Fantasy Steamhaven: Land of the Lost

[ArcticFox]

"I don't, but I bet it's nothing good." Lianna answered, reaching out to help Blaine, tossing his arms over her shoulders, "Let's get of here quickly." She then called out to her other allies, "Wolves, Witches! We have to get out of this room until they decide to bury us after all. Let's breach the doors!"

 

[Cartoonicat]

Hoisting Blaine to his feet sent jolts through her legs, but Lianna was a Monster Hunter. She could handle it, for now. Handfuls of witches, wolves, and even some vampires who appeared to have gone turn-coat rushed the doors. Blaine mumbled something of a protest.

BOOM!

A ringing silence pervaded her ears as the door and bits of the stone surrounding it exploded. The blast sent nearly half of the room flying several feet away—including Lianna and Blaine. He lay prone on the ground several feet from her. Several smoke-obscured silhouettes stormed the entryway.

- Check on Blaine
- Look for Danielle
- Look for Marla
- Look for the alpha
- Remain still
- Ready shotgun
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Groggily trying to find her feet, Lianna looked around to see if Blaine was still breathing. Are the figures friends or enemies? She hoped beyond hope that it was her Hunter team finally making it inside. If not, well, the fight will go on.

 

[Cartoonicat]

The soreness from the explosion and rat bites along her legs forced Lianna back to the ground, albeit closer to Blaine than she had been before. He was indeed breathing, but one earpiece lay ruptured on the ground while the other buzzed with error, still attached to his ear. With Lianna in such a sorry state and Blaine out cold, they'd both need help to move.

Muffled gunfire rang through the air accompanied by a muted cry or two as the silhouettes entered the room, guns and scenery blazing. Between the pounding headache and blur of fire, Lianna couldn't make out who they were even as one's calloused hand gripped her by the arm.

"...na...ianna, get up," it sounded like a thousand voices coming from one silhouette, the way her ears rung. All she saw was long hair and the outline of a gun. They tried hauling her to her feet.

- Go with them
- Reach for Blaine
- Attack them
- Freak out
- Do nothing
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

When hands reached for her, Lianna was trying to focus on the person to see if she should fight back or let them pull her up. But it seemed to be futile. She barely knew where she was, but she still knew that she owed the werewolf next to her, so trying to find her voice she said, "Blaine... get him..." Hoping that whoever was there was actually trying to help her.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Lianna could make out the blurred face of her mother as she was pulled to her feet. She looked harsher than Lianna remembered, with aged skin and a deep frown. "Clem," she sounded different, too, "grab the dog and let's go."

"There are kids here," Clem's muffled voice came from a few feet away. "What do we do, Ma?"

With what energy she had, Lianna could try and tell them to...

- Take the children
- Leave the children
- Attack the children
- Protect the children
- Find the Child Stealer
- Find Danielle
- Leave the Summit
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Mother? What was she doing here? Lianna stared at her for a moment, not comprehending. Then she saw Clem and he called her 'ma' as well and the realisation hit her. It was Aunt Muriel. Of course, her mother was far far away.

"Danielle, the witch with wines..." Lianna tried to tell them. She helped her, they needed to be pulled out of that mess. She wanted to save the female werewolf's kids as well, but she counted that the woman would probably take care of them herself.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Witch with wines? What is she-" As if on cue, the female alpha shot from the smoke to protect her children. She grabbed the barrel of Clem's gun and elbowed him in the chin, forcing him to drop the gun before it fired. "Clem!" Muriel swung her shotgun in the Child Stealer's direction.

- Shout in protest
- Push Aunt Muriel's gun
- Let her shoot the Child Stealer
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"No!" Lianna shouted, grabbing for her aunt's shotgun to push it away, then addressing the female alfa, "Hey, werewolf lady! They will not hurt you or your children. We are all just trying to leave this mess! Come with us."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Aunt Muriel's shotgun fired and hit the wall instead of her target. She stammered, confused, "What in- Lianna who- Huh?" With his own gun turned on him, Clem had raised his hands in surrender. He swallowed dryly.

The Child Stealer held Clem at gunpoint for a moment longer before lowering the weapon and motioning towards someone hidden the smoke. "Go with them. Help as many as you can, but don't be reckless," she said. Marla and her human brother nodded; the former ran towards the door, helping people to their feet along the way and kicking vampires that were already down while the latter picked Blaine up from the floor. The Child Stealer glared at Aunt Muriel and Clem. "I'm keeping the gun."

"But that's-" Clem said, then backtracked when she raised the barrel again, "-completely yours. Absolutely your gun. Yes, ma'am." Aunt Muriel passed Lianna off to her cousin, but not without a smack to the back of his head for losing his strongest weapon. He smiled sheepishly at his mother before looking to Lianna. "Now, what was that about witches and wines?"

Lianna couldn't see Danielle through the smoke, but she could see the remnants of her coven's vines shriveled up on the floor closer to the door. If Danielle were anywhere, it was likely in that area. Unfortunately, the vampires had begun to rise, and they were far more resilient than the few rebels who had gone against them.

- Search for Danielle
- Flee the Summit
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Lianna wanted to chuckle at Clem's silly disposition, but her throat was too dry and her ribs too sore to manage it. Instead she just coughed painfully and then leaned on Clem for support. She was glad that the female alpha continued being reasonable.

"Danielle." She repeated, pointing toward the door, "Could be there. Witch with wines and weird clothes." Though that could have described any witch. "Young, short hair. Keep an eye out, could be hurt."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Clem nodded and helped Lianna through the room. Behind them, gunfire and clanging metal mingled with that of crackling flames. The pair looked through the bodies on the floor, of which there were many, without luck. Yet, something caught Clem's ear and led them towards a limp figure.

On the floor lay Danielle, leg with an unnatural bent and a sizable rip in her throat. Her eyes watched them, wide and glassy and pleading for help. "Shit," Clem muttered, "her throat- Dan's bomb? Or..." He shook his head. "What do you want to do, cousin?"

By that point, Lianna could walk on her own if she so chose, but running was out of the question and her pace would be slow. Danielle, unfortunately, wasn't going anywhere without help.

- Put Danielle out of her misery
- Try rescuing Danielle
- Leave her there
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Faltering at the sight, Lianna frowned. Danielle was as good as dead and they were already trying to pull out too many people. She should just leave her there, she would probably die soon. But, before she could think about it, she was reaching for the end of her cloak, to rip it off and tie it around her throat, to try and stop the bleeding for a little while, "We'll take her with us." She said to Clem.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Clem's brows practically raised to his hairline, but the sound of Dan shouting what sounded like gibberish forced down whatever commentary he had. Lifting Danielle, he called over his shoulder. "Ma, it's time to go!" He motioned for Lianna to follow him to the busted door.

Several survivors escaped alongside them with Aunt Muriel, the Child Stealer, and a small handful of witches covering their exit.

- Flee the Summit

 

[ArcticFox]

Teeth clenched, Lianna focused on keeping the ones with her alive. She hoped beyond hope that they will all make it out of th slaughter. All the while as she ran, a pesky thought hounded her steps. What would have happened if she had remained compliant throughout the summit. Would those that jumped to help her be unhurt?

 

[Cartoonicat]

Aunt Muriel and the Child Stealer shot back any vampires that threatened to follow them out, and when their quantity became too much, Aunt Muriel dropped her gun and plucked one of the vampire twins from the ground. What witches remained followed her example, leaving only the tiny wolf for the Child Stealer to grab.

For the second time that night, an explosion rang through the Bellmere Public Library.

Vampires would pour out of every crevice, every crack, and they'd eventually be overrun once more, but Danielle was dying. Unfortunately, the only healer Lianna knew of was terrified of supernaturals. Luckily, she radiated a light so bright—likely her protection magic—that finding her, as well as Dan and Clara, was almost stupidly easy.

- Ask Fiona to heal Danielle
- Put Danielle out of her misery
- Let Danielle go

 

[ArcticFox]

There was no thinking about it. Lianna was able to persuade Fiona to help a couple of times before, ahe would be ablw to do the same now... Even though the last witch they encountered together was mercilessly slain by Lianna.

"Fiona, I need your help again." Lianna said, breathing heavily when they met up with the rest of the team, pointing at the dying witch.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Fiona looked on the verge of a mental breakdown, the way her eyes darted left and right at every movement their small rebellion made, if they weren't shut tight. Beads of sweat trickled down the temple and she grasped the rosary around her neck with trembling hands. She mumbled her protection spell rapidly yet shied away whenever someone moved too close.

Beside her, Clara scowled. Not at Fiona, but at Lianna. "What the hell is this, Carrot Top? We're saving Supernaturals now?"

"Clara, this really isn't the time," Clem tried.

He failed. "I don't care what time it is! Why are we saving a witch? Hell, why are we saving any of them!?"

- Persuade Fiona
- Threaten Fiona
- Explain to Clara
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Clara, they didn't mind helping a human in there, I'm not about to leave them behind." Lianna said quickly. "We'll argue when we are out."

Focusing on Fiona, Lianna said, "Look at me, Fiona. You know me. You trust me, don't you? I've protected you so far, i would never ask something of you that would put you in harms way. She saved me back there, Fiona, now will you please heal her? You are the only one who can."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Clara bit her tongue, albeit begrudgingly.

"I- So many- They- Saved?" Fiona blinked back tears. Failed to steady her quick, heavy breathing. She looked to Danielle, limp in Clem's arms, and covered a gasp at the sight of her wound. "O-Oh my... But s-she is..."

"A witch," Clara supplied with a scowl.

Fiona glanced at Clara before looking back to Lianna. "She saved you... she..." The nun, face pale as a sheet of bleached parchment, swallowed. Outstretched her hand to hover millimeters above the wound. "I ask the Divine Light within myself to accept your plight and spare your pain, as I extend my faith to you."

Slowly, the gap in Danielle's throat began to close, albeit slowly and not without scarring. Her eyes shot open and she sucked in air so quickly she choked.

- Praise Fiona
- Hug Fiona
- Calm Danielle
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Feeling relief wash over her as the witch's wound closed, Lianna felt like she could just kiss the nun. "Thank you, Fiona." Lianna smiled up at her, before turning to Danielle, "Shh, stay calm, you are fine. We'll get you out." They really needed to leave that place as soon as possible.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Fiona nodded, though didn't smile. If anything, she appeared a strong mixture of confused and fearful. Clara made a "tsk" noise and walked away, motioning for the nun to follow her. Obviously conflicted, Fiona did.

"What did she- I thought I- Thank the Divine, I'm alive," Danielle breathed. It might very well have been the first time she heard a Supernatural praise the Divine.

"Uh, Lianna? What now?" Clem nodded towards the public library. "It takes more than an explosion to kill a vampire. They're going to be swarming us the moment they get up."

The few that survived exceeded no more than twenty, though if any of them were like Blaine, they were representatives of far higher numbers. Lianna could suggest they head back to Steamhaven, which would take a while in general, much less with the wounded, or hide out in Bellmere. Likewise, they could flee to the forest. The scariest things there were supernaturals, after all.

- Head to Steamhaven
- Hide in Bellmere City
- Hide in the Forest
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Danielle, do you have any of your coven nearby?" Lianna asked. If the witches were near perhaps they could hide with them. They wouldn't turn away one of their own. Though you never knew with supernaturals.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Danielle blinked and looked around. "Um... Oh, there. Hey, over here-!" Her voice broke and her hand flew to the large mass of scar tissue on the side of her throat. After a moment, she waved her arms in the air, all while still being held by Clem.

A group of women in the distance, dressed from wild rags to outlandish, turned. They hurried over. "You're alive!" One paused and looked at Clem, smile vanishing. "And... carried by a human." While they had eventually helped during the fight, distrust still ran deep.

"Yeah, this is weird for me, too," Clem said. "Can I put her down, now?"

- Yes
- No
- Ask a question
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Yes, but carefully." Lianna said to her cousin. Then she turned to the group of witches, to ask, "Assuming that you also want to escape this mess, can we come with you?"