[Continuum] Tree Top City

[Valeric]

Kelethin, the Tree Top City

Ten ancient trees serve as support beams for a skyward village. Each platform is roughly 120' by 120' accommodation on each platform are: shops, homes, a bank and a chapel. Each platform is connected by wooden rope bridges that support massive weight due to magical treatment. The ropes however can be cut and planks can be broken by enough force. The platforms are stacked in height the middle tree housing the bank is the highest at 200 feet, the lowest houses the elevator lift at 75 feet. Mud, dirt, hard packed soil and rocks line ground bellow the city.

Magical Properties: Earth, wood, and wind users would have a slight advantage.

[Valeric]

Mulberry was perched upon a thick tree branch, wide enough for two grown men to walk abreast without fear of falling down. It was more than a hundred feet to the ground from here; not something most people can live to tell a tale of. The trees in this forest were ancient. No, perhaps the word ancient wasn't sufficient to paint a correct picture of their true age. Whatever world this place came from, Mulberry had a feeling these primordial trees had existed as long as the earth and the sky. Their colossal size alone were worthy of worship.

Connected to their thick trunks were constructs that certainly weren't natural. Houses, made by people. Wooden planks were hammered into each tree trunk, forming ring platforms to support several buildings. Mulberry could spot at least eight of them each attached to a different tree, connected by long rope bridges. The denizens of this settlement could be seen mulling around the place, oblivious to how they stood out like a sore thumb in this pristine jungle. She didn't like them, but they were infinitely preferable to the humans she used to know. If she didn't have a reason to visit Kelethin, she wouldn't never have bothered climbing all the way up here.

Something was brewing in this place, and what little magic capabilities she still had told her it wasn't something good. All the local fauna had begun to keep their distance from Kelethin, shunning it like it was cursed. Mulberry could tell something was wrong, but it was nothing more than a gut feeling, like a constant oppressive pressure that pushed out upon her spirits. She would have to go nearer to investigate the source.

She slunk down the tree trunk, her limbs ending in sharp digits that allowed her to grasp firmly onto the bark. The jelly-like creature, originally a leaf green tone, rippled into the deep colors of the rough bark as she moved, a seamless transition that would have drawn no attention. From afar, her camouflage was almost perfect. She leaped onto the first roof she came upon, and noticing a small skylight, she proceeded to enter the building. It was impossible for a creature her size to fit through the small rectangular aperture, but she grabbed the ledge with her arms and shoved her face at the window. Her head squeezed through with almost no resistance, deforming like a soft rubber ball. She slid through the skylight and landed inside.

Mulberry found herself in a dark attic. Sensing no immediate danger, Mulberry dropped her camouflage. Instead of brown, she was now a vibrant, bright pink color, a shade that would be impossible to miss even in a giant crowd. Her hair sways unnaturally as she stretched her neck- a mass of wide tentacles that reach past her ears that mimic the appearance of human hair. There was an uncomfortable feeling on her limbs.

"Urgh, dust!" she cried out in disgust. Dust adheres to her moist skin easily, and was difficult to remove without a water source. The feeling was also very uncomfortable.

The overwhelming silence inside the house led Mulberry to think that the house was empty. Nevertheless, she carefully poked her head out of the attic door before creeping out in silence. The top floor appeared to be empty too, but a familiar smell told her something was up. It was blood. Going down a flight of stairs, she found out what happened to the occupant.

A dead person lay sprawled on the floor, with one foot propped on the staircase. Her long, blonde hair spread out in messy tangles on the floor, parts of it steeped in blood. She had dark blue skin and light golden irises, eyes still wide open in a frozen expression of shock. Mulberry had no idea what species she belonged to. A gash across her chest appeared to be her cause of death. It must have penetrated her lungs and heart, killing her within moments. She had no defense wounds and her clothing was still intact, indicating she didn't even put up a fight before her death. Most likely a surprise attack, or the victim wasn't expecting the culprit to attack.

Mulberry crouched over her body for a few moments, taking in all this information. She was sure blatant murder wasn't a common event amongst the creatures that lived in Kelethin. There was nothing to suggest a connection, but Mulberry couldn't help but think of the possibility that the brewing darkness in town was related to this murder. If it was, she was extremely fortunate to have stumbled upon a clue immediately after entering the town. The forest spirits must be smiling upon her.

There wasn't much more she could discern from the corpse, so she proceeded to explore the house instead. The lady had to have some food lying around somewhere, and if she didn't, Mulberry supposed she wouldn't mind what happens to her body after she's dead.

Mulberry sneaks into Kelethin, finding a murdered woman in a house.

[Alphakoka]

Are walked through the leafy ground of the forest towards the Tree Top City of Kelethin. He looked up into the darkness above him and can faintly make the circle shapes that formed the platforms of the city. The trees were ancient, maybe older, not to mention teeming with magical power, from the trees, the spirits surrounding the place and the inhabitants. He wouldn't be surprised if he were to met another Dregas here. However, a reunion would have to wait, he has something to take care off, can't have the book owner waiting for her client. Smiling a little, Are shifted the bag on his back a little before going to the elevator lift that leads to the city.

Once stepping off the lift, Are was greeted by the wooden layout of the city and the bustling atmosphere of the inhabitants. There were something in the air that seemed different. The youth shrugged as he didn't what caused it and his current concern would have to take priority. He then produced a map that he drew from what he was told about where the woman with the book lived. While it was crudely, and rather badly, drawn, it was enough for him to at least know where the house was. Though asking someone to interpret the map would be a futile effort. As he continued his way, Are examined the people and the buildings. He watched their expressions and the intricate markings on the building and then wondered the history of each.

Crossing the first of the bridge, Are couldn't help but wonder how the inhabitants built such a large bridge as there seemed to be none that has the capability to fly. The use of magic seemed obvious as he can feel traces of them on the bridge. Then he considered the possibility that the people inhabiting it right now were simply people that moved in after the Disjunction, while the original inhabitants were wiped out. What are the chances of that happened? Such a pity if that actually happened, though. Sighing, Are then returned to his route, walking higher and higher to his destination.

It took him awhile to reach the house. He was late from the intended time as he lost his way several times. Taking a deep breath, Are knocked on the door several times, hopefully the owner of the house was still expecting and hasn't gone anywhere. Instead of what he expected, the knocks caused the door to be pushed open. Are frowned at the open door and waited for any sort of reply from the owner. Nothing came. He watched civilizations often enough that he knew something was wrong. He carefully stepped inside the house and was greeted by the smell of blood as the air inside the house shifted. Alarmed, he quickly ran after the source and found the corpse of the person he assumed to be the contact he was going to meet. Was she murdered because of the book? If it was because of the book, then there's no guarantee that it was still in the house. Are cursed on the turn of event. If only there were some sort of clue or, at least, someone to ask about it. Grumbling, he started to made his way out before spotting something pink and large. Something he had never seen before.

[Valeric]

Fortunately her kitchen was well stocked with fresh goods. She swiped a few fruits from the larder and popped them into her mouth, swallowing them without chewing. Through her translucent body they could be seen suspended in her pink flesh. Her body would soon secrete acid to dissolve the fruits, before she could absorb it into her body. The process takes time, so she prefers to consume liquid substances when presented with the choice.

When she came out of the kitchen, she found that the dead woman was no longer alone. Alarmed, Mulberry automatically assumed a fighting stance. A long appendage began stretching out of the small of her back, concealed from sight from the intruder. It would soon be tipped with a curved blade dripping with toxin produced from her body.

A human stood in the living room, young in age with a head of straight blonde hair. His clothing suggested he was a traveler, and he was armed with a sword; a tool that could have produced the fatal wound on the woman. There was an unearthly aura to him that smelled of magic. He appeared to be startled at her appearance. It wasn't surprising, considering she was a unique existence even in her own world.

"Who are you?" Mulberry asked suspiciously. It was probably no coincidence that he chose to enter this house. The man knew something about the victim. Mulberry's legs were bent and tense, ready to spring at any moment.

[Alphakoka]

Are kept staring at the pink humanoid before it started to talk, which made him jump a bit. Of course, he should've expected it, after all, the Dregas' avatar was still capable of speech even when they're not using a humanoid form. Now how could he ever thought that the humanoid in front of him wouldn't be able to? Unless it's not sentient, but that appears to be an obvious thing to realize. Its suspicion can be understood even if out of place, he was never told about the female having any talking pink...slime. He didn't bother to put an arm on his sword to ready it or draw it. He didn't want to aggravate the pink thing more than he could avoid. Besides, the range between it and him meant he wouldn't draw it quick enough before it could reach him. Either way, he wouldn't be able to use his sword. Instead, he started focusing power to his feet in order to Wind dash should he need it.

"That's my line," he said while waving an arm. "I'm here to talk with owner of the house but instead find her murdered and a talking pink...humanoid that I don't even know related to her ask me who I am. So yeah, I think it's better if you start with introducing yourself before I do, pink...eh, whatever you are."

He locked his eye with the pink humanoid, ready to react whenever it decides to do anything but talk.

[Valeric]

Try as she might, Mulberry couldn't tell if the person was anything but a normal human. They all looked the same to her. There wasn't a hint of hostility in his tone, only tense apprehension. Mulberry disliked how he answered her question with another question, but she had not the patience to protest.

"I am Lady Mulberry, sentinel of the forest. I have my reasons to be here," she replied, her voice level. She was usually a friendly, chatty little creature, but that side of her was reserved for her friends.

"You said you are here to talk to this lady?" Mulberry asked, gesturing to the corpse. "Who is she, and why is she dead?"

Mulberry masked her approach with the casual conversation, but it also served to close the distance between her and the human. A measure of insurance, in case he decided to do anything she didn't like. Her tail-blade was now fully formed, stretching out over four feet in length. Clear liquid droplets lined its edge.

[Alphakoka]

The Dregas blinked once at Mulberry. The sentinel must have been from a different world if she didn't identify him as a spirit of nature. Well, with his current situation, he himself doubted whether he could identify another Dregas. Nevertheless, since the sentinel had been so kind to introduce herself, he should introduce himself. The question is, how he should do so?

"Ahh, my friends call me Are," he finally replied. As he had no idea what she was after, it might be better for him to hide things that easily overlooked or hidden. Besides, observing the reaction of people he interacted with when they noticed what he was were always interesting. If sometimes dangerous. He moved when Mulberry gestured to the corpse.

"Well, all I know is her name was Malia and that she was keeping a book with magical properties, I came here to ask if I can take a look at it. If I have to take a guess, the reason she's dead might be for that book," he replied as he looked at the corpse before sighing. "If that was the case, I'm not going to get a look of it, what luck."

He didn't know what reason the sentinel was after or what the book did. But, if the reason she was here was the book and if the book was the reason the female was killed, he might as well tag along since it might be his only chance of getting it. To do that, he had to get the sentinel's trust to a degree. Not acting violently or showing any form of aggression should start.

[Valeric]

"The book had magical properties?" Mulberry wasn't sure what this was leading to, but anything magic was a start. If the book was of enough importance to murder someone for it, it might be a Grimoire of significant power. Exactly the sort of object a sorcerer attempting a large scale magical ritual might need to complete his work. Lost in her thoughts, Mulberry had not realized that a portion of her tail was now visible by Are.

"Then why are you after the book? Are you a collector?" Although he had answered her questions truthfully, Mulberry still did not know his reasons for seeking the book. She understood that magic was only a tool, and only the wielder could do good or evil with it. Mulberry herself was once an adept in the ways of magic, and she put her abilities to deliver justice to the evil humans.

[Alphakoka]

Are glanced back to Mulberry and saw what looked like tail behind her. He shrugged it off as he had seen several humanoids with tails. A pink humanoid with a tail was hardly something new, though he should note it if she was to get hostile. He hid his thought by focusing his sight to Mulberry's head before replying.

"That's what I was told but there might be other reasons that this happened besides the book," he said as he looked from the body to the trails of blood. "And, yeah, I guess you can call me a collector."

He then turned and faced Mulberry. The blood was still wet, meaning the killer should still be nearby. He could explain his whole story, but it would take time. And where's the fun in letting the other side learn themselves?

"Look, I think we can both assume that neither of us were the one to kill her and that we have our reasons to be here," he said while gesturing to the body. "But whoever killed her is nearby, and if you don't know where the book she's keeping is, I'd rather continue this talk while looking for the killer who might knew about it."

[Valeric]

Before Are could finish his sentence, something moved behind him. Something dark and big, that had entered the house from the entrance. At the same time, there was a loud crash accompanied by the sound of wood splintering coming from above them. Mulberry was instantly hit by a chill that went through her body, making her shiver in disgust.

The creature in the living room was now in full sight. It was a giant humanoid beast, with overgrown arms as thick as tree trunks, ending in long yellowing nails. Its head was grotesque, and a long pair of horns grew from its exposed skull, twisting around to face forward. Smoke belched from the gaps of its jaws. Its body was strong and knotted with muscle, but the creature's hind legs were curiously stunted. There was little doubt in Mulberry's mind what this thing was.

"Demons!" she screamed, pointing behind Are. The demon growled throatily in return, then wasted no time to begin accelerating towards them. They were caught in a fairly enclosed space. Although it didn't seem like the demon could even fit in the corridor, somehow Mulberry thought it wasn't going to be an issue for the beast. They could dive into the kitchen, but it was an enclosed room that would leave them with little options to escape. Mulberry chose to scramble for the stairs instead, hoping she could beat the demonic bulldozer to it.