The Case of the Missing Cooki--er, Children

[celestial_wizard]

WHO: Various Interested Parties (i.e. Anyone! Newbies, Oldbies, Applebees -- )
WHAT: The Mystery of the Missing Children!
WHEN: in...abouuuuuut... RIGHT NOW
WHERE: Fayren Woodlands and Fayren Farmlands mostly


Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you're in Genessia City or Fayren today, you may find yourself being accosted by an elderly woman in her late sixties. Her wrinkly sun baked skin is dotted with freckles, a long white braid over one shoulder with stray wisps of hair coming loose. Her posture was stooped and she walked with a slow hobble, muttering to herself and trying to get the attention of anyone who would stop.

"Sir.. Sir have you seen this girl?"

"Madame, have you seen this boy?"

"Oh poor me... poor me..."

"Wherever could they have gotten to..?"

- whenever she drew near enough to someone or if they slowed down to listen, she grabbed for their arm with a surprisingly strong grip, and spoke in a voice that was raspy.

"Such a sad fate...such poor children. Please, won't you hear me out?"

--------------------------------------

The woman gave her name as Wuada Tuis and she solemnly informed anyone who listened to her, that several charges under her care had seemingly disappeared overnight. She and her cousin Ai Xudanon have been searching for the children (a total of six missing little ones in all) who may have been kidnapped somewhere between the farmlands and the forests in Fayren. Unfortunately they can't travel there as it is perilous for such elderly souls and won't such fine, strapping young creatures help them out kindly please. A reward of course, is offered.

[ OOC: OKAY. I'm going to be setting up multiple threads so HOLD YER HORSES <3; you can talk with the old lady, go straight on to investigate places, sit back and eat cheese or other. I encourage threadjacking because who doesn't like new CR? Also as a side note even if you didn't respond to the OOC post you can participate. The more the merrier :3 I lied. You can't really sit back and eat cheese. ]

Comments

Talk with a Crazy Old Catless Lady?

[celestial_wizard]

Wuada, once she has someone's attention, displayed exactly the expected amount of concern for a missing child (several actually) one would normally have. If not a little bit more. In fact, she might be a little tempted to shove any Good Samaratin's into going to find her wayward children right that minute. But she'll be patient and answer any other questions people might have. Just don't make her stand there too long. Old bones, y'know.

Fayren Woodlands

[celestial_wizard]

Following the woman's directions, (or just striking out in a random direction and hoping for the best) the woodlands get thicker and thicker the further you go in. At first easy going with a clear and well traveled path, soon it will lead into a thicker, deeper part of the forest where few travelers, if none at all, go. The gentle chirping of the birds soon fades to the quiet, occasional buzzing of birds and even one more sight (or get attacked by) a wolf or two. At one point, however, nature's sound stops.

Complete silence, with the exception of the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, there is a deadly stillness to the deepest part of the forest. The vegetation grows so thick it's impossible to move more than a foot without getting tangled up in briar, vines and trip over rocks or roots. The air itself feels thick and unsettling, oppressive, as if someone were watching; always watching. Not much further into the forest is a cozy little hut.

Fayren Farmlands

[celestial_wizard]

Contrary to the Woodlands of Fayren, the farmlands aren't quite as thick with trees. The occasional farmhand might pause to strike up conversation, but the further along the path travelers go, the less inclined they are to speak to strangers, eyeing those that pass with suspicious, distrusting eyes. The farmhouses are at first pretty close together (or as close as one can get with expansive lands) but little by little they get further and further apart, until it seems that there's no more civilization to be seen. Save for one lone farmhouse which almost seems abandoned, if not for a trickle of smoke coming from its chimney.

Sitting Back, Eating Cheese

[celestial_wizard]

Meeting new people? Stumbling upon old friends? Feel free to use this thread for general chatter, camping, or anything that doesn't really fit in the previous three headers. OR make your own! The power is yours!

The cheese however, is mine.

[explodewiththerage]

"Okay I think I got it. Do you have anything of those kids that I would have their scent on it?" Natsu was being surprisingly serious about this. After all it was about kids. So using his sharp nose to expedite the search and potential rescue was only natural.

[kingofsleep]

He caught wind of the situation by pure accident however while usually he would want nothing more than a quiet place to nap in, Ryner couldn't possibly do so when kids were in danger.

"I'm getting a baaaad feeling about this. Then again that might be the reason why we're getting close to something. My money is on that something not being friendly though." Ryner said with a frown before looking over his shoulder.

"You've been quiet for a while now. Spooked by the silence or something?"

[celestial_wizard]

Of course Natsu would take it seriously. Lucy would expect nothing less, her brow knitted in concern. While he was speaking to the old woman, Lucy was pulling a map out of the pack she brought with her.

Wuada stared blankly at Natsu for a moment, not comprehending the question. "Scent...dear...?" That is perhaps the strangest question she's heard to date.

"Why... I... I don't know dear. I suppose I could look, dear. Help an old lady sit down would you, please?"

[peerlessbeauty]

Ferris? Spooked? The very idea. When Ryner glanced over his shoulder to where she was following him, he would that she was keeping pace easily. She was also munching on another dango stick, her posture relaxed. At the moment.

"Hm?" Oh, were you going to want a dango stick too? Here, she offers one, mutely. Gotta keep your strength up! "Children are being kidnapped. Unfriendly entities are a given. The question lies in why they are being kidnapped."

[kiryuin_shield]

[Ira had been on patrol, taking a break from finding Satsuki a suitably lavish apartment to take over, when he was accosted by the old lady. He listened, taking and inspecting any pictures offered.]

And just where were they taken from?

[celestial_wizard]

[ You kids and your new fangled Technology. Why I oughta.. ]

Oh dear oh dear... poor things, they must be so lost and confused, and frightened...

[ She continues in this vein for a few seconds more before sighing heavily. ]

I... I don't know dear. I just don't know. The children enjoyed their adventures; they'd pass through the farmlands to go to the forests and - why, they'd bring back some trinket or other each time. A frog here, or .. or perhaps a mushroom, or even... a shiney rock.. oh...

[ Sniff! She covers her face with a hand. ]

Do excuse an old woman her tears. I ... I just can't bear to think of something terrible befalling those precious little ones. [ Sniff. ]

[kiryuin_shield]

[He had heard what Satsuki had said would be the worst-case scenario with COVERS, and had taken a much sterner stance on any alleged kidnappings. This doesn't bode well.]

I meant, where do you care for them? There may be some sort of clue in their rooms.

[...Barring they weren't snatched up by living business suits...]

[celestial_wizard]

Do you know Fayren, dear? I've been..watching the precious darlings just outside of town there. But... you don't think they could have been kidnapped from their very rooms?

[ GASP! She clutches at her chest, looking ready to faint. ]

Oh my treasures. Oh my heart..! To think some horrible monsterous person would abscond with my charges in the one place they are meant to be safe. Their bastion from the madness and cruelty of the world. How could it come to that.. oh my heart.. my heart.

[grand_couturier]

Meet new people? Stumble upon old friends? That's just what this one is here for. Lucky!

But for now she's perched up in a tree, parasol open above her head, feet kicking as she enjoys a snack of delicious cheese.

"Hmm." She pauses, looking a little disappointed when her snack is gone but then she brightens up and cheerfully declares: "I'm bored!"

And then she alights from her perch and skips away, humming to herself. Because somebody out there had to go and encourage threadjacking.

Not here, I just... :D

[celestial_wizard]

My cheese! T.T

[grand_couturier]

[explodewiththerage]

Yeah. Like a toy or a spare shoe. Anything they've used a lot. My nose is really sharp." He answers before she asks for help sitting down.

"Oh yeah sure." He says before leading the old lady down to a bench.

[kingofsleep]

Oh right. Silly him. He should have known who he was even talking to. Ryner eyed the stick and wondered if he should actually take it or not. Odds were she would see it as an insult to her fabled god if he said no. So reluctantly he took it and bit into one of the Dangos.

"Well that's what we're here for. To get those kids back and find out why they were taken in the first place. Still, it's gotten really quiet. "

Too quiet one might say.

[kiryuin_shield]

Considering the nature of the beast that attacked the city some time ago, and the other residents, nothing can be ruled out until examined.

I would inspect these living quarters personally.

Re: Fayren Farmlands

[vyse_the_legend]

[It doesn't get more suspicious than this guy, does it? It's not often you see an air pirate not on an air ship, but Vyse was woefully shipless. But he isn't THAT intimidating, right? He's just a kid. But, having heard about the missing children, Vyse is trying to locate them. Just doing his part!]

[Unfortunately the farm-hands haven't been much help. Still he's been trying. Approaching yet another man working his fields, Vyse was quick and to the point.]

Hey, sorry to bother you, but I'm looking into some reports of missing children. Have you seen any kids around here that you wouldn't normally see? Or anything really out of the ordinary?

[celestial_wizard]

The old woman clutched at Natsu's arm tightly as he helped her to the bench, wheezing a bit. "Ah, to be young again, hoho.." Once she was settled, she pulled her black back onto her lap.

"I dearly hope I have something to help you dears. I can't thank you enough. Not everyone is so kind, I'm afraid. Aha-" Smiling triumphantly, she pulled a dirty, worn rabbit doll that flopped in her hand. It had definitely seen better days, with one arm hanging by a few loose stitches and cotton practically falling out by the seam.

The scent on it is faint by a few days, but there may still be enough to get a general direction. "Will this be of some use, dearie?"

[celestial_wizard]

[ The elderly woman nodded slightly, seeing wisdom in his request to investigate the house. ]

Of course, dear, of course. Such a clever young man, I didn't even think of something like that. Yes, yes, of course. I'm afraid my home is quite a ways away, and I couldn't possibly walk all that way again.

[ Which..begs the question how she got all the way into Genessia. Though if she walked, it might explain why she'd be reluctant to walk back so soon. Who knows! ]

[peerlessbeauty]

"It's too late to turn back now if you're frightened." Ferris stated, almost teasing. Still, she couldn't deny he was right - it was ... there was something just -wrong- about the forest.

Before long the path started to get too overrun with vines, weeds, roots bushes and other such brickabrack to walk safely, so she - of course without any word of warning or caution to Ryner - slipped her sword free of its sheathe and danced forward a step, slashing past him at the offending plantlife.

Rattling followed the sound of plants dying a fast and painless death thanks to the blademistress cleaving a way through the forest path. The rattling didn't stop once Ferris did however. It began to rise in pitch, little by little, shadows on the ground starting to shift with the sound.

Re: Fayren Farmlands

[celestial_wizard]

[ Nonsense! Children are the MOST suspicious creatures. A few farmhands shie away, keeping their heads down and tending to their fields, but the one who's attention Vyse gets almost seems...hostile. ]

Kids? Only kid round these part's you, kid. We keeps our heads doon and tend the fields. S'all we do's, we tends 'em. Tendin' the fields.

[ He shifted his grip on his hoe slightly. ]

Whatcher mean, outta the ordinary?

[explodewiththerage]

"Don't you worry. We'll find those kids and bring em back for sure." In Natsu's dictionary there was no word for failure.

He took the doll from the old lady and gave it tentative sniff before doing it again only breathing in a lot more.

"Yeah. This'll help. It's strong enough to tell me what I need to look for."

[kingofsleep]

"As if there's anything a demon has to be afraid of~" A crooked grin that is a bit forced. He had plenty of fears but he couldn't help but match Ferris' bid for boasting.

He stepped out of the way the moment he heard the sword get unsheathed so he nimbly stepped to the side and let her hack at the plantlife.

When the noise grew, he narrowed his eyes and started forming the array for Izuchi in front of one hand as he eyed the surroundings.

"Sounds to me like you've managed to make the spirit of the forest angry." Naturally he didn't mean that literally.