Fantasy Steamhaven: Land of the Lost

[ArcticFox]

"Thank you, sir." Looking up the stairs, Lianna nodded. With only a brief glance around the hall, she set up the staircase. The Hunters usually held together, but when one of their own turns and attacks you, it's difficult to move on from there. She understood them, but she also understood Clara. It was not her fault, the true villains here were those unnatural creatures and she hoped that the Hunters would focus their efforts in their direction, instead of alienating their own members.

 

[Cartoonicat]

The rooftop, like the Hub's exterior and most of Steamhaven itself, appeared grimy and washed in the grey cloak of morose weather. Clara hardly stirred from her spot against the railing, forearms resting atop rusted metal. Beyond the Hub's rooftop was the city, drab and monochrome save for the occasional lamplights that ran twenty-four seven.

"What do you want?" Clara asked.

- Recruit Clara
- Mention her friends
- Ask if she's okay
- Comment on the scenery
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I came to see how are you doing." Lianna answered honestly, approaching Clara and leaning on the railing next to her. "Are you alright? You don't hang out with your friends any more."

 

[Cartoonicat]

While Clara didn't look at her, Lianna could see her expression perfectly; Knotted brows, a deeply curled frown, lightly scrunched nose. Despite her obvious distaste, her features looked softer than they ever had before - Clara, as far as Lianna could tell, wore no makeup. Her hair hung around her shoulders, limp and flat compared to the elaborate up-dos she used to sport.

"They don't hang out with me," she said. "I'm fine."

Nothing about her seemed fine.

- Stand in silence
- Press her to talk
- Change the topic
- Leave
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"You are obviously not fine, Clara, come on." Persisting, Lianna moved a bit closer to her. "Talk to me. Or tell me who do you want to talk to and I'll bring them right over. But I'm not leaving until you acknowledge that you need help."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Clara scowled as she moved closer; went so far as to even slightly lean away. Averted her eyes. For as defensive as her body language was, however, Lianna could hear the walls begin to crumble in her voice. "They hate me," she said after some time, "and the ones who don't are terrified." The Hunters' reaction to the mention of Clara downstairs backed up, to some degree at least from what Lianna had seen, Clara's claim. Her fingers tightened around the metal rails, knuckles turning white. "I don't belong here anymore."

- Insist she belongs there
- Suggest a new career
- Comforting gesture
- Stay silent
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I don't hate you and I'm not scared of you either. Neither is Dan, nor Patrick. And I'm sure there are others." Lianna spoke, trying to be rational about it. "You simply need to find better friends."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Clara scoffed and looked at Lianna with glassy eyes. "Maybe five in, what, a hundred?" She turned towards her fully, gestured towards the streets below with a sweeping hand. "Thousands, once people find out who killed those Hunters?" She frowned. "Hunters aren't the secretive type nor are they particularly loyal, as I'm finding out; if I so much as sneeze during the next full moon, someone will put a silver bullet in my head and your friend's." She crossed her arms. "I'm better off leaving Steamhaven." Glanced to the side, uncertain. "If I can."

While some Hunters were certainly that extreme, Lianna knew a small handful who would likely give Clara and Patrick a chance come the next full moon. Granted, most Hunters were inherently aggressive towards supernaturals and had grown used to killing corrupted friends and family; Lianna's circle of friends would be vastly outnumbered.

Luckily for Lianna, she knew a certain doctor who sympathized enough with the supernaturals to offer shelter. Everett would likely be accommodating even if he and Lianna had ended things on the wrong foot.

- Insist she stay
- Encourage her to go
- Suggest enlisting Everett's help
- Stay silent
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Remembering the doctor who now most likely hated her, Lianna sighed. Clara would not be able to leave Steamhaven any more than others who tried before her. It could only end badly. And this left Everett as her only chance. She closed her eyes for a moment, before continuing.

"No one will touch Patrick, I'll make sure of that. I'd look out for you as well, but you might not fully trust my protection. However, there is someone that could be able to help you. To monitor you on the next full moon, or help treat any unusual symptoms." She looked at Clara. "Go to Doctor Troy's clinic and speak to him, please. You'll feel better, I know it. And if you say no, I'm going to knock you out right now and drag you there."

 

[Cartoonicat]

At first, Clara looked like she would protest. Open mouth, knotted brows, the broad-shouldered, full-on stance of defiance. Yet, she didn't. Instead, she reached up and wiped her eyes multiple times to no avail. Frowned, lip quivering. "Stop, why-" she shook her head, cleared her throat, "-why are you- why are you helping me?" Lianna had not seen Clara cry before the Blood Moon, even when shot in the shoulder by Samael, but now the waterworks fell freely. She looked and sounded and acted like two different people. "I could be- I could-" A hiccup. A small curse under her breath. Lianna had broken Clara, it seemed, but for the better; she could be a werewolf, yet Lianna had shown her kindness anyway.

- Answer
- Reassure
- Promise to protect her
- Hug her
- Shush her
- Say nothing
- Say something else
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I told you, I am your friend." Lianna smiled, stepping toward the crying woman, arms outstretched to envelop her in a hug. "Or at least I want to be." She hug her precariously, as if she might hurt her. "We have to look out for each other. I know you would have done the same."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Clara's forehead fell upon Lianna's shoulder, her own shoulders trembling. There, she cried quietly against her, arms wrapped in a tight embrace where she stayed for several moments until her tears dried and her eyes turned red, nose sniffly. "I-..." Clara leaned back just enough to wipe her eyes again. "Thank you, I-" Another wipe of a stray tear. Another sniffle.

Finally, it seemed the Hunter gathered her bearings enough to speak. "You're going into the woods tonight, right?" A tear-dampened hand fell upon Lianna's forearm, tight but not too tight. More worried - desperate, perhaps - than anything else. "I will come... if the offer still stands. I am not in the best of places but... well..." Clara's words faded and a torn look crossed her features; while she said no more on the subject, Lianna could clearly see something gnawed at her. "Just let me come with you."

- Press Clara to elaborate
- Recruit Clara
- Reject Clara
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

She knew that look in Clara's eyes. The woman wanted to feel useful again. She could imagine her isolation for the past few days, as the Hunter avoided her and her so called friends turned their backs on her. Clara only needed to focus on something else. It would help her cope with her current situation.

"Yes, of course. You are welcome to join us." Lianna said, nodding. "I'm going to find Clem and others in order to plan out the course of the mission for tonight. Do you want to join me?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

Clara nodded. "Yes, I'll join you," she said. A distraction, it seemed, proved useful; despite her tear-stained cheeks and the redness of her eyes and nose, Clara looked a bit more alive. From what Lianna knew, Clara had established herself as one of the most successful Hunters of Steamhaven. A useful ally.

One last sniffle. Finally, Clara seemed relatively... okay. "Shall we go, then?"

- Gather the team (Mission Start)
- Do something else first

 

[ArcticFox]

Nodding in agreement, Lianna walked down from the rooftop, with Clara hopefully following. She needed to find Clem and his mum, and Dan. Those were the people she had asked to follow her, and now with Clara, she thought she had a good team. Maybe not the most stealthy people, but definitely people she could trust to watch her back. She hoped to find everyone and bring them to Dan's basement in order to talk it over.

 

[Cartoonicat]

It took Lianna a good amount of time to collect everyone, especially the, as of late, ever-elusive Clem and his mother who worked such long hours she was rarely seen at the Hub. Dan, as expected, was the easiest to find and Lianna already had Clara in tow.

Afternoon rolled around and the group settled in at a slightly damp, very smelly oak table in Dan's basement. Aunt Muriel sipped on a large cup of strong coffee and Clem sat near Poppy who seemed to tolerate his hovering. Then came Emma, smiling softly and watching the two interact; building a relationship with her granddaughter seemed to shave off years of old age. Beside her sat Dan, fiddling with some sort of knick-knack.

Upon walking inside, Poppy and Clara's eyes met. The two hadn't really gotten on well in the beginning - not with Clara's goading, at least - and, by the way the room practically vibrated with hostility, the Blood Moon had only made things worse. Clara averted her gaze but Poppy, ever stubborn, did not relent. It was a good thing Lianna did not recruit both of them for her expedition.

As Clara took a seat between Dan and Lianna, Aunt Muriel set her coffee cup down and addressed the room:

"Now that we're all here, we should discuss strategies. From what I understand, this is a summit between the three supernatural races. Even if the werewolves can't shift, they're still a force to be reckoned with in their human form. Couple that with the witches and the ancient vampire coven, and we're at a vast disadvantage. We need to tread lightly."

- Propose stealth
- Propose diplomacy
- Propose a raid
- Ask for ideas
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I agree." Lianna nodded. Perhaps they were not the stealthiest bunch, but they needed to be careful about this. "Let's try a stealthy approached." She said, "There will be five of us only, and neither of us is very big, we should be able to sneak close to the gathering. Maybe split into two groups, just in case we are discovered." For a moment she thought if she should go straight into the gathering, try to talk things through. After all she had a pretty good idea about a lot of supernaturals that would be gathered there. She did not fear for life, rather she did not trust herself to be able to stay diplomatic the entire way through the talks.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Groups, then," Aunt Muriel nodded. Peered around the room. "Preferably well-balanced, should things get out of hand. Lianna, Clara, you both specialize in vampires, correct?"

"Yes," Clara replied. "I have experience with all three, but mostly vampires."

Aunt Muriel hummed. "And Dan? What about you? Are you registered in any specific field of Hunting?"

It took him a moment to wrack his brain, but then he shook his head. "Unaffiliated. Or is it General? Hmm..."

Aunt Muriel's shoulders dropped slightly and Clem chewed his lip. "I am, too," Clem said. "I've encountered many types but I've rarely Hunted on my own."

"And I primarily hunt witches," Muriel said. She frowned. "I would have liked a wolf specialist with us, but this will have to do."

Working with primarily Hunters would make it difficult to maintain a stealthy operation, especially since none of the group specialized in hunting werewolves who, even more than vampires, had heightened senses. While Dan and Clem had a general knowledge of all supernatural types, they were jacks of all trades and masters of none.

- Create the teams
- Go as one big group
- Replace a teammate
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Whatever their strengths were, they were all they had for now. Lianna could not bear to ask Poppy or Patrick to come along. All four of the people she asked to come with knew to be capable Hunters. They would be able to handle a fight, if it broke out. Hopefully, it wouldn't.

"Let us go together to the meeting point, assess the situation and see if we should split up or proceed together there." She said, "Unless anyone has something else to recommend?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

Aunt Muriel looked around and when nobody said anything in return, she knocked back the rest of her coffee and stood. "Let's head out, then."

In order to reach the rendezvous point before nightfall, something Aunt Muriel insisted on, they hailed a carriage, that which Clara paid for. Dan stepped out last with a large travel pack of bulky, heavy items in tow. Slipped the straps over his shoulders with Clem's help while Clara adjusted the scabbards to not one, but two silver-tipped swords.

The Twisted Woods of Steamhaven
​

Sunset began the moment they stepped into the woods. Dried debris crinkled and snapped underneath no matter where they went; staying quiet would be difficult, especially considering Dan's equipment clanked and jangled with every move.

"I see now why some call it The Twisted Woods," Clem mumbled. And Lianna could, too. From afar the tree trunks looked normal, if not a bit lopsided, but up close she could see they were made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of thick twisting roots that reached skyward and created a dense canopy of crispy leaves overhead.

Aunt Muriel looked over her shoulder at Lianna. "Do you know the summit coordinates?"

"There is a small hut West of here, close to the Steamhaven city border," Clara said. "I cleared it of witches about a year ago. It might still be there."

Nodding, Muriel added: "That's a possibility. I've heard rumors of wolf dens to the East, but they're too deep into the woods for most Hunters to go searching blindly."

"I've heard of those, too," Clara agreed.

Of everything she'd learned, the exact location, Lianna had not. It would serve them well to find the summit before nightfall, where they'd have to rely on conspicuous lanterns to see.

- Search West
- Search East
- Search North
- Split up
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Does anyone remember any vampire activity in these parts?" Lianna asked, eyes darting around, as if something might pop out behind a tree at any moment. She did not like these woods, they looked ominous and soured her mood. It was no place for a human, and in turn a perfect place for a supernatural creature. "I have a feeling the vampires are the one in charge of all this." She said, remembering her talks with the two vampires she encountered in the past weeks. If they had a hideout in the woods, she did not doubt that the others would gather there.

 

[Cartoonicat]

The group exchanged glances, then shook their heads. "Oh, wait," Clem added, brows lifting and falling into a scrunch in one swift movement. "I don't know if it has anything to do with vampires, but I read in a history book of a city North of here."

"Vanderwall?" Dan asked.

Clem shook his head. "Between Steamhaven and Vanderwall. If I remember correctly, it was pretty small. Much smaller than Steamhaven." Scratched his head thoughtfully. "Something happened to it. Famine, I think." When nobody offered insight, Clem shrugged. "There might be ruins to the North, in the direction of Vanderwall. I'm not sure how far that is, though. Vanderwall itself is at least a two-day trip."

- Go West
- Go East
- Go North
- Split up
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Well, if the witches are to the West and werewolves to the East, maybe we'll find the vampires in ruins in the North." Lianna said, setting of in that direction immediately. Hopefully she wasn't way off course, or they would miss the gathering.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Quickly, the group followed her, as noisy as the debris underfoot and the clanking of Dan's equipment. They walked North for what felt like an eternity - but in reality was likely only an hour - and they still did not find anything by the time the sun had set. While discouraged, everyone seemed willing to keep going -- except Clara.

Clara stopped in her tracks, head whipping left. She lifted her shotgun cautiously.

"What are you-" Clem started, only to get shushed by his mother who, too, ceased walking not long after Clara did. His eyes widened and he exchanged glances with Dan. Concerned, he aimed his shotgun at the thick brush while Dan prepped the staking glove on his right fist.

- Shoot left
- Call out
- Wait
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Slowly placing a hand on her shotgun, Lianna made a step forward. She was a very stealthy person, so her best bet was to move as less as possible, listening and watching carefully for any sign of moment in the shrubbery. Perhaps it was a straggler from the gathering.