NM Part 10

Remi quietly puts away his lockpicking kit again, no evidence of its existence remaining as he deftly slips it between his clothes, and then just quietly studies the room for a bit... Trying to pick out pertinent details as his eyes sweep across all the objects within, soon pausing on that toy soldier, as well as the vial and rag... His brow going up a bit questioningly and curiously then, before he glances at the others.

Ka'len looks around the room before he frowns slightly and walks over to lift the vial slowly, "I can imagine what this is.. but.." He takes a delicate sniff from it before frowning to himself in thought.

Marduke eyes land over the scene and he frowns a bit more, if that were possible really. Shaking his head slowly he sighs, "I see." Eyes glancing over the toy soldier and sighing to pick i up, "Anybody want to carry this? I think we should take it, otherwise, the game is afoot. We have a missing child to find." Moving towards the back door, "And probably a ambush to deal with. Alba, care to take lead again?" Glancing back to the woman in question.

Alba edges around the small crowd, ears bobbing in answer to Marduke's question. Coming to a halt near the doorway, she glances over her shoulder, one eyebrow rising. "...Do we know where it is we go? Else, it shall be a long and hateful chase. Also when all are prepared, speak, and we shall go."

Sebastion steps over to acquire the toy soldier from Marduke, the quiet soldier simply stuffing the toy away where he put the chess pieces. He steps aside to take a place so that he can be the last one to leave, sparing a suspicious look around the room. He leaves most of the searching to the others, for now. "Hrn," he tiredly sounds out in response to Alba. The vial has a sour smell to it, even the small whiff Ka'len takes is enough to make him a little light-headed. Upon closer inspection the vial bares a symbol etched into the side of the glass. Bob floats about lazily "Ooo I recognize that, that's the stamp for the Apothicary's Shop down the street."

Remi watches Ka'Len sniff the vial... And then glances at Bob, headtilting, "So the boy got knocked out with... Uh, I forgot the name, actually... But you know what I mean." And he waves a hand a bit, before turning to the others and looking thoughtful, "Um, yeah, we'll need to know where to go... Does the book say anything?" Regarding them questioningly.

Ka'len backs off and wrinkles his nose, head shaking a little bit before he tucks it away. Looking at Bob then the young man's brow lifts and he seems thoughtful for a moment before he nods. "Apothecary shop.... lets try there. Perhaps they have records of who buys things or perhaps they were involved." He nods to Remi and mutters quietly, "can't remember the name either, but yea... I've had it used on me before."

Marduke glances to Bob and nods slowly, then nods over to Alba, "There we go. Our next stop it seems." A glance to the book and flips through it to check to see if there is anything is in it. Then shrugs his shoulders, "Legs to. Daylight seems to be short around here and the walks a bit to long." Sighing softly.

"Then we make haste," Alba grunts, slipping out the door. "To the medicine-maker's." Knives out, the Viera sets a ground-eating pace, checking over her shoulder now and again to ensure that the party keeps up. Eyes flick left and right as she leads the way down the road, searching for the symbol over the door that matches the one on the vial.

The trip is a short one, thankfully most of the shops on the town's west side are close by one another. The gloom in the air making the shadows seem all the darker as you travel. The door to the Apothecary's shop opens easily enough, the dim light reflecting in oddly disturbing rainbow patterns about the room as it refracts through the shelves lined with bottles and vials. A worktable at the far end of the room holds the tools for processing herbs and other reagents, it also seems to hold a set of remains. A skeleton clad in an apron and simple clothing is sprawled face-down on the tabletop, a cracked ceramic mug tipped over near one bony hand.

Remi quickly follows after Alba, staying close to the able Viera while glancing around the scary town as he's forced to traverse it once more. Only relaxing again, though just a tad, as they reach their destination, he steps inside the pharmacy with the others and pauses near the entrance to look around... Eyes going over all those vials and the like, but seemingly lacking much understanding of their use. Before finally pausing on that skeleton... And to his credit, not seeming that shocked anymore. Perhaps getting used to all this by now as he speaks up, "... Think he poisoned himself?"

Ka'len steps into the shop and stops, staring at the skeleton for a moment before he shakes his head and starts to look around, looking for a log book or anything which stands out to him, but it's true he doesn't know what he's looking for and it shows. Belatedly answering Remi, "dunno..maybe?"

Marduke follows along staying quiet the entire trip. Eyes keeping a glance on each side as they walk along, clearly more paranoid then when they first started this trip. As they step into the shop he pauses a moment at the skeleton. Then walks over and glances it over offering a soft prayer. Then turns to glance over the shelves and start making his way back to the work table, his steps becoming slower and he frowns again, "This doesn't bode well."

"If he died from his own medicines," Alba says, slinking through the door and giving the shelves, herbs, and tools a casual once-over, "then either he is stupid and deserved to die, or he knew he would die and made it thus, anyhow. ...It is possible, however, that another could have forced his poisons upon him. Those of this village seem able and willing, to make such madness happen."

Sebastion, naturally, takes up the six o'clock of the group, following at as hurried a pace as he can manage. He's not as fast as

Alba or the others might be, but his jog doesn't slow down. He's got stamina, at least, which makes up for it. Only sound he's got so far, even as they reach the Apothecary, is that of him following along, his armor far noiser than even his breathing. He spares one distracted glance at the skeleton, shrugs, and turns to start searching for clues. "Dead is dead," he murmurs as he searches. He glances over at Marduke, quirking a brow, pausing in his search. "... what doesn't bode well?"

A search of the room reveals that even after the passage of time some of the goods here are still useable. Ka'len finds a Soft Potion, Remi and Sebastion each locating a useable antidote, and Marduke scoring the motherload with 3 still-sealed Cure-Alls. Wether the group decides to take the swag or not they can feel a presence in the room and another of the blue shades appears in the room. The shade dressed in the same garb as the skeleton it paces the room seemingly reading from somthing. "Damn that blacksmith, the fourth order for sleeping draught this month. If the man is truly having this much trouble sleeping he needs to see the preists to settle his soul. And speaking of worthless lumps where is that damned apprentice of mine?" He walks over to a closed trapdoor in the floor next to the worktable and calls down into it "Bring me a sprig of Bishop's hat and two Shadewart, and be quick about it!" He walks back to the table and sits, moving to take somthing up and drink from it. "Damned lazy boy.. why I put him in charge of the storage cellar is beyond me. What is he doing down there?" The shade fades from sight.

Remi hmmms some as his cursory searching nets him that antidote, and he briefly holds it up to the others before busying himself with slipping it into his pack... Only to look up as he feels that presence, and blinks a bit in surprise at that shade... Though it's another thing he's starting to get used to, so he doesn't seem as startled as before. Just quietly watching the scene as it plays out... Before earsplaying some and looking at the others, "... Hmm, so he had an apprentice? And something about the blacksmith?"

Ka'len looks over the soft and then slips it into a pack as well before he looks back towards Marduke. The man tilts his head a little bit before he blinks and turns attention to the shade. "The blacksmith... hmm.." HE looks around again before looking for the enterance down into the storage cellar, his curiousity perked up.

Marduke snags the three vials as he walks by them and tucks them into his belt pouch, not a word said and no other indication at all he has them. He shakes his head, 'no we stay here. You heard him, storage celler. We need to see what is down there first." Eyes looking around as he considers and motions back to the back work table, "The question is where is the door?" Still moving to glance around for it. "OH that Sebastion, the work table there looks like it might have some remains on it or something."

Sebastion does take the antidote when he finds it, sticking it somewhere safe on his person. He glances off toward the shade, and watches its path around the room. He steps out of the way of it, briefly, and then raises his brows. "... killed by his apprentice...? Or maybe it goes further than that..." He glances off toward the others, watching what they might do in this situation, while keeping his eyes peeled around the room as if something might jump out at any second.

As the group watchs the shade and discusses thier next move the entire building shakes causing the bottles to rattle and clatter. The trapdoor next to the worktable is blown out of the floor to smash into a rack of bottles as a red glow pours from the opening and seeps through cracks in the floorboards. A red spectre of a thin and gaunt figure festooned in bottles and vials rises from the opening. "The old man was a fool! He was blind to the glory that was coming and so he was put to death, the rest of you shall join him shortly!"

Remi was actually in the process of approaching that trap door, to point it out to the others, when he's forced to pause as the place starts shaking, the Bard's ears lowering in fear... Only to have them instantly snap up again as the trap door blows open right infront of him! The bunny-eared lad letting out a cry, even as he reacts on instinct and jumps back almost right away! His hand coming up as soon as he lands on his feet, flames licking along the palm and his fingers, as he stares wide-eyed at the sudden apperition.

Ka'len ducks and shields his face since he'd been heading towards that door. "The hell..." He peers at the ghostly assistant for a moment then he glowers and straightens. "You almost hit me in the face," are the first words that come out of his mouth. He blinks then clears his throat while drawing out his blade, "I mean... we will prove the untruth of those words." Yea.. that.

Marduke is standing there leaning into his staff thoughtfully, and then blinks the places both his hands on his staff to keep steady. Then jumps back as the celler explodes open and humpfs a moment, "Glory, this is your glory now. Tell me, in what value you do you have anything left?" Tilting his head as he studies the ghost for a moment, "Lets put a end to this misrable creature." Holding up a hand and then deciding to step back behind the more beefy party members first!

Alba crouches low as the shack begins to rumble, her upper lip curling back from her teeth, skittering back once the trapdoor explodes outwards. Hunched over, knives scraping against the floorboards, she sneers up at the crimson apparition. "Stupid shade," she says, her voice low, mocking, and menacing. "Stupid shade seeks to terrify us. Stupid, stupid shade stands in the middle of an old, dead, dry house of herbs and chemicals. Stupid shade, have you forgotten the taste of fire?"

Sebastion immediately draws his sword the moment the trapdoor is blown out, and turns to face the shade with muscles tensed. He narrows his eyes at the gaunt shade, only sparing it some time to speak, before he advances with his weapon. The scarf-wearing soldier's witty reply consists of a very special kind of communication and nothing else: Stabbing.

The Spectre hovers above the trapdoor, ignoring the barbs and jabs of the group as it tosses it's hand outwards and a shower of glowing glass vials forms and hurtles to the floor shattering and filling the room with a greenish haze of choking fumes. With Sebastion having stayed towards the rear of the group he advances through the ranks as Marduke falls back, putting him in melee range to attack.

Remi doesn't take his eyes off the spectre, even as the others respond to it... Having not much to say himself, sadly, simply continuing to aim his readied fireball spell at the entity. And as Sebastion suddenly moves past him to attack, the time for trying to work this out in a civilized manner is gone anyway... And the Bard quickly attempts to hurl an orb of flame to aid the charging knight. Only to find himself choked and blinded by that green cloud as it billows out, the bunny-eared Hume disappearing inside it, and heard coughing loudly.

Ka'len lifts his sleeve to attempt to cover his mouth and nose, but a moment too late as his skin starts to take on a greenish tint. A shudder races through him and his blade tip sinks down for a moment before he rushes forward, slashing out at the entity with his weapon only to stagger backwards and fall to a knee, sweat slicking his pallid skin.

Marduke moves his way behind and away from the front lines. Turning to fade the shade as the poison attack goes off, and just stands there letting it pass over him, taking a deep breath after. Whispering under his breath, "Thank you training." Eyes looking at the others and frowning and then starting to chant quickly he holds up a hand as green engery circles around his hand, "Esuna!" And then pointing towards Remi sending the poison curing spell his way!

Alba waves the vapors away from her face, tracking the shade as it closes on the party. "Stupid, stupid shade," she whispers, lunging up and forward, driving her blades through as much of the apparition as she can find purchase on.

The Spectre gives a shriek as the flame spell strikes home, causing several vials on it's body to melt and shatter. It avoids Ka'len's weakened slash but is caught full on by Alba's twin attacks. As it floats backwards it casts one hand in Alba's direction. Another vial flying out in her direction "Insect!" Meanwhile Marduke's spell falls over Remi, banishing the poison from his body.

Remi had slumped down to his knees as well after he managed to get that fire spell off... Weakened and sick, feeling like he's gonna die, the shade just a red blur in his weakening vision. But then, he feels sudden energy coursing through him again, pushing back the poison, and the Bard almost instantly jumps back to his feet, refreshed... His hand snapping out again then as he launches another fireball in the ghost's direction, before attempting to dig out the antidote he picked up earlier to give to the nearest other poisoned person.

The Vial shatters on the floor at Alba's feet, a crimson cloud enveloping the snarling warrior and obscuring her from sight. The cloud disapates as quickly as it came revealing... A Dagger-Wielding Moogle.

Ka'len pants deeply and shakes his head before bowing his head. He takes the moment to focus on himself before he hawks up a loogy and spits to the side, literally attempting to spit out the poison [First Aid]. The young man stands then and he lifts his blade, "down, but not out yet."

Marduke glances to Ka'Len as he seems to be intending to help him next, then raises his eyebrows and nods at that. Glancing around again he pause a moment, doing a double check. Eyes landing on the dagger weilding moogle. The man completely at a loss for a moment, then coughing clearly trying to keep himself under control in the situation. "Esuna takes care of blind and poison, but not that, need remedy sorry!" His voice dead pan, probably to hide some laughter and then turns towards Sebastion, "Esuna!" Sending the green cleansing energies at the man next.

As the smoke clears, the granite-furred Moogle stares up at the specter, uncomprehending and stunned. Her eyes fall to the daggers in her hand... and for a moment, time stops, as realization slams home. Dark eyes widen, enough that the whites are visible all around, fluffy chest hitching... And she leaps bodily onto the shade, now-oversized daggers tearing and slashing and stabbing anything she can get a handle on, screaming nearly unceasingly all the while; "AAAAAAAAAAAAAA*kupo*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA*kupo*AAAAAAAAA!"

The next fireball strikes, causing more vials to shatter and bringing another shriek from the Spectre. It turns it's gaze towards Remi and is about to attack again before it's set upon by the now rather Psychotic Alba. The flurry of blade strikes tearing through the spectral form before will a resounding screach it dissapates with a sudden burst of Crimson energy that hurls Alba away and shatters the rest of the bottles in the room is a single resounding cascade of broken glass. The blackened skeleton falling to the floor and turning to dust.

And Alba is still a Moogle

Remi goes wide eyed as he sees the ghost turn towards him, and starts raising his hand again to strike first... Only to blink and pause as he sees a knife wielding Moogle suddenly jump in and start to hack and slash the apperition. Said Moogle blocking any further fireball attack... Which apparently isn't needed anyway, as the Bard soon watches that skeleton crumble, after he lowers his arm again. Having quickly ducked and covered his face when the creature suddenly exploded, the lad showered in bits of glass.

Ka'len's blade lifts and then drops down again as Alba's rage is taken in. The man can only stare he turns around suddenly when the glass explodes and then he searches the room for where the viera turned moogle landed before starting towards her, hesitantly. "Alba... are you... alright?"

Marduke just continues to stare for a long long moment. He isn't sure what to say, what to do. Albas change just proving to much for him, and eventually he barks out a laugh and catches himself shaking his head, "don't kill me now!" Holding a hand up to his mouth to hold back any further laughter. "oh my not sure how long that is going to last, could be moments or could be hours." Coughing regaining his composure. He reaches down to his belt, "Here drink this, it will change you back." Hoping that works as a peace offering! "After that we head down to the celler, we will find what we are looking for down there I am sure."

The scream is finally cut off by the explosion; with a good deal less body mass, Alba is hurled back, bouncing once on the floor before slamming against the wall with another involuntary *kupo!* Plopping to the ground, she takes a moment to get her drastically foreshortened limbs underneath her. Pushing herself upright, then to her feet, she totters a moment in place... then wordlessly waddles toward Marduke, eyes locked on his the whole time. Once close enough, she snatches the Remedy out of his hand, pulls the cork out with her teeth, and upends it down her throat... never once breaking eye contact.

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