|
|
Post by Asphoxia on Jun 18, 2018 17:20:25 GMT -5
Sword: be a Demon Weapon
Past Ace: run the campaign TAZ: Balance for the group. Or ask for a recap of everything.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Jun 23, 2018 0:51:03 GMT -5
This update brought to you by Sasha's Simple Shop o' Slasher-doos.~ INTO THE PAST~ The mood sits somber over dinner. Nobody seems to really want to talk, perhaps not to remind each other that this may very well be the last meal your band of mountaingoers shares as one. Marshall had made a glorious stuffed meat-and-potatoes dish--a recipe he clearly had been saving for some sort of special occasion. When the rest of your party laid eyes on it, most found themselves unable to suppress sounds of awe, with Amanda even noting that she felt it wrong to not offer something in return. Marshall downplayed it with his usual manner, but this time it was clear he felt joy in seeing everyone's reaction. He didn't particularly want your party to break up, and the feeling was mutual across both sides, the least he could do was prepare this humble banquet. Yet Amanda's words were the last uttered once the meal commenced (besides simple requests of "pass the salt" and such like it). Admittedly, it grew exhausting for many of your party members. Either that, or they got tired of hearing nothing but the clinks of silverware and the low smacks of chewing. Whichever the case, it became too much for a certain Superencyclopedia to let go on. Eventually Min made an entrance, zipping from your bag in a blur of blue light and attracting everyone's attention in an instant. "Come on, guys!" her metallic voice rang out loud, a slight falter in her cry, "This is your last meal together! Are you not going to say anything after all you've gone through together??"Min's words took a moment to settle. Either that, or not everyone was done chewing. Pyralis was the first to say anything, swallowing her mouthful in a sudden gulp, "You never told me you went through anything..." her words were directed at Apollo. Apollo took a moment to realize the words were directed at him. Above that, he hadn't heard what Min had just said, so he was a bit lost to the conversation as a whole. "Um. Well, there was that time I got burnt by that Fire Snake..." he spins his fork absently as he speaks. "I meant besides that. I was there for that." "Oh. Uh. Yeah..." "What about that time you made a lightning whip with your scarf when we fought that mech?" Isra asks from across the table. "I make lightning whips all the time, though." "Are you even listening?" "I- " "I think," Amanda promptly cuts in, bringing eyes to her, "that we should start from the top. And that top," she moves her own eyes over to you and Marshall, "I believe begins with you two." she then motions at the both of you. "And I think," Marshall's retort is swift, "that Ace here really has the whole story." It's clear he just doesn't want to recall the entire saga, for some reason. So you oblige the rest of your group. The Beginning
It all started back when you woke up in that yellow forest with purple trees... or was the forest purple and the trees yellow? You can't quite recall. You have an inkling that it's the latter.
You woke up with no memory except of your name: Ruby "Ace" Aynian (and even that was hazy). As for physical possessions, just your clothes, your bag, some trail mix, and a strange ovalish device.
Through trial and error you managed to power on the device, and it gave you three vague choices. A bit much for a drowsy amnesiac, but out of "Fighter, Mage, or Swordsman" you decided to choose the first. In a flash of light, you were miraculously granted your impressive fist-fighting ability, as well as awesome, dark crimson hair.
For some reason immediately after you were menaced by a giant BUG, but deftly used your newfound abilities to send it scuttling away after a quick skirmish.
Then you wandered out of the forest into a hilly clearing and came across Spiyer Town. Before you could even learn the name of the place, though, you stumbled into Marshall's business stand and broke one of his more valuable items: a vase containing coveted water from Gootcha Springs.
Marshall, noticing your blunder, sent you back into the forest where those springs were located to re-stock his supply. On the way there, you encountered, killed, and ate a Red Pastree. Nothing too abnormal.
Upon reaching Gootcha Springs, you were attacked by a hostile Hydro'PEDE that had taken up residence there. The first half of the fight went smoothly enough; you even figured out your signature Eagle Punch technique during the fight.
But around the second half things turned sour. Fortunately, Marshall made a timely entrance then and saved you from certain doom. You defeated the insect and collected the spring water with little trouble.
By little trouble you mean to say you were ambushed by two more pastrees on the way back. You succeeded in not dying, though.
Also on the way back you found your first P-Chip. How it got there is still to be figured out, but your ovalish absorbed and examined it, and what you did glean from it was, well, Min. Before finding the item the ovalish device (which was Min before Min) was a bit more... boring.
You also learned of her title as a superencyclopedia... you think. It might have been earlier. Either way she can scan things and is a good noodle overall.
Back at Spiyer Town, Marshall saw that you hadn't any accommodations of your own and let you stay at his place for the night. But that night the village was stormed by unrecognizable stone beings, you zapped both you and him with some kind of teleportation ray, bringing you to an aging Santrito facility.
There you fought some strange hostile robot named "Barley" and more of those rock creatures just because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
From the fight, though, you get a strange sword-looking object that looked way more advanced than anything else you'd seen up to that point. You decide to hold onto it.
You also met Pwaaluigi there. Everyone knows who he is.
At the facility, you escaped your cell and found out through the help of a friendly employee (or he at least BECAME friendly after you busted his mech named the "Puny-Cager") there that many from Marshall's home were abducted to the place and were in line to be turned into stone-coated mindless servants of who-knows-who's will.
Having nothing of that, but more importantly trying to escape, you made a distraction by scrapping a reconstructed robotic pastree used for part of the rock-turning process and took on the head of the facility: Matty-O.
But before that you went back to the friendly employee, who recalls the facility probably wiping his memory before he started his job there. He has a moment of clarity for realizing so, and gives you the old-model Santrito Master Key for later.
So Matty low-key got killed in your fight against him and the facility began to collapse, probably due to both Barley and Matty being out of the picture, now that you think about it. Those guys seemed important.
According to a voice on the facility's intercom as you ran to the exit every living person not yet a stone servant was "transported" back to wherever they came from, so that's good.
But then as you reached the exit you realized the facility was floating high above ground. You were in free-fall. Your end seemed nigh.
But you were caught, oddly, and CONVENIENTLY, by the bouncy cushioning of an inflatable version of Pwaaluigi's shop.
You now found yourself at the base of Jorrahn Mountain, with only a robot and a water seller to accompany you, and the later desperately wanted to get back home.
The quickest way to that was over the very peak that stared down at you, and then some more.
It was going to be a long trip.
Brought to Jijena
Starting off your trek up the mountain, you learned that Marshall found his water magic talent because he spilled a vase of his mom's flowers and wanted to put them back.
Then were soon ambushed by some telepathic birds known as Jorrahn Zakziks. You countered them into each other and won.
You found another P-Chip after that fight, but Min took a while to decode it. The results came later.
No, before you figured that out you got caught up in a fight against a rare and dangerous Ramusai Pastree. With the aid of an anonymous electric kid you defeated it, but that same kid then turned on you and knocked you out cold with a sleep-smoke bomb.
When you awoke you were holed up in some kind of hut. How boring.
In better news, Min finished decoding the chip. It appeared to have warped memories contained in it, leading Marshall to believe Min was once human. She denied the accusation, however, as the claim had no solid proof to back it up.
Also explored was that you and Min share a mental link, as is a function of Min being a superencyclopedia. It gets in the way sometimes, as Min shares largely whatever you're feeling in the head (in this instance, a slight drowsiness) but it's very useful for getting oft-unnoticeable info you you quickly.
Still bored you bust out of the hut and meet Apollo, a fledgling messenger who had urgent business he had come to take you with him to.
Apparently the village is called "Jijena Village". And you're already a bit well-known for having almost defeated a Ramusai Pastree singe-handedly (double-handedly?).
The village isn't too spectacular except for the fact that there are many houses visibly built by the trees with elaborate bridges and ropes connecting them together. Actually, it is pretty spectacular.
You follow him and meet the headman of the village, Easton. He's pretty grounded and to-the-point, and gives you and Marshall the task of heading to the mountain's peak to investigate a "disturbance".
Around this time you meet Amanda, a weapons master (in-training, but effectively fully titled since the actual master had disappeared many moons prior).
You give the sword-thing found at the facility to her, and she tells you to wait while she checks it out.
When she returns, the object is glowing for some reason. She says she doesn't know how. But what she DOES know is that you, Marshall, and your shiny robot friend are VERY suspicious.
She hits a button and in an instant you are all trapped.
Before she can question you properly or do anything painful, Apollo shows up. He and Amanda are siblings, and he diffuses the tension by clearing up the confusion.
Before you can enjoy your newfound solace, though, a group of thugs called the "Iron Head Gang" invade the town, specifically Amanda's weapon shop, and run off. Naturally, Amanda takes chase, as do you.
You find the thugs' hideout and sneak in.
Somehow, you and Marshall got separated.
Marshall came across Apollo, who somehow got here as well. They both fight off some thugs.
You came across Amanda, captured by her weapons. You free her and both fight off one thug.
The you go to the main guy in charge here, Benipé, and fight him to escape and take back what the thugs stole. He captured Amanda and Apollo soon after the fight began, but you still managed to defeat him. You also got an upgrade to your "Fire Up" skill during the fight.
With Benipé down, the thugs from before are suddenly tame. Turns out Benipé was a sort of dictator, and the Iron Head just a clandestine group of mountaindwellers with an affinity for metalwork.
Well that was an experience.
Back at Jijena, Apollo and Amanda are both permitted to accompany you on your trek up the mountain as emissaries-of-sorts from the village. It was the village offering you this request, after all.
So you continue, now with Apollo and Amanda on your team.
Snow and Secrets
After a day of hiking you come across one of Jorrahn Mountain's famous phenomenons.
In front of you is a new terrain; a snowy tundra. But where you stand it is still the same warm forest Jijena was built in. You reach your hand out over the snow in front of you and it's like sticking your hand outside your house in winter. Strange.
You bundle up with some insulated clothes provided by Apollo and trek into Jorrahn Tundra.
There, you came across a large frozen structure buried in the ground. Unfortunately you weren't able to do anything more with it than chip off a bit of it ("Piece of Some Sorta Technology") and stuff it in your pack for later.
After an uneventful night, the next day brought some more action, as your entire party fell into an underground snow cavern (literally "fell").
There, strange creatures called Snyeeoohs who freeze Marshall solid before you even could engage them.
Halfway through the fight Marshall is unfrozen, and managed to pick up a freezing technique of his own: Blizzard Blast! While the skill wasn't too useful as you wrapped up the fight it was handy to use to build an ice staircase to climb out of the snowy cavern.
Out of there, you find a third P-Chip under an old, frozen piece of Santrito tech. Min absorbs it and upgrades instantly to her 2.0 version, able to absorb and assimilate other bits of machinery. She demonstrates on a box flashlight and then on the swordy thing you found before landing at the base of the mountain.
While the flashlight offers immediate results, as Min shines more after absorbing it, the swordy thing she says she needs to wait for a better time to make use of. You suspect the thing isn't even a sword...
But a few days later (or was it less?) Min took note a hostile presence closing in on your group. Before she could give you its name or pinpoint its location the presence, only visible as a heavily condensed snowstorm, whisked her away!
You followed it to a cave and squared off against it. It was a creature called a "Snow Guardian": intelligent and would lure people by their valuables to its lair to kill and feast upon them.
Your allies were frozen and thawed many times through the fight before you managed to defeat it. During the battle, though, Apollo figured out his Reflectricity skill while trying to defend against its blows!
With the creature defeated you were able to loot its trove from previous victims. Of note in it was an ancient, shiny, and clearly magical amulet. Amanda was designated to hold onto it.
Getting out of the Tundra, you came to a new miraculously segmented terrain, this time like a rocky hillside with many ups and downs.
Here, you came across some old ruins in a canyonlike crevasse. You explored them and in them found an ancient weapon made by and ancient people: a sword named "The Cutter".
Before you can nick the treasure, you're almost fried by a laser shot out by the structure protecting it. You KUMQUATS it down quickly and take your loot. Amanda also holds onto it, being the weapons master and all.
The next area, located in the same area, is a thriving city built inside the hollow of a tree known as the "Big Tree." Real creative, they must be.
There you meet the man in charge there, Astor, and his page Medley. Astor's most defining trait is his birdlike mouth, not shared by anyone else there, and is apparently a mark of the Big Tree Big Cheese.
The Tree's inhabitants are known for being on okay enough terms with Jijena, as well as being masters of wind magic. Jijena, for reference, specialized in lightning, and had many secret electrical contraptions hidden beneath the humble wooden exterior of its village. The Tree is basically ALL wood.
Amanda shows them the amulet you found, though, suspecting a connection. Sure enough, there is; apparently it was a valuable trinket meant to be delivered from Jijena, but the carrier and their cargo were clearly lost to the Snow Guardian back at the Tundra.
In exchange for the amulet, Astor allowed for Amanda to be taught the ways of wind magic by him. He claimed to be a very good teacher. Either way she accepts.
Turns out Astor WAS a very good teacher, as Amanda practically mastered her new magic literally overnight. She's now a wind mage who uses the Cutter when she fights! Before she just used some daggers and weak electricity magic- this is kind of better.
Astor, though, took note of Amanda's weapon during their training, and asks for you all to take him PERSONALLY to the ruins where it was found, as he wants to see them for himself.
You take him there, and find a stone. This stone apparently was made to absorb all the evils from the ancient people from those ruins so they could be more productive and make things like the Cutter and such.
It seems it worked, and you realized too late, as when you get back to the Tree Astor got possessed and suddenly attacked you!
You fight him in a grueling battle and win. The stone is destroyed.
In payment (and apology) the next day you are gifted a magical vehicle only recently manufactured at the Tree: a "Flitter". It let you fly towards the peak via major windy magics!
Now you were cooking with gas!
You graciously took the vehicle and sped towards the peak.
The Doubt of a Shadow
Of course, you had to touch down at some point, having to eat and sleep and all.
This new area is dark and craggy and full of rocks. The rocks are equally dark and equally as craggy.
(You have a missing piece of memory RIGHT here, you think. It's there, but for some reason you can't put it into words...)
When you wake, you sense someone sneaky.
Through some trial and error, you notice the sneaky, and Marshall uses ice magic to catch them.
You unmask the sneaky and meet Isra, a somewhat infamous thief. She doesn't reveal her motives, but for some reason you trust her for the next day.
That turns out to be a mistake, as she backstabs you and hands you over to a trio of Santrito employees who have been tasked with capturing, finding, and "correcting" Min. But Isra is also backstabbed as she goes to collect her payment and is thrown in with your lot.
You're zapped unconscious by the trio and when you wake all of your party, now plus Isra, are in a dark area, and Min isn't there.
You break out of the area and realized it was a metal box- some kind of crude prison. You notice in front of you what must be the HQ of the trio- some kind of tent.
You break into the tent, break a guys nose, and apparently the tent is imbued with space-warping tech that makes it kinda gigantic on the inside.
Shenanigans ensue.
While your party went around trying to find Min, Isra actually broke off and found Min all by herself.
Min was hooked up to some purple cube, messing up her functions and her mind. She was grateful when Isra unplugged her.
Min then went off to find you, and succeeded.
But then Min leads you to Isra, who seems to be in a spot of trouble.
Apparently the trio, being Santrito employees and all had been running some tests on the rock creatures that had been made, likely to see if they were still up-to-par with some of their newer creations. And Isra walked into a test session.
By accident, you had managed to "shut off" many rock monsters with little trouble, but now the last member of the trio (you'd knocked out the others prior) came in with a "Restarter Mech" and used it to revive the biggest rock monster yet, aptly named a "Santrio Behemoth".
Now it AND the guy in the mech were trying to kill you- or something.
But you managed to prevail. Upon re-shutting-off the behemoth and ousting the guy from his mech, you took the latter for a spin.
You crashed into the wall almost immediately. Oops.
But it wasn't an entire loss. On the other side you found a talking computer who told you some neat stuff, most notably that Min had been out of contact with Santrito for a month and that Spiyer Town was now the location of Santrito's HQ.
The later point troubled Marshall, but the former point pretty much confirmed, if it hadn't been so already, that Min was a product of Santrito.
Min was hesitant to believe this at first- that was until another P-Chip appeared. The resonance was so powerful with it that IT absorbed itself into Min without her help.
The data on the chip confirmed the fact for Min, but additionally to that it confirmed that Min, through some method, was also once a human, and had their consciousness placed inside the machine.
How... nice...?
You exited the tent and Isra joined your party, largely because she wanted revenge on Santrito for wronging her. Admittedly, it was a sort of last-straw sort of deal, but the feeling of revenge seemed genuine as could be.
You hopped back into the flitter, now one person heavier, and picked up the pace to the peak.
A Caving Loss
As you neared the peak, you realizes that the peak was a giant dome of orange crystal. You also realized it was MOVING. Wuh-oh.
But then a storm came suddenly, and your Flitter was tossed out of the sky.
You took shelter in a nearby all-to-convenient cave. The mouth of the cave closed on you as you rested, heck. Looking back that was really strange, but was no doubt caused by the Rock Pastree and it wanting more people to Fire-Person-ize or something.
You then met Elliot, a rude but friendly old guy who had allegedly been trapped in the caves for 30 years.
You then also met a recently-turned Fire Person, basically a fire zombie of some poor soul who wandered up into the peak caves, died a horrid death, and was revived through the power of the orange crystals.
Also the caves aren't the "Peak Caves." According to Elliot they're the "Snake Caves."
Also Elliot has an old piece of Santrito survival tech that is wired up to deliver food and clean water to him as he wishes. You never did figure out why he had that...
But you still needed to get to the peak, and Elliot had offered to be your guide. For some reason he seemed reluctant, though.
Elliot also seems... um... you think the word is "addicted" to the orange crystals found all over the caves, and he even collects them. Somehow, his collection box never fills up, and you have a hunch it isn't because it's bottomless...
You also fought some Fire People on the way to the peak, no biggie.
But on your way up a chasm leading into the FAR low depths of the caves had appeared. Elliot swore that hadn't been there last time he was here.
Long story short, you and Apollo fell into the depths and are separated as you try to cross.
You came across an old ruined village and learn of the Jorrahn Peak Calamity through old journal entries written and left by those who were taken by it. The calamity was when the peak of the mountain rose up and slammed down on a village near the peak, causing the end of many lives (as you also find out). It happened a year prior to your exploration of the area.
You also learned of the connection between Fire People and the Orange Crystals found all over the Snake Caves. The accepted theory is that whenever something... or someONE dies in the caves, the crystals take them over but also grant them new life. Ugh.
Lastly for you in this ruined village, you find a fifth P-Chip. This one is a peculiar case, as it reactivates a function of Min that allowed her to scan an area heavily, and then project a recreation of what has happened in that area over a seemingly limitless amount of time. For you, that amount of time goes back a year, and you bear "witness" to the demise of the surviving townsfolk at the hands of the Fire People.
It should also be cleared right now that the P-Chips restore Min's functionalities, not grant new ones. You're 90% sure that Min was just talking flashy when she said that P-Chip 2 chapters ago brought her to "version 2.0".
Now Apollo, on the other hand, had met up with Pyralis. She has... or had a fear of fire, as shown clearly when Apollo fought a fire-looking snake and she could hardly function in its presence. While victorious over the creature, Apollo was also knocked out.
You found Apollo and met Pyralis. It was nice. You have reason to believe that Pyralis is a "survivor" of the Jorrahn Peak Calamity, but she has yet to talk to you in specifics about it.
Later you found out Pyralis was ALSO addicted to the orange crystals.
Also Min wanted you to be addicted to them you think but you don't do drugs. Especially not fire zombie rock drugs.
You met up with your party after that, and it turned out they were being chased by a giant Fire Snake called a "Firemoonbean" by Elliot. They had been running from it, but with your help they managed to stop it- even when it called a second one to aid it. That was a fight.
Then there was a snafu where you ALMOST had Isra assassinate Elliot, but stopped her just in time. She doesn't like it when you talk about it.
As you got REALLY close to the peak area, though, Pyralis pointed out that ELliot was beginning to lead you down the wrong path. He didn't take the accusation lightly, but you managed to at least calm him down before knocking him out and then going the way Pyralis said instead.
Then you got to the peak, where you had to fight a gigantic Rock Pastree (it wasn't actually a pastree, but it kinda looked like one).
You beat it, but in the fight Amanda and Isra were buried undergrund. Also Pyralis was dead???
Pyralis was revived. Though of note was that her revival changed her appearance. Before her skin was pale with orange veins running through it and her voice was dry and airy. But now she had a healthy dark skin tone and a full human-sounding voice.
You think that before she was part Fire Person and relied on the crystals to live, but since you revived her with normal stuff her body was able to restore its old self through some kind of miracle. You've never had the chance to properly ask her, and can't quite recall if she ever explicitly told you.
Now Pyralis has an affinity for earth. Before she had an affinity for Fire, as seen in an old scrapbook photo from the ruined village (also more proof she was a peak calamity survivor). According to her, it's due to the Rock Pastree's and the caves' influence.
You then dug up Amanda and Isra and healed them up with Marshall's help.
Then the orange dome arena where you fought the Rock Pastree lost its color and evaporated in its absence.
You finally made it to the peak.
Here you are.
You realize the reason that Marshall pinned this on you was because there was a lot to say. By the final sentence your mouth is dry your and voice exhausted. Marshall casually sips a cup of water, almost as if to say "gotcha." "You still missed the part with Apollo's lightning scarf," quips Isra, "but a good effort nonetheless." Your party laughs at this. You might be a bit more focused on Isra's words, though. You guess some people just can't be pleased. ~ BACK TO THE PRESENT~ You ask Isra if her sword is, y'know, possessed... She gives you a look. "Yes. It is possessed... by me." No, you mean, like, by something inside it... "It has a gem near its tip, if that's what you mean?" Is there anything in the gem? "Whatever gems are made of as far as I know." Anything sentient? "Ace, I have honestly no clue what you may be trying to ask me." You sigh and instead opt to ask her where she got it, perhaps to get a clue for yourself. If she got it from "Demons 'R' Us" you'll have some solid clue. "Ah." your question seems to have struck a chord, "Well, I would be happy to tell you, but I do not think you would believe me if I told you that..." She pauses. "I never... learned. One day I just had it." Min pings you about now, "She's definitely not telling you something. Also I just did a scan of her sword- there is a 99.87% chance of something sentient residing in there. I believe it be a class-53 phenomenon of chaos-manifested sentience. Otherwise known as evil spirit possession. But it doesn't seem to affect Isra, it just stays holed up inside the blade... somewhere, doing who-knows-what."Since Min's voice is in your head this time, Isra is oblivious, but she does notice you take a curious step back from her. She has no clue why you would do that. If anything, she expects you to try and look at her sword closer. You notice Marshall was largely ignoring you two and is beginning to make his way carefully down the north side of the mountain. What do you do now? -~-~- (nothing of note on Apollo's end) Ace: 80/80 Marshall: 125/125 Isra: 35/35 ~~~ Apollo: 75/75 Amanda: 70/70 Pyralis: 100/100 New Items: Isra has a demon sword
Old Item dug up from bag! (Party A) >Oil Jelly, restores 70 HP, then 10 HP to two other party members
(Totally forgot this- Ace obtained it, but I never properly put it in the inventory. While looking up for the recap, I noticed it, so here it is.)
Persony Bits: Um, demon sword????
Recent: Big ol' recap - Demon Sword??????????? - Marshall is continuing on - Watdo?
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Jun 23, 2018 10:38:23 GMT -5
Dang it Apollo and Co. stop sitting around on your butts and do something important
Run away screaming from Isra and her scary demon sword and go say hi to Marshall.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dimitri on Jun 23, 2018 13:04:22 GMT -5
I'm with Planetobx here, let's see something cool happen with Party B.
Oh, yeah, and talking to Marshall is cool too.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Jun 25, 2018 21:59:49 GMT -5
This update brought to you by YOU when you signed up to my Patreon! ... What do you mean you never signed up to my Patreon?? ... I mean yeah, I don't have a Patreon, but still!
Isra watches you take a few more steps back before you fling your arms up into the air and run away from her screaming.
She watches run over to Marshall and then immediately stop panicking and casually say hi to him.
Marshall, of course is puzzled. He was walking around the side of the mountain on a thin ledge when he heard you scream with what could only be true terror. Worried, and with adrenaline suddenly pumping through his veins, he had whirled himself around, almost losing his footing. He caught himself just in time, though, but when his vision re-focused he saw you were calmly squatting on the ground above him, looking down.
"Hi." you had said. Isra had waltzed up beside you soon after.
This was going to be a long day...
--
As your party continued down, ledge by ledge, you eventually reached flat ground. The terrain before the peak was bare and razed, filled only by tunnel-like bulges. You now know those were other caves made by the since-passed Rock Pastree, and they gave the terrain a barren and unsettling tone when looked at from above.
Now, though, past the peak, you're relieved to learn that other parts of the mountain were spared such a fate.
You touch down and take a few steps, finding the the soil soft to tread upon. The grass and wildflowers that grow up from it gently brush against your shins, and you look out and around at whatever kind of biome Jorrahn Mountain has placed you in this time. Any spots of trees are few and far between, leaving your vision almost unobstructed, but they speckle the area ahead like polka dots, as do some small ponds and a river gleaming a ways off. You think you see some hawks or other birds of prey fly above you, too.
Marshall says it before you can, "Looks as if we're in a prairie, fellas!"
You look over the area a second time, to see if there's anything to spot besides the patches of forest and ponds and that one river. Sure enough, way off in the distance, you think you see a windmill.
... And that's it. Just a windmill.
Still, you point it out to your allies, who also take note of it.
"That is a fair ways away, Ace..." Isra mutters, "Over a river, too. I do not see any bridges across the latter, either. And besides, is the windmill even on course for... where are we headed again?"
"That'd be north." Answers Marshall, "Eventually, to get to Spiyer Town, we'll have to cross the Basin Sea."
"Ah, that."
"Yeah, that."
"But where are we going, specifically? You are the one who holds the map."
"I was gettin' to that. Look here," he holds the map out in front of him. You see circled on the map a clearing with a river north of the peak- that must be where you are. Circled farther north of that by a big body of water is a town. Marshall pulls the map away from you before you can read its name, though.
"There's a port town almost straight ahead if we keep goin'-"
"Straight ahead by a few hundred miles..."
"-And we should be able to charter or hitch aboard a boat to ferry us across. Though I'd need a new map to recall what was over the water..."
"What do you mean 'recall'?"
"Huh? Oh-guess my tongue slipped." he breaks a wry smile, "It's a long one, one I'll no doubt have to tell once we get into town. I s'pose you guys don't mind waitin' for storytime until we get there?"
"Oh no I very do mind, Marshall."
"Well too bad. I'd only imagined myself having to tell the tale once in my life, and I'm not about to break that just to sustain your passing curiosity."
He begins to walk ahead. Isra pouts from behind him, speaking up in a hurt voice,
"That is horribly rude of you! I had no idea you could be so mean!"
"I know you're fakin' that voice, Isra," Marshall says over his shoulder, "and that face, too."
"You are not even looking at it!"
"I don't need to!"
So, you're in a prairie, Marshall and Isra are arguing, and there's no imminent danger. After a while you finally reach the river as night begins to fall, but Isra and Marshall suddenly start butting heads again.
Bored, you listen in,
"If we cross it now, we will not have to in the morning." you hear Isra reason.
Marshall replies, sounding exhausted, "Isra, I'm tired, you're tired, and we can do it just as easily on that same morning."
"But just so NOW!"
"Isra, it's gettin' dark, and as I've learned things never go as well as I plan at night..."
"Strange, it seems almost the opposite for me."
"Well let's work on that habit then, eh?"
"Why you-"
They continue blabbing at one another, and at this rate you'll never get any sleep with them talking nonstop. You'll have to take a side to sort it out...
Do you side with Marshall, who wants to wait a night, or with Isra, who wants to find rest on the other side of the river NOW?
-~-~-
Meanwhile, the other party has set up camp in the aforementioned tunnel-bulge area south of the peak. They're currently discussing how they're going to get back to Jijena and have a map splayed out over a table and lantern.
"Hey Amanda," asks Apollo, "Remember how we got here on that flying thing? That 'Flitter'? Do you think we should try finding that again?"
"I dunno, Apollo," Amanda sits back in her chair, twiddling a marking pencil, "Though now that you mention it, I believe it would be convenient to find it again. It can't be too far from here..."
Pyralis isn't really listening, and is more entranced with the map itself. There's one town she's never even heard of marked slightly southwest of the peak. While a ways off from where she believes her group is now, she can't help but feel a tug to go there. It's not Jijena, she can gather that much, but Apollo's thumb is covering the name of it right now and she didn't fully read its name prior to the moment. She'll wait for Apollo to finish talking with his sister first before asking anything, though.
"So then it's settled?" Apollo continues, "We find the Flitter, fix it up, and get going?"
"It seems so. The question is: HOW do we find it? Do you even remember where it crashed?"
Apollo takes a second to register what Amanda just said, "Oh. Oh yeah... didn't really think of that. Um, we could... well... I think it was..."
Amanda and Pyralis wait for his response.
What will Apollo say?
Ace: 80/80
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
~~~
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100
New Items: None
Persony Bits: None
Recent (A): Climed down from peak - Now in Jorrahn Prairie - Spotted windmill on other side of river - After prairie, some hundred miles to Basin Sea, where there's a port town you can procure a ship across the sea - Marshall doesn't want storytime yet - Now at river - Cross it now or tomorrow?
Recent (B): Lookin' at map - Flitter? - Pyralis spots a town she's interested in but doesn't catch its name - Yes, Flitter - How to find Flitter, tho?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dimitri on Jun 25, 2018 23:40:19 GMT -5
As my roleplayer parents have drilled into my head, never trust a river. We'd better wait until the morning light.
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Jun 26, 2018 7:06:14 GMT -5
Ace: Yeah nighttime SUCKS
Apollo: Go back and check the recap to see where it crashed.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Jun 28, 2018 13:13:47 GMT -5
This update brought to you from the depths of disco hell heck.
You make like a legged organism and walk over to the arguing pair. Having made a decision, you tap Isra, who gives you a shriveling look as if to say "EXCUSE ME THIS IS OUR DISCUSSION".
You retort with a look that says "Well I'm sorry but neither of you seem to be able to reach a conclusion, making your discussion more like a never-ending argument."
She raises her eyebrows, silently communicating "And...?"
You cross your arms, a motion that says "I'm here to help settle it."
Her expression relaxes and reads "Okay fine, make it quick."
You point at Marshall and nod, an easy tell as to who you side with.
Isra's eyes roll, saying simply "I am surrounded by idiots."
"Why'd we all suddenly get so quiet?" mutters Marshall's puzzled look.
--
Camp is set up on the peak side of the river.
Conversation over dinner is minimal, and everyone hits the hay at about the same time.
--
Come morning, you wake up to the familiar smell of a Marshall-made breakfast. Drowsily, you go grab a bite. Marshall and Isra have already woken up and are squatting around the cooking fire, not talking to each other. You get a feeling they haven't exchanged words all morning.
When you approach, Marshall lets some words out,
"Sleep well?"
You may or may not "mwuh" in ambiguous answer.
"Uh-huh..." he goes back to his food.
"See, Marshall?" Isra breaks, "Ace is tired in the morning, and now today you are going to make him cross a river!"
Marshall looks up, annoyed, "I don't understand why you can't just let this go."
"Me neither."
"Well then we at least agree on one thing..."
"Quite. You should have just sided with me when you had the chance."
"And never mind."
--
After the meal, the next big question awaits: HOW are you going to cross th-
"I've got it," Marshall interrupts, wiping his hands on a napkin, "I've bent us out of a rainstorm, I can surely stop a river long enough to get us through."
Isra just raises an eyebrow. You yourself are unable to ask him exactly before he gets up from the circle, and in what feels like a blur you're all packed up and ready to go.
You really should learn to pay attention to these moments better.
Your party approaches the shore of the river, and Marshall cracks his knuckles.
"Good thing I'm waterproof." Min comments in advance. Marshall makes no action telling if he heard her or not, and thrusts his palms facing towards the river.
Slowly, the current of the river bends away until a half-circle forms, ground beneath it wet, but the space free of water.
Marshall then motions with his right hand for you all to follow. You do, and he then places his arms at his front and back and begins to walk into the river. Amazingly, the water bends out of the way as he does this. You're momentarily caught by your awe of this that you almost don't notice it eventually un-bending as he moves ahead. Your foot gets a bit wet as you pull it out and rejoin him.
Eventually you're in a little bubble near the river's bed, Marshall holding his arms and only occasionally moving them to maintain it.
"I admit I am impressed." Isra says, admiring the view from below the river's surface.
"Oh, so only now you're impressed?" Marshall responds. He starts to say more, but for an instant the bubble drips a little bit near the top. All gasp. He just grunts and resumes his concentration.
Though, as by stroke of luck, you notice a gleam a distance off in the riverbed. You use Min to look closer at it and see it to be... something, on a metal necklace chain, stuck on a rock. Some kind of pendant, perhaps? Probably a pendant.
Since it's shiny you kind of really want it, but at the same time you get an eerie feeling looking at it. It's also off your path a bit, and with no clear way for you to nab it.
You could easily ignore it.
Or you could not.
What do you do?
-~-~-
For his solution, Apollo thinks back to Ace's story, and then looks at the map of the mountain again.
If he recalls correctly, he was headed straight for the peak from the Big Tree. Then they made a stop by some Santrito base marked conveniently by his sister afterwards. But they crashed before the peak, and the peak had kept moving until they defeated that creature, like, AT it.
While this map has marked in the current location of the peak, it's anyone's guess as to where the peak was at the time of impact.
"But..." Apollo thinks, "I know we were still south of the peak, and I still have two points to work with..."
He sketches on the map and draws some lines, then ends with a small circle.
He points at it, "I think the Flitter crashed somewhere around here."
"Apollo, you still haven't quite answered the question," Amanda keeps up, "HOW do we find it?"
"Well it's a pretty small area..." he shrugs a little, "and the thing is a giant magical shiny flying leaf-boat. I don't think it'll be too much of a search."
She sighs "I suppose... I'm too tired for this anyway, let's look in the morning."
"Also we're right HERE," Apollo dots a spot right by his circle. Amanda waves him off, having already conceded.
--
Pyralis decides this "Flitter" is more important than her own curiosity. She'll ask about the town later. At least Apollo moves his hand, so now she has its name: "Lattermont".
Content, she follows Amanda off to sleep.
--
Come morning comes the search. Sure enough, the Flitter is shiny, easy to spot, and smack dab at the center of Apollo's prediction.
Amanda cracks a smile, "Wow. Nice."
As they approach the vehicle, however, her smile flips into a frown.
The Flitter looks practically ground into pulp by its impact with the ground, a sad scatter of shards stuck in the soil.
Its small, enchanted "wings" are found by Pyralis a few moment later behind a rock, and while those are intact, they likely won't help fix the entire thing.
Either way, the group gathers the pieces and ends up with about 30, all of varying shattered shapes and sizes, but they're pretty sure they have the complete set.
What do they do?
Ace: 80/80
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
~~~
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100
New Items: (B - found the pieces of the Flitter, but if they're put back together correctly they won't have to be inventory fodder)
Persony Bits: None
Recent (A): Rested on peak side of river - Woke up, Marshall's got this - Marshall does a water thing to make a bubble to let you all walk through the river on its bed - Spotted a shiny pendant-thing - Eerie pendant-thing - You don't really need to get it - Or do you?
Recent (B): Figured out rough Flitter crash location - Found Flitter crash location - Found pieces of Flitter - ~30 in total - Watdo?
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Jun 28, 2018 18:17:35 GMT -5
Ace: It's shiny and it was addressed in the narrative, so it's probably worth checking out! You can probably, like, swim over there or something.
Apollo: Try putting all the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle. Maybe you can use electricity to reconnect it or something I dunno.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dimitri on Jul 3, 2018 0:36:10 GMT -5
Ace: Normally I'd say to stay away from the creepy necklace, but we all know you'd grab the shiny anyways. Go for it.
Apollo: Do what is traditional of anyone who's been asked to assemble a jigsaw-like puzzle: fit everything together perfectly until the very end, when you realize that you're missing one piece.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Jul 4, 2018 19:22:53 GMT -5
This update brought to you by national sky-explosions day!
Finding yourself unable to resist the temptation of a shiny trinket, you turn to Marshall and go "one sec."
Before he can even realize what you've said you dive out of the side of his bubble.
First thing you realize now that you're at the bottom of a river is this: rivers go kinda fast. Immediately upon entry you're swept away by the current and take a moment to steady yourself in the stream. Fortunately for you, that moment was enough time to drift closer to the pendant. You reach out a hand for it, grasping through the water, and in that instant you manage to find and grab it by the chain. It slides off the rock it was stuck to with minimal effort.
You now have the pendant!
Good job!
There's no doubt a giant boulder at the bottom of this river waiting to crush your spine if you don't resurface ASAP!
What do you do?
Ace: 80/80
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
(party status now on corresponding side, I think this is better)
-~-~-
The other party begins putting the pieces of the Flitter back together. They all fit with one another like puzzle pieces, and with each match Amanda runs a charge through to ensure they stick together.
"What are you charging them with, anyway?" asks Apollo as he holds two together for her.
Amanda's palm flashes and he sets down and lets go of the pieces. As expected, they don't come apart. She wipes her brow before replying to him, "Essence of wind magic. I thought you'd figure as much."
"I mean, yeah, but why? Also why's it working?" he waves a piece absently.
"Well, I remembered that this vehicle runs on harnessing wind magic. The little 'wings' on it couldn't possibly lift it even with that being the case, so I figured some sort of spell must run through the entire thing to make it able to lift up. I'm... not sure why I thought running magic through it again would put it back together, though, but it works. We really shouldn't complain."
"I'll agree to that."
Amanda smirks and turns to Pyralis, who holds two more shards together, and her palm flashes again.
--
After a while, the group is able to put the fused shards together to create bigger fused shards, which are put together again, then again, and eventually the whole of the Flitter begins to take shape.
Things seemed to be going well. However, as if the beings to decide the events of their world conspire against them, it seems they ended up one piece short. A large, arrow-shaped hole mars the inside of the Flitter, a hole big enough for a person, and a hole where a piece should have fit.
They stare at this in silent confusion for a moment.
"... perhaps we can still fly in it?" proposes Apollo, "We'd just have to be careful to not fall out."
"A fair point..." Amanda replies. She grabs the "wings" and attaches them near the rear of the hull, then climbs into it and attempts to start it up.
The wings begin to glow and flutter, and a light breeze sweeps through the area. The flitter begins to light up around its edges, with the leaflike veins filling in with swirling energy. This energy slowly flows down and towards the center, towards the hole, and the vehicle begins to float off the ground.
Then, unexpectedly, just as everything seems fine, a spark and sizzle of heat erupts from the center of the Flitter. The wings begin to flap faster, but also seem to be fading in light. Amanda curses under her breath. Before anyone can properly asses what's going on, she deactivates the entire thing, letting it fall to the ground with an unseemly THUD.
"Yeah, we need that last piece if we want to get this thing moving," she leaps over the side of it and back onto solid ground, "Apollo, are you sure you found all the pieces?"
"I'll go scout around real quick?"
"Yeah, do that."
"And I'll join Apollo." Pyralis adds. Amanda nods.
While those two are off looking around, Amanda taps her chin in thought. Upon closer inspection, she notices the newly-almost-reformed Flitter has faint lines where she fused it back together. This is good, since she was looking pretty closely at the assortment of Flitter shards before they were put back together, and is almost certain they had 33, potentially 34. She decides to check carefully and see if her numbers add up...
And, sure enough, she only finds individual 32 pieces.
Of course, she doesn't bar herself from the probability of error, but Apollo and Pyralis return soon before she can begin a second count.
"We didn't find any missing piece," reports Apollo, "but we did notice..." he walks to where the shards were gathered, "THAT."
He points to a light scrape mark in the ground, a scrape mark curiously going away from where they assembled the flitter and continues behind a cave bulge before vanishing, as if the shard was then picked up.
"I'm pretty sure someone stole it..."
"No kidding... but who?"
"I'unno. How should I know?"
"Good point."
"I think I might have an idea." Pyralis says, "I actually wanted to ask about this earlier, but I think now's a better time. See, I remember there being a town not too far south of the peak, one kind of nearby called 'Lattermont'. Maybe our shard thief is from there?"
Amanda and Apollo's eyes both light up in realization.
"Wow. You are SO right!" Apollo exclaims.
"It is the only feasible explanation," agrees Amanda, "the way it seems as of now."
"I've never been to Lattermont, though I recall learning it was built in some crater-like-cave-thing."
"I've never been their either."
"They've never made official contact with Jijena, you know."
"Ah. Right. But we shouldn't let that deter us."
"Yeah. But still, I don't think we've ever made contact with them..."
"I didn't even know it existed!" says Pyralis, but at this point the other two are already discussing plans for how to get there. Feeling slightly dejected, she just sighs.
--
Come next morning, the party packs up and heads out for Lattermont. The hike is short enough and mostly westward, and before afternoon they're out of the bulging cave spot and in a new area filled with black dirt and rocks with sparse but gorgeous flowers peppering the landscape.
They soon see a crater-looking formation with tall stone structures sticking out of it.
Adorning those stone structures looks to be shiny metal lined with purple lights and antennae, seemingly communication attachments. Odd.
This must be Lattermont. As it's approached, four armored soldier-types with weapons walk up to the party and greet them with a loud "HALT!"
The "HALT!" is badly coordianated, and at least half of these guys clearly aren't putting much spirit into the exclamation.
One of them on the left end looks inward and whispers loudly, "C'mon guys! At least do it with a little bit of effort!"
The one standing next to him has gotten shaky legs in the past instant, and stutters, "I-I've never actually had to do this for r-real people before..."
"By knife's end, man. We're just telling 'em to stop." says the guy to the right.
The last person in line mumbles something unclear about not being able to hear through his helmet.
Either way, the first one on the left steps forward, and speaks to the party again.
"By orders of Santrito, we need you to come with us. There have been reports of a rouge... uh... slurper-encyclopedia in the area. All who pass by need to be searched before continuing."
"I think it was SUPER-encyclopedia, dude." says the third guy. The first guy makes a look at him, but nothing is communicated by this because he's wearing a full-head helmet.
"I don't even know why we have to do this..." mutters the second guy, "why couldn't these people be stopped by a different squad? Nearly everyone in town has to do the patrol..."
The first guy whips around to him with a loud creak and says "Stop whining! We have orders."
His armor clanks and turns back towards the party, "Hand over your weapons and come with us peacefully. We shouldn't have to harm you, but we won't hesitate to if you don't cooperate."
What does the party do?
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100
~~~
New Items: Pendant-thing: (will be added to proper inventory later probably)
Persony Bits: None
Recent (A): Went swimming - got the pendant-thing - how to not drown and/or die?
Recent (B): Assembled Flitter - ... mostly - Missing piece? - Probably stolen by someone from Lattermont - Went to Lattermont - Soldier-types from Lattermont looking to search them on behalf of Santrito - They have orders - They order the party to hand over their weapons and come with them peacefully, or they'll use force - Watdo?
Time Split: Party B is one day ahead of Party A
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Jul 4, 2018 19:59:20 GMT -5
Ace: Eagle punch with so much force that it propels you through the waves.
Apollo: Hand over your weapons just to be peaceable but tell them that you think someone from there stole your stuff
Also I like these guards.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Jul 11, 2018 16:01:49 GMT -5
This update brought to you by boat. What is this, the 19th century?
You attempt to rocket yourself out from the waves with an Eagle Punch. As the fiery energy tries to form around your hand, though, the water quickly snuffs it out. Looks like this will be harder than you thought...
...
Well, I mean, you can still do it, but it'll be difficult.
You concentrate again, and this time will the fire to persist despite the torrent. You feel water around you rise in temperature until it reaches a boiling heat. By then you can hardly even see through the waves due to the sheer number of evaporating bubbles.
But you're not quite done yet. While you've manages to heat up the water, you still need some dry space to ignite your way out. In a swift motion you throw your arms out to your sides and summon a final burst of heat.
For an instant, the river around you vanishes into steam, and you take 31 scalding points of damage. In that moment you regain your footing, conjure a fist of flame, launch it upwards, and hope for the best.
You rocket off the bed of the river and through the water, blasting out of the river in a dazzling splash.
Then you drop firmly onto the other side of the river without sustaining so much as a scratch. Except your skin is, like burning. You'll get over it.
You didn't die. Good job!
--
You drop into a sitting position and decide to take a breather. You can see Marshall's bubble wading its way over to your side of the river; that should give you more than enough time to catch your breath.
Suddenly, you feel a tugging on your hand. You look down, and notice the pendant you found is strained on its chain, pointing out towards the river as if held magnetically.
A crazy chill goes down your spine. If you let go of it, it'll no doubt fly from your hand and back into the river, likely never to be seen again.
... but that's just a theory. Also why is this even happening?
Either way, this tugging probably isn't going to stop soon.
What do you do?
Ace: 49/80
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
-~-~-
The other party looks at Amanda for what to do next.
Amanda squints at the armored group and slowly reaches for her weapon. They get visibly nervous as her hand nears its handle, but instead of drawing it in a combative manner she instead shoulders it off and drops it to the ground with an echoing clank.
Two of the guards can be heard to sigh in relief.
Apollo and Pyralis follow suit. A scarf is tossed onto the sword, followed by a handful of rocks. The second of the latter two items gets a few odd looks. Pyralis looks back almost challengingly, as if to say "yeah, I fight with rocks, you mad?"
Those are actually the exact words that go through her head at that moment.
The first guard looks at the pile of "weapons", and then back to the party, then at the weapons again. He is clearly confused, but ends up confiscating them and handing them to the fourth guard, who seems to be having an even harder time understanding what's going on. Also his helmet is now backwards, pushed around when he was given the pile of scarfrocks with a giant blade sticking out of them.
"Alright. Now come with me."
He begins to walk towards Lattermont ahead of the party, and they follow. The middle two guards shore up behind them, the nervous one with his weapon drawn (as he had been told to do when escorting people from a patrol). A passing glance at the weapon notes it to be spearlike in nature, but with odd and hurty-looking attachments on the shaft near the pointy bits.
Clearly whoever made the attachments isn't the same as the one who made the weapon to begin with.
Before too much distance is made, though Apollo goes up to the first guard and taps his armor to get his attention. The guard turns to him, but since he's still wearing a helmet it takes Apollo a second to realize he has his attention.
"... oh! Um. So, patrolman, would you happen to have seen anyone from Lattermont carrying a big, shiny, golden arrow-looking thing? We were in the area looking for something like that, and thought someone from there might have taken it..."
The guard makes a face as if he's thinking. Of course, since he's wearing a helmet, nobody notices this, and Apollo almost starts to repeat himself before the guard answers, "Can't say I have. You could always ask other authorities if you pass the search- assuming you're not ordered to leave immediately afterwards."
Apollo takes note of this.
--
Not long after that exchange the party and the guards arrive at what was once likely a town gate, but has since become a large, metal-sided facility for checks in and out of the town. Naturally, and as protocol likely dictates, they enter. Here, the guards all stand behind the party as a new individual approaches them.
Their attire is largely unlike anything the party has seen before. They have a long, gray coat made of a sleek synthetic material, with two purple lines running down its opposite right and left sides. They wear a helmet that covers the top of their head and eyes along with a pin with an S-shaped logo on it. In an moment, they seem to be done examining the party.
"They're clear," they say, "but the boss might want to have a look at their stuff..."
The first guard speaks up at this, "H-hey, wait a sec! I thought you only needed to search them for the soup-encyclopedia??"
Sleek gray person smirks, "Well, we do, but I've also orders to make note of anything 'noteworthy'. That sword there," they flick their thumb towards the Cutter, "seems pretty peculiar. I'd hate to think what the boss'd do if I let that slip under my radar, you understand."
"I... yes, of course..." their head tilts down, demoralized.
"Also, it's still called a SUPER-encyclopedia."
"..."
All the while of this, the party is standing idly by. Amanda in particular is curious as to why they seem to focused on her weapon, but isn't sure exactly what to say, if she should say anything at all...
What does the party do?
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100
~~~
New Items: None
Persony Bits: None
Recent (A): scalded self - whooshed outta river - pendant is river-magnetized? - Watdo?
Recent (B): peaceful'd - got to Lattermont entryway - in the clear, but Amanda's sword is noteworthy? - what's THAT mean? - Watdo?
Time Split: Party B is one day ahead of Party A
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Jul 13, 2018 13:21:27 GMT -5
oops forgot to post
Ace: Try eating the pendant. If that doesn't work uhh idk
Apollo: Tell them the sword is actually a DEMON SWORD so they're too scared to take it
|
|
|
|
Post by Dimitri on Jul 18, 2018 19:14:36 GMT -5
oops forgot to post even more
Ace: Is this pendant actually a horcrux or something, like that locket in Harry Potter? If so, this is probably a *terrible* idea, but why don't you try putting it on?
Marshal: Freak out, for obvious reasons
Amanda: Imply that you picked the sword up at a magical yard sale, and that you're curious as to why it's so noteworthy when it was only being sold for 70 Pwaants. They'll never suspect a thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Jul 24, 2018 18:33:07 GMT -5
This update brought to you by the Jumping Spray Bottle Groundsnipers' Union.
You decide to try various methods to get the pendant to stop pulling at you while you wait for the rest of your party.
First, you pop the pendant in your mouth and try eating it. This proves difficult, as when you attempt to swallow it it keeps gravitating towards the river, pushing against the back of your teeth. Not to be deterred, you contort yourself in a manner so that it gravitates to the back of your mouth and down your throat.
Turns out this was a bad idea, as upon doing this it gets stuck in your windpipe. You choke and die in mere seconds.
GRAMMARYE LOVER
>Quick Restart
You decide to try various methods to get the pendant to stop pulling at you while you wait for the rest of your party.
First, you pop the pendant in your mouth and try eating it. This proves difficult, as when you attempt to swallow it it keeps gravitating towards the river, pushing against the back of your teeth. Annoyed, you spit it back out.
Next you decide to just try and put it on. Much to your surprise, this seems to work, as it settles below your chin the moment you let go of it. You feel a pleasant tingle at the back of your neck, guess second time's the charm?
You let yourself relax by the riverside, suddenly exhausted, and decide to take a quick nap.
--
Marshall and Isra finally reach the other side of the river, both rather agitated. Why did Ace just dive out of the side of the bubble like that? Isra noticed him rocket out of the river, so no harm done, but the shock of his actions nearly caused Marshall to drop his spell. The results of that would have been... suboptimal, and she's still reeling from it.
Now that they're out, they both agree they need to have a little talk with their orange-clad friend.
"Just try to be nice to him," Marshall says as he releases his spell, "his actions tend to hurt him more often than us."
"I am just saying that you can get back to Spiyer without Ace's help. If you had let go of your bubble, we both could have died!"
"Look, I'm sure we can all talk it out and make sure it doesn't happen again."
"What if I do not want to talk?"
"I'm not convinced you see the bigger picture here..."
"And I am not convinced that there is much to see." Isra turns away
"You'll-" Marshall stops himself. Whatever he was about to say, he reasons it's better left unsaid. Instead he just sighs to himself and looks around for Ace.
Before he can spot him, he spots Min, suddenly floating in front of his eyes. She seems worried.
"Marshall! Come quickly! There's something wrong with Ruby..."
--
Marshall and Isra look at where Ace lies, sleeping. "Sleeping" may be the wrong word, though, as his calm face is betrayed by uneven breaths and the occasional light spasm. Whatever is happening to him, it has nothing to do with getting a few extra winks.
Min catches the others up on what happened prior, and her voice once again betrays nervousness. Marshall begins to freak out, so everyone else ignores him for the time being.
"So what did you say was wrong with him?" asks Isra.
"I haven't yet, but I should. See, there's something in that pendant that I believe is trying to take over his body, and I can't get any sort of read when I scan it. In fact, I can hardly get a read on Ruby at all..."
"How did you know something was trying to take over his body, then?"
"I don't need to scan to tell when something like this is wrong with Ruby!" Min's voice raises unexpectedly. Isra finds herself at a loss for words for a moment.
"... I see, then. I will do what I can."
What does Isra do?
Ace: 49/80, sleeping, ???
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
-~-~-
Amanda coughs loudly, getting the attention of the gray-clad stranger and nearly everyone else in the general vicinity. She locks gaze with the former, unsure of what's going on, but sure enough that she should do something to draw attention away from her belongings.
"Are you seriously interested in that piece of junk?" she bluffs, motioning offhandedly at the Cutter, "If you called your 'boss' in to look at that, they'd probably punish you on the spot!"
"Wh-what are you saying...?" the stranger grimaces under their helmet. It seems Amanda hit the right chord.
"I'm just saying that while that thing may look valuable, it literally can't be wielded."
Now the stranger seems confused. The best sound to sum up the noise the make is "?", no joke. Amanda's brain quickly racks up more lies to spew in that split moment.
"It's a demon-possessed weapon. Meaning it has NO value, as all who come in contact with it would die on the spot."
"Wait a second," the stranger perks up, "then how did you carry it here? How did those patrolmen carry it here??"
"Luck. It was sold to me for less than 100 Pwaants, seeing as I was brave enough to attempt the risk. By good fortune, I was spared by the curse, as were the men you see around you." Amanda breaks a sinister smirk, "Don't you think it'd be about time such fortune ran out?"
"But... but wouldn't that attribute make it a lethal weapon to your foes?"
"Eh, you'd think, but for some reason it only happens when wielded. I have been bested while using the weapon time and time again, but when my opponents try to claim it as prize their lives are lost instantly. Now that I think about it, perhaps your men were only spared because they never tried to grab the hilt..."
"First off they're not my men, second off I don't see how this isn't valuable."
"You- wait what?"
"I mean, yeah, we can't use it, but the boss might still want to put in on display or something... you said we only die if we touch the hilt, right?"
"Ah. Well what if they were protected by their armor? I've only ever seen people try to steal it with their hands, after all."
"Our armor does have protective runes engraved on the inside..." you hear a guard comment.
The stranger just seems to tremble. While Amanda feels her bluff was lackluster, the "threat" she made up seems to be buying good time. This person must be really afraid of their boss...
What does she say next? She might even be able to pull off asking a question...
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100
~~~
New Items: None
Persony Bits: Ace is not having a good day
Recent (A): Tried to eat the pendant - Put on pendant instead - Went to sleep - Something's wrong with Ace (you) - Watdo?
Recent (B): Amanda's bluff - bought some time - Stranger is scared of their boss? - Watdo?
Time Split: Party B is one day ahead of Party A
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Jul 24, 2018 21:15:23 GMT -5
Isra: Try to stab the pendant to death.
Amanda: Ask who the boss is and see if he's picked up any Flitter parts for his collection recently.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Jul 31, 2018 18:57:45 GMT -5
This update brought to you by the DWMA, where floating spaghetti orbs strengthen your abilities and might make you into a very special stab-stick.
Isra thinks for a moment, then decides to grab the pendant and stab it until Ace stops dying. She twirls up her sword and holds the pendant above Ace's chest before swinging the blade towards the pendant from the side.
Unexpectedly, the blade is repelled by some force as it nears the pendant. Shocked by this, Isra has to twist her arm to make sure she doesn't accidentally shank Ruby, let alone herself. She reacts just in time, and the pointy end digs into the grass centimeters from Ace's arm.
She sighs with relief, but then doubles back and realizes that what just happened probably isn't something she should expect from a dinky little pendant.
Naturally, the whole thing confuses Isra.
She takes the amulet again and this time brings her sword to it slowly. Sure enough, as it gets close her weapon seems to get repelled. She struggles to get the two items to touch, and eventually gives up, letting her arm rest.
Well that idea turned out to be a bust.
What to try now...?
Ace: 49/80, sleeping, ???
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
-~-~-
"Either way," Amanda speaks again to the stranger, "a cursed sword probably wouldn't compare to the shining arrow-shaped slab that passed through here earlier..."
"Hey, wait a sec, how did you know about that?" the stranger seems curious now, though their thoughts are obviously split between the Cutter, their boss, and now this "slab". Thusly so their tongue slipped and they let the info drop. They frown in realization of what they just said.
This works out all the better for Amanda, as she now has confirmation that the missing piece is somewhere in this town.
"Oh yeah, totally. Those things are made of solid gold, you know."
"But it seemed like junk! Gold isn't that light!"
"Enchanted gold, mind you. If anything I'd bet that would double its value..." she then lets out a stifled laugh, implying her lies are common knowledge.
The stranger seems to take the bait, as their face reddens below their visor. The guards from before don't betray Amanda's story quite yet, a fact which she is thankful for, albeit curious towards.
One more word and Amanda could have this confrontation by its neck.
What does she say now?
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100
~~~
New Items: None
Persony Bits: Ace almost just got STABBED
Recent (A): Isra tries to stab pendant - Fails - almost stabs Ace and self - not a functional idea - watdo?
Recent (B): Amanda's Bluff 2: Flitter-Fix Boogaloo - guards don't call it, but why? - she could have the situation by its neck with just one sentence - watdo?
Time Split: Party B is one day ahead of Party A
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Aug 3, 2018 15:15:22 GMT -5
Marshall: Shoot it with a potato. That's such a non-standard weapon that the amulet probably isn't that worried about it.
Amanda: Try to buy it in disguise
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Aug 19, 2018 11:47:39 GMT -5
This update brought to you by the Peregrine Daily, telling everyone to, and I quote, "please read our paper it's not that bad really."
Also today we've a guest special artist, introducing Lilacuity!
 They were generous enough to draw Isra way better than I ever could and likely will in my entire life, thanks! Destroying the pendant seems to be the be the best course of action in this moment, and Isra sits back to try and think of some other way to do that. This proves difficult, as Marshall is still causing a nervous ruckus over by the riverside. "Marshall, stop that!" she yells over at him, "I am TRYING to help Ace, and your noise is distracting!" This seems to get his attention, for as he hears her words he attempts to take some deep breaths and eventually resumes some semblance of calm. He rejoins Isra over Ace, though seems cautious upon approach. "Why are you even acting so..." she doesn't finish the statement, and just waves her hands at his general being before turning back around and continuing her train of thought. -- Marshall, while having been panicky up until now, at least noticed when Isra's weapon got repelled by the pendant. This, however, didn't help his sanity, as it seemed to suggest that the pendant knew it was being targeted and therefor had mind of its own, and that's just creepy. So naturally he was a bit skeptical when Isra shortly thereafter suggested he try to shoot the pendant with a potato. "... you what?" "You know, your weapon. It shoots unassuming vegetables, surely any protection on the pendant wouldn't think that to be a threat." "But... why's it even thinkin' to begin with?" "Do you want to help our friend or not?" "I..." "Hmmmm?" "Okay, fine, but I still ain't sure about any of this..." He gets the Bazookifyer from his stuff and shortly has it readied at Ace's chest, where the pendant sits. He lines up the shot and fires a potato at it. It connects, and a sharp CRACK is heard. For a moment all present are optimistic, but upon a second glance the pendant still looks intact. It takes them only a moment to realize the cracking sound was the sound of Ace's ribs breaking (-15 HP). Min seems shocked, "Marshall!" "Oh come on this was HER idea!" The two start arguing, but Isra is having none of it. "Stop it, you two. Do you realize what just happened?" "Of course! Ruby has sustained unnecessary damage!" "No! Well, yes, but I am not talking about that. Notice the pendant did not deflect the attack!" "... That it did." "Maybe it was just movin' too fast?" "Somehow I doubt that... but still, no damage was made to the pendant." she checks it with her fingertips just to be sure. As thought, the pendant is just as in one piece as ever. "(What sturdy craftsmanship...)" "Yeah... also, on that note, how come you think we gotta destroy it?" "It just seemed to be the logical solution..." "Well it sure seems to be provin' difficult. Maybe we should try somethin' else?" "Maybe..." What do they do now? Ace: 34/80 , sleeping, ???, broken ribsMarshall: 125/125 Isra: 35/35 -~-~- "We came here to buy it!" Apollo's voice breaks out from behind Amanda. She shoots him a look, that is not what she meant. "You... want to buy it?" The stranger seems more confused than anything now, and then turns skeptical "How'd you hear about it so soon? It came through today, you said so yourself! You lot don't even look that wealthy if it's even as valuable as you say!" "Mind not the young man, he has lofty expectations and a poor money sense. He's been talking about this all day--News travels fast." "Hm... then let me ask you this..." They lean in a bit closer, "Who told you about this 'valuable'? People like me watch all who come in and out of this place, no info could get out so easily. Answer carefully." This position is a bit less advantageous than before. Amanda thinks she might need to talk to Apollo later... Still, she can work with this. What does Amanda say? Apollo: 75/75 Amanda: 70/70 Pyralis: 100/100 ~~~ New Items: None Persony Bits: None Recent (A): Isra gets Marshall to calm down - Marshall get a potato to shoot at the pendant - Ace gets a broken rib - Pendant is still intact - Time for plan C! (we're on plan C, right?) - Watdo? Recent (B): Apollo's bluff is bad - Stranger is skeptical - How did Amanda learn of arrow piece? - 'Cuz she shouldn't have - Answer carefully - Watdo? Time Split: Party B is one day ahead of Party A
|
|
|
|
Post by Dimitri on Aug 19, 2018 12:12:28 GMT -5
A) How about someone tries just taking it off him? I volunteer Min to do it.
B) Oof, Apollo really dropped the ball here. Let's say that obviously you know about it because you saw it being picked up and taken away from afar before you could possibly attempt to retrieve it yourselves, so after many hours of discussion and planning you've come to buy it instead.
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Aug 21, 2018 18:37:57 GMT -5
Ace: Seconded ig
Amanda: You missed the "disguise" part dangit smh
|
|
|
|
Post by Asphoxia on Aug 23, 2018 17:30:05 GMT -5
Ace: If taking it off him fails, try running an arcana check or equivalent on it to see if you can get any new info.
Amanda: Let's go with Dimitri's action and assume that Amanda doesn't go nonverbal in situations of stress.
|
|
|
|
Post by OshaliteX2 on Sept 1, 2018 21:12:08 GMT -5
This update brought to you by Brick™: "It's fun! *honk*"
"I got it," Marshall says, "since destroyin' the pendant ain't gettin' us anywhere, how about we try removin' it?"
Isra's eyes widen at herself. How did she not think of this sooner? Marshall notices this and laughs lightly, "I can't blame you for resortin' to violence, though. This is..." he looks at Ace, twitching on the ground and letting out shaky breaths, "... rightly unprecedented."
He shudders and shakes his head, then sets his weapon aside and kneels down over Ace. Before he can take the necklace from him, however, he's interrupted by Min,
"W-wait! I still don't know what the pendant is! Be careful!"
"Maybe you'd want to try removin' it yourself then?"
"That's undoubtably a good idea and I'd love to help with the process, but I still don't have hands."
"Oh yeah. Forgot about that..."
"Don't worry about it."
An edge of melancholy is detectable in the latter statement, though neither Marshall nor Isra take note. It's not that pressing anyway...
Anyhoo, without further ado Marshall tries his and Isra's collective plan C and removes the pendant from Ace's person. It slides over his neck and off his head without an issue, and immediately upon doing so Ace stops writhing and his breathing stabilizes.
Immediately after THAT, his eyes snap open.
--
Your eyes open from your nap, and much to your own dissatisfaction you don't feel rested at all. In fact you feel quite sore and sweaty--are some of your ribs broken too? ... Ow.
"Whew! Good thing that worked. I'm not sure what we could've tried next..."
Isra doesn't admit that her next idea would have been kissing. In her defense, it worked in the stories she read as a child. But then again, Ace didn't quite look like a desert toad...
"How are you feeling, Ruby?" Min hovers over you, scanning as she asks. You give an ambiguous answer. She goes "Hm" and then stops.
"Well at the very least you have sustained no injuries or other lasting harm due to direct contact with that pendant..." she gives Marshall a glance, "But still, I'd believe it'd be in your best interest to either figure out why the item affected you the way it did or get rid of it."
You look at the pendant again on that last note. Currently it's being held by Marshall, but has resumed pointing towards the river. Marshall himself seems greatly disturbed by this.
"Why's it doin' that?"
He starts to let go of it, but Min yells "Stop! Don't let go, we haven't decided what we want to do with it yet."
Thereby, Marshall keeps his grip, but still seems unsure about all of this.
"It appears whatever is thinking inside the pendant seems to be drawn to the river," Isra adds, but then shrugs her hunch aside. "I still think we should just leave it, though."
This is an odd item indeed... a dangerous odd item, to be sure.
What do you do?
Ace: 34/80, broken ribs
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
-~-~-
"Okay, you've called my bluff," Amanda says, "we only saw it being retrieved, and after discussing how to obtain it for ourselves we decided to buy it. We actually are quite wealthy, but came in disguise to not attract attention... so there."
"Really then?" the visored stranger sneers, "Well then I'd love to see the money..."
How Amanda's managed to keep a straight face through all of this is honestly beyond her. She really wants to scream into a pillow... or punch that stupid visor guy in the face. Moreso the latter.
What does she do now?
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100
New Items: None
Persony Bits: None
Recent (A): Marshall's idea: remove the pendant - Min still doesn't have hands - Pendant is removed - Ace is awake - Ace is not rested, but not scathed (by the pendant) - Pendant is pulling toward the river again - Isra suggests pendant has an affinity for the river - Watdo?
Recent (B): Amanda backtracks - Says her party actually is wealthy and just came in disguise - Visor guy asks to see the money - Watdo?
Time Split: Party B is one day ahead of Party A
|
|
|
|
Post by Planetbox on Sept 2, 2018 9:42:49 GMT -5
Ace: Eh, we already wasted like an hour on this stupid pendant. Probably better to just drop it if it isn't plot-relevant.
Amanda: Give then some Pwaants I guess
|
|
Feed me lemons or feed me life!
