The year is 2040, and the world has actually achieved what the 60's promised. Robot maids, food at the press of a button, flying cars, utopias above the clouds. There is no disease, no hunger, no one usually suffers. Most everything is artificial, dead, plastic, or all three. There is an occasional war, but nothing much. Life is mundane, however, and boring. Books and games exist and are fun, but they can only do so much, which often leads youth to cause trouble, just to stave off boredom. Global news and conditions that don't effect the people are ignored.
The era is the era of Einhal. War has broken out, between the two major kingdoms, and their allies. Magic runs rampant and is used as a tool, and it's extremely similar to . Life being boring is the least of the people's problems, and thus don't go in seek of entertainment, unless they are extremely well off. Those able usually fight in the war, and those that can't try to help the cause when they can. There aren't many places untouched by the war.
However, there is an anomaly in the otherwise unconnected worlds. There is a book in each world that serves as a portal- when something is inserted into the binding, it comes out on the other side, in another universe. If something is written on the pages, it appears on the other side. It appears completely out of place- For the futuristic world, it looks old-timey; For the magical world, it appears metallic and stylized.
For whatever their reasons, one person from each world stumbles upon the book, and its strange properties, and it turns out, the people in each world are exact copies of those in the alternate world, though their personalities are changed. If one is violent in the first world, the violence is kept inside as only a thought in the other. Strangely enough, if a person gets damaged, their doppelganger gets the same damage when asleep.
But the government in the first world is rapidly and insidiously growing, and the story of a book that "leads to a world of doppelgangers and immense power" is spreading in the second- even to the opposition in the war, who will do anything to win. Will the two book owners manage to keep their books safe and create a safe place, or will they be separated once again? Or, will the two books fall into the wrong hands?
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BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
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2 yrs ago
Jo yawned as she comuted to work, her sealed, glass-dome hovercar moving her from her small platform house, to the larger platform, where the city really was. The windows and solar panels glittered in the sun, and would have been a severe distraction if her ride didn't have an automatic driving system. Soon enough, her ride whizzed to her work, the morning traffic not heavy enough to cause her any issues. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her things and prepared herself for her exit. The car lowered itself, and right before it opened its top, she held her breath, hopping out and making her way indoors as fast as she could.
She clocked in almost as soon as the doors shut behind her, letting herself breathe again as she moved to the back, picking up her apron that a robotic hook had just dispensed for her. She grabbed it mechanically and slid it on, going through a door marked "employees only" to the delivery room. For a while, she checked in the new items and called for them to be put up in the store with the small holographic screen that projected in front of her from the logo on her apron, until she came across a strange, old looking book. After flipping through the pages- finding them blank- she called for it to be stocked, and as soon as it was, she called in an order for it to be delivered to the cashiers table for purchase. By the time the strange book had made its way there, she had finished her work, and had already headed to the table.
"Identity And Payment Please" the robot behind the counter buzzed as Jo approached, its cold scanners staring blankly out.
"Jo Baxter. Take it out of my paycheck." She replied, only as loud as she needed to and almost as mechanically as the robot, locking eyes with the robot as it scanned her. It made a small beep, and handed the book to her.
"Payment Received. Have A Nice Day: JO BAXTER." It buzzed again as she took the book and walked behind the counter, turning a dial on the robots' back from "static" to "roaming", and taking her place behind the counter, waiting for people to come in.
The day went by slowly, and eventually, Jo borrowed a pen from the jar by the register, and wrote her name on the first page of the book in pretty, girly handwriting that just screamed "I have too much time on my hands". Turning the page, she doodled a bit, though calling her poor drawings a doodle would be exaggerating, and wrote down some things that popped into her head.
"_Why do robotic clerks have two modes? Couldn't they be programmed to a day and night cycle?_" was one she wrote, in normal handwriting, to get a feel for the dimensions of the book. The next thing she wrote was a small list, mostly of things like "_Dehydrated Juice_" and "_Instant Soup_", though some book titles like "_The Tea-Seller And The Popper_" and "_A History of Mythology_" ended up in the list.
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Cyrus covered his face with the black cowl as soon as he scaled the wall to the keep. The three patrols were quickly dispatched and he was on the move. His bandaged feet barely making a sound against the cold, hard cobblestone walkways. The mission was simple. Get in. Get the mysterious blank book. Kill the official. Get out without being seen. Or at least without leaving anyone that saw him alive.
Dawn started to break the darkness that Cyrus clung to for both comfort and ease of access. The rising sun painting the cloudless sky a collage of colours. Reds and oranges lit his face up for only a moment before he slinked further into the keep to find his prize. Torches decorated the walls and gave off the slightest amount of heat. Just enough for him to get a feel for the environment. As he rounded the first corner three guards walked abreast chatting idly. Not even slowing down, Cyrus called for his magic. In three practiced moves that almost resembled dancing the three soldiers fell on the ground boiled alive inside their armor in just an instant. He hopped over their corpses and continued down the hallway till he came to a pair of gilded doors that just screamed 'Dukes room.'
Cyrus never did understand why dukes and kings always chose the most magnificent room. At least Generals could usually defend themselves such as Cyrus could. Kings tended to be soft. With a sigh he pushed the door open and slipped inside Seeing the Duke hunched over a reading table with a small reading candle perched on top. He was peering at the odd metal book with a fascination that couldn't be described. Shrugging the easiness of it all He put a dagger into the Dukes throat and took a look at the book. The first page held a girls name in the most immaculate writing he ever saw. "I thought this book was blank..." With renewed interest he pushed the dukes corpse to the floor reveling for just a second at how the body bled out before taking a seat and picking through the pages and seeing several words he never heard before. " The duke never had this nice of hand writing. There must be a reason why he betrayed my king..." He talked to himself as he picked up the dukes quill, noted that it did not have fresh ink on it, and dipped it in the inkwell. He wrote the first thing that came to his mind on the page at the end of what could be called a list of foreign words. "*The duke lay dead at my feet with odd writing in the supposed blank metal book. The mystery only serves to be deepened by his betrayal of my liege. Just what secrets does this thing hold*"
Looking down at the corpse he regretted for just a minute for killing him before getting an answer. Sighing he put the book in the folds of his cloak along with the quill and inkwell. " Whatever it is. I need some time before handing it over." He slipped out of the Keep and rather then return to his camp he moved into the nearby forest hoping to gain a deeper insight into it.
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BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
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2 yrs ago
Jo had finished scribbling in the book, and, having gotten the feel for it, decided to not ruin anymore pages. She left it alone as she went over the inventory of the store again, watching the robot as it re-arranged the shelves, and occasionally helping the odd visitor. Finding herself bored and without work, she decided to try to write an idea or two for a book down in the blank pages in front of her. Except, she found herself watching silently as words faded into view in the pages of the book- words that she knew she didn't write. Curiously, and cautiously, she flipped through the book, turning it over to check the back cover for anything. Finding nothing that looked like a battery compartment, or a label, she turned it back to the page with words. She stared at it for a moment longer, before hesitantly writing something in it.
"_What kind of book is this? I should be asking you. What brand is this book? Is it mind-controlled? Is it some sort of fancy tool for writers? I thought it was a notebook._" She paused, drawing a line just above the words that weren't hers.
"_How do I enter the user Manuel for this book? Or, rather, find out what the model and make of this... thing, is?_" she continued, pausing again to think and quickly process a customers' order.
_"Also, why is there a dead duke? no, stupid question, nevermind._" She added, then quickly put a line through. Finding it hard to tear herself from the book, she moved it away from the register to try to focus on work while she waited to see what would happen.
Cyrus leaned against an old twisted oak tree with his breathing slightly ragged from the quick sprint to find cover. He scanned the nearby area and when he was confident that no one knew he was there besides the animals of the forest he sat down and took out the book and writing utensils. Flipping to the page he wrote on he saw inky blots swirl into existence. After a few seconds they formed words. Some of them he understood. Others not so much.
Dipping the quill into the inkwell once more he placed the tip on the page and paused. Thinking for just a second on what to write. "* I know not what magic this is. Nor what 'brand' you are speaking of. However if you can shed light on this books power I would be most intrigued and enlightened. *"
He paused as he saw a question write itself on the page before getting a line crossed through it. "* The Duke betrayed our king...No my king. I know not your loyalty mysterious apparition . He was killed for his transgressions.*" He wiped the ink off after making a small symbol that looked like a runic cross at the end of his entry. Snapping the book closed he glanced around as he heard voices. Cursing to himself he grabbed the inkwell and scaled the tree with relative ease, perching himself on one of the higher branches to avoid detection. After getting as comfy as he could he took the book back out and laid it out on his lap, waiting for the next spring of magic to happen.
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BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
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2 yrs ago
A bit of time passed, seeming like forever to jo, without customers that needed her. The robot was handling everything for her, and finding that today was going to be one of those days where the robot takes care of everything, inched the book back closer and watched the last few words- and the strange rune, fade in. She read it, picking up her pen and tapping the ink-less end on her lips as she thought.
'It could be just a weird type of messaging system... Maybe like a walkie-talkie, but with words?' She thought, narrowing her eyes at it. 'It seems I'm writing to a person through it instead of writing to a computer.' She put her pen tip down on the paper, pausing for a moment to think about what to write in response.
" _I've seen some books that were tablets in disguise, so that's what I meant by brand. But, I know for a fact that this isn't magic. Magic isn't real. It's probably just some strange technology someone invented._" She paused, thinking some more, tapping the pen in the margins.
"_I'm as clueless as you are, I think, about this book. All I know about it is that it looks weird, everything is blank, and I'm contacting someone that isn't a computer, or a robot. Or maybe, one of those fancy, "Human-like" robots._" She paused again, finding the use of language in the previous message to be intriguing.
"_I figured. Treason is usually punished with death. But I don't know of any place with a king of any kind. Do you mean your president? Or... Maybe a dictator?_" She asked, her eyes catching on the strange rune. "_As for my loyalties, I'm not particularly for or against anyone. Except, maybe, unfair rulers. But believe me, I'm not a political threat in the least. The best I can do is vote, and pray that the majority votes with me, if I want something in the government to change._" She moved down a line, feeling like she was making an intense block of words.
"_Also, what is that thing? This one,_" She drew an arrow pointing to the rune, with some question marks around it. "_It looks like something that the "wrong crowd" used to draw in their notebooks, and wear on their shirts. And, also, how come you're writing so formally?_" She had so many questions, but, feeling like she might overwhelm the recipient, whatever it was, she drew a line under her words to signify that she was done. As she waited, she stood at the counter, waiting, and somewhat hoping, for someone to need her to do her job.
Cyrus was busy looking down at the trackers that were sent out to find him. He chuckled at their inability and was lost in the moment he didn't even see the words fade into view until he glanced at the book. Once more, words that escaped any meaning were written. "Just who are you..."
" *Tablet? This is a book. Not a stone slab etched with words. And magic is as real as you or me. I mean I am a lead magus in King Lebonholts royal army. Now do explain. What is a 'robot' or 'computer' I've never come across either of those words in my brief years of study. *" The mage tapped the quill as he thought about what to say or at least how to respond to this person's, no, entities words.
" *Where in Einhal do you live. I know the far north holds true to the wildlings. The southern deserts are host to Emperors. And my land is host to two kings. My leige, and the betrayer. *" Cyrus felt weird having to explain basic knowledge through this book. It was almost as if the other side had no knowledge of this world. " * what is a president or dictator for that matter. Also What the king says goes. There is no change in his policies unless he wills it. That is the way it has always been. And that is the way it shall always be. *"
As he read the last bit he was truly caught off guard. "* It is a secret message passed through those who are among the Magus sect. I figured you are using this device just as I am. Thus you must hold some latent magical abilities... Formally? I only write as I speak. The proper way. It is the same as me asking why do you write using words unheard of in these lands. Is this a test? *"
He believed he was finally done answering the others questions though now he had a few of his own that he would put on the back burner for the time being. Slipping the book into his cloak he jumped back down on the ground to start moving west to meet with his group of soldiers that would bring him to the king.
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BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
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2 yrs ago
Jo had eventually given up on waiting for people to need her, and payed her attention back to the book. It lay blank for a while, causing her to wonder about what was going on in it- how old the computer inside it was, and again, if she was talking to a robot or not. She caught the words as they started to fade in, and waited for everything to come in before beginning to reply.
"Stone slabs? You mean... Archaic tablets?" She looked at the book, confused. "No, I mean like, touch-screen, holographic tablets. Without pages. Not made of stone, but of metal and silicone. Glow-y, too." She made a face as she explained it, shaking her head softly. "...No, magic really isn't real. Fire doesn't spout from peoples hands, people aren't instantly healed by saying a fancy spell. People can't conjure electricity either- I would know. Then I wouldn't have to put my tablets in the sun to charge them, or need solar panels to run my speakers. And, Magus can mean other things than a magician. I'm not a child, so don't try to fool me." She drew a little face in the margins, puffing out a cheek with grumpy brows.
"You don't know what a robot is? Or a computer? Everyone has one in their homes! They're a necessity to function in society- at least, a computer is." She paused, considering the idea that people from lower platforms might not have such things. "A robot does everything you tell it to do, and a computer allows you to browse the internet for information, do complex calculations, and play games." She hoped she explained it clearly, and simply enough.
"Einhal? What platform is that? No, I live in the upper third levels of the BlueBell Platform System- But, er, I primarily live in the levels far above the clouds, as the air below makes me sick. We have a mayor for each level, and a president who manages every level on every platform in a lesser way. As far as I know, there are no Emperors, kings, or ungoverned platforms. Only presidents- Leaders elected by the people, and dictators- leaders who has absolute power, and usually secure it through force. Your king sounds like he has a few red flags for a dictatorship. Not in a bad way, of course." Jo sighed, feeling a bit weird about explaining everything. "Sorry if I over explain, or come off rude. I don't know if you're a child or not, and I don't intend to be rude. To me, you're just strange writing appearing in a weird book."
"Oh, that's interesting," She moved down a line, grimacing at the block of text she had written."Test? Not as far as I know of. But, mages and magic don't..." She trailed off, pausing as she thought of something. "Oh my god, are you role-playing? That totally explains everything- Like how old and leathery the book looks, how formal you are, and why you haven't heard of computers! I'm being a total square, aren't I? Sorry. I can be very dense. Was this book meant for someone else? It came into my store and I bought it before it hit the shelf. Just give me their name, And I'll locate them and give it to them." She softly face-palmed, watching the book intently, waiting to see the name of its rightful owner.
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Something drew Cyrus to stop at a small pool to take out the book and just as he expected, words began to fade into view. It was almost like they waited to be looked upon to reveal what was written. Once more the brevity of the words written both stumped and amazed him. It was almost like it was from another world with its language but that was impossible.
" *Metal is used in the production of our swords and armor. Now this 'silicon'. I have never heard of it. * " To say the mage was getting irate would be an understatement. Once again the writer said magic was not real. Inside he could feel the fire burning. His emotions a swirling maelstrom which he had to quiet to continue writing. " *I never once assumed you were a child. However your constant denial of a world that is true is quiet annoying. *"
He read the next part finding it easier to answer the words one part at a time. Skimming over the part about 'robots' and 'computers' But stopped at the mention of living above the clouds. Now he was getting curious. " *Einhal isn't a 'platform', it is the land that we live on. I've never heard of this 'BlueBell' and I feel as if you are just leading me on. " As he continued his eyes caught the word child and he could feel his magic burn in his hand which he released into the book. Rather then burning the book or scorching a hole through it, his fire simply disappeared. No.. That isn't what happened. He could feel the pull of his magic somewhere. No where nearby but it was still within his power. This knowledge calmed him and he turned the burning white flame that was now in front of Jo into a gentle blue fire rose. His free hand scirbbled the words " * If magic isn't real. Then explain why we can speak. Or explain what happened to my fire. *" Cyrus had a feeling that the book was a portal of some sort. How, He had no idea but he intended to find out. Leaving the book open he stood up and started moving off the road a little bit to an indent in the land where he could rest and see just how she responded. He also kept the flame rose from burning out with just a fraction of his minds power. Just enough to keep him focused on the task now that he had one.
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BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
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2 yrs ago
Jo watched the book, reading as the person on the other side responded. "Ok, I get that. not a lot of people know what silicon is. It's a weird substance. It's not exactly a metal, but it's still an element. It's not conductive to electricity, so it's great for circuit boards." She explained, finding nothing better to do. She did feel a bit upset by how she was called annoying, but shrugged it off.
"Oh, land. Sure. The stuff that humans used to live on, before the world below became flooded and unfit for life. I swear, I'm not leading you on. If I could send you a picture of the outside, you's see a big plume of clouds right..." She paused, and looked up, out the windows. "Right out the window, to my le-" She was interrupted by the book glowing hot, and nervously, she backed away from it. She had moved away just in time to avoid the fireball that came through, feeling herself tense up and a small peep come from her. Trembling just a bit, she backed away from it, and got the fire extinguisher from the wall.
"Oh. My god. Oh my god. It's on fire." She mumbled, moving towards the book again, pulling the pin from the device, the fireball having changed into a strange blue shape, similar to the plastic flowers that were everywhere on valentines day. She lifted a brow, and grimaced a bit, before aiming the nozzle of the extinguisher just a bit above and directly at the fire, and pulled the trigger, sending a large amount of white, cold foam flowing fast into the book. On the other side, it went straight up, then landed heavily on the ground, spilling the strange smelling and foul tasting foam everywhere.
Back on Jo's side, the fire flower was still there. She swallowed, and wiped the foam from the books' pages, around the flame cautiously.
"...What in the hell is this? Why is the book on fire?! I blew my extinguisher on it, but it's not out!! What did you do!? The sprinklers will go off and I'll be forced outside MAKE IT GO AWAY" She wrote quickly, avoiding the flower as she wrote. She didn't even punctuate, her handwriting getting a bit sloppier, partly because of her shaking, partly because of the way she was avoiding the fire.
When Jo used the extinguisher, Cyrus felt the slight waver in his magic's foothold but he just put forth more to maintain it. A second later he found out what the cause was. A weird white substance that seemed to stick all over the ground and release a pungent odor. Then her words came in. A breif scrawl holding none of their previous girlishness, rather just a vague sense of fear. He chuckled and made the flame turn into a serpent that bared it's fangs at the girl before he called it back. Rather then going through the book, Cyrus' magic simply disappeared from Jo's world. With a smile he began to write.
"*That was magic. My magic. Nothing more, Nothing less. *" He did slow, deliberate lines, enjoying the feeling of being right. He dipped his quill back in the inkwell and tapped on the edge of the page for a second before continuing. "* I have a hypothesis. This book is merely a gateway. For our words and our actions. It is what allowed me to use my magic where ever you are..and for you to spray....whatever this foul smelling viscous liquid/solid is, into my world. I have never been one on the occult but...*" He scooped up some dirt and grass from his new spot away from the extinguisher fluids and put it into the book. Like he thought it disappeared, forming on the other side. Cyrus began writing again just below where he put the dirt to make his point. "* This is the land that we live on. Do not call me a child, or stupid, or even this 'roleplayer'. I am a magus. I use magic. And I LIVE IN EINHAL.*" He capitalized the last bit and underlined it to show his obvious frustration, and rather then using magic again, he settled for writing aggressively.
"* I know not who you are, where you live, or even where this book of your's came from. All I know is what I have observed. *" He drew a line to signify he was done before putting the book into the folds of his cloak and looking at the white mass that was sprayed across the ground.
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BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
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2 yrs ago
Jo scrambled away from the book as the flower began to change, finding herself unable to make a noise as it grew into something bigger, and more sinister. It grew enough to threaten the fire alarms, and as quickly as it had come and forced Jo to press her back against the wall, it vanished. By the time Jo had managed to peel herself from the wall, the robot had come over, and begun to clean up the foam.
"My Temperature Sensors Detect A Large Difference In Temperature Here. Is There Trouble?" The robot buzzed at Jo, not looking up from its work.
"..n-No. Not any more. I fixed it." She replied, moving to the book- which by now was dry and foamless, and picked it up.
"Alright. Protocol Forces Me To Have To Shut The Store Down For At Least An Hour To Check For Faulty Wiring, And Other Hazards. Please Take A Break. JO BAXTER, I Will Ping You In Approximately 59 Minutes." The robot buzzed once more. Silently, Jo nodded, and handed her apron over to the robot, holding the book open in one hand as writing came in. She carefully took a breath as she approached the exit, holding it as she moved quickly to the next building over, and entering.
It happened to be a small diner, and by the time she had sat down, a strange brown substance, with strange green strips had appeared in her book. Confused, she grabbed some napkins and moved the strange substance onto it, before reading.
"... No, It can't be. It's convincing, I do admit that, But it's been proved that there is no magic in this world. Or, well, where I am, if saying that will prevent you from shooting fire at me again." She began, her handwriting back to almost normal. "What I sprayed was a fire extinguishing foam. It smothers flames. Or, well, it's supposed to. Don't eat it, you will hurl, and it tastes absolutely toxic. But, wait, it came over to you?" She asked, looking at the small pile of substance- tabled "land" by the book, that was beside her. "I've never seen this "land" stuff before. What's this green stuff in it? It looks like turf, but... Less shiny, and less hard and plastic-y. I never intended to call you a child, just explain why I was explaining a lot. And, I never once called you stupid. But, if you're not a roleplayer, things make a lot less sense. At risk of offending you again (And, I really hope I do not), Are you in a mental institution? I've heard things in those places run differently, so it would explain how odd you seem to me." She paused, looking up at a robotic waitress that arrived, and ordered a small order of fries, and a soda.
"I am Jo. My name is on the front page. I told you, I live on the upper platforms of the BlueBell platform system, high above the clouds." She paused, looking around the diner, and grabbed a small holographic menu, with a picture of the whole platform system on it. "This is a rough illustration of what I live on. Please send it back when you are done looking at it." She wrote, drawing a line, and placing the menu on the book. It sank in, captivating Jo as it disappeared into the book.
Cyrus grabbed the unique object that came through after reading the text written by Jo. It seemed like a glass pane set with some sort of crystal that projected light. He had seen similar things in the kings castle. Though they were much more rudimentary then this and only lasted for no more then a few minutes at a time. Useful for long distance communications between mages. This device though had several intrinsic lines running through it. It made a unique fixture of elements that made no sense to him. Shaking his head he took out a map of the known land of Einhal. It was a worn old map that was faded and stained from years of use. He put it on the book along with the weird alien pane and started to write.
" My name is Cyrus Davidion Sinclair. Magus in m'lords royal strike team. Trained in the fire magics since I could walk and if I can't prove it where you are in fear of getting that fowl smelling liquid shot at me again. Tell me what I must do to prove it to you. I have never lied before in my life. I may have killed people. Slaughted innocent lives. But Lied... No I can't say I have. On that note. I have to move from my current position lest the enemy finds me."
He glanced up from the book and took a look over at the pool of extinguisher fluids. The smell caused him to feel slightly nauseous so he could only imagine what it tasted like. Shaking the queasiness off, he stood and moved a further down the line still thinking that the enemy was looking for him and if he stayed in one spot would find him. When he ran a for a few minutes he stopped suddenly and dropped the book to the floor summoning his magics to him. The feeling of suppressed rage and anger fueling the burning flames. Three cloaked soldiers came from the trees. " Cyrus. We thought you were captured. Glad to see you alright. How did the mission go." The lead soldier's eyes moved to the book on the ground. " Is that the objective? And if so why did you not return straight to camp."
Cyrus let his magic go and bent over to pick up the book, hiding it in the folds in his robes. " I interrogated the duke. He had the book moved when he heard we were coming for it. This book was just something he had that I picked up. An interesting read. And as for why I didn't come straight back to camp. The trackers were on my trail so I had to lose them."
The lead soldier began to question Cyrus but was quickly cut off when Cyrus raised his hand. " Do not question me. Now begone lest you seek to bring them down on us all. They are near and I will return by daybreak tomorrow when they have been dealt with." The three nodded in unison before disappearing just as quickly as they came. Exhaling a sigh, Cyrus leaned back against a tree and took out the book. "That is called earth. One of the seven elements blessed on Einhal and it's magics. It is the land in which we step and farm upon. The green stuff is called grass. It is the symbol of summer in some places, and in others it covers rolling fields in which horses, cows, and sheep graze without a worry in the world. I may seem odd to you. But you seem odd to me. You have never heard of the land in which all living things rest and live on, even the birds of the sky. You say you live in the clouds on a platform, and you give me an alien tablet that seems to use crystals and light more efficiently then event the top seers in the capital can. So once more. You are the odd one to me.
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BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
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2 yrs ago
"Yeah. Please don't send me fire again. I know magic isn't real, but science is. Even if I saw someone make a real, live cow fall from the sky and start doing a dance in a skirt, I wouldn't believe it was magic. I don't think you can change my mind about that." She paused as the items came up again, putting the menu back, and grabbing the strange paper. It smelled strange- similar to her books, but with more human contact, and really stood out. She folded it and hid it under the book, looking up at the robot waitress that brought her fries and soda. IT beeped for payment, and in response shot out a little scanner, which Jo put her hand on. A quick flash, and the robot went away, leaving jo to her book.
"Sorry, the robo-waitress brought my food. I don't think you're lying, but I do think you're maybe misinformed. Or something. Humans can't generate fire like that, without technology. " She paused, furrowing her brows slightly.
"Enemy? Are you in danger?" She slid the map from under the book, glancing at how strange it was. "...Stay safe, if that's the case. Tell me when I can send your map back. And, don't worry, I hate that foam too. But, I can't have fire where I am." She sighed, beginning to pick at her fries and sip at her soda, looking out the window at the clouds, until she noticed words fading back in her book again.
"..Earth? That's the planet I live on.... OH! IT'S SOIL! DIRT!" She wrote excitedly, looking at the pile next to her with renewed surprise. "I've been told that the soil below here is toxic. Hills? Fields? Your world is sounding more and more..." She paused, looking for a word. "...Fantastical. Unreal. At least, to me. Also, YOU HAVE BIRDS???" She couldn't scribble out enough excited question marks at the thought of birds. "How big are they? Are they pretty like the ones on T.V.? Do you have flightless birds, too?" She paused, making herself grab some fries, put a few in her mouth, and move on.
"Sorry if I'm asking too much. Also, I only sent you a menu from the restaurant I'm in. it's nothing much. It's as simple as, well..." She looked around, settling on her cup. "Simple as drinking soda. I'd say breathing, but sometimes the air outside gives me a headache, and on windy days, air can literally escape your lungs, so it's a bit harder than that." She skipped a few lines before continuing.
"What are seers? Do they predict the future? If they don't have anything better than a simple menu, they're not gonna get far. And, I can kind of tell I seem weird to you. You've never seen a *menu*, let alone heard of a robot." She responded, drawing a line under and forcing herself to stop. She looked away from the book, to the clouds outside, not noticing that she dropped a fry into the book.
" why would you make a cow dance? They are only used for meat and milk. Nothing more. Though if given enough time I am sure I can figure out a way to prove to you that there is no technology here that can generate fire the way I can. It is used in everything. Magic I mean. We use it to build our monuments, and erect great weapons of war. We destroy and we heal with it. We slaughter innocent beings in the name of a better tomorrow." Cyrus pondered a way to make her believe in what he was saying. For her to so deny what is truth was ridiculous but overall understandable. Only 1 in a hundred thousand could use magic and even less in the sheer power that those like Cyrus or the Seer's can. He did however feel the pull of the earth that he sent through, as well as his map. It was almost as if sending objects that he could see and touch left a permanent connection to his ability to manipulate them. He thought about it and decided to test that another time when this Jo person was in a secure location so no more of that 'foam' permeated his senses.
" Yes. Dirt. Soil. Ground. Grass. And no. As far as I can tell the land that I tread on isn't toxic unless we sow salt on the fields of our enemies, or lay waste to an army and feed the plants with their blood. He paused and looked up, seeing a small forest bird eying him suspiciously before turning it's attention elsewhere and flying off. " Birds are that much a surprise to you. They are everywhere. Some as small as a babes hand, others big enough to devour a grown man whole. Some are beautiful and their feathers are used to adorn nobles and ladies cloaks and dresses. I've only seen flightless birds to the far north in the lands of eternal winter. Odd creatures that the locals trained to fish for them. Though they seemed to 'fly' through the water with their wings...
He stopped when he saw the stick that was colored like a potato pop through the book. Cyrus picked it up and sniffed it before eating it. The flavour was unreal. He knew it tasted like a potato, but unlike any other potato he had ever had. It was salted just perfectly and somehow baked like bread. Or maybe fried like the fish in the port markets. He was tempted to ask for more but decided against it, feeling it better to return the favor on his own somehow. Shaking his head he continued on with his response.
They are the most powerful of the magus. Capable of leveling cities, or causing the earth to weep it's blood. They serve m'lord and his father and his father's father before that. It is said they unlocked the power of immortality through perfection of their magics, though at the cost of their mobility they can serve the throne with insight and power. Sighing he placed his hand to rest, and rather then meeting the resistance of the book, he felt it slip through and go...somewhere. He felt disembodied from it but at the same time connected. He flexed his hand and quickly pulled it back through looking at it. Where ever the other writer was, it seemed it was far away from here
He quickly started to write, his before skill and savantry thrown out the door so to speak " Did you just see that? My hand went though the book. Now I can prove it to you. I need you to get somewhere safe so I can. Quickly lest this idea only proves to be a farce or temporary contingent in the books powers."
GM
BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
Member
Seen
2 yrs ago
"..I don't know, it's just an absurd thing that came to mind. Though, you're forgetting cows used to be good for leather, too. Maybe they still are for you...?" Jo responded upon reading the words. "Huh. That sounds like technology to me. I mean, a long long time ago, my ancestors removed a whole country from the map with just two bombs. The platforms I live on were built with it, and almost everyone here can live for however long they want to, thanks to it. Ageing can't be helped, and there are limitations on it, though." She shrugged, taking another sip of soda.
"Oh, no, I mean like, I've been told that if any is up here, it'll kill me. Or well, anyone who touches it. So, er, if you don't mind, I'll return it, too, when I return the map." She looked at the dirt nervously, tapping her pen.
"Really? I've never seen a bird in real life. They don't fly high enough, and if they somehow get up here, they die. I don't know why. There are really that many kinds of birds? That's amazing!" She cracked a smile as she thought about birds, drawing a crude picture of one in the margins as she thought.
"Oh, wow. That sounds really co-" Her writing was interrupted by a hand popping out of the book. She moved back quickly, tensing up with a slight, startled gasp. A few of the people that were in the shop looked at her, and so she decided to make herself act as if it were a normal hologram.
"Yes, your hand is still-" She paused, the hand retracting- "... Was here. It startled me, but at least it's not fire. Don't do a single THING until I tell you it's ok. Also, I need you to hold onto some things for me. You can have some of them if you like." She wrote quickly, moving her fries onto the book, sending them over, then her drink- a typical plastic cup, with a plastic lid, with a plastic straw to suck the carbonated cola out of, then the map and the dirt that was neatly wrapped up in a paper napkin. She then got up, and exited the building, rushing to her car, opening it and getting in as quickly as possible.
"..I'm in my car. Do not use fire, or anything big, please. It's a very small space. I'm on my way home so if you want to wait to do something big, it's a possibility." she wrote, turning on her hovercar, and setting thecourse for her home.
Cyrus was intrigued to say the least. He looked at his hand again and flexed it, utterly perplexed at the feeling he just experienced. He would have liked to explore it more but that plan was halted when several items came through nigh at once. As quickly as he could he grabbed the fries, the odd liquid beverage holder with a cylindrical tube sticking out of it, as well as his map and a paper substance that held the dirt he sent through. He paused to set the things down and quickly taking one of the potato sticks and popping it into his mouth, savoring the unique and eloquent flavor that the fries seemed to give off. He then set to responding to Jo.
"I do hate to say I told you so. However I must take this moment to ask do you believe in magic now. Or should I simply walk through the book and show you I have none of this technology that you speak of. And I can create my flame at will. So I digress but would love to take this moment to say I told you so and will love to prove it to you at the next convenient time.
His eyes quickly glazed over the part that said nothing big. So what he did was place his hand on the books pages and he felt the pull of the other world. His hand sinking into the pages like it was water or quicksand. And once again the same feeling of disembodiment came. It was an odd sensation that proved hard to get over. He could feel his hand and move his hand, but it felt like an extension of himself, like magic if nothing else. He felt around and just felt the pages of the book before pulling his hand back through. It was definitely an odd feeling. But even with the idea of the unknown facing him. He decided to listen and wait for her to say it was safe for him to do something big.
GM
BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
Member
Seen
2 yrs ago
Jo watched the book, reading the response as it came in, and waiting until the hand went away to respond.
"...Sorry, but as far as I know, that could be a holog- Er, a vision. A ghost image. So, I can't believe you." She responded, figuring she'd be better off using watered-down explanations of things rather than their names. "Walk through the book? I don't think it's big enough for you to fit in. However, "the next convenient time" is approaching quickly." She looked up, watching as her car flew to her home, yard underneath and parking spot soon approaching.
"I'll take the book out of the car, and set it down on my way in. If you intend to use fire, I can NOT have you inside. Since you seem to have no exposure to platforms, I need you to understand some things. Do not approach the edge without me. Do not burn anything. Do not harm my car, and the sidewalk moves. It's a grey strip in the yard that leads straight up to my door. I will be inside the house, because the air outside gives me headaches. Just approach the door, I'll have it set to automatically open." She paused, tapping her pen as she thought and as the car parked itself.
"Also, be kind to my robot- I call her Nan. She's as much my family as my father. And, if you see a dark cloud approach, get in either my car, or my house immediately. Those are from below, and make people super sick." She looked out of the car, to her medium, angular, yellow house, and the green plastic grass and colorful plastic flowers around it.
"I'm getting out now, So, in about the time it'll take you to count to ten, you'll be free to do whatever. I'll be watching from my window." Once she finished writing, she took a breath, and got out of the car, putting the book, open, on the ground near the sidewalk. The skies above her were clear, a hint of sunrise off in the distance, and the air was brisk, though, she didn't mind. There was a slight breeze in the air, carrying the distant smells of the city. And before the next breeze could blow, a breathless Jo was already in her house, peeking out a slit in the blinds in the window by her door.
Cyrus took the time to fine a spot that was hidden from the road so if he could go through to the other side, the book wouldn't be discovered. Finding a place a good hike away from the main road and from any signs of human traffic he stopped and glanced at the book. ten seconds?
He wondered before counting down slowly, positioning the book over him with one hand on the pages and another on the binding to hold it open. And as soon as he got to ten he quickly lowered it, pushing his arm through and getting a slight chill from the other side and rather then stopping he simply continued. His head went through and rather then gravity taking the book, Cyrus was in between the worlds. His head and arms in Jo's place, his lower torso and legs in his own. Cursing with his eyes closed he felt around and pulled himself through the rest of the way.
When he finally opened his eyes he took in a breath. Clouds. A city in the clouds. He could hardly believe himself. A shining city among the gods. A breeze blew past him, ruffling his clothes and sending a meager chill through his bones at the sudden change in temperature. It was then he realized that his breath in wasn't really sufficient do to the change in pressure and felt his lungs constrict significantly. Grasping at his chest he took slow, deliberate breaths till he became steady enough to look once again at the world around him. The grass was almost like a painters green. Fake and hard, not moving with the wind like the plains he was used to. The flowers were the same thing. Fake colours ontop of fake plants. Taking a few more glances over the edge to make sure this wasn't a dream or some sort of magic trick he looked towards the house and saw someone, Presumably Jo, peering through the blinds.
He shook the dirt off himself and adjusted his gloves and chains that wrapped around his arms before starting for the door. Stopping he looked at Jo again and took off his gloves to show there was nothing their. Then he focused on the thin portal between their worlds to bring his magic with him. It started as a gentle trickle and soon became a raging river. The power felt amazing, and it was even more powerful here then in his world. Smiling he created a fire snake that wrapped around his limbs, slowly coiling around him in a blue flame. It's head drifted towards the window with a serene sense of motion, acting like a real snake. It stopped inches from the window before turning into a rose and winking out of existence. Cyrus' next trick was creating a ball of white flame the size of a small orb and launching it upward to explode into a display of brillant hues of different temperature flames.
Satisfied, He picked up his gloves and Jo's version of the book before starting for the door. As he raised his hand to knock on the door it opened on it's own. Confused, Cyris walked through and smiled at Jo. " Ah. So this...truly isn't Einhal..." His voice had a deep lilt of Scottish mixed in it, " Or if it is. Are you gods? Is that why you live high above us. If so...then...I..." Cyrus tried to compute it all, however his mind just couldn't so he leaned against the wall in disbelief. "I think I need a drink...Do. Please tell me you have alcohol here?" He looked over at her with a hopeful gaze.
GM
BeanieBaggie Old, Cold, So Very Full of Mold
Member
Seen
2 yrs ago
Jo found herself captivated as she watched the white-haired man emerge from the book, pushing herself closer to the window as she watched him struggle for breath. She quickly opened the whole set of blinds, pulling them all up as he looked around, appearing dazed. She brought a hand to her mouth, her face not showing much emotion. Her eyes went to the mans' gloves, and then to the chains, and then to his white hair and... She couldn't tell from where she was if her eyes were playing tricks on her, or if the mans' ears looked... strange.
She nervously moved away from the window as he summoned his flames, Watching it, hand still covering the lower half of her face as it paused, then turned into the familiar, fiery rose. She moved closer as it disappeared, eyes growing wide as the next thing summoned was an orb. It was launched into the air, and her hand dropped, and as the man- she figured it was Cyrus- grew closer, she stood frozen at the window.
"H..Holy..." She muttered, her alto-pitched voice quiet. When Cyrus spoke, she slowly pried herself from the window to look at him, brows furrowing as she eyed his clothing, and him head to toe.
"No... It's the BlueBell platform system..." She looked to his chains, eyeing them for a moment before putting her gaze at the floor, as usual. "..Gods? No, as far as I know, we're only human. I, er, I have no idea why we live up here." She moved to close her blinds, falling silent as she listened to his request.
"Alcohol? It's only morning..." She looked at him, calming down just a little. "...I do have some vodka... I can get Nan to mix you a bloody mary." She fidgeted with a button on her blouse, before moving past the man and down the hall.
"Nan! Assistance, please!" She called, only slightly louder than her speaking voice. "Please mix one bloody mary! thank you." She lowered her voice as a metal maid came in, red bulbs for eyes lit up. It beeped, and rolled past, revealing tat her body was dress-formed, and had no feet.
"...Are you breathing ok? I saw you struggle." She murmured after a while, moving back to the living room, tapping a button on the wall, making her coffee table, tv, and sofa roll out of the walls and floor. "...You, um, can sit down if you like. Nan will bring your drink when she's done."
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