WELCOME TO THE HIVE

[rysligparasites]

MOD PLOT: HAPPY ASCENSION DAY

It's a long journey to Kulen and you’re paralyzed for all of it. The parasites aren't very delicate about carrying you there and you may get prodded with the odd pincer, but they diligently protect you from any external threats so you arrive relatively unharmed.

They carry you into a series of tunnels and into the belly of the hive where they lay you down on the ground. You lie there, unable to move or speak as more of the parasites converge on you, chittering excitedly and smelling you with their antennae. As the paralysis starts to wear off, they roughly and enthusiastically help you up and guide you through the tunnels, excitedly showing you around.

Eventually, you'll meet a parasite with human features who will give you a stilted, but genuine welcome. Apparently you are a special guest who has been brought here to help celebrate their beloved queen's first ever ascension day! While you're here, they want to learn as much about YOU and your traditions as they can so they can make this the greatest party ever.

The parasites implore you to eat their human cooking which is mostly composed of various things (both edible and not) that they've deep fried. They worked very hard and they will be very offended if you don't finish it. They also invite you to contribute to their cave paintings which are entirely composed of parasites doing parasite things.

During your stay, you'll likely run into other monsters who've been replaced by doppelgangers. Maybe some of them have been here for a while. Maybe others have just turned up.

Your quarters are dark and maybe a little cramped given that you're sharing them with a whole bunch of insectoid creatures and maybe one or two monsters. Other than that, they're relatively comfortable.

Settle in and make yourself at home. You'll be here for a while.

Comments

[bound_skyward]

All right. With any luck, we'll get a good start on this… and we'll finally find our way out of here.

[Much as he likes taking direct routes to things, he does see the sense in a good strategy at times too. They have to give it their best and see what happens.]

Ah… yes. Good to meet you, even under these strange circumstances. I'm Kain Highwind.

[Kain is as stern and serious as ever when he introduces himself, but he's not unfriendly about it, either. It's just his way.]

[justbeingknife]

Hey, caution's my middle name. Figuratively speakin', that is.

[ "Fried keys!" announced a parasite as it suddenly popped its head around a corner. "Fried fruit!" ]

Uh, hey there.

[hantale]

[Their head bobs, offering a slight smile for the moment. After an hour or two of wandering around with them, Fran was starting to pick up on that stoic personality quite a bit.]

And same to you... Though it's a shame it couldn't have been somewhere nicer.

[But hey, bonds are formed in the most unlikely of circumstances. Actually-]

Huh, I could have sworn I'd heard that name before... Probably on the network somewhere...

[bound_skyward]

Good to know.

[Ah, here they come. They're such weird critters. Kain is still a bit unnerved by their presence, but it's such an odd thing... they don't seem to be exactly hostile, just... peculiar.]

Greetings. I trust that everything is well?

[The parasites continue to make excited exclamations, clearly in an upbeat mood. Now... have these ones been on the surface lately? That's the real question, and sniffing it out may take a moment.]

[bound_skyward]

Indeed. Not that Ryslig proper is entirely a paradise, but... it's better than this.

[They're still technically "kidnapped" in a sense, no matter how you look at it, given that they're still in a world not their own... but he'd rather be in the normal situation than this one. And anywhere with a sky above is better than a bunch of caverns of course.]

Is that so? Well, I'll communicate on there whenever there's a good reason... Unless it was someone else who mentioned my name.

/Wrap soon? (We sortof know it won't work)

[hantale]

[One eyebrow perked as the stepped forward, starting the two's journey through the caverns once again.]

Oh? I must admit, I don't really use the network much myself... It's a bit, uh, beyond my time.

[hauntpadour]

[It often sneaks up on Egon, truthfully. But that's mostly his own ineptitude and complete disregard for his own health. The cloud of light doesn't move, shimmering the way a distant carnival does in the rain.]

Yes, I'm fine. I can't touch anything or pass through solid objects, but I'm hardly corporeal.

[justbeingknife]

[ Walking it was! Deeper into the hive. Toward a frightening, bubbling cauldron of oil where parasites were enthusiastically flailing their appendages about in sort-of unison. It was a terrible, terrible kitchen safety hazard all around, really.

Some of the parasites were battering bits of random things that were not necessarily food, such as:

wooden toys
a patch of felt
orange peels (close. so close) ]

...I don't know what I expected, but here we are.

[ One of the parasites was reading through a square book with several of its friends, alternately nodding or giggling (parasite giggling sounded like overenthusiastic maracas). ]

yep that's good with me too!

[bound_skyward]

[Onward they go. Kain is sure to keep an eye out for any bugs who will... potentially be of some use.]

I don't blame you. It's likewise far removed from anything I have back home, although I suppose three years in a world will make you get used to anything.

[Almost anything.]

[scholiast]

Interesting...

(She could try it too, maybe get used to it... but when she leans forward, she gets that awful feeling yanking her back again. Maybe she'll give it a go when she's back safely in her home, and not surrounded by parasites.)

Thank you, for showing me.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia might be a outwardly exasperated about the food fiasco if she weren't silently impressed that they've figured out how to batter and fry a wooden alphabet block. It's so... square. It almost looks tasty.

Anyway. She notices the little cluster of parasites pouring through a book dangerously close to where the cauldrons are set up, and hurriedly elbows her way over.)

Excuse me– please, that's mine. (Only one of the parasites looks up at her as she approaches, its antennae twitching curiously. "Yours?" it says, and turns the page so its fellows can keep... reading? Looking? Oh god, hopefully they aren't reading. Lucretia's ears feel hot.)

Yes, uh... it's my journal, it's what I write all of my observations in. It would taste very bad if you fried it, so I'd like to ask for it back. (One of the other parasites glances over at the cauldron, then back at her, then at the journal. Lucretia blinks, then very pointedly raises her hand and puts a little barrier of holy energy firmly over the top of the cauldron, like a lid.)

[justbeingknife]

[ "Taste bad?" asked one parasite.

"JUICY INFO!" chittered another, who evidently had been reading. "THE 411!" ]

Yeah, no. Here's the deal. See, uh... monsters just don't read each other's journals. They're personal, and --

[ "Give journal if win!" said another parasite. Suddenly, the other parasites all seemed to lean in, interested. "Contest!" ]

[justbeingknife]

[ While Kain was talking to the parasites, Majima was making his way around. This parasite smelled of earth, this other one mainly of cooking oil and burning.

One of them smelled like... gummi bears? Surely not.

"Friends!" chittered one of the parasites, accosting Kain with a fried treat that looked suspiciously like a battered wrench. "Eat!" ]

[bound_skyward]

[They are such weird creatures. Not bad, exactly, not outwardly malicious, just... really, extremely weird. Kain shakes his head. How many times have they tried to get him to eat some non-food item in the past couple of days?]

I'm sorry, but I must refuse. I'm... very full at the moment.

[There's an "awww" from the one offering him the treat, and a hopeful "maybe later!" from another one.]

[hauntpadour]

[He'll step back into the light, reforming with all his bits and pieces in place.]

Of course. Let me know if there's anything else you're curious about.

[justbeingknife]

[ And in the meantime, Majima had located one that smelled of ozone -- fresh air. He motioned to Kain, to indicate the parasite in question.

It was bent over a set of house keys, looking vaguely puzzled. ]

Yeah, sorry guys. Tell ya what, though. Later we'll show ya how to play rock, paper scissors.

It's all the rage up top.

[bound_skyward]

[Kain subtly nods, trying not to draw any attention. After all, they can't risk their plan being discovered. So now they have their ticket out of here, with any luck. They'll have to keep an eye on this one.]

Yes, you'll enjoy it very much. It provides hours of excitement.

[scholiast]

How about I just take it?

(If Lucretia sounds exasperated, it's because she's running out of reasons as to why she shouldn't just snatch it out of their little... hands. Hands? Whatever. The parasite shakes its head almost coyly, and holds the book away from her.

Lucretia pinches the bridge of her nose, and counts to ten.)

Okay, okay. Fine. What kind of contest?

[justbeingknife]

[ "Feats of strength!" the parasite said excitedly, waving its antennae around. Now others were taking up the cry, and several parasites were rolling in what looked like a heavy wheel of... ]

...that's cheese.

[ Said Majima, in the manner of someone who was hoping that a simple statement of truth might somehow make bugs see sense. ]

But what's it got to do with anythin'?

[ "Move the cheese! Lift the cheese!" ]

[justbeingknife]

[ The parasites began to discuss excitedly amongst themselves about what this mysterious 'rock, paper, scissors' could be... while the parasite with the keys began to toddle off. ]

Rain check. Totally.

[ And when the parasites seemed distracted, he'd slip off after the creature... ]

[bound_skyward]

Indeed so...

[Kain keeps an eye on them, watching as they get very animated in their conversation. As the one slips off, he pardons himself quietly as well, off to follow and see where they might end up. Could this be their way to the surface? They'll soon find out, either way.]

[justbeingknife]

[ The parasite zigged into a side tunnel, which smelled just a little more strongly of clean air. Majima spoke under his breath to Kain. ]

Goin' out to nab another monster, maybe...?

[bound_skyward]

That's surely its plan. If we can keep up with it well enough... we may finally have our way out of here.

[He keeps his voice low, so as not to be overheard. The trick, of course, is keeping the parasite in sight while also not getting too close and being noticed. But this could be it, a way out... Kain knows to be cautious and not get his hopes up too much, though.]

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima kept his footfalls soft, and some distance between himself and the parasite, even after he ducked into the side tunnel. Strange trinkets were lying on the ground or hanging from little alcoves... was that a snow globe with a flamingo in it?

Suddenly, the head of another parasite poked out from one of the alcoves. "Guests!" it cried. ]

[bound_skyward]

[They were doing so well for a good while, too. Kain had mostly ignored the random things scattered around, trying to keep all attention on the parasite they're following. They must be getting close! Though it's still hard to keep track of where exactly they are, all these tunnels look alike...]

[Kain is so focused on the one they're after that he gasps and jumps in alarm when the one suddenly emerges. It's not alone, either, as some more scurry to join their friend, chattering in excitement.]

No... please, no...

[The parasites move out to block the way, and Kain watches in frustration as their targeted one keeps moving steadily away.]