The City is Bugged
Log Info
- Title: The City Is Bugged
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Seldan, Jinks, Cesran, Ashes
- Place: A07: Lower Alexandria Market District
- Time: Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 10:46 PM
- Summary: Seldan is investigating a large wasps' nest that is located near a butchers. It was brought to the Temples' attention, due to it's large size and the unlikely time of year for such things to appear. Cesran notices the Silverguard, Jinks is nearby visiting 'a friend' on a balcony, and Ashes is letting the wind blow her around Alexandria and ends up in the area also. Seldan climbs a ladder to examine the nest more closely. The others provide opinions, then some protective spells as he prepares to knock it down. The nest is partially sliced open, and bunch of dead wasps fall to the ground. The Archmage and the Mourner examine these, stating they were hollowed out by Hellwasps, which appear to have moved on. Seldan asks for the nest to be cleared up, which Ashes takes upon herself to do, and everyone wonders where the Hellwasps might have gone. They're not in the butcher's meat though, he's sure of that!
-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Lower Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.
For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.
Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Cesran 6'1" 185 Lb Human Male A tall dark-skinned man. Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Whirlpool 5'0" Lb Otyugh I am stinky! -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
A sweaty, muscular man is standing outside a butchery, staring at the paladin that is holding his ladder. He scratches his ear, his smock covered in blood. "I heard I was supposed to report any located wasps nests to the temples through the association. Weird, right? But here you are."
Seldan is definitely being stared at
The man at the bottom of the ladder regards the butcher soberly. Seldan is fully armored, although the appearance is toned down to a more-typical polish, Reunion very much at his hip. "It is late in the year for wasps, do you not think?"
"Maybe they meant waspish behavior..." Jinks offers unhelpfully, sitting on the railing of a balcony nearly eye-level with the butcher. "Similar to going to a ball and avoiding acting churlish..." He unscrews the cap of his hipflask and has a drink, turning his head so he can keep an eye pointed towards the goings-on. He swallows, refreshed, and continues "... but I suppose they'd want to avoid churls. Blasted peasants always trying to gatecrash your balls." He affects a snooty put-upon highborn voice like one might hear at a panto.
Cesran is finishing up talking to a vendor at one of the stalls that looks to be selling some antiquities and other curiosities. "Thank you my friend for the information. I am most grateful." He says as he hands the man some coins and gives a polite nod of his head before he unfurls the carpet on his back. It comes to rest a few inches off the ground and Cesran steps onto it, staff in hand. He spots Seldan and Jinks along with a butcher and curious he heads over towards them, "Greetings."
"It is, but the nest is up there in the nook, between the wall and the overhang."
Seldan will be able to get a good look at it when he gets the ladder up there, you know. It is in fact a wasps nest. It looks ... fairly dormant, however, at a first glimpse. A first glimpse, anyway.
An icy wind blows from the northwest.
Arriving on it is an ashen Arvec that hasn't been seen in the city except for Wanted Poster representations. In person, tattered and threadbare clothes enhance the general grave-like aura surrounding the Mourner.
She has no purpose to her meanderings, and alters course to the small gathering. She silently comes up behind Cesran and stares up at the paladin on the ladder.
"I would have you step back, master. I do not wish to see you stung." Seldan appears to be talking to a butcher, from where he stands up a ladder on the side of his shop. He barely glances at Jinks the spectator, and does not spare Cesran a glance, so focused on whatever it is he is doing. Why is he messing with wasp's nests? But here he is, staring intently at whatever is up there.
Jinks leans back to glance into the dark room beyond the balcony door for a moment, then turns his attention to the wasp wrangling. He turns up the collar of his coat and pulls it a bit more snug about his untucked shirt. His hair is a bit of a mess. "Evening, Cesran," he smiles down and lifts his flask in greeting, nodding then to the grim 'nar. "Do Silver Guard have a certain specialty when dealing with vermin infestations? I just borrowed a mongoose for my rats..." He's thinking aloud and doesn't really expect an answer with Seldan concentrating as he is.
Cesran watches just a few feet from Seldan and looks up at the wasps, "Seldan there are alchemical mixtures that can be used on nests like these. Unless this is something more that has roosted here. Are you expecting something else or just doing a good deed in helping this shop keeper out? Either way would you like some assistance. My carpet is far more stable then a ladder." He waves to Jinks, "Hello Jinks!" He nods politely to Ashes, "Hello."
Ashes nods in response to Cesran. Her head turns, she notices Jinks, he gets a nod too. She'll withhold them with Seldan and the butcher, he's busy and she doesn't know the shop-keep. The butcher gets a stare instead.
"I can turn into a wasp." She says. Whether this would help isn't clear.
"There are reports of hellwasps in the city," Seldan explains shortly, tearing his attention away from the nest and dropping a step or two down the ladder. "A poisonous swarm that can inhabit the dead. Stand back."
The Butcher blinks.
Stares at Seldan.
This explains why Seldan, a notable figure, is here. And dealing with it.
Not only does he take a step back, he takes a WHOLE buncha steps back.
"It's customary to reward your knight errant and his companions with sausages," Jinks advises the butcher. "Ooh, or a venison haunch." The gnome's stomach agrees, audibly, and he places a hand flat over it. He spins and hops off the railing, walking over to quietly close the door into the second-storey living space before returning. He has another drink.
"Have you had occasion to turn into a wasp before?" Jinks wonders of Ashes, curiously. "Seems quite the talent."
Cesran ahs, "I see, if you are sure I can help set up some wards to make sure they don't leave their nest. Unless they have all ready fled the nest and all we are seeing is the remains." He says as he tries to look a bit closer at the nest to see if there is any activity that might suggest life.
"Only a centipede," the ashen Arvec answers the gnome. She takes a step back at the warning as well, then remains standing at military attention. She has armour, a breastplate and heavy cavalry boots, that is concealed by her clerical vestments. She also has a well worn leather satchel that seems older than she is. "The spell should work for a wasp too."
Raising her voice so it will carry, but still speaking in a casual monotone, she adds, "I have protective spells if you want some cast."
"Ward those nearby," Seldan answers Ashes without looking back, taking another step or two down the ladder. "Do you have spells of fire, have them at the ready, for I shall take the nest down. Do the wasps not burn, they may be hellwasps. Lightning or ice will work, but they are too small to slay with a blade."
That butcher is busy warning his fellows. Just in case.
Cesran looks around, "Perhaps before we get started it would be best if you helped to clear the streets Seldan. If this is a swarm of wasps, hellwasps or otherwise setting off spells that cover an area rather than specific target is going to get messy." He looks back towards the nest, "Perhaps I can enclose it in a telekenetic bubble, we then bring it outside of the city in an open field and blast away at it there."
Jinks gives a laugh that sounds far more nervous than he intended, chancing a glance at Ashes and Cesran. This had a rhythm to it that felt uncomfortably familiar. He takes a deep breath and says something to himself that might be 'just wasps...' before he sneaks back through the door and closes it from the inside.
It almost seems like he's quit the happenings until he's half-jogging out of an alleyway pulling his pouch-laden belt on. He makes a noise of mild annoyance when he realizes he put the wrong shoes on in his haste; the brown leather lady's shoes do not go with the rest of his outfit at all.
"If it happens again just make sure I didn't end up in the Hells. Then leave me wherever I am," he tells Cesran and Ashes, trying to force a bit of levity back into his voice.
GAME: Cesran rolls knowledge/nature: (8)+28: 36 GAME: Ashes rolls knowledge/nature: (16)+20: 36
It's a wasps nest! A pretty good sized one for this late in the year, but it's not really out o the question at all. There's nothing uniquely indicative of anything unnatural you can see.
Hellwasps typically are known to hide inside bodies, but it's entirely possible they could build nests too, and you can't logically see any reason they'd look *substantially* different than a normal one.
GAME: Ashes casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 12 DC: 17 GAME: Ashes casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 12 DC: 17
"Hellwasps hide in bodies. Usually." The ashen Arvec says, taking out her holy symbol from her satchel. It's a small set of silver scales. She shakes it, 'tink', 'Feiu of the Tears, protect him from evil." She points at the butcher, then the gnome, "him too." Her prayers are terse and to the point.
There's a grey shimmering which briefly surrounds the shopkeeper, then Jinks. It pulses out into a small area surrounding them. Within, colours seem to fade, become faint. There's a sense of stillness. Those who have visited the Grey Halls would find it an uncomfortable reminder. It fades, everything returning to normal.
"They might be inside people, or the carcasses in the store." Ashlee says in monotone.
She glances at Jinks, her skull face bright against her shades, "Ok."
A butchers of the butcher reveals, he is a butcher. He's even got the bloody smock on and everything. The beef belly, the muscles from choppin'. A butcher.
"...they are definitely not inside the carcasses," says the butcher, more than a little grossed out.
Horrified by the thought, earnestly. He combs his hand through his short hair and just hangs out away from the rest of you. Over there.
Seldan looks around him, at those preparing to help, and smiles, a very small thing. "I thank you for your advice, Archmage, but I have done several of these, and once dropped, a simple firestream should do the trick. The pavement will not be harmed by that. I would not have you turn your spells to no good purpose."
Cesran says, "She is right they do hide in bodies, both living and dead. If they are hellwasps or they just could be regular wasps and this is just a big hive." Cesran replies and then turns to Seldan, "I'll follow your lead then sense you have dealt with them before."
The spell from Ashes only makes Jinks' frown deepen but then her simple response to his half-joking request actually makes him laugh. He tilts his head back long enough to drain the dregs of his flask and then slides it into his coat and away. A brief thought and his form shimmers, the color draining from his clothes to offer an uninspired and uniform matte grey. Maybe wasps aren't attracted to flowers like some of their insect cousins but-- if nothing else-- he'll be a dull target to inflict with the stinging.
"No fire today. Only Ash." Ashes says, remaining beside Jinks. This keeps her standing within her second protective circle. Also, she doesn't have to move. Also-also, the gnome is duplicating her fashion sense. Cool. Her gaze remains fixed on the Silverguard, and she nods when Cesran announces he'll follow the other man's lead.
This suits her fine, standing back, watching, following orders shes feels like obeying.
"I can ask the Feiu of the Tears to make them die." The Mourner suggests, offering an obscure explanation, "I prepared to face ghosts today."
GAME: Seldan casts Mage Hand. Caster Level: 16 DC: 18
"Do we find them more than ordinary wasps, all may be needed," Seldan tells the others, getting off the ladder and taking a step back. A quickly-traced sigil in the air before him, and golden-silver sparkles settle around his free hand. "Stand back, and ready yourselves," he warns, taking a step back himself and raising the sparkling hand. A few moments of concentration, and he suddenly makes a violent smacking motion.
With Seldan's invisible hand, the nest is cracked off and open, a part of it falling to the ground. Immediately, wasps begin to spill out of it ...
... and hit the ground. Unmoving. Dead.
Sure, it makes sense that they'd be dead, giving the dropping temperatures, but it looks like a great many of them died from something other than the cold, their bodies hollowed out and split open at the seams, so to speak.
The butcher squeals in disgust.
Cesran waits and watches as Seldan uses mage hand to knock open the nest. There is no swarm living. Curious Cesran heads towards the hive and leans down to take a closer look at the wasps.
The ashen Arvec watches the wasps rain down, her head lowering to follow them as they spill across the ground. They're obviously dead. She, as a Mourner, is skilled at noticing things like that.
Stepping forward, she silent crouches and picks up one of the bodies, bringing it close to her face to examine. She has a few decorations added to her markings, one of them is a happy bee, with a dotted line implying a curled flight along her cheek.
Not a wasp. She does like vermin, and wasps did save her life. In monotone she says, "Hellwasps ate the wasps that were here." They hid inside the bodies of other wasps, clever.
Jinks holds two scrolls in a loose fist, ready to read either should the need arise. He also bounces subtly, shifting the weight to and from the balls of either foot; quite prepared to run if required. Then the whole thing cracks open and the husks spill out. "So..." he ventures, looking from the cascade of burst and brittle bugs to the 'nar. "There is a swarm of hellwasp somewhere. Likely closeby? I just bought a home in this neighborhood." Not the one he just left, though. He's probably just visiting that one for book club.
Seldan had been immediately prepared to cast a second spell on the heels of the first, but on seeing the dead wasps, relaxes.
For the space of about half a breath.
He nods soberly to the Mourner, suddenly very grave. "Even so. The rumors are confirmed. Hellwasps are loose in the city. We must find them, and swiftly." He turns his eyes towards the butcher, who has been watching carefully from a distance. "This is the first evidence I have found of their presence. I am grateful to you for calling upon the temples. I shall remove and burn the rest of the nest, that it not remain." He turns his attention to the rest of the nest. "Clear out, or else bring it down," he instructs the others.
The butcher is just keeping his distance. Bugs squick him out, clearly, and this is the last thing he wants to have any part of. "Yeah, uh, sure," he tells Seldan.
And then he's gonnma get out of here. Because ewwww.
Jinks yawns, relaxing visibly now that there's no sign of immediate threat. "Well, crisis postponed if not averted," the gnome decides a bit flippantly. He turns his hip and bends a knee to raise his foot, rolling his ankle to inspect his borrowed shoe. They were handsome. "I can't imagine I'd be any help with this, but..." he points at the balcony door. "You know where to find me." He replaces the scrolls in his pouch and heads off for the alleyway stairwell and a warm bed away from the wasp carcasses.
Cesran continues to study the left over exoskeletons of the wasps, looking for any clue to where they might be going. He straightens up and nods, "If they are a thread to the city then lets go take care of them. Tracking them down will be difficult, but not impossible. We might want to start where they might have access to corpses take over and feast.
"They might fly in people's mouths when they sleep." Ashlee suggests. She's still holding the dead wasp. Dead bodies are her responsibility. The Temple of Vardama might want a look at these. Even if they don't, another Temple might and would expect them to be... somewhere.
She slips the dead bug into her leather satchel. There's movement, and Chippen comes out and darts up her sleeve to fasten around her neck. She crouches down, says a short prayer, "Feiu of the Tears, send a servant to help me gather these."
The eerie sensation surround the Mourner intensifies. She leaves her satchel open and dead wasps start to move into it, carried by some unseen force. She also picks them up. Her effort is unhurried, she ensures she gets every last one, and then takes the nest itself. All vanish into the leather bag.
"People swallow five spiders a year when they are sleeping." The Mourner adds. Her task complete, she tacks against the wind and heads up the mountain to her temple.
