Underdogs Eat For Free (Graded)

Open; Anyone. Come have a bite, meet the Hyx!

Etzos, ‘The City of Stones’ is a fortress against the encroachment of Immortal domination of Idalos. Founded on the backs of mortals driven to seek their own destiny independent of the Immortals, the city has carved itself out of the very rock of the land. Scourged by terrible wars of extermination, they've begun to grow again, and with an eye toward expansion, optimism is on the rise.

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Mal
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Underdogs Eat For Free (Graded)

And through suffering, we find our solace in the hearts and minds of other great men...
- Some guy, probably.

Ashan 76th

It was dangerous game . Headaches plowed into his mind like needles, and he was feeling crushed performing the task at hand. Mal had Metamorphosed four rats caught from the tunnels into Hyx thus far, ahead of his crew of four men carrying pots of the resulting stew, a fifth carrying dozens of sizable clay bowls, by which a sixth man pulled from the stack and poured, ladling out the hot, nourishing food while Mal protected them.
”I thought more would flee,” he told Danzig, his cook.
”Aye, you’re a scary lout but the smell of a good meal is irresistible when ‘yer starved,” the cook responded, his pot sloshing around as he plopped it on the ground. “Looks like we’re here.”

One by one, the remaining pots were set down at the busy intersection of homeless, thieves, and more importantly children. The rest of Mal’s meen fanned out, each armed with a bowl and hollering out into the dark.
”Aye, ye lads, get ‘yer food!” one bellowed, voice echoing out into the halls.
”This fellow’s Padfoot, heard of him? He’s a good one.”

Unsure of what to say, Mal sat back in the shadows before laying down, curling up to take a nap as feet streamed by. The air was filled with delightful ‘thank-you’s and the sound of dribbling stew, the crackle of sipped broth and the tears of those who hadn’t eaten in recent memory.

The beast, the Becomer-turned eight-foot-tall gigantic fox with bronze tusks, claws, and teeth simply lay there, head buried in his paws and that thick, bushy tail keeping his ears warm in the cold Underground. He was called Padfoot, or that was what the locals knew him to be called. There were all sorts of tales, saying he’d eat folks who got too close, but the most commonly told rumor happened to involve Padfoot as a dog rescuing a young thief from the City Guard--true, but embellished wildly by now.

The men felt good, especially Danzig; Mal’d brought Moriandis along, and the man complained constantly.
”My feet hurt, I need to take a break.”
Mal stirred, lifting his head to look over at the hunched-over male struggling with the bowls. “That’s not very redemption-like, Mori,” he chided. “Serve ten then take as many bits.” Mal yawned, putting his head down, trying to put the side effects of his Overstepping out of mind.

”Why aren’t you helping?” asked another one of his crew.
Mal growled just a bit, then spoke with his eyes closed; “food like this doesn’ jus’ grow on trees, y’know. Immortals I’ve got a fekkin’ headache righ’ now, too. Used too much ‘o my pow’r makin’ them Hyx for the folks to eat.”

That was the last anyone said in complaint.

At first everyone had scoffed at his idea to feed the homeless, and Mal remembered the feeling of what it was like to starve, to be unsure of your next meal; what it was like to be treated like dirt by any who could get a good job. Eventually they agreed, on the grounds that Mal needed a good reputation so folks would protect him and their business. Most wanted to keep being fed.

OOC
Steel Pot x2 - 2 GN
Clay Bowl x40 - 4 GN

If you haven't posted in 24 hours, the next person in the post order has the option to skip you.
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Finnegan O'Connor
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Underdogs Eat For Free

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Finn O'Connor
:: 76th Ashan, 717

It was late. He'd slipped out of the orphanage around lunch time and it was well past dinner time when he returned. He'd stayed most of the day helping out in a small pet shop, ran by an elderly lately with poor eyesight and trembling hands. Truth be told, he'd only arrived in the shop after hiding from a pair of guards on patrol that still hadn't forgiven him for having tied their shoelaces together and the comedic results thereof.

Perhaps, he thought to himself, the elderly lady had been too kind, stuffing him with sweets, for no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't manage to slip between the iron bars of the gate as he usually did. He glanced down at his tummy for a second, then decided that he hadn't gotten any fatter and was, in fact, quite hungry. Taking a step back, Finn looked up at the gate and considered his options. He could simply ring the bell that hung outside the gate, but then being sent to bed without food would be the least of his worries. Another option would be to scale the gate, except the pointy ends on the top didn't look particularly inviting.

Maybe he could throw a pebble at one of the windows and hope one of his friends would wake up and let him in?

Then he heard it. A distant voice called. Something about food? He turned on his heels and listened more carefully, but couldn't quite manage to discern the words. Nevertheless, he walked toward the source of the sound, and his suspicions were confirmed as the scent of stew came wafting his way. His stomach growled in reply and for the time being, he forgot about how he was going to get back into the orphanage.

Not much later he found the intersection where all manner of downtrodden folk had gathered. Having been an orphan and citizen of Etzos all his live, Finn knew quite well that the poorest of the poor tended to flock in these streets, and he also knew that the caretakers in the orphanage sternly warned against interacting with any of them. In fact, he'd been reminded on multiple occasions that if he didn't change his ways, he would soon end up like them...beyond any help. Cautious of the odd-looking assembly, Finn remained at the edge of the gathering and observed for a moment before his eyes fell on a great fox, the likes of which he had never seen before. No one seemed to mind the oversized animal and so he assumed the beast was tamed. Still, it looked quite imposing, even as it rested on the ground.

"Down on yer luck eh?"

Finn jumped at the sudden sound and was greeted by the laughter of a thin, elderly man and his three remaining teeth. "Dontcha worry, I ain't gonna hurt ya," the man said. "You look quite hungry," he added with a funny little look, "though not quite as hungry as some of them..." he shook his head and motioned his head towards the center of the square, where the last few bowls were being filled. "Go on, don't be shy. It's free and you won't be getting anything else soon, I bet."

Finn muttered a quick thanks before hurrying over to join the end of the queue where an empty bowl was shoved into his hands without further question. The ladle was scraping the bottom of the pot by the time he reached the front of the line and by the looks of it, he was the last poor soul to receive a meal that evening.

"Sorry," he muttered quietly to the cook overlooking the pot. The man didn't seem to hear him the first time. "Sorry," he said again, "d'you know who that," he nudged his chin in the direction of the fox, "belongs to? Is it tame?"

The cook gave him a confused look. Of all the starving children he'd met, none had asked questions, let alone with a bowl of warm food in his hands. Then again, he didn't recognize this particular boy with his messy brown hair. "You mean padfoot?" The cook replied. "He doesn't belong to anyone as far as I know, right Pad?" he added with a chuckle.

Finn had already wandered over to the large animal, completely unaware of whatever tales about the beast had been making rounds. If he'd stopped to see the warning looks people were giving him, perhaps he wouldn't have approached, but it was already too late. He set down his bowl on the cobblestone and crouched beside the big animal, his fingers gently stroking the resting fox. "It's so soft!" he beamed up in surprise at the cook who looked quite concerned all of a sudden.

OOC: if I need to change/fix anything, let me know!
Last edited by Finnegan O'Connor on Sat May 20, 2017 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 839
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Underdogs Eat For Free

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They say the road to damnation is paved with good intentions. Some sections of that road go through the Etzos Underground, where Padfoot is doing his best to help the poor neglected refugees and orphans of recent hard times.

While spirits are lifted temporarily by the free stew feed, and the recipients of this kindness look upon their benefactor with genuine gratitude, there is an element of this gesture that has been sadly overlooked.

It is not that the original source of the meat in this stew was a number of rats; many of these people have eaten rat meat more than once already. Many have developed this acquired taste by necessity. It is that this humble source has been transformed into the grandeur of hyx fare.

This is not to say that any of these starving derelicts would have any puritanical culinary complaint about such a transformation. But if they had known ahead of time that it was magic that brought it about, they may have had second thoughts about filling their bellies with meat soaked in mutagenic ether.

Anyone indulging in this feast is taking a risk of some sort of mutation. It may not happen immediately; or even for a dozen trials. It may be something that doesn't trigger until some additional element is introduced to their bodies. It may not be anything obvious from the outside. It may even remain latent within them to bring some ghastly disfigurement to their future offspring.

But rest assured, there will be consequences....
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Nauta F'mos Geey
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Underdogs Eat For Free

Etzos' Underground was at the top of things F'mos hated about the city, along with the Black Guard and the inferior Etzori. The Aukari never found anything good in that poorly lit maze which only suffocated him in each visit. He would rather avoid it unless there was a good reason to drop in. Unfortunately the new establishment which just opened, Down Under or something, was a good reason.

The new kitchen shared the same crowd of those in need with The Kettle where F'mos worked and eventually, news of the latter reached the Etzos' soup kitchen. The Blacks were glad to hear of the new operation as it could only help more of the people. They were however concerned about the changes to those which ate at the Downtrodden, like Jack which came to the Kettle with news and a new tail at the backside, oblivious of it until pointed out by an excited child.

"I'll check if you worried," F'mos offered to the duo distracted by the tail that without F'mos on watch the trial's food would have been ruined. Unlike the two, F'mos could care less about the Kettle's patrons. His interests were in the changes themselves. With some samples to study, the alchemist could increase his knowledge which would be useful for future creations. The Blacks did not need to know that of course. They only needed to be reminded of F'mos and his successful job for Sauncraft when he found its stolen items, around the time he started with the Blacks.

However the idea that nothing good ever happened in the Underground bounced in his head. Maybe it was just him as an Aukari or he was neither guard nor down on his luck to belong. Either way, F'mos knew he needed to mask himself especially when Underground for an investigation. The people in charge of the Downtrodden would not be happy once he snooped for the competition either. Fortunately, it was only a short detour to the market to get what he needed before he went down where the sun doesn't shine in Etzos.

The Downtrodden was the talk of the Underground and it did not take long for F'mos to be directed to it after he asked about the food. The signs were already about with a horned woman and excessive drool of a child on the way. The Aukari entered in an assortment of old clothes which hurt the eyes, a selection to add to the illusion he had no choice but to visit the Downtrodden. However as a chef selective of his own food, F'mos knew he would not look the part if scrutinised which was why he had also dirtied up his face with soot. To really make it look like his luck had run out on him.

Which probably really happened as a squeak escaped him when he laid eyes on the Hyx. His mind could only guess the reasons why such a beast would be there. For worship perhaps? One of the Immortals, or probably none if the Etzori chose to worship a beast instead in protest. As he watched for a while and could tell the visitors admired the Hyx but gave it its space. The Aukari could not blame them. As much as he favoured his own cat, there was no way for him to tell if it would ever attack him if with the right chance.

F'mos got to learn about Padfoot while he waited in line and what he heard was unbelievable. A thief saved from the guard? Possible. In fact, anyone present would try the same with the opportunity without consequences. Everything else? F'mos would only believe it when he sees it. Through his observations, he found Padfoot of Downtrodden quite strange though. Those which worked for the establishment often looked to the Hyx. It did not seem like they kept watch over it but more like... they wanted to satisfy it?

The crazy Hyx worshippers were curious but unimportant once F'mos had his bowl, an assurance that things would get better for him passed along with it. He rushed to the side where he would be overlooked, back to the crowd and cloak stretched to hide the bag he brought as he filled it with slop. At the very least he could tell the Downtrodden's cook knew his work, to make the best of the meat. There might be some truth to the rumours that the meat was Padfoot's kin, which could explain the oddity F'mos found in his examination of it.

It was when he worked with the second bowl that he heard the fuss. He turned back for a look and uttered "dularesi aut..." with dissatisfaction. It was just another troublemaker to him, as he could not see the kid he found earlier in the season clearly. A disadvantage of where he had chosen to collect his materials.
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Yrmellyn Cole
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Re: Underdogs Eat For Free

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Finnegan

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It’s easy to see why you don’t even tried to solo complete this thread. Your post is super and it showed all intention to write a good collaborative thread, but with the other posts belonging to two PCs belonging to people who aren’t here and one post being a mod bomb ... well, you tried your best to do your part so you get five points for your post and the knowledges you requested.

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Stealth: Leaving The Orphanage Unseen.
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