Fief Name: Pools of Predilection

Fief Purpose: Feast Hall, Den, Kitchen, Healing Springs

Fief Layout:
Main Floor: Several entrances that surround the wing all direct you to the primary room. The majority of the floor revolves around the feast hall, a massive cylindrical room that rise all the way to the roof of the structure. In the center of this room, sectioned off from the rest, is a large natural stone outcrop. Water gushes from the top of the rock revealing it to be a spring. The water pools at the bottom of the outcropping before it drains into other areas of the building. Surrounding the centerpiece are various tables and chairs where anyone is welcome to sit in and order fresh food. During the day the room is lit with skylights while at night large fireplaces that are located on the outer walls provide warmth. Some claim the food served is magical enchanted to provoke pleasant memories, others just think the food tastes delicious. Aside from the feast hall are various kitchens and storage facilities the servants use to prepare the food.

Bottom Floor: Below the main floor the spring water is collected and used in a variety of rooms. Public baths are available for any guests to clean themselves and relax in the Springwater. More private rooms are available and filled with their own springs that keep the water pleasantly warm. Besides relaxing the waters also have healing properties for the body and mind.

Top Floor: Above the main floor are a series of suites designed for families or honored guests. Each suite has a den for people to gather along with two bedrooms. Most of these suites also have balconies that look out over the feast hall. One of these suites is always reserved for Atilla himself, and another is reserved for Eri.

Fief Servants: Staffing the Pools are human sized ceramic dolls fashioned to look as lifelike as possible. Every doll is slightly different to help distinguish one from the other and to make them seem more real. For every adult doll they are usually accompanied by a smaller child sized doll that assists them in daily tasks. Although incapable of speech they are instructed to act as cheerfully as possible.

Aside from the dolls, Atilla has also stationed several golems at the entrances. Creatures made of stone and metal they were made in Atilla's likeness. They were created as sentries for the Pools. They wait motionless and lifeless until they sense some disturbance inside the building or some intruder attempts to enter.

Where once there was nothing started the beginning of a new fiefdom. walls formed, the spring burst to life, and the dolls started their duties. On top of a balcony overlooking the main hall the man formerly known as Dalton the demilupine also formed as Atilla the Hun Prince of Society. The newly created body observed his new creation, exactly as he had imagined it. The only thing missing from his ideal were people. The feast hall despite it's splendor remained empty aside from the dolls that he periodically saw cross his view.

His divinity had come with a steep cost. He had gained a glimpse of what their situation truly was. They had not only been shifted through space but through time. The specifics still seemed too complex for the wolf-man to understand but he could grasp how difficult returning would be. Not that his goal had changed. One way or another Atilla would break free from this hell and return back to his family.

He walked into his lodgings and noted that everything was satisfactory. He wandered the halls of the upper floor and passed by several dolls. He nodded as he passed and noted that they happily waved before they resumed their duties. The wolf-man noted how loud his footsteps echoed through the large nearly empty building. "You," he pointed to a doll that had been cleaning a table. "Clear some tables for me. It will be a while before we need them all anyway." The Prince of Society did not wait for the task to be completed, instead he wandered towards one of the entrances. He noted the Grimhold woods beyond his borders, he would need to go explore those at a later date. For now he pointed to one of the golems he had imagined. "You. Come with me." He led the guardian statue to the clearing he had requested. "We will now spar."

One day his hall would be the gathering place for many souls, a place to celebrate and unwind. What he needed right now though was a place to train. He could sense that his other self was in a dangerous location. The faster he learned how to wield a weapon the better his odds he could keep the others alive. Atilla starts to train his Weapon, Basic skill.

While one version of Sarolt was deep in conversation with Euphoria, another had padded into the West Wing on four tiny rat feet. It was easier than waddling around on two legs, though running around on all-fours felt more animalistic in a 'bad' way. Like they were giving up on their humanity and had fully submitted to the will of the system.

But there's philosophy, and then there's getting around. The later won.

"I said: 'I'm here to see Atilla.'" Sarlot rolled back onto their haunches while staring up at the guardian golems at the entrance of the feast hall. The massive guardian just starred down at them. Sarlot imagined they were glowering. "Is this, like, one of those things where you've already communicated telepathically with your master, or something? But you can't speak, so now you're just staring at me?" Sarlot crossed their arms. The golem remained stationary. "Blink twice if you're even listening." The golem did not blink. Instead, the wolf-like visage modeled after Atilla just stared down at them. "You remind me of my rat-bots... but like, somehow more stoic. We seriously need real people in here."

The golem did not move.

"Fine. Fine. I'll wait." Sarlot plopped down on the floor and whipped out their sketchpad. "I'm drawing you." They said, glancing up at the golem. "But I'm doing it badly. Just to spite you. Do... whatever it is you do to let them know I'm here."

Pads over quietly seeing Sarlot standing before a big golem like thing.

He sits behind [Sarlot] to wait for his turn.

Lifting up one of his paws to lick.

The prince huffed as he ducked under another swipe. He struck out with his own weapon before the golem could attack again only to have the mace swatted away. Whatever rules that world worked by had given him a crash course in armed combat, but he still felt totally unprepared. He felt a tug on his arm and nearly knocked the head off the doll that had tried to get his attention. "Woah! Sorry about that. Combat done for now." He instructed before his sparring partner blindsided him.

He turned to find several of his servants staring at him. One handed him a towel with a smile while the others pointed towards an entrance. Confused he accepted the cloth and wiped himself down. It was impressive how quickly he had worked up a sweat. "Umm, good job everyone. Take five." His dolls all silently cheered before the wolf-man strolled to investigate.

"Ohhh, hey guys!" He shouted once he recognized [Sarlot] and [Grim]. He noted the awkward way they had stopped at the guards he had created. "Right. The guards. They shouldn't bother you if you just walk past. The intention was more to keep the peace rather than keep you guys out." He understood their hesitation. Dalton had struggled to program his tv remote on Earth and now he had somehow conjured an entire building filled with magic. Even now Atilla didn't fully understand how it all worked, just that it did. "These two and all the other godlings are free to enter and leave at their discretion." He commanded to the guards to put the others at ease.

With that out of the way he ushered the two into his fiefdom. "What can I get you boys? Food? If it works the way I think you should be able to order anything you can think of, within reason. Just ask the servants. Or I can show you to one of the hot spring baths we have. Haven't tried them out myself." He looked down at his armor before he continued. "I'm afraid if I take off the armor the other me will lose theirs. That would be bad, nooottt a happy place." He snapped his fingers as if he just had a realization. "I could also set you up with a room if you wanted. No idea if you guys thought of that but you are always free to stay here."

Looks around for shadows he could speak to [Atilla] through. Waving a paw at their host.

"Hi [Prince of Society, Atilla] or do you prefer a different name or nickname ? We have all been given so many names recently it actually does feel like were royalty. Thank you for the invite, I didn't want to be rude and cut [Prince of Invention, Sarlot] in line he was waiting patiently."

"Food sounds great and I would love a room, I also made sure the hunting lodge in Grimhold has enough rooms for everyone and servants. Your invited to come hunt there if you like. I actually came to see how your doing though."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Thu 08 Sept 2022.

Sarolt's rat-instincts smashed her (them?) right in the face as they turned around to find a cat right behind them! Granted, the cat was the same size as they were. But still: a cat! They rolled a few feet before coming back up onto all fours and trying to catch their breath.
"The second time! The second time today someone snuck up on me!" Sarolt dramatically gasped, meowing it like a cat so to be understood by Grim, before rushing to pick up their sketchpad and pencil. As they followed the other two inside, they cast a dirty look up a the guardian golem and stuck out their tongue. The golem was unmoved.

"Food? Yes! Sure, hmmm... this might sound strange, but I'm definitely in the mood for a hot pocket and some Coke!" But at the mention of a room, they shook their head. "Ah, no thanks. No room needed. Too busy."

Sarolt rushed forward a bit, clutching their sketchpad to their chest. "I don't want to interrupt what anyone is doing, but I'm sort of going around and trying to figure out what everyone needs for gear. Particularly armor upgrades and such." They looked back toward Grim. "I was going to do it in alphabetical order, but seeing as you're here, I suppose we could figure it out for you as well?"

At that moment, Sarolt stopped to take-in the grand feasting hall. From their perspective it was all massive, and massively impressive. "Wow... I really like what you've done with the place." They cleared their throat, and rushed back forward to walk next to Atilla. "So... how do you feel about the color blue?" They handed their sketchpad up to Attila. On it were several renderings of Attila outfitted in two or three radically different designs. One was a full suit of futuristic armor that made him look like an 80s space hero from an old comic book. The next was something more 'modern', making him look like a near-future urban combat soldier with a vague wolf motif. The last one had some sci-fi elements, but leaned hard into the 'Attila' namesake. Furs, cloaks, leathers, plate armor, anachronistic helmet... Sort of 'House Stark' meets 'Iron Man'. All of the designs featured the color blue in one capacity or another. Usually paired with brown and gunmetal gray.

Meows back, "Sorry Josh, uhm [Prince of Invention, Sarlot]. I was just waiting patiently and saw there was a line. You were drawing and I didn't want to disturb you. I didn't mean to sneak up on you. It's these little beans on my paws." Lifts up a paw to show his pads.

"They do kind of make me quiet."



"Forgive me."

Shrugging slightly, "Not sure what would work for me like this. I did find out this is kind of like some of the Final Fantasy games with swords and guns. The other me saw some rifles. When I am in my human form that might be nice. I am slight of form so maybe a rapier too. Though with me like this I can't use much." seemed a little sad at that.

Atilla

Fighting an opponent with same weight and reach and almost the same skill was a pleasure. It was all skill, no handicaps. Something about his new body made him happy doing this. Moving, attacking, blocking, moving. It was the dance he was built for.

[15XP Spent. 300XP Left.]

[Weapon: Basic LVL 3.5] acquired.

Atilla stroked his chin, err muzzle, as he pondered [Grim's] question. "I guess Atilla is fine. I think I got pretty lucky. It's a name most people are somewhat familiar with. Obviously no one needs to refer to me by my title. Way too formal for my liking." With that answered he escorted them into the main feast hall. Aside from the clearing the wolf-man had requested plenty of seating was available. The wolf-man sat himself at a table next to the spring at the center of the room and motioned for the others to join him. 'Might need to think of different tables. Did not account for the various non-humanoids', he thought before he reached down and offered to help them up.

As they had walked through the hall servants had slowly started to follow the group of godlings. By the time they had sat a throng had gathered. They being the only customers for the entire building they had a fair amount of attention. Atilla hadn't even needed to command them. After the rodent's request a servant had quickly shot it's hand in the air as if to claim 'oooh let me' before it had run off. The cat's request had a similar response once the wolf-man repeated it. It wasn't long before other servants had returned with the items requested. The servants had managed to find plates that were more appropriate for the guests, small plates that served a hotpocket and a small plate of gravy smothered chicken.

Once everyone had started their meal Atilla grabbed the sketchbook that [Sarolt] had offered. On instinct he reached for his reading glasses before he realized that he neither had or needed them. "Wow! These are amazing Josh! Were you able to draw like this before or is that a new development?" Atilla had been so preoccupied with idea of combat he hadn't even considered they might be able to learn other abilities.  "Blue huh? That makes sense, seeing as I was given domain over water." The wolf-man perused the drawings, the vintage space hero made him laugh. "Oh man, child me would have loved this one. Not sure about it now. I like the last one the most," he pointed to the 'Atilla' suit Sarlot had drawn, "it feels like a mix of old and new, archaic vs future."

His choice made he passed the notebook back to it's rightful owner. He thought for a second about patting the rat on the back but paused when he considered the difference in size. Instead he merely nodded. "I appreciate you trying to help everyone. This is going to be a huge boon for us. As for me, don't be afraid to put my upgrades to the bottom of your pile. What I have isn't fancy but it's still better than most. I think maybe only 2 or 3 of us have armor right now. Heck, I think a good chunk of us are still unarmed. Better to focus on equipping them first before upgrading my stuff."

[Grim] nodded to Atilla about his preferred moniker.

[Grim] then followed along and hopped up on a chair. He noted all the servants coming and going and wondered if she should try what happened with the fish but this was not his place so he merely watched as they scurried about.

Looking to Atilla with sad eyes, "I know I said we would help you go back home and I certainly will. Though perhaps bringing your family here might be better." His ears flattened slightly.

"I am sure the knowledge of how we came to be here and of our worlds has come to you both by now." He looked from [Atilla to Sarlot]. "The Metacognition we all have, as a cat I was curious and looked into things and I don't know when our worlds will face the fate they do. Whether it was the moment we were shunted here or far in the future from that event. I don't know but our worlds. They didn't survive. When I found that out, I had to come here because I wanted to be supportive."

The wolf-man was silent while he listened to the cat describe what they had all learned. Perhaps the only useful thing that came from having a wolf head was that it was easier to have a poker face. Human expressions did not come easily to his new mouth. A part of him desperately wanted to see his family, but bring them to this world? So far what Atilla had seen did not impress him. "We will see. Right now we are simply fighting to survive. What happened in the past and what we try to do to fix it, those are problems for another day. I find it helps to just focus and take it one day at a time." He looked down and gently petted [Grim] on the head. "You have a big heart Grim. Thank you for coming to check on me. How are you handling things? I am sure we are all struggling with the news in some way."

They had talked for some time when a golem approached. In it's hands it carried the effigy the group had taken from the house before the collapse. "Ah, thank you. I was wondering where that had been sent." He took the doll and seated it in a chair next to the group. "I asked Regina to bring this here from the other world," he explained to his guests. "Apologies Regina. I know you wanted to visit exotic worlds but that was a bit too dangerous for your effigy. For now it will remain here, I'll find some place overlooking the hall to place it."

Once she was settled Atilla sighed before he pushed himself to his feet. "Gentlemen, I am fine continuing this conversation but I also must resume my training. Whatever we face in the jungle is apparently fighting off several competent warriors already. I'll need all the practice I can get if I'm supposed to help." Once in the clearing he gestured for the guard golem to resume their sparring and they continued his training in basic weapons.