ic Shadow Hunter (IC)

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

Mid November, 2024

 

Wharton State Forest, Outside of Freedom City

 

A spark of black lightning caused a bit of a stir out in Wharton Forest.

 

It was in the middle of the forest, near an abandoned camp site- one that had been removed from the acceptable camping grounds due to a string of accidents on it-. It wasn't seen by anyone, but it did make a sound.

 

A few more bolts of lightning happened, bouncing between the trees but leaving no scorch marks or burns.

 

This event grew in intensity over a few minutes, more and more crackling bolts of lightning filling up the air around the forest.

 

Finally, with a shuddering gasp, like the gargle of a dying man, Something emerged from nowhere, a great, shuddering egg of spongy flesh, rhythmically pulsing like it was breathing, glowing red and black.

 

Somewhere else

 

Muirne was having a very normal day, absolutely unaware of what was going to come her way soon. For now, to her, it was just a completely normal, not so special day.

 

What did a normal day look like to Muirne? An average weekday with nothing special intended.

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne had awoken in the way that she had for most of her life, with the dawn. She had a light breakfast before throwing herself into her training at the Young Guardian's Mansion- Spear drills, running practice, acrobatics, power usage and more. Aoife made running commentary to spot things that could be done better or had worked particularly well.

 

She stopped for lunch, before having a quick shower and departing the Mansion to her job that she'd picked up part time, manning the front desk of a book store. She had a pair of blue jeans on, a white button down shirt and dark red jersey. She didn't really need to work, given she could stay permanently at the Young Guardian's Mansion or in England with the Vanguard, but she liked the owners of the store and figured having some money off her own couldn't hurt.

There were a handful of customers, but none needed her at the moment, so she was reading. At the moment she was working her way through a copy of Beowulf with the Old and Modern English displayed on seperate pages, enjoying the chance to read in her native tongue, even if it was a slightly different dialect.

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

A quiet day. Not too bad. Or at least it was supposed to be. 

 

But before too long, while the sun was up but before it had really reached it's apex, Muirne heard a commotion outside.

 

"What's that thing?"

 

"It's cute."

 

"Is it some viral marketing spot?" And other comments crossed the bookstore. There was a small creature, about knee high stumbling through the crowd making their way around the city of Freedom. It looked a bit like an animal mascot for a cartoon show; large green eyes, covered in fur and with a bushy tail, looking like it could either run on all four limbs or just walk on two. A key made of black onyx was around it's neck, a darkness that floated out of it reminded Muirne too much of the Schattenwelt, and Aoife of home. 

 

"Is it part of an ARG?" someone asked.

 

But to Muirne and Aoife, it was a little clearer. That was a Bwbachod, a welsh Fae spirit, running lose in the city. They weren't known for being dangerous- if anything, they were usually helpful-, but seeing one at all was quite strange. And it was clearly panicked, looking around with it's big green eyes and darting between people, especially as some tried to grab or lift the creature thinking it was all a game.

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne's reading was interrupted by the sounds of curious people, something her time in Freedom had taught her was always suspicious. Like when toddlers get quiet, if a Freedom City native goes 'what's that?' there was almost certainly trouble not far behind.

 

She padded over to the window, looking out to see the small fae surrounded by people. In an instant her heart nearly stopped. The key drew focus at first. The Schattenwelt wasn't widely known, but almost always those who dealt with it were villains. The ever infamous Nacht-Krieger being the first imagining of anyone familiar.

 

But then her focus expanded to the Bwbachod, intellectually she knew it was not likely to harm her but memories of fairy tales and of Dougal bubbled to the fore, causing her heart to hammer in her chest. She had to step in, before something upset the small fae enough to actually put someone in harms way.

 

Then why are you just standing here? Do something.

 

I'm trying.

 

If you can't do it, let me. The world doesn't stop because you're scared.

 

Swallowing thickly, Muirne forced her legs to move. She tried to slow her breathing even as her shaking hands grasped the door, pushing it open just enough for the small fae and calling out. "Bwbachod, þú willa beo geborgen heonan¹!"

 

¹Bwbachod, you will be safe here

Edited Friday at 02:04 AM by Kaede Kimura
Translation for poor overworked GMs

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

The Bwbachod looked at the woman speaking a language it actually understood and quickly dove out of the way of another pair of hands, scampering on all fours towards Muirne and running into the shop. It's chasers frowned as it ran inside, not wanting to disturb the quiet bookstore with raucous chasing. Muirne could hear a few of their words as they talked and mumbled to themselves.

 

"...Maybe it's not an ARG."

 

"Could it just be advertisement for that store?"

 

"Maybe...we should check it out later."

 

But in the shop, the Bwbachod was looking up at Muirne with great thanks visible in it's big, round eyes. At closer inspection, it could be seen it's fur was a little matted; scratches and tears under it's soft brown fur.

"H...he-llo?" it asked in a broken simulacrum of English, someone who knew the words but not the phonics. "C-an yo-u hel-p? me."