Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

As the fabric of the lower half of the dress moves, the hypnotic pattern seems slightly dizzying, though it still attracts attention.


There's a half-spider knitting a few scarves at once on a porch and two humans playing chess, but other than that, the duo will have to go door-to-door to find someone.


"Depends on what you're looking for." They say.

________________________________

"Ariete. Why?"

 

"I just wanted to know. My name's Crystal. It's nice to meet you."
He says, smiling.

 

"Nice to meet you, too. I, uh... haven't heard my name when I'm not getting in trouble." They admit.

 

"That's weird. Well, I'm gonna go. Bye Ariete!"
Crystal comments, then starts walking away towards the portal.

 

Stephanie and her dark doppelgänger head around the shops, seeing what they sell.


Katie heads over to the half-spider, while Angela seems too terrified to even slightly approach.

"Um, excuse me?" Katie asks.


"Info on elemental artefacts and relics. Objects of power. I've heard this city has one, likely to do with fire. Got anything on that?" I ask.

 

"Have a nice day, Crystal." Ariete says, trotting off after giving him a confused look.

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Pets, clothes, trinkets, magic accessories, jewelry, pastries, ice cream, books... it's like a giant mall.


They look up, putting one set of needles down.
"Yes?" She signs.


They nod.
"How much money we talking here?"

 

Crystal walks through the portal, entering the Void Palace.

Meanwhile, I walk around Rath'haga, looking for anyone who may be awake.

 

A void chimera walking by pauses to look at Crystal as he enters.


Seems most of the group is out searching, looking for any more potential survivors.

 

Stephanie heads into the magic accessory shop, looking over the items and judging their magical power, curiously.

"This place is so cool!" Stephanie says happily.

"Shame it's in a place called 'The Underworld'." Shadow Stephanie comments.


"Oh! Um, I was wondering if you knew anything about magical artefacts here?" Katie asks innocently.


Artemis whispers something to me.

"I hear this place deals in gold. Am I correct?" I ask.

 

Most of it is pretty weak stuff that just acts as a safety net. For instance, there's a dreamcatcher that's enchanted to capture and purify cauldron fumes and a figurine of a harpy that seems to constantly keep a gentle breeze going, even inside. Other things include an incubus figurine that lets off some warmth, a pair of earrings that act sort of like small mage crystals, and a variety of necklaces with heat/cold/etc. resistance charms.


"One moment." She signs, pausing.
...
"Sorry, but I can't think of anything. Maybe you can see if Varen is home? She lives on the fifth house on the right two streets north from mine." She signs.


"Your girlfriend seems more knowledgeable than you, but yes."

 

Stephanie looks through the items, hoping to find something useful or unique.


"Ok, thank you very much for your time." Katie says, smiling, before going back to Angela and heading to the location she was pointed to.


"Is this enough money to get some information?" I ask, summoning a pair of large golden bars in each hand. They look rather heavy.

 

Each has its own use (albeit nothing she doesn't already have) except for an odd carving of The Spire. It seems to give off an odd, invisible laser beam from the tip of the structure. The only thing letting Stephanie see it is the dust in the air.


The spider waves before going back to knitting.

...The house described seems to be some sort of giant nest. There's a post with a knocker, a sign nailed to the post saying "Please knock."


"Royalty, eh? Yeah, that'll let you in on what I've got."

 

Crystal waves and smiles.

I approach them.
"Find anything?"

 

They uneasily keep walking.

"Two more, but both were toddlers. I dunno if they'll make it through the trauma." Leo says.

 

"You know, this spire place reminds me of that place in that video game with the same name. Where tons of people died to grant a wish or something?" Shadow Stephanie comments as Stephanie picks up the carving, delicately putting a stone golem over the laser.


Katie, taking Angela's hand, leads her up to the large nest, Katie knocking on the knocker.


"So what do you know?" I ask.

 

The stone golem seems to get an odd "highlight" of fog as the carving then shows a link connecting the golem to Stephanie.


There's slight rummaging audible.
"One minute, please!"


"That's not how it works here. Meet me behind the spire, tomorrow at two in the morn. If that time doesn't work, it'll cost you."

 

Stephanie, smiling, takes the carving to whoever appears to be running the till in the shop (or whoever would be able to let her buy the carving).


Katie and Angela wait patiently.


"Two in the morning, behind the spire. Deal." I say, nodding.

 

Crystal just walks out of the room.

I nod.
"You won't be needing my help here, will you?"

 

There's a young mage standing at the counter.
"Found something you like, miss?" He asks, smiling.


A few minutes later, a harpy emerges from a pile of sticks.
"Sorry about tha- huh? Um... do I know you?" She asks.


"Half a gold bar, and my knowledge is yours." They nod.

________________________________

A weary battalion of draconians is passing, carrying their wounded to the lab.

"Don't think so, but would you mind checking the castle?"

 

"Yes, I was wondering how much this carving is. It seems really interesting." Stephanie says happily.


"Uh, no, but a spider person redirected us to you a couple of streets back when I asked about a magical artefact." Katie says innocently.


"I'll see you behind the spire." I say, before leaving with Artemis.