Return to Ravnica [Open! Apply in OOC thread!]

[Kirby Krackle]

How much is one hundred years of peace worth? Weigh this against the alternative: continuing the centuries of mindless violence and brutality. Such was the world ten loose-knit factions lived, all waging an endless war against each other and causing a countless loss of life. Of their leaders, nine out of ten were willing to see to the end of this combat if the end result was indeed their dominance over the world. The last, Azor, an alicorn of vast power and cool logic, realized that if these actions remained unaltered, the only result would be absolute destruction. So he, with the confidence of some and reluctant compliance of others created their ten guilds: Azorius, Dimir, Rakdos, Gruul, Selesnyan, Orzhov, Izzet, Golgari, Boros and Simic. These ten would go on to build and maintain Ravnica, a metropolis whose infrastructure spanned the globe. Next came the signing of the Guildpact, a global peacekeeping enchantment to ensure the survival of the ten faction and forever end the violence that threatened to consume and destroy them. Every tear since then, on the anniversary of the Guildpact's signing, a city-wide and day-long festival is held, where every pony from every guild can forget their petty squabbles, drop their swords and make merry.

The Guildpact's Centennial is where our story begins.

Enter Mushroom Kingdom, a homely little bar and grill that just barely managed to open its doors in time for the biggest party of the year. Construction has just recently ended, with every nook and cranny attended to, down to the bar stools and menu. Despite the freshness of the place, it's still in not-a-great part of the city and the occasional plank of wood is showing signs of water damage and mold. But the place is dang sturdy and in otherwise pristine upkeep, its owner would say. After all, Fungus Amongus can do only so much with a horsehair budget.

Fungus Amongus? He's a woody red stallion, and pretty darn big. His main is dreaded, covers his eyes and sports a bright mossy green if he remembers to wash up after working the fields. His cutie mark, very distinctive white speckled and candy apple red mushroom. You know the kind. "Amanita Muscaria, more commonly known as the Fly Agaric", he would say before talking your ear off about his modus operandi. The Golgari Swarm raises their foals strong and smart. "Have to be both to keep that wheel spinning." That wheel meaning the cycle of Life and Death. "Practical Necromancy is not the stuff of bit-store horror novels. It's what gets the garbage picked up every morning and the dinner on your plate every night." Prior to running a dive, he and his family, like most of the Golgari, ran a Rot Farm, theirs specializing in fermented and pickled goods though the real money came from mulch.

There was one unpleasant night three months ago, where the arrest of some Rakdos thugs went beyond the Boros's control and severe property damage pretty much destroyed the farm, took Fungus's back leg and the lives of his parents. Most would be broken up over this, but the Golgari Swarm does not bury their dead. They plant them. Having learned the ritual when he was very young, Fungus made quick work of giving them back to the soil. Their return should be any day now. The courts are well aware of this and cannot very well auction off the property of those only between states of living. Ever the hard worker, Fungus took out a loan (since the Boros were kind enough to pay for the damages to the farm) and opened this dive to keep income flowing during repairs, serving the family's surplus of vittles along side some cheap to make "But mighty tasty!" wines and spirits. As for his leg, that was reattached, though the rituals for that were... slightly botched. It still works fine, but he'll have a limp for life and as well as stink of rotten eggs. The assorted plant matters keeping his necrotic flesh sturdy are making sure of that.

* * *

Something has been bothering Fungus for a while now. Something he's forgotten. Apron snug? Check. Picked egg jar full? Check. Bar wiped clean? Check. Lights on and door open? Check. Balloons? That's a big check. He hasn't yet practiced that "Call me Fun-Guy" friendliness that bartenders were supposed to have, but hospitality training can happen as he goes. Meanwhile, the clock has officially chimed midnight and the Festival Guildpact has officially begun! Time to welcome those customers and get this party started!

...wait, he forgot to advertize, didn't he? Oh bother.

[DuskBreaze]

Wrench hoof stepped back from her workbench with a sigh. Once again the flux capacitators could not take the energy of the amount of energy she was trying to use, ending up with the small device she had spent the past three days on fizzing in a small ball of light on her bench. She looked back at the small clock that she had hung on her wall. Made it herself ofcourse, it was almost elementary to create a basic clock. Actually as she thought about it, she made it in pre-school. Oh well. It was twelve o-clock on the dot and it was time for the 'big celebration' great, she could now get to a decent bar without getting harassed by those Grull jerks. The amount of times she wanted to blast them fools in the face with a good old bolt from her flux glove. Oh... the old flux glove. The only invention she had managed to make as of recent, Niv-Mizzet was even considering making it a standard thing for the Izzet league. What do ya know, she wasn't a complete failier.

Wrench took a step out of her house and into the bustling streets of Ravnica, this was her home weather she liked it or not. Had been since she was a filly and probably will be when she kills over and dies. Isn't that something to look forward to?

Wrench wandered through the busy streets and came across a bar that seemed deserted. Perfect! But was it open? She took a few nervous steps inside, lifting her goggles from her eyes to her head as she did. There was a rather large stallion looking nervous at the bar, at least she wasn't the only one, must have been this guys opening night. What a night to open! On Festival Guildpact? Wasn't he gonna be in for a rough night.

[MasterMustang]

Shift Captain Pantheon just arrested some criminals from the Gruul Clans trying to break into a local weapon shop. 2 out of the 5 perpatratiors became casulties because of their endless stupidity. He struck them down swiftly with his mighty spear. Besides that, today's shift has been rather quiet which is unsual, especially snice it's the Guildpact's Centennial...

As he patrols down the street he notices that the small bar that was under construction is finally finished. He decides to check it out. Even though he is on duty right now his superiors won't care. He is just going to get a coffee anyways. Pantheon lumbers through the doors of the humble Mushroom Kingdom bar, each massive step he takes echos within the mostly barren establishment. His large steel, red, and white heavy patrol armor is quite the intimidating sight. He looks around and notices a lone small pony at the bar. It seem's that business must be slow today. Paying her no attention, Pantheon walks up to the barkeep and leans over the bar. "Hey buddy, can I get a coffee? I'm kinda still on duty..." He looks down. Man, I haven't had a good beer in weeks... He looks around again, nopony else came in yet. "Slow business today?"

[UnitP0N13]

Malik Shadowcloak jolts and looks up from his seat at the bar, his black cloak covering his eyes and hair, then back down to his drink, his bored-looking expression unchanging.

Buck...is that the Judge?!

He looked back up to see Wrench and gives a slight wave to her, smiling. "Don't be shy, come on in! Have a drink, kick back and relax!" Malik leans back, only to fall over onto his spine, laughing in pain.

Malik may look like a nice guy, but he's actually one of the most ruthless, and lethal assassins in Ravnica. True, he may not be the best, but he sure hasn't failed a job yet, and his reputation has been going up as of recent. And he loved it. Of course, anyone who has seen him before ended up in coffins at their own funerals. His assassin name is Nyte Dagger, and his success in the business has allowed him to form a small mafia, mainly comprised of his ecentric werewolves friends, Vinnie, Dimitri, Valerd, Hanz, and a few others her can't remember. They help out on his assassinations from time to time, and he splits the profits evenly between each one that helps them, but they don't usually care since they're already making their own profits off of debtors in Ravnica. They're the best friends a drow pony could have.

As an assassin, Malik is also part of the Cult of Rakdos, but he doesn't harbor any hatred towards the other guilds like his family does, and neither does the mafia he runs. At the end of the day, as long as he has a bit of coin of pocket, everything's fine.

His cutie mark, covered up by hs cloak, his a hooded figure with two daggers, leaping to a strike.

[MasterMustang]

Pantheon looks over to the new pony in the room. Looks like he missed him on the way in and it gives him a slight chill. Hmmmm... this guy... where did he come from? He sets down his sheild and spear at the bar but unlocks the holster to his Lawgiver Mk2 in case this guy deicides to commit a Code-36-10A... 'assault of an on-duty Wojek officer,' minimum 25 years. He looks down at the bar waiting for his coffee.

[DuskBreaze]

Wrench hears the comment made by the pony she somehow managed to miss at the bar. After the big guy sits down in his small bar stool she couldn't help but smirk. Somehow that little stool wasn't crushed! Wrench to a seat between the two of them, with pantheon two seats to the right and Malik two seats to the left and she orders a drink, a hard, strong cider. Just how she liked it. As she waited for her drink she couldn't help but notice the big ponies firearm that he was almost trying to show off. Wrench almost fell off her seat laughing "Wha... hehehe... what where you expecting to do with that little pea shooter!?" She asked as she did in fact fall off her seat laughing. Obviously the clan that he was from hadn't evolved past what the Izzet considered to be caveman times, but hey! each to there own right!?

[MasterMustang]

Pantheon looks at Wrench with a slight glare. He waves his hand dismissing the foolish remark with an annoyed grunt. Fool.. the one time I just want to relax and then suddenly I am surrounded by idiot civilians... I knew today was to good to be true. The barkeep brings him his coffee and Pantheon leaves him a few bits. He just sits there in annoyed silence drinking his coffee.

[UnitP0N13]

Malik helps her off the ground, helping her onto her seat and sitting down next to her, grabbing his mug of...wine? He takes a swig, noting her remark.

"And you got bigger pea shooters?" He grins, nudging her in the side with his elbow.

The conversations was helping him forget about the Judge three seats down. Hopefully he wouldn't get suspicious of the fact that his cloak was pretty much covering most of his face.

"So, you dig firearms, eh? That's pretty cool." The drow pony bring the mug to his lips and takes another hit. Sweet peach wine...

[TotalEcplise]

The sky is just so interesting today. Silver Charger thought as he tried to stave off the unbelievable levels of boredom he was feeling. The gem in his steam gauntlet pulsed rhythmically, catching the young stallion's attention.

"Pfft! as if, you know me better than that Azumeril, beside the Izzet have more than enough people to act as steam pushers, they don't need me helping too." He rolled to his side to give his chest some small reprieve from the sun.

He'd been lounging on the roof everyday for nearly a week, just watching the city. Niv-Mizzet hadn't given him any jobs lately and standard public works service didn't catch his fancy at all, so he ditched it at every possible turn. Down the ways was a bar that had been under construction for a bit, but now seemed finished and open. Well after seeing two ponies enter he assumed it was open. He rustled around on his jacket/makeshift blanket, trying to get comfortable. He brought his right hoof to his face just in time to see it once again pulsing to life.

"Hmm, I guess you're right, I'm not doing anything better." The taupe pony stood up and dusted himself off and ran a hoof through his smooth light beige mane. He huffed into his goggles and cleaned them off with a small cloth. He stared at his reflection in the glass and gave himself a cocky smirk. "Looking good there." He said to himself. The gem on his gauntlet began to pulse furiously. "Shuddup! Who needs a marefriend, I've got better things to do." As if laughing the uncontrollably the gem began pulsing and flashing randomly. "Whatever, I'm headed to the bar."

Sliver Charger Snatched up his leather coat and tossed on across his back lazily, unlike most Izzet he worn a half lidded expression and trotted with a gait that screamed 'I dont care'. His coat and goggles swished freely from side to side as he walked to the bar.

He opened the door to the bar and scanned the the ponies inside. Not many were present; There was a stallion in armor with a spear and shield next to him, Obviously Boros; Then there was a cloaked pony who was helping a mare back up on to her stool, who could be either with the Cult of Rakdos or House Dimir; finally there was the mare, she was Izzet, he didn't recognize her, but it didn't matter to him. Most other Izzet League ponies though of him a pathetic loafer or a weirdo that spends his time talking to elementals anyway.

The scene was amusing to him and he had a good laugh at the trying to figure out what the mare could've possibly thought was funny enough to fall straight of her seat. He trotted up to lazily and took a seat near the other ponies.

"Just like me to walk in after the joke," He said to others as he got comfortable.

[TortoiseShell]

Norma Gene glances around the lab and notices that everypony else had already left for the day. Slackers; just because it's the holiday they all skipped out early. Meanwhile, the lab was going to close at midnight for the entire 24 hours, which meant nobody would be here to take care of the patients. She made an extra round this evening and left them extra food and water, and made sure they were extra clean and nobody was in any obvious pain.

Satisfied with her work, she turns off the lights and closes up the lab tightly. They'd be okay until she returned. Besides, she hasn't had a day off since...well, last Festival Guildpact. It was purely voluntary on her part, however. She came in on her days off to check on the specimens; she rarely trusts anyone else with their care anymore.

She stops by the restroom on her way out of Novijen to freshen up. She pays so little attention to her appearance anymore since her days are filled with caring for others, she's almost shocked at how out-of-control her hair is. She smooths it down with some water and gently taps her cheeks to get some color back into them. She's spent all day thinking about what to do. She wants to go out, be around people who AREN'T mad scientists. Laughter, that's what her life is missing.

She decides against staying at ground-level today. Too many ponies, she isn't ready for THAT kind of social interaction. She heads down a long ramp that eventually goes to the Undercity. She doesn't plan to go all the way down, but just far enough away from the crowds.

She doesn't have to walk long before she finds a quaint little tavern, cutely named "Mushroom Kingdom." What the heck, she'll peek in and see what it's like. She can always find somewhere else. Looking around, she's happy with her choice. There are a few ponies, but still plenty of room to move around and be comfortable. While it does look to be run by Golgari, it is cozy and pleasant. She sits at a table near the bar, not brazen enough to sit directly at it. This is novel for her - she smiles, pleased with herself.

"Umm...barkeep? May I have some mead, please?" she asks quietly, probably not even loud enough for the rusty-colored stallion at the bar to hear her.

[Kirby Krackle]

"One cuppa joe coming right up, officer!"

A pro-tip Fungus received from a friend regarding the art of restauranting was to never ask how a patron takes their coffee. If they have a preference, they will make mention as they order. If not, simply present them with cream and sugar and let them figure it out. So, as quick as a whip, Fungus was in and out of the kitchen with a hot mug of java with a tiny ceramic pitcher of chilled dairy and a sugar dispenser as neighbors. Another pro-tip: keeping up on customer orders. He heard the little engineer ask for hard cider and was in the back room as fast as his bum leg could carry him. Though, once there his haste scrambled any relevant thoughts on which barrel to crack open. 'Hard'. What did that mean exactly? Alcohol content, he told himself, which is directly related to time spent fermenting. The older the better. Following that concept, he ignored the brews he had prepared in advance for this evening in lieu of of a barrel sitting alone and forgotten in a dusty corner. His father's chicken scratch label read 'Apple cranberry' with a seal date of five years ago. Perfect!

"Strongest in the house", he advertised to the Izzet as he slid her a chilled flagon. "If this doesn't knock your socks off, then they finally built that cast-iron stomach I keep hearing about."

Pro-tip #3: Samples. You will be surprised how much a pony will buy once you give them something for free. And tonight is a party, so why not start off with something special? Stuffed mushrooms to be exact. It's a recipe he's been working on since long before he got this crazy bar & grill idea.

"Agaricus Bisporus", he announced, now back from another trip to the kitchen, this time wheeling out a cart carrying six dozen carefully prepared snacks. "More commonly known as the White or Button Mushroom. The younger version of the Portabello. The stems have been removed, chopped fine and sauteed with onions and fresh garlic. Cream cheese and a raw egg act as a binder, then the caps are stuffed with this mixture. Bread crumbs and a little Parmesan make a crust on top, then I washed it all with butter and set them to bake". There he was, rambling again. The social awkwardness only shows through when he's not talking about things that reproduce with a cloud of spores. "Ahem... well, that is... since this is Mushroom Kingdom's grand opening and all...", See? Stuttering. "And since this is the Guildpact Festival and all... these are all on the house. Please! Enjoy, everyone!" Please enjoy, he mentally pleaded. Please please please please please enjoy.

Pro-tip #4: Greet every customer as they enter. And remember to smile smile smile. "Good evening", he chimed to the awfully tiny mare who stepped in. Though, for the life of him, he couldn't hear a blasted thing over the din. So her order was lost on him. "What can I get for you?"

[TortoiseShell]

She pouts a little bit, she hates raising her voice. For this gentlecolt's sake, she leans forward and lightly shouts "A mead, please?" She tilts her head as she watches him walk around. He has a limp. His back leg appears to be damaged. Hmmm... She just sits back and ponders, hoping he could hear her this time.

[Kirby Krackle]

That wasn't shouting. Not by any pony's standards, but bless her she was trying. He did catch the word 'Mead', though and announced that we would be back shortly with her beverage of choice. Considering the seven out of eighteen barrels labeled 'Mead' as a challenge, he worked through his mental catalog of recipes, trying to find the most appropriate brew. He eventually spotted a name he would often see on orders placed by the Selesnya. Must be the milder stuff, he reasoned. A taste test confirmed things and into a mug it went, off to his next thirsty customer.

[MasterMustang]

"Free samples, huh? Don't mind if I do." Pantheon takes a plate and begins munching. "Hey, these are pretty good, buddy!" Pantheon comments. "I think my fellow Wojek Legionares would like this place too." He proceeds to munch on the mushrooms but he still keeps an eye on the others here, especially that smart*** civilian. 'Pea-shooter' my ***...

[TotalEcplise]

"Oh free? My favorite price!" Charger took a mushroom and popped it into his mouth he shivered a little at it powerful taste. "Whoa, these crazy good." The gem on his gauntlet started to pulse

"Stop being like that, you already know you can't eat anyway," He said with a full mouth. "Bar Keep, how about a full order of those stuffed mushrooms and a mead?" The gem on Chargers mushroom started to flip out and flash wildly.

"Well excuse me for being biologic Azumeril," He said with a snicker. "P.s. I'm doing this to spite you."

Silver Charger notices the Boros stallion eyeing everyone in the room intently. His face is scowling ever so slightly, he looks to him then to the firearm he carries then to the other Izzet pony. Realization hits him like a ton of bricks and he finally sees what was so funny. Charger can't help but burst into laughter while staring directly at Pantheon.

[DuskBreaze]

Wrench gladly took the help from the cloaked pony that helped her back onto her seat, still chuckling to herself as she decided to take a munch on the mushroom "[colour=#b22222]hmm not bad![/colour]" she said through a mouth full of mushroom giving a smile to the barkeep. Now back to the Boros patriot "[colour=#b22222]Oh boy just what we need! More Boros patriots prancing around the nice little bar we have here! Well I for one would like to enjoy this bar without having you kill joys being here![/colour]" She took a sip of her cider. Darn it was strong! and it had a nice after taste too that stuck to her tongue "[colour=#b22222]I mean look at you! Your here in a bar in full armour! You have to learn to relax! Chill out you know[/colour]" Satisfied with her outburst she turned to her new friend. The cloaked stalion that had helped her up earlier, a grin spread across her face. Firearms, just what she loved to talk about! "[colour=#b22222]Pea shooters?[/colour]" she said as she raised her front right hoof to him, her flux glove glowing with ethreal energy. "[colour=#b22222]You see this here? My own invention, it uses flux energy to shoot small beams of light at a tremendous pace. It can cut a hole straight through a dragon! and believe me, I tested it myself[/colour]" She grinned more, pride of her invention making her extremely happy. The small green gem on her left from glove started to glow. Oh great... another talking germ in the room and hers decides to wake up. "No i will not demonstrate you pyromaniac! I've insulted the Boros enough!" She shouted at it. Turning to the barkeep as she remembered her cider "[colour=#b22222]Hey barkeep! This is good stuff! I love it![/colour]" She said with a smile. Wrench wondered if the Boros guy was ok. The last thing she wanted was to end up in a darned hospital.

[TortoiseShell]

"Thank you, sir," she replies to the bartender, smiling warmly. She takes a careful sip and closes her eyes, the sweet liquid burning only slightly on the way down, making her ears tingle. Perfect. She around her table a bit to get further away from the bar, which has suddenly become overrun by hungry ponies wanting those mushrooms. She waits a few minutes for the dust to settle, then makes her way up and samples one. "Wow! No wonder everypony is making such a fuss. I'll have an order of them as well, if it's not too much trouble..."

While the bartender is occupied with taking everypony's orders, she peers around the bar at his mangled leg. While nobody is looking her way, she pops open what looked like a sapphire in her necklace, extracting a tiny bit of cytoplast material. Her "first aid kit," as she calls it. Never leave home without it! She takes another look around before flicking the tiny mass at his leg. A little bit goes a long way. She stares for a moment to watch it grab hold - it attaches very quickly now after all, thanks to Momir Vig. After a few seconds though, the moss and debris holding his leg together seems to absorb the cytoplast, instead of the cytoplast bonding to it.

What?

She goes back to her table and sits down to wait for her mushrooms, puzzled. She'll try again later - maybe it just hit a bad spot.

[Ciraxis]

"Ahahahah. Futile. I tried this once already...it seems it's too late for that. Still - good idea." said the unicorn who just entered the bar seeing what Norma just tried to do. Nothing was ordinary in him. His tabard, proud pose, slitted eyes, spikes on back and smaller on hooves, but most noticeble his basilisk tail. It was Doctor Forest Touch - one of Top 20 minds of Simic.

"Hi Fungus, old pal. So...this is your new place? Pretty impressive for such small....nevermind." Forest shutted up suddenly realising where this lead. Doctor looked around patricians. Izzet were fine as long as they keep that machinery rubbish for themselves - at lest they belived in progress. The Boros barbarian should kept that Rakdos imbecile in check. Perfect. Oh? Wait a moment.

"You seem...familiar." noted Touch towards the Simic mare "I am pretty sure that we not met but...later." Forest shifted his attention back to Fungus. " Please tell me you still have that tincture on black raspberry. If so, could you mix it with coffe please? By the way...how goes business so far?"

Waiting for his friend response his tought shifted back towards this black maned mare. It was something important.

Eureka! Sudden realisation struck him and he begun to prospect his bag for the right papers.

[MasterMustang]

Wrench struck a nerve... why that no-good, ungrateful, low-life, pile of **** ... his grip tightens around his coffee but he maintains his composure. He will not throw away his honor and the Law he serves so vigilently for a smart-mouthed troublemaking civilian. He continues to munch and drink his coffee paying the citizen no mind.

Out of no where Pantheon hears another outburst of laughter from behind him coming from Charger. His muscles tense up. He shoots Charger a quick glare before returning to his meal. His eyes were like daggers...

[DuskBreaze]

(ciraxis. Could you please change the yellow? I'm not sure about anyone else but im having a real hard time reading it xD)

[UnitP0N13]

"A dragon? ...Say, I could use something like that..." He grins. "You manufacturing them? I think I might just cut you a deal."

Malik eats a bunch of the samples, almost like a mad man. He hasn't eaten much tonight, a mistake on his part, and he's been getting incredibly hungry.

"I could also pay you for any future gadgets you make that I may need use for, and help fund you for any resources you would require obtaining for these gadgets, if that's what you need." He says after swallowing. "Mmh, delish."

[DuskBreaze]

Wrench chuckled at the cloaked pony's coments "Sorry there bud but my idea has been sold to the guild already. Right now theres about fourty ponies recreating this as we speak, as for getting you one I would have to say no to that.... Anything that Niv-Mizzet says stays within the guild stays within the guild. and don't worry about my funding! I am funded by Mizzet herself!" She took another swig of cider, wow... that was good stuff. She had said it before but had to say it in her head one more time. She looked back at the Boros from earlier and saw him almost grinding his teeth together. She placed a hoof on his shoulder and grinned "c'mon now bud! Lighten up! I don't know what they have in Boros but here they call what i did a joke! No hard feelings!" Ofcourse this wasn't going to help... Wrench had a nack for annoying people more when she tried to calm them down.

[UnitP0N13]

"Oh...a pity. I would have loved trying out your handicraft." He purses his lips, a bit disappointed. But then he grins. "What if one were, say, go missing for no apparent reason?" Malik chuckles, taking another hit of his peach wine. "Even for juuust a little while?"

He nudges her in the side and...well it looks like he's winking, but you can't tell behind the hood over his eyes.

[MasterMustang]

"I suggest that the removal of your hoof would best suit the situation..." he says slowly turning his head to face her. His deep orange eyes lock with Wrench's. Even siting at the bar he is looking down at her which further complements his size. He calms slightly then looks at his food. "If you will excuse me citizen, I am on-duty so I need to finish my business here quickly and leave." said Pantheon as he leaves bits for the bill and heads for the door with his equipment. His armor clangs with every step.

[TortoiseShell]

Norma Gene instantly stills. Somepony saw what she was doing. Without moving a muscle, she looks where the voice came from. Wait a minute, she knows this pony. He often picks up the successful specimens at the end of trials and takes them...wherever they go. She has never been introduced though and he's probably never seen her since she keeps to herself in the lab.

She wasn't doing anything wrong with the cytoplast though; there is no law against it, so why is he staring at her like that? She bows her head to the table, focusing intently on her mead, hoping he gets distracted by something else and turns his attention away from her.