Monsters Are Bad (D1 Early Morning)

[Jess Dawson]

As is the case most early mornings, Jess holds a service at the temple to praise Kaltia Melith and thank her for bestowing life upon the world. Her prayers soon segue into those meant to remember the poor, innocent locals who were killed by monsters, which, for Crayton, usually means Chasma. While not especially high, the two-dozen some deaths over the past few years definitely drives home just how dangerous the little vermin can be.

Once the service is finished, Jess makes her way out behind the temple, where she lights a cigarette, leans back against the building, and takes a long pull from it. Nearby, a beautifully sculpted machine-person - a mechanical Krysso - stands guard with unflinching devotion. The faint sounds of heavenly chimes seem to linger in the air around it.

[Rayfe Drathmire]

When the buzz of a tournament hits a city, there are few places aspiring wranglers make themselves scarce. The Temple of Kaltia Melith is one such place. In the early morning hours, when the chill is still in the air, Rayfe finds himself sitting in the pews and admiring the preaching of the young woman at the pulpit. He watches quietly, arms crossed and one leg draped over the other, his expression unchanged despite the call to action against the monster pests that plagued the local area.

When the congregation is dismissed, the tall dark-haired man exits only after most of the crowd has left. He isn't interested in bumping shoulders on the way out. Rayfe considered himself lucky to have avoided any of the boisterous young monster wranglers so far.

Across the road, down a ways toward the back of the church, and tied to one of the blossoming trees rests his young Magnox. Nyx is curled up with her snout tucked against her belly and bushy tail draped over her hoofs. A thick leather harness is strapped around her midsection and a decorative metal name plate is attached to the collar. She had found a stretch of nicely trimmed bushes to lay within - and snack upon, based on the small, Magnox snout-sized sections missing from the hedges.

As Rafye approaches, her fluffy tail starts to swish excitedly, smelling him before she sees him. She scrambles to her feet, lowing happily.

"Hush." Rayfe orders dismissively. The Magnix stomps her foot once and stands still as he retrieves the end of the leash from the tree.

The scent of cigarette smoke catches his attention. Vivid blue eyes glance over toward the source, spotting the familiar priestess.

"...Behave, Nyx." Rayfe says firmly before he begins to approach the woman. Nyx trots obediently at his side, her tail still twitching happily.

He raises a hand in greeting to Jess. "It was a lovely message this morning, miss. Thank you, for looking after your people with such devotion. Are you the sole cleric that resides here?"

[Jess Dawson]

The priestess gives a scathing glare to the Magnox as she pushes herself off from the wall and rubs her cigarette out against the side of the building. Tossing it aside, she forces a smile to her face and tucks her hands into the sleeves of her white robe.

"Thank you. There are many who have spurned the goddess' message, but I feel that it still carries wisdom in these troubled times." There's a vague motion back to the temple behind her. "There are a few of us stationed here, but I volunteered to take up the sermons for the duration of this tournament. The other priestesses are less comfortable around monsters, so it seemed prudent with so many visitors in our little town."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Glare? What glare. Nyx sees no glare. Nyx only sees the angel in white shimmering before her, the scent of flame in the divine being's wake. The Magnox swishes her tail enthusiastically. Maybe the angel will pet her?

"I'm sure your sisters appreciate your compromise." Rayfe remarks. "I am here for the tournament, but I wish no ill will against your church. I believe those of Kaltia Melith are more in tune with the condition of the land and its people than those who parade around in search of glory and onz. We have plenty of those around. Less so those of faith."

He offers a hand to her and flashes a charming smile. "My name is Rayfe. Would you bestow a personal blessing upon this outsider? - the gift of your name?"

[Jess Dawson]

The priestess seems slightly off-put at the request... or maybe just the way the question was phrased. "I'm Jess Dawson. I'm not sure how much of a blessing that is."

She glances down at the enthusiastic Magnox and takes a half-step away from it, trying to stay out of "jump up for pets" range.

"That does seem to be the sort of people attracted to the tournaments," she continues, glancing back to Rayfe. "I'm certain that the goddess will be watching the proceedings closely, one way or another."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, miss Dawson."

The man rests a hand on Nyx's snout, and in doing so he succeeds at distracting the Magnox from the priestess, at least for the moment. Nyx rubs her nose against his palm, and the Magnox specialist does well to position his arm to avoid the large horn that protrudes from Nyx's skull.

"You mentioned there are monster attacks that have been claiming lives?" Rayfe says. "Has the city taken any organized action against these threats?"

[Jess Dawson]

She nods in acknowledgement. "Yes, the swamps are infested with Chasma, not to mention Treconda and Nappen. There have been a few attempts to deal with them, but our city council is somewhat inept." She snorts lightly. "They are far more concerned with kneeling before the AMBA officials to draw in tourists with their tournaments than in trying to protect the people who live here. The list of the dead is a testament to that."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

His brow furrows. Rayfe's fingers brush thoughtfully through the soft fur of Nyx's face. "Have you considered asking the local wranglers, or even those attending the tournaments, for help? The faith once employed monsters hunters to slay the creatures that threatened them. These days... wranglers are the closest we have, yes?"

[Jess Dawson]

"For what? So that they they can befriend the vermin and bring them into the city?" She scrunches up her nose in displeasure. "What we need to do is to torch the whole swamp and burn them out, but as soon as you start trying to get people together, suddenly people are accusing you of trying to whip up an angry mob." She sighs at the memory.

After a moment, she casts a sideways glance toward Rayfe. "...of course, if a few Wranglers were to march out into the swamp and murder a few dozen of the little pests, independent of our temple, that would certainly be helpful to the city, neh?"

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"That does sound like it could be beneficial to Crayton..." Rafye responds, keeping his gaze even with hers. "Where are these monster attacks most frequent, or where are the townspeople most vulnerable?"

[Jess Dawson]

"The marsh, mostly." She makes a vague gesture in that direction. "It wouldn't be as large of an issue if they kept to that area, as most people avoid it, but whenever they feel particularly vicious, they swarm over people and vehicles on the road. That's how most of the injuries and deaths occur. The others are usually people wandering into the marsh in the hopes of catching a murderous beast to hug." There was a disapproving sneer.

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"Particularly vicious?" Rayfe echoes. He does not react to her sneer apart from a thoughtful, slow blink. "...From what you understand, is there anything causing them to be more aggressive when these attacks happen?

[Jess Dawson]

"Most likely the evil within them is simply building up, and the attacks are what happens when it grows too strong." She gives a light shrug of her shoulders. "There isn't much in the way of reasoning in the minds of monsters. Even the peaceful ones will kill a human, if given the right opportunity."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Rayfe very, very slowly looks down at his Magnox. Nyx brightens at the visual attention, beady blue eyes overflowing with affection, and she swishes her tail excitedly.

"...Yes. That's certainly true." He mutters to Jess as he gives Nyx's mane a soft pat. Rayfe raises his eyes back to the priestess. "I will see if anything can be done, miss Dawson. I wouldn't mind leaving Crayton a little safer than it was before."

[Jess Dawson]

She nods in approval. "I am certain the goddess would be appreciative of such effort." She glances down at the Magnox, her nose wrinkling.

"Be careful if you go out into the marsh," she says, looking back up. "The monsters tend to be poisonous, so make sure to take some antidote sprays. Winning the battle only to perish from a poisoned wound doesn't do anyone any good."

[Rayfe Drathmire]

"Thank you, miss Dawson." Rayfe replies with a polite bow of his head. "We will proceed with caution, and I will go prepared. I appreciate you taking the time for me. Perhaps I will see you at the next service?"

Nyx understands the shifting tones to indicate goodbyes are taking place. She takes a single step closer to the priestess with loving, hopeful eyes.

[Jess Dawson]

"I will be here," she says, nodding in farewell. She turns and heads back toward the temple, completely ignoring the Magnox as she goes.

[Rayfe Drathmire]

Nyx's tail stills, but her bright eyes track the woman as she disappears back into the temple. The Magnox lifts her head and blinks up at Rayfe with a gentle tilt of her head.

"Can't win them all." Rayfe murmurs. He gives the Magnox's mane a gentle ruffle before coaxing her with a tug of the leash. The two set off into the city with Jess' warnings leading his thoughts.

[scene]