When we last left our intrepid heroes ...

With sword, fire and ... erm ... shake shake shake, the spiders are vanquished. Amy breathes a bit easier. "Thank you," she says. "Vitas, are you okay?" Well, he seems to be the only one the spiders got to, after all. "Gavin, Kynan, you didn't get bitten did you?" she adds, a tad worriedly. Then seeing as the path is clear, Amy walks over to the huge tank, and she turns the knob that's there right at the lower right corner. It squeals a bit, in protest, but turns. And in so doing, it turns off the downstream water flow, so that way down the way (like 3 blocks away), the fountain slowly runs dry. "I think that's our goal accomplished," Amy says.

Of course this brings a very sudden shout from down the stairs. "HEY! What are you guys doing here!"

Amy turns to look at the new arrival, who has what looks like a white swirl on his forehead. Not the same as the first group they met back down by that fountain. "Who are you?" she asks in return.

Kynan turns to look at the stairs, and the one who has just ascended. "We are, or were, fighting fog, fighting spiders, and doing fountain repair. Or preparing for such, I cannot say I have much in the way of plumbing experience. It is always hard to find such talent on a moment's notice, after all."

\

"Exploring." Gavin says to the man demanding why they're here. "What are YOU doing here?"

Vitas: "Kingsguard! Fixing yer bloomin' water supply, neh? Or lestaways we's tryin' to." Vitas points to the swirly mark on the newcomer's forehead. "Mm! Hey! 'Nother new religion, izzat?? Whydoncha tell us about it, if so? M'might be in the market for one, seeing as how all the old ones are crap." Based on his (admittedly limited) prior experience with random wackos Walking in out of Shadow, Vitas conjectures that the most pacific and amenable way to approach your typical newly-minted religious fanatic would be to give them a good fair chance to proselytize thoroughly. Basically to let 'em get all of their shouting and energetic - waving - of - their - arms - about out of their system. While their arms don't yet hold torches and pitchforks. Usually works out better that way. Usually. Well, we shall find out!

Danielle adds to the information provid by the others "filinia asked us to find the shutoff for the water so she could fix it" in case name dropping a local would help

The fellow who came up the stairs has a hand at a sword at his waist. It's not a very clean thing, nor is it really well sheathed. Like he's picked it up from somewhere. "Oh, you're with that group of has-beens. They're either all dead or they've been converted to the True Religion of the Unicorn's Tail," he says. "I'm Corey, and this is our turf. You can't just come in here and steal our water. I'm going to have to take offense at that, and you all better show me some proper respect here." his chest is puffed out, and he brags, "I cracked more'n a few of those Horn types' heads, y'see. Don't mind cracking some more."

Amy puts her hands on her hips, a scowl on her face. "Your water, is it? Oh, those are fighting words." She's petite indeed, is our Amy, but that doesn't stop the Healer from starting forward. By the looks of it, she's about to get in Corey's face and give him whatfor.

Kynan hmms. "'Respect' is a two-way street, and I am afraid you happen to be headed the wrong direction of a one-way, into oncoming traffic. I would advise you to not be quite so hasty."

Gavin rolls with advantage 0 at difficulty 15, using combat.
The result is a success.

\

Gavin looks at the sword in the 'sheath' and to his blade. Then with a flick of his wrist his blade slashs out to cut Corey's belt. "I doubt you will find us a bit harder to defeat than those you face before. Also have some respect for your blade man. I'm quite sure my King's guard friend will have some thoughts on that and if he doesn't My fire obessed friend will. As for the ladies, just treat them with respect. It will be easier."

Vitas: "HEY! Best you put that sword away, now, lest you go on accidentally hurting yourself with it, on account of accidentally getting it shoved it up your own arse sideways all accidental and non - police - brutality - like," Vitas suggests, with a good - humored smile. My goodness does Vitas have large shiny white teeth when he smiles like that. Quite remarkable, really. "We're -not- 'Unicorn Horns' as I already tole ya, and we're not -stealing'- your water, we're -fixing- the fountain . . . an' I already done tole you that too." Vitas pointedly does -not- reach for his own blade, not giving this fellow any impression that an imagined duel would be held on anything like 'equal footing.' Vitas does retrieve the rusty weapon after Gavin disarms the interloper. *scoop* Vitas examines the sword for a bit. Vitas turns it sideways, speculatively, as he looks behind the disarmed cultist. "So, please. -Do- tell us about the One True Religion. Like I said, Imma be 'in the market' for one. . . Me mum was a . . . wosscalled . . . 'Naturalist' or maybe Neo-Pagan Animist Shamanist Nature - ist. Or something like that. So we worshipped the plants and th' animals and whatnot. But that can'nae be right, now, can it, seeing as how we outlived our gods . . . when all o' da critters dis'peared in the Fog, eh?" Vitas waits for religious exposition, should any such now be forthcoming.

Danielle rolls with advantage 0 at difficulty 15, using influence.
The result is a failure.

Danielle hms "While it's quite clear my friends have you bested. Fighting does get tiresome, so what's say we talk this through

Corey looks at Danielle. "I don't know any Filinia. She's clearly not one of the blessed." He's about to say more when he's summarily disarmed, and that does bring his brows to his hair line, along with a suddenly high pitched, "Hey!" And then as no further violence happens and he's given a chance to speechify, he starts, "The Unicorn is the true savior of us all. Those who fail to properly respect and serve her will all pay the price. There is a reason for the terrible fog, it's the unbelievers bringing their punishment down to all of us who haven't taken care of them properly. The Unicorn expects us to deal with the unbelievers, and to take care of ourselves. After all is done, there will be the unicorn, in the beginning there was the unicorn, and when she swished her tail, then the believers were born. And so we follow the one true religion. The Unicorn's tail teaches us to flick away our enemies, to hoard our resources and to be sure we don't allow any non-believers to pollute our purity." He glances again at Danielle, and says, "You see what I'm saying right? It's all so easy to see, and to follow the precepts of the Tail."

Amy stares for a long moment, listening to the absolute tripe this crazy man - is he even more than a teenager? - is speaking. "Okay," she says finally. "This has to stop. It's not right. Maybe we can't do much right at the moment, but we are going to deal with all these crazy fanatics." There's a mutinous tilt to her head, and a dark scowl on her face. "You," she says to Corey, "Are going to tell the rest of your folks that they are going to leave this room be. We are going to fix the water supply for the entire city, and if you try to hoard it, we will be back to do more than disarm you."

Kynan sighs. "The unicore giveth, the unicorn taketh away. I would be wary of a mythical beast giving precepts. If the situation here is the result of the Unicorn, I would question whether it has your best interests at heart. For now, I would recommend that you high tail it out of here for the time being, before this goes much further."

\

"I am no priest nor am I a Paladin. So my understanding of the tenets of the Unicorn's religion aren't the most learned. Though I'm pretty sure not being a horses ass was among them. Though said less colorfully so. So I believe you may be wrong there. I am sorry." Gavin's own blade is held at the ready but not threating at the moment.

Vitas rolls with advantage 1 at difficulty 15, using animal ken,summoning.
The result is a success.

Vitas listens to Corey and thinks things over. Vitas nods once, agreeably: "Mmmm. Hokay, I'll try it." Vitas smudges a bit of cracked plaster rubble onto his forehead, swirl-ish-ly. Though I might 'spand out to cover more of Her Blessedness. I do like Unicorns and all the other nature stuffs, and I'm good at religious! Me old one taught us how to do THIS:" Vitas then demonstrates, calling upon the Spirits of The Natural World. Closing his eyes, solemnly concentrating, and performing a few key preliminary and vaguely mysterious gestures of cryptic and unknown derivation, Vitas intones his incantation: "Oy, Rattie, get o'er 'ere, will ya? Where ya at, mate?" These mystic syllables of thaumaturgical invocation activate the summoning magics of Vitas' sacred lunar birthright, and in response to his sacred efforts, *Pure Magic Itself* coalesces out of *Just About Nothing* and subsequently incarnates as a medium-grey Rodent - Of - Perfectly - Usual - Size. Despite its clearly very recent paranormal origin and manifestly visible 'un-evaporation,' the fuzzy grey rat recently woven of pure magical energies looks and behaves exactly as would a flesh and blood rat of mundane natural origin, except when it doesn't. "Eeek?" the rat wonders, looking about and twitching its whiskers. Vitas stands proudly, shoulders back, and points to the rat. "Hah!" "See! Nature -do- respond to humans. 'Coz we's ain't sep-rate." "Eeek," agrees Rattie. "So. When and where are th' meetin's at?" (Vitas doesn't call it Church, in case there's nascent conflict brewing, with the pre-existing Church Of The Unicorn.) Vitas and Rattie look over to Corey, expectantly. Attentively. With hopeful eyes. Could these be . . . converts?

Danielle hms "A knight and a mage. A handy one you are sir Vytos, indeed. As for you I do not claim to be personal friends with the unicorn, though my bloodline claimed its blessing immaterial really as someone has lied to you. You need not kill to beat back the fog"

Corey listens to Vitas, and then he says, "They - if you're truly interested, then meet us in a week here, and we'll test your truth and loyalty to the Unicorn." He has lost his sword, and is more than a little wary at the appearance out of nowhere of a rat. Well, there are rats in the sewers and the caves here, so he can almost convince himself that it's just a coincidence. Almost. He turns to spit on the floor, and then says, "I'll leave for now, but this is our turf, and you ain't taking it without a fight."

Amy does not look impressed. She crosses her arms in front of her, and there is a very definite scowl on her face. She waits until this Corey guy is gone and then turns to Vitas. "Are you really joining them?" she asks him, unable to resist.

Kynan says, "I have little interest in real estate. More trouble than it is worth, with the taxes, and the depreciation, and the maintenance. I am sure you can keep it."

\

Gavin looks less than impressed but he stays where he's at. He casts an eye to Amethyst a look of by your leave. Then he exhales. "Neat trick with the rat. Next thing I expect is a cat to chase it."

Vitas grins. (!Oh my, what big teeth you have!) : "Sure enough, 'tis possibly bull shit. Or horse shit. Or cow shit. Or Unicorn shit. But the world has Changed, right? We've sore needs to find out -how-, I deem. An' well, who knows, mebbe they could know sumthin' that -we- don't even know, as yet? Aighn't none harmed by givin' a Listen, an' lestaways I -do- like Unicorns. If in the end they're all tomfool idiots, . . . well, I just wasted some time is all. . . " Vitas shrugs, " . . . and time is something we do appear to have in abundance. Unlike water and food." At least that is how Vitas sees it. Rattie has a more 'Down to Earth' and grounded approach. Stands to reason, as Rattie is in fact, much more 'down to earth' being closer to the ground most times. Rattie knows that "Meetings" have "Snacks." At least sometimes they do. Some even have . . CHEESE! Rattie can get religious 'bout cheese. Yup, that's certainly doable.

Danielle hms "Magic still works inconsistent. I will figure it out but we can't necessarily fight all comers. We need to establish our own base of operations and learn to deal with locals. How many factions? Who has the position of strength? Who can be lead?"

Amy shakes her head. "There's like five or six of these groups across the city, each of them claiming to be the one true religion. I don't think any of them know anything," she says. "Maybe talk with Kyrie about it, she managed to talk one group into thinking she's their prophet or something." She goes back to make sure that the water is turned off, and then she shrugs. "I guess we should let Filinia know, before that guy comes back to turn the water flow back on."