Clash of Cults

[orleanide]

[Tonight on Victorian London: Emerald edition, we bring you a normal everyday ritual.

For the most part.

Under an abandoned church - the remains of the Order of Dagon - a new group has set up their own gathering. Shrouded in dark hoods, at least twenty people have been separated into groups of three or so with an overseer for each.

In short: it's sort of like a classroom for cultists. Most of these people are new and trying to harness the energy from the rift that infamously goes through London. Surely their god will be pleased. But before they try the main event, they really need to get their newbies into shape. Just going through some basic summonings and magical exercises, nothing that should be too bad.

Enter a problem: See that weirdly shiny relic in the center of these destroyed, watery ruins? Another cult happens to believe that belongs to their God. That cult is currently waiting in the shadows for a moment to strike and attempt to steal it. So maybe they ruined this harmless practice session on purpose or maybe the rift in spacetime was too much for the newbies to handle. Either way, their summoning doesn't go...right. It gives cult number two over there a chance to run in, magic ready.

So where does this leave you?

Maybe you were just summoned in. Maybe you were spying. Maybe you were invited as a witness to the training session. Maybe you were passing by when fireworks started blasting out of the church ruins.

Either way you should probably get out of here. There are strangely spacious sewer exits against the right wall, definitely wide enough for people to go through. There are crumbling stairs and doors going to winding catacombs. Maybe you can follow some of the escaping cultists and hope they don't turn on you. Maybe someone will rescue you.

All of it is up to you.]

Comments

[duplicitoussight]

[He looks with her too, no sign of distress or worry expressed. It's as if they're taking a waltz through the park instead of a magical cooker buckling under the tension, waiting to burst.]

Would like to be hauled out bridal style for her rescue?

[paraleyes]

[If you were Seto maybe

Her expression softens a little at the gesture. It's good. He's really, really okay if he can make jokes like that. But - ]

I-I came here to rescue you...!

[duplicitoussight]

[He laughs loudly at her reply.]

Did you? That's rather dangerous for a small girl like you! It'll wind up a reverse rescue by the end~

[paraleyes]

[Alright, moment's ruined. She's right back to the frown he's more used to, cheeks puffed out indignantly.]

I came in here by myself... I froze everyone.

[duplicitoussight]

[She gets a poke to the cheek before he jerks her behind a pillar. Wow, close call there that sure was a bolt of magic.]

All of them at once?! [His tone is teasing.] Uwah, Mary's grown so scary...!

[paraleyes]

[She very nearly snaps at him in her usual huffy hissy Mary way, but when she's grabbed she doesn't get the chance. Ah, that was close. If Kano hadn't have saved her, she probably would have died.

The three of them are always doing their best to protect her. That was why she tried to return the favor this time, but - ]

I-I'm not scary...!

[It comes out louder than she really expected. She clamps her hands over her mouth.]

[duplicitoussight]

[Even if Mary's trying to be quiet, Kano by no means is trying. He openly cackles in response, remembering to press his hand against his mouth to stifle the sound as an afterthought.]

Your glare's starting to reach Kido's level~

[paraleyes]

[She can not believe this. She wants to get angry and shout in response, but the situation is a little too serious at the moment, so -- it can wait. She'll do it when they get home.

... If they get home, at this rate. But it's funny he'd mention Kido, considering her eyes and Mary's question, once the coast is clear:]

... Where's Kido...? Is she okay?