epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

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EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

THE BARRIER

As promised, Arthur has the means to unlock that first, crucial step to saving the ALASTAIR recruits: unveiling the runes maintaining the barrier. He has sequestered himself in a rented room in the inn down the road from the prison; he’s at a good enough distance to keep his concentration unbroken, but near enough that he can reach the runes in question. The recruits are told to be ready, to wait for his signal before they take action.

The signal comes just after the stroke of 5 on the town’s clocks, at what would be dawn in a world of less darkness. There’s a shimmer in the air around the brick building of the jail, like the surface of a bubble. Then suddenly the runes are there: glowing bright green, flaming into existence at various points along and within the barrier.

There are at least 30 of them along the outside. They’re etched on walls, scribed into doors, carved into the very ground. These have to be destroyed first to make any progress, in any way the recruits are able to. Once these all have been broken, erased, or scattered (and some of them are cleverly hidden or out of reach -- have you checked the topmost brick in the clock tower of the jailhouse?), the first defense of the barrier has fallen. Then the jailhouse itself can be rushed, but magic is still hampered until every rune is destroyed. From there the runes can be found every few feet in the walls, ceilings, and floors of the jail, and only once each one is broken will the spell be completely lifted, magic and abilities restored to the area, and the inmates considerably easier to break out.

The recruits aren’t the only ones that can see those runes, though. The jailers are quick to react, and some spring to the defense of the runes while others rush to sound the alarm, calling even more armed guards to the area. Even city guards start to show up in response to the alarm -- there’s definitely a time limit on this venture. Dispose of the runes, rescue your friends, and be out of the area quickly, or you might just be overrun with armed, angry opposition.

THE ESCAPE

By the time those in the cells are finally brought out, it’s pandemonium. The guards, jailers and city guards alike, might not have been able to stop ALASTAIR’s recruits from destroying the runes and bringing down the barrier, but they’re determined at least to stop dangerous criminals from escaping into the city. And these criminals were due to be hung, so they’re not looking to take anyone down peacefully. They’ll be going for the killing blows.

The best chance will be to rely on numbers and scatter. In ones and twos and threes, people should be taking to shadowy alleys, slipping around corners, even dropping down into the sewers, if they have to. Anything to thin out and disappear. The most capable and destructive fighters are asked to stay as long as they can, giving the bulk of the rest of the escapees time to disappear into that unending night.

THE COOLDOWN

Those that helped free their friends probably won’t run into too many problems in the following days, unless you run into a guard with a few injuries and a long memory. The ex-prisoners, though, are another story. They were in there long enough that the men and women who guarded them know most of their faces quite well, and since they’re out of prisoners to guard, what else do they have to do but take to the streets and search? Ex-prisoners should play it carefully, then, if they don’t want to end up right back where they started. Guards are more than happy to cause an immediate fracas should they spot anyone that belongs in jail.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t go out at all! Just, you know, take a disguise with you. As if anticipating the rising demand for them, all local merchant shops seem to be stocking up on scarves, shawls, and bulky clothing. Isn’t that nice? Most of them don’t really care what anyone did to end up in jail, they just want to share in on those ALASTAIR-paid wages.

If spotted, townsfolk have varied opinions of the escapees. Some are mistrustful and bitter, and will immediately alert guards upon realizing who they’re dealing with. Some of them really don’t care. They’re tired of the darkness, tired of the conflicts, they just want to get on with life. One old man in particular seems to inexplicably love all ALASTAIR recruits, the ex-prisoners in particular, and will insist on buying a drink and playing a game of chess with any of them he runs into. The goblins, of course, have pretty good opinions of anyone on the wrong side of the king, and will be your best bet for finding lodging and food. Some of them might even think of you as a hero, or at least a roguishly charming vigilante.

Spend your post-breakout time well, and try not to make any more enemies.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Ah, how suspenseful; the tension mounts, in no small part because he's done absolutely nothing to dispel it. When she turns, he follows her eyes over silently. It's...

A hole in the wall. There's definitely a faint noise coming from inside it for anyone paying close attention. A little like rising steam. Some faint, soft clicks. Lancer looks at it for a second, but it's only a half-second's pause before he raps the end of his spear against the stone.

——And out flies like, an entire underground colony of hissing cockroaches. ]

[The unknown pricks at her spine with so many needles of restless uncertainty, and a lump is caught in her throat as she watches, waiting for something to happen and yet praying nothing does. It's a terrible place to be caught, and she can't help but be wound tight. When Lancer taps his spear, she braces herself for the worst...]

[——And then all the tension melts away as she heaves the biggest sigh of relief, smiling.

Oh, it's just cockroaches!

[Yeah, she's totally chill.]

[ The sheer number of huge bugs that just swarmed past them was probably enough to make a grown man piss himself, but she takes it in stride. Lancer steps out of the way of a few himself, more amused than disappointed as he avoids the buzzing creatures. ]

Hah—you're tough to spook.

[Flora makes no move to move in the swarm, and adjusts her hair with a fingerShe puffs up very slightly, because bugs are the smallest deal.]

Huh? Oh, because of them. They're not so bad at all.

[ Figures the girl name Flora isn't all that thrown off by fauna either. The roaches settle and hiss basically everywhere, to which he starts navigating around them back down the rest of the basement. Not out of any real kindness—bug guts are just kind of a pain to clean. Sorry, treehugging friend. ]

Most people would think they're kinda gross.

[ It sounds kind of like a compliment, because it is one. ]

I suppose that happens, unfortunately, even if they're as natural as anything else. [She's not that naive, actually, even if most people are WRONG. One seems to hang around her a little while before heading off with the rest. She gives it a wave.]

Too much of anything is a bad thing and they can be pests, but they're easily managed if you know what you're doing. [She starts to walk again and raises a finger.]

Now, puncture beetles, on the other hand, can be a little terrible sometimes, especially if you're dealing with an infestation.

[ Ah, isn't that always the worst. When people are Wrong. Flora seems keen on making up for all the legions of people afraid of roaches in the world, though. He 'waves' too, though it's brush aside one before it can fly into his cheek.

Besides all that, he is here on some sort of Serious Task, so he gets back to it. The dim glow of the rune and its magic, faint as it is, lure them deeper into the abandoned cellar. Business aside, his tone stays conversational. ]

Sounds like. You can't name things stuff like 'puncture beetle' and expect them to play nice.

I suppose, even if in some cases some of the most beautifully-named things are often the most dangerous. [She sounds way too happy about this.] It's a little poetic. Take belladonna, for example: the beautiful woman. It's rich, dark, sweet, and absolutely lethal.

[People dying is kind of a really big bummer, but the metaphor!!]

But yes, puncture beetles will...sort of eat you. And they emit an incredibly foul spray. It won't come out for a week if you're hit, even if you use magical soap and shampoo.

[ All for the metaphor...! But no, really, Flora consistently proves herself to be kind of an oddball. This time, Lancer passes her a lingering look, tone dry. ]

'Sort of' eat you.

[ As they approach a tangle of roots that the rune is hiding under, he starts writing out his own spell. ]

I'm glad you draw the line at that much.

Sort of really eat you, but then a lot of things can and will. Puncture beetles aren't a problem for me, though, I can just create its natural predator when there's a swarm.

[Sure is a thing she just said. When they come to the roots, she gently waves a hand and they pull themselves away, like curtains drawing back.]

Oh, I don't mind carnivores at all! They have a right to sustenance, but people have a right to survive too, I suppose.

[She guesses.]

[ Once the plants clear away, his own runes go off. The sigil on the wall contorts, shines in a dying, flickering light, then drains off of the stone like a chalk drawing in the rain. The magic in the air sizzles for just a moment before dispelling for good.

——But his question has nothing to do with that. Clearing out the runes was a chore to be finished, not some grand task to preen over when it was finished; he's already turning to leave, though there's a glint in his eye. ]

So what comes first, carnivores or people?

[Her eyes linger with curiosity over his work, but she easily follows suit, in the end; there's still so much to do.]

Both, ideally!

[BIGGEST SMILE.]

[ Not everything goes according to ideal, and he should chide her for it. Good, evil. Heads, tails. One side or its opposite. To help one denies or destroys the other, and that was just the truth of things: he isn't certain if that makes the world balanced or cruel, but it sure as hell doesn't make it optimistic.

Instead, he puffs out a laugh. ]

Yeah, ideally.

[ This time, he starts up the stairs first. ]

Nevermind—let's get going. Plenty of others to deal with.

[Flora isn't ignorant or lack self-awareness, and she could explain herself further if prompted, or even of her own volition.

Instead, she hops up stairs to get ahead of him, laces her hands behind her back and leans forward with a wink.]

If you're scared, I promise I won't let you get eaten by giant spiders or snakes. I'll protect you, Lancer. Even from puncture beetles.

[How much more legit can you get?]

[ A pair too easygoing for this world, tbh. Except for a second he looks a touch surprised at that, despite her obvious teasing. Of course he could handle some overgrown bugs, and to be afraid of them was completely ridiculous, thank you very much.

But it's not that often that someone'd make the offer and not the other way around. All the same, it's more funny than noble: his demeanor fizzles in record time into a bark of laughter. ]

Sure. I'll count on you then, Flora.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

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1/2 oh my god i laughed, but im sorry. also wow look at you with your actual proper em dashes

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sob i abuse them enough that i should probably use Real ones

patpats

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merry christmas, here's....! an extremely late tag )8

Re: merry christmas, here's....! an extremely late tag )8

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wanna wrap up with your next?

ye!! c: ty, pinches this thread's cheeks