Dragonball M, Chapter 4: Kidnapping! Invasion! A new Threat Strikes First!

[Tami]

Dash takes it slow at first. Ascending vertically, high enough to clear most buildings and obstructions, as well as high enough to get a good view of the ground below. She then leveled off and started flying over the populated area below, heading towards the outskirts, but not going too far.

She wanted to see if the little feller preferred to be a passenger, or if he (or she) could fly on his own. She'd start to fly a little faster if he indicated that was what he wanted.

As they flew, Dash did some simple maneuvers, just for fun. After circling around the area, she slowed down, "Hey, little guy, does any of this look familiar to you? Did you come from around here? Or from someplace else?"

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Dash, it does try to hover a bit, but it’s clearly young and weak so can’t keep up. It does seem to enjoy holding onto your shoulder as you fly, however.

It does not respond to you verbally.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Crystalline and ancient, the magics here were as pure as water that had frozen around it. Inanna was glad she'd come. Of course, she'd have been lying if she said she'd merely come to assess. Such was not her nature, especially when bored.

So true to form, Inanna drew close, and reached out. Tapping into the nexus in front of her.

Tapping in, Inanna’s senses are awash with the purity of the planet restored. You can taste Held’s hand in in, the purifying Unicorn Clan energy strong and deep. You can taste Ochazuke and Zaofan, having touched the leylines when summoning Genki energy. Both taste strong and powerful, one unyieldingly determined and the other always hopeful.

You also feel stronger, in this energy. Your fatigue washed away as you sip the energy and regain your reserves.


OT:

Entrenched as you are, Inanna can now, permanently, sense Held, Ochazuke, and Zaofan. No matter how far away, like a single star in a dark firmament, she can sense and know where they are immediately so long as they do not suppress their power willingly. Which means IT’ing to them is far easier as you won’t have to focus on their energy like everything else.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

She felt her teeth clench. Professional integrity was the one thing keeping her from this person's name. Her word was the only thing keeping her from threatening this creature's life.

There were a few ways she could have gone about this. Threatening was no good. Even the very valid promise of death, should she have chosen to inform Sarada or, gods forbid, Inanna, would have been enough. On the other hand, that would have killed even the prospect of them working together in the future. For as unscrupulous as this operation was, Parsley could see the use and wished to maintain that option if the need arose.

That left only one option.

"Very well. Say I wanted to buy your services for the purposes of keeping an eye on this person for me, how much would that be?"

Op grins. She clearly had figured out the right question to ask.

“Our rates differ depending on how long and what kind of spying you want. The more invasive the more it costs. Just scyong every now and then......10,000 credits per scry. Invasive and long term? Much more expensive.”

[Sub-Zero MKA]

Op grins. She clearly had figured out the right question to ask.

“Our rates differ depending on how long and what kind of spying you want. The more invasive the more it costs. Just scyong every now and then......10,000 credits per scry. Invasive and long term? Much more expensive.”

"A reasonable fare," she commented. There was no need for extended scrying. She didn't intend on this person living for very long once she got a look at their face.

"How soon can the first scry be done?"

[MrSandman]

-Ten Crystals - "Lodestones/Mana Batteries. Need to be pre-charged, but can be used to add firepower to spells.....will need a design a method for carrying and use."

-One large crystal in a skull apparatus. This one hums with magical power. - "Scrying/Recording Device, likely for magical espionage. Make note to test and check for anything Maven recorded.....assuming its not Auroc porn"

-One closed and locked spell book. - "Book of Eldrich Spellcraft. Very Old. Unlocked with the name of a God of Destruction(Significance perhaps?) Major find, will need detailed study.

-One open spell book - "Contains basic primer on Threshling Magic, along with notation on Blood Magic. Note to have Foci do a sketch of the contents for later, copies may make a nice gift for Cyanna(Threshling Magic) and/or Inanna(Blood Magic)

-One brazier/forge/oven
-About twelve different Reshlan native plants and samples for potions and spell work.
-Two pre-made potions

-One locked trunk
- One Dragon Familiar. Likely being used as magical materials by the Maven. Cute, hopefully doesn't eat as much as Erosa.
- Athame Mage-Killer Dagger. Bypasses magical defenses, good for attack spellcaster targets...useful as a surprise weapon.
- Magic vial - "Some sort of magical elixer. The components aren't discernable, but they seem to be related to a foreign species of magic users. Effects upon ingestion include heightened magical strength, sight physical deformity of the ear and eyes with no detrimental effects noted so far, and a possible magical link with some sort of forest planet populated by magical creatures. May or may not have also earned the ire of some pixie creature....not sure which is worse, angering a unknown entity or having to explain my new physical traits to everyone.

-About ten different books on plants, minerals, and their various works in magic and alchemy

-One blue and black stone ring - "Auto Translate ring for written information. Several possible applications when it comes to pre-historical writings."

-One red amulet - "Access to sideways plane....possible applications yet to be determined, safety of "sideways" dimension also needs to be determined. Making note to test for later."
-And other such paraphernalia and equipment.

It’s cool and sweet, and upon ingesting it, your entire body feels like it’s on fire from the inside. This is magic that isn’t for humans, and by ingesting it, you’ve begun the painful process of altering your body to a certain degree.

As your body...changes...you receive a vision of a massive forest, trees taller and thicker than you’ve ever seen. Magic seems to literally hang in the air, old and ancient and alien. You see different races, magic their birthright, moving through the trees. You see a strange, small winged humanoid flying over the forest, all pale blue/grey skin and pixie wings on a female body. She stops and slowly turns, seeming to watch you.

“Oh my! It seems you’ve done something very naughty. That wasn’t yours, little Etrina. Now you’ve been marked. I’ll see you soon to....talk to you. Until then.”

———

You awaken mere seconds after drinking the vial, feeling better than you ever have before. Stronger, more full of magic. And, if your ears are just the slightest bit more pointed, your eyes just a tiny bit slitted and more green, well, a small price to pay, right?

Downing the contents, Etrina had but a moment to note the taste...like some form of liquid mint candy. Sweet, cool and all around pleasant to drink. Etrina had been expecting something more akin to alcohol, foul tasting and burning all the wa...

...oh there it was. The Burning set in, immediate and hot. Etrina doubled over a bit as a unnatural heat swept over her body. It a matter of moment, what seemed like an eternity to her, she witnessed a foreign world, forestes as far as the eyes could see, magic beasts not yet cataloged in any tome, and a magical being of extraordinary power addressing her specifically....the mere act of drinking had attunded her to whatever forces the fluid had been drawn from.

Then she awoke with a start, standing back where she had begun.

"....Whoa......" Etrina stood still for a moment, unsure how she should be feeling. Her body felt stronger, lighter, more attunded with magic...and yet there was a cold sense of impending dread, as if she had stepped a foot into a world she shouldn't have.

Also her ears were itching.

Giving them a quick scratch, she paced around the chamber for a moment.....stopping only to examine the list she had been making, while recent events had left her a bit shaken she wasn't exactly done with her review. There were still two more vials of liquid to review.

However....this time she choice a much less, daring path.....analyising the contents without actually shoving it into her mouth. Less she end up with two more magical beasts on her tail...or a tail.

After that, she gave the chamber forge a quick examination, just in case....and that would wrap up the initial investigation.

[Tami]

Dash, it does try to hover a bit, but it’s clearly young and weak so can’t keep up. It does seem to enjoy holding onto your shoulder as you fly, however.

It does not respond to you verbally.

As she flew she made sure that he was safely holding on. As for a response, she was not surprised that he couldn't respond in any way. On thinking on it, the baby was probably taken from his mother before he could fully bond with a Magic user.

Finding an open area to land, she placed one finger on his head, gently touching him as she would nearly any baby creature. Dash then started to walk back to the Castle, "We'd better get back, Etrina might be wondering what happened to us. An you might be getting hungry again."

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

"A reasonable fare," she commented. There was no need for extended scrying. She didn't intend on this person living for very long once she got a look at their face.

"How soon can the first scry be done?"

He grins and then whistles.

The second majin, identical to Op, gets off its seat and remove sits headphones. On its screen is a desert looking area, a large moving plant like humanoid visible.

Op waves at the second majin.

“A’me here can donut now, if you have the credits.”

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Downing the contents, Etrina had but a moment to note the taste...like some form of liquid mint candy. Sweet, cool and all around pleasant to drink. Etrina had been expecting something more akin to alcohol, foul tasting and burning all the wa...

...oh there it was. The Burning set in, immediate and hot. Etrina doubled over a bit as a unnatural heat swept over her body. It a matter of moment, what seemed like an eternity to her, she witnessed a foreign world, forestes as far as the eyes could see, magic beasts not yet cataloged in any tome, and a magical being of extraordinary power addressing her specifically....the mere act of drinking had attunded her to whatever forces the fluid had been drawn from.

Then she awoke with a start, standing back where she had begun.

"....Whoa......" Etrina stood still for a moment, unsure how she should be feeling. Her body felt stronger, lighter, more attunded with magic...and yet there was a cold sense of impending dread, as if she had stepped a foot into a world she shouldn't have.

Also her ears were itching.

Giving them a quick scratch, she paced around the chamber for a moment.....stopping only to examine the list she had been making, while recent events had left her a bit shaken she wasn't exactly done with her review. There were still two more vials of liquid to review.

However....this time she choice a much less, daring path.....analyising the contents without actually shoving it into her mouth. Less she end up with two more magical beasts on her tail...or a tail.

After that, she gave the chamber forge a quick examination, just in case....and that would wrap up the initial investigation.

The two potions are actually healing draughts. Essentially they act like senzu beans.

The forge does have something in in. A strange green ingot of metal you are unfamiliar with.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

As she flew she made sure that he was safely holding on. As for a response, she was not surprised that he couldn't respond in any way. On thinking on it, the baby was probably taken from his mother before he could fully bond with a Magic user.

Finding an open area to land, she placed one finger on his head, gently touching him as she would nearly any baby creature. Dash then started to walk back to the Castle, "We'd better get back, Etrina might be wondering what happened to us. An you might be getting hungry again."

It coos and nods, seemingly agreeing that it’s still hungry.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

He grins and then whistles.

The second majin, identical to Op, gets off its seat and remove sits headphones. On its screen is a desert looking area, a large moving plant like humanoid visible.

Op waves at the second majin.

“A’me here can donut now, if you have the credits.”

She looked at the screen and saw the humanoid plant creature. Interesting. Seems to be in the middle of a desert.

"I do." She took a moment to prepare the ten thousand credits, then nodded at the two Majin. I just need a location. Finding a massive plant creature in the middle of a desert shouldn't be hard at all. Her only concern was if this creature was but one of an entire race. If it was, that was going to make her search much more difficult.

"I'm ready."

[Tami]

It coos and nods, seemingly agreeing that it’s still hungry.

It wasn't long before they saw the Castle.

OOC: Is the Queen still nearby, or did she move to another location? Is anyone else nearby? Otherwise, Dash will just continue to meet back up with Etrina.

[MrSandman]

-Ten Crystals - "Lodestones/Mana Batteries. Need to be pre-charged, but can be used to add firepower to spells.....will need a design a method for carrying and use."

-One large crystal in a skull apparatus. This one hums with magical power. - "Scrying/Recording Device, likely for magical espionage. Make note to test and check for anything Maven recorded.....assuming its not Auroc porn"

-One closed and locked spell book. - "Book of Eldrich Spellcraft. Very Old. Unlocked with the name of a God of Destruction(Significance perhaps?) Major find, will need detailed study.

-One open spell book - "Contains basic primer on Threshling Magic, along with notation on Blood Magic. Note to have Foci do a sketch of the contents for later, copies may make a nice gift for Cyanna(Threshling Magic) and/or Inanna(Blood Magic)

-One brazier/forge/oven - "Fairly standard"

-Green Ingot - Found in the Forge. Unknown material....note to bring to Inanna for evaluation.

-About twelve different Reshlan native plants and samples for potions and spell work.

-Two pre-made potions - "Healing potions, need to reverse engineer the ingrediants...such potion could prove invaluable in battles to come."

-One locked trunk
- One Dragon Familiar. Likely being used as magical materials by the Maven. Cute, hopefully doesn't eat as much as Erosa.
- Athame Mage-Killer Dagger. Bypasses magical defenses, good for attack spellcaster targets...useful as a surprise weapon.
- Magic vial - "Some sort of magical elixer. The components aren't discernable, but they seem to be related to a foreign species of magic users. Effects upon ingestion include heightened magical strength, sight physical deformity of the ear and eyes with no detrimental effects noted so far, and a possible magical link with some sort of forest planet populated by magical creatures. May or may not have also earned the ire of some pixie creature....not sure which is worse, angering a unknown entity or having to explain my new physical traits to everyone.

-About ten different books on plants, minerals, and their various works in magic and alchemy

-One blue and black stone ring - "Auto Translate ring for written information. Several possible applications when it comes to pre-historical writings."

-One red amulet - "Access to sideways plane....possible applications yet to be determined, safety of "sideways" dimension also needs to be determined. Making note to test for later."
-And other such paraphernalia and equipment.

The two potions are actually healing draughts. Essentially they act like senzu beans.

The forge does have something in in. A strange green ingot of metal you are unfamiliar with.

Making her final notes, Etrina placed the ingot on the table and briefly eyes it. She wasn't familiar with a material of this nature.....but perhaps Inanna could, afterall she had a particular attunement to metal. She would need to make a note to have the Oni give a appraisal of the material when she was available again.

Sitting back in her chair, Etrina sighed and scratched her ears again....awkwardly pausing, then running her fingers over the top.

"....Hmm.." The Mage murmured, either her fingers were off from touching too many artifacts and drinking too many vials(one being too many)......or her ears were a bit off....

Pushing the thought aside for a moment, Etrina looked to the completed evaluation(mostly) and pondered the next more important point....she had promised something that could be gifted to Cyanna, but what.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

Tapping in, Inanna’s senses are awash with the purity of the planet restored. You can taste Held’s hand in in, the purifying Unicorn Clan energy strong and deep. You can taste Ochazuke and Zaofan, having touched the leylines when summoning Genki energy. Both taste strong and powerful, one unyieldingly determined and the other always hopeful.

You also feel stronger, in this energy. Your fatigue washed away as you sip the energy and regain your reserves.


OT:

Entrenched as you are, Inanna can now, permanently, sense Held, Ochazuke, and Zaofan. No matter how far away, like a single star in a dark firmament, she can sense and know where they are immediately so long as they do not suppress their power willingly. Which means IT’ing to them is far easier as you won’t have to focus on their energy like everything else.

An interesting wrinkle, to be sure, though an amusing one. It would make feeding off of Held's suffering that much easier... as for the other two, well, it never hurt to keep tabs on someone. Especially two humans who had managed to stay relevant in matters of Gods and Monsters.

Though... the ebbing fatique was an even nicer touch.

Immersed in the Leylines, Inanna was content to drift and contemplate; ever one to allow her curiosity to prove the better when there was no immediate harm however... she couldn't help but attempt something.

An attempt to siphon off a permanent piece...

OT: Held will never be safe.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

An interesting wrinkle, to be sure, though an amusing one. It would make feeding off of Held's suffering that much easier... as for the other two, well, it never hurt to keep tabs on someone. Especially two humans who had managed to stay relevant in matters of Gods and Monsters.

Though... the ebbing fatique was an even nicer touch.

Immersed in the Leylines, Inanna was content to drift and contemplate; ever one to allow her curiosity to prove the better when there was no immediate harm however... she couldn't help but attempt something.

An attempt to siphon off a permanent piece...

OT: Held will never be safe.

She finds she cannot siphon a piece off. Perhaps she is simply not used to leylanic energy yet, or the raw amount of power unleashed after Auroc’s taint was removed and everything was renewed is simply too...wild...to take a piece of.