IC: Reclaiming the Void Options

[Redjack]

Papa looks over to his partially incapacitated team-mate. "Just stay down till your stomach is clear." he says in a have joking/half-serious tone. Meanwhile, his attention is also on his fly-spy as it heads out.....

[BishopMcQ]

Papa

The fly-spy cruises down the hallway, bobbing an weaving to avoid small outcroppings. Reviewing the telemetry data, you can see large outcroppings which aren't there. It appears that something in the walls is interfering with the sensors. Switching to visual sensors, the fly-spy smooths out its course.

As it reaches a bend in the tunnel, light starts to glow from something further down the tunnel. Approaching, the video feeds show torchlight and three hounds with sparks creeping out of their mouths as they breathe. Along their bodies, small tentacles writhe all across their midsections.

[Redjack]

A subtle grunt escapes Papa's lips when the drones sensors fail to operate within expected parameters. Switching to the camera, he drops in a sub-routine that takes the other sensors offline till he can get them repaired.

Seeing one other active node on TeamNet, Papa does a face-palm. He then squats down, more to the level of his team mates and whispers. "Something straight out of Fire Dogs from the Planet Xesus.. Three somethings actually, are waiting down that way." He gestures while providing video feed to argent.

[Redjack]

Papa pulls out his com, flips up the little view screen and shows his team the surprise waiting for them...

[JxJxA]

As Uetzcayotl tries to will away his nausea, he reflexively asks Quauhtli if she is all right.

Is everything okay?

Silence.

Quauhtli? Sister?

Still nothing.

Suddenly, Uetzcayotl notices that he no longer feels his spirit twin's presence. A thousand fears and worries assault his mind. Is she all right? Are we just separated? Did she die during the transition?!? Will I ever feel her presence again??? However, during this anxious torrent, a single thought pierces through the others.

What would Quauhtli want you to do?

She'd want me to survive...and so that's what I'll do.

Putting aside those fears for the time being and embracing this new mantra, Uetzcayotl stands up and looks at the screen Papa Smurf is showing the group. He gently raises his hand and calls the watcher spirit to him as he surveys the potential threat. The spirit---a small, winged serpent with iridescent green feathers that the Nahualli of the Serpent's Feathers have come to call "Huitzilcoatl"---flutters over towards the screen.

"Should I send the watcher over to spy on them?" he asks the group.

[Fenris]

Digging himself out from under the pile of clothes and gear, the fox shakes once, clearing various debris from it's fur before looking around in obvious surprise.

Everything's so damn tall...Oh, son of a frigid bitches tit...

He perks an ear at the conversation, taking a moment to reorient to the fact that he's only a foot tall, and nobody's paying any attention to him.

[BishopMcQ]

On the Feed

After a few seconds, the ears on the beast twitch and the head turns to looks at the small drone. Several short yips followed by a deeper bark that echoes down the hallway escape the creature's mouth. Twists of smoke slip from its mouth and the tentacles gyrate drawing the smoke around the body of the beast.

[Buddha72]

Leo hovers over the shoulder of his teammate looking at the small screen to see what waits further down the tunnel. When he speaks concern is apparent in his voice.

"D'zan you should look at these creatures. They do not appear to be friendly or benign."

With a frustrated look at his transformed self and the need to stay away from the others - D'zan reaches out and joins his mind with Leo's and examines the image from his memories.

Think, think, think. Have I seen these before? Maybe in the Market.....

[Redjack]

Papa takes no chances with his precious drone. When the beast turns towards his drone and barks, he recalls it. I wish I'd sprung for the cover ops autosoft now..

"We may have company real soon."

[JxJxA]

Rolling his eyes in mild frustration from the rest of the group's failure to answer him, Uetzcayotl sends the Huitzilcoatl in front of his companions to emphasize his prior point.

What would Quauhtli say?

"Perhaps I can offer options," he says, raising his voice a little louder than before. "I can send the Watcher to spy upon the creatures and give us warning if or when they approach us. I can also send the Watcher to harass and lead the creatures away, buying us time to prepare. In any event, if we need protection then I shall call mighty Tlacelel to stand at our side and shield us from harm." Reflexively, his hands grip his various foci in preparation.

[Redjack]

"Since my spy is withdrawing, I'd say yes. These things are stupid though. May be Shape-Shifter-from-Hell or something like that."

[Buddha72]

"Shit on a stick."

The sudden light of knowledge pops into D'zan's eyes as things begin to fall into place. A similar expression of dread and worry flashes across Leo's almost simultaneously.

"Ok so we're in the Plagued Lands ruled by the Sluagh who for the record hate my kind and frankly just don't have wealth of good feelings for most living things. Those magically juiced puppies look like they started off as hell hounds but I don't they stayed that way. They may be possessed or soul ridden but they are something else at this point. Hell hounds normally breathe fire, can outrun most of you and are pretty sturdy add the possession and all that pretty much gets better."

Leo interjects while D'zan draws breath. "I would say we need to decide to flee or fight but the choice should be made sooner rather than later at this point." With a heavy resigned sigh he continues speaking. "As much as it pains me to say so we should open the gift. As often as it is with the way of these things we may find what we need to survive here in the box."

D'zan nods agreement as he eyes the box.

[Redjack]

Papa frowns. "When you open the box, just make sure that Hope doesn't get out."

[BishopMcQ]

All

At Papa's words, the box gives half a shake from the ground scooting closer to Argent. The towel kept it clean of vomit amidst the puddle which splattered on the shifter's clothes for his human form.

[Fenris]

With what would pass for an obvious grimace at the box if Argent were human, the fox noses at the box, obviously intending to open it if he can.

[BishopMcQ]

In the Tunnel

Argent taps the box a few times with his nose to try and lift the lid, but with the towel wrapped tight around it can't get any leverage. Soon the fox begins gnawing at the knot, his sharp teeth making easy work of the towel. With the knot gone, the box is easy to open.

With a flick if his nose, the lid slides off revealing a gilded hand mirror and three vials containing barely visible wisps of luminescent smoke.

Argent
You can hear a soft screaming coming from one of the vials, like an infant.

[Fenris]

He blanches, recoiling from the noise as if something had stung his nose. He whines a bit, shaking his head, and takes a few more steps away from the box.

Blinking, the fox abruptly sits down and closes his eyes. It's obvious that he seems to be concentrating on something.

[Buddha72]

Eyeing the box with obvious interest but holding back D'zan keeps talking.

"This place is going to affect any mana you call or shape. Predators are loved and aided here while prey is sought and eagerly slaughtered. You will find a will here that will either aid, diminish or bar altogether your workings. This sentience will even touch the spirits you call so think carefully what you try to bring into being or shape here. This place will seek your true intentions and will when gathering mana and respond accordingly."

[BishopMcQ]

Down the hallway

With the short yips from the first dog, the other two lift their heads up and look at the fly-spy, then down the hallway. There are more yips between them and the tentacles pull the wisps of smoke around their bodies.

The first dog to see the fly-spy rises up and is the size of a wolf-hound, coming to a troll's waist at the shoulder. He lets out a long baying howl, which reverberates through the tunnels.

[Redjack]

Pulling the submachine gun out and slapping in a clip Papa says, "Damn glad my mana is of the lead variety."

[JxJxA]

Uetzcayotl gestures towards the Huitzilcoatl. The watcher flies to Uetzcayotl and hovers in front of him, patiently awaiting instructions.

"Little one, go to hellhounds and watch them while staying hidden. If the hellhounds approach us, first let me know through our telepathic link and then lead the hellhounds away from us."

The Huitzilcoatl nods soundlessly, and zips towards the hellhounds.

[Buddha72]

As the howl echoes past the group D'zan faces gets hard and set.

"Oh hell no, I am not going down with out at least making them pay for it."

Reaching out with his hands he gathers the raw mana from around and begins to weave it into a complex pattern that quickly settles into his flesh and briefly his nervous system is lit up from within. The second weaving follows and this time forms a shell around his body and diffuses into a steady and strong glow about his form. The air bends and distorts around him from the power he draws from the air.

"Leo take the lead and we need to find a way out of here away from the Cthulhu puppies. Someone grab the gift and I'll bring up the rear since being near me is a terribad idea right now. If the hounds catch up with us maybe I can persuade them there are easier things to eat than us."

Leo moves down the tunnel away from the hounds and lets his altered form light the way for the others.

"Quickly everyone - let's go." His voice is steady but the naked worry for his companion is etched in his face as he looks at D'zan taking up the position of rearguard.

[JxJxA]

What would Quauhtli do? She would prepare for the worst case scenario.

Taking D'Zan's sudden flurry of spellcasting as a cue, Uetzcayotl allows his armor spell to fade. He is momentarily taken aback when he sees iridescent green feathers fall about him, delicately landing upon the ground before dissolving back into the residual astral energy of the plane. He grips his power focus tightly, raising it into the air in supplication.

"I call forth Tlacelel, the Mightiest of Our Heroes! Stand alongside us in our time of need!"

Twin bolts of lightning criss-cross in front of Uetzcayotl, twisting into an oblong oval-shaped portal covered by what appears to be a sheen of running water. A large, bare foot first crosses through the threshold before a large humanoid warrior dressed in Aztec armor and dress strides into view. The portal collapses into itself, water and electricity melding together into a spinning sphere of ice. The sphere floats in front of Tlacelel, who grasps it in a large hand and absorbs it into his being.

Tlacelel---the title of respect and reverence that all members of the Serpent's Feathers grant a guardian spirit that answers a call---turns his gaze towards Uetzcayotl and speaks.

"You have summoned me, Nahualli, and thus I stand before you. What would you ask of me."

"I offer my thanks, great spirit, for answering my call. I ask that you protect us while within this plane."

The spirit nods and a macuahuitl and feathered shield shimmer into existence, arming the spirit in the traditional weapons of Uetzcayotl's forefathers.

"Lead on, Nahualli, and I shall follow."

Uetzcayotl grins, and recasts his armor spell without a second thought. The same iridescent feathers coalesce around him and swirl about him before coating him in emerald green. The feathers meld into a scale lattice before disappearing from sight.

Quauhtli would be proud.

[Redjack]

Papa frowns. All these mojo slingers and their running from a few possessed dogs.

Seeing no one else grabbing for the box, Papa grabs the towel and scoops up the box in it. He turns back to the rest of the team and looks down the cave, away the looming threat.

[Fenris]

"Oh, Hell no, I am not showing my ass around here," Argent mutters, the last part of the sentence almost understandable as the fox form uncurls, limbs lengthening and losing their form as the fox shifts back into slim human form of the teams face. Stepping into the slacks, he takes the moment to pull them up and button them before dropping the smaller items into his pockets and gathering up the form fit and the shirt.

"Alright," he says, flashing the customary grin, "now we can go." He hustles off after Leo, skirting the joyful little ball of frigid darkness that is D'zan.