The Retail Reaper

Opening

It has been a day or two after the pizza party has returned from the Antique Mall. Yokai Moki has been going to and from her apartment to keep it tidy. Kate has been almost tailing her, offering to visit places Yokai Moki's going.

Yokai Moki has also noticed that Kate has been a little more on edge lately, so Yokai Moki pulls her aside to ask.

Kate responds that on one of her trips back home, she went to therapy and was told that Yokai Moki's problems aren't her problems. She's also concerned that there's a lot of things going on right now which is keeping her preoccupied.

Kate and Yokai Moki get a ping on their phones telling them to head into the office. On their way in, they see a large man who looks like a combination of Jacob Lash and the Hulk. Yokai Moki asks if the two can help him.

He turns to face them and, it nearly looks like he's holding a sly grin, or that all his muscles are under some level of strain, as if he's holding a weight.

Kate recognizes this man as one of the first people to have done one of the first magical surgeries. He's known for doing something along the lines of magic circuits. He became famous by experimenting on himself with the procedure. He is a high ranking member of the Caster Society.

Kate attempts to vibe check him but is too blinded by the moment. Yokai Moki attempts the same, and realizes that sending someone like Hyde (this man) is overkill compared to Barnabus. As Yokai Moki comments that she's not sure why he's here, but they'll all find out. He responds that it's something of a family affair, which Yokai Moki responds that it's a bit much.

Yokai Moki looks past him to see he's looking at Katrina, who has her back turned to the window. Yokai Moki sends a text to Katrina asking about the man outside, simply asking what he wants. Katrina responds that she's got a good idea of what he wants. Yokai Moki asks if this needs a fight. Katrina simply tells Yokai Moki to head inside since the group has bigger problem.

Yokai Moki heads into the Toys 'R' Us with Kate in tow nd speak with Katrina. Green stands with her. Katrina explains that Hyde was one who experimented on her, and that they both are rarities in that they've been pushed to their absolute limits in terms of magic circuits, and they're still capable of retaining their minds. she does also mention that she'll be busy dealing with Hyde, and a retail reaper is scheduled to come in today, and the rest of the group will need to head into the mall to take care of it.

As Kate, Yokai Moki, Green, and Jimmy head in, their notice the mall is less populated. Jimmy immediately heads to the Sunglasses Hut and argues with the vendor over a pair of sunglasses. Kate fetched a pretzel to catch his attention.

The group collects themselves and looks around. They note that there are fewer posters for the Crypto Kobold. The group finds it odd especially considering that a few weeks ago, the walls were almost plastered with it.

They watch the mall and account for stores, noting that the Victoria's Secret has shrunk drastically. Jimmy moves to check the Victoria's Secret. Kate suggests checking out a gamestop and Yokai Moki suggests visiting the food court.

The two agree to head to the food court. Two stores have closed, the fruit smoothie location has closed and the food court seems less full than usual, though a Sonic has been opened. A hard-rock cafe has also opened.

Jimmy and Yokai Moki note they feel like they're being stared at rather strongly. Yokai Moki mentions this to Kate and says she's going to head closer to get a look. As she looks in, the place looks entirely normal with customers inside.

Yokai Moki still feels like she's being watched but cannot tell where it comes from. Eventually they opt to head inside and take a booth. Jimmy looks up and notices a crystal skull in the ceiling. It drops onto their table. As it does, the windows black out, doors close and lock. The skull glows as the party readies their weapons. The skull speaks, saying it is a liaison for the retail reaper.

Jimmy tosses something and the skull floats just by jimmy, and the item is grabbed by a mechanical prosthetic arm from a rockshasa with a lot of voodoo apparel. Two human-like skulls join the crystal skull. The rockshasa holsters the two skulls along with the crystal skull and leans against the door, saying he expected someone of a higher caliber to greet him, but supposes that Kate and Yokai Moki will do.

The rockshasa opens by going invisible. Jimmy has the idea of using his sauce packets to tell where the reaper might be. Destroyed packets with footsteps would indicate a location.

Kate is worrying that she can't do anything about this. Jimmy looks around to see if he can spot traces of the invisible man. Yokai Moki considers the interaction odd, as for someone who bragged about expecting a higher caliber, this is an oddly backhanded approach to the fight.

Jimmy triggers the fire suppression systems and spots an outline about to slash at Kate. It digs into her and she feels like something is taking hold of her. She is now cursed. Combat begins as the skulls are unholstered and attach to the ceiling in various areas of the room. Yokai Moki swings at the rockshasa with a divine smite. Jimmy scatters legos around the area and then heads behind to bar to pocket a brandy.

Kate strikes with her sword. The reaper casts dominate person on Yokai Moki, charming her. It orders Moki to attack Kate and spend smites on her. She attempts with her first swing, burning her third level smite, then gain, hitting and spending a second level smite. Through this, Yokai Moki hears a familiar barking and snarling that she heard back on route 66.

The skulls begin leaking black ooze from their eyes. It begins leaking onto each of the tables. The barking and snarling sounds like it gets louder in her mind. The black ooze begins to form into four legged beasts with eyes along all their tissue and marrow.

The hounds have arrived. The rockshasa changes planes and exits combat.