Vim: Tales from Lumina (Fantasy/Arcanepunk/IC)

[Menschenfleisch]

Double-A

"You worked on Greyskin? Wow, I can't believe I'm finally meeting someone who was involved! I've heard rumours that they were still digging up bodies from the fish cannery two months after the case went cold. Is that true?"

The carriage pulled up. Exposition. Dialogue. Funny quips. Melodramatic descriptions that utterly fail to show rather than tell.

"So Inoia's a bit paranoid these days. I've been part of his trading network before, running spice shipments to and from various locales. I know where he is, but I've never been to the part of town, for obvious reasons. It's just a few blocks down from here, on Poppy Lane. I hear it's pretty stinky down there, so you might want to cover your nose."

The street in question truly lived up to its name. The stench of opium lingered in the air, alongside many other noxious aromas that defied description. Most of the sidewalks were covered in ash and discarded piles of unburnt leaves, bits of spice and dust lining the windowsills. The street was like the inside of an ancient furnace; though it was otherwise spectacularly clean, for even the rats would choke on the air. Those that could stay there for more than a day were considered miraculous and lucky; for they could spend far longer enjoying their vices and purchasing their goods in the place where law enforcement were often paid to stay away. Unfortunately, said bribes only ever affected (or were offered to) the local constables. Someone like Sibyl would be far harder to turn away - and for most people on the street, the perceived difficulty convinced them not even to try. Amongst all the men and women of smoke were more eccentric clients with more esoteric needs. Specialists in poison and subterfuge; often working in vastly different hemispheres. It was perhaps one place where government spies and unsanctioned alchemists could meet, both looking for the same thing. Ana kept one hand over her nose as she walked, pressing a small length of cloth against her nostrils.

"Inoia's said to keep a tidier shop than most of these places. Back when I ferried cargo for him I had to carry some kind of mustard, too; so that smell should be a giveaway. Though, I'm wondering if you can smell anything at all over the haze. How's this place not been shut down yet? Surely, it would take only a few raids to clear the vendors out."

[Naval Monte]

Lumina- Sibyl Blackstone
Victorian Detroit

Sibyl winced at the mention of the bodies. "I only stayed for a while on that case after it went cold. I might not be the best one to ask on that." The woman explained as she want to change the topic from the case. Sadly she was there to see one of many retrieval missions to fish out the bodies. The smell of both rotten fish and dead bodies sometimes comes back to her whenever she goes past one of the ports.

When Sera told her that she was once a part of his trading network she wasn't surprised, Inioa often recruited anyone desperate for food, money, and drugs. But more importantly kids made the perfect drug mules do to their small size allowing them to sneak into places that adults would have a hard time going through and their perceived innocence made most think that a child can never work with criminals, such the mindset that gives clever crooks like Inoia the excuse to recruit the poor children in the slums.

Sibyl rose her cloth mask to cover her mouth and nose, to avoid breathing in the toxic ash that lingers in the air. Looking at the dilapidated roads, sidewalk and building Sibyl was reminded how almost every other part of the city either sees an old building having its coat of paint scrapped off and repainted with newer brighter colors while new wood is used to replace the old or magic js use to restore the aging wood back to its prime. Other buildings are torn to be replaced with the gleaming towers of Vuk and Vis enhanced steel, reinforced concrete, and glass. All of these works to keep the appearance of Lumina as the shining beacon of progress and the physical embodiment of a glorious future and Blight Town is allowed to exist?

What is it about this section of the city that makes city officials ignore it? Sibyl look at an elderly human couple wearing dirty rags walking at the sidewalk at the other side of the road, both giving the two suspicious looks. The half elf looked at them to see if they would do anything but with their sickly appearance ahead doubt they had the strength to even walk far in the slums, let alone fight them. The old man began to cough as he pushed on. Sibyl heard what Sera said about his tidier shop.

"The previous minister was a corrupt old fool with many cronies working for him. No doubt Inoia bribed some if them to make the police look away. The current administration is to worry about the White Plague and our factory worker murders to focus on the shop." The detective explained as they kept walking through the ash covered ruins. The two would find old carriages, both wooden horse drawn carriages and older models of the iron and wood steam carriages. The wagons either had missing wheels or were missing parts of them, even parts of the vehicles shown signs that someone hacked away at them. No doubt the residents were taking them part to either use for firewood or to sell them for money, at least with the iron they can both use it as a piece I'd armor or weapon along with generating a little bit of wealth.

The once vibrant paint on the carriages were dried and flakey with many patches lying on the cracked, sun-bleached, road like the dust and spice and broken glass they saw previously. The steam engines on some of the wagons were mostly left to rust away by the elements as the boilers were now covered in a thick coat of rust, turning the previously silver gray devices into a worthless cooper colored relic. Yet Sibyl noted that some of the steam carriages were missing their engines. She wonder what one would use those engines for?

"Show far is the shop from us? How many guards are we looking at when we reach it and do you know of any good place for us to sneak in?" She asked as they walk across a road with broken and rusted streetcar rails and cut power lines dangling on the poles. The two would see the broken remains of another street car with black paint being used to write down a message.

"Lumina is fed upon the meat of the dead."

---

Lumina- Cathderal

Once the doors to the cathderal open Venusta would see that the pews had people sitting on them as a priest was reciting prayers to the people as they read from their holy book. Venusta would see a small woman with small blonde hair and blue eyes walking up to her, with her resemblance to elves but having a size similar to dwarves the woman would know that nun before her was a pixie.

"Good morning miss. Are you here for today's sermons?" The young pixie gave her a bright smile as the automatic organs gears began to turn and the levers began to play the keys of the massive musical instrument, making it play music and smoke bellow out from the massive pipes attached to it.

[Britanania]

Venusta

The meeting with the Bishop went well for Venusta. Using the local clergy as contacts and working with Ecclesiarchy-ran schools, hospitals, and social outreach programmes they were able to confirm that Blight Town seemed to be the epicentre of the drug trade, but it was unlikely this was the source, either for drugs or for the money that supported the drug trade. Even more interesting was that a cross reference of known sellers and buyers, Venusta learned that that the poorest citizens were hardly the majority of consumers, as it was in Cadia. The use of Vim-based drugs permeated all levels of society.

Venusta frowned when she read over the reports. It was looking more like an institutional and systematic problem than she and the Ecclesiarchy initially believed. However, Venusta knew that there were other ways to skin a cat. When the young Inquisitor finished reading the reports she called the Bishop over.

"Do you know any detectives?"

[Menschenfleisch]

A to the N to the other letters of the name

"Well, in terms of guards... Inoia is generally pretty lax on physical security. We might meet half a dozen men working under him - two are permanent guards there. The rest will probably just be deliverymen or couriers."

Ana looked about the street, laying her eyes upon a large yellow storefront, with untorn canvas hung up above and windows that still had their bars intact. Obviously a higher-end opium den, or Inoia's workshop. She pulled Sibyl along, stopping just beyond the doorway. Inside, the sound of burbling flasks and tinkling glass could be heard.

"So do you want to sneak in or ask him directly? I'm sure we can gain some information either way."

[Naval Monte]

Lumina

The bishop thought of the question until his eyes fell upon a elvan woman, when it did he lit up with recognition over something. "I have one. Her name is Sibyl Blackstone. She is the daughter of a human industrialist turn politician Nathanael Blackstone and a elvan mystic and healer named Aria. She chose to become a detective and a fine one at that as she is often called in to consulate cases the police have trouble with." the man states as he walked away to find a newspaper that shows the detective in question.

"She is well known for using both Vim based magick and technology in her cases. Also she seems to be popular with some of my  female churchgoers because they see her as a positive role model for women everywhere, especially those who are mothers.Also the fact she is a hybrid unsurprisingly makes her a role model to the other hybrids." The bishop explained.

"I believe she lives on Providence street which is close to downtown." The bishop said as he gave her further directions to the townhouse that she lives in. "But I doubt she would be there now, not with the recent case in the factory workers murders. Most likely she is in Blighttown."

---

Looking at the building Sibyl had a bad feeling about it. She was positive Inoia was in there. The weight of her weapons and cuff were heavy as she though what method would be best to deal with him. "We don't know if he has only two guards or the types of weapons and infusions they have so I think stealth would be the better option.' She told the young girl. "If this goes wrong however I need to know if you can defend yourself? If not I can cover you while you try to escape." She explained to her, going that their attempt at sneaking in goes will and that neither of them have to fight their way out.

"So should we case the building to find a good way to sneak in or you already know of a good spot for that?"

[Theyra]

Lumian branch of Võsalu Industries
Kaleva Nieminen

Kaleva stepped into Mirka's office having just got off the telephone, catching her in the middle of her looking over some paperwork. "Mirka, we need to talk about a new project that we need our best for".

Mirka looked up to Kaleva, "What project needs our best?

Kaleva clears his voice, "You see last night, a Lumian representative came to me with a surprising offer, an offer that I convinced my father to accept ".

Mirika raised her eyebrow and wondered what he means, "What did the Lumians offer?

They offered to have us build an engine for a new substance that they found while digging for Vim". "They have not named it yet, or if they did I was not told but, what looks like liquid coal was discovered. In exchange for building an engine for it and seeing if it can be used as a fuel source". They are willing to give the company a good percentage of the money and exclusive contract to work on..... a few secret projects of theirs".

She listened intently and sounded concerned, "What do you mean work on a few secret projects? "You have no idea what those could be?

"Nooo, I do not and that is only if this liquid coal can be a fuel source then this could help the company".

"I... am,, not so sure about this deal is a good thing Kaleva, I mean what could the Lumian government want us to build for them?

"Mirika, I can understand your concern for this but, I believe that this can truly help the company considering the.... projected figures for the quarter".

"I see and... I guess this is good for the company and anything else you need for this... liquid coal?

"Yes, first we need to set up proper security for this project. I do not want a repeat of what happened last time the company tried to study Vim. Then we gather our best engineers and get our R&D on this quietly".

"And I assume that you would have to be hands on this Kaleva?

"Yes, you know me well and let's get everything in motion today. I have a feeling like this project could just be the thing that this company needs".

[Britanania]

Venusta

The young Inquisitor looked over the photo from the newspaper. It was a few years old and a little worn, but the story was intact and had a few photos of a case that the hybrid in question solved Despite the grainy print, she could make out the figure the Bishop referred to, amidst a mixture of races, from Elves to Orcs: a slender woman with the typical features of an Elf-Human hybrid, a pretty woman the cleric admitted, who at least stood out. Venusta memorised the image and thanked the Bishop.

"All right," Venusta told the hierophant as she rose from the cubicle and started making for the door. "If she's still in Blighttown now I might be able to run into her. If not, well, I still have a few other leads." With a slight wave, Venusta quit the Cathedral and made her way back towards Blighttown.

[Menschenfleisch]

Ana ara ara Asa Asa Asa Asa as an Asakku

"I know a way in, obviously. What do I look like to you, an idiot? I ran drug shipments to and from this place for years! Jesus christ, no logical consistency in the story... I mean, umm, yeah! Sure, I know a way in. There's a small vent up the top of the building, near the gutter. You should be able to fit in, since you're rather small."

Jacqu- Ana, yes, definitely Ana Asakku, clambered up the side of the shop, popping into the building and into the attic, waiting for Sibyl to follow her.

"Of course I can defend myself! Who wouldn't be able to? I'm a genetic freak! I've got claws for hands, eyes that can cut you to shreds, literally the most outstanding appearance in the entire slums; and you're asking me whether I can defend myself? It's like asking a chef if they can cook! It comes with the territory! I mean... sorry, ignore that. I can defend myself, sure. I've had to deal with a lot of nasty customers over the years. Robbers, cultists, all the like. Plus, back when I worked for Inoia, he made sure I knew how to use my fists like weapons. He's very concerned with the safety of his helpers. Or his shipments. I dunno; it's probably the latter."

The insides of Inoia's workshop were actually extremely clean. Though they crept through the rafters, well above the rest of the shop, the air immediately cleared as they entered. The smokey exterior gave way to an atmosphere of cleanliness and lavender spices. The entire place was airtight and lined with purifying essences. Probably a requirement for someone who worked with such dangerous chemicals all the time. A strong draft went through the building at all times, emerging from a large black square mounted against the wall at the back of the room and entering a series of vents near the front. A number of men and elves, rather clean looking for slum workers, bandied about. The room was filled from top to bottom with iron shelves, strips of leather, buckets of water, flasks of iridescent fluid; they all seemed to be working around one bench, a series of glowing wards separating the atmosphere within from without. There was an opaque clay jar on the table, with the same smell that the chemical in the alley way. Ana/Sera indicated as much with a finger, touching her nose and putting her index fingers up in parallel fashion. She leaned in, whispering as quietly as she could.

"I can't see Inoia down there, but that ceramic vial might be what we're going after, though it kind of goes without saying. It's waaaayy too out in the open to not be a plot macguffin. Oh, and it also smells like the corpse goop. Look, is it really a question? It's clearly what we're to pick up."

[Naval Monte]

Lumina- Sibyl Blackstone
Detroit District

"Okay terrible question to ask." The woman muttered at the response she got. "Also I'm not small, I'm fun size." The half elf corrected as she followed Ana to the side of the building, getting in without making too much noise. Once inside the facility Sibyl was surprised by how clean it was but was reminded that Inoia most likely keeps it clean so no dust would get into his mixture and produce unwanted results. That or he was a secret neat freak? No the scent of different cleaning products and spices pointed it to him being careful for contamination.

Looking at the workers and the shelves her eyes fell on the one particular vial that as Ana state is important looking. "I can project an illusion around us to blend in with the workers and try to get close enough to steal the vial. The amount of infusions in the room should mask the energy from my spell." Sibyl closed her eyes as she began to speak in the old native elven language as she performed a few gestured for the spell.

When the spell was cast the two would find their appearance altered. Sibyl was now much younger, taller, and slimmer. Her black hair was blonde to the point of being white and her eyes were green. Both girls clothed were the same as the workers. "Now we just need to wait for the right time to join in with the workers."

---

The shop owner looked at the two. While man was human the facial hair would make one think he was related to a dwarf. "Ah gear for defense. Thst depends missy, are you lookingfor armor or a weapon? Because I got enough for both." The man would walk to to the back.

After a while he would return with a box. "These are all parts to make both different firearms and bladed weapons. I hit a few parts fir automated plate armor."

[Prusselanden]

Blighttown
“I would like a firearm, please. I don’t think armor would fit me very well...” Jules was a bit hesitant to tell anything about her werewolf form. “I tried armor once and I couldn’t move well in it.” She lied. “Plus, it’s not comfortable.”

“So how much for the firearm parts?” Jules asked the shopkeeper. She didn’t really know how to put this together, but Jona did, unbeknownst to Jules. The boy has spent hours in his residence skimming over sources on technology and machine parts, as well as how to put them together.

[Britanania]

Venusta

The Inquisitor's sojourn into Lumina's ghettos followed the same familiar pattern as the day before. This time, however, the feigned confidence that Venusta had before was replaced with a real understanding and familiarity with the streets of Blight Town. The transient nature of the neighbourhood made exploring it somewhat of a puzzle, and of course, she received looks from many of its denizens, but as Venusta made her way through Blight Town she tried to gain a greater understanding of how its underworld worked.

As her previous excursion and the Bishop's intelligence revealed the drug problem was deep-rooted and affected almost all aspects of life in Blight Town and perhaps even all of Lumina. She noticed how even children were used as couriers between dealers and buyers, and what few law enforcement officers made their way into the ghetto participated fully in its illicit behaviour.

Still, Venusta continued her search for the detective the Bishop told her about and wondered if she could be of any help.

[Theyra]

Undisclosed location in BlightTown
Kaleva Nieminen

All the preparations were set for liquid coal research and later testing. The facility was secretly built under a legitimate factory that Võsalu Industries owns. The workers and the guards working there have no knowledge of the facility below them. As for the security, the security at the facility is high and measures were made that only those authorized know of the facility is kept to a handful. Kaleva is personally overseeing the project and making sure that the security protocols are followed to the letter. He will not risk another incident with this "liquid coal" which since the Luminans have yet seem not have named yet. The substance is being called Cithylite at the moment.

All of the researchers and engineers were gathered into a main hall of the facility were Kaleva was standing in front of them on a makeshift podium. "Okay people", he spoke in a loud but, calm tone. "You all have been chosen since you were the best in the company to help with this project. And as you know, this project is not a simple one and what I have gathered you all here for is this". Kaleva motioned to his right and open up a case and took out the sample of Cithylite. He held it up for them all to see before placing it gently back into the case. "That is what we are calling liquid coal or Cithylite. The Luminans discovered it while digging for Vim and they have commissioned us to make an engine out of this substance. I believe that we will find a use for this substance and hopefully, it will be a fuel source". Which, Kaleva's tone became serious, "This will just not be a major find for the company and help revitalize Võsalu Industries. But, you all will be known for creating the first engine and I promised you, I will make sure that you all get the reward that you will deserve. Now let's get this project underway and this time, nothing is going to stop us from finishing this project".

[Menschenfleisch]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAsakku

Ana dropped down as soon as her disguise was cast, landing behind a small group of men, capsules and vials tucked into every woven orifice. It looked as if they might create an explosion just by falling, or bumping into one another. Though he appearance was usually quite out of the ordinary, the workers didn't seem to notice. Perhaps Sibyl's spell did more than just generate a false visage; it actively veiled her unique visual properties and lacking body language. That, or she was simply quite good at blending in.

She snuck closer to the vial, beckoning Sibyl over and mouthing; "we can get it now and walk out the front door before Inoia even walks in. Come on, I need a distraction."

[Naval Monte]

Lumina- Sibyl Blackstone
Blighttown- Happiest place in Lumina

Sibyl thought on what she can do as they got closer to the vial, she knew they needed a distraction long before Sera told her so. The half elf ponder on that question when she saw a group of workers carrying some boxes. Thinking quickly she would conjure an illusion to to pester them as flies began to buzz around them. The workers were annoyed and while most tried to ignore the imaginary flies a few tried to sway them.

The group would get the break they need as one of the workers hands slip and the box fell, breaking it once it landed and causing the vials within to spill out. Sibyl can sense that the glass was given some Vuk powder during creation to make it stronger. Either way the other workers began to gather on the spot to clean up the mess made. "There is your distraction. Get the vial now."

Outside while Venusta was looking for Sibyl she would see a group of goblins standing in front of a human make wearing a long red coat that covered most of his torso as it was closed, revealing some of his black pants and shoes. He wore a white odd mask that covered his nose and mouth, only revealing his black oval shaped, eyes. White gloves covered his hands. The man's black hair was swept up to make a make it spike up. Everything about the man told Venusta that he was an affluent individual.

Even the suitcase with him would tell everyone that he was affluent. Yet the three goblins were not trying to mug him, if anything they walked away from him after getting some vials and crystals from him along pieces of papers with odd symbols and writings on them. The man would look up to see Venusta and gesture for her to come.

Should Venusta approach the man he would speak in a odd accent. "One of my regulars told me about seeing a beautiful woman before, seeing you know I must agree with him. I believe he told you who I was correct?" The man would ask. Those that can sense magic as a few elves have the man looks of concern as they felt something was off with the man. The few elves out on the street hurriedly left the two alone.

[Toaslandia]

Malius walked out of his apartment in a slightly less grim mood then he was usually in and headed down to the tavern where he had talked to Konrad. He opened the door and sat down at a table facing the door, so if one of the ogres who had tried to kill him returned, he could easily know. Malius then ordered a water, and thought on how he could kill a vampire.

[Menschenfleisch]

Ukkasa Anana Asakku

Asakku slipped by the other workers, laying a hand on the ceramic trinket and tucking it into her pocket, hoping it wasn't super deadly acid. She gestured to Sibyl;

"we should probably get out now."

[Naval Monte]

Lumina- Sibyl Blackstone
Blighttown

The half elf saw the young girl grabbing the vial and when told to leave she did so, sprinting away from her hiding spot and through the workers. As the two  fled they would hear several people shouting, workers who saw them fleeing with the vial. The two can hear footsteps behind them as security guards began to chase after them.

In their chase they would hear two sounds that would unnerve them, the first was the growls and howls of dogs being unleashed on them, the other was the unmistakable blast of firearms going off. The bullets so far flew pass them but as the guards were ready to fire again it was clear they needed to escape from their line of sight.

Sibyl could cast an illusion to make them invisible but the dogs would be able to sniff them out. "We need to take out these dogs. My escape plan won't work with them still chasing us." She told Sera as she reached for her revolver, taking it out and pointing at one of the Vim enhanced dogs and firing, the bullet hitting its shoulder but the canine still chasing them.

[Britanania]

Venusta

The Inquisitor stopped in her tracks and turned to face the man who addressed her. She took note of the man's appearance and the goblins who seemed to kowtow to him. Venusta also noted how some of the denizens of the street hurriedly left the streets.

"It's a possibility," she said in her foreign accent, "that I am the one you talk about." Venusta took a single step back but no more than that as she tried to asses the situation.

"I take it you are Signor Carcosa?"

[Menschenfleisch]

Ana Assuck ondeez Akkunuts

Ana ducked beneath a bullet, the telltale whizz by her ear informing her of their impending doom. Foreign shouts came from behind them; a coded language? Inoia was certainly paranoid enough to ask his guards to only speak in cryptic tongue. The baying of hounds pushed her onward, gnashing teeth always just behind her heels. Another bullet flew by, spent lead shattering against a brick wall and showering the two fleeing "workers" with mortar dust.

"Hey! Think fast!"

As they turned a corner out of the guards' sight Ana tucked the vial into Sibyl's pocket and shoved her into a remembered sewer grate, the woman falling through twenty years' crusted waste as she tumbled into knee-deep sludge, a condemned section of the city's upper sewers that'd never been filled in. "Sera" knew that she was by far the most attention-grabbing individual of the two, as well as the most agile. Both of them had a greater chance of surviving if Ana took all their pursuers with her.

"Sorry Sib, but it had to be done."

[Naval Monte]

Lumina- Sibyl Blackstone
Blighttown

Sibyl heard the whizz of bullets flying past, some almost hitting her. She aim her revolver at one of guards and fired, the bullet hitting his head and forcing one guard to drop his gun as he scream in pain, holding his bleeding hand.

Sibyl twist the chamber to fire the next bullet as they turned a corner. When Sera shoved the half elf to the sewer grate Sibyl let out a loud scream as she broke through the barrier of crusty waist and filth, landing on the putrid stream of trash, bodily waste, and other unmentionable things. Sibyl began to cough as the smell began to assault her senses

Yet even with the smell making her want to vomit she knew she had to move forward now that she held the vial. The woman began to trek through the sludgy river, her elvan eyes helping her see through the dark. She still had her revolver out encase any guards follow her down into the sewers or she encounters any mutated sewer life.

With Venusta Carcosa squinter his eyes in an attempt to show joy. “You are correct madam. You don't mind telling me your name? It will make things easier for us if I knew your name.” the man explained. “Now you came at the right time as I recently acquired new items in my inventory.”

Carcosa put down his suitcase and knelt in front of it to unlock it. “All of these items will be worth your time and money I assure you.”

[Prusselanden]

Blighttown
“You ready to carry out the job?” Konrad suddenly popped up beside Malius. He wasn’t fully trusting in the hit man, either, and already was suspecting that he would off him once the mission was complete. For that, he was prepared. Whatever thing Malius would use against him, he had a plan for.

Or did he?

Meanwhile, Jules and Jona wandered the streets to complete their next job after exiting the Tchnologie shop. Jules had a new firearm hidden inside her coat.

[Britanania]

Venusta

Venusta waited as the drug dealer prepared his wares. In the meantime, the Inquisitor removed from her inside coat pocket her long pipe and a lighter. She smoked for a little while before she answered his question.

"You may call me Venusta," she said calmly. After she did, the young woman looked at the little suitcase and folded her arms across her chest before she pointed her pipe at the container.

"What is the newest product you have to offer?" she asked.

[Menschenfleisch]

An Aa Sa kk U

Ana skidded to a halt, a sheer brick wall extending to both her left and right. She was trapped, cornered in a warehouse of concrete and steel beams, empty and long abandoned. A vagrant or two clung to the shadows, peering from their vantage points behind rusted piles and rotten pallets. Three men came running in, weapons levelled at the back of her head. Two dogs followed, held on long leashes. The sound of bays, snarls, whispers and demands made their way to her ears; annoying noises that served only to irritate her eardrums.

"I'm not armed and I'm not moving."

A man moved forward, pistol still in his hand. He was the only one without a dog attached to him, clearly the one the others considered to be expendable. What was he looking for? She could hear him behind her back, shuffling closer, trying to stay quiet. He was a smart one - timing each of his footfalls with one of the dogs' growls. Though, for all his wit, he hardly succeeded in that endeavour. Was he looking for something? The vial, perhaps? Almost certainly. She hadn't let them see her transfer the pot, after all. It was with Sibyl, who she trusted to get out alive and alone.

"You know why I brought you here right?"

He inched closer, hand leering toward the pouch on Ana's belt. He raised the pistol higher, kneeling down, ready to snatch. He nodded silently at his two companions, each of them tugging on their hounds' leashes, trying to mask their companion's movements. If she turned now, they'd light her up. Though at the moment, they ran the risk of destroying the vial if they fired. Retrieving the stolen substance was of paramount importance, and sneaking it out of the grasp of this little street urchin would allow them to shoot without concern.

"I didn't want Sibyl to see."

Ana turned, skin falling apart like porcelain. A long crack ran down her face, icky little black tendrils creeping underneath the seam. She disappeared, the man nearest too her too. On the other side of the warehouse, at its entrance, the remains of his scalp fell to the floor; a thick line of gristle and gore spread upon the supports, all along the central beam of the building. She dropped to the ground, one man stumbling backward and firing off a shot, dog let off its leash. Without momentum, without the feeling of even the slightest amount of inertia, Ana sped to the side and back, running straight through the hound, her limbs a flurry of motion. The dog exploded as if thrown to the front of a train, wounds instantaneously manifesting all about its body.

The other soldier stood his ground, drawing a knife. He swung it forward and reeled back, dozens of iron shards in his eyes, wrist bones jutting from his mangled arm. A clawed hand tore through his torso like putty, cleaving him in half like a potter's knife through mud. The last found a gun torn from his hand, along with all his fingers. Two fingers punched through the front of his scalp, leaving a surgical puncture straight through his nose to the back of his skull.

"If she knew what I was doing, she might get angry."

[Naval Monte]

Lumina- Blighttown

Outside the street another steam powered carriage can be seen patrolling the streets. It and others were sent to keep order in Blighttown and to catch any suspicious individuals who might have ties to the factory worker murders. One of the carriages would drive past Jule and while the security automaton watched her the carriage kept going.  

In the site where Kaleva' secret tastings were being performed they would have gotten a telegram alerting them to the increase presence of police due to the murders to make sure none of the factory workers were killed. The police was unaware of the secret research being conducted in the factory.

With Carcosa he took out a few vials containing Vims of different forms; from the red powders of Vash, the fluids of Virl, the smokey gas of Vis, and the grounded spices of Vuk. He would also take out syringes containing different colored liquids and pills. "These are the usual but sense you want new I can show you some things that no one had seen before." The man reached into the suitcase and took out a vial containing a black liquid. "Rumor has it that this is a supposed artificial recreation of the famed Vali or Black Vim. But I did a few modifications to this one because I found flaws that made me reconsider on selling it immediately."

Carcosa put down the vial and took out two odd items. The first were shards of glowing glass and the other were pieces of paper with strange words and symbols on them. Carcosa lift the shard. "These along with the papers I got from a city similar to Lumina but owned by ne empire instead of several. This is a soul shard. Supposedly it is the broken piece of a soul and each piece gives numerous magical properties. Like enchanting objects and animals, magic amplification, using multiple shards to create a new soul? Back in the strange land where I got these and the papers they were common enough that they acted as a form of additional currency for those who practiced magic in there."

Carcosa would show her a piece of paper with writing similar to Cadian but off in a few words. "These are spellnotes, papers containing both the instructions and powers of spells." He explained to Venusta.

From the sewers Sibyl kept running through the sludge and muck of the sewer, ignoring the screeches of mutated rats that she startled. The elf was running because not only was the smell making her sick but she knew some of the rats were aggressive due to the mutation they have undergone. The half elf heard some swimming after her. The rats were the size of dogs, patches of missing hair and cancerous tumors covered their deformed bodies. Looking up she aims her gun and fired at a rat, hitting it at the head and killing it.

The others screeched at her as the continue to pursue her. The half elf reached into her bag and pulled out a small glass orb with a strange fluid inside of it. Shaking it it furiously she tossed it behind her, the fluid twisting and churning within as it began to bubble. The fluid was liquidy Vash and the shaking would cause the liquid to set off and release an intense flash of light, temporarily blinding the rats and giving Sibyl more time to escape from them.

Sibyl would see a ladder and would rush towards it, climbing up as she heard the rats coming towards her. As she climb up she can hear some climbing up to follow her. As she open the manhole cover the light would make them scream, most falling back into the water. When Sibyl got out she placed the man hole cover back, falling on her butt and placing her hands behind her back to let out a deep breath.

The half elf hater that she smelled awful but she didn't care, right now she needed to find help to return back and save Sera. The witch gave herself a few seconds to enjoy her break before getting up and running through the streets to find anyone who might help her.

[Menschenfleisch]

Aa Akk N Sau

Ana gouged out a chunk of concrete like clay, casually flicking her finger and sending a head-sized chunk of stone through the last dog's skull, supersonic cranial shards and neural clumps spraying outward, an angel of blood drawn on the floor. Dust drifted off her shoulders in thick clumps, ancient stone and cobwebs showering the lonely storage room whilst a commotion grew outside. She swept a hand over her eyes, leaving a trail of gore across the bridge of her nose and the edges of her sockets. The remains of a man were laid in thin, scraped lines across the top of the roof and in a pile on the floor. Another was mere giblets, stewing in a heap against the opposite wall. The last was missing an arm, a torn up facsimile of a limb in its place, and a thick hole punched through his head.

And the dogs, they were... well, you get the idea.

"Hope Sibby didn't see that. She'd kill me. You were going to say 'well look who's in luck', right?."
"Eh. It's a fair cop."

A long, slender figure walked from the dark, dressed in white fabrics, brown dress shoes and black working pants. They cocked their head as they approached, silvery hair hanging in loose folds around their head. The ends were burnt off, shaded a complex lexicon of colours, each one with its own scent and reaction.

"Inoia. I see you haven't changed, even after all these years. How goes the ol' 'stick my fuckin' body in a vial and see what happens' method, eh? Still working out for you chum?"
"Ana, I'm insulted. You think I'm still working so small? I burn my follicles every morning, imbue them with essences. It's good for my health, as well as my mind. Besides - I'm hardly here to kill a child; it would be far too easy."
"Easy? You daft cunt - you barely have enough people to work your lab!"
"That place is old news, Asakku. It's practically just a relic now. I've got factories in the city, children running lanes; I'm practically a local cult leader, much as I loathe to say it. Seriously, my girl. You need to start thinking bigger. Nobody gets anywhere without expanding."
"The way you said that makes it sound like you're compensating."
"... I've changed my mind. Ringo, crush her."

The aforementioned "Ringo" burst through a window, feral and on fire. Thick black fluid streams wrapped around his body, crawling up his arms and pulsating. He leapt toward her, jaw distending and extending as wide as a man was tall - throat lined with lamprey-like teeth and bone beaked puckers. Ana rolled to one side, dragging a sharp finger against Ringo's stomach as she did so, tearing his flesh open like paper and letting the mutated human's momentum carry him through her weapon and into the wall upon which he slammed his head; his body splitting along the seam that Ana had carved, sending two horizontal halves in opposite directions.

"That was Ringo?"
"Ringo as in 'Ringo squad'. It's a designation, not a name."
"Oh."

She instinctively raised a finger, flicking a bone-formed barb out of the air mere inches from her ear. The projectile ricocheted off her keratinous appendage, a feral cry sounding out as a slender girl with teeth for scales fell out of the ceiling's supports, bleeding soap. She landed amongst a pile of boxes, splinters and rotted wood flaying the skin from her back.

"Hanna, what did I say about patience? We'll have to talk about this later."

Two dozen metal canisters flew through the windows, pungent yet thin purple gas erupting from each of them as figures moved into the building.