Horrid

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

I still live and my shit has been dealt with, the Brotherman is back.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

Baldwin

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November 18, 7:20 PM
East Commons - West Commons

Baldwin patted at the breast of his new black coat, cane tapping on the ground as he walked away from his residence. He had returned to his residence a while ago to change\, but had chosen to go for a stroll for the day, having the day off had its benefits after all. The cockatrice woman from before, Xilipha, had been rather generous after he spent a few token minutes speaking with her. A young gal, naive to a point. Conversing with her gave him a longing for the older days, so he stuck around for a spell. Sometimes conversation, with no outside motivation, was soothing. He couldn't help but smile as he looked down at himself.

This coat was rather different. For the most part it was an ordinary tailcoat, buttoned on both sides and instead of a collar, it sported a hood. Strange but very well-made. He buttoned it so his badge beneath was completely obscured.

As he strolled into the West Commons, he passed a small brood of lizard-children, batting a wooden ball around the street with sticks. He smiled at the brood and kept on strolling. It wasn't long before he had arrived at his destination.

---

November 18, 8:38 PM
West Commons, The Pale Horse

---

With a push, he made his way into the bar, his stride confident as he picked up his cane. The bar's environs were warm, inviting. It was pleasant enough. Looking around at it, every time he stepped into an establishment like it, he couldn't help but reminisce on his days of trawling bars and taverns for potential quarry. He felt slightly amiss without the leaves to brush at his back.

He pulled out a chair at one of the tables and set his cane between his legs, ready to simply enjoy the atmosphere. The crackling of the fire, the other patrons, the bustle of conversation. He smiled, as his stomach rumbled at him. The drink here was appealing, but the act of becoming drunk had lost its appeal many, many years ago. He would simply wave over one of the serving staff and order some food.

Something with meat, preferably.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

Always compliment your chicken women.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

Baldwin

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November 18, 5:52 PM
Markets

Through his buttoned shirt, Baldwin scratched at his chest autonomously as he walked. Stopping a habit itch was a thing of willpower, and whilst his will was strong in places, indulgence was not one of them. He looked down at himself as he wrenched his hand away. He looked rather scruffy at the moment, hardly befitting of a Hand. He could only sigh and push his eyeglasses up in an attempt to save face and look intellectual as he pushed through the crowds of fellow Nonhumans to peruse the stalls of the market. Maybe he could find some nicer clothing to replace these spattered rags.

Looking around at his fellow Nonhumans, it slightly disgusted him that he could hold a human shape so convincingly. around him all shapes and sizes bustled and frolicked, and here he stood, a facsimile of a human. He puzzled over Kantus' words to him, of his game and what he was doing. Truthfully, he didn't have an answer a short while ago just as he didn't now. Maybe a matter for another time.

He tore himself away from his musing to peruse a stall filled with various articles of clothing. His browsing was interrupted by the stall owner gasping and reaching out to him. The voice was slightly stuttered and had a chirpy tone to it.

"A-an honor it is, to have a Hand b-browsing my wares! Please, sir, b-buy whatever you wish! No stock is off-limits!"

Baldwin's eyebrow raised of its own accord as he looked up, smile curling into his cheek. The stall owner was a strange mix of avian and serpent, eyes like honey and a crest of colorful feathers atop its head. He tried hard, and with his practiced eye, he discerned the merchant was a female. He took the clawed, scaled hand with an air of grace.

"You truly are too lovely, ma'am. Do you treat all Hands with such kindness, or is it just I who receives the honor?"

The cockatrice woman, as he had also discerned, giggled as she hunched her shoulders and tottered from one foot to the other. Like putty. For his words and manner to manipulate.

Maybe the game did have a reason. Fun.

---

Knox

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November 18, 5:32 PM
Overlook

Knox's wing joints were beginning to ache from all the furious fluttering he had been doing, but it was well worth it as his day of deliveries drew to a close. Sure, he was far behind at this point, but delays were only a problem if the package never got there.

Right?

Knox took another gaze down at the instruction sheet he had been given. A crude drawing of two jagged outcrops of rock with an arrow pointing between them. The word 'HERE' was crudely scribbled over the arrow. Some of these directions from the customers were really obscure, he could see at least 13 different places that this could be referencing as he flew over, and that was just from the air!

He wiped at one of his compound eyes nervously, beginning to chitter to himself. If he didn't find this drop-off point quickly, who knows what the ramifications could be? Air whistled past his spiracles and over his carapace as he swooped low and came to a slow glide.

Ah.

Two large upheavals of stone identical to those on the instructions stood just below him as he reached into his bag for the parcel. It was squishy, felt as if someone were shipping wet paper. Compressible and yielding when he pressed his talon-like fingers into it gently. He shrugged as he bent his knees to land on the ground and place the package down. Hopefully whoever ordered it checked for it soon. Who knows what could be in there.

Oh well. Time to check in at the Delivery Service.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

Knox

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November 18 - 3:42 PM
West Commons, Air above the Streets.

The wind rustled over the paper-like membranes of Knox's wings, colourful mottling almost shining as the sun passed through them. He sailed through the air, slicing a path over the street traffic like a knife. He needed to get these deliveries done and quick! Luckily he was fastest in his family, perfectly suited for running deliveries for Mr. Franzetti. To represent the Looking Glass Personal Delivery Service gave him joy enough to make the yelling and the threats almost nonexistent!

At the beginning of the day, his messenger bag was full to bursting, and over the course of his route that hadn't changed! Right now, he had one parcel to deliver and it was a decently sized one. He was making decent time, but he had never been this late with a delivery! Mr. Franzetti was going to have his antennae for this, he just knew it!

He soared and tumbled through the air as he avoided other airborne Nonhumans, very narrowly swooping down upon the street traffic at one point. If he weren't so maneuverable in midair, he could have crashed right into someone. But thankfully all they would see was a dark humanoid figure in a buttoned-up mail uniform and a squarish hat.

Knox didn't even look back as he heard the shouts of anger and annoyance, he had a delivery to make and by gum, he would make it on time.

But if he turned to look for a moment, he might have seen that his massive dip had just dropped quite a few letters. Right around an unsuspecting Thomas.

---

Baldwin

---

August 3, 15?? - 3:42 PM
Dover, Kent. An unassuming house.

The air was frigid and blowing harshly outside. Baldwin's leaf-draped form stood by the front door of a squalid little home, fire roaring in a hearth that could be seen from one of the front windows. He suppressed a violent shiver as he cracked his signature heart-winning smile and held out an inviting hand.

"Come, dear. You'll catch your death out here in the cold. Warm yourself by the fire for a spell before you go out again."

The girl was attractive enough, though she lacked any sort of finery or adornments beyond dirty rags and... more dirt. She came with him into the house easy enough and almost rushed to the fire, huddling close to it on her knees. Skin like porcelain and hair coloured like dirty hay. He wasted no time in shedding his leafy cloak and moving to embrace her. This girl was strange, he thought as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Far too inviting. Far too... compliant.

He slowly pulled apart her blouse at the buttons, exposing her shoulders and torso to the open air. Not a bad body. Strangely clean. A golden chain upon her neck. She tilted her head and hummed softly. She was making this... easy.

Too easy.

His train of thought was interrupted as his mouth was an inch away from her carotid artery. He didn't see her pull the salve out. He only saw white and pain as it smashed against his neck. It burned like fire, but it burned deep. With an inhuman shriek, he recoiled and felt as more of the horrid concoction dripped onto his bare chest and seared what it touched there. Then he saw it, just as she began to dissolve along with the rest of their surroundings. Upon her chest, between her breasts. The cross of Saint Derring.

"Burn for your transgressions, demon."

---

November 18, 4:42 AM
East Commons, Baldwin's Residence.

A yell of terror. Baldwin jumped to sit upright in bed, searching for the source of the noise. An inhuman screech it was, filled with fear and pain. It took him a few minutes to realize that it was his own scream that he had heard. That same dream. That same nightmare, still plaguing him to this day. He put his head in his hands and took a shaky breath. Too many nights lost to the same waking feeling of burning and running.

One of his hands was wet with what he could see in the dim light of the moon to be blood. His hand, his pillow, and his sheets. All covered in small droplets of it. He must have clawed at the scars again in his sleep and reopened what should have been healed. After a short bout of makeshift cleaning of wounds and bandaging, Baldwin groaned, a slightly bestial noise as his head fell back to the slightly damp pillow. He would change the sheets and such later, for now, he needed to try and sleep more.

He would have to make another trip to Kantus.

---

November 18, 4:45 PM
West Commons, Kantus' Clinic.

Baldwin pushed his way into the clinic with a wince, dressed in his usual long-coat, dress pants, dress shoes, button-up shirt and tie. He closed the door softly before calling out. "Kantus! I've need of your medical expertise. Again." He spoke in a tone that sounded almost ashamed as he held a hand to his chest. His hands were covered by sleek, black leather gloves, and they flexed audibly as he moved to push his round eyeglasses up on the bridge of his nose. Every time, the same blasted dance, he was left waiting here while his fellow Hand shuffled things and made noise to sound busy. At least, that is what he thought.

"Oh, no urgency, old boy. Just bleeding. Again."

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

<Snipped quote by Horrid>

Are you ready to DIE FOR THEM YOU SUMBITCH.

@SepticGentleman

I will give my LIFE for MY PEOPLE.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

I will fight for my people.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (A meeting among Tarblatt, certain Engineers, and the Hands will be conducted soon.)

KNOX

A friendly, but reclusive Mothman. Bounding with optimism and goodwill, he's a loyal friend to the end. If only he could properly talk to someone. An ever enthusiastic part of the Voldoa Mail Delivery service. Can usually be seen sailing over Voldoa, enjoying the open air. Comes from a long line of Mothmen and Mothwomen of different shapes and sizes, a family which revels in its tightly-knit bonds and are not afraid to display their loyalty to all.

---

And his True Face...

BALDWIN

A fairly sly creature known as a Bergkonge. Known for his nonchalant demeanour and his tongue of silver, hearkening back in his glory days of terror and seduction. He's since traded his cloak of leaves for a pressed suit and tie. Known for his short fuse on the subjects of Fifty-Eighters and violence against non-humans. Now, he acts as a Hand of the Engineers, addressing the issues that confront the citizens of Voldoa by being an advocate for the unrepresented Non-Humans, doing what he does best to bridge the gap between Human and Nonhuman non-violently. Sweet talking and negotiating.

---

JACQUELINE DURANT

A quiet young woman originating from outside Voldoa. Jacqueline is not known for her outspoken nature, or her speech at all. Taught during her younger years that to stay quiet was to stay behaved, her manners border on saintly. She seems to come from lower birth, having no possessions or property besides a dirty, hooded cloth robe and a few trinkets of personal importance. She spent most of her life from a young age as an Anchoress, and as a result knows almost nothing of the world. She has some skills gained from performing hour upon hour of gruelling chores, as any sister would, but overall she is no artisan. They are hardly enough for her to base a business or a service off. Her moving to Voldoa was a move of necessity, sped by desperation and as a result she has no home. She appears to be one of the faithful, judging by her simple dress and strict self-regimented prayer and meditation habits.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (Reborn)

Knox

KNOX

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A friendly, but reclusive Mothman. Bounding with optimism and goodwill, he's a loyal friend to the end. If only he could properly talk to someone. An ever enthusiastic part of the Voldoa Mail Delivery service.

Voldoa: City of Monsters (Reborn)

I submit myself.