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 Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:39 pm
 When: Roughly an hour after twilight when trolls become active. Where: Within some unknown, rather mysterious and ancient ruins out in the deserts beyond Chittentown. Long ago stood the ancient labyrinth like maze of a hive known only as the Taluma Network. Its origins date back generations of sweeps worth of trolls, and its creators have long since passed into the world beyond. Within Taluma are a series of long forgotten passage ways that contain twists, turns, and namely unspeakable dangers for unprepared adventurers. While thought to be lost, the entrance was recently unearthed during a massive sandstorm. The entrance in question leads into the forgotten underground tomb, and is prime for exploration.
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:05 pm
Stryke woke up at the crack of twilight due to his lusus having been clattering around in his respiteblock as the he got down from his heated rocks. He wasn't exactly trying to be quiet about the matter either, and it irritated him. Groaning he got up, washed up and dressed with the intention of staying inside all night. At least until he realized he was low on not only food, but things his finicky lusus would eat. This likely meant a damn trip out into the desert to let the beast hunt. Snapping his book closed he glared at his father. "well, we might as well go now before it gets too early." Rolling his eyes he slipped on a cloak with a hood should the sands kick up. He made sure to feed them what he had on hand, and pack a bottle of water. Shuffling off, the pair ventured beyond the safety of town, climbing across a few dunes and striking out. "i guesss we're off on an adventure eh?" He asked his lusus. Sniffing and shuffling around, the hissbeast lifted his head scenting the air before looking at his son. yesss. let’s head this way boy. It gestured, staring at him making short conversation before breaking off in a quick trot. Stryke sighed at the boy remark. He might have been small but he wasn't a wiggler anymore. Grumping at the other, he slid down the sands instead of running, unfortunately instead of changing direction to follow SkinkDad he tumbled over a bolder, spinning frantically down the remaining dune as he landed several feet away from his guardian. Coughing as dust and dirt kicked up he swatted at the air brushing his face off. "i ******** hate the desert..." he winced when he felt his guardians eyes boring onto him for the outburst. Stryke made a face in return, ignoring the glare before he looked around. He tried to get a feel for where he'd landed. Almost instantly his eyes landed on a massive open passage way. Never having seen anything like it before, his jaw went slack. Scattered around the opening were old faded words littering the door way. He could faintly make out a few of them but most were severally weather worn and the meaning lost in time. The entrance literally dwarfed the child, and easily could have fit a seven foot tall troll walking two abreast, or more even. Stryke couldn't even be certain. "woah!" he whispered, pulling himself to his feet and moving closer to the entrance, eyes sweeping, searching in the darkness beyond the light of moonlight. "what is this..." he murmured, a rush of excitement gnawing at his thinkpan. Stryke made up his mind rather quickly; running back to his hive he went to grab a flashlight, returning to the spot and after an extreme amount of consideration chose to go inside. The going was slow...he trekked into the darkness guided only by his wry lusus, and the light of his flashlight. He shone the light to the right, turning to walk down the tunnel as it took a sharp turn. As Stryke applied his feet onto the ground, he heard a distinctive click as his lusii whom had been standing beside him vanished behind a rotating wall. The yellowbloods eyes went wide as he tried lunging after him and watched as the wall turned. Shocked, and unsure what to do he tried stepping on the pressure trigger several times. Nothing happened. He was alone, and could hear nothing from his father. Backing up slowly, he thought he heard rustling from behind him causing him to yelp and namely bolt. Running blindly with only the artificial light to guide him Stryke ran deeper into the maze. DraconicFeline. sorry for such a long intro, wanted to make the transition of being inside believable lol. feel free to take it whatever direction you wish.
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 9:56 pm
Keionx was unsure about whether she was really as heroic as she thought she was, but uncertain or not, a ruin was irresistable to her. While scouting out Ephias's stargazing spot for a potential observatory, she had seen it in the distance, gleaming in the moonlight. She had known that, at some point, she would have to explore it.
She went in the early hours of the night, before sane trolls were awake, so that she could have a chance to explore before doing other things that needed doing that night. She brought the essentials with her – her Lusus had taught her well. A lamp, her sword, and most of all, her bravery. She would always have that, at least. She would always do the right thing, hero or no.
The ruins, preserved by the sands that had covered them, loomed before her and she looked them over. The doorway was huge, grand and empty, a relic of a time long gone. She drew her sword, holding her lamp in her other hand. She didn't know what she would find, or what she would do with what she found. For now, it would be enough to look, to scout, to explore... that was heroic, was it not?
Keionx wasn't sure anymore.
But she was doing it anyway.
Her lamplight turned the ancient trollian runes into unreadable shadows as she ventured into the dark maw of the ruins. Soon her lamp was the only light, reflected eerily by her sword, an island of vision in a pool of darkness. She walked through a hallway and into an anteroom, lifting her lamp to see more.
It was hollow. Empty. Its grand architecture devoid of light and life. It was something glorious, but dead, beautiful but lifeless.
Kind of like me. she thought, Or what I thought I was before.
The thought did not sit well with her, and neither did despair. So. I will be something new. she thought, as she traveled onwards. Distantly – and distinct in the sepechural silence – she heard a grinding sound. She tightened her grip on her sword and headed for it. If it was a foe, she would fight it head on. If it was a puzzle – as was proper for a ruin - it would be something interesting. If it was a fellow adventurer... they might need her help... or she might need theirs.
She strode through the sandy stone hallways, trying to keep her bearings. Suddenly, an indentation in the sand caught her eye. She lowered the lamp to it.
Somewhen, somehow, very recently, something had been dragged along the sand. She looked at the nearby wall and lifted her lantern slowly to investigate, her eyes narrowing as she brushed a hand lightly against it.
A trick wall... but who or what had moved it? And how could she move it herself?
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 5:29 am
Nearly wheezing by the time he'd stopped running, Stryke leaned over pressing his hands against his knees in an attempt to catch his breath. The fact he'd panicked and acted so rashly naturally irritated the yellowblood. Scowling, he looked around as he squeezed the flashlight in his hand casting its glow around the chamber he'd entered. Dust coated the walls in thick layers, along with cobwebs and broken pots of all sorts, sized and shapes. It was like an archaeological treasure mine to say the least and made him gape in awe. Forgetting what had spooked him earlier, and the inevitable reality he had to find where his beloved lusus went he wandered over to one of the unbroken shapes in the darkness and crouched down lifting up the pot for further inspection. As he went to set it down, a cob web encased mostly skeletal husk of a troll made him yelp in surprise. Falling back onto his rump, he shuffled back a bit across the sandstone floors. However he simply laughed after a moment before covering his face with a palm. He breathed in and out slowly to calm himself. It wasn't something he had to be worried about luckily. Right..? "come on stryke. itsss jussst..some old bones, nothing more." He reasoned aloud, standing back up. Yet an eerie realization dawned on him the longer he watched the dusty husk. There was a hand attached to that corpse that was moving. His blood ran cold, all color draining from the boy’s face. The groping, sweeping and namely twitching grab motions caused Ryk to hold his breath. Its lifeless eyes rolled into view, causing the hallow face to look all the more menacing. It was dull and lifeless looking as it tried to drag its self-closer, flopping on the ground and sounded off an eldritch groan unlike any he'd heard before. A scream Stryke would never admit to anyone came out of his mouth seconds later. It was high pitched and shrill. The sound from the living troll pierced through the caverns as he shook his head in dismay. So much for adventuring. It wasn't like he had anything to protect himself save a stupid flashlight, real fear and terror worse than what had caused him to run settled into him like a blanket as he shone the light on it...realizing it was not alone as he cast the light to another section of the titled floor. Grinding bones rattled and clattered, at least two, perhaps even more groans could be heard in the darkness beyond. It was hard to distinguish given the resonating echoes, and poor lighting.
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 8:45 am
Keionx stiffened as an echoing scream, more real than any thriller movie scream, echoed down the corridor. It was from behind the wall, and that settled many things for Keionx. First, the grinding sound had likely been an adventurer. Second, they needed her help. Third... Third, this ******** wall was not going to stand in her way.
She shoved at it with all her strength, and it – in the middle of resetting itself – gave to her will. She shoved it open and stepped over the mechanism and into the hidden passage. She heard groans, unearthly, horrible groans, too reminiscent of the plant-filled caverns to dismiss, and she ran forward.
Towards them. That was likely where their prey was, their prey who she had to aid. Whatever they were.
A bony, dessicated hand reached for her with a soul-crushing moan and she sliced at it frantically, managing to destroy the hand and buy herself time. She had only caught a glimpse in the lamplight of a trollian corpse, and had no desire to see more – from the sounds, she knew she would see plenty.
There, a light in the distant darkness. ”Hoy there!” she called. The light silhouetted a series of shambling shapes, and she ran past them as best she could even as she could feel their fell gaze turn to her. ”Hoy!” she cut off the head of one of the monstrousities, leaping over its headless corpse as she ran towards the light. Behind her, she could swear she heard it move and stand, but she dared not look back. ”I hath come to rescue thee!” she called, seeing a - thankfully still living, running shape illuminated by what appeared to be a flashlight...
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 4:22 am
Ready to strike the first thing that touched him with his makeshift "weapon", but he felt himself trembling. He wasn't prepared for a situation like this on his own. Then there came a reprieve from his living nightmares. Stryke could make out a lantern in the darkness in the direction he'd come from, that and the sound of something by far less ghastly made him cry out in relief. "oh godsss! yesss! pleassse, thank you!" he sounded a bit too high pitch still, the flashlight bobbing in shadows. Stryke made a beeline for the offered salvation. As he approached, he could make out that the troll was much taller than him. The yellowblood was wide eyed and utterly terrified, looking between her, the lantern, and then sword in her hand...and ultimately at the slain zombie at the troll’s feet. Truthfully, the sound of her voice was like one of his beloved fantasy novels come to life, and she was like a ray of orange sunshine in this hell hole. "theresss more back that way..." he darted behind her, not even caring he didn't like being close to strangers although he skillfully avoided touching her directly. He simply felt safe enough to be within arm’s reach in that moment. It was like some great heroine had come to rescue him in his hour of need. "misss...you are truly a blesssing. your timing is utterly without match." He tipped his head up, looking up at her. His grim expression replaced by a gracious one that of gratitude. "i..lossst my lusus..dad's around here somewhere. i can't leave without him." he quickly explained, peeking from around her, instantly regretting it as he ducked back behind her.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:21 pm
Keionx cut at another zombie as it approached, moving away from it as it reeled from her blow. She glanced down the hall – indeed, there were more.
”Then we find him.” she said, backing down the hallway, her sword out, intent on keeping the risen dead at bay until they could find a way out, ”Stay by me, I shall protect thee.” she said, shoving another undead back with her shield, ”On a count of three, we run further down.” she said, ”Mayhap there beith another exit.” she explained, ”But we want to have distance... to buyeth some time.” She focused on the moaning shadows before her, striking out whenever they got close.
”One...”
One of the dead lurched towards her, swiping with its hand. She dodged, deflecting its blow so that it would hit only air and not her protectee.
”Two...” she bashed it with her shield, following it up with a well executed slash across the torso that would have killed a normal combatant.
But this was no normal combatant.
It grabbed her sword and howled, a scream that tore through her and shook her to her core. It was haunting, a terrible reminder of Aendal's cavern and she froze.
Fortunately, though, Keionx could handle fear. Barely. Before it could deal the finishing blow, she shook out of her stunned state and shoved it aside. It topped to the ground, a pile of eerily moving flesh and bones.
”One!” she shouted, turning and grabbing Stryke to make sure he wasn't left behind, ”Run!”
They ran down the hall as fast as they could, which was apparently faster than the undead could chase them. She heard the dripping of water, which gave her pause – this was a desert, after all. But water often meant an opening, a room, or at least some respite from thirst. She slowed, turning to check on Stryke.
”Art thou all right?” she asked, panting slightly. She ran laps frequently, and wasn't especially tired. But him... Well, she wasn't sure.
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:40 pm
Stryke shifted uncomfortably as one of the zombies were laid to waste by the capable orangeblood. "that would be great..thank you. again." The smaller troll murmured. He'd pocketed his flashlight in favor of her lantern, as it illuminated things better radius wise. Plus she was busy being a sword and shield maiden. He didn't need to be told twice to stay close to her, she had now repeatedly kept him safe that was more than enough reason to head her words. "you don't have to tell me twice..trussst me." he murmured with a small shiver of dismay as one of the wails were cut short by her. Realizing she intended to have them run, his breathing quickened. She was likely by far faster than him; his legs were a fraction of hers by comparison. Reluctantly he nodded in understand as he bit his lower lip. Each number that passed made him anxious. One. Two..THREE. He felt her hand seize him and yelped in surprise from the unexpected contact. He moved as quickly as his body would allow. The kid was partially dragged by the taller troll, adrenaline fueling him to try and keep pace. Wheezing for air once they stopped, he nodded slowly as she asked him if he was alright. "ne..never better..." He managed to say after he took in a few more breaths. Physical activity wasn't something he did on a regular basis, and certainly not in relay bursts like this. Thankfully he wasn't completely out of shape, but it hadn't been easy to keep up with her regardless. "are you okay miss..?" Stryke was searching for a name, or title to bestow upon her. As he spoke, his eyes scanned the dark room. No shadowy figures danced on the outside of his vision. The faint sound of water dripping caught his attention. Lifting the lantern light, he was surprised to discover a small pool of water off to the side collecting in a massive pool. If he hadn't been scared out of his wits he might have even been fascinated by the display. The sound of shuffling reached his sponge clots however, ceasing further inspection. Tensing up he found himself inching back behind his protector. Afraid they had been followed by the undead. Yet the figure if he'd just taken a little more time to look was too low to the ground, and lacked a humanoid shape. In-fact it even seemed like it was lizard-like. Unfortunately Stryke was too afraid to check more closely.
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:26 am
Keionx looked around the room, noting the pooling water and the cavernous darkness. She was quiet as she scoured it for threats. Normally, she would not have been so thorough, but she had a charge – she owed it to him to keep him safe. She owed it to the world and, not insignificantly, to his lusus.
Finally, satisfied with what she saw, she turned to him. ”Keionx.” she offered, and she would have offered her hand as well, but it was occupied with sword, shield, and a lamp – though the lamp was now hooked to her belt for safekeeping. ”Keionx Rutace. A...” Knight. But Knight did not seem to describe her anymore. Hero? Nor did that. She wasn't sure what she was. ”Adventurer.” she said finally, though that, too, didn't quite fit.
She gave him her own assessment and decided that he was, indeed, okay. ”And you?” she asked, and then a thought occurred to her. ”And... what does thy lusus look like?” It would, she thought, be truly terrible to mistake a lusus for a monster...
The sound of shuffling reached her as well and she tensed, panning about the room – and the passage behind her – for the next threat. No humanoid shadows – so no undead. No aerial shadows, so no vicious squeakbeasts (or flaming squeakbeasts). And then she looked down.
The reflected light of her lamp rested on a white lizard, crawling towards them. It didn't look very threatening – kind of cute, actually - but she brought her shield up protectively anyway. One never knew on Alternia.
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 7:50 am
Stryke tipped his head up so he could address the orangeblood properly. "an adventurer you say?" The younger mused thoughtfully, before repeating her name quietly. "it isss a nice name, and a fitting title for someone who's clearly able to hold their own." Stryke arched a brow in consideration before nodding. With her lantern at her side, he reached for his flashlight tapping it a few times as he held onto it feeling the need for something to hold onto. "oh right, how rude of me. i'm stryke nvrmor." The younger felt as if he had no title worth mentioning, so didn't even bother to try. At her next question he looked considerate for a brief moment before responding. "a large white and grey scaled hissbeast..about um.." he gestured to his fathers approximate height, describing the lizard a bit more.. "he looks pretty grumpy most of the time, walks on all fours and has a long whip like tail." He answered her in conclusion with a small sigh. Stopping a few feet from them, the very same lusus in question squinted at the pair as if he wasn't sure what he was seeing. Yet he knew the sound of his own trolls voice, and paused waiting for the female to drop her defenses. boy call her off, i'd rather not be mauled..or hurt your guessst.Stryke gave a small cry of relief as he heard the familiar hiss, stepping around form behind Keionx's protective shadow. "ah! there you are dad!" He looked positively relieved, and even smiled at Keionx nearly beaming in gratitude. He shouldn't have shouted. A squeak or two echo'd in the dimly light room as several pair of gleaming red eyes flashed in the darkness. "o...oh...i think itsss time to go..." Even with his lusus present, he was glad for her presence as those red eyes burst away from their roost swooping and leaping at them.
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 4:26 pm
Stryke. All right. An interesting name, to be sure. She scrutinized the creature and relaxed her arms, no longer threatening the creature even as Stryke confirmed her suspicions. She let herself feel a warm, fleeting relief – she'd found his lusus. He was safe again.
Her relief was short lived as squeaking erupted from above them. Flying squeakbeasts were an adventurer's bane, but fortunately Beastdad had taught her how to deal with them. She twisted the brightness knob on her lamp quickly, then back, creating a blinding flash of light.
The squeakbeast screamed and backwinged, and – having been ready for the sudden light – Keionx put herself between Stryke and the creature. ”Go!” she called, ”I shall hold it off! I shall catch up later!” she brandished her shield as the squeakbeast recovered and stared at her with baleful, hateful eyes. It streaked at her and she blocked it with her shield, readying her blade as it prepared to come at her again.
This time, she swung, cleaving it in two with its own momentum. It's oily, acidic-green blood spattered into the nearby water, glittering like emeralds as it lay still on the cave bottom. Keionx looked up to see more eyes staring at her groggily – yes. It was time to go now.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 12:42 am
Stryke froze as the explosion of squeak beasts flooded the cavern. He didn't want to leave his savior alone to fend them all off, but he couldn't properly fight. The yellowbloods eyes went wide as she raised her shield and sword, standing at the ready. "..alright. pleassse be safe!" He called back to her as his lusus was already nudging and shoving at him to go. While his legs felt like gelatin he willed himself to run for the wind, and exit. The smell of fresh hair and the light breeze of the sandy deserts of the area were within sight. His lungs screamed at him for all the running he'd been doing, but fear had an amazing way of revitalizing ones energy. Once outside of the ruins, he realized this hadn't been where he'd entered initially. Coughing into his palm as dust and sand had kicked up from his movements he sat himself down casting a worried stare into the entrance and darkness of the tunnels beyond. Guilt wracked his mind, worried for the fate of the brave female troll. Sliding his rucksack off his shoulders, Stryke reached in fishing out a water bottle. Taking a few sips before tightly capping it. are you ssseriously going to wait for her? His lusus gave him a strange look, surprised that Stryke had actually sat down and didn't make a break for town. "yesss. i am. she helped me find you..it's the least i can do." Stryke scowled at his lusus, glaring at him as he appraised the scaled lusus. He luckily had all his scales on his hide intact... and looked no worse for the wears. Nipping at his bottom lip Stryke fidgeted as he pushed himself to his feet pacing anxiously beside the door.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 6:50 am
Keionx backed away, shield in front of her, as the cavebeasts squeaked and glowered and shrieked. She was nearly at the exit when they decided to take it further.
She ducked behind her shield as the dense bodies of the beasts struck her sheild and flapped away, circling to strike her again. Soon, she knew, the whole flock of them would strike, one after the other after the other.
And they did, desperate for revenge for disturbing their slumber. She slashed out with her sword, hoping to thin them out, but it only enraged them further, attacking until she feared her shield would dent.
The hallway opened behind her and, with another slice of her sword, she cut herself a chunk of time that she did not waste.
She turned and ran.
The exit loomed ahead, a gasp of fresh air that grew closer and closer until, finally, she emerged into the open air.
There, she turned to face the entrance, tense... but the beasts did not dare to leave, not in the night, when predators greater than they could stalk them in the star-speckled sky. Keionx waited a moment, and then a moment more, before she shook the ichor from her sword and sheathed it. She turned and noted, to her surprise, that the yellowblood was still there.
”Stryke.” she said, panting from her run, ”Thou art... still here.” she asked, puzzled. Why had he waited? Or was he waiting.
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 3:49 pm
Stryke had just been about to move, beginning to grow restless given she hadn't emerged yet. When he heard her shield and sword he watched her clean the blade and sheath it. The site of her was relieving to the small boy, he looked at her awe struck. "i didn't want you to get lossst and not make it back to town..." He explained looking down, briefly wondering if he'd done wrong in waiting as his lusus had implied by his waiting outside the mouth of the tunnels entrance. He could hear squeaks and flapping noises..! Looking alarmed he swallowed nervously. "come on! let'sss get out of here!" Even with the sands making it harder to gain traction, Stryke didn't wait to see if the bats would follow them or not. While exhausted, he only stopped until they were on the edge of town. Stryke looked up at her, laughing sheepishly. "hey. thanksss for saving us back there." The yellowblood added, offering a hand out to the orangeblood to shake, before he'd excuse himself to walk with his dad back home. "i'll have to repay you somehow one day." He looked towards town, then back to her as if he was trying to decide whether to go now, or wait to see what she did.
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 2:09 pm
He didn't want her to get... lost? "That is..." She smiled, "Thank you." She wouldn't have gotten lost, but still, she appreciated the sentiment. Not really feeling like fighting more bats (and wanting to escort the young child back as well) she 'followed' him back to Chittentown.
"Twas mine honor." she said, shaking his hand. Perhaps in the past she would have refused his offer to pay her back someday, but now she saw the value - for both of them - in that. One day, she might need his help. One day, paying her back would spark his own adventure, help him create his own story.
"Until we meet again, then." she said, bowing, before letting him return home. Her night, however, was not yet over, her soul not yet settled enough to sleep. She had errands to run before she returned to wandering, and so she walked into the city, a little less despairing for the adventure.
[FIN]
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