A record of a test game I'm doing using DnD 5e as a base within a modern setting. Posts are made collaboratively outside of here but hosted here as a matter of preservation.
If you wish, follow Astra the sorcerer as he lives a modern life in the fictional island nation of Tarcago and manages an apartment complex hosting all manner of supernatural creatures and nuisances whilst dealing with the deadliest beast of the them all: Capitalism.
---
The crowing of a rooster rung out through the neighborhood, awakening any who weren't already up and about for their daily routine. Astra himself was already two hours into a slow workday, situated in the leasing office in Building A of the complex. It was the middle of September now, so leasing season had mostly wound down. There was little filing to do day-to-day until the current set of leases expired, and one could only clean their desk so many times. Most days, Astra and his co-workers had little to occupy themselves other than file maintenance calls and sort mail.
They could also listen to the radio, but only stations approved by the landlord.
All that you got, skin to skin, oh my God
Don't ya stop, boy
He had recieved a lot of noise complaints actually, but most were about the rooster and that was a matter out of his control. Trinity City was the largest city in Tarcago and had become a fairly bustling metropolis, but it still had some quirks of a smaller town. In particular, the boarding house next door was also home to a large chicken coop - completely allowed by the municipalities zoning laws. Some would call it quaint, but those people probably didn't have to live with it.
Somethin' 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout you
Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout
Astra's eye twitched. Letting out a shuddering sigh, the red head willed himself to stay perfectly still. Tap the desk too hard and a bolt of green fire would short out the radio. Breathe too loudly and his magic might find another way to do it.
Thanks a ton, Dad.
He didn't need to have his pay docked over a damn song. Sure, it was the 10th time he'd heard it that week, but setting the radio on fire wouldn't set Ariana Grande on fire - not even symbolically. Plus, if he was lucky, the next song would be...
Something I've heard 9 times this week.
He groaned inwardly and put his head down on his desk.
As though a genie had heard his wish, the static that was formerly known as Arianna Grande was briefly interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing on Astra's right. The other desk that occupied the far left corner of the office -usually Juan's- was currently void, meaning the task fell to the beleaguered sorcerer. Something to do might be welcome, but the sound of that telephone by this point likely left a deeper scar on Astra's ears than any pop song had.
Still, likely wouldn't be a good idea to ignore it.
This time, the groan was outward, as Astra regarded the ringing phone on his desk. The look of irritation drained from his face, replaced with a weariness. His mind filled with a million possible problems, as the phone rang - once, twice...
Eventually, before the answering machine (if they had one) could cut in, he gently lifted the receiver. Turning on his best impression of an electronic voice, the Sorcerer began to speak with the slow and measured assurance of the very machine he had cut off.
"This is Trinity Village Leasing Office, Building A. No one is here to take your call at this time. Please leave your name, number and a detailed message and we will return your call as soon as we can. This is a recording." He finished with a beep.
It wasn't a very good impression.
"Ah! Astra -"
Damnit.
" - just the guy I was looking for. How's it going, firecracker?" It was perhaps the worst voice he could hear - his boss. A deep, but somehow lilting tone that somehow sounded condescending now matter the content.
"Mr. King!" Astra replied smoothly, voice turning sweeter. "Oh, everything's fine over here. Just prepping for the busy season, like always!" He was really glad no one else was here, or they might have seen the faintly unhingedly smile on his face.
"Good to hear, good to hear. Always makes me happy to hear my worker bees buzzing." That had to be sarcasm but it certainly sounded sincere. "So, I'm looking at the shift calendar. Juan isn't in the office today, right?"
"Nope." Astra's sweet tone dropped to a much more matter-of-fact - vaguely annoyed - one.
"Hmm. Well, I would typically send Juan to handle this, but we have a roommate dispute we need handled. I told the residents we'd send someone to see if we could help mediate a peaceful resolution. You think you'd be up to the task?"
He half-groaned half-grunted into the phone, leaning back in his chair. "IIIIII guess soooo." Astra drew the words out, "Did they say anything else?" He combed a hand through his bright red hair.
"That Benjamin fellow - room 413 - apparently has been heard having some shouting matches with his roomate, Dren. He thinks Dren's taking things from his room - quite a serious offense if it's true. Lock up the office for a bit and see if you can get them to kiss and make up - or if you can, just find a reason for me to just evict one of them. I'll warn you though, Benji's quite a big guy - he's that sasquatch looking fellow. Think he plays rugby. Just keep your cool though and I'm sure all will go well."
Before moving to Tarcago, Astra would probably assume 'sasquatch' was just a rude comparison, but here it may or may not be a legitimate descriptor. Monstrous folk were much more abundant here, and the island's size made the population denser as well.
Astra hummed knowingly. "Alright Mr. King, I'll give it my best." With that, the red-head hung up the phone quietly. With a yawn, the dragonling stood from his seat and stretched.
Coooould be worse. He supposed, casting a glance toward the radio.
Thankfully for Astra, Room 413 was still in building A even if it was the top floor, so he could save himself a trip out into the Tarcagan sun. Summers got hot here, and many residents cooled off in the pool, but that wasn't a luxury one could have on the clock.
If you wish, follow Astra the sorcerer as he lives a modern life in the fictional island nation of Tarcago and manages an apartment complex hosting all manner of supernatural creatures and nuisances whilst dealing with the deadliest beast of the them all: Capitalism.
---
The crowing of a rooster rung out through the neighborhood, awakening any who weren't already up and about for their daily routine. Astra himself was already two hours into a slow workday, situated in the leasing office in Building A of the complex. It was the middle of September now, so leasing season had mostly wound down. There was little filing to do day-to-day until the current set of leases expired, and one could only clean their desk so many times. Most days, Astra and his co-workers had little to occupy themselves other than file maintenance calls and sort mail.
They could also listen to the radio, but only stations approved by the landlord.
All that you got, skin to skin, oh my God
Don't ya stop, boy
He had recieved a lot of noise complaints actually, but most were about the rooster and that was a matter out of his control. Trinity City was the largest city in Tarcago and had become a fairly bustling metropolis, but it still had some quirks of a smaller town. In particular, the boarding house next door was also home to a large chicken coop - completely allowed by the municipalities zoning laws. Some would call it quaint, but those people probably didn't have to live with it.
Somethin' 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout you
Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't
Somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout, somethin' 'bout
Astra's eye twitched. Letting out a shuddering sigh, the red head willed himself to stay perfectly still. Tap the desk too hard and a bolt of green fire would short out the radio. Breathe too loudly and his magic might find another way to do it.
Thanks a ton, Dad.
He didn't need to have his pay docked over a damn song. Sure, it was the 10th time he'd heard it that week, but setting the radio on fire wouldn't set Ariana Grande on fire - not even symbolically. Plus, if he was lucky, the next song would be...
Something I've heard 9 times this week.
He groaned inwardly and put his head down on his desk.
As though a genie had heard his wish, the static that was formerly known as Arianna Grande was briefly interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing on Astra's right. The other desk that occupied the far left corner of the office -usually Juan's- was currently void, meaning the task fell to the beleaguered sorcerer. Something to do might be welcome, but the sound of that telephone by this point likely left a deeper scar on Astra's ears than any pop song had.
Still, likely wouldn't be a good idea to ignore it.
This time, the groan was outward, as Astra regarded the ringing phone on his desk. The look of irritation drained from his face, replaced with a weariness. His mind filled with a million possible problems, as the phone rang - once, twice...
Eventually, before the answering machine (if they had one) could cut in, he gently lifted the receiver. Turning on his best impression of an electronic voice, the Sorcerer began to speak with the slow and measured assurance of the very machine he had cut off.
"This is Trinity Village Leasing Office, Building A. No one is here to take your call at this time. Please leave your name, number and a detailed message and we will return your call as soon as we can. This is a recording." He finished with a beep.
It wasn't a very good impression.
"Ah! Astra -"
Damnit.
" - just the guy I was looking for. How's it going, firecracker?" It was perhaps the worst voice he could hear - his boss. A deep, but somehow lilting tone that somehow sounded condescending now matter the content.
"Mr. King!" Astra replied smoothly, voice turning sweeter. "Oh, everything's fine over here. Just prepping for the busy season, like always!" He was really glad no one else was here, or they might have seen the faintly unhingedly smile on his face.
"Good to hear, good to hear. Always makes me happy to hear my worker bees buzzing." That had to be sarcasm but it certainly sounded sincere. "So, I'm looking at the shift calendar. Juan isn't in the office today, right?"
"Nope." Astra's sweet tone dropped to a much more matter-of-fact - vaguely annoyed - one.
"Hmm. Well, I would typically send Juan to handle this, but we have a roommate dispute we need handled. I told the residents we'd send someone to see if we could help mediate a peaceful resolution. You think you'd be up to the task?"
He half-groaned half-grunted into the phone, leaning back in his chair. "IIIIII guess soooo." Astra drew the words out, "Did they say anything else?" He combed a hand through his bright red hair.
"That Benjamin fellow - room 413 - apparently has been heard having some shouting matches with his roomate, Dren. He thinks Dren's taking things from his room - quite a serious offense if it's true. Lock up the office for a bit and see if you can get them to kiss and make up - or if you can, just find a reason for me to just evict one of them. I'll warn you though, Benji's quite a big guy - he's that sasquatch looking fellow. Think he plays rugby. Just keep your cool though and I'm sure all will go well."
Before moving to Tarcago, Astra would probably assume 'sasquatch' was just a rude comparison, but here it may or may not be a legitimate descriptor. Monstrous folk were much more abundant here, and the island's size made the population denser as well.
Astra hummed knowingly. "Alright Mr. King, I'll give it my best." With that, the red-head hung up the phone quietly. With a yawn, the dragonling stood from his seat and stretched.
Coooould be worse. He supposed, casting a glance toward the radio.
Thankfully for Astra, Room 413 was still in building A even if it was the top floor, so he could save himself a trip out into the Tarcagan sun. Summers got hot here, and many residents cooled off in the pool, but that wasn't a luxury one could have on the clock.