Fantasy Steamhaven: Land of the Lost

[Cartoonicat]

Violette's smile widened, clearly pleased by Lianna's honesty. With a hand she flattened some of her skirt ruffles down. Picked idly at their hems. "I mostly attended the gala to collaborate with other inventors," she tapped fingers against her covered thigh, "but I am realizing it is more of a party than a convention. I would have dressed differently had I'd known."

She met Lianna's eyes with a hum. "Are you here with someone?"

- Mention Dan
- Make up a fake date
- Say you are alone
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Lianna crossed her legs, adjusting her dress absentmindedly when she saw Violette do it. She nodded, looking through the window. Steamhaven somehow looked peaceful that night. It made her skin crawl.

"I am here with Dan." She said, eyebrows knotting. "I hope he is staying out of trouble." Then she looked at the woman opposite of her, "What about you?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

"The one from the salon," Violette echoed as if telling herself who Dan was. She laughed a little, the sound airy and light just like her voice. "He can't be much worse than the associate who accompanied me tonight," she told Lianna. Gestured to the door. "Instead of wait for the showcases to officially begin, he's occupied the lecture hall without the venue's permission. Most of the people caught up in his audience were simply looking for a dark corner to share with their plus ones."

- Talk about Dan
- Ask about Violette's associate
- Get to know Violette
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"The lecture hall?" Lianna was curious. "So, what is he doing? Holding an actual lecture? On what?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

Violette nodded. "Standing in the lobby, it's down the hall on the right," she said. "He's presenting findings on the relationship between werewolves and a full moon. I doubt many are paying proper attention, though..." Pointed to a nearby clock on the wall. "Dinner will be served soon, according to the schedule."

Lianna could spend the rest of her time before dinner with Violette, go sit in on her associate's lecture about werewolves, return to Dan, talk to the salespeople in the lobby, or go upstairs early and beat the dinner rush.

- Stay with Violette
- Go see the lecture
- Return to Dan
- Talk to the salespeople
- Go upstairs early
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Oh?" Lianna was slightly curious, yet not enough to sit through the lecture. However, she would like to know what Violette's associate knew about werewolves. Perhaps he would have some insight on the Blood Moon. "Will you introduce us later? I would have a couple of questions for him." She asked, standing up. She would say her goodbyes and return to Dan, in order to find him before dinner.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"If you'd like," Violette said. As Lianna made to leave, she turned her attention back to the darkened streets outside.

Finding Dan among the crowd proved difficult and time-consuming, and she eventually heard him before she saw him. Holding another drink, Dan laughed loud and long at something another guest said. He stood in a group of four people, including himself. "If it has no mass..." he could barely breath, "...then it doesn't matter!" The other three burst into fits of hysterics at his joke. This Dan, the one surrounded by people who appreciated his science puns, was so different from the Dan that lived in the Hub's basement.

- Interrupt
- Leave him be
- Other
- (Optional) Grab a second drink

 

[ArcticFox]

Well, if there was one thing she thought she'd never see... Lianna's eyebrows shot up as she approached Dan, for a moment completely speechless by his transformation. Perhaps this was a glimpse of a man he was in his youth. It suddenly hit her then, she knew next to nothing about Dan. He had never told her anything personal, she even didn't know if he had any family outside of Steamhaven, was he ever married, did he have children? Where did he learn his skills? Why did he usually avoid people?

With those thoughts, Lianna absentmindedly reached for one of he drinks on the tray and sipped it slowly, pacing herself. She could stand there a bit on her own, until Dan was finished talking to people. She liked seeing him this way and did not want to interrupt.

 

[Cartoonicat]

As Lianna watched from a distance, she'd hear more jokes coming from each individual, either regarding science or biology or math. Even if they weren't funny, the group laughed as if they'd never heard a joke so clever in their lives. Dan's success at socializing seemed to stem from liquid courage and the group's shared interests. At one point, a woman in the group tapped Dan's shoulder and pointed at Lianna with a cheeky smile.

"That is Lianna," she'd hear Dan say. Then he waved her over. "Lianna, over here!"

- Pretend you didn't see him
- Join the group
- Something else

 

[ArcticFox]

Dan's voice drew her attention and she raised her glass in greeting, before she realised that he was inviting her over. Did she really want to meet more of Dan's kind? Wasn't one absolutely enough? Well, she learned that inventors could be charming. With a smile she walked over to the group to stand next to Dan, greeting the others with a polite: "Good evening."

 

[Cartoonicat]

The woman who'd pointed Lianna out looked between her and Dan, that cheeky smile never wavering. She obviously suspected something between the pair for some reason. Meanwhile, the other two - a pair of men who seemed to resemble each other quite a bit, perhaps cousins or siblings - were far more discreet. "Evening," one tipped his hat. "This is the apprentice?" Tapped his chin. "Assistant, mentee..." Waved off the different, nearly synonymous titles.

"This is her, yes," Dan said. Apparently, he had told the group about Lianna.

"Dan here has nothing but praise for you," the other man told Lianna. "You... must be very close."

Smiling, Dan glanced at his mentee with pride. He didn't seem to pick up on the group's behavior. "I wouldn't have come if not for her. She is quite persuasive."

Obviously, the woman's suspicions - and perhaps the two men, too - stemmed from Dan praising Lianna perhaps a little too much for tipsy minds to interpret as purely platonic. Lianna could dispell their suspicions subtly by mentioning Patrick or some other lover, or a more direct approach. On the other hand, she could play along and make a move on her mentor.

- Mention Patrick
- Mention a fake lover
- Declare Dan just a friend
- Make a move
- Ignore it
- (Optional) Go to the dining room

 

[ArcticFox]

Lianna got the hints that they've been dropping and wondered what the hell had Dan been speaking about her. She cared about him, of course. Very much actually, but what kind of feelings those were she herself did not know. Her love life was complicated enough with the failed romance with Everett and an awkward start with Patrick... she was not completely sure what she was doing yet. There was love between her and Dan, that much was certain, but the nature of that love was unknown to her.

"I'm glad you decided to come, Dan." Lianna smiled, looking at him and deciding to ignore the comments and avoid any declarations, "Now, I think it's time we took a break from drinking and went upstairs for dinner?" She placed her hand on his arm, about to lead him away if he complied.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Oh, is it dinner already?" Dan looked around for a clock but found none close enough to read. The group did the same, one referring to a watch around their wrist and confirming the time with a nod. "We should go then," Dan said. As if on cue, his stomach rumbled. "I wonder what we're having..."

Lianna lead Dan away from the group who left shortly thereafter; Lianna could hear their voices from the lobby not long after sitting down at a table with their names. Dan sat beside her.

Before either of them could speak, the room began to fill at an alarming rate. People poured in from side rooms and the lobby staircase, causing foot traffic jams. Some people sat in the wrong seat and were directed to their proper tables. It took a good fifteen minutes for the crowd to settle and five more for dinner to be served.

​

Marinated steak accompanied by broccoli, corn and peas, a baked potato and potato wedges decorated her plate. That plus the colorful salad, dinner rolls, and glass of wine would be extremely filling. And sobering, for those who'd drunk a bit... or nauseating, for those who drank too much.

It's a good thing she and Dan had limited themselves.

- Eat
- Talk to Dan
- Talk to the other table members
- Other
- (Optional) Drink glass of wine

 

[ArcticFox]

Glad to be away from Dan's prying friends, Lianna was immediately nauseous as soon as she saw dinner. The thing was, the sight of the steak reminded her of one very messy eater she had dealt with that day. The meal in front of her both made her appetite jump out the window and reminded her of a person she really didn't want to be reminded off. Absentmindedly, she picked through the salad and potatoes, while pouring herself a glass of white wine.

"You can have my steak as well." She said to Dan. "I'm not that hungry."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Mouthful of food, Dan lifted his brows. He nearly opened his mouth to speak but froze like a deer in the headlights, as if remembering they were in public. Slowly, he chewed his food and wiped his mouth like a proper guest before speaking: "Are you alright?"

With people sitting so close, someone was bound to overhear their conversation. Lianna could still tell him everything if she wanted to, though.

- Tell Dan everything
- Keep things vague
- Tell him nothing
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Not eager to talk about it in public, or to talk about it at all, Lianna just nodded and smiled, "Of course. Just not in the mood for steak tonight." Then she changed the subject, leaning toward him slightly and whispering, "Seems like my lessons really paid off, you really are a proper gentleman now."

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Ah," he nodded, completely believing her. Lifted his brows when she leaned in to whisper, her words eliciting a sheepish smile. He gestured to the clean, empty wine glass by his plate, "warning me of the alcohol helped, too. I wouldn't want to be like that one over there."

Dan discreetly gestured towards a stick-skinny man sloppily shoving food into his mouth before taking a guzzle of wine. The guests on either side of him scowled and scooted their chairs as far away as they could.

While Lianna was nowhere near as intoxicated as that man, she did feel a little buzz in the back of her head. Her drinks had started to catch up with her.

Before Lianna could respond to Dan, a tall man with pale skin and slicked back black hair addressed the room: "Now that everyone is settled, it is a great pleasure to welcome you all to Steamhaven's 45th Supernatural Convention. For the last four and a half decades this convention has sought to aid the struggle of mankind against the supernatural threats of Steamhaven. In doing so we have invited only the most outstanding citizens of Steamhaven; Hunters, inventors, alchemists, biologists, and so on all gather here, year after year, to collaborate their findings. Together, we work towards a brighter, safer Steamhaven that our children and grandchildren and the many generations after them will be able to enjoy."

Instead of serving trays, the staff stepped through the dining room and offered each guest a schedule brochure.

The man continued speaking. "Our staff is currently handing out the evening's remaining schedule. Once dinner concludes, you will be ushered back to the lobby, which has been set up for those with products to sell or advertise. Presentations will be held downstairs in the room indicated on the brochures. While I implore you to attend, you are free to return to the dance hall at any time." He looked around the room. "Does anyone have any questions?"

- Ask a question
- Do nothing
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Seeing the tipsy man across from them, as well as many others in various stage of drunkenness, Lianna pushed away her filled glass of wine, reminded how awful of a drunk she was. She listened to the man speak and wondered if she should actually attend any lectures. Perhaps there were some interesting ones. Though she really wanted to dance and mingle. She looked down at the schedule to see if anything would attract her attention.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Only two presentations on the brochure stood out. Unfortunately... they seemed to be the longest ones on the list. Attending both would leave little time for Lianna to check out the vendors in the lobby or return to the dance floor.

Dan leaned in as servers brought out the final course: Dessert. He tapped on part of the brochure. "They offered me a product booth, so I'll be in the lobby the rest of the evening," he said. "If you attend any presentations, take notes for me." Around them, a small handful of individuals from around the room skipped on the sweet treats and stood to head back downstairs.

- Decide on one presentation:

- Werewolves and the Lunar Cycle: A Journey Through the Lycanthropic Limbic System​

- The Miraculous Uses of Demon's Blood, a Demonstration!​

- Decide on both presentations
- Attend no presentations
- Check out the lobby vendors
- Return to the dance hall
- Stay for dessert

 

[ArcticFox]

"Oh, I'm going to go ahead an see The Miraculous Uses of Demon's Blood." Lianna said, standing up. She wasn't feeling very hungry and this caught her interest, "I'l take notes and come visit your little booth." She squeezed his shoulder gently, departing the table.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Dan smiled up at her as she left.

Following the brochure's instructions, she'd find that The Miraculous Uses of Demon's Blood demonstration was not in the downstairs rooms like the others. Rather, it took place on the third floor, according to nearby staff, in the round window room at the very top of the building. She'd find the staircase right around the corner from the dining room.

Lianna stepped into a rather small circular room with dim moonlight shining down from above, the ceiling made of glass. Lamps and candles kept the room lit where the moonlight did not. An army of different smells assaulted her nose: sage, rosemary, lavender, chickory, and many others. The most prominent, however, was the tang of sulfur.

"Ooh, another guest. Please, take a seat!" A woman in a frilly, bead and jewel embedded gown smiled from the front. Gestured to the small cluster of chairs ahead of her demonstration set up. She had long blonde hair that curled in ringlets down to her waist, despite being pulled in an updo. Her hair looked extremely thick and heavy, considering the large gems decorating her crown.

As Lianna took a seat - there wasn't much room to stand, otherwise - more people filed into the room than it could hold. Those who didn't have a seat ended up sitting on the floor or sharing chairs with those around them.

Blaine was one of them. He stood in the doorway, looking around for a spot to sit.

- Share a chair with Blaine
- Let him sit on the floor
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Hello." Lianna greeted with a polite nod and found an empty chair for herself. She looked around the room with interest, but careful not to stare openly. Whatever was about to be demonstrated here ought to be good. And she wasn't the only person to think so. As people poured into the room, she spotted a familiar face and waved to get his attention. "Come sit with me, I don't take up much room." She said, moving to the edge of the chair.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Successfully catching Blaine's attention, he'd weave through the crowd to take up a spot next to Lianna with a grateful smile. "Thanks," he said.

When it seemed no more guests would arrive, the woman demonstrating cleared her throat and spoke to her audience. "Greetings! I am Missy-Maya and I am here to teach you the wonders of demon's blood," she said. The odd name Missy-Maya would ring a bell; it matched the name on the card Aunt Muriel had given Lianna about her scars.

As Missy-Maya dove into a brief introduction about demon's blood and how to handle it properly - "Always with gloves!" - Blaine whispered a bit too loudly in Lianna's ear: "I have heard wild rumors about her," he said, words accompanied with subtle hand gestures. "She's kind of a madwoman, people say." Those around them looked over, obviously hearing his failed attempt at whispering, but none shushed them. Missy-Maya didn't seem to hear - she was too busy talking.

- Shush Blaine
- Ignore him
- Ask about the rumors
- Ask Missy-Maya a question
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Aren't we all a bit mad here? I don't think anyone sane would come to or remain at Steamhaven." Lianna said to Blaine with a hint of a smile. She turned to watch the demonstration then, remembering the jar of blood she had in her apartment. Perhaps she would learn something useful about it here.

"Ma'am, if you don't mind me asking, what is the demon blood used for?" She asked, after raising her hand up to get her attention.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Blaine fell silent but did so with a smile. She had a point.

"Oh! Why, we're here to learn that, aren't we?" She asked. Tapped her chin, "Though, I suppose if you're asking what the witches use it for, that wasn't introduced in the demonstration... Very well, I'll explain!" Missy-Maya had an abundance of energy that showed not only in her voice but also in her mannerisms; she spoke with wide, animated gestures, curly hair and long dangly earrings bouncing. To explain, she held up a small vial of black liquid.

"In order to become a witch, a human must sell their soul to a demon," she said. "Humans mix their blood with blood of the demon that has chosen them - in other words, the demon that has been summoned - and tattoo it into their skin, creating the witch's mark.

A man in the crowd raised his hand. "But demon's blood burns like acid, doesn't it?"

Missy-Maya smiled brightly. "It does, indeed! Lovely observation," she said. Popped the vial's cork and dripped several drops onto parchment paper, which began to sizzle. "Demon's blood has many uses, such as basic acid or, if diluted properly, a wonderful exfoliant for the skin," she set the vial down and picked up another vial containing red liquid. "However, only human blood - that is, the blood of a pure human, not a witch or a werewolf even in its human form - can dilute the demon's blood effect. This, in turn, creates a beautiful maroon ink that turns a witch's body into a living, breathing, walking, talking, magical contract."

She poured the blood over the sizzling parchment paper and the acidic effect nulled, leaving a gaping hole in the parchment but going no further. "See?" She handed it to the nearest person, urging them to pass the example around to show the room. Some brave souls investigated the parchment curiously while others refused to touch it completely. Beside Lianna, Blaine held the parchment and turned it over, inspecting it before passing it to her.

- Take the parchment
- Look at it in Blaine's hands
- Pass
- Ask another question
- Other