Boost Core: Slit Eyes of Flamma [Grants: Spirit Sight, Ignore FX, Nullify]

[ohaiyo_isekai]

[Not a full day into the week]

Do you recall that game I found, the one about vampiric crime syndicates?

Do you remember anything about a little Discipline called “Dominate,” that allowed vampires a mesmerizing gaze?

Did you hear the tales of dazed innocents walking away from their lives and into the sewers or woods?

Then you might think it sensible to not go into the sewers or woods without a way to pierce illusions or counter magic.

I am working on brewing suitable potions and dusts and such to provide defenses agains hypnotic or psychic bullshit.

Ask for Lucas at the theatre or the Laurelthirst.

Now excuse me while I protect Nero from this. I expect he will want to investigate and I want to have my spirit sight, countermagic, and ability to set a vampire on fire with a word and a gesture at his call when he does.

- Hikaru Aozora
光 青空

Comments

Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

I'll come with you too, milord. You'll need someone with a good, sharp sword.

Re: Voice

[ohaiyo_isekai]

And, likely as not, a wooden stake and a mallet. A silvered dagger too.

Not garlic. The smell will be a problem for me.

Re: Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

Aye, I'll keep the garlic away from you, milord. Lord Nero too.

Re: Voice

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Good man. We’ll be glad to have you.

…I had a reminder that Sigrid is not my Siobhan from a most surprising place. It helped me sort things out.

Though I am looking forward to seeing her as herself. I’ll introduce you when this tale’s done.

Re: Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

I should like that. Is she small and winged like you?

Re: Voice

[ohaiyo_isekai]

She is. She is, like me, a Pixie of Mundus. As crafty a huntress and forest tracker as I am a sorcerer, and we met when she was hired onto my company of free lances to guide us.

Re: Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

What does she look like?

Re: Voice

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Blond with a braid, bright blue eyes, her head to just under my nose, lean and wiry. She prefers buckskins and a forest green woolen mantle, though she’s worn other fashions. Wings like a monarch butterfly, but blue instead.


I suspect you’ve seen her, and this is why you ask.

Re: Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

While she was very, very drunk, milord. At the library.

Re: Voice

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Ah.


Not drunk. That is how we found out the effects ghosts have on us. But like being very drunk, certainly.

Re: Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

And it does sound a little like the lady who comes to stare at the Umbra Manor from time to time and then leaves, except she's a full sized human without wings.

Re: Voice

[ohaiyo_isekai]

I had come to the same conclusion. Sigrid is also a… significant name in Siobhan’s history, but I won’t say more than that.

They are not the same person. But I think after the story Siobhan will remember a most rare vision, a dream of being Sigrid. As I had a dream of myself as a young man in the story prior.

Re: Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

Right. Like how the other girl who was there with you when she was not-drunk is now a werewolf and doesn't seem to recognize anyone.

... do you think that's going to happen to me too?

[He doesn't really think he'd ever been important enough to merit being a character in a story, but then he thinks about how a prince had died to defend his innocence and he doesn't know anymore.]

Re: Voice

[ohaiyo_isekai]

I think it inevitable that in some Story or another there will be a character, strong of arm, uncommonly loyal, uneducated but shrewd, who has cause to defend someone worthy of it with his life.

Maybe this one will be echo of your Egg, even. Or some learned fellow with a name evocative of a flash in a blue sky, or a huntress from a verdant forest.

Re: Voice

[thickasacastlewall]

I should like that. I do miss him, ser. He is cheeky and does not know when to shut up, but he is a good boy and a good squire. We've been through much together since he snuck into my camp at Ashford Meadows a bit over two years ago.

[icanhearscreams]

I'll be at the Laurelthirst too, if you need someone to run stuff to people. I can get between the vampire and the werewolf sections of town.

For now, at least. Ask for 'June' at the Laurelthirst.

- Jun

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Please. Make sure Amalia and Sigrid get such protections as I can provide.

If I can spare more, I’ll coordinate with Amalia. She can let Magi The Blood Moons know.

[icanhearscreams]

I'll try to find them. I'm going to go to Amalia for something else, I can let her know that there's resources for her.

I haven't met Sigrid but if I see her I can tell her that too.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Good lad.

I wish there was more I could do. In fact, let me know what I can do for you when I stop at the Laurelthirst.

[icanhearscreams]

I mean there's not much you can do for me at this point.

I think there's things I need to figure out on my own... there's a lot going on.

[noonlight]

More the fool me. I'd assumed that all vampires came with that standard.

While I can't prepare defenses for anyone save myself, I can offer some offensive items that usually work quite well on those that can dominate the will.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

I suspect any vampire can - the Umbra can read thoughts - but the Orlock clan, as Amalia named them, make it an art.

I should very much like to invite them to watch the sunrise, and if you can help arrange that, all the better.

[lightsgift]

This is very useful, thank you. I don't know of these vampire games you speak of, but I do know vampires in my own world can enthrall their prey.

I have also been hearing from some on the streets here that those who have gone missing have been seen acting strangely, and may have been entranced into the woods. I am looking for more information, but it seems this is indeed what we're dealing with.

I have been putting in some time at the Laurelthirst as well, and returning there to rest so if there's anything further I can do to help, please find me there.