farmville is a real place

[halfbloodhillmods]

Who: Gale Hawthorne, Elizabeth Comstock, Elsa Arendelle, John Egbert
What: Information retrieval and investigation after tracking Markel's Iris Message to camp.
Where: Farmville, VA
When: June 7-9
Why: It's about time we try to one-up the Red Room.

They almost sent the group sans prophecy, as times are tense, but their trusty Oracle had brought forth another one, short and sweet.

Bubble, bubble, toil and troubles
The blighted one shall toy with doubles.
Seek truth in the lodge revamped
Close the punctured hole in camp.

Chiron has provided the questers with the location, and the standard backpacks of supplies, just in case. There is, after all, no such thing as a simple quest when it comes to Camp Half-Blood. There are also various modes of transportation he can offer, but he will leave that up to the group to choose their preferred method. It is no easy task, gathering information on an elusive group of evil demigods, but this is a reliable team.

 

Comments

[castleofice]

[Elsa glances around the town curiously. It has a nice, sort of quaint feel to it. It's hard to imagine the Red Room having any sort of base here, but perhaps that's the point.]

I wonder, why does this town in particular appeal to the Red Room? Is it because it's such an unlikely place?

[toeverywhere]

[Elizabeth dismounted with ease. The ride for her had been no bother at all, and instead, she'd had a great conversation with the pegasus nearly the whole time.]

Maybe. Any place called farmville really brings to mind images of monotony and middle-America.

[Everything, she realizes, that Comstock had wanted.]

So that's our plan? Walk down main street and see what's what?

[ensared]

Off the main street it is, then. [ He'll lead the way. ]

It's not much different than what I've heard of that other place - the one in Florida, [ Gale says as they walk. ] They said it wasn't very impressive, either. Office buildings, weren't they? Maybe that's what they picked out here.

[thewindything]

Yep. Really shitty ones, by the way. [GUESS WHO WAS BEING HELD IN THAT ONE, TOO. THAT'S RIGHT, THIS GUY.]

This one wasn't an office building, though. It was more like a house, I think.

[castleofice]

[She'll stay a touch behind the group to avoid any accidental physical contact. While her clothing protects others from her icy touch, she still doesn't want to take any chances.]

Perhaps. This town seems so peaceful, and the houses are very quaint. I do have to admit that they are good at being inconspicuous.

[toeverywhere]

Celebration, Florida. Farmville, Virginia.

Let me guess, the next one is going to be in Boring, Oregon? [That, too, was a real place.

Noticing that Elsa was lagging behind, Elizabeth slowed her walk to keep pace with her. She had on a jacket, despite the summer heat, so there was very little to worry about with her.]

[halfbloodhillmods]

[ Hey, that's rather interesting. For a small town far from camp, there seem to be a couple familiar faces around.

Would you say that figure in the corner of your eye looks just like John? And the girl rounding the corner - doesn't she strongly remind you of Elsa? ]

[ensared]

[ Looking around, Gale is just starting to notice those little oddities. His brow furrows as they seem to grow in number the further they walk into town, and he can't help but suddenly feel twice as suspicious as before.

Lowering his voice, he says, ] Stay close, guys. There's something weird going on here. Illusions, maybe.

[thewindything]

[Wow that is actually pretty creepy and a little too uncanny valley for John.]

Wow, no kidding. What the heck is going on here?

[castleofice]

[Um.

No.

Elsa is going to pick up the pace because the last thing she wants is to get separated from her group and not be able to tell them apart from these doubles. That's like textbook trap scenario right there.]

I feel like I'm walking into a Stephen King novel....

[toeverywhere]

[Elizabeth is already thinking.]

If we get separated, find a way to work in the word shoelaces into a sentence, [She says, her voice low.]

And if you can't speak... [She actually throws up the Vulcan salute.]

Just... Just in case anything happens.

[ensared]

Good idea. Live long and prosper. [ Yes, even the poor folks of New Rome know that reference.

As they come to an intersection, Gale leads them down the left side, hoping to get away from the creeps in this town and find the place and get out. The Red Room is watching, and expecting them; that's all but confirmed now. They just need to do this quickly and get back. ]

Which way do you think it is, John?

[thewindything]

I guess getting an aerial view is out of the question, huh?

[John is impressed. He figured New Rome was all war games and military barracks.]

[He glances down the street with a frown.]

Turn here.

[castleofice]

Best not to risk it. You might not be able to find us again, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's more waiting for us at the house.

[Elsa will follow his direction. Her hands play with the fabric of her gloves, wondering if perhaps she should take them off. After a brief moment of hesitation, she carefully takes them off and slips them into her dress' pockets. Probably best to inform her companions that she's just become very dangerous....]

Whatever you three do, don't grab for my hands. I've taken my gloves off.

[toeverywhere]

Smart, [Is all Elizabeth says, then pauses. Songbird has been watching from a distance, and at the idea of an aerial view...]

Songbird can take a look. [With a nod to the bird, he takes off.] he's much more inconspicuous.

[She pauses for a moment before looking at Elsa and nodding encouragingly.] we'll be careful. Promise.

[halfbloodhillmods]

[ There seem to be multiple copies of the questers milling around, seeming to mind their own business. It's undeniable at this point, though one must wonder where they seem to be coming from and why the other towns people seem to be disappearing.

Suddenly, from behind, there's an icy gust of wind, strong enough to make the questers stumble. ]