Golden Age: Revival

"Suspiciously specific denial."

*She turns to leave, but Nero grabs her by the arm.*

"You're Pele, aren't you?"

*The girl doesn't answer, but turns towards them.*

"And from what you say, it sounds like someone's trying to kill you. Or at least take you away from the island."
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*Euryale sneaks up behind it & smashes its head between her hands. Naturally, it sprays discolored ichor all over Taiyo.*

"Just kill it, they aren't that tough!"
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~Back at the hotel~

Old woman<So, did you meet the new President? He used to be in office once before, you know.>

Azuma:<We met him. Can't say he's the nicest person I've ever met.>

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"Neither am I!"

*Taiyo throws what's left of it away.*

"Ew ew ew ew ew!"

"Fair enough" Aiden rushes the disoriented kappa and with a single strike breaks it's neck killing it.

Allina: <Pele? Who is Pe--Ohhh.. Wait. So what you're saying is she's some Hawaian volcano goddess?>

"No, she's THE Hawaiian Volcano Goddess."

Pele<I suppose the secret's out. A group of humans found the chains used on both Helios & Prometheus. They're trying to draw me out so that they can capture me.>
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"But these are really weak. They're barely tougher than frogs of the same size. You--ahh--might want to get back in the water for a little bit."
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Woman<He never was. Not now, not a thousand years ago, not when he was a Tsar.>

*Azuma in the middle of a yawn begins coughing, his eyes wide with surprise.*

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"

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"Will you come with me?"

*Taiyo slinks back into the water*

Aiden sighs, "I need to go pay for the damages."

Allina: <Yeah, what? I seriously need to wake up. And go pee. Maybe get a glass of water.>

*Nero pulls a hair out of the back of Allina's neck, observing her wincing.*

N"Yeah, you're awake. Now, when you say, 'group of humans...'?"

*She shakes her head.*

Pele<It's too much right now. You'll have to come to the realization gradually. Just one clue before we part ways: Thiera Psyche is not your only enemy.>

*They then feel drowsy &, before they know what happened, they're back in the hotel, & it's morning.*
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"No. I have to go get dressed. We should get to the Himalayas now more than ever. We just need a faster mode of travel...hopefully one that doesn't fly."
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*Looking around, they notice that everyone else in the lobby has eerily fallen asleep.*

Old woman<Koshkey has been away from his home country far longer than he claims.>

*She begins weaving & the duo see a story unfold somewhere between holographs in midair & images in their own minds. A palace looms above them with a gnarled, leering shadow of an old man in the window.*

Old woman<Koshkey was a tyrranical Tsar with a lecherous streak. As he got older, he began to fear that he might one day lie down & never wake up. So he found some magic that let him seal his soul away into an egg. Carefully, he sealed that egg in a padded chest, & hid it upon a mystical, vanishing isle. Koshkey the Deathless ruled over his kingdom for many years, before one day he simply vanished into legend, none knowing where he was or when he'd return. But I knew. I always knew. For I can never be kept away for very long.>

"I assume you're also some weird lives for an obscenely long time kind of person as well."

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"Ohhh..."

*Taiyo sinks so only her nose and above are visible.*

Aiden returns shortly after and knocks on the divider, "Hey, lets get going, I called in a favor and got us a ride."

Allina: <I had the weirdest dream. ...Have you been playing with vodoo dolls or something? I always knew you were kinda shady.>

*A few moments later, Euryale is dressed & leaving the spring.*

"This wouldn't happen to be a rapevan, would it?"
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"That wasn't a dream! Honestly, why are you so slow on the uptake?"
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<I am neither alive, nor a person, but I am not dead, either.>

"No" Aiden says, "Old friend of the family's son, he drives like shit though so you should buckle up and pray to the gods we don't die."

Waiting for them was their vehicle, an old station wagon looking thing with a blue haired youth in the driver seat. He waved half heartedly.

OOC: Introduction complete.

"That raises more questions."

Mimiru:<So if you're not dead or alive or a person, what are you?>

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*A few minutes later Taiyo leaves grumbling something about frog-fish monsters, blood, and her favorite bikini.*

Allina: <Too mad to get a joke?>

*She rubs the back of her neck*

Allina: <I hate you.>

Woman<I am Drioma, spirit of the night & sleep. I brought you here to get rid of Koshkey.>
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*Euryale gets in the back of the vehicle.*

"Are you mad?"
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<Cry about it.>

*The apartment is gripped by rumbling. The pair fall to the floor, landing on top of each other as the television switches on.*

Reporter<...Today at 3:30 in the afternoon. When volcanologists were asked what the chains were for, they replied that they may need to move heavy igneous rock from the chaldera....>

*She grumbles upon falling but becomes silent as soon as she notices the TV is on. She widens her eyes at the mention of the word "chains", completely forgetting she's on top of Nero.*

Allina: <Does she want us to help her? I'm up for it.>

"That sounds..."

Mimiru:<Great! How do we do that?>

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"A little. I don't know if frog-fish monster blood comes out of lycra."

"Eh?" Ren asks.

"Don't talk, drive" Aiden says as he buckles up.

Ren shrugs and slams his foot on the accelerator. Away they went.

Drioma<Well, you can't kill him. His soul is still safely out of reach. But suppose you were to expose his Tsarish views to the public....>
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"Diving headfirst into the rim of a volcano? Sounds like fun."

*He grabs his coat & gargles some mouth wash before heading out the door, spitting it at some unfortunate hotel worker who just so happened to be on a smoke break in the wrong place at the wrong time.*
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"So then. Do you know any more about what Thiera Psyche is doing at the Himalayas?"

"And how do you suppose we do that? Sneak into the Kremlin like spies or something and record him being an asshole?"

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*Taiyo sits there quietly.*

"Not currently, but, maybe something stupid like she's looking for Shangri-la, though the legends state thats in the Kunlun Mountain range." Aiden shrugs.

*Allina runs out as well, stopping by the worker to whisper to his ear*

Allina: <(Mentally retarded.)>

*She runs to Nero*

"Shamballa! Of course, it all makes sense now!"

*She looks around at all of them, as if to see the sudden dawning of comprehension on their faces.*
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*When they arrive at the volcano, it's roped off at the bottom. There are a number of news teams, scientists in volcano suits, & people from the British Historical Society.*

"I knew they were involved in this."
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Drioma<You mean to tell me you can't do anything on your own?>