Author: Hermennia, Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:44 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

Hermennia boarded the gigantic raven and watched as they ascended, distancing themselves from the collapsing island leaving a trail of dark feathers in their wake, Hermennia was quite saddened once he learned of the island's truth, and he deemed it strange that there were no records of such an intriguing island, could the old curators of the Void Gallery have missed such an island? The night sky was cold and the city's lights slowly flickered out like candles as it fell into disrepair before their eyes. Over the horizon, the coastline was lit up, panicked tourists poured into the rescue vessels as the island began to sink, reclaimed by the sea, Hermennia saw the opportunity and he blinked onto a departing ship as a stowaway, leaving the giant raven and the girl behind.

The ship set sail, Hermennia looked back at the Kavala, the island had vanished, and another piece of history erased.

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2020 7:50 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

"Although I do agree with you, I fear that we–" Suddenly, there was a loud rumble as the entire city began to quake. Speaking of changes, now the island itself was falling apart. Any thoughts they had towards finding the root cause of the mysteries behind Kavala were irrelevant now. They no longer had the luxury of time. It was clear that they needed to escape while they still could, which forced him to come to a painful realization–he would have to abandon his search for Shiloh. All this exploration and research had failed him to bring him closer towards learning what had happened to her. "It would appear our time here has come to an end, and I have no intention to be buried in a place that has long been dead." As the streets started to crack, he turned and transformed–taking the form of a raven of monstrous size. "We don't have much time–I'll bring us to the shore by air. Should we be so fortunate, a ship might be waiting to take us off this accursed island." He beat his black wings as he rose into the air, creating small gusts of wind and leaving behind ebony feathers in his wake. Once Hermennia and Caroline made their decision, their escape from Kavala would commence. With everything falling apart, it was safer to fly as they could avoid being cut off from the entryway into the citadel. There was no guarantee that the damage hadn't extended into the surrounding jungle as well.

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:40 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

There was always the possibility their theory was wrong. It was a theory after all. But it was all that they had at the moment. The library couldn't give them much more information. It was the morning glories that'd caught her attention entirely. Sylvain mentioned that the morning glories left permanent lasting damage to the areas they emerged from. Perhaps the morning glories were a weapon? Or perhaps they were merely reversing another effect on the island.

"It's possible that the island is truly old and worn." She suggested, "Perhaps the lotus creates an illusion of perfection while the morning glories show the rotting truth underneath? But we can’t take this as truth until we have hard evidence."

Her thoughts were merely theories. The only way to prove the truth was to get a better look at the flowers and to find other people who might have information. Seeing that there wasn’t a point staying in the library, she followed Sylvain towards the plaza. The morning glories had overtaken parts of the walls and ground, draining the life out of it. Something was making the morning glories stronger. If the flowers had this much strength from the beginning then the lotus flowers wouldn’t be as powerful. This meant that whatever was behind the morning glories was gaining strength, or the lotus flowers and that type of magic was growing weaker. Reaching down to the flower, Caroline plucked another bloom and noticed its aura.

“It might be possible to trace this aura to a source.” She mentioned, “Or at least figure out where the most of these flowers are gathered. The morning glories might be the key to finding a rebellion or whatever is controlling the plants.”

Turning to Sylvain and Hermennia, she held out the flower for them to see.

“What are your thoughts?” Caroline inquired, “If we do follow the trace of these things, we might end up going on a wild goose chase. Unless something changes…..”

Something in her bones told her that a shift on the island was going to happen soon. Caroline couldn’t explain it. The island was breaking down before their eyes and would continue to do so until everything about the place broke apart. Time always seemed to slow down before the next disaster as the world became unreal. When the normal morphs and shifts into an unfamiliarity, both exciting and terrifying.

Author: Hermennia, Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 10:48 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

"I'm aware, that IS the reason, well, MY reason for attempting to uncover this conspiracy.." Hermennia replied to Caroline. The theory Caroline and Sylvain presented were solid. It made sense, too much sense.. An unshakable feeling of doubt crept into Hermennia's thoughts, a feeling that they were being stringed along with a false narrative. Until he discovers the truth about the island himself, he will remain skeptical, he decided to remain quiet about his doubts.

"Your theory is most likely correct, but have you any plans on gathering more information? The libraries here are quite useless for our cause, and we cannot tear down this charade with knowledge we don't have." He paused, and an idea began to form in his head. "Our best chance is to find a person of interest, one who survived the political turmoil, one who could possibly have the answers we need" He paused again. "However, we can't gather information from any person stricken with the strange disease, could we perhaps find a way to cure the afflicted?"

As he recalled Sylvain's suggestion to expose both flowers to one another, the roof began to make creaking noises. The sound echoed throughout the empty library and small chunks of rotten wood began to fall, spilling the afternoon light into the library, the roof was unstable. Vines crept from the gaps, as the wooden roof became rotten. The once white walls began to decay and crawling vines forced their way into the library through cracking walls. Hermennia turned to the door. "Come, we cannot stay here."He said as he made a swift exit. The sight on the main plaza was a mess as locals swarmed towards the vines, violently tearing them down, only for the vines to rapidly grow back. The statues in the middle of the square were not safe from the vandalism, blood dripped from the tiger statue's fangs, and the dragon statue's neck with a deep cut, as if it was sawed in halfway with a hacksaw.

Upon seeing the state of the statues, Hermennia realized that it may be all symbolic. He recalled Caroline's theory. All his doubts were shed. A revolution had been happening under their noses, a revolution that relied on imagery and the blue morning glories. He ushered his companions to the center of the plaza, away from the crumbling buildings. Hermennia wondered who could have orchestrated such a plan, perhaps they would prove to be a reliable informant.

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 1:24 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

Caroline and Hermennia's assumptions aligned with his once he heard them. "That was what I had first thought after reading through this particular chronicle. History is written by the victors, and the victors can choose to bend accounts to their own whims. The abrupt leap from an internal civil war to sudden peace still makes me believe that several key events between the two points have been omitted, but we have no way to find out now." The limited amount of practical knowledge in comparison to artistic pursuits and entertainment had left another lingering question in his mind. "Perhaps there had been a purge or book-burning following the current king's ascent to power?" He mused. Caroline's theory that the morning glories were revealing the island's true nature that the lotus flowers had kept hidden made sense. However there was something that had been nagging at the back of his mind ever since he had seen the Kavalans reactions to the vines. "But what does that mean for the city–the physical location then? The people I can understand, but the morning glory flowers left permanent, lasting damage to the areas they emerged from. Should we come across another vine that hasn't been torn out, you can see for yourselves. There was clear discoloration and wear, the kind that would take place after several years, or even decades."

Another question and missing piece to the puzzle that they still lacked an explanation for. "It would appear both of these flowers, golden and blue, are enchanted. They seem to be diametrically opposed to each other, and are both fighting to gain ground. Seeing how the vines have affected the stone pavement, I wonder what sort of result we would see should we bring both flowers together?" If what he was thinking was true, then would the morning glories truly be the cure to the madness that had permeated this kingdom to such a degree? This whole situation almost reminded him of the state of the closest landmass to this one–Abed. Abed was the only place that still openly worshiped the deities in Parvpora. All the other cities and kingdoms on the continent had abolished and torn down those traditions. Although the Blessed Isle had no records of Kavala, could the gilded kingdom have been a precursor to what eventually befell its neighbor? And more importantly, why was this place completely forgotten by the entire world only to reemerge now? 

"I have a feeling that we have found as much as we can gather from this place." Sylvain said, throwing a glance at the shelves around them. If this was all that they managed to glean from here, it was doubtful they would find any more pertinent information.

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:24 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

On any other day, this library would be a paradise. The rest of the city was unappetizing but the library was a diamond among stone in her eyes. As they began searching through the books nestled on their shelves, she was careful to take a book from each shelf and open it. Caroline didn't bother reading the books that weren't important but she did take the time to flip through them and read passages. There wasn't anything relevant to their work however she wanted to check that this entire island wasn't some mirage. If it was, then the books wouldn't be filled with knowledge. One mind couldn't make up all of this. In her eyes, it was proof that the city existed and wasn't some complicated illusion. The Kavalans seemed to be grand with their poetry, folktales, and epics.

She continued towards the folk medicine, botany, and medical areas. It was smaller and more limited which made the scholar inside her cross. If they had time for nonsense like folktales and art then they ought to have a bigger medicinal section. She found something odd, they neglected to mention the lotus flower's after effects. They were likely unaware of what had happened to them or this was before the golden lotus blooms became so addictive. Another thing she noticed was the morning glories weren't mentioned. Either they hated it too much to mention it or these flowers only appeared after the city was taken over. Her fingers ran across the pages as she flipped through them. After she was finished, she shut the book and placed it back on the shelf.

Eventually Sylvain had found something. She rushed over to him when she noticed that Hermennia was doing the same. Taking out a pair of blue glasses from her satchel, she began scanning the document. Just by looking at the page she could learn in an instant due to the glasses. Every detail of the rulers of the document was inside her mind in an instant and would remain there until she fell asleep. Which meant she couldn't fall asleep anytime soon. Or at least until she had the chance to copy the information down into her journal. Once she was done, Caroline handed the document over to Hermennia who pocketed it for himself.

"Lost knowledge harms both the victim and the hoarder." She said to Hermennia.

Turning back to Sylvain and Hermennia, she realized that they still didn't have all the answers. But the knowledge they had learned was valuable. First, the island was not just a powerful illusion. It was real. Second, there had been a rebellion in the past indicating people once weren't always like this. Third, the situation got resolved somehow in a way that prevented future rebellions which was almost impossible. Unless…

"I have a theory." Caroline said, "It's possible that the king of this land destroyed the rebellion and prevented future rebellions by making them all happy. They aren't really happy of course but that addictive influence might have once been a weapon against the rebellion. It would explain why there isn't current fights against the king and why there weren't more in recorded history. It would also explain the massive amounts of statues, poetry and arts while the sections about medicine are barely filled. A king like this wouldn't want his kingdom to become focused on knowledge. The excessive arts do nothing but help his glory filled appearance while real knowledge could tear it down. That dragon we've seen is possibly a representation of himself while the tiger is the destroyed rebellion."

Her theory had its holes but it still tied everything together.

"As for the morning glories, I feel that that is the spark of rebellion festering on. It's the one thing against the golden lotus blooms." She pointed out, "It reveals the island's true nature. That is what I have put together, though it could be wrong." 

Author: Hermennia, Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:14 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

The books lining the shelves lacked the information Hermennia required, although the number of reading material was astonishing, covering different topics like herbology, medicine, chemistry, and even cookbooks, however, not one of them shed light on the mysterious blue morning glories. He slid the book back into the shelf and spotted Sylvain approaching with new information, in his hands, he held a historical record. Hermennia allowed Caroline to read the document before him, as he intended to pocket the document and place it in the Void Gallery.

Hermennia read through the record before swiftly folding it up and placing it into his coat pocket. He turned to Sylvain, “Quite the find, but I do wonder: Could this unnamed king still be the monarch to this day? And could he be under the influence of this lotus flower, or could he be the very person who orchestrated it?” Hermennia pondered to his companions. There was truly only one way to find out, but would they be willing to risk capture or death? Hermennia elected to return to the task at hand: discovering how the lotus blooms and the blue morning glories affected the inhabitants of the island. He remained curious, however, to the current political situation of Kavala, as he feels that everything is all connected somehow, from the flowers, to the monarchy.

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 3:22 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

With the rain of flowers proving to be more of an effective distraction then Sylvain had expected, the three quickly and discreetly made their way to the city's library while the Kavalans went into a frenzy. It certainly was a blessing that they were so simple-minded in their focus, and no one seemed to notice them in the chaos. For the vampire lord, closing the distance was no issue, and he too safely entered the great pearly stone building. There were thousands of books and scrolls filling the shelves, with symbols in what appeared to be Kavalan. However when one looked at them long enough, they would be able to make out words in whatever language the observer could comprehend. Another sign of magic at work. With Caroline's emphasis on focusing on the subjects that were most relevant to their current situation, he gave a nod. "Duly noted. I will return to you with what I uncover, and ensure we aren't met with any…surprise visitors." The less attention they drew towards them now, the better.

He began searching the shelves closest to the main door; that way he would notice if anyone came by. Searching through all the books and scrolls was like looking for a piece of straw in a pile of kindling–there was too much of what they didn't need with not much of a method to narrow things down. He skimmed the material and returned them to their places on the shelves when he failed to find anything useful, and progressed through several bookcases this way. There was an unusually large volume of poetry, folktales, and epics of past rulers and exploits. It would appear that even in their records the Kavalans had a penchant for the grandiose. At last, he managed to come across something of value, a genealogical record recalling the members of the Kavalan nobility and royal court. Taking it, he continued to flip through books until he had accumulated a small stack of information related to Kavalan culture and historical record. The latter took more time to sort through, as he had to spend a few minutes to ensure what he had was more fact than fiction.

Caroline and Hermennia would find that the sections on folk medicine, botany, and other more scholarly subjects were far smaller and more limited than the massive collections of art and literature. But the few resources they found would give in great detail how the Kavalans integrated food and medicine in holistic ways, whether to heal or harm. There was a book on the local flora and fauna that listed various plants that were common around the kingdom with their various uses. Oddly enough, the lotus plant and its many parts were used in their cuisine, however they failed to list any of the intoxicating effects of ambrosia. In fact, there was no such drink mentioned whatsoever. The recipes that used lotus were completely normal in description, and morning glories were not mentioned in the botanical records of native plants. 

As for what Sylvain had brought, he noted the historical records seemed to stop after a certain point. There was a distinct lack of contemporary discourse on past political or significant events, no criticisms or analyses of past rulers and their achievements. The one document that showed more recent information read as such near the end:
There was a clear omission of certain details from the record, which struck the vampire lord as something rather odd. After all the mention of such an intense period of political upheaval, it ended with an abrupt closing statement of it being resolved. And the name of the current ruling king was distorted to where he couldn't make out the whole thing. This was an important breakthrough into who or what they were facing, and the others would find this useful without a doubt.

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2020 8:02 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

When Sylvain returned, he mentioned the information that the Kavalans held a hatred for the morning glories. She knew that the depressing aura would distract the locals for a moment but she hadn't known the extent of their hatred for the bloom. According to him, they were ripping it down which made her realize something. If the flowers and denial of the lotus' were the only thing that made the locals upset, then it was possible whoever or whatever created the morning glories was on their side. But they wouldn't be certain until they learned more. She handed off the flowers to Hermennia then turned to Sylvain. 

"The researchers I sent here beforehand mentioned something about vines in their letters. They stopped responding before they could explain more." Caroline explained, "I wonder if they were talking about the morning glories?"

There wasn't any real time to ponder on that little thought, Hermennia was ready to begin his distraction. He had enough flowers to distract the crowds and Sylvain's information about the flowers made her less uneasy with this plan. They obviously wouldn't have a lot of time but if they pretended to be among the group, they would have an easier time. That would mean smiling….great. Hermennia threw out some instructions then turned to Sylvain to speak. 

"If we were that incompetent then we deserve whatever fate the locals have in store. Whether that be death or torture." Caroline said with a matter of fact voice, "A group unable to complete a simple task is never going to be useful to anybody. Now lets stop with this unnecessary chatter and get to work." 

Her words rang true. If the two of them were so helpless and foolish that getting from point a to point b was a hard task, then they were useless to anybody they met in every situation. Or it meant that Hermennia's little plan failed. Either way, the only way to stop the corruption of the island was to discover the truth. They needed to be strong in order to do that. She waited for the signal and watched as the crowd swarmed towards the flowers. With a forced smile, she quickly walked over to the library. After peering through the windows checking for any people, she entered and began searching through the sections for the books they would be most interested in. History would be the first priority. The second would be any herbology books. Turning to Sylvain, she decided to have him help out. 

"Keep an eye out for any sections that say History or Herbology." She said, "Those will be the most useful. And if you see any locals, feel free to take care of them." 

Her heart cared little for the locals. Even if they were under some spell, they were still a threat to be destroyed. If the influence of the island was removed, then the locals might turned peaceful but right now they were nothing but the problem. The interior of the library was impressive, as the rest of the island. As for the shelves, there wasn't even a speck of dust, which seemed odd to her. 

Author: Hermennia, Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2020 10:58 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

Hermennia quickly got to work, “blinking” out of reality once more. A shadow fell over the backstreet, blanketing a small section of the alleyway in darkness. Green vines dotted with the blue morning glories marring the pristine white walls around the surrounding area were swiftly and delicately picked clean, the vines appearing untouched. An surprising amount of morning glories were present around their general area, a lot more than even Hermennia expected. The darkness began to recede as Hermennia faded into view in front of his allies, in his hands, a large bouquet of flowers, a bit more than enough to serve what they intended to do with them. He turned to them, and spotted several bundles of the blue flower in Caroline's hands.

"If I may have those.." He pointed to the flower bundle, "I can get to work on that distraction, it shan't take no more than a few seconds if you walk at a brisk pace. And remember to peek through the windows first and observe whether or not the coast is clear before entering the library."

He turned to Sylvain, "And I am sure that you are more than capable of keeping yourselves safe while crossing over, yes? But if possible, do try to be subtle should a few.. obstacles block your path."

Hermennia took a deep breath and turned to the exit of the alleyway. He vanished, and the warm orange glow of the afternoon sun was overshadowed, as if a large cloud had blocked the sunlight. Locals and tourists alike looked up in confusion as blue morning glories began to fall seemingly out of thin air. A majority of the flowers landed on sides opposite to one another. The confusion quickly turned into blind rage, as all who were afflicted swarmed towards the flowers in an angry trance. The crowd split in half, clearing the path towards the library. This was their signal, the horde wouldn't be distracted for much longer. The sun's light returned and Hermennia, having entered the library through a window earlier, waited for his companions to reach him.

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Thu Jul 9, 2020 12:05 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

He gave a nod in agreement, and allowed Hermennia and Caroline to go on ahead with their plans. Sylvain still had many questions surrounding how they knew the morning glories would prove sufficient for a distraction, but once they were away from the crowds proper there would be time. Finding the vines weren't difficult, though he noticed that were were a few blemishes in the otherwise pristine city. There were areas in the pavement and corners of buildings which were slightly cracked and broken. Seeing how the Kavalans prided themselves in living within the very picture of perfection, the vampire lord assumed the damage was not the cause of neglect. The damage was minimal, but there was a shallow hole that didn't appear to be big enough for a mouse or insect to burrow its way through.

As they were gathering their resources to make their 'decoy', he caught sight of one of the Kavalans out of the corner of his eye. The silk-clothed youth hadn't noticed them, but instead was fixated on something that drew him towards the base of an exquisitely carved dragon-shaped font that was set into the wall. It was one of many parts of an ornamental aqueduct system, designed in a way that was not unlike the gargoyles on the corners of a cathedral. Fortunately Hermennia and Caroline were out of sight, but Sylvain stayed to see what the man was doing. The man went over towards the decorative spout as if in a trance, and reached under the stone fixture. With a swift motion, he tore out something and began pulling the thing into pieces. It was an abnormally violent act from someone who seemed to be in a state of perpetual bliss. The lord saw the man's face contort in spite for a fleeting moment before it returned to its usual placid demeanor. The man left without knowing he had been watched, but he had given Sylvain an answer to one of his questions. First and foremost, this island wasn't as idyllic as it claimed to be. And second, the strange holes and cracks he had seen were spots that once had morning glories growing from them.

Returning to the others, he shared what he had just witnessed. "This may not be news to you both, but it appears the Kavalans hold an unfathomable hatred for the morning glories. We should gather as much as we can before they destroy them all. If that is the attitude which they have towards it, then we only have a limited number of these plants within the city walls. Fortunately for us, this city is quite large and the citizens become single-mindedly compelled to destroy the morning glories when they see them." 

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Tue Jul 7, 2020 9:58 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

"I see." Caroline said to Sylvain, "Knowing that you can fight at all is still good information in case we get stuck."

It seemed that they had a lack of stealth based weapons but it was good to know that Sylvain could transform into a giant raven and fly away if they ended up in trouble. They would have to be outside to do that but it was still a useful tool. She had her invisibility spells at hand but they were short term spells, meant to help the person escape out of particularly dangerous situation. Getting to the library was important, unless they wanted to wander around unaware of what was going on. They knew nothing at the moment. A few details about the strangeness of the island but in the end there wasn't a connection between all the strange occurrences, yet. All that was needed was a thread. A thread to make sense of the series of unfortunate events. 

"Then lets gather some flowers." She said before turning to Sylvain, "While we focus on gathering flowers, keep an eye out for any locals. I don't want them sneaking up on us again." 

Caroline was trying to increase their odds of success. With the entire town against them they're chances for survival were small at best. She was relieved to have somebody like Sylvain by their side. Hermennia had his teleportation magics and a decent idea developing skill and she had her magic and scientific knowledge but neither of them seemed to be much in the way of fighting. Caroline began scouring through the alleyway, searching for the vines. She found one and began to clip the flowers and parts of the vine. Using the vine part, she managed to make a plant bundle that would be harder to tear at. It would give the locals more of a challenge then just ripping it off the wall. She managed to gather a couple of them but stuck half of it in her satchel for when they wanted to leave the library. Turning back to Sylvain and Hermennia, she decided to check on them. 

"Everything alright?" She asked. 

Author: Hermennia, Posted: Tue Jul 7, 2020 8:32 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

“I guess it’s time to properly introduce myself then. My colleagues call me Hermennia, you may call me Herme for the time being. It’s quite a pleasure to meet you both”

He turned to observe the surrounding area. Opposite to the area they were, a library, humble in size and its walls built in a gorgeous white brick. The problem presented itself when he realized that between them and the library, a plaza, swarming with locals and oblivious tourists being offered food and drink. Hermennia’s act wouldn’t work here, not by a long shot. The library was the least of their concerns at the moment, as they need to move around freely to even get to it. He threw ideas around in his head, but none of them seemed they would work. While brainstorming, he noticed that the blue morning glory in his coat pocket had fallen onto the ground. It had grown larger. A plan slowly formed in his head. He took the flower into his hands, and turned to his companions.

“Hm, if we are planning to move past this crowd, perhaps we could use more of these.”

He held out the flower toward them. It had grown considerably larger and the hue of blue had darkened.

“My plan is to throw these around the area, distracting enough people, enough that we can slip into the library relatively unnoticed, however, we do need quite a bit more of these flowers. It shouldn't be too difficult to find around these alleyways, come, we must make haste.”

Hermennia had doubts in his own plan, but considering their situation, it was their best bet.

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Mon Jul 6, 2020 7:34 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

At last they met the elusive informant, but the presence of one of the Kavalans made Sylvain think it soon would be their turn. The masked individual reassured them that there was nothing to fear–this situation could be handled quite easily. The masked figure deceived the affected woman with little difficulty, pretending to accept her offered food, and she turned to leave. It was the most prudent course of action in their current condition, however. As long as they could successfully fool the citizens, they wouldn't be hounded and overpowered like the armed knight. As they left the scene to move to a more secure location, the scholar requested 'H' give a proper alias for convenience's sake. Having moved upward into the aristocratic portion of the city, the layout of the city was broken down between grand villas, manors, public buildings, and even more grandiose open spaces. There were fewer roads and less alleys to navigate, which gave fewer places for the Kavalans to come from as well as fewer routes of escape from them. Caroline suggested that they find any places where they could find records and information about the kingdom. Her intent was to analyze Kavala's history and perhaps see if an antidote to the intoxicating effects of the flowers could be synthesized. The golden lotuses native to the island possessed strange properties that other varieties of lotus appeared to lack. Simply avoiding the flowers wouldn't be enough.

"All of the weapons in my possession are designed for direct martial combat." The vampire lord explained succinctly. "They were crafted for their lethality than for concealment." From his past experience, there had been no need for stealth when one could easily overtake a victim that wasn't a lycanthrope or another vampire. There was no need to concern oneself with witnesses when there were none. But with the way things were now, Sylvain found that approach placed him at an unwelcome disadvantage. He had no qualms with cutting down hordes of Kavalans, but unrelenting assault was only effective when your enemies knew fear or if their numbers were finite. "Should we find ourselves backed into a corner, I am capable of transforming into a raven of great size to fly us out." But such a tactic would be useless if they were trapped within the confines of a building or underground. There was strength in numbers, that was clear. They would have to make do with what they had at their disposal and make their choices wisely. While their lives could be lost, they absolutely could not allow themselves to become part of the problem. It would be far better to perish than to join the ranks of the Kavalans…

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Mon Jul 6, 2020 11:12 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

From the corner of her eye she could see the stranger from earlier approach. The H person. Just as she was about to great him, the sound of a pleasant woman's voice ran a shiver down her spine. The woman from earlier had followed them. Trusting her new friend could cover them and be a decent distraction, she placed the palm of her left hand on Sylvain's shoulder. Both their appearances would fade away from view, becoming invisible from the eyes of strangers. They could easily walk away from the situation and leave Hermennia to deal with the woman but she decided to stay. She was surprised that his little trick actually worked. It was the type of thing that children would use to make their mothers think they ate something with spinach. Perhaps stupidity was a side affect of the lotus flowers? Once the woman was out of sight, Caroline lifted her hand from Sylvain's shoulder and they both reappeared. They had to stick to alleyways and work carefully, else they get caught. One thing was bothering her in the back of her mind. 

"Can we get a name from you? I'd rather not be calling you the H person for the rest of this trip." Caroline asked Hermennia,

Her suspicion of Hermennia was steadily growing. But she decided to focus on something else, the flowers. Places like the palace or any other location of power would be heavily guarded by locals and their ambrosia. They wouldn't be able to get much information from the mind controlled tourist or the crazy locals. Since they were in the wealthier side of town, she suspected they would have more public buildings. Public parks, museums, but most importantly libraries. If they could get their hands on a couple of history records they might be able to figure out how the lotus flowers came around. She knew the lotus flowers weren't the main cause. It was the symptom of a bigger problem. But it was the only clue they had. 

"Lets try to find a library. A historical record might give us more information." Caroline suggested, "And keep an eye out for any alchemy kits. If we come across one I'll be able to study these plants, find out how they are doing this to people."

Then there was the issue if any of the locals found them again. 

"Sylvain do you have any stealth-based weapons?" She asked him. 

Both herself and Hermennia seemed to be more magic users than fighters. If they ran into individuals, they could have Sylvain take them down instead of wasting their time doing a little disappearing act. And if they were going to the library or any other building, they would need someone with personal experience in lockpicking and staying out of sight. Caroline secretly wished they had a larger group but she would have to work with what they had. 

Author: Hermennia, Posted: Sat Jul 4, 2020 10:35 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

Having watched the debacle from a distance, it was quite the worrying sight. Even a proud knight could be felled in this place, like a pack of undead devouring a victim. Sickening. Hermennia moved quickly, having spotted his two allies watching. He moved quickly to rendezvous with them and make sure they were safe. As he caught up to them, footsteps echoed in the alleyway and a sweet yet ominous voice called out.

“Hello? We are quite sorry you had to see that, would you like some snacks? Free of charge!”

Hermennia turned to his companions, and put his finger over his masked face. “It seems you were followed. Hide, let me handle this” He whispered. Turning away, he got a good look at the woman calling out. Her smile ear to ear, her eyes glassy and empty, and her shoulder split open, dripping blood all over the alleyway floor. She held a plate of bread, toasted in butter and seasoned with garlic, to any human, it was tempting. Hermennia knew whatever was in that bread would change any person into one of them.

The woman didn’t question Hermennia’s odd appearance, a man cloaked in black, donning a white mask stalking an alley would trigger a reaction for most people but she maintained her composure. Like an automaton, she repeated her previous statement. Hermennia accepted, and took a piece of the buttered bread without the intention of eating it. The woman turned, and began to walk away. As soon as she was out of sight, he took a sample of blood on the floor,
placing it into a small vial.

“I pray your journey was well?" He paused for a second. "Come now, we can’t stay here.” He gestured for them to follow him. They navigated through the alleys and eventually reached the higher district, where workers moved to and fro, preparing for a festival of sorts..

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Sat Jul 4, 2020 8:46 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

Another scholar with knowledge in magic. This would prove useful, as he needed someone to cover him should he fall victim to it. While Sylvain could easily overpower an opponent with his superior speed and strength, Lady Einsecc's advice on this island's dangers served as a grim reminder of something similar which had happened in the past. He had been bewitched by a demon, unable to do anything as his mind and body were controlled like a puppet. It was thanks to the woman who was now his wife that he had broken free, and the demon was killed. The visual presence of dragons and lotus flowers was almost omnipresent in the kingdom to the point that it made the lord uncomfortable. The religious and mythical imagery was borderline propaganda. Everything here was intent on portraying Kavala in the best possible light, without any sort of deviation. Being a former knight of a holy order when he had been human, Sylvain was no stranger to moral lessons being taught through artistic means. The great mural that graced the wall separating them from the next district of the city above was painted with painstaking detail. Everything from the stripes on the tiger's fur down to the individual scales of the dragon was clear as day. It was a grand piece of work, however the subject matter was surprisingly violent for a land that claimed to be paradise on earth. All the other murals, mosaics, and carved reliefs depicted more peaceful scenes.

"There is something odd about this mural in comparison to all the others. I believe this particular one was done as a warning or some sort of political statement. This land glorifies and worships these serpentine dragons, that I can gather." Possibly it was a representation of their kingdom or of their main object of worship. However that hypothesis wasn't entirely correct, as the city itself didn't have many shrines or places of worship. In fact, there was no sign of religious worship now that he recalled. If this kingdom was so tightly controlled, then could they believe anything they saw or heard? "I find that doubtful, however we should gather as much information as we can while we are able." The sounds of shouting drew his attention towards a man who was another of those who had come to the island. He had his weapon drawn while facing a lithe young woman clothed in loose, flowing fabric. What happened next was shocking. Several unarmed Kavalans overpowered and forced a knight to bend, and they broke him.   

He gave a nod to Caroline's suggestion. They had walked into a lion's den, with the lions coming disguised as sheep. Even wolves would be devoured in this situation. "We had better rendezvous with that person before we lose another valuable informant." Never had he been so thankful for being turned centuries ago; now his heightened predatory senses would be critical in alerting him to the sound and scent of the kingdom's citizens. As long as the scent of lotus was near, they could not rest.

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Sat Jul 4, 2020 1:55 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

"Pleasure to meet you. My name is Caroline Einsecc." She introduced herself as they walked, "I work in the medical field and in studies of magical advancement." 

The city sparkled in the light of the sun and she had to admit, it was impressive. The way the golden city stood against the fresh green rainforest background reminded her of golden mangos on the branches of a tree. Or maybe she was just hungry. Pushing away those unnecessary thoughts, she began to observe the murals of the town. As the entered the commons district, she spotted the massive mural. Taking a moment to observe it, she noted how the tiger seemed to be the loser of this battle. It had to be tied to some ancient lore of the city, as the dragon was everywhere. Yet the tiger was lacking in any representation with the exception of the giant mural. If they could find out more, perhaps this would hint towards the problem of the town. Then she realized that her friend probably needed his questions answered. 

"To summarize, there is something drawing people to this place, making them happy but unable to leave. The lotus flowers are one of the causes but I suspect there's more to it." She explained, "As for these murals, they might tell us the story of how the land came to be and point us in the direction of the source." 

Just as she was about to tell him how she found out all this information, the sounds of shouts filling the area caught her attention. She turned to see across the street, a loud man with his sword yelling at one of the locals. The man was tall and strong with shiny silver armor and was pointing his sword towards a shorter thinner woman in a flowy dress. The woman was holding a goblet of ambrosia and a plate of food with a lotus flower as decoration towards the man. 

"I said to leave me alone. Don't make me cut you down!" The knight shouted. 

"Just try a little. I promise you'll feel all better." The woman claimed with a wide smile. 

Caroline spotted the locals slowly surrounding the knight and knew from the locals' intense stares that something was wrong. She grabbed Sylvain's arm and pulled him with her around the corner where they couldn't be seen. Then she peeked back and watched the scene play out. The knight sliced at the local woman' but she didn't seem to care when the sword dug into her shoulder. Her smile remained. The locals swarmed the knight with their happy faces and took him down. Even his sword wasn't enough against all of them. They dug their fingers into his mouth and began stuffing it with ambrosia, lotus flowers, and little cakes with the flowers in them. He choked and gasped for air but they didn't stop until he swallowed every last bit of food and drink. The corners of his lips curled into a smile while tears ran down his face. The crowd dropped him and dispersed, searching for more tourists to infect. Caroline turned to Sylvain with a calm expression. 

"Lets avoid using the main roads and stick to the alleyways." Caroline suggested, "And hopefully that H friend from earlier will be able to find us. It seems we will need all the help we can get."

Brute force wouldn't help them now. They needed a subtler path. 

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Fri Jul 3, 2020 1:14 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

Before he could receive a reply, the stranger he had addressed vanished from sight. A silver-haired woman Sylvain hadn't seen at first was now left behind, and he could smell the traces of the other person still lingering in the air. They may have tried to create an illusion as if they had left, but his senses told him otherwise. From the attitude of the woman, the lord suspected the two had been speaking with each other moments before his intrusion. He chose not to remind the furtive one that he was well-aware of their presence, and turned his attention to what was present. The woman did not give her name, but she did answer his question. She was here to investigate what was going on here in hopes of uncovering something regarding the whereabouts of the growing numbers of disappearances–his exact reasons for coming here as well.

"Onnen–then you are very far from home. If word of this strange kingdom has reached those far shores, then this is no ordinary phenomenon." He walked close enough to see the vine she was referring to, and to his surprise it was as she said. "Morning glories? Isn't that a common plant? Why on earth would they have such a directed vendetta against one type of flower?" Those questions were more rhetorical than a true inquiry, though their sentiments were the same. These morning glories were hated by the people of Kavala, that was clear. And in addition to this, they were to treat all food and drink here as if it were poison. The woman gave a warning about lotus blooms, and he chose to save his questions for another moment. It was clear this was no time to be standing around. "Let us go then. I am Lord Albaret, and I pray that ally of yours will stay true to their word." With his sword at the ready, he would follow the woman's lead towards the city's gates.

When the thick canopy of the jungle finally parted, they found themselves before high walls and a grand gateway large enough to allow several carriages and beasts of burden. What struck him the most was the coiled serpentine form of a dragon, its fierce eyes and open maw glowering down at them from the archway above. The pillars of the entry were also decorated with the same spiraling creatures, appearing to Sylvain more like legged serpents than dragons. The white stone facades had gold-inlay to accentuate the masonry. It was a level of opulence that far surpassed anything he had seen in the mortal world. Unlike a noble dressed in all their finery, it felt more like a member of royalty making a brazen show of wealth for all to see. There was a form of arrogance in how such immense material wealth was displayed, and it was distasteful. Another thing that stood out to him immediately was the distinct lack of guards at what should be the main point of entry into the kingdom. It was as if the inhabitants had no fear of others entering as they pleased.

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Fri Jul 3, 2020 11:53 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

When the stranger handed the flower over to her, she could feel somber aura around it. Perhaps that was why the villagers hated this? They were in their happy paradise and these vines were a reminder that the world wasn't happy. Why would the island create this? If it was meant to be a sweet trap then why would the island create flowers the reminded them of sorrow? Her best guess was that either this was a mistake or something else was fighting against the island. Before she could ponder any further, she realized that stranger from before had vanished. Then a raven haired man approached her, asking where she was from and what she was looking at. Then the flower she had been holding was replaced with a note. She took a moment to read the note and realized that this H person was shy. But she doubted that he had anything specific to do with the island. Another person trying to discover the truth. But she wouldn't refuse help. 

"Yes. Specifically Onnen." She explained. "I heard about people going missing to this land. They refuse to go home so I'm investigating this Kavala kingdom. These are morning glories. I received reports about how the locals keep tearing it down. There is a somber aura surrounding this plant while the rest of the island is perfect. Which makes me wonder if this is a mistake or if its something fighting back from the inside." 

She put the note in her pocket and began to take notes. After scribbling down some information, she turned towards Sylvain. The stranger seemed physically strong and appeared to be questioning the island, at least a little. Caroline knew having a strong minded individual was essential for this investigation. If they cracked, even a little, then they could end up trapped like the hundreds of other people. 

"I suppose you are here for research or to find a friend." Caroline guessed, "Either way, you'll need to know what's going on here. If we work together we will have a better chance of survival than on our own. Lets head to the city, an ally will be waiting for us there. Oh and as a reminder don't eat, drink, or consume anything on this island until we know what it is. And stay away from the lotus blooms." 

There was much to figure out. Too many questions and not enough time. Her eyes were filled with cold hard determination as she began to walk towards the city, looking to see if Sylvain was going to walk with her. He could stay and figure things out on his own, but together and with that mysterious H person, they could stand a stronger chance then alone. This land was dangerous. Too dangerous to be reckless in.

Author: Hermennia, Posted: Fri Jul 3, 2020 3:07 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

"This can't be good." He thought to himself, realizing that he had been spotted. The girl requested that he touch one of the flowers to see if there would be any effect.His gloved hand reached out to pluck a flower from the thick, overgrown vine. He eyed the beautiful blue blossom, wondering what about this flower would provoke the locals to the point of insanity? He expected the answer to be hallucinations, or perhaps something more magical, like illusions, but no such reactions occurred. He turned to the silver haired girl and placed the flower in her hand. As he heard a voice calling out, he “blinked out of sight”. Reappearing atop a large branch of a nearby tree, watching in interest as a raven haired man approached where Hermennia stood.He reached into his coat pocket to pull out a piece of elegant cardstock paper and a quill, to write a note, the contents of which read:Hello my friends, I assume we are all here for the same reason. 
If you are looking to work together with me, please meet me at the city over the horizon.
Unfortunately, I cannot meet both of you face to face.Signed, HHermennia pocketed the quill and held the note in his left hand, focusing on the blue morning glory in the girl's hand, with a snap of the finger, the flower disappeared, and was replaced with the note he had written. Hermennia slipped the flower into his coat pocket and started to head towards the city.

Author: Chevalier, Posted: Thu Jul 2, 2020 1:33 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

It wasn't out of the ordinary for Shiloh to abruptly leave the Machinarium after briefly informing her staff that she would be investigating something. When rumors of the strange disturbances occurring in Abed reached him in Kurayo, he suspected she would look into it if she hadn't done so already. She took the Clepsydra with a group of automatons to the last place in Parvpora that still worshiped the gods of the Conclave, and was gone. It was only when the airship returned without its owner that they knew something had terribly wrong. Diomedes and Galatea had been ordered to remain aboard with the other automatons until she gave them new orders, but those orders never came. The last they had seen of her was when she had taken a skiff out into the open waters and sailed towards the coordinates where the most phenomena had been reported. The airship had been circling the area for hours, until Erasmus was forced to dock the vessel at Abed's port. If someone as careful as Shiloh had gone missing, then the situation was dire indeed.

That was a fortnight ago. While those within the Machinarium had sworn themselves to secrecy, all of Antikythera knew of the goddess's disappearance. Something had happened to her that was preventing her from coming back or making contact with everyone. Even for someone as furtive as herself, this was unusual. Arriving at Abed, he found that ships were being chartered to ferry people to a newly emerged island kingdom called Kavala. As a political power with as much wealth as it possessed, it was strange that it had not been seen or discovered until now, especially since that stretch of the Luna Sea wasn't uncharted waters. Once he made landfall, Sylvain set foot into the jungle surrounding the gilded city clad in full armor. There was no way that a deity would simply vanish without a trace. Hadn't the gods of the world purged the last remnants of eldritch influence? Even if it was another interloper from the Void, their power would be weak in comparison to the World Eaters.

The vampire lord took a moment to stare back at the ship which was leaving the harbor after unloading its passengers. Despite having spent centuries killing and gorging himself on the blood of his victims, there was an unspeakable trepidation in his steps when he thought of venturing forward. Perhaps it was that dulled animal instinct from his vampiric blood telling him that if he chose to proceed, he would place himself in mortal peril. Subconsciously he reached with his right hand to touch the left side of his neck. It wasn't too late to turn back; he had a family who was waiting for him and a place that would welcome him with open arms. He didn't need to risk his life to tread into the unknown. But there was another voice in his mind, one that was quiet yet resonated clearly amidst the noise. Even if he felt fear, he knew this was something he must do.

"It seems I am still in your debt, Shiloh." Sylvain mused to himself quietly. "Life debts cannot be resolved as easily as you may think." With the crew of the Clepsydra waiting in Abed should he fail to return, for the first time in centuries, he placed his hopes in the immaterial. From this point on he could only hope to make it out of Kavala in one piece. It was a solitary walk along the visible paths leading through the tropical forest. He had yet to see another soul from outside of Kavala, until he came upon a stranger who was spying on something.It appeared the person was looking at something on the trunk of a tree. At a first glance, Sylvain failed to notice anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps this individual was a botanist, like his wife. The flowers on the creeping vine were morning glories, which seemed out of place in the exotic plant life. Drawing closer, the lord raised a hand as a show of good faith before calling out to them. "Are you from the mainland? What is it that you are looking at?" He had no weapons drawn, as he was wary of provoking a fight in unfamiliar territory.

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Thu Jul 2, 2020 1:20 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

As she walked towards the city, she spotted a stranger out of the corner of her eye inspecting a morning glory vine. She had heard of the vines and decided to redirect towards the stranger and the vines. Stepping closer to the vines, the silver haired woman didn't bother hiding her presence. If he had an issue with her, he could leave. Caroline reached out with a pair of tweezers and plucked a sample of the morning glory flower along with a part of the vine. After putting it in a jar, she began inspecting the plant's appearance. It seemed healthy and was surviving despite the resident's attempts to get rid the island of the species. 

"Ipomoea purpurea. That's the scientific name for the flower." She said, "But this one seems to hold some sort of aura. Otherwise it seems particularly mundane." 

As she scribbled some notes into her journal, she finally had a good look at the stranger. It was fairly easy to tell that he was studying the island, same as her. Else he would have been partying or another equally nonsensical activity. Perhaps he would share his findings with her, if she did the same in turn. Knowledge to her was meant to be shared. Something that would only help the knowledge holder. 

"Take one of the blooms into your hands." Caroline suggested, "Then tell me how you feel. If it starts to burn let me know. I have healing abilities. However, I doubt there will be any side affects. The residents of the island have been tearing the plants down, or at least thats what my reports said. If they had side affects to the touch, the residents would be more hesitant." 

Caroline was letting him hold the flowers since she was busy taking notes and wasn't the type of person to use herself as a test subject. The flower's aura ought to affect him if he drew close, so she kept her sharp eyes on him and waited for a response. 

Author: Hermennia, Posted: Thu Jul 2, 2020 10:19 AM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

Knock.. knock.. knock..

The door creaked open, spilling light into the darkened study.

" Hermennia, have you heard? "

" Yes, Frederich, I have. "

" Quite the enigma, isn't it? A mysterious island appears out of the blue, claiming to be paradise.. "

" Do records of this "paradise" appear anywhere in the Void Gallery records? "

" Not one word. Do you plan on going there yourself? "

" Most likely. This one is peculiar, it will need thorough investigation. "

" Reports claim that seafarers who happened across the island refused to leave, quite worrying indeed, will you be alright? "

" I'll be fine, Frederich, since it's quite the popular tourist spot at the moment, I'll make sure to be careful to remain unseen. "

The two men dressed in similar clothing parted ways, and soon enough, Hermennia arrived on the island, having boarded a ship as a stowaway the night before. The reports were not exaggerated, the island was stunning, clear blue skies, a lush green forest, and city off in the distance, its walls a pearly white color, adorned with banners that flowed elegantly in the wind, and different types of fauna that lived together in harmony. The "survival of the fittest" mentality did not exist in this island, and it piqued Hermennia's curiosity more and more as he thought about it. He picked the most secluded area of the forest to do his research, but he found that a girl was already conducting her own research around the area. As he was leaving, his attention was caught by the girl, who was attempting to force a lion's maw open. He reached into his pocket to get a notebook, to record the animal's behavior, should anything.. unfortunate.. happen to the silver haired girl. Yet the lion showed no hostility nor resistance.

He decided to stay hidden, but something caught his eye, growing out of a nearby tree, the fabled vines with morning glories a peculiar shade of blue, he carefully walked towards them to get a closer look. In doing so, he unknowingly made himself visible to the girl who was walking away, towards the city.

Author: Caroline Einsecc, Posted: Wed Jul 1, 2020 11:09 PM, Post Subject: Investigations of Paradise [O][Event]

This so called paradise was despicable. A random kingdom popping out of nowhere claiming to be a paradise on Revaliir. Paradise never existed anywhere. Even in the most pleasant of places there was fighting, predators, or even simple things like debree. Yet this place claimed to be perfection and the reports she received only confirmed those viewpoints. She had decided it was high time to figure out what was going on herself. There had to be a natural order on this land, it just was hidden behind the pleasantries. Paradise did not exist. Even a god's domain had their issues. Nowhere was perfect. As her ship arrived to the docks, she promptly left it and headed towards the city and the jungle surrounding it. 

Caroline's first order of business was to inspect the animals. There were rumors about how the predators would lay down with the prey. This was impossible and yet, when she arrived she saw how the predators didn't seem remotely interested in the prey. A lion laid next to a gazelle while the snake curled around a jungle branch, unbothered by the sent of mice. Even a rabbit wasn't weary of the giant leopard next to it. Caroline's lips curled into a tight frown as she began taking notes. The animals appeared lazy and unmotivated. But she had to be one hundred percent certain that they weren't eating anything. She approached one of the lions and snatched its face. The lion made a surprise noise but didn't fight her. Caroline yanked open his jaws and stuck her head in its mouth, investigating the teeth. The lion, confused and too lazy to do anything about it, just accepted as she began poking and prodding around in his mouth. 

The teeth were yellow but there was no indication of them being used recently. The breath was revolting but she could pick up the scent of a lotus flower. She removed herself from the lion's mouth and cleaned herself off before walking towards the lotus flowers. Putting on gloves, she carefully picked up one of the blooms with tweezers and placed the flower in one of her jars. After putting the jar in her satchel, she decided to investigate the prey. She watched them for a while and noticed that they neglected their regular diets for the lotus flowers. They might be one of the causes but she doubted it was the soul reason. 

She needed more information. Heading back to the path, she began to walk towards the city, determined to find more answers. This paradise was just how it was described and that was horrifying. A monster or a ghost were simple things. A hidden murderer could be found and an evil demon could be taken down. This land held something that would destroy mortal kind. She knew it. And she was determined to put a stop to it, whatever lurked beneath the farce that called itself paradise.