(no subject)

[save_the_souls]

Who: Allen Walker
Broadcast: Video
Action: Solrius
When: 9/7

[Allen looks like he's planet-side on Solrius. He doesn't look injured, but he sure looks like this hasn't been the best of weeks. The area behind him? Looks like it just got hit by a snowstorm and a tornado, all at once.]

Hey! There's a dragon running loose on Solrius- a dangerous one, not a nice one! He's traveling with a man and they're causing damage! If you have information about either of them or their location, please tell me!

If you can fight? Please consider coming down here to protect the local villages! Don't try to take the dragon and the man on by yourself. Otherwise? I suggest traveling elsewhere!

[OOC: If you want to have an encounter with the dragon here's the log! The dragon will be defeated on the 11th. If you really want your character to be on Solrius and NOT encounter the dragon, that's fine too- it's a big planet! ]

Comments

[save_the_souls]

Ah, right. You're a vampire. Don't worry, I have a rule about not attacking unless I'm sure you're a threat.

[So if he thought you were, you'd be be dead already! Wheeeee!]

Anyway, I'll start from the beginning then. There's this type of special energy that exists. Many worlds have different names for it: demonic energy, darkness, the taint, yoki, dark matter, malevolence....the list goes on. There's subtle differences and variations between each one, but their basic principles are the same.

Normally, these energies aren't around or at low enough levels where they're harmless to most people. Some of them are even naturally occurring. It's usually when something causes the energy levels to heighten or there's the presence of the more dangerous forms of the energy that you have a problem. It can be destructive, corrupt people or even turn living creatures into monsters.

When that happens, your best course of action is to call someone who specializes in dealing with this stuff. Whether it be Exorcists like myself, Shepherds, Keyblade masters, Hunters, or...Ghostbusters!

[Okay, so that last one might've been a joke, but hey whatever]

Following so far?

[stefanged]

Nice to meet you too, Eithan.

[At the mention of Eithan also being a vampire (and a damon?? How??), Stefan can't help staring. How long has there been another vampire without him knowing??? He's getting worse at monitoring the Network, or it slipped past his radar, or - Or maybe Allen said that so Stefan could feel comfortable with expressing himself. Either way, Stefan has no clue how to feel about that piece of information.

Since the explanation's more for Eithan's benefit, Stefan gives a nod, finally pulling himself together long enough to nod.] Yeah, I'm with you.

[deviances]

[ If only Eithan were from Earth... he would totally enjoy Ghostbusters.

Eithan doesn't flinch at being outed as the half-breed he is - clearly not really a big deal to him - but since he can't pick up on other vampires (faint-sixth-sense-for-magic doesn't work on vampires, alas) he doesn't know that he's in like company on the vampire front. Oh well.

He's definitely following so far, nodding along as Allen explains. ]

Yeah, I'm followin'. Nothin' like that for real in our world that I know of, but there are stories like it.

[save_the_souls]

[He gives a nod] In many worlds, that's fortunately the case.

[Moving on though]

Anyway, Exorcists and Shepherds are special in that they have powerful abilities that lets them purify things that have been corrupted by this energy. Our work is very similar in that regard.

However, how we get this power is very different. Shepherds form pacts with a type of spirit called Seraphim. This allows the Seraphim and the human to combine their powers and that unity grants the power of purification.

While this is very powerful, it doesn't give them immunity to corruption. In fact, they're really sensitive to the energy malevolence, one of the more common ones. And if they fail to keep up their resistance and purity from malevolence....

[He turns his head, looking around the area]

This happens.

[deviances]

[ He looks around, too, and winces all over again. Thankfully, Eithan can put two and two together relatively okay. ]

Malevolence... Okay. You said there was a dragon - with a man - that's causin' all this destruction. So... Shepherd and Seraphim? And all because of the corruption?

[save_the_souls]

[He nods] Yes, that's right. The man is the Shepherd, and the dragon is...or was the Seraph. Both of them are out of control, causing destruction and spreading more corruption around...which is what happened to the animals.

And to make matters worse, that Seraph...isn't the only Seraphim to have a pact with the Shepherd. There's three others in the fleet. So far they've managed to resist, but...

[stefanged]

But it's only a matter of time before they'll succumb to the malevolence too.

[Lailah gave him the 411, and honestly, Stefan's had far too much experience to freak out. His friends - no, their friends need them to stay calm and focused until this is all settled.]

So the sooner we find those two, the sooner we can have the others sever their pacts and weaken the Shepherd.

[deviances]

[ The dragon... was the Seraph. Okay, he can't help but stare at that one. Then Allen says there are others in the fleet? And Stefan mentions severing those pacts? Well. ]

Well fuck. [ He shakes his head once, sharply, trying to clear it. ] Okay, okay. I'm gettin' the picture now. I think. Weaken the Shepherd, then... what? I mean, can we help the guy? And the, uh, spirits? Is the corruption thing like... help-able even when this shit's already happened? [ He looks at Allen. ] You said you did somethin' similar. Exorcist. Yeah? So...

[ He is looking for any little teensy ray of hope right now, because he does not like the sound of where any of this is going right now. ]

[save_the_souls]

You got her to agree to sever the pacts? Thank God...I was not looking forward to fighting him full strength.

[It'd be like fighting a dark Avatar and THAT'D SUCK. And he glances at Eithan again. Poor kid...]

If we're lucky, I should be able to purify the Shepherd with my own power. That'll restore him back to the way he was, and prevent the other Seraphim from becoming dragon.

As for the one already a dragon... [His shoulders slump and he looks pretty down] I'm afraid my powers aren't strong enough to restore him.

[deviances]

[ Well, that's good news about the Shepherd, but for the already lost Seraph... that's not so good. ]

I see. ... I'm sorry.

[ His tone's a bit quieter for that - he's been in that position. Not exactly, of course, but... hell if he doesn't understand the feeling. ]

So the sooner we find this guy, the better. Right?

[stefanged]

Kind of? When I talked to her, she sounded like she was already planning on it. [Stefan wouldn't call himself persuasive when it comes to Seraphim; they're forces of nature (literally).] From what I could tell, as long as they're contracted to the Shepherd, they can help us track him down.

[Read: Lailah's not cutting that metaphorical cord until they've successfully got Sorey. As he admits this, Stefan's bags suddenly feel heavy, and... Y'Allah, he doesn't want to do this. He doesn't want to think there's no other choice, but if Allen's confirming what Lailah said...

Poor Mikleo. No one deserves this fate.]

Right. If you have other questions, we should answer them while we're in the shuttle.

[save_the_souls]

[He glances at Eithan]

Don't say sorry to me. This is part of being an Exorcist.

[Sure, this mission is a little more personal than he would like. His heart feels heavy at the idea of having to fight two people he'd always thought would be fighting at his side if something like this happened. But this wasn't the first time he's had to fight friends, and refusing to act when there was no other Exorcist here was against what he believed in.

[He gives a nod at both of them]

But right, enough for talking for now. There's been reports of dragon sightings near a village north of here, I want to check there first.

[deviances]

[ He nods as well - message understood. ]

Right. Let's go then.

[ No questions to ask just yet, anyway. ]

[stefanged]

[Off they go! Stefan slides into the backseat automatically, partially because he figured Eithan called shotgun but also because he has the food. Who better to make sure it doesn't go flying every which way?

Once everyone gets settled, he has to admit,] Kinda wish I'd known about Eithan's uh, diet, or else I would've maybe brought a third of this.

[save_the_souls]

[!!!!]

Right, the food!

[He'll glance back to see the bags of food Stefan brought and is immediately cheerful despite everything going on]

Oh don't worry! That's the perfect amount! Did you find dango?

[stefanged]

Right, I should've guessed.

[He laughs, leaning forward so he could nudge a plastic take-out container Allen's way. While they're rice dough dumplings, and there's definitely a dango-like sauce, the combined effort looks... off.]

As for the dango? Uh, kind of. I was pretty persuasive, but even the Spirit vendors had no clue what I was talking about.

[deviances]

[ Eithan ends up laughing a bit too, shaking his head. ]

I... actually do have to eat, too. So thanks, man.

[ Not that he's particularly hungry at the moment, so knock yourself out, Allen. Still, he squints at the take-out box, curious. ]

What's dango, anyway?

[save_the_souls]

They're rice dumplings! They're the best!

[He sets the shuttle to autopilot towards their coordinates so he can takes the box, licking his lips]

I'm not surprised, Moxie didn't know what they were either. [And yeah, they do look a little off- but he'll grab one and bite into it anyway] - Mm! Not quite, but still good!

[stefanged]

No kidding? [He glances over at Eithan.] Guess I've got a lot to learn about vampires.

[But Y'Allah, Allen actually liked it! Stefan lets out a huge sigh of relief.] I'm glad. They specialize in "rare and special" food over there, but I think their definition's different from ours.

[He pulls out another box for Eithan, holding it out towards him,] Since I know Allen's appetite, here. Go for one.

[deviances]

Heh, nah, apparently we're all different. 'Sides, how many are even in the fleet?

[ Yep. He still has no idea. But when he's offered that box, he smiles, pops it open, and takes one. ]

Thanks! [ And after a bite... ] Huh. That's pretty good! Make me wonder what the real thing tastes like.

[save_the_souls]

A small number. [He says in-between bites.] Luckily the ones I've met in the fleet tend to be much more agreeable than ones I've met in the past. I mean, the most troublesome one is only really because he's an idiot.

[stefanged]

[Stefan snorts,] Idiot's putting it nicely. What kind of jerk waves human blood in my face during Ramadan?

Nearly broke my fast thanks to that dumbass. [Beat] But um, it's just the three of us, unless Allen's neglected to tell me about anyone else.

[deviances]

[ Aaaand, lightbulb! ]

Oh, you too, then! Heh. I didn't realize. [ You don't say... ] So, what, two thirds of the entire vampire population is currently in this shuttle? That's wild.

[save_the_souls]

Hmmm...I don't think there's any others! At least not that I know about, though I wouldn't be surprised if they avoid the local Exorcist.

[Unlike you two special snowflakes. But he smiles to himself as Stefan admits it. Sure, bringing these two along in the same group was a coincidence, but Allen's still glad. Stefan could use it.]

[stefanged]

Right, and I'm sure they're not lining up for the Interfaith Center either.

[Allen's right on the nose: Stefan needed this. He'd gone far too long without anyone else who could relate to his (eternal) struggle, and well? At least Eithan's more on the ball than the idiot.]