Mokley

Lantern

Hato said He picked [the silver box] up in his palm, but didn’t dare to open it. Not yet, at least. First, introductions were in order. Without flinching, he reached through the back of his elder’s shirt, wrenching the assailant by the tail. His eyes met those of the rodent, void and lacking sentience. Or, well, it appeared that way. It was probably just simple-minded. The astronomer placed the rodent on his shoulder, then poked at it with a jutted finger.

”Stay. I’ll need you to be a witness.”

The locked silver box was heavier than it looked, as if it were filled with metal. When he moved it or shook it, nothing moved inside: it was all very well secured. If he held it for awhile, however, he might notice a small rhythmic vibration. Only with an ear pressed against it might he hear it ticking inside.

The rodent sat on Hato's shoulder, ruffled and puffed and rigid as stone, its little pin-claws sticking in his skin -- and its eyes were set fast on the silver box.

After awhile, when Alexander and Hato were both distracted, the rodent suddenly leaped off of his shoulder and landed neatly on the box. Immediately it sank his teeth into the tip of Hato's index finger, biting quickly and neatly right to the bone.

The little animal was thereafter fastened to Hato's bleeding finger, and would not under any circumstances let go.

Lantern

Thundercat: Ok then, perfect! I just think it'd be a shame to leave them out altogether -- they seem to be a representational part of the character. Approved! Please proceed to Team Blue.

Lantern

Thundercat! That was a very pleasant read that took a dark turn very quick. Very, very intriguing!

I want very much to approve you, but I specified to everyone else that there are no weapons allowed; it wouldn't be fair if Arin got to keep his scissors.

Tell you what, the scissors stay but I'll give them to another team. That way he's unarmed at first, but there's a good chance he might find and reclaim them later. What do you think?

Lantern

ALL of you are amazing. Just reiterating that. *bows*

Tatsua, your post is perfect! Not poor at all!

Jedly said Sorry if I wasn't allowed to 'control' the rodent for a second there, Mokley.

Things like that are sometimes unavoidable or done by accident -- if something should've gone down a bit differently, I'll correct it in my next post.

However, I am a little bit edgy on your assumption of how Alexander reacted to the rodent, since he hasn't posted his reaction himself. It's very minor (and possibly accurate), but keep it in mind. ;) It is, overall, a wonderful post! Very insightful into the way your character works.

Lantern

Tubal said . . . something else caught his eye, something shiny and possibly valuable. He picked it up and examined it.

The shiny, as it turned out, was a key: a small, silver key, bright and not at all tarnished, with no markings nor features of particular interest. It was threaded onto a similarly new and delicate silver chain.

This chain was stuck in a mass of old roots and vines that was shaped curiously like a man-sized cocoon half-buried in the ground and obscured by tall weeds. The white lever-like thing that had been visible from a distance was, indeed, a bone: the bone of a human's upper arm, to be precise, sticking out from inside the cocoon of roots. The hand and lower arm must've been snapped and carried off by the hungry wildlife long ago.

Or, rather, not so long ago, given that the bits of silk and embroidery that peeked out from between the roots were as new and bright as the key. Even the bone was fresh and white, if a little gnawed.

There were hand-sized gaps between the roots: through these, in the very dim light at this farthest reach of the lantern's light, the full skeleton of a man could be seen, stretched out as if trying to escape his coffin. His robe and belt were expensive and mostly intact -- as was an embroidered scabbard and the knife inside it, and a stoppered glass bottle of purple liquid.

From this position -- far from the metal platform and at the very end of the lantern light's reach -- a flash of pale blue light could be seen shimmering deep in the woods, appearing and disappearing as the trees moved in the breeze.

Out of the darkness of the forest, silent as a shadow, a dark root slithered through the weeds. It touched the sole of Quintilliano's shoe, then lifted itself up and snapped around her ankle, holding her tight.

Alexander said . . . he began to walk to the edge of the platform, towards the rodent, attempting to shoo it away and see what it was digging at.

The little rodent went very still when big Alexander's shadow fell upon it. Upon closer inspection it was a curious little thing, with big beady eyes, a long bushy striped tail and ears each as big as the rest of its body. it stared at Alexander for awhile with an adorable sheen in its black eyes -- but when it became clear that the human wanted its treasure, the animal's fur stood on-end and it hissed like a snake, flashing teeny needle-teeth in defense of its prize.

After a moment, the rodent leaped high in the air and was immediately attached to Alexander's sleeve; it scrabbled and scurried up his shoulder and down his back in a blink, pricking through his clothes with its claws.

Beneath the freshly turned soil where the rodent had been digging, a hand-sized silver box shone in the light.

Lantern

Woohoo! Jedly's character is (finally) approved. ;) Please proceed to the Red team.

Lantern

Ha! Exactly.

Ok guys, I think I may have to reiterate something here and set down a few pointers:

This RP is exploratory. The scenery is not just scenery: every single thing you see, hear, smell and touch can be interacted with. Examine something and you'll learn something. Break something, and something else will happen. Talk to trees and animals if you like -- they might talk back. If you touch certain things you might get powers -- or you might be maimed. Take things. I can't stress this enough: you will need THINGS in order to survive out here, and sometimes you don't know you'll need something until you've left it behind.

For now, there is no posting order. Take time to get to know your teammates -- and once somebody does something to the environment, I'll be sure to chime in with a reaction.

Ragtag: Steampunk treasure hunting.

Northern, that sounds like an excellent night. Except for the computer trouble, that is. No need to outline the ship, but thanks for the clarification on the balloons!

WELCOME BACK DETH! You've been sorely missed! <3

Lantern

Red_massa said
my team colour, is ... ironic =P

I only noticed that after the fact, to be honest. ^^;

Lantern

IC IS UP!

Know your team color: your rune will be used to specify scenes that are particular only to your team.

If anyone wants to swap teams, there's still time!