2018 - Roll20 group chat, transposed - Downtime, the Museum, and the Escape
After returning home, Luther invites everyone to the grand opening of his new museum in the capital. They arrive there the day before to get settled in for the big day in the morning.
Jessi: Ruby happy bounces from storefront to storefront, pointing out things to Armella and Emma that look cute. She watches Hikaru wander off to the gun shops. “Sorry dearie, we love ya! Just have to have some lady time, promise we'll check out more practical things next.” She waves a bright purple kerchief at him.
Mason: Hikaru waves his hand in a friendly yet dismissive way as if to say. "I wasn't thinking of following you guys..... baaaka."
Ryu Y.: Emma laughs and jokes with Ruby, tries on out fits, makeup, and whatever they can find. She is loving the time with girlfriends, something new to her.
Jessi: “Let's enjoy ourselves! It's as stuffy as an old box in that airship, let's take in all the fresh air we can get.”
Ryu Y.:“Yessss!”
Jessi: Ruby has a great time dolling up Emma and pampering the younger girl, and also trying to find things to accessorize Armella. “You might be stuck in that stuffy armor, but I'm keen to find ya something nice!” She puts little frilly things and colorful scarves on you in every shop.
Emily D.: Armella follows around enjoying being out of the airship. She's trying to be more relaxed while Ruby and Emma are looking around, not quite sure what to say but enjoying the company.
Ryu Y.: Emma laughs and loves it, enjoying the opportunity for girly shopping stuff! She left her armor and weapons on the ship but brought her alchemic stuff just in case. She is eager to try on everything, from undergarments, to dresses, to hats. She wants to try makeup and perfumes. "Should we get our hair done?!" She looks eager. "What's next?!"
Emily D.: "Emma, did they keep you in a box in the conclave? Surely you've experienced a night out before. Perhaps I've been gone for too long." Armella asks Emma, amused at the girl's enthusiasm.
The morning dawns, and Mr. Luther calls the team bright and early for a pre-showing of the museum before the ribbon cutting ceremony. We get to see the A team we took the job in the North for, amongst many other employees that show up. They seem rather banged up, having had a harder time of the trip than we did. One has an arm in a sling, and others have some nasty cuts; but overall they seem rather cheerful.
Mason: Leaning over he whispers, “What happened to them Ms. Ruby?”
Jessi: She hesitates. “Well, they were fixin' to go to the North before us, but they hit some trouble on the way there. Some kind of sea or sky critters of some sort, did a number on their ship and some damage to the fellas themselves. They had to turn back, but… Mr. Luther was keen on one of those shipwrecks… Soooo.... he sent us.”
They arrive at the museum and discussed where we should start first. Several rooms had been set up for today’s opening.
Emily D.: Armella shrugs, and has no preference over where they start.
Mason: Hikaru mutters a little. “History seems... a trifle less interestin’ to me. But... maybe that's because my life is caught in either the present or my own past.”
(From Jessi): “Well sometimes seein' stuff like this can help put small stuff into perspective. Well, I know you been through a lot... not like… I mean for the normal folk, who complain of the lil' things.” She trails off awkwardly.
They make their way into the horrors room, planning to work their way around.
Jessi: Ruby backs away from a dark idol at the entrance with a shiver. She stays around the walls of the room, avoiding the central area of terrifying artifacts.
Mason: Hikaru turns the corner into the room and looks a little (a lot) less disinterested.
Jessi: Ruby stops in front of a large display of jungles, bloody feathered headdresses, depictions of bird-like creatures and humans doing horrific things. The totem has disappeared from the pictures. Notes on the wall exposit on the tribe, destroyed in internal battles and sacrificial offerings. She looks hard at the information there. “What in the name of Tarj....? Is this... our… trip to Wuxia...?”
Mason: He walks over, and slows to a stop. “Wait was that... the natives?”
Jessi: She looks at Thorin who steps up beside her, and back at the map and pictures.
Mason: He struggles to whisper, “Ruby.... This is... This is not what we did...” He looks at the notes shaking and liable to break something. Like, ready to destroy the whole exhibit.
Hikaru strokes some of the clothes of the natives mournfully.
Jessi: Ruby puts her hand on her chest, feeling rather sick. “Maybe... it's just a misunderstanding.” In shock, she wanders half-heartedly out of the room, needing some fresh air to recover.
The others, in a similar display of disgust and distraught feelings, make it known to Luther that this is an inaccurate display, and also leave, confused.
Mason: The last one in the room, Hikaru takes off his hat and bows deeply to the floor, then leaves.
Hikaru catches up to Ruby and she catches him dash a tear from his eye. He then looks hardened like normal. “Ms. Ruby, if I ever figure out who did this...”
Jessi: Ruby bites her lip, and looks over her shoulder back at the room. “Well.. I don't believe someone messed with that exhibit. Davenport made it sound like he was interested in going back to get more information from them. I think… Perhaps by the time he returned...”
She holds her breath. “That could have been all that was left. We did... lead trouble to them I fear... Oh Hikaru. I wasn't a fan of all the magic to be honest-like, but... that's…” She struggles not to tear up.
Mason: “It's just one more nail in the church's coffin. If it turns out they hurt them...”
“If it was us...” He lowers his head darkly. “Someone needs to pay.”
Jessi: She swallows. “I'll look into the notes of the museum later, to see if I can find any more paperwork. There's usually a holding room or storage for additional artifacts, or pieces to circulate in the museum exhibits, so...”
She quiets her voice. “Luther's been a bit secretive about this place from me as well, I think he just wanted ta surprise all of us. So I'll poke around this evenin', with his permission.”
Mason: He looks at Ruby, and his eyes betray his forlorn nature. He clears his throat. “Thank you Ms. Ruby.” He clears his throat again and becomes silent.
Ryu Y.: As they continue through the rest of the exhibits, Emma leans to Armella, "So did you guys find all of this stuff? When do I get my turn to fight stuff?!"
Emily D.: "We found most of this, but not everything. Since you're going to be following me, you'll get to come along for our next trip when Mr. Luther gives us another job."
Ryu Y.: "Nice! It's been a while since I've had a real fight! So, are you working for Luther, or,” she whispers, “are we observing him for the Conclave?" “OH! By the way, we should watch a boxing match! Or better, be in the boxing match!!!"
With mixed emotions, they leave the museum for the opening ceremony. During the ribbon cutting, sirens sound overhead, and large, Krussin airships cruise over. Fire starts to break out. Bombs begin to fall. The war starts.
DM: Luther looks at all of his employees, and the crowd alike. “RUN! To the airships!”
Mason: Hikaru immediately looks over to Ruby and grabs her hand to make sure she gets to the airship, safe. He begins to run.
The group scatters in the panic breaking out.
Jessi: Ruby looks around frantically and spies the airship dockyard some distance away. She continues following Hikaru as the crowd scrambles out of the plaza, pushing and shoving.
Mason: Shouting over gunfire overhead, “Keep your head down Ms. Ruby, this could get ugly!”
Jessi: She can sense the urgency and continues with you as quickly as possible, without needing much urging. As they move, Ruby looks around for the rest of our team in the cacophony of movement and sound.
Emily D.: Armella struggles through the crowd, trying to make her way to the airship as well. She saw Ruby go with Hikaru and let her go, hoping she’s safe.
Mason: Hikaru pulls a revolver out of his holster with his free hand.
Aaron: Azandar, frozen from shellshock and flashbacks, snaps out of it and runs with the rest of the group.
Ryu Y.: Emma focuses on protecting children around her, hoping to get them to safety. She tries talking to an armored Krussin soldier that lands, saying she is from their homeland, but he ignores her and punches her square in the face.
Mason: At the approach of an incoming round from a battle mecha, he shouts, “Ms. Ruby look out!”
As a blast subsides, he grabs his head and his vision swims.
Jessi: Ruby’s ears ring loudly, but she holds onto him. “'Karu, I gotcha, it's alright. Let's go this way--I see the others nearby, we should stay together!”
Mason: He nods painfully. At the last second, he grabs her and shields her as best he can.
Another shell strikes a building next to them and it collapses.
Azandar sees it fall, but in his rush towards it he catches a sharp rock to the head. Although he is not buried too badly in debris, he is injured and knocked unconscious.
Jessi: Ruby struggles to stand, having narrowly avoided being crushed. “'Karu!” She cries out, her eyes stinging in the smoke and dust as she brushes away debris, straining to pull you out of the rubble.
Mason: “Cough, cough. You alright, cough, Ms. Ruby?” He struggles to his feet, bleeding from several injuries.
Jessi: She rips off part of her outfit and ties it around what seems to be bleeding the most. She furrows her brow in worry and anger and fear. “I'm as fine as a summer rain, you just hush up and don't dare do that again!”
Mason: He almost immediately stands, and takes a few shots at the lowering invasion forces. A few fall out of the sky.
“Head down Ms. Ruby!”
Jessi: She ducks quickly and covers her ears from the loud gunfire of the revolvers next to her.
Mason: “Sorry Ms. Ruby,” he coughs heavily again. “Get out of here Ms. Ruby, you're not combatant. This is no place for a lady like yourself.”
Jessi: She looks incredulous. “Well Luther told us all to get goin’, so I want you hoppin' up like a jackrabbit and gettin' to that airship with me!! We need to get the others as fast as we can!”
Mason: Looks at her, surprised. “Fair 'nough Ms. Ruby!”
Nick: Having seen Azandar go down, he quickly made his way there to administer aid. “Ok, so still good for the most part. You, Armella?”
Emily D.: Armella is grumbling and sore but on her feet again.
Thorin: “Think anyone made it to the ship yet?”
Ryu Y.: Emma makes her way toward them with a black eye, escorting children along with her to get them safely to someone in the town.
Mason: “Ms. Ruby this is looking dire.” Flames seem to be leaping up from everywhere.
Jessi: Looking up at the airships overhead, Ruby nods grimly. “We have to try to get back, better than dying here like dogs.”
Mason: “Heh ain't that the truth. But I won't die yet, I refuse. Not until I kill my uncle.”
Ryu Y.: Emma reaches out her hands with an alchemic sigil, and a channeling of divinity circles around her and those nearby. A healing energy radiates near her, and strengthens the children and all of her friends. They continue to rush to the airship.
Mason: Ruby and Hikaru reach it first. Hikaru pot shots behind him at advancing soldiers trying to stop their escape. “Sorry 'bout your ears Ms. Ruby!” He yells as he fires over his shoulder.
The others rush up the steps and into the vessel, but looking behind they see Alastair. He was last coming with them, stopping often to help others escape. He sees another woman with a child in front of him, when a mortar whistles overhead. His eyes grow wide as he grabs the woman, tossing them out of the way.
BRVOOOOOM.
Mason: “Mother of Tarj....”
Emily D.: Armella gapes at the scene from beside Hikaru’s shoulder.
Jessi: Ruby’s breath is caught in her throat, and she covers her mouth with a quivering hand. “No….”
Mason: Hikaru begins to visibly struggle and the air begins to reek of ozone. “Ms. Ruby...” He struggles and holds his head, groaning in pain. His fangs look elongated, and a couple of bolts of electricity go up his bleeding body.
Nick: Without hesitation, Thorin runs to the bridge to take control of the ship.
Jessi: She’s jolted out of her horror, and grabs his shoulder. “Hold yourself together, 'Karu--we can't have none of that now, these fellas will all rush to us and kill us if they see you.” She breathes deep, not bearing to look back outside. “He--He wouldn'ta wanted that...”
Mason: “They got Alistair Ms. Ruby.”
Jessi: “They did...” She looks sick to her stomach, like she'll be ill any moment.
Mason: He groans loudly, his eyes rolling up in his head, and he passes out.
Jessi: Ruby catches him the best she can, and sadly lays him up against the side of the wall. “Thorin, get us goin! We can outrun them!”
Nick: Thorin enters the bridge and yells to the automatons assisting him to enter the clouds for cover as quickly as possible.