RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (Full Version)

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Draycos777 -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (3/6/2016 11:10:00)

With her question unanswered, Arche kept quiet for a bit as the group traveled. She listened in as Keystone and the Goblin had their own conversation, but was more interested in the landscape around her. The blue sand was very odd. She wasn't sure if it was magical in natural, or something like Nilburke's alchemy. Arche ruled out it being a spell or magical. After all, if it was a magic spell, then one it would need the power of a lot of mages or a few very powerful mages, and she was sure they had better things to do than turn an entire desert blue. It could be an illusion spell, but then again, they don't normally have this big of an effect area. Plus this feels all to real, just to be an illusion. A magic item? Maybe, but ones strong enough to do this a few and sparse. However, this is a place of higher learning so maybe. Arche also noticed that there was a breeze coming from the sand.

"I see. So while the Sun is making me much warmer due to the lack of clouds and direct sunlight. It's probably much cooler for everyone else, besides Rajiri. Sigh, now this really doesn't make sense."

The group finally made their way to the spire, with the goblin taking the lead. He touched the spire, then took a step back.

"Quite an eyesore, to be honest." was his reply.

Arche turned her head to the goblin.

"-Really?" She turned her head upward to look at it. A faint sparkle in her eye.

"-Honestly I think it looks majestic. A big spire looking out over everything. It's begging to be climbed, and at the top, is no doubt a grand scene."

Without even noticing it, the thought of reaching the top of that spire and looking out over the land, made Arche's dragconic features spring up.

"A view over all of this blue desert. Almost as if you're flying but without using any strength. The goblin did say they was a place were they learned about everything. Maybe they're helping with airships? Maybe they've got some really rare magical items inside?"

At this point Arche's tail was swaging back and forth with the idea of the amount of items inside, threatening to smash into anything or anyone that got in it's way. Flashing a toothy grin, she turned her head back to the goblin again.

"Oi, Nilburke. You think they'll let me take apart some of their tools and magic items? I really wanna see what makes all their gears tick."




Starstruck -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (3/7/2016 12:58:43)

Jane tapped her foot, muttering to herself. "It's not hard to see WHAT it is, big tough guy. It's a little old farm wife with her only company in this cruel world." Her words were punctuated by the irritated mewing of Valentine the cat, who had discovered the unpleasant sensation of having windy sand caught in one's fur. "I've got my horse, my pig, my dog, and my cat. Who have you got with you? Yeah, yeah, I thought so."

Her low, irritated mumbling continued as the group approached the spire, but she brightened despite herself at the mention of exploring. Clearing her throat, she did her best to get the attention of the group.

"I'm not sure if this is something any of you can do, but I got some magical stuff on my beasties. I'm not sure what exactly it does, but this collar on the cat here" - she hefted Valentine pointedly - "lets me know where she is. Maybe it would let me know what she sees as well? She's a smart kitty and minds me well. If you need any investigatin' done, well, just say the word. Maybe one 'a you big guys could toss her up on account of me not really being as strong."

Her mouth pursed suddenly and she seemed uncertain about something. "But maybe make sure it ain't dangerous first, I don't want to git her in trouble."




Sigil -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (3/10/2016 0:19:01)

Keystone patted his new beast of burden as the impromptu group's newest member introduced him (with considerable annoyance, apparently) to the whole of her menagerie.

"Got me a Molly. She's useful on the task of carryin' things. Bonus: She ain't much of a talker, which I'm findin' is a blessing, all things considered. That's what I got."

The spire, now that he was up close, posed more questions than answers. Keystone studied over the markings on the face of the construction, at times mimicking the design with his own hands. He thought intently into possible meanings of the downward facing fist and upturned palm, how they may relate to teachings of his history, etc. Then the solid probability that they had absolutely nothing linking them occurred to him. These markings are from a culture utterly foreign to philosophies he may have studied. Finding common ground based on experience was likely a fool's errand.

He tried a literal approach instead. Instead of knocking thrice and exclaiming "Open Sesame", as any adventurer worth their salt may attempt out of sheer tradition, Keystone knelt at the base of the protrusion and thrust a hand into the sand around it. He raised it, keeping his hand as demonstrated in the pictures. The odd sand fell from his fingers, but he could detect no actual change just then. Attempting a similar tactic with his fist met with similar results. He sighed.

Jane's suggestion to toss her cat up top to investigate brought an unbidden chuckle to life. Not that he thought it was an unsound tactic, but it did seem a little desperate, throwing a cat. No, the chuckle came from the interesting mental image of the burly pugilist, options exhausted and tensions flaring, grabbing little Rhubarb (or whatever the hell it was called) and shot-putting the poor guy three stories up amid his guttural yawp of savagery - the kind of savagery necessary to hurl a feline for the sake of recon. Keystone imagined his face twisted by confusion and rage, possibly getting a running start at the spire wall and twisting his body just prior to release, maybe with a touch of backspin for added height potential. The yowling, hissing sound of pissed-off housecat leading the charge to uncover the greater mysteries of the Spire. It was cause for epic, yet horrifying poetry.

As humorous as the thought was, Keystone would have to be really off his rocker to attempt it. Or have a very compelling offer. Nah, hard pass for now.

"There's got to be something basic we're missing 'ere. Any ideas?"







Apocalypse -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (3/23/2016 23:21:23)

"Probably not, softscales," Nilburke replied to the Ambassador, "unless you get on their good sides. Which is pretty hard to do and does not seem to be your particular area of expertise." The goblin's eyes never left the spire and its metallic hands. He watched as Brute performed an experiment of his own to no avail. While not a step forward it was by no means a bad sign - experimentation was a long and grueling process even on its good days.

"We'll hold on to the thought of that kitty," the alchemist said as he scooped a handful of the azure sand. "Wanna try something first." The grey part of the tower had been tested in terms of texture, but the shifting section had not. Nilburke wound his arm back and let loose.

The grains flew forward and at first nothing happened. Or rather, nothing happened which piqued the goblin's interest. The sand had not crashed against the spire and fell back to the ground but instead vanished into it. Nilburke leaned forward until his nose was almost touching the omni-color matter where the granules had disappeared, staring with intensity...

...just in time for the blue sand to be thrown back into his face. "Gyah!" Green hands rushed to his eyes and rubbed them as he fell. It hurt and stung, but nothing worse than normal sand. Even with its wind, it did not appear to have any immediate adverse effects beyond the usual. "Well that didn't seem to work," Nilburke said, blinking through tears as he sat up. "Gods alive, that was a solid rejection if I've ever seen one."




Draycos777 -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (4/2/2016 20:39:07)

"Probably not, softscales, unless you get on their good sides. Which is pretty hard to do and does not seem to be your particular area of expertise."

"I could say the same for you, humph" Arche mumbled under her breathe. However, now was not the time to be annoyed by a certain green person's side comments. After all, she needed said green person's help, if she wanted to solve the point of this spire. If looking at it from afar didn't work. And if testing it brought no results. That left only one then left to do.

"Heh, guess we gotta do this the old fashion way."

Without warning, Arche grabbed with her tail Nilburke, and tried placing him on her shoulder while reach for the spire.

"You know more about this kinda stuff than I do, You I need your help. We might learn something if we climb it. Better than standing around the thing doing nothing!"




Sigil -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (4/3/2016 20:56:45)

Keystone observed the trial with the sand, for the first time very curious about the shifty section. He looked at it intently, as if viewing the surface for the first time. The sand got in, by means of a relatively easy toss. Perhaps it was possible that this was some form of illusion. Maybe a magical security protocol. Or maybe it was a plain and simple entrance, ensorceled to keep sand and dust from blowing in. Hell, for all Keystone knew, it was made of gumdrops and sunshine, granting wishes to whomever appears wearing a wetnurse's apron, making fart noises with their armpits to the tune of their homeland's national anthem.

Obviously, Keystone knew little of magic.

Instead, the itinerant brawler motioned to his Molly to stay put (as if it would make any difference) and strode purposefully toward the spire. He flexed his hands, balled the left into a perfect forefist, and pressed it to the shifting wall, cautiously at first, but as it didn't catch him on fire or begin grinding his flesh away, he pushed harder, fully developing a punch. The motion was slow, deliberate, and tensed to withdraw in an instant. It rejected sand. Would it reject him as well?





Apocalypse -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (4/6/2016 22:10:24)

“Whoa-ho!” Nilburke tried to steady himself which turned out to be plenty difficult when one was being hauled through the air by a scaly tail. “All right, all right, I’ll take a look.” A bit of warning would’ve been appreciated. From his new perch, the spire looked…well, still looked very much like a spire. If there were any secrets to behold then they were hidden from his goblin eyes. “Nothing exciting“, Nilburke began as he dropped his gaze to see Brute extend a limb to the discoloration. “Just what are you…”

His words stopped short as the wall pulled away from where Keystone had made contact. It dissipated like ice melting from the touch of a burning iron rod but left nothing behind. Within seconds it was gone, leaving a black expanse in its place. The alchemist squinted. Within the darkness there was a stairwell, but it led down, not up. Just what was this spire?

“Dunno about you, but inside looks a lot more interesting than up here,” Nilburke said to softscales with a wicked grin. “Don’t ya think?”

***

Those that were brave enough descended into the spire. The path was dark with only the occasional lantern hanging from the wall. They burned crimson to azure to emerald to violet in a menagerie of colors, each one having its own tempo as it flashed from shade to shade. The slick onyx material of the walls and stairs seemed to consume the light as it fell upon the surface.

After three or four stories, the downward climb came to a halt. In front of the group of misfits stood a hallway. A stream of golden flames lay on each side to light the way. There was a path four feet across in front of them – behind that was another two feet of solid abyss. At the end of the hall stood a figure whose features flickered into sight with the play of fire’s glare. Bandages were wrapped tight across every inch of its figure. Its abdomen seemed too thin to be possible, and a few stray strands connected its arms to its sides like a web. A maroon collar plate with ornate bronze designs hung around its neck. Gauntlets, faulds, and greaves of the same make were on its person. In the being’s hands rested a halberd, proud and cruel.

Shisk tus forok”, the entity spoke with a voice layered by men of all ages. It slammed the butt of the halberd down with a hearty crash.




Sigil -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (4/11/2016 0:36:59)

Knowing little of the more obscure languages of his own home, let alone this foreign realm, Keystone looked oddly at the creature at the other end of this underground bridge to something awful, and sighed.

Of course, it had to be undead.

Just to be on the safe side, He addressed it in the most common tongue he knew. "Oi there, what're you on about? Mayhap pick words what we can make out then, eh?"

Yeah, like he was much better, even with his native language. Well, it wasn't the only weapon in his linguistical arsenal. Maybe the language of Dwarves was similar in this place. They were a long-lived race, perhaps something very similar existed here. He tried a standard greeting thusly.

Hmm... Keystone's brain resounded with the fact that he was not a linguist. Nor a negotiator. Nor a historian. This was not what he did well. Maybe it was better if he just ran across and tried to pound it into butt-floss, thogh the situation was not ideal for that purpose. Plus, the thing did not seem to be attacking him directly. He tried again. This time, he reached deep into his memory; a language that he knew from an unknown source. Sometimes, albeit very rarely, he would hear little whispers in this tongue. Hells, it was worth a try.

His vocal intonations took on an almost inhuman quality, sounding of deep echos and the grinding of stone against stone. Things that were like consonants struck, like the muffled sound of rocks colliding through thick cloth, as Keystone spoke. Perhaps "spoke" wasn't the correct word, but whatever type of communication it was, it proved to be a valiant and horribly unexpected attempt from someone of his background and lack of formal education.

He was unsure if any of his known languages had an impact. In frustration, Keystone switched back to his own Common tongue, and let the snark flow in his usual underclass punctuation. "Ello ello then, good sir. My name's Sodly Bintfist, it is. Rare pleasure meetin'ya there, sir. M'self and my associates are selling buttons, if you please. Tell me, is the Missus at 'ome?"





Apocalypse -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (4/12/2016 22:24:39)

The guardian stood still as it endured the first two tongues of the large man. Light glinted off its adornments as its head shifted during the speaking of the third language. It was not until the banter of Keystone's improvised monologue that the steadfast undead slackened its grip on its halberd.

A moment's silence passed. Then, it spoke. "You are...amusing, warrior." It switched tongues to match Keystone's dwarfish language. "And knowledgable." Its speech turned to the same inhuman cacophony used just moments ago. "Very knowledgable." With that, it switched back to the common tongue understood by all of the wayward companions. "But for all that you have told me nothing if your intentions."

With that, the streams of golden fire burst anew. The flames stretched up to the ceiling and licked their way down the abyss, showing no end in sight. The inferno only made the guardian's armor burn brighter, it's fearsome form becoming only fiercer under the light. It hefted the halberd once more and leveled it at the intruders.

"Speak in any tongue you desire - but speak well."

Nilburke swallowed hard as beads of sweat began to form on his brow. "Whatever you say, don't piss him off."




Sigil -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (4/17/2016 0:04:41)

Keystone was unsure as to whether he should be relieved or worried that the Eternal Halberdeer understood every language he spoke. Giving it a half-second of thought, it was actually a touch unsettling. Not quite as unsettling as the sudden and quite dramatic display of pyrotechnics, granted, but Keystone's internal order of problem solving presently had a "first in, first out" mentality. Again, the concept of dashing forward and engaging the undead thing in fisticuffs seemed the preferred course of action. Again, common sense got the better of this idea.

As much as he despised the Undead, brought about by years of experience battling with the beasties, it was quite possible that honest conversation might be in order. After all, it was there first. Technically, they were the interlopers.

"Nah, I ain't that knowledgeable. Tells ya straight, though, name's Keystone. If'n you'll not mind, I'll be usin' the language I'm comfy sportin' with my drinking buddies, then." While it was a proper language, his casual use and underclass diction had the occasion to stump even some native speakers. The burly pugilist wanted his intentions to be known plainly, but give the illusion of possible miscommunication, just in case such a faux pas might work to his advantage. All the same, Keystone kept his tone friendly(ish) and his words more-or-less honest.

"Don't suppose you're a drinking man, are ya? Ah, n'mind. Well, 'ere it is then, reason why we're stomping about your place: I don't know. Was tryin' for a school, the the forest exploded into a desert what blew on us (lotsa fun, that), and then we just... needed to come 'ere."

Keystone's mind searched for the word proper to the circumstance. "Ain't like we was forced to, mind, but it was less of a choice, if you get my meaning."

Suddenly, it struck him. "Compelled! There you have it, compelled to occupy this spot, I was. Love what you've done with it, by the by. The whole stairs & fire thing. I was wantin' to put in box planters on m'roof, but this... Brilliant."

"So, what is this place, anyhow?"




Apocalypse -> RE: ~*Getting To Know You*~ (4/21/2016 22:51:35)

“We felt compelled, mind you, because your spire and blue desert showed up in our forest,” chimed in Nilburke. “All this was plopped in our kitchen – we had to take a look.”

Whether in response to the words of the scholar or the everyman, the guardian gave a nod. The flames ebbed away, subsiding until they returned to the form of thin streams. Its grasp on the halberd loosened, and despite not breathing the bandaged being seemed to take a sigh of relief. Armor glistened as its stance shifted, converting from the rigidity of a statue to the gentler, more fluid form of a living man.
“I suppose I cannot fault you for that transgression. As for this,” the guardian gestured to the echoing chamber behind him, “I the watcher. As for what I watch-"

The guardian cut himself short. If its eyes had been visible, they would have lowered their gaze to the floor. The free hand clenched its fingers before opening them again to let them hang loose by its side. Its head turned the other way, gazing back into the black abyss where the fire's light diminished and died. Nilburke counted four heartbeats before the being turned back to face the misfits.

"I am the watcher. As for what watch, I cannot say. For days or millennia I have stood, but the body is strong while the mind is weak."




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