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 Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:05 pm
Walter, as Tomorrow would notice would already be entirely gone, as he looked back so was HonoRaven. Perhaps in the moment he took to blink? It was a mystery, as most things involving Maximos are. Whether his thanks fell on deaf ears or not, remained to be seen.
Something old, and simple, and yet powerful in its ancient lack of complexity.
He said, as he continued his way to the actually windmill.
It will require Tomorrow and I, as we both have memories of the person Hono Raven was. Memories are a wonderful window to the soul.
Maximos nodded stoutly reaching for the shaky windmill door and tugging it open gently. All present would easily be able to see what could only be described as a wall of black behind the door. It was impossibly dark, even though a beam of sunlight seemed to poor directly into the space it illuminated absolutely nothing, but was instead eaten entirely.
Maximos paused, turning to the group.
Can either of you see in pitch black, without having to make light?
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:20 pm
"I know I cant. Can you?" Donner said, looking down to Grace. There was so much he didn't know about her...hell, about this whole chain of events. He'd come straight from Midgard, his journey back to Gaia convoluted and nigh-on instantaneous, his mind and memory thrown into a hurricane that was slowly beginning to settle.
Being surrounded by people he trusted would help...
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 1:23 am
"I can easily see by moonlight or starlight, but I am not a Drow who can see with no light at all." Grace replied. "But being around 'Andi all these years has taught me to study the layout of a space while I can, so I can usually keep from tripping and making a big mess if I have seen a room before it is truly dark." xp
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:49 am
Unfortunately...
Maximos tacked as Grace finished.
The manor is constructed purely of concentrated darkness so it must be kept in pitch black at all times, lest it fall to pieces.
He paused for a moment, letting the bit of information sink before responding.
Let me see your hands, just for a moment.
With a flick of the wrist, Maximos held in his hand a black paintbrush dripping idly with black ichor. How, or where, the paintbrush came from is a total mystery, as Maximos was wearing short sleeves. But again...mystery. Once the hands were extended, he went to work. He painted a single rune on both of their palms. It was a simple circle with a dot in the middle and a single line leading down from the outer circle to their wrist where a second circle was drawn. As soon as the rune was completed, it seemed to solidify, and seep through the skin, making it appear to be a tattoo of sorts. Maximos immediately added...
Dont worry, just a bit of water and they'll come right off.
Then without delay he returned to the door, peeling it open yet again.
You two enter first, let your hand enter the room before your eyes, and you should be fine.
If his instructions were followed in the next few seconds the two should find themselves at the top of a spiral staircase leading down beneath the windmill into the island itself. The scent of cinnamon, cake, and what appeared to be a plethora of other baked goods filled the air along with a light lilac. Despite the fact they were about to head underground there was no hint of mildew or mold in the air just a fresh floral flavor.
Their eyes would be temporarily blackened as the pure dark of the room was filtered to light before reaching their eyes. Before continuing Maximos made sure to check things, as he entered last. Their vision would not be normal, rather it would be more closely akin to staring through the light cast by two flashlights attached to their eyes. It might take a moment of getting used to, but they should be able to manage.
Can everyone see alright?
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:17 am
Grace tried not to probe at the rune, with her free hand or her magic xp
After all it was rude to tamper with a spell that was meat to aid you, but as she stepped into the home of the shadow, hand first, and could see almost as easily as she had outside.
"Fine thank you!"
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 1:15 pm
"Mhrmmm..." Donner grumbled in reply, his right hand reaching out left and right, displaying 'light' for him to see.
Maximos might have forgotten about Donners prosthetic arm. It seemed the magic of the rune didn't work on inanimate objects. Or maybe there was another reason?
Regardless, he was now a one-arm, one-eyed man.
It wasn't a big deal, so he didn't bring it up.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 3:43 pm
Excellent! Lets continue.
Indeed, for poor Tommorow, the spell needed life in order to work. More specifically, a blood stream. Hydraulics and oils simply could not suffice. In another life the shadow would have lectured the Aesir about the use of such toys, but not today, not now. For the time being, he could learn to see like his Father.
Maximos instead took the lead, leading the group down a set of spiral stairs. The walls were stone, as if cut from the very innards of the island itself, one would expect the smell of dinge, mildew and bat droppings, but instead would find the place very very well maintained.
After about 100ft of descent, they would get their very first view of the manor. There was a good 200ft of raw stone and dirt courtyard before the actual house, but the house could not be missed. Not only did it fill what appeared to be a very very large gave with its massiveness, but it was a rather fancy thing as well. Its doors were seven feet over the head of Tomorrow, vast, ebony, and dark. There were easily three stories to it, and each window was beautifully, although simply decorated.
Maximos lived in comfort, and class, he did not live in excess. With a single heft of his right arm, he pulled open one of the massive front doors letting loose a wave of scent. Potpourri, flours, wood wax, and most importantly as well as most powerfully, pastery. Walter did everything he did to the maximum. And as it was just after lunch, and just beyond the main enterance hall was the lunching room, those baked goods were very much in the air. Maximos of course led the group directly through the main hall, past the chairs, artifacts, couches, and paints, and through a second set of double doors leading into the Lunching room. Before them sat one, gigantic table, easily 160ft long meant to fit about two dozen individuals, and covered from end to the other in cakes, pies, cookies, and other various sorts of baked goods. Mixed in where several pitchers of milk, and juice, and three sets of plates, utensils, and most importantly, napkins.
Help yourself! Walter loves to get others opinions on his snacks.
A close inspection would reveal that not only were there a variety of everyday pasties of chocolate and berries and such, but there were baked goods here from other worlds. One or two still seemed to be alive, while others seemed to be more like vegetables, or salads than pies or cakes. Their ingredients were as mysterious as Maximos, but...they were all a delicacy somewhere in existence.
I'll warn you though.
He pointed across the table.
Those green cupcakes are very potent, one bite can send any set of magical powers into chaos, and then immediate shut down. But the flavor....absolutely delicious.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:26 am
Donner 'looked' over the entire manor with an air of surprise. For such a loner, he seemed to live like a statesman, someone who expected or entertained company.
This was the Shadow's life. Living in an island in the sky, buried in the ground, surrounded by the dark. A stately manor, an obedient butler, and bizarre food. He was king of his own strange little world.
Donner had the feeling that Maximos didn't entertain guests that often. This whole deal smacked of over-achievement, and Maximos seemed overly merry, considering the situation. Was he trying to butter them up, prepare them for the worst?
Or perhaps he was trying to be a generous host.
Donner sighed, lifting his metallic hand to rub the bridge of his nose. He was thinking too much. It was too soon to see...him.
Perhaps the food would settle his mind. The smell was intoxicating.
Walking over to the table, he ran his hand over the food, the palm hovering over it all, looking over it all. There was a significant amount of food here, food that The Shadow and Walter could never eat before it all spoiled. There was stuff that Donner had never seen before, in his former life or the next, as well as stuff that he regularly ate.
He heard the Shadow's words on the green cupcakes, and obviously he reached out and grabbed one, lifting it to his nose to sniff it. It smelled divine, like mana from the gods themselves, and it was very hard not to take a bite. Perhaps later... He thought to himself, wrapping it in a napkin and placing it in a pocket. If Maximos' words were true, eating one here would most likely cause Donner to blow a chunk out of the island.
He resumed his inspection, blinking as he saw something...interesting.
Gripping what looked like a yellow apple, he lifted it up and turned to Maximos. The thing had many tiny mouths on it, nipping hungrily at his metal palm. The thing had eaten through most of the items surrounding it. "What is this thing? Is this food...?" The item had a foreboding element to it. It made him feel...strange.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:38 am
Grace was enjoying the tour as it was, until Maximos described the green cupcake and her mind wondered about cross contamination in food stuffs xp
She had no desire to have her abilities out of control, or out of reach for any time. The thought had her lightly tracing the Ankh tattoo on her wrist as she fought off a wave of memories that sh had happily buried some time ago. "I am fine, thank you...I would say it is something that will try to eat you if you do not eat it first Mr. Tomorrow..."
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:14 am
Even the most dire of situations is not a reason to lose a smile, or ones cool. As morbid as it sounds, Maximos dealt with death daily, while it wasnt something he wished on any friend, it was hardly worth getting flustered over. Beside, Grace and Tomorrow were guests in his house, that meant they deserved the very best of treatment. He had received all of this from his grandfather as a gift, it was only fair that he share it in much the same way that it was given.
Walter would see to that more than Maximos ever could. The butler always believed in doing things to the hilt, sparing nothing for any guest what so ever.
But that was neither here nor there. Tomorrow had held up an odd little thing, now Maximos had given Walter the cookbook that allowed him to find these foods, but he had only skimmed the book itself. If it werent for the very nature of the fruit and its role in his work, Maximos wouldnt have known what it was at all.
Its name escapes me, but that is one of two fruits. One inert, one very powerful. You can tell them apart by their stem, this one has none.
Maximos nodded, somewhat proud he actually remembered all that.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:00 pm
Maximos She was truly learning fast. Walter gave her an accepting nod to show her she had done well. And as she rushed off, just as she imagined Walter took the moment to fuss over his monocle getting it to sit just right before going back to garden work. Yes! Waltewr and big brudder!D would say back while zooming down the halls. He didnt know the place by heart persay, he knew it by feel. And he navigated the maze rather haphazardly, just barely missing a desk here, a table there. Flying truly would have been more fun, but Walter didnt allow D to skate in the house, it left horrible marks on the walls as D had not yet learned any method of stopping beyond crashing into his destination. Still, it would be almost no time before they had arrived at a large set of double doors at the end of a long marble hall. A very large M had been engraved into the doors and as soon as they were within sight D slammed to a crawl, a mischievous grin sliding on his features, pointed white teeth creeping out from behind pale lips. Wanna mess wif him?
Teira cocked her head to the side in curiosity as they sped along. She didn't understand this phrase, but something mischievous in D's voice caused her to grin deviously with anticipation...
"Mmm?"
She tried hard to stifle a giggle as she all but danced in place.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:56 pm
Mhmm!
D said, nodding his head really fast for a moment before putting a finger to his lips, in sort of a universal "shhhh" gesture. Step, by step, he creeped his way to the nearest wall, and as if he was crawling on the ground he placed his hands, then knees on the wall and began to crawl up it like a spider. About 5ft off the ground, halfway between the floor and roof he waved his hand signaling for Teira to follow.
It didnt dawn on D that he was doing something supernatural, this was who he was. And from what his instincts told him, it was who she was too, at least partially. Teira would find walking on shadow just as easy as walking on the ground of she gave it a try. And this house itself was made of shadow.
After giving Teira a moment to follow D would continue upwards, making and then nimbly step onto the ceiling. A few more steps and D would stealthily make his way over Maximos' door frame and turn to Teira with a devious smile, whispering ever so faintly.
Y'ready? On twee, follow me.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:29 pm
The giant Aesir examined the fruit closely, turning it around in his metal hand, watching the tiny teeth trying to bite into his fingers. He'd never seen something like this. The mouths all seemed to work independently, but where did all the food it consumed go?
"So which one is this one? The inert or the powerful?" Donner asked, tossing it up and down in his hand, the mouth-apple landing into his metallic palm with a soft squish each time.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:29 am
Grace just winced slightly every time the fruit made that slight squishing noise, she was tempted to tell Mr. Tomorrow to cut it out... but 'Andi had sent her to aid him, and it would help no one if she started a fight over something so trivial. She was still busy puzzling over who exactly the girl was, and why Verandi thought she was so important...
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:22 am
Completely inhert. It tastes very sour, sort of like a lemon and screams when you bite it.
Walter knew better than to do anything less than destroyer the other fruit, if found. He gestured to another plate on the table holding a stack of blue flat round cakes that looks much like tortilla's.
Its meant to be wrapped in that, so as to both muzzle and keep the mouths busy while you munch it. The wrap are extremely sweet and the two sort of balance each other out.
Yes, the squish was rather disgusting and Maximos fully caught sight of Grace's repulsion, making it necessary for him as a good host to speak up.
Tomorrow, please dont play with your food, your upsetting Ms. Grace.
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