Dammit.

start mumbling to draw her closer, then explode.

Well. That went terribly, pretty quickly.

Problem with converting your arm to a bomb is it'll almost certainly kill you, but we have no guarantee it'll kill her.

...could you set it to say, extend a whole bunch of spikes and blades or bullets in her direction suddenly as she leans over you? Or if you use a bomb, can you shape the charge, so it's directed away from you, towards her?

Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)08:58 No. 535716 ID: a68e3e
File 137692792889.png - (90.90KB , 627x600 , 15.png )

>>535695
>>535707
Mar begins mumbling out an answer.

"What? What did you say?"

Another low reply. Leviathan moves closer to try and listen.

"Speak up..."

"....... am"

"What?"

Even closer. When she is only a foot away and kneeling down Mar's entire arm shifts and four pointed rods, as hard as steel, punch through Leviathan. She doesn't even have any time to scream, she is killed instantly. The spikes leave and she simply drops to the ground.

Got her... Arm's still messed up. And there's a giant icicle sticking out of me. Didn't think her ice spells would work.

>didn't think her ice magic would work
Why not?

>badly wounded
Well, maybe that healer you let loose earlier will come in handy. Although getting to her without getting gnabbed by the guard might be tricky.

Don't remove the icicle. That'll just open the wound up, and then you'll start bleeding more.

Can you get up, or move at all? You still have to leave a bloody mark, or something. And maybe bind your wound enough to keep you from bleeding out before you get real treatment. And it would be nice to get out of here before the guard arrive.

My guess is that his fire-affinity might be protections vs ice? Regardless, priorities are to keep self alive and get out; however, don't forget to leave something saying 'Sons of Asam' if you can. Writing in blood seems dramatic, or maybe a symbol, something. Also, call up the journalist whenever your in a safe place, and give him a similar 'Sons of Asam did this' message. Might as well do the mission right and spread the word. Don't take too long though, guards will assuming be here soon.

I was going to say Asam seemed a bit childish in calling her "sea bitch" but it seems the nom de plume was accurate after all.

I say remove your coat and use it to make a makeshift bandage just to stop yourself form bleeding out and if you want to leave a statement you could us some of your own blood or the sea bitch's blood and write the Sons of Asam's symbol on her back or somewhere easy to find and the get out of here as quickly as you can.

turn your arm into bolt cutters and clip off the icicle just above where it goes in. leave it in to plug the wound, and keeps it light enough that it wound cause more damage.

Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)20:12 No. 535886 ID: 2e19b7
File 137696833317.png - (57.91KB , 800x600 , 16.png )

>>535847
Good idea...

With a snip the icicle is cut off near the point of entry and rolls off.

>>535769
Done and done...
Ugh...
Still don't feel good.

Need to get out of here before the guards come.

Mar stumbles out of the door, still holding his crudely bandaged wound.
The mark for the Sons of Asam has been made and his job is done. He just needs to try and survive til the next day.
As he leaves the house he hears the sound of armor clanking. He ducks to the side of the house just in time to avoid the Guards.

Did it.
Don't wanna run into those guys. They tend to kill and ask questions later.
Just need to keep my insides inside...

"Excuse me..."

Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)20:17 No. 535889 ID: 2e19b7
File 137696863076.png - (80.89KB , 611x600 , 17.png )

Mar is too weak to form another weapon but he's still more than ready to claw out whoever's snuck up on him. He turns around and sees...
The Undine he'd saved before.

"Uhm... I came back to see if you were okay... Are you..? Oh! You're hurt! Do you... You should come with me, Detective. I can get you patched up..."

...
I need healing.
But if I go with her I risk being discovered. People might ask her questions. Ask me questions.

Got any hideouts of your own? Preferably someplace not owned by the Sons of Asam?

i think you have enough goodwill with the healers that they won't press if you give them a semi plausible lie. stick to the investigator story, but say that you were there looking into another matter. when they press for info hint that what your working on is big enough that they are safer not knowing.

>>535889
You need help, so accept it. You are likely to be noticed too if you are bleeding everywhere. Just make sure she understands the need for secrecy. Tell her you're undercover or something.

Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)20:59 No. 535912 ID: 2e19b7
File 137697118984.png - (124.75KB , 800x600 , 18.png )

Okay... Fine... Not like my house is anywhere near here anyway...

Mar nods and shuffles towards the Undine.

"Fine... Let's go..."

She walks over to him and puts his good arm over her shoulder and the two of them make their way to what she says is the church for the Ladies of Minia.
Mar simply nods, not having the energy to do much else but stumble forward. He goes in and out of consciousness a few times and is kept up only by the encouraging words of the Undine.

"We're almost there, Detective. Come on. Just a few more steps... There we go."

She keeps saying these things. Part of Mar's mind knows that they are nowhere near the church but her words keep him on his feet a little longer.
Still with each bump they encounter a fresh layer of blood leaves his body and he groans in pain.

"You're doing really good Mister. Come on.... Just put one foot forward. There we go, you got it."

Finally they reach the building... The Undine opens the door and leads him inside and finally he is able to rest on a nearby bed.

"I'll be right back, okay? I need to get Miss Holly. Just stay there."

Mar simply closes his eyes in response. His last thoughts before passing out are simply 'Impressed she could lift me up...'

Mar 2013/08/19(Mon)21:02 No. 535913 ID: 2e19b7
File 137697134122.png - (1.44KB , 800x600 , 19.png )

Do you wish to continue the Thug's story or switch to the Healer, Assassin, or Journalist?

>>535913
Eh, how about The Assassin?

The choice is probable death or the risk of discovery. You've accomplished your mission, no need to die for the cause after the fact. Their coin doesn't go that far.

Go with the healer. Make up an excuse as to why you want to avoid the guards. It's not exactly far fetched that a private detective and the official guard might not be on the best terms, or have had disagreements in the past. Or that their might be questions you don't want to answer right now.

...the healers might be smart enough to figure out what's really going on once word of the killings get round, but oh well. Best we can make of a bad situation. Survive now, worry about consequences later.

Good time for a break, let's check in with the Assassin

..dangit, updated while I was suggesting. :V

I'd stick with the thug, or maybe switch to the healer.

also it's this undine vs seabitch. the healers will side with their own and with thug since he saved her.

switch to healer

It seems like we're going to be seeing each character more than once, so I think I'm going to vote for the journalist, as he'll certainly have some work to do following the thug's actions.

Let's go with the healer.

Healer

Holly 2013/08/19(Mon)23:03 No. 535965 ID: a68e3e
File 137697860041.png - (106.17KB , 800x600 , 20.png )

The Healer has been chosen.

-----------------------------------

My...
It's been a day since Tessa went taken... What should I do..? If I go to the Guards they'll kill her... Should I go after her myself? If it were just one person...

Lady Minia... Please, guide me.

where are you right now? Cause if you're at the church I say wait because I have a good feeling that everything will work itself out real quick, just have a little faith.

Oh! Not the same healer. Doy.

Why would the guards kill her?

Don't worry, though. I promise you Tessa will get out safely, if she hasn't already. She should be coming to you. Your task is ro be prepared to help her. She will be injured, and will have another with her who requires your aid.

Seriously, supply details of what you're worried about here: We deal with causing and fixing many tragedies at any given time. We need prompting on who we're supposed to be destroying or rescuing, why, resources available, and all that.

Holly 2013/08/21(Wed)15:15 No. 536420 ID: a68e3e
File 137712332016.png - (143.28KB , 800x600 , 21.png )

Oh my! L-lady Minia..? Is that you?
Or are you simply a messenger from her? I... I must admit I did not expect a reply so soon...
Oh my... I'm not dressed properly for such a visit.

Please, Messengers. Forgive my rudeness... Had I known you would actually appear...

>We need prompting on who we're supposed to be destroying or rescuing, why, resources available, and all that.

Ah, no no! We do not need to destroy Messengers. Well, maybe. It really depends on if they've killed Tessa or not.

>Why would the guards kill her?
It is not the Guards I fear, Messengers. It is the Fishbone Gane. I... I had a bit of a deal with them. They donated a rather hefty sum to my church and in exchange I would heal people they sent to me. However... I did not quite realize who it was exactly I was healing. When I refused they... They took dear Tessa.
I don't know what to do...

>have a little faith.

I'm trying...

From behind her she hears the door open. Her heart skips a beat as she turns to see if it's Tessa but she is quickly disappointed.

"Ah... Brother Malen."

"Lady Holly. I'm pleased to inform you that Sister Tessa has returned."

"She's back!?"

Was... Was that your doing?

"Indeed. She is recovering in the infirmary. It would seem she suffered some slight damage but is otherwise unharmed. Also... She has brought with her some ruffian."

"Ruffian?"

"Indeed. She claims she saved him but I find that highly doubtful. He is an Aelor."

"And?"

"Surely you know how Aelor can be, Lady Holly. He might be part of the Sons of Asam, simply taking out an enemy. If we heal him we will be helping the same sorts that got us into this mess."

He speaks the truth...
Messengers? Is the man she's with the one who needs my help?

>Was... Was that your doing?
In a manner of speaking. We guided the Aelor who rescued her.

...your companion isn't wrong about the Aelor's motives, though. However, he did save one of your own, and is in need of aid. And returning a favor is a far cry from submitting to extortion or bribery.

>>536420
Yes. He did save her, in part due to prompting and reasoning from us. He is indeed with the Sons of Asam, unfortunately.

Yes, we guided him as we hope to guide you. Something of no little importance is happening and it involves him. And you. And two others as well, though they have not yet been guided but will in the future.

I fear they will not all be upstanding or savory. But they will will be of grave importance.

We aren't from this Lady you speak of, we're from the Aelor. He seemed to consider us an aspect of his own mind, arising when he doesn't take his medication, but you seem to have a better understanding of our nature. Mind helping us understand it, ourselves?

perhaps you should go speak to Tessa first, get her side of the story and if you wont heal the Aelor for the same reasons you wouldn't heal the fish-bone gang then at least do it for Tessa's sake. For we have a feeling he will be involved in something of grand importance in the near future... as well you be.

1/2 Holly 2013/08/25(Sun)18:20 No. 537546 ID: 72e47b
File 137748003924.png - (217.22KB , 800x600 , 22.png )

>Mind helping us understand it, ourselves?

Well... They say that sometimes those who are close to the gods, spiritually that is, can get guidance from them from the Messengers.
There are ways to block this of course and whatever medication he's taking most likely blocked off some of his more spiritual powers. It is likely he has been highly sensitive to such voices since he was a child.

>>536553
Of course. I've been worried sick about her. If I weren't bound to the church I would have gone after her myself...

"Brother Malen, he did save Tessa. Let me speak to her first and then I will decide."

"... Very well Lady Holly."

She rises from her chair and makes her way down to the infirmary. Malen follows her but stops right outside the door, as though keeping a lookout for them.

As soon as Holly enters the room Tessa runs up to her and hugs her tightly.

"Lady Holly!"

"Sister Tessa... I was so worried about you... Are you okay?"

She nods.

"Yes. And it was all thanks to the Detective. He saved me from them. They were... They were going to sell me."

"Oh my... And did the Detective say where he was from?"

"No, we didn't have much time to talk. He just came in and rescued me. It was like in those movies..."

Holly 2013/08/25(Sun)18:21 No. 537547 ID: 72e47b
File 137748006294.png - (61.19KB , 327x600 , 23.png )

"Oh! Is he okay!? Did you get to heal him!?"

"... I was just about to. I wanted to check on you first."

"Oh, I'm fine Lady Holly! Please, cure him. He was hurt pretty bad..."

"I will, don't you worry."

She pats Tessa on the head and walks over to the Aelor. He's been put away from Tessa, in an area for those who are more critically wounded. With a practiced hand she removes the Aelor's clothes around his wound and begins using her healing abilities on him. The wound begins closing and she muses over the damage done

This is odd...
He is an Aelor. The ice shouldn't have done so much damage. Ah, if only he had brought the body of the one who did this to him... I might have been able to learn more.
You say this man is important, Messengers... I will trust you for now.

>For we have a feeling he will be involved in something of grand importance in the near future... as well you be.

What do you mean by this? Was Tessa being returned to me not what you helped with? Is there more?

>He is an Aelor. The ice shouldn't have done so much damage.
He said much the same, himself. I think he was caught off guard, not expecting her to be be able to hurt him.

Although I'm not sure how an elemental affinity for fire is supposed to protect flesh from a two foot spear of ice moving at rapid speed.

>Ah, if only he had brought the body of the one who did this to him... I might have been able to learn more.
If it helps, she was an undine, although the kind with legs. Leviathan was her name.

>What do you mean by this? Was Tessa being returned to me not what you helped with? Is there more?
...events are in motion. We are uncertain of what will come to pass, but we can see those who will have a role to play. Who will be important to the outcome, one way or another.

We helped Tessa, yes. But ultimately we are here to see through what will come to pass.

she was simply a side goal, a good side goal, but a side goal non-the-less.

when he wakes up tell him "the voices you were hearing switched over, they say to trust you, as proof right after getting your money you met a man named gears, he has an eye patch and said he was a reporter"

>>537550
>Although I'm not sure how an elemental affinity for fire is supposed to protect flesh from a two foot spear of ice moving at rapid speed.
From these observations, I will guess that Magical effects in this world may normally be aura-based: fire magic and ice magic weaken/repel each other with the inverse of their distance, i.e. that ice-spike should have broken on impact due to the 'level difference' between their magical strength.

In this case, I think you are on to something: that ice-caster may have gained her reputation through summoning normal ice (as opposed to magically imbued ice) to blast at opponents whose magical defenses were unable block an almost purely kinetic attack, allowing her to min-max her ice-spells for integrity instead of power.

>>537559
Oh, and also mention that he's really spiritually sensitive! This part's important to say too, I'm fairly certain he's mistaken the Messengers for being crazy.

Even we can't see the future but we do get feelings on when things are about to change, and weather that change is ever noticed or not, even by those who where instrumental in causing the change, is something only time can tell.

But yeah indirect mambo jumbo aside how long do you think this guy will be out for?

Holly 2013/08/30(Fri)20:54 No. 538506 ID: 72e47b
File 137792127518.png - (136.83KB , 800x600 , 24.png )

It appears he will be out for quite some time. I have stitched together his wounds but his body still needs to make up for the missing materials. Namely, his blood...
It's quite possible that summoned ice thrust at a high enough speed could penetrate his natural Aelor aura. If that's the case that Leviathan woman is more powerful that I thought... I'm glad he was able to rescue Tessa from her. He should be fine so long as he doesn't move.

>...events are in motion. We are uncertain of what will come to pass, but we can see those who will have a role to play. Who will be important to the outcome, one way or another.

Oh my...
I never expected to be in this kind of situation...
Which god has sent you to guide me?
What do I do?
What happens if I make a mistake?
I-

"Lady Holly."

"Hmm?"

Another Undine has entered the room.

"Lady Holly, a reporter is outside. He said he wishes to speak with you."

>>537559
This man..?

"I'll be right there."

Holly 2013/08/30(Fri)20:59 No. 538507 ID: 72e47b
File 137792156113.png - (98.87KB , 606x561 , 25.png )

Holly leaves the Aelor behind and goes to meet the reporter. As soon as the man spots her he grins and takes off his hat. He gives her a quick bow than replaces the hat on his head.

"Evening ma'am. Name's Gears. Can I talk to yau for a second?"

"Certainly..."

He's not from around. His accent is rather thick.

"Thank you. I don't know if you're Undine helper told you but I was the one she ran into when she escaped Leviathan's place. She was a bit hysterical but she managed to tell me she needed the Guards. Went with them and I later saw her and and Aelor leaving for this church. Couldn't help but wonder if that man were still here. I need to ask him a few questions."

>>538507
He is, yes, but now might not be the best time. He's resting currently. If you dont mind waiting, he should be coming around again sooner or later.
(dont let loose any facts JUST yet, this man is one of the four people we must keep an eye on but we need him to stick around.)

Oh, you helped Tessa? Well I would like to thank you for your assistance and since you helped it would be kinda of rude of me to shoo you away, why don't you come in we can talk there.

As for your question yes they are both here but the Aelor isn't available at the moment do to unconsciousness and I'm not to sure when he'll come around. If you don't mind waiting I don't see much harm in letting you stay here for a bit but please don't feel as if I'm forcing you to stay if you don't want to.

>Which god? What do I do? What happens if I...
Just relax. I know it's troubling to think about, but worrying won't help. We're here to help and aid as best we can, and I'm sure you'll do fine.

>Reporter
Thank him for his part in aiding Tessa. You're afraid the man was injured, and will be in no state to answer questions for a while. ...and admittedly, you're not sure how amicable he will be to questioning, afterwards.