To Steal from a God

[Morty]

In a woodland, marshy region of Outside there is a ruined city. It wasn't there until fairly recently - whether it was the Nexus' mercurial nature that or something else that put it there isn't entirely clear. What is certain is that someone took an interest in it - Jaryło, a self-proclaimed war god and heir to the ancient deity Jarowit. And he brought his cult with him.

The war god's followers set up camp on the outskirts of the city, in what used to be the villages and towns outside its walls. Then they began to press into the ruins, fighting monsters and clearing the streets. They have succeeded in carving a path to a large temple to a long-forgotten god, where Jaryło now resides. His followers established footholds in the city and continue their fight.

No one outside the cult seems to know why the city was abandoned, where the monsters come from and what Jaryło is looking for there. And the cultists aren't forthcoming with information, if they have it at all. That is the situation those seeking to steal the Spear of Jarowit, wielded by Jaryło, will come upon.

[Reinholdt]

"I hadn't expected them to leave Riverside so quick for the wilderness. I wonder if the election had anything to do with it," A nymph idly muses to the bird on her shoulder. They weren't driven out as far as she knows. The marshy environment better fits the King in Rags, so perhaps it was a familiarity thing. Maybe a place of power? Searching for something? Seeking to establish their own city on the bones of this one?

Ilpholin doesn't know and she doubts Saxony can provide anything beyond guesses. The phyrexian nymph is wearing an unusual outfit today, more in line with the elven rangers on the surface than her preferred drow clothing, even if it is still tight and flattering. A thick glove on her right hand stands out, as does the heavy shoulder pad designed not for bows, but birds. A belt with a pair of short swords hangs around her waist. Aside from that, her appearance is her normal one, recognizable to those who follow headlines or have seen the hot recent release of Lance.

Ilpholin's approach is an open one, traversing the main path and confidently making no effort to stay concealed.

[Keeper]

"From our planning session I had been expecting to have to do the whole thing in Riverside, yes. They must have good planners." whispers the bird of paradise. "Ah."

He then shuts up and continues to be an Extremely Normal Bird that happens to be ridiculously colorful. Somewhere between a bird of paradise and a pigeon, he's almost certainly some sort of custom-made creature with colorful plumage and long eyebrow-feathers that extend past his own body.
A very normal pet for a stylish nymph to have.

[Morty]

Before Ilpholin and Spako can move into the camp proper, they're addressed by a lone figure standing in a leafless tree. A human, wearing metal armor and leather, her face hidden by a bleached wooden mask, with a pair of horns attached to it. Eerily similar to the mask the King in Rags wore at the party where Ilpholin died.

"Halt, stranger-" the warrior pauses as she recognizes Ilpholin. "What is your business here, demon-slayer?"

[Reinholdt]

Ilpholin stares quietly at the wooden mask for a time before replying, the gesture possibly mistaken for intensely examining the warrior. She can't pretend the mask brings back particularly fond memories.

"I have heard tale that the heir to Jarowit now lives. That he fights. That he leads. I've come to meet him, to see the truth of his claims, and to learn from him."

[Morty]

The woman's eyes peer at Ilpholin from behind the mask. It does a good job concealing her thoughts.

"Our great god dwells in a temple in this city now. He watches over us as we fight. You may enter the city, but he only sees his most faithful or those who impress him."

[Reinholdt]

"I guess Saxony and I shall have to impress him then. Where do you fight?" Ilpholin asks. She'd normally head straight for the temple, but so many buildings look disheveled from lack of maintenance that she's not sure she could pick it out instantly and would probably get lost trying.

[Morty]

"We do have a combat arena, but our god would rather we direct our energies towards the monsters that dwell here." The warrior's eyes shift to Spako, as she guesses him to be "Saxony". "You are not one of us, nor are you human, but we treat all equally. Delve into the lost city, bring back a mighty trophy... and our god may speak to you. If you are fortunate, you may also see him when he steps out of the temple."

[Reinholdt]

Ilpholin narrows her eyes slightly. For treating everyone equally, the warrior was quick to point out their differences. She's seen such attempts at 'equality' before and can't say she finds it to her tastes. Still, an in's an in, even if it was another person who demanded Ilpholin proves herself. She had hoped her prowess spoke for itself by now. Perhaps it did and the warrior was just opportunistically using Ilpholin to clear another monster out from the city. If that were the case... well then she couldn't really fault the warrior for being smart, could she?

"Thank you," Ilpholin says politely before moving on. She would head to the temple first before going monster hunting. Maybe she'd get lucky and spot the supposed god anyways and skip the warm up. But even if she didn't, Ilpholin wanted to get a good look at the temple and learn the surrounding streets and alleys. There may come a time where they will need to run down them or fight in them and while Saxony can fly away, she would have to make do in the environs. Best to learn them now before the stakes raise.

[Morty]

The streets within the city walls show a battle between decay and determination. The cultists have been waging a battle against the weight of the years bearing down on the city. Their presence very much gives the impression of a war footing, continuously alert and ready.

Reaching the temple isn't difficult, as the area of the city controlled by the cult essentially amounts to a path from the gates to the temple. Said building turns out to be a large T-shaped one, scrupulously scraped clean by the cult. Its former symbols and adornments are gone, replaced by banners bearing the image of a spear.

Many cultists have gathered in the courtyard before the temple, expectantly staring at its massive doors. Some of them wear the same masks as the warrior they spoke to, others wear horned helmets, while others go bare-headed. The visible faces bear face-paint in varied patterns.

[Reinholdt]

They really worship this guy, waiting for an even a glimpse of him. Something the 'god' no doubt fosters by being purposefully scarce. Separating himself from the mortals so they can't see him at his most normal. The only thing Ilpholin's sure about is that this supposed god is an agent of the King in Rags and is defrauding these cultists. But that they're grouped up in front of the entrance is worthy of note for anyone attempting to leave discretely.

Ilpholin will keep on the outskirts for a time, waiting to see if anyone shows up. As she does so she'll slowly reposition herself at different angles to get as much view of the temple as possible for Spako. At least the parts visible from the massive door. But unless a rare sighting occurs, she won't linger at this for too long. Waiting for results chafes too much. "Guess we gonna kill a monster today," Ilpholin says out loud as she turns to head deeper into the decayed city.

[Keeper]

Spako has been doing a good job of looking normal. Mostly looking disinterested, preening, and tilting his head at random angles. It seems he was right: he’s an alright actor as long as he does to open his mouth.
That said, opinion of these people so far: not high. Cultists have never been his favorite people. Right now he wouldn’t feel too bad if he redistributed a few other things from their vault to needier people.
”I’ll follow your lead. You want me to take off or do something impressive as your magical pet, signal me.”

[Morty]

If Jaryło does appear, he won't do so in the time Ilpholin takes to wait for him. It seems there's only one entrance to the temple, at least that she can see - some doors and windows are blocked in a way that looks deliberate.

Further away from the temple, she'll pass through inhabited buildings and reach a barricade. It's crewed by cultists, who look out into the gloomy ruins with bows and crossbows at the ready. Beyond the barricade, the city is dark, damp and threatening. Like a forgotten bad memory, dredged up from somewhere. The two will be free to head into this gloom.

[Reinholdt]

"Of course." Ilpholin's not too interested in impressing the lower echelons of this cult system though. Save that effort for Jaryło.

In the meantime, she'll have to remember not to spook the cultists on the way back out of the gloom, lest those bows get used on her. It'd be an ignominious way to go, killing some big monster only to get offed by the people you're doing it for in the first place. The nymph will head into the gloomy dark of the ruins, her eyes auto-adjusting to the lesser light.

[Morty]

For a time, all is quiet as the nymph and the incognito dragon traverse the ruins. Some of the ruined buildings that emerge from the foggy twilight bear markings, most likely left by the cultists to indicate they've been already cleared.

Something isn't quite right, however. As the two emerge into an open space between some crumbled walls, they'll see that the cultists had raised a flag there - one that is now toppled and surrounded by scurrying scale-covered creatures that resemble both monkeys and rats.

The creatures bare their teeth at Ilpholin and Spako, but retreat when they approach. They do so as one unified group, but they also don't take the most obvious way out - they bear to the explorers' left, avoiding the path deeper into the ruins.

Unless the explorers pursue them, they'll be left alone by the toppled flag. Next to it is a hunk of stone that was once a statue - should Ilpholin take a closer look, she'll find it eerily similar to Pangon Urshal. Is it a coincidence? Her eyes playing tricks on her? The ruin itself dredging up memories? Hard to say.

[Reinholdt]

The nymph eyes the monkey rat snakes curiously, noting that they avoid a particular path. One no doubt filled with more dangerous creatures than mere scavengers.

But Ilpholin does stop for a moment by the flag. At first she considers kneeling down to right it again, but finds her eyes drawn to the statue instead, lingering on it for a time. She straightens back up without touching either and takes a fresh look around. Is this... that place? So far removed from time, that even Pangon was worshipped and then ever further removed from that, his legacy all but forgotten. Did she mold it by pushing him out of seclusion? Did this stature exist before that trip she made?

Too many features have changed, it would be impossible to know for certain if this was that same place. After lingering a while, she continues towards the path deeper into the ruins, the one avoided by the creatures.

[Morty]

As Ilpholin pushes further in, she and Spako might notice something. The path they walk, amidst old structures, doesn't look as wild as what they can see out in the distance. There are more toppled flags and dirty signs - the cultists had been here before, but now they're gone. And the wilderness is pressing on the space they had carved out in more ways than just the physical.

The path splits three ways and leads into a cluster of what probably used to be small houses. A tight space at the best of times, here it seems cramped and confused, though some signs remain that point the way to some kind of central square. Ilpholin and Spako will also see something more concerning, though: large insect-like creatures buzzing around, each about the size of a crow. They appear like wasps, but they have large pincers and clawed forelimbs. They swarm around the cluster of houses, zipping back and forth from its center.

[Reinholdt]

For half a moment, Ilpholin wondered if the monkey rats were avoiding this path because it was safer. Because the cultists had been through here. The notion is quickly dispelled with the buzzing of an insects' wings. Of several. A multitude difficult to count.

The nymph gets a position where she can watch for a bit, nibbling her lip. "They're... they're so cute, awwwwww. With those little pincers and itty bitty fuzz and and... shouldn't we find a less adorable trophy?" Ilpholin asks. This is actually possibly a good matchup for Spako, depending on the width and breadth of any breath weapon he might possess, but she doesn't know for sure. It doesn't make it any less heinous of a crime against all things adorable.

[Keeper]

Spako looks about, leaning in close to ilpholin's ear.
"Well, a bunch of big scary bugs wouldn't make for much of a trophy anyway unless you think there's a big queen. Do you uh, want me to help or am I still being incognito?" he asks. It is a valid question. Could the followers still be watching? And if they are, would they really be surprised if Ilpholin's Totally Normal Pet was in fact magic?

[Reinholdt]

"Scary? I don't see what's scary about them, but I think you're underestimating volume. A swarm is no joke." As deadly as any giant headpiece one could place on the mantle, if not moreso. "You're fine to help. No one followed us out here." Though Ilpholin imagines it's not the end of the world if they do see. It's not like she's spun an elaborate cover story yet.

[Morty]

As the two speak, the wasp-creatures converge towards the cluster of houses and something else starts to emerge. Something much, much larger, at least the size of a hippo. As it pushes its way between the houses, the hunters will see that it's a much larger version of the smaller beasts, complete with pincers and clawed forelimbs. Instead of wings, it has a mini-hive on its backs that the smaller ones come in and out of. It stares at the hunters with strange malice in its multi-faceted eyes as it slowly approaches.

[Keeper]

"Oh no, I'm not talking about how dangerous they are. I mean I don't know how you were planning on taking them back to those fanatics. In a sack, maybe? I- oh there we go. A nice big one."
Spako hops off Ilpholin's shoulder and crackles with energy. He opens his beak and blasts the big monster with a small bolt of lightning that arcs through all the insects directly in its path to the beast.

[Reinholdt]

Ilpholin starts a little when Spako moves suddenly and begins to reach forward to stop him. But the lightning is loosed too quick and Ilpholin withdraws her hand, pulling it back to hold her other arm before speaking again. "No need. The objective is to reclaim, so they'd have come out here to check anyways. Put all these flags back up." What was wrong with letting nature have this city back, anyways?

[Morty]

The bolt of lightning scythes through the smaller insects, dropping many to the ground. It makes a small dent in their numbers, but it will take more to seriously thin them out.

It then strikes the large beast, which doesn't seem seriously hurt, but certainly annoyed. It makes a loud hissing sound and its swarm forms a cloud around it, obscuring it from sight. The swarm parts briefly as the queen-creature spits a jet of caustic venom at the intruders.

[Keeper]

Spako's little scepter appears in one of his claws and he quickly sketches an octagon-like rune, as the venom splashes against an invisible barrier.
"Alright, so you want me to keep blasting or do you want to run in there?"
Spako is usually in the role of 'run up and sword things' so he isn't quite used to stopping and asking for orders. But he's playing the sidekick today so he really should stop and do so. He might have jumped the gun a bit with the lightning...

[Reinholdt]

Ilpholin's body is tense and ready to move, but the venom is blocked by Spako's runic magic. Her muscles remain coiled though and she takes a moment to assess the swarm that now protects the queen with their lives.

"See if you can't blast the swarm guarding the queen. I'll jump in and stab through the opening before it closes again," Ilpholin suggests. This is just how it's gotta bee. The nymph moves off to one side slightly, lining up for the strike.

[Morty]

The giant queen and her swarm seem to be maintaining a defensive posture. The insects don't seem quite clever enough to see through the hunters' strategy, so they focus on protecting their nest. More globs of caustic venom will fly at them.

[Keeper]

Spako nods and climbs into the air. He wishes he could use his sword but he can't risk transforming just in case they're being watched. He gets high enough that aiming the caustic blobs would be difficult and ineffective from the range.

And then he lobs a nice-sized fireball down at the swarm, careful to keep the radius small enough to not catch Ilpholin or the more flammable-looking plant life. Always fireball responsibly.

[Reinholdt]

Ilpholin bobs and weaves between the globs of venom, drawing steadily closer. When Spako lobs his fireball her body becomes a blur, disappearing for a moment, only to reappear a half-moment later, pulling back suddenly. She had expected and planned her movements for another lightning bolt. When she realizes it's a fireball and she'd actually overshoot her window, she has to readjust quickly. Fortunately a fireball moves slow enough that fixing the issue isn't a particular problem, but she came a little close to diving right into a swarm and then getting exploded.

After the fiery inferno goes off, she more cautiously gives a half-second to see if the bugs are affected or immune before leaping at the queen, the nymph's arm turning into a lengthy spear of stabbing proportions. The kind she hopes to introduce the queen to personally.

[Morty]

The insects certainly don't seem fireproof. Much of the swarm is incinerated or blown away, its cohesion disrupted. This gives Ilpholin the opening she needs and her spear is driven into the queen. The massive insect gives a strange, hissing shriek as it starts thrashing around. The swarm responds in kind, aggressively launching itself at the intruders. Ilpholin may notice that the queen is mortally wounded and it's just a matter of either finishing her off or waiting for her to expire.