Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus did not stop moving until he was near to the guards. He continued his image of an impatient officer as he responded. "This wretch asked for a bath, so I'm heading down to see how long he can hold his breath," Janius said abrasively. Janius lifted his hand and with it the head sack as he pointed a finger to the guard. "See to it that you know who you are addressing before speaking so rashly next time," he chided.

It was perhaps not the best cover story that Gallus had ever come up with. There was likely a trough that could have been brought to the dungeon and filled with water to serve the same purpose. However, Hiritus would hopefully not see that as a better solution. Although, the minimum would be that Hiritus would believe the guards not seeing that as a better solution.

In any case, Gallus wanted to be over this stage as quickly as possible. He would use the same excuse for further guards no matter where the baths actually were. His intention was to disorient Hiritus with the route they was taking to the tunnel.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

Oh yeah, I should mention that I have a post for Toun and for a Slough via hain feature that I have planned, but study is hitting me hard. I'll be unlikely doing either until this weekend at the very least.

The Jade Stream

Kyang assumed that Torako had misheard when she first responded. "Yeah, a hairpin," Kyang responded while staring at the keyhole.

As the awkward moment passed where Torako processed the information. Kyang raised an eyebrow and slowly turned her head toward Torako. The assumption came over Kyang's mind that Torako had not picked a lock before. Kyang breathed in to explain herself in the exact moment that Torako realised what was going on, causing Kyang to feel slightly jarred. It didn't help that Torako apparently had forgot where she kept hairpins on her person for a while. Kyang was starting to wonder if bashing down the door was a better idea.

"Thanks," Kyang said with a smile. With the hairpin in hand, Kyang turned to the keyhole again and began to gently compromise it. Kyang explained to her companions while she worked. "I, uh...used to sneak out of home a lot. I had a lot of practice to do stuff like this."

Barely a few moments more passed before a satisfying click sounded. Kyang grinned and handed the hairpin back to Torako. "There we go. No muss, no fuss," Kyang said proudly.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

As soon as Hiritus was back in manacles, Gallus pulled the gag securely back around his mouth, grabbed Dar-tzesa's head by the feathers to stuff it back in its bag, and then pull Hiritus suddenly to his feet. The shocked expression on Dar-tzesa's face was still present, much to Gallus' discomfort.

"She was sleeping. I got the ring, too," Gallus explained impatiently. He looked to Hiritus with a deadly serious glare. "Now here's how this is going to go: You say nothing and you do nothing unless I push you to move. No sounds, no looking up from the ground." Gallus didn't even ask for confirmation before he tied the blindfold over Hiritus' eyes and pulled his hair to be angle his head forward. "Let's go, jester."

With one hand on Hiritus' manacles and another hand giving intermittent rough shoves, Gallus lead Hiritus out of the cell and towards the exit of the dungeons. They would come across the first guard soon. Hopefully Hiritus was convinced enough to go along with the plan.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Muttonhawk, I have a question about the Hain. Do they wear clothes?

@BBeast

Not right now. They are still fresh players in the sentience game.

The thing is, they don't really need any epidermal protection from sun, insects, etcetera, so if they start wearing them, it would be purely cultural. Belts, pockets, and cold weather not withstanding.

If you'd like them to have clothing for a contrivance, keep it very simple. Their clothing skills are unlikely to have surpassed working reeds and hides at this point.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

Funny thing about these angels: there was not even a remote trace of Slough life essence put into them. As such, be aware that they are unnatural life, will be targeted by White Giants and other planetary sentinels, as well as avoided by natural life and rejected by the system of nature. They won't need to eat, sleep, grow, evolve, or anything of the sort, but they are as disconnected from the world as light is from matter. Despite Niciel's niceness, her new creations are as alien as elementals and ashlings. They aren't part of the natural hierarchy; they are a hierarchy unto themselves.

Considering that they were crafted of holy power, and 'holy' means separate, this is highly appropriate and probably intentional. I can see some very interesting things arising from this.

On another note, I've compiled a list of gods who have entered the Deepwood. Please correct me if I'm wrong or missed one:
Ull'Yang @Vec
Astarte @Frettzo
Niciel @Scarifar
Toun @Bbeast
Realthos @Legion02

@Lugubrious

Toun stole some of Slough's discarded life essence to make the hain, but that was near the coast of the fractal sea. I don't think he's ever been to the deepwood.

Also, yeah, in white giants, abberant life counts as life that hasn't got any of either Toun or Slough's essences in them. They would attack angels. The thing is, though, angels can fly. Kind of an advantage if you want to escape a giant.

The stuff that Vowzra did is defined by Kho's words, so you should interpret them from his post. My interpretation was that the otherness factor was only towards Jvanic or gap creatures.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

When the time came to leave, Gallus had composed himself and no longer showed obvious traces of weeping. Regardless, he wasted no time in stashing away Dar-tzesa's head and heading out of the door with the others.

Gallus stopped when Ri'vashi put her hand on his shoulder. He looked back up at her and sighed through his nose despondently. She had not heard what was said, but Gallus was at least grateful for the sympathy. He frowned, nodded with determination, and brought his own hand up to his shoulder, before moving on.

Meesei's last minute briefing was nothing that Gallus was unaware of, but it helped him to focus. He responded with a stronger voice than before. "I have already thought about a cover story. If the guards act well, there should be no problem."

As they moved to the dungeons at a brisk pace, Gallus spoke of nothing unless it was further clarifying the plan. After final wishes of good luck, they separated at the entrance to the cell corridor.

For Hiritus, Gallus' entrance to his cell started off the same as usual. The door slammed open and his captor stomped in with a rush in his feet. However, it wasn't a boot to his side that forced Hiritus to awaken this time. It was a feathered head landing on his middle.

"You'd better be ready, jester," Gallus said, not sparing the usual disdain in his voice, "We've not much time." Gallus was apparently allowing Hiritus to inspect the head, but Gallus was already tying a gag cloth around his head. No doubt manacles and a blindfold would follow.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

...
And regarding trails...hmm, that might be the best way of going about it. Simple and leaves no place for doubt. What does everyone else think?

@Kho

I can dig a two turn residue. Seems easy.

Oh yeah, I should probably mention that white giants might not have a problem with sculptors until they are fully transformed. Then again, if there are enough vestiges of natural or Tounian life in a subject, then the white giants might not attack anyway. It's Termite's call as to whether the sculptors count as losing their touch of Slough and Toun. Still, with the infrequency of sculptors in the first place and the fact that they are going to be persecuted by hain now, I don't think that it'll matter too much either way.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There was no apparent reaction from Gallus except silent breaths and tiny nods acknowledging Meesei's words. He knew that it all could be a lie. He had just wanted to offer Dar-tzesa some hope as she died rather than complete despair. He couldn't even do that much even if this Yizan-lei turned out to be in genuine need of help. In fact, Gallus didn't even allow Dar-tzesa to die painlessly. With what was going through his mind now, he wasn't in a state to decide whether to keep his promise or not.

When Ri'vashi made her entrance, Gallus remained how he was for a moment, but as she approached, he turned around and lowered his hand to reveal his red and tear-streaked face. He took a breath in through his mouth and spoke, "Right, well...if-if you don't mind, I'll need to take a moment myself." Gallus' voice was slightly weakened, but otherwise level. He raised a bloody hand to pluck the ring from Ri'vashi and slid it into a belt pouch. From there, he carefully walked to a bench nearby one of the walls and wiped his hands clean with a rag. As he did so, he turned around and looked at Dar-tzesa's lifeless body with an open mouth and a tired expression.

Gallus had originally been dubious about the prospect of using the false ring of Hircine to fool Hiritus. However, as Hiritus was questioned, there were a number of indications that he was ignorant of the ring's function. That made it likely that he would not know how to prove if the ring was genuine, but didn't rule it out. Gallus had conceded after enough discussion with Meesei. The artefact was just too valuable to risk being out of her hands.

While they waited for the last of the blood to drain, Gallus didn't say a word. If Ri'vashi wanted to know what happened, she could always ask. Gallus gave no prolonged attention to Meesei. He felt as though Meesei would rather that he hadn't listened to Dar-tzesa's last words.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

...
Anyway, I feel bad that I'm not up to the common standard in terms of writing ability and creativity, but I will continue doing my thing.

@Lugubrious

I think you should read a few other topics in this section. It'll make you feel better. I've got no complaints on your stuff.