[Action for Everglade, outside the Mayor's office]

[what_is_a_man]

[It had been a fairly quiet day, all things considered in Everglade. Sure, it always had its more rowdy inhabitants, but otherwise all was quiet. Until sunset, that is. Earlier in the day, a package had been delivered to the Mayor's office. A lovely potted flower. The sender was anonymous but it had been received along with a get well card for the mayor.]

[It had sat on the desk of a secretary all day, but as everyone was packing up to return home, the flower began to twitch. Within an instant, it had grown to the size of a person. Within the petals was the figure of an alluring young woman. Of course, nobody within the building saw the figure for very long before vines of razor sharp thorns began to spring out of the ground. The vines bore their way through the building, leaving nothing but wreckage and blood in its wake.]

[The building itself stood, supported by the vines as a sort of macabre warning from someone or something. If anyone came to investigate, the only person around would be an elderly man wearing rags and a wide-brimmed straw hat nursing a bottle of alcohol on the opposing street corner from the offices.]

Comments

Several Days Later

[redcinemareel]

[Guess the first order of business for Grell as guardian is to take out the weeds. lovely. Seeing as she's probably dealing with something supernatural, she brought a flask along with her DEATHSCYTHE. In the dead of the night, Grell approaches the building, analyzing it. The elderly man goes ignored. Why waste time speaking to them when she can find out things on her own?

She wants to know where the thickest parts are, since that's probably the source. Well, it's hard to tell, so why not just check every floor? With a running jump, Grell leaps and plunges her chainsaw into the side of the building before riding on it, cutting away at the vines in the process. As she travels in a spiral around the building, Grell checks each window for anything suspicious. It takes a while to travel about the building before spotting something odd. The building itself is devoid of much of any movement or life, but there is one rather peculiar figure that looks too unscathed for her liking.

So she chooses that room, and bursts through the window to get inside, tumbling inside and encountering the lovely visage before her. Grell merely grins, revealing her sharp teeth.]

...lovely redecorating you've done~!

[what_is_a_man]

[The Alraune twists on its stem, the petals fluttering around it as it takes stock of the newcomer. As for the room, bodies were hanging from vines and it was difficult to tell just where the red on the petals and the blood splattered across the room began on the flower.]

[After a moment however, without any word or warning, more vines shot up from the floor heading for Grell.]

[redcinemareel]

[Yes, the decay of bodies is her favorite kind of decoration. But enough admiration.

The vines lash out at her, causing her to duck and twist while swinging her chainsaw at the vines in large arches, and sometimes blocking their attacks with the flat of her weapon before brushing them aside and slashing diagonally once an opening is found. They get cut down easily, creating a path towards the young woman. The wines chase after Grell, and that's what she wants.

She intends to get as close to the flower as possible, before simply vanishing out of sight. The vines probably will stop short of hitting its source, and even if they don't...well, that's just too bad.]

[what_is_a_man]

[The vines continue to strike, but when they hit nothing the Alraune glances about looking for what it thinks is its next victim. For a moment vines erupt at random, hoping to get a lucky shot.]

[redcinemareel]

[This was something she expected, and didn't mind getting hit by a few of them. Or a lot. But with the close proximity Grell gained when she reappears behind the flower, it didn't matter. Her chainsaw would swing down on it vertically, cutting it and the desk it sat on in half.]

[what_is_a_man]

[The Alraune shrieks an unholy screech as the weapon finds its mark, and before long it fell silent, slumping forward as it quickly began to lose its color. After a long moment, Grell would be left with just the sound of the chainsaw and the clapping of the old man who was now perched on a windowsil behind Grell seemingly pleased with the display.]

Fine work there lass~

[redcinemareel]

[Grell watches the plant literally fade away before hearing the voice behind her. She whips around and aims her chainsaw at him. It's that same man from outside. Older people really shouldn't be underestimated, because getting in unnoticed is quite the feat.]

You're next if you don't explain yourself.

[Even if he does, she'd probably kill him if he doesn't have anything interesting to say.]

[liorafae]

[Still desiring to get a feel for all the city, Liora steels herself to explore Everglade once more, especially at night. It's not just her magic that needs work, but her confidence needs strengthening as well.]

[She flies around at a rather low altitude for a while when she spots the building with the vines piercing through it, along with the figure sitting right in front of it. Curiosity gets her, and she lands nearby, approaching the building on all fours. Still somewhat unfamiliar with Everglade, she isn't sure if this sort of thing was normal. As she came closer, she realized that the building reminded her somewhat of the Ghostlight Ruins, which causes her to shrink back a bit. She then turns towards the elderly man nearby.]

Um...what is that? [She points to the vined building.]

[what_is_a_man]

[The man doesn't respond right away. After a moment though he jerks straighter up before holding up a finger and taking a drink from a bottle he was holding.]

That is what happens when you anger an Alraune.

[liorafae]

[Liora waits patiently for a response, flinching as the man suddenly jerked up straight. She freezes in place at his answer.

An Alraune? What is...an "Alraune?"

[what_is_a_man]

[The man laughs a weezing laugh, showing a toothy grin with several large gaps.]

The Alraune is a predatory plant spirit. Massive flowers but the insides look like a gorgeous woman. They'd lure weary travelers off the beaten path with their scent and then skewer them and drain them dry with their vines.

The one that caused this was a rather powerful one I'd wager.

[liorafae]

That's...terrible...

[Though she was aware that different beasts' methods for catching prey were often terrible. This "Alraune" almost reminded her of the Janustraps in Sornieth, minus the alluring woman. Although Janustraps were more likened to Venus Flytraps than the Alraune. Liora is almost tempted to take a look for herself, but not if she's going to get skewered...]

So...you said this is what happens when they make an Alraune angry. What did they do...?

[what_is_a_man]

[The man just shrugs, leaning back against the building behind him as he looked up at the ruined building.]

Hard t' say really. Could be something in the soil, could've been something someone said. Or maybe it was bored. Alraune are a fickle lot.

[feckinboomstick]

[You know, he was only walking past, he kind of has to sometimes, it's a thing. He makes no attempt to get closer to the plant.

None.

Right now at least, but one can bet his inner magical creature and cryptid nerd is losing it's goddamn mind. He's never seen anything like this before.

Which means he has no samples or books of it.

He's a man with needs, monster plant, and he's already eyeing up anything that looks even remotely safer to approach, thumbing the iron knife at his side thoughtfully]

I mean... can't possibly have that good reaction time, look how bloody big it is...

[He has noticed the man with the alcohol not too far away, he's somewhat impressed at the sheer amount of casualness the other man is showing.]

Seems like another day for ye.

[what_is_a_man]

[The drunk laughs a bit as Cassian inspects the vines.]

I wouldn't recommend underestimatin' an Alraune sonny. The vines aren't a part o' its actual body. More like... hair. That can drain a man of blood in seconds. Best to keep yer distance lest it gets thirsty again.

[feckinboomstick]

See, we ain't got nothin' like that back in the Isle.

[BUT SCIENCE]

Tis an interestin' case though, isn't it? What is it exactly? An Alraune, ye said? Never saw that name in any of my books yet....

[what_is_a_man]

Vicious plant spirits them. A rose the size of a man, but inside the flower, its flower parts are replaced with what looks like a beautiful woman. Perfect bait for the weary traveler. Get too close and they skewer ye on those vines and suck ye dry.

[feckinboomstick]

Can't get a sample without gettin' impaled is it...

[He really needs one though! He's pacing just out of reach, considering. The shot gun is as ever on his back, maybe he can pick a piece off with that.]

Is it an unholy creature?

[what_is_a_man]

[The vines shift slightly as if sensing Cassian's intent.]

I don' put much stock into holy 'r unholy. It just is what it is.

[notquitedracula]

[Just another day in this hellhole - but Soma knows at least one place this particular menace might've come from. He's not going to approach, though - he knows he's not a legitimate authority here, and this screams CRIME SCENE in big, bold letters. He will stand across the street, though.]

I can't say I'm surprised. This is just about his style.

[Hi, old man. Soma's going to pretend he doesn't know you.]

[what_is_a_man]

[The gravedigger sits up straighter as Soma approaches, though it isn't out of respect as much as it is tensing ready to strike if needed.]

A message needed to be sent. I am just here to see that it is heard.

[notquitedracula]

Relax. If I were here for your head, I'd have it already. I know what this place needs to survive, now. I can't say I agree with his ways, but at least they serve a purpose, here.

[Much as it galls him to admit that.]

I want you to deliver another message, this one to your master. Tell him I will overlook his activities as long as he confines them to Everglade. But if he brings his war to the other cities, I will be there. And... if he wouldn't mind talking, under mutual agreement of non-aggression, perhaps there are things we could discuss that wouldn't end in bloodshed.

[what_is_a_man]

It's not my head you should be worried about, pretender.

[The gravekeeper spits off to the side.]

You can't keep him contained for long. He will have his revenge against mortality itself. It's only a matter of time. Even you will help him eventually.

[notquitedracula]

He had nigh a thousand years to try, and failed. What makes you think his odds better here? The absence of the Belmonts?

[Soma turns his full attention on the gravekeeper, and his eyes are the red of blood.]

He has been bested by his own blood before. He would do well to remember that.

[what_is_a_man]

Time. Time has always been my lord's greatest weapon.

[The gravekeeper just chuckles at the taunt.]

The skirmishes with the young master prove nothing. He cannot be destroyed by one of his own blood. When master Adrian confronted his father, he was not facing his father's full strength.

You, on the other hand will receive no such charity. He is content to let his power grow in you for now. And in time, you will be brought into the fold. With or without your consent.