Alice the Eldritch (S)Layer [LazyKitsune]

[Lorielle]

Name: Alice Wilson

Appearance:

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/658618139486978048/966092467424350268/703ecf88df19730e4442356248d9ed20.jpg?width=278&height=393

Stats
STR: +4
DEX: +3
CON: +3
INT: +1
WIS: +2
CHA: +4

Bio
Popular, pretty and carefree defined Alice's time in school for a while. Head of the cheer team, with grades just good enough to give her options and one of the most thriving social butterflies around. This was all torn away from her by the truth of the world. A night that'll haunt her sleep for years to come left her without her parents, and the ability to sense these... things... that seemed to be appearing everywhere. For a while she thought herself crazy, until Athena came into her life.

The woman that called herself Athena claimed she was part of an organization, an organization that had been looking for someone like Alice for quite some time. Someone with gifts that have been said to allow mortal humans to fight back against Elder Entities, eldritch evils beyond a regular human's comprehension. Alice wanted none of this, she just wanted her old life back.

The hardships Alice went through had given her a more punkish edge, and the trouble that found her landed her a reputation that got her thrown out of school to school. Eventually, after agreeing to let Athena take custody of her, Alice found herself transferred to a new high school, one far away from anywhere she used to know. Elmwich High, a school named after a small town on the east coast, a dreary and dull seeming place that Athena insisted was a hub for eldritch activity.

Whatever, Alice had her own reasons for being here. She had spent long enough being poked and prodded and tested to prove she wasn't crazy and was welcoming of a fresh start where no one knew her. A chance to make new friends and get back to just being an ordinary girl. Though she had a sinking feeling that that was never going to be in the cards for her again.

Elder Sign Runes
Under her mentor's instruction, Alice inscribed eldritch runes across her body. The supernatural process left the markings invisible to the naked eye but imbued with power that she could call forth when needed. Ordinarily such magic would exhaust the one who used it, though Alice's heightened endurance allows her to withstand such energies.

Rune of Warding: On the soft of Alice's back, this rune triggers the first time Alice is struck by an attack, emitting a protective barrier to shield her for a few seconds. Its main purpose is to protect against surprise attacks, and help avoid initial blows in fights from being too crippling. The rune must be recharged at the end of the day.

Rune of the Blade: Set on the inside of Alice's arm, this rune allows Alice to draw forth a blade capable of harming the forms of entities from other dimensions and sending their essence back to the realm they came from.

Rune of Traversal: Set on her heel, this rune allows Alice to walk across walls and ceilings to keep up with the mobility and reality bending paths of her enemies.

Rune of Purity: This rune Alice had no intention of branding herself with, but Athena insisted. The rune lasted only for as long as Alice remained a virgin. Once she lost her virginity, the rune was destroyed and would release its power. Should the entity defiling Alice be an eldritch creature, it would be immediately destroyed. Should they instead be a human under the influence or possessed by eldritch powers, they would be purified and freed from control.

You were squirreled away in your new home, a lovey two story town house just on the outskirts of the new town you were supposed to call home. Elmwick. Which felt like the complete opposite of the wood-ladden and warm furnishing you were getting accustomed to. No, Elmwick probably demanded its residents surround themselves of anything that could remotely brighten their day as the weather was perpetually overcast, rainy, and windy. Not exactly a pleasing place especially compared to the last few places you were, but the price you were forced to pay by your mentor Athena. Your room was at least cozy enough, spacious, well furnished, with a huge bed and walk in closest. It was everything a highschooler could ask for.

Your mind drifted back to your time at school just after your powers came to be and how your head grew fuzzy from witnessing those.. runes on the walls. The monsters you'd seen human or not. You couldnt help but grit your teeth from the memory. Your legs kicking back and forth off the edge of your new bed as you stared up at the ceiling, a small wooden fan spinning back and forth as the light was cast down at you, stinging your eyes between the brief moments the fan blades shielded you from the light. It somewhat reminded you of the labs that Athena's organization had you in and how happy you were to be free of those people. Though were you really free with Athena still around?

You couldnt be sure, but you know that at least she cared about you. She's protected you, trained you, helped you buy clothes and even given you advice when you didnt ask, but needed anyway. She slowly started to fill the gap left over by your parents, but you could tell there was still a far amount of distance there, whether or not that distance was because of you, or her, or some combination of the two of you remains to be seen.

Still you at least had the weekend to yourself, preparing for school to start as you had just finished unpacking the rest of your belongings into the drawers and closest provided to you. Just along your arm you rubbed the spot where you knew one of the runes of power you possessed were inscribed. And while it was out of sight right now, you could still feel where your arm was still tender from the inking process. And this proof that reminded you that you were forcibly taken from your home life and made to endure worse hardships.

But what sort of teenager would you be if you stuck around in your room and sulked all day. Well you'd probably still be a fairly normal one with fantastic eldritch powers. BUT You had a new town to explore, friends to meet, boys and girls to smooch--

"Alice! Lunch is ready! I made your favorite!" You hear Athena's somewhat weathered, but lilting tone as she called up the stairs for you. Then you heard your stomach growl... The breeze then blows in from your opened window. She was your guardian, but... was she really your boss too?

Notable NPCs:

Codename: Athena, Alice Wilson's legal guardian

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

[Lazy Kitsune]

Awake, though unrested, I tossed around on my bed, feeling the mattress tense beneath me as I shifted my weight from side to side, feeling how much spring it had. I idly seemed to count with wordless numbers the times the fan blades crossed the light of my room, a sudden wave of shade passing by my vision and vanishing, again and again and again. I sigh and hang my head back, pouting as my eyes wander around the room. Everything was different. Wrong. But it was the closest it had been to normal for years now. Maybe this time it would stay that way.

Hearing Athena call up just but a dampener on my hopes. My favourite? What would she know about my favourite anything? All she seems to bother to talk to me about is 'How do you kill a Nightmare Beast, Alice? What kind of metal can you decapitate a Deep Stalker with, Alice? Have you been practicing your eldritch runes this week?' With all this focus on training to fight the forces of darkness, I'm a little surprised they even bothered to send me back to school. Though I would probably be playing catch up with the rest of the students at this point.

I let Athena wait before responding, eyeing my fingernails as I consider just slipping out the window and going about town without her watching over me. But my stomach had other plans and I roll off of my bed and head out of my room.

"My favourite?" I called down as I plodded down the stairs. "No way, you got a triple tiered, chocolate fudge cake surrounded by ice-cream and topped with strawberries? Just for me?" I say, forcing the cheer into my voice along with obvious derisiveness. "Oh, wait, no its macaroni and cheese. Again." I mock pout as I stroll into the kitchen, before snatching up a banana from the fruit bowl. "But this is a fruit, I guess that's close to a strawberry, right?"

[Lorielle]

The memories of your days training with Athena welled up within you as you contemplated your options. You could still feel the few aches and bruises you gained from learning the little bit of hand to hand combat that Athena knew, though she admittedly was not a specialist in that kind of combat. Maybe that was why she was riding you so hard with proper instruction, but regardless you made your way downstairs and into the narrow hallways and hardwood flooring that defined your new home, hearing the stove sizzle with something before Athena calls out.

"Maybe I'll actually get you that cake if you could tell me the difference between a Deep Stalker and an Abyss Stalker! Just hurry up, its at least not mac and cheese... again." Her voice goes flat for a moment when she sees you take a bananas from the fruit bowl, it was slightly overripe but that only made it all the sweeter as you peel away the sheathe taking a seat at the central Island counter just in front of Athena where she seemed to be stir frying something.

"Im trying a new recipe, just making some fried rice since we had some left overs and a lot of eggs still in the fridge." Her voice returning to being that somewhat sing-song nonchalant you've grown used to over the past few years youve known her. It doesnt help with how condescending it can sound when shes trying to teach you something. You watch her work the work, the plume of rice flipping about as the rice slowly grows yellower in color from the eggs, though it seemed like she was more just putting the finish touches on it as she ladles a large helping into an awaiting Styrofoam bowl next to her.

"Lunch is served." She grabs you a plastic spoon, handing both the bowl and the spoon to you as she awaits your reaction to the food with an otherwise pleased expression on her own face. Your first bite of the fried rice is.. okay, you wouldnt say bad, but you've definitely had better.

[Lazy Kitsune]

"Hmm, this is the most you've cooked since I met you?" I murmur, finishing up my banana. "I was beginning to think you can't do anything more than microwaved meals." I toss the peel in a bin nearby, not needing to look to land the throw as I hear the lid flap swing open. These powers did have their perks, but the convenience of moments like that aren't exactly worth the hassle of... everything else.

I smile back at her, a little awkwardly, as I take the spoon. "You know you don't need to cook for me, I can take care of myself." I say as I start to take a bite. As I taste the food and see her reaction, something clicks in my head. Was this... actually one of her first attempts at cooking a proper meal? Given how mission focused she was, maybe she had just never considered it important before. It was odd seeing my taskmaster so earnestly waiting for my reaction to her food. I wince briefly, before putting on a big smile. "Mmmm~" I moan, scooping up about bite. "This is... really good." I gesture to the food with my spoon, nodding as I swallow. "Probably the best fried rice I've had in a long time. Maybe ever." Was that hamming it up too much? I hoped not as I put on as much of a satisfied smile as I could before taking another bite.

[Lorielle]

"Well wait a second, i baked those cookies remember," Those cookies she burned, the first day you guys moved in because she didnt know how to get the oven to shut off. "And besides, we're finally supposed to be settling down. I havent had much of an opportunity to cook. And what sort of guardian would I be if it was all take out and microwaved meals every day." Athena then ladles some of the fried rice into another styrofoam bowl next to her as you shower her with your somewhat enthusiastic praise.

She looks a bit incredulous of course Athena, if anything, was a smart woman and maybe a little too hyperaware of her own flaws, but when she tasted the food herself she gave herself a "Oh, not bad," sort of expression as she took a second bite. She covers her mouth as she chews, though you see a little steam escape from her lips as she speaks. "Ahh.. Thank you Alice.. Well why dont you.. mm." She swallows the mouthful of rice she had and brings her hand back down to address you directly. "Finish up your bowl and we can take a break from your studies today. I left an envelope for you on the banister next to the door, it has a new card issued by the Bureau, it'll have your allowance on it, so dont lose it. Its a lovely town so maybe get familiar."

[Lazy Kitsune]

My eyes light up as she permits me my freedom. "I break, really." I furrow my brow. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Athena?" Not letting her have a chance to change her mind, I'm already hopping out of my seat even as I continue eating the rice, spooning it in faster as I hurry towards the door. "Just how much 'allowance' is the Bureau giving me?" I asked as I ran up to the envelope. Finishing up my rice, I kept the bowl pressed against my chest as I swiped up the envelope and hurried back to the kitchen, setting the bowl aside on the counter as I fished out the card.

"And what exactly is there to do around town anyway? I don't know anyone here, so even if I knew all the cool places to hang out I wouldn't have anyone to hang out with. Its like being a social pariah but without ever being a... whatever the opposite of a pariah is in the first place. I'm a social noriah. I am yet to riah here in any way, shape or form. Which is fine, better than everyone seeing me as that crazy girl that sees imaginary monsters; but until school starts up and I get to actually meet people who can show me around I'm sort of just going to be going where the wind takes me." I stop my rambling for a moment to look Athena up and down. "Though I suppose your version of the hot spots in town would be the library and the local otherworldly abomination hunting grounds, so maybe I'm better off with the wind then asking you for directions."

[Lorielle]

"Yes, a real break. You're getting dropped into your classes starting Monday so you may as well enjoy this." Athena says sternly, though with a hint of warmth behind her words. She watches you move towards the front door where an eye level mirror and a small shelf were a bowl with candy and a smaller bowl with Athena's car keys were kept. Right next to the small bowl you saw the the white envelope and hurried back to the kitchen where your caretaker was working to put away the leftovers into more disposable dishes as you retrieved your new card.

"The Bureau is willing to give you about $250 a week no questions asked and in emergencies you can purchase more than that, but we'll be getting a phone call if you do. So try to stay at around the 250 limit okay?" You hear the tell tale tearing of plastic wrap as she gets herself a good couple of sheets for the few bowls of fried rice she had made for the two of you.

"Well," Athena paused as she finished up her packing. "First of all, I don't think noriah is a word young lady, and second, I'll think you'll be fine. Following the wind wouldn't be a bad idea, but if you need a few hip location to check, I heard this town still has an honest to god arcade you can check out. Its attached to a bowling alley so maybe you'll meet some other people your age there. The Elmwich library is a good place too, heard its quite old. One of the oldest in the New England area so I'm informed. The Matterson Central Park is another, despite its name its on the west side of town, heard its quite big, and quite spooky especially at night." Athena looks you up and down to make sure you're paying attention to her little informal briefing.

"But you're free to explore how you want, if you find something interesting you're always free to tall me about it when you check in. Keep your phone on you, i'll probably call in an hour or two okay?" Athena walks over to the opposite side of the island where you were seated ready to lead you out of the front door and see you off, sort of waiting to lead you outside like you were getting ready for your first day of kindergarden.

[Lazy Kitsune]

"$250." I murmur, pinching the card between my fingers and tapping it against my lips. "I'll try not to spend it all in one place. An arcade?" I smirked, pocketing the card. "What, have we gone back to the 80s?" I joked, but an arcade actually sounded like a fairly decent place to hang out. If it turned out there was nothing fun going on there... super powers probably made me really good at bowling, so that's a plus. I yawn as Athena goes on to talk about the library. "Oh, yes... the library... sounds so... musty. I do so love old and musty things, the mustier the better in fact."

I already had my own ideas of where I might want to check out. If this town had any sort of decent mall was a priority. Finding a good shopping street would have to be my backup. Then maybe see if I could find a club that wouldn't check for ID, though it might be best not to let Athena know about that.

For now though, that arcade was as good a place as any to check out. If I wanted to get to know other people at the school, then maybe I'd be able to catch a few of them there. Try and make a good first impression when I'm not being brought to the front of the class room to tell everyone "one interesting fact" about myself. 'Oh hey everyone, I'm Alice Wilson, I transferred here after dropping out of my previous school due to mental health issues, and I can see monsters that no one else can and have to use my super powers to banish them from this realm, usually with a lot of stabbing and kicking.' Its just not quite the same as 'I spent a summer in Taiwan last year'.

I kept these thoughts to myself however, as I gathered my things and headed towards the front door. "Alright, Athena. I think I can handle exploring the town." I say, rolling my eyes at her insistence of calling. "See you later." I say with a wave as I head off to find that arcade.

[Lorielle]

The layout of the town was something that wasn’t wholly unfamiliar to you. Narrow streets, brick pavement and even Speke cobblestone made up the roadways and public paths but you found it preeminently walkable. You made your way from your townhouse to what seemed like a central plaza complete with a fountain display and various shops lining the perimeter of the open area scenery. Various signs were on display advertising upcoming local events like a founder’s day parade, some sort of ball, the weekly farmer’s market. There was even some sort of public bulletin board near the the center of the plaza where people posted about odd jobs or other happenings in town.

Here you saw an advertisement for the arcade, bowling alley combo. Conveniently included on the advertisement was a tab you could pull off for a discount on your first 10 dollars in the arcade or for a free round on the bowling lanes. You got a clearer address from the advertisement leading you to the east side of the plaza assuming you approached from the southern end of the plaza. On your way to the arcade you passed by what you think is the town’s shopping district. Clothes shops, knickknack places, antique shops and even a sort of all purpose electronics shop were on your way to the arcade. The arcade itself seemed to occupy a small hill just above this shopping street so you could check out any of these places before making your way up the hill.

[Lazy Kitsune]

Perfect! A welcome surprise for once. Having found a series of shops on my way to the arcade, I decide to detour from my original plan. Taking a look at what I might be able to pick up could be a good start. Maybe see what kind of fashion seems to be catching on in the area, or see if there are any other shops worth checking out. I make my way into the shopping street, taking some time to quickly look around and familiarise myself with the layout. Clothes was a decent place to start with, or maybe that was just old habits talking. Still, old habits are exactly what I want to indulge in right now, so I made my way towards the nearest clothes shop that caught my eye to have a look around inside.

[Lorielle]

With a detour decided you slowed your pace down and started to explore the shopping lane you had happened upon. The stores were certainly quaint and you were certain all of these shops were locally owned. There wasn’t a single big name brand around which felt a tad bit surprising to you in this day and age but that was hardly worth complain about as you continued your search and indulgence.

Your brief search brought you in contact with 3 shops that seemed of at least some interest to you. The first you found was a more modern clothing shop, like your forever 21s, though it felt like it had a bit of a classier vibe as you looked through the window to see the nicely laid out store front, large floor plan and sleek white interior. The sign outside say Mary and May’s boutique. The clothes were what’d you expect to see. Lots of bright colors, fast fashion and middlingly priced dresses for any occasional. Also a small section for mens wear a few dress shirts, blazers and slacks to clean up any guy who wanders in from outside. The atmosphere felt right at home for you and all in all the prices were pretty reasonable. You definitely could blow your week’s allowance in a heart beat if you weren’t careful. Though you did notice that among the clothes were sprinkled a few sorely out of place looking.. goth stuff. Dark colors, pentagrams, the works. You even saw a few with what looked like eldrich runes that were tattooed onto you own body but inscribed by crude hands as if they couldn’t hold a pent straight and dropped water all over their strokes.

You could certainly spend more time in here but outside you saw a retro shop and what you could only assume was some sort of historical reenactment shop that sold Really old style clothes.

[Lazy Kitsune]

I sigh as I look over the clothes, feeling the pep in my step deflate as my allowance creeps back into my mind. I wanted to splash out a bit, but I didn't know what kind of expenses I might run into around here just yet. It was better to save rather than spend right now. Once I get a better feel of the place, I could go shopping more freely.

But that didn't mean I couldn't try some stuff on.

Heading into Mary and May's boutique, I start rummaging around for a small selection to whisk away into the changing rooms. A few dresses, skirts, bright tops. But then I noticed the more punkish looking clothes. Nothing wrong with a good goth look. If anything, it spoke to me on a personal level after this past few years. But those symbols seemed eerily close to eldritch runes to be regular goth aesthetic. Although Athena did say this place was supposed to be known for a little more otherworldly activity than normal, so maybe enough of it entered the local consciousness from just peripheral exposure for people to come up with designs similar to runes.

I consider snapping a photo and sending it to Athena, but there was no point worrying her if there wasn't anything to actually be concerned about. There wouldn't be anything genuinely dangerous just lying around to be bought at a store. I figured I'd get a closer look on a few of these items of clothing at least and check them over. Just to be sure they were safe... And maybe see if they looked good on me in the changing room.

With my selection gathered, I brought them with me to the changing rooms and started to slip out of my clothes, before looking over what I had with me that I might want to try on first.

[Lorielle]

A bundle of clothes in hand you make your move to the changing room, a rather spacious little enclosure that used a curtain instead of a door to provide the customer with sufficient privacy so they could change. You hung up your selection on the few provided hooks. But soon enough you were out of your clothes, leaving them in a clump on the bench next to you as you tried on first a set of velvety satin pants that seemed to be a part of the "eldrich" collection that you picked out. On this one the "rune" you noticed was on the upper left thigh. After you put it on, you didnt notice anything change about your circumstances so you went to put on a shirt with a similar looking rune.

This It was also made of a sort of satin like material that felt smooth and fuzzy to the touch. Running for fingers over the material gave you a kind of tingling feeling as it then slipped over the rest of your body. You then turned to the mirror to look at the simple ensemble. The shirt had its "rune" plastered on your right breast, almost fully encompassing it in the circular patterns. Thats when you notice in the mirror a strange abberation occur the two runes seem to.. shake and go blurry in your vision as you look at them via the mirror and all of a sudden the clothes shrink against your body. The loose fitting bell-bottom pants suddenly become the equivalent of yoga pants and the shirt becomes like body paint molding to your every curve and if it wasnt for your bra you get the feeling it would have happily accounted for the shape of your nipples.

But once the shrinking is done there doesnt seem to be much else to the effect.. but you feel a tingle run through out your body wherever the clothes you just put on met skin..

[Lazy Kitsune]

"What the..." I murmur, staring into the mirror, alarmed. And once the alarm passes, I'm mostly... befuddled. If anything, it doesn't look that bad at all. I pose a few times, taking in how this outfit hugs me curves. Its kind of... great, actually, how I look in this. I enjoy posing a few more times before I start tugging at the fabric to see how it feels. "The... incomprehensible eldritch powers of... bodycon?" I murmur, mostly confused by this turn of events than anything else.

It didn't seem harmful, just unusual. Still, this did confirm that the symbols were actually elder sign of some sort. I shiver at how it feels to touch the fabric, but beyond that I don't feel all that... weakened... possessed... drained... maddened. Just... a magically sexy outfit? Not something really I'm supposed to destroy I guess. Still, Athena would want to see this and I might as well run it by her. Maybe there was some occult fashion brand running around here that had figured out how to use runes in clothing without people turning into horrible clothes blob monsters. For now, I figured I should take off the clothes and try on something else. But not before I snap a few photos of me wearing these. To send to Athena of course... and maybe for my tinder profile if I decide to get one.

[Lorielle]

"Tugging" at the fabric doesnt seem to actually do anything, you still feel the fuzzy almost velvet-satin material but you're unable to get any purchase to really grab hold of it, more so it feels like your hands just slide right off of it. But what was more where you touched sent a small ripple of... what you can only describe as pleasure coursing through your body.

This is when you run into your second problem.. you arent entirely sure how to take them off. You do get that similar sense of... intuition when you call upon the power of your own runes. But something about the runes on these clothes feel.. off, incomplete and if you arent careful you might have unforeseen consequences like assembling a power tool incorrectly or using something without reading its safety manual. Still you could try to take it off. After you take your photos of course.
(INT challenge: DC 12 to successfully unpower the rune and remove the clothes, on fail the clothes inflict you with the Horny status: -3 WIS to resisting Sexual advances)

[Lazy Kitsune]

I gasp as I pull at the clothes, only to feel them cling strangely to my body. No. That wasn't quite right. I couldn't get a proper grip, it was like if I wanted to pinch the clothes but not my skin underneath then my grip would just slip away. And it wasn't helped by how it was making me feel. Trying to pull the top off of me left me doubling over and pressing my palms against the wall of the changing booth to stay on my feet. I took a few moments to catch my breath as my cheeks flushed. "What... kind of..." I murmur, shaking my head and trying again.

Same result. I bite my lip to stop a moan coming out, and start squirming as I try to pull these clothes off of me. The runes, I had to do something about the runes. I start tracing my fingers across the runes, grabbing at them, trying to find a way to shut them off. Their placement makes this more punishing than I would have liked as I'm left groping an overly sensitive breast and thigh. I collapsed into the bench in the stall, panting heavily. I held my tongue. I couldn't exactly get help from just anyone here. And I couldn't go out like this, I didn't own these clothes. I had enough on my plate to end up with shoplifting charges as well.

Trying to push aside how needy the clothes had made me, I get out my phone and start hastily texting Athena. "Problem. Cursed clothes. Can't remove. Can you decipher symbols?" I send the message with the photos I took earlier and hope to get a response soon before any store staff come asking questions about why I'm taking so long.

[Lorielle]

You fire off your few texts to Athena and send her the photo. The slow progress bar feeling exceedingly long as you’re left sitting there dazed and breathing heavily. So far it seems like the clothes weren’t having any other effects but finally you hear the ding when the photo is sent along with your small comment.

Within seconds you get a “Read” then see the text in progress bubble.

“Copy that.. I’m a little ways out but stay put I’ll be there in like 30 minutes keep trying to get it off. It’ll be good practice.” Obviously she doesn’t know what the cursed clothes do or else she wouldn’t have said that to you, but before you can really attempt anything else you hear a voice come from outside. The little cloth that gave you privacy showed the silhouette of a woman.

“Hello miss, everything going okay? Do you need any assistance?” You hear their voice and it sounds a little forced.. robotic even.