Teyao<Snipped quote by Zapdos>
Lillianna: "...Huh. Well, they did say the fashion industry was 'killer' back home at least."
Haha that was good.
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Haha that was good.
"James," Lucy greeted heartily after saying goodbye to the adventurer she was dealing with. How could she forget the Cleric who wasn't beholden to any particular diety? (It did help that she'd met him just yesterday.) She listened to his explanation and shrugged with a nod. "Sure, that's no problem at all."
Upon seeing the new party member, her outward reaction stayed muted and professional, but her first thought was that this man must be very ill, because there was no way there was a demon-cursed individual just freely walking around the city of Valhiem. It also couldn't be some kind of Witch Queen agent. Surely the enemy would try to disguise their spies a little better than this!
"If you'd like to scan your crystal just there please," she asked, her eyes narrowing as got a vague feeling of recognition. Her magi-tech screen brought up his details and the man's name jogged her memory some more. "Barracker Kassel," she said, realising who he was now. "You look... different." She remembered the time this young man had first tried to register as adventurer. It was adorable. Funny how to the older elf, it felt like only yesterday, but humans grew up so fast. Probing the adventurers Status page in more detail, she could see the answer as to why he looked like he'd been bathing in the Dark Domain for the last decade. Vampirism. Unfortunate - not just personally but professionally too, seeing as he was a Paladin. "So... I should've known you'd get blessed with the Gift. That fiesty look in your eyes you had as a kid - you can't fake that kind of courage and ambition." She briefly looked at James while pointing her thumb at Barracker. "Would you believe this guy tried to make an adventurer party when he just a child. Him and his cute little friends wanted to slay orcs to keep the trade routes safe to Valhiem safe so the people would never go hungry." She put a hand on her heart as she got all warm and fuzzy. After she was finished potentially embarassing Barracker, she said to him. "I'm glad you got what you wanted."
She turned back to James. "You've got yourself a tough one here, James. That claymore and massive shield aren't just for show, I can promise you that." She pointed at her screen to indicate that his combat history was far from empty. When all was taken care of, she bid them farewell. "Take care of yourselves out there."
***
The sun moved up and across the sky to take the center of the sky above Valhiem. After the streets quietened post morning rush of everyone going to work, the busy pace of the city, particularly in the commercial districts and up on Citadel Mountain, began to pick up again for the lunchtime hours.
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darksoulstargetdestroyed.gif
I love how you make us copy/paste your gifs into google when you could easily just put the actual thing in the OOC. It adds anticipation and rarely disappoints lol.
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I don't think Second Chance is quite that bad at surviving :P
You should tell Adam that. He's up in his room, crying himself to sleep, right now :P
"Undaya, Iris, and Sillagy for now, but who knows? Maybe if I keep getting Blessings with the gift I will catch 'em all"
Areleth was stood next to the font, a look of surprise on his face. "That is..." he faltered in his speech for a moment. "...an interesting trio."
Undaya, the Sea God, was a child of Mother Iris, so it made some sense that a gifted Cleric could be chosen by by both dieties. But Sillagy aswell? That couldn't be right. The young man must have been mistaken. Areleth let it go, for all would shortly become clear with the ritual.
"This room is where we can test the strength of the bonds a Cleric holds with their deities," he explained as he looked pointedly around the chamber. "For new Clerics such as yourself, it can often indicate your potential. Not always, but often."
He walked over to fetch a silver jug, then filled it at the stone pool in the corner of the room. Coming back to the center where the font stood, he poured the water into the basin. Then he gestured to the bundles of branches on the other side of the room. "Take a small branch, my son. Bless it with the prayer closest to your heart, and place the blessed branch into this water here."
When James did as he was instructed, Areleth cast a spell of his own on the holy font - something of a special identification spell, strictly formulated for this process. What happened next would determine not only the dieties tied to James, but would also determine how much power the Cleric wielded. There were many reactions possible. If James was indeed a patron of Iris, then the water would glow white and sparkle. Undaya's Cleric would make the basin overflow and spill water onto the floor. If Sillagy was his strongest bond, then the branch would turn into a golden spoon.
What happened next, Areleth had never seen before in all of his two centuries of service to the temple. The water glowed not just white but blinding bright white, yet swirled with purple and orange, as it began to overflow from the basin. The branch levitated as multiple illusions changed it's form from a golden spoon, to a sword and then a chess peice and more. It grew in size and levitated higher and higher until it hit the ceiling and exploded into pieces. The water poured from all sides of the basin - far more water than had been poured into it - and then also exploded, soaking the frightened Areleth and James too.
When the reaction was over, the air in the room was dotted with firefly illusions that hung around for a few moments before disappearing. Areleth was aghast as he looked around, trying to figure out just how many results had happened during the ritual. He was caught completely off guard, but he reckoned he might have seen every reaction possible. And all in the strongest form possible.
"By the Quinity," he whispered, his brow furrowed. He looked at James. Who was this man? "A miracle."
Once the element of suprise had worn off, the High Septum explained to James that he was either tied to no diety at all, or maybe he was tied to every single one. And that such a thing had never been recorded in history before, even in The Mythic Age - when The Wellsprings were abundant in Source. In all his words, he couldn't possibly stress just how unprecedented this was.
While he was explaining that James was a miracle from The Source, he noticed a movement in the shadows of the corridor outside the room. Through the archway entrance, his elven eyes could barely see the faintest trace of the man watching from the shadows. And then an idea came to him, like it was put in his mind by Mother Iris herself. This was a sign - and he as The High Septum was compelled to act.
"You are an adventurer," he said as he placed a hand on James' shoulder. "Tell me, have you formed a party yet?" he asked. "I would like to offer you the services of my good friend. Barracker?" He called the young man outside, into the room. "Barracker is Paladin of the Church. A skilled veteran warrior who specializes in frontline protection. Newly formed parties are often at their most vulnerable in the beginning, while they learn the ropes of their profession. You are special, James, and I would not like that your survival through these tricky times was left to chance. Please, accept my offer - the offer of the Temple. Take Barracker into your party. At least until you've had time to grow in experience. You will not be disappointed." He turned to Barracker. "Please take good care of them. And yourself, my son."
If James had no other business with the Temple, then Areleth would see them to the main hall and let them be on their way. The High Septum Areleth had some people to see and some messages to send. Something grand and miraculous was happening to Mytheria. Peices were being placed on the board. Cogs set in motion. Areleth in all his wisdom, could not ignore it.
Clarissa was crouched down, at eye level with the mysterious cube that sat on the desk. A few inches away, mean-mugging the inanimate object. She was startled into standing up when the knock on the door came so soon after she'd been left in lonely silence. Turning around and seeing the blonde woman approach with tentative questions, she paused and gave her a look up and down.
After the third rapid-fire question, the Director raised a hand to signal stop. Then came the apology and the explanation that... what? New to the world? What the heck did that mean?
"The front lines draw ever closer to Valhiem," Clarissa started, her mind still on the 'new to the world' statement. And the cube. Always the cube. She narrowed her eyes as she organized her thoughts, then sat back down on the desk. "The entirety of the northeast has fallen into Her hands. She aims to take the fortress of Tarost in The Dragonspine - the mountain range to the north of here. If she gets that then she can move easily from east to west through the mountains. It gives Her access to the Northwest. And Capitol City." Clarissa picked up the cube and turned it about in one hand as she looked at it. "She has threatened to push to Valhiem, but She prefers that we come to her for any battles south of Dragonsridge. I think she might be preparing to attack us though."
Clarissa continued to trace the cube's patterns with her eyes. "We've won a battle or two. A small one on the sands of Jespa. A valuable defense at Tarost. Her victories have been more impactful, but it is still important to note our own. She's not won yet." Putting the cube down again, she turned her full attention to MacKensie. "As for why she's gotten into bed with the Voidling Princes of the Oblivion Plane, you'd have to ask her yourself. Frankly, I'm not interested. She chose evil and that's that. What do you mean; you're 'new to this world?' Where are you from?"
After the third rapid-fire question, the Director raised a hand to signal stop. Then came the apology and the explanation that... what? New to the world? What the heck did that mean?
"The front lines draw ever closer to Valhiem," Clarissa started, her mind still on the 'new to the world' statement. And the cube. Always the cube. She narrowed her eyes as she organized her thoughts, then sat back down on the desk. "The entirety of the northeast has fallen into Her hands. She aims to take the fortress of Tarost in The Dragonspine - the mountain range to the north of here. If she gets that then she can move easily from east to west through the mountains. It gives Her access to the Northwest. And Capitol City." Clarissa picked up the cube and turned it about in one hand as she looked at it. "She has threatened to push to Valhiem, but She prefers that we come to her for any battles south of Dragonsridge. I think she might be preparing to attack us though."
Clarissa continued to trace the cube's patterns with her eyes. "We've won a battle or two. A small one on the sands of Jespa. A valuable defense at Tarost. Her victories have been more impactful, but it is still important to note our own. She's not won yet." Putting the cube down again, she turned her full attention to MacKensie. "As for why she's gotten into bed with the Voidling Princes of the Oblivion Plane, you'd have to ask her yourself. Frankly, I'm not interested. She chose evil and that's that. What do you mean; you're 'new to this world?' Where are you from?"
@Jay009Thanks for joining us, brother! I called for aid and you rode in like Gandalf, cresting the hill on horseback with a scary b*stard named Barracker. Sword is a bit small though.
Clarissa's hand glowed as she imbued the tool she was holding with a Tinkering Infusion. The glow transferred from her hand to her tool, then she went at the cube again. Moments later, there was a tiny explosion and the tool flew out of her hand and hit the ceiling, then the wall. Clarissa, half embarassed and half excited, looked back at Fenna.
"Ogres and skeletons, fighting, they dropped the cube," she recited back to the Ranger. "I'm listening. Promise." And then she was furrowed-browed and focused back on the cube again, while she awaited more information from the adventurers. "Hmmm?" How to breach it without damaging it?
Adam's answer managed to pull her attention on him for a moment. She looked him in his red eyes while she half-thought about the mysterious object in her hand. "Did your parents have red eyes?"
If it wasn't obvious already, Clarissa's social awareness and considerations were not nearly as up-to-par as her technical and magical skills. Add this to the fact that she always got her own way, didn't get out much, and surrounded herself with a veritable entourage of academics who cared for nothing other than R&D and... well, you get the idea.
As soon as Lillianna started talking, Clarissa put the cube down on the desk, sliding it a little behind her as if to stop them from stealing it back. Then she put her hands on her knee and listened. Here was the smart one. If it wasn't obvious by her wizard garb (The Source deeming her intelligence high enough for the Class) then it was clear by how she spoke. A very wordy little woman, with a rather academic approach to her hypothesis. It wasn't that she wasn't listening to the other two, but the Director of Research and Technology was naturally drawn to kindred spirits.
"Interesting," Clarissa remarked once Lillianna was finished. It took a few long moments before she spoke again. It was a wild theory. If correct, the good news would be that The Empire might be able to use this against The Witch Queen. The bad news: The Witch Queen had technology that Mytheria had never seen before. A reciever designed for remote control over undead forces? she thought. By The Quinity! The scary part was that the clues Clarissa had divined from her initial appraisal fit the hypothesis. Or at least; they didn't disprove it.
"Second Chance," she addressed them. "You've kept your word in delivering this to us. I'll be sure to keep everything you've told me, firmly in mind while we investigate this cube. I'm sure you've got better places to be." She uncrossed her legs and got up off the desk. "And I'll be quite busy tonight, myself, now. The Academy is open to you during daylight hours, but I'm afraid those hours have passed today, so if you don't mind taking your leave, that would be lovely."
"Oh," she suddenly remembered before they left the office. "And thank you. I don't want to jinx anything, but this might be big for The Free Peoples of The Empire." Then that excited light appeared in her eyes again. "And if nothing else, it will be a bit of fun for me."
Areleth turned to the inquiring voice and saw a young man in robes. "It is, my son. How may I help you?" At his further words, Areleth bowed his head in leui of a nod. "An adventurer, I see. Newly appointed? Tell me, how does it feel to be blessed by The Source with The Gift? A swell of pride and power perhaps? The power to care and protect, to enlighten?" He looked into James' eyes and saw a clue. "The weight of responsibility? Speak freely, my son. There will be no judgement here, for we are brothers in The Light, Shadow and Glory of The Source."
He motioned for James to follow him as he listened to the newly appointed Cleric's response. "Which of the dieties speaks to your heart, my son?"
He led James through the massive hall into one of the adjoining corridors behind the statues. They walked for maybe a minute before coming to a ritual chamber. In the centre of the room was a large font, a basin on it's crest. There were a few odds and ends around the room - materials for the coming ritual - but what might've been the most striking was the hexagonally arranged pattern that filled the room floor, symbols of the six elements at each point equi-distant around the basin.
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"First came the Light and the Dark, then the Earth and the Air, then the Fire and Water. Then came The Mother, Iris."
The Elemental Circle of The Source: This is the depiction of the foundational manifestation of universal fabric. Beyond the duality of the opposing elements, and the connections between those elements that sit adjacent to eachother, there are other rules that govern the relationships between the forces. Such intracacies have beeen studied by academics for centuries. The theories and formulas discovered have evolved, been outdated, debated and pondered by the smartest minds, but the technological revolution of the recent decades has thrown even more into question and pushed further investigation.
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To walk through the main entrance of The Temple of The Quinity was to be greeted with a vast hall - 200 metres in length, marble floors, with ceilings so high as to accomate the massive statues that lined it's length, watching over those who walked through. The ceiling was glass, flat apart from the massive dome in the centre that could be seen even from down in the city streets. The far half of the hall was filled with wooden pues - a stage at the end for the High Septum to conduct congregation. And this was just the hall alone.
It was quiet as the afternoon wore away. The echoing halls were without the sound of the choir or lunchtime sermons. Footsteps of the few worshippers, priests and preistesses dotted the silence.
Areleth - the High Septum was stood at the foot of The Mother, Iris, regarding her beauty with admiration. Dressed in his robes, his arms folded behind his back, the Snow Elf looked on the statue face with a small smile. What fine craftsmanship to capture the caring expression in The Mother's eyes. To this day, these statues and this architecture were unmatched, second only to the Basilica Magna Decoris - The Grand Temple in Capitol City.
235 words. That's probably more in line with 'small' in my opinion. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It was a good post.
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