MASKTOURN

Ryu wakes in a dark, square room. The floor is dirt, but she's sitting on a woven rug. The walls are stone brick, and enclose him on every side. There’s no way in, and no way out. The room is suffocatingly warm, dark and dry. Ryu would soon begin to feel thirst clawing at her throat. She'd wake laying on her side, and soon discover she's been restrained. Chains tether him to the ground by each of her limbs, though they still allow him a decent range of motion. Before Ryu, sat a small, low table, covered by a rug similar to the one they sat upon. Two oil lamps flicker at either ends of the table, their small lights the only in the room. The only other objects on the table are three small wooden bowls, all filled with an unidentifiable liquid. The first is white, opaque and creamy. The second is glassy and clear, with a slight cloudy, brownish color to it. The third is just as opaque as the first, but is a deep, muddy red in color. Across from the table is the only other person in the room. A woman. She appears to be middle aged, with warm, pale skin and brown, graying curls spilling over her shoulders. She wears a simple, cream-colored dress, with a long red vest over it. Her gaze is melancholy, almost distant, as she makes eye contact with Ryu. The woman takes in a heavy breath, and finally speaks. Her voice is not that of the flaming apparition. “Welcome to the Halcyon Citadel.” @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Ugh.." Ryunoske groaned in pain as he awoke to the dry and dark room. The last thing he remembered was driving on the highway alone, then— She tried standing up, but Ryu's chains stopped her from moving too much from where he started. A surprised grunt came out her lips as she stumbled back onto the ground. "Fucking piece of shit-" Ryu hissed as she looked at her chained hands. Her gaze eventually traveled over to Albanes' once she spoke, and the confusion set in quite quickly. A look of recognition flashed in Ryu's eyes, but it wasn't quite all there. Slowly, Ryunoske rose to her feet and stared down at Albanes. "Am I dreaming, or are you really still alive?" Ryunoske asked Albanes with disbelief. "Hell, I know you got healing and all of that, but you gotta stop with the kidnapping stuff. Where's that little slimey girl? If you're here, she's gotta be alive too, right?" He asked with a small huff, no longer on edge like he was seconds before. Perhaps seeing Albanes, even an older, more tired Albanes, eased her nerves. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes stiffened uncomfortably. "You have me mistaken for someone else. I'm not the Albanes you know." The comment about the 'slimey girl' seemed to especially distress her, though it only earned a grimace. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske raised a brow at that. "You're not..?" He asked with a squint. "Huh... I guess you're not. You're a little too old. Am I in the future?" Ryu asked as she glanced around the dimly lit room. "I'm guessing the slimey girl isn't here then, judging by your reaction. Dang, I was actually really happy for a second. I thought maybe you two made it after all." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You're in the Halcyon Citadel- the Domain of the Lifebringer. Think of it as... a dimension outside your own." Albanes said. "The Madelyn I knew has been dead for... a very long time. I'm not sure what happened to yours." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Halcyon Citadel? Ryunoske's expression scrunched before falling. "Is this another Church of the Light thing? I just got outta that like a week ago. Yall are really into your recruitment," Ryu sighed. Though, her interest was piqued a little at the mention of Madelyn again. "She's been dead? Interesting. No, back at the church thing where I was at, you and the slimey girl were maybe.. a little over half your age now, and both of you died before making it back to the mainland. At least, that's what I assume. Your bodies disappeared on the boat ride," Ryu explained. "What happened to your slimey girl? You two must have lived pretty different lives here." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes's face scrunched up in confusion and concern. "I don't know what you're talking about, I- you knew a different version of me. I've never heard of any... Church of Light..." They sighed. "Madelyn and I were married for...a good twenty or so years. And then she died and I... became the Lifebringer." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Well, it was called something like that—I didn't really pay attention all that much," Ryu shrugged. "It was ran by that blind man. Yeonaixho? That guy. You know him? I'm sure he was the father of the Albanes I knew. He called himself the Lifebringer too," he added. "And twenty years? Damn, that's a while. Yeah, much different from the kids I knew." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"Yeonaixho." Albanes repeated. "Yeah, uh... I've heard of him." Her tone suggested something more than that, but she didn't elaborate. "Mhm. I would think as much. There are others here who... seem to also know the same version of me that you do." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Well, if he's your father in this world too, I bet you've heard of him, yeah," Ryu nodded. "Wait, there are other people from there here too? Who?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"He's... not my father." Albanes corrected. "Uh... from the same plane as you... there's Peregrine Marvell, Valerie Gallo, Roman Ricci, Enya Hayes, Isi, Darcy Sterling, and... Gale Davenport. Yes, I think that's all of them." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske hummed. "He's not? Guess that must be a world difference or something," he shrugged. Though, again, Albanes managed to pique Ryu's interest as she heard some familiar names. Some were more pleasant than others though. "Oh, those are my girls—Enya and Val. You got them here again too? Goddamn," Ryu commented. "Can I humbly request you keep that lettuce guy as far away from me as possible? He keeps blowing up my phone every second of the day and I thought I would have to buy a fifth phone." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Maybe." Albanes replied distantly. "I can... try. There isn't a great deal I can do, but I can at least try to place you in separate living quarters." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske raised a brow at Albanes. "You don't control this place? Aren't you the Lifebringer now? You're not the boss?" She asked, clearly confused. "Now that I think about it, that voice from earlier is different from yours. You workin' for that other guy?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I am beholden to the will of my predecessor, Naiyta Hauryan. They control this place more than I can. It is them, who brought you here." Albanes sighed. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Naiyta-Who now?" Ryu couldn't keep up with all these Lifebringer shenanigans. They really had to stop with this weird cult-kidnapping shit. "Well, if they brought me here, that does mean you work for them, right? Girl, cmon, it's been years and you're still following someone else's orders?" Ryunoske sighed. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Naiyta Hauryan. The first Lifebringer." Albanes explained, but it wouldn't mean much to Ryu. "They're more powerful than I am, and... more experienced. I don't want to work for it, but... I don't have much of a choice." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske sighed once again, shaking her head. "Oh man.. You're just like that other kid. Well, I guess you're both you, so it makes sense.. but god," Ryu groaned. "So, what. You guys want us to fight to the death again? I've already been through this whole schmuck like five days ago. Can't I catch a fucking break?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes only grimaced at being compared to her younger, alternate self. "Yes. You've been brought here for a tournament. I... really am sorry, if it means anything." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"It's not your fault—Not really, I assume," Ryu shook her head. "Guess I'll go ahead and beat the shit out of everyone I can then. I didn't die before, and I don't plan to in such a similar place," he scoffed. "Are there any other interesting things I should know ahead of time, little miss Lifebringer?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I... wish you luck, really." Albanes sighed. "I... I can't think of anything specific to you that you'd need to know... but if you have any questions, I might be able to answer them." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu tugged at one of her chains and rubbed her chin in thought. "Hm.. I guess I got a few to ask," he nodded. "First, can you unhook these chains? I'm not gonna attack, promise. I just need to smoke," Ryu said and gestured her tied hands. "Second, does time work different here? I had an appointment to get to and it'll look bad if I'm late. My oto-san is going to kill me if I miss it. Third, what sorta rules are we dealing with here? Is it as strict as a church is? I hate churches." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I... guess so." Albanes sighed, and took a small key from her pocket. She leaned over the table and used it to unlock the cuffs over Ryu's wrists. "The ankle ones have to stay on, though." She sat back down. "As for time... yes, it functions differently. You have been pulled from your own dimension, to here- a place that stands outside space or time. If you win and are allowed to return, you will be placed back where we took you from, five minutes later." They furrowed their brow at the question about rules. "Rules? I don't think... no fighting or violence outside of the sanctioned matches, I suppose? I think that's the only thing my predecessor wouldn't want happening." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Thanks," Ryu said as he quickly got to fiddling for his pack of cigars and lighter. Lightning up a smoke, Ryu breathed in a sigh of relief as she felt the toxic chemicals filling her lungs. "Hmm, I see. That puts one stress off my shoulders. Same with the rules tidbit. That church island had sooo many stupid rules. I felt like my brain was going to melt with how many times that old winged hag bothered me about it," Ryu sighed, red-green smoke flowing from her lips. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes grimaced at the smoke- the air was thick enough with heat already- but didn't comment. "Yes... well, that's not something you'll have to worry about here." They made a mental note to try and get Ryu on the.... laxer side. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Even though Ryu could clearly see how uncomfortable Albanes, she continued to smoke without adjustment. "Cool. By chance, since you've taken me and some other people from the same world, are there some workers here from there too? Or like.. alternatives to them, like you? Like the winged hag?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I'm not at will to share the identities of... those who work here." The phrase seemed stilted, awkward. "Nor would I, even if I could." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryu blinked, unsure what to make of Albanes' response. "You don't know who they are?" She asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I do. I'm just not telling you." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ah. Ryu stared at the other woman with an unamused look. Albanes was physically older than her now, but Ryunoske couldn't see anyone other than that scared teenager she knew Albanes was back then. "I see.. Well, judging from your lack of response, I'll take a gander that there's some familiar faces beyond yours," he shrugged and took another whiff of his cigar. "Why do both current and past Lifebringers require our bloodshed? What are you trying to gain?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes returned Ryu's gaze with stern vacancy. "I don't require it. My predecessor does. And-" She took in a breath. "I can't tell you why." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Alright then. What do you want then, Albanes?" Ryu asked instead, looking at Albanes with a curious expression. She held her cigar to her lips as she waited for a response. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I want to return to my immortal life, and care for myself and my own." Albanes said, choosing each word carefully. "I cannot do so until this is all... done, so I am indulging my predecessor in this." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Hmm.." Ryunoske also wasn't sure what to make of that. Blowing out more smoke, her gaze seemed to soften. "You're immortal now? How long have you been alive exactly?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"In four years, I'll be five hundred." Albanes hummed. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Five hundred? Damn. You're a grandma now," Ryunoske joked with a small laugh. "So.. what exactly is normal living for you as an immortal? I assume being a 'Lifebringer' or whatever is like.. important in a relative sense."

11:48 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Maybe if I had ever had children. Too late for that now, though." Albanes laughed dryly. "I... spend most of time governing the Loucari, normally. Attending to various religious duties, political matters. It's quite dull, especially after centuries, but..." She shrugged. "If you do something long enough, you get used to it." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"You and the slime girl never had any kids?" She curiously asked. "Well, I'm sure being immortal means you got plenty of times to have them if you wanted still," Ryu shrugged before continuing. "Sounds like a pretty boring life, yeah. At least it seems peaceful. What were you doing before you became this god thing?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Neither of us ever wanted any." Albanes shrugged. "I still don't want any. Not when I'm too... immortal to parent them." They hummed. "It is peaceful. It's... routine." Ryu's question causes her frown to deepen. "That's not important." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"That's fair. Not everyone is cut out to be a parent," Ryu nodded as she smoked. Though, she quirked a brow at how quick Albanes was quick to deflect her second question. "Now you got me curious. Surely, you and the slime girl were living a normal life together then?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It's really not important and I do not appreciate you prying into events that happened centuries ago, not to mention personal details." Albanes deflected quickly, almost harshly. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske deadpanned at Albanes, holding her cigar between her teeth. "Girl.. you're terrible at trying to make your answers not sus," she commented. "Listen, if you don't wanna talk about it, you can just say that. I'm not gonna bite. I only do that to girls who ask me to." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I am saying so. I would appreciate you not asking about such... personal matters." Albanes furrowed her brow. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Well you could of just said so," Ryu shrugged. He wondered what exactly Albanes could be hiding, but for now, Ryunoske returned back to the main topic. "Another question then. Are you stronger than the first Lifebringer?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"That... is a complicated question with a complicated answer." Albanes sighed. "We have... control over different things. It's hard to measure which of us is 'more powerful' when we simply... operate in different ways." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Hm, that was an interesting response. "Well, care to explain that in more detail? What exactly is different between you two?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm... it's too complicated to easily explain, there's too many nuances that someone who's never been the Lifebringer just wouldn't understand..." Albanes thought. "But, uh.... for example, they have more control over the Citadel, this domain, while I have more control over the Immaterial Fold." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

So both Lifebringers could control spaces out of the world of the living? That was an interesting point. "Hm, I see. What's the difference between the two?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, the Citadel is meant for the living," Albanes said, "and the Fold is the realm of the dead." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Hm. Interesting indeed. "What, you keep souls trapped there or something?" Ryu joked with another small laugh, her red-green smoke filling the air. "Guess that means whoever dies here, you take control over after?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes didn't laugh. "Yes, something like that." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske just smiled at that. "Glad to hear you be honest about something," she shrugged. "So, what's it like in the realm for the dead? I hope it's not like that firey hell those Christians talk about. That'd be boring." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"When you die, you'll find out." She shrugged. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Awh, that's no fun. I'm gonna win this thing, remember? How can I know when I die if I'll be the winner?" Ryunoske chuckled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Well, then maybe you'll have to wait." Albanes said. "I'm not telling the living what the realm of the dead is like. It defeats the entire purpose of it. You all aren't meant to know." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske hummed, disappointed, but not surprised Albanes wasn't going to tell her more. "The Lifebringer is a God of healing, right? I assume both you and your predecessor posses that ability. Are there any other ability differences between you two?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yes. Both of us can heal." Albanes hummed. "Beyond that... I don't think the differences between our abilities are especially relevant to you." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Relevant or not, I'm curious, and you said you'd answer my questions," Ryu replied with a smug smile. "So, what exactly is the difference?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I said I 'might be able to'. I promised you nothing." Albanes said with a callous shrug. "So, no. I won't be telling you that." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Oh boo.. I see even immortality hasn't given you a better sense of humor," Ryu playfully pouted and blew a slew of smoke at Albanes' face. "Well, suppose that's all I have to ask then. I assume anything else I'm curious about will just be deflected or answered vaguely. This is why I hate church people." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes grimaced as Ryu blew smoke into her face again. "I've heard I'm funnier with people I like." She deadpanned. "If you have no more questions, it's time to move on." She gestured to the bowls. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Did your dead wife use to tell you that?" Ryu smiled connivingly before sitting back against the wall. Her eyes gazed down at the bowls, looking quite uninterested in them. "Move onto what?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Onto the bowls." Albanes said. "You have to drink one." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Why?" Ryu asked with scrunched brows. None of them looked particularly good or tasty. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Because that's the way things must be." Albanes replied flatly. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Uh huh... do we like.. drink them together or something?" Ryu asked as she glanced between the different colored bowls. "And what's in them?"@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Only drink one." Albanes clarified. "And you only have to drink a sip or two. I can't tell you what they are." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Only one? And just a sip? This was a weird introduction. "It's not cool-aid, is it? If I have to die to get into this place, I'm gonna be mighty upset," he sighed. "Whatever. I'll drink the damn thing and maybe let you have the peace of wallowing in quiet misery." Ryunoske picked up one of the bowls—The one that was clear, but sorta cloudy. This just sorta looked like dirty water to her, and she's had that plenty before. She took a sip, just a small one, before putting the bowl back down. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

It was broth! It might've once been warm, but was kinda room-temperature right now. Not that the room they were in was especially cold. Overall, it was incredibly inoffensive- soup without any of the extra things that make soup good. Albanes watched silently, with a neutral expression, though the entire ordeal took such a short amount of time, it might not seem as strange. "Interesting choice." They commented. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"It seemed like my options were dirty water, bloody water, or blood... guess this was more soup than that, so I'll take it," Ryu shrugged. "This some sort of test? A sorting-hat or something? What does my choice mean?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"That's for Naiyta and I to know, and for you to unknowingly decide." Albanes shrugged. "The others were milk and blood, if you care to know." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

"Tch.." Ryu sighed. "So, what now?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Now... we say goodbye, for now." Albanes began getting up. "Or, rather, goodnight." @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

used /r

# 11
Details:[d20 (11)]

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 18
Details:[d20+10 (8)]

(TEN????)

(ten :3)

(the way it would of beat it if not for the mod..)

(this is why she has the mod)

Immediately, the color to Ryu's smoke changed. It became a softer gray-white, but whatever it was meant to do clearly wouldn't work in such short notice. "Will you be back?" She decided to stall. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Albanes frowned at the smoke, clearly unaffected. "Well, this is the last time we'll meet here." She stood fully to her rather unimpressive height and walked around the table to where she could stand next to Ryu. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

used /r

# 17
Details:[d20 (17)]

(one more time with the smoke) @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 27
Details:[d20+10 (17)]

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

(ryu u r a loser in disguise)

11:37 PM

She watched with a careful gaze as Albanes approached, the white smoke still wafting in the air. Ryunoske stared up at the Lifebringer, smiling a bit as she craned her neck upwards. "Well, send me off then, Lifebringer. I'm sure you're just as miserable on the other side." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20+5 (4)]

(albanes girl)

11:37 PM

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske def...

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

used /r

# 24
Details:[d20+4 (20)]

(wow)

(OH SO NOW U WANNA NAT 20)

Albanes rested her hand on Ryunoske's forehead, but nothing happened. @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

used /r

# 17
Details:[d20 (17)]

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs alrighty.... smoke

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 20
Details:[d20+10 (10)]

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

Ryunoske continued staring up at Albanes, raising a brow when a beat of silence passed them. "...Any moment now," she egged the God. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 18
Details:[d20+5 (13)]

@Aj | Invo + Ryunoske def

Aj | Invo + Ryunoske

used /r

# 11
Details:[d20+4 (7)]

(finally

)

Any moment now, indeed. Ryu wouldn't be able to get another word in before Albanes knocked her out cold. Goodnight! @Aj | Invo + Ryunoske