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A Giant Egg; Okay, giant is an understatement.
Topic Started: Aug 15 2015, 07:24 PM (1,802 Views)
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Mini Update

Tidesweep
As Tide moved into the ring-like basin at the base of the statue, she could feel the tremble of rushing water beneath her feet, even through the archaic stone. Crouching low to feel the ground more clearly, and even listening through the vibrating stone, she could even hear the torrent of liquid exploding and crashing beneath.

Looking around, Tide also noticed several deep cracks throughout the base of the formation. These cracks ran deep into the darkness, implying that perhaps a simpler access to the water would be to enlarge the cracks. There could also be another entrance, but that might be another search altogether.

Ashyana
The purple smoke rising into the air blended with the dust and harsh smoke of the collapse, almost overtaking it and casting a sweet, incense-like smell over the ruins. The other adventurers, however, were not the only ones to notice.

"Below... and above... run, moonchild... run..."

The voice was all around her, yet nowhere at once. None were near her, yet anyway. No creatures, no people, nothing. Yet the voice was clear, at least to her.

Ancient and wise, harsh and accented - the demeanor was true and clear. Ashyana easily understood sincere worry for her safety, and perhaps the safety of others. Who was trying to warn her, though?

(Apologies: I sincerely apologize for lackluster writing style and word repetition. I didn't have long to write this response, but wanted to give my players some more to go off of. Thank you for your forgiveness.)
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~*~

Ashyana paused, in her attempts to scan over the vellum before her and tipped her head in curiosity at the mysterious voice that echoes with the wind. A glance around told her that it was not from a direct entity nearby, so she was forced to think that it was someone that didn't wish to be identified or that was perhaps a spirit. A guide, of sorts, remaining with this ruins.

"Is it ill that anyone searches these ruins, spirit?" She chose to presume the voice was the latter of the options in mind. Standing, the Selu'ani brushed her kimono free of any lingering debris and rolled up the scrawling to slip into the obi wrapping around her waist (that is a belt for those unaware). After ensuring that her sword are firmly in place, Ashyana slipped a distance away from the fire, placing a couple of loose rocks in a line to show the rough direction she had selected to wander. That should suffice.

After getting a general glance around, Ashyana noted that the closest landmark to her current location was the odd statue. The number of arms intrigued her and she figured with the sheer size the statue was, perhaps she would be capable of picking out more details of the area she was in.

A couple minutes of walking, slipping in and out of rocks to one side or the other, Ashyana reached the base of the statue and touched the basin gently. There was an aura of reverence to even being within the proximity of it and she felt the strong desire to bask in the age and magnificence. It was art and to be completely honest, the Elven side of her was peeking forth and causing her to be a bit distracted. Taking a knee, she brushed away a bit of the dirt that still was clinging to the stone and smiled softly. "Beautiful in its right. I bet you were a glory for all to see down the mountainside when you were in your prime."

Addressing now the spirit that had previously warned her, Ashyana glanced over her shoulder and around the relatively clear grounds. "If you can grant me more warning, I could better..."

It was then that the sound of shifting rock and movement finally took her attention. Her own muttered speech faded into silence and a hand instantly touched the hilt of her katana. She had no doubt that there was a chance of the noise orienting from another village resident, but with the ominous warning from her spirit friend (at least, she would call it 'friend' until otherwise corrected), she was not the type to take undue chances.

Sliding gracefully to her feet, Ashyana gave a slight running start of a leap to grasp the edge of the basin and pull herself gracefully to the rim to balance. Hand still carefully upon her blade, she edges around the basin to investigate the noise she'd heard, yet also not wishing to startle whomever it was.

As the Elf's keen eyes landed on the producer of the 'disturbance', her minuscule recognition to the figure allowed Ashyana to lower her defenses: this was that girl she had seen at the Hatching Sands; the one that had attempted to hide her contempt for being in the heat so she could attract one of the newborn Dragons with less difficulty. Ashyana let a smile come to her features again at finally seeing someone up on the mountainside with her. Crouching upon the edge of the basin, she removed her hand from her sword and instead placed a couple fingers for additional balance on her perch. "I wish you a good day." Her words were fluid and still accented as her people's, but she hoped that the softer tones would help in not startling the young woman if she had not noticed the Selu'ani's steps.

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"Well, if it's older than you, it's definitely older than Mangle and I," Foxie said with a playful smile. Truth be told, he still had no recollection of how old either of them really wear, but maybe, just maybe, this giant egg would provide some answers to his and Mangle's search for their missing memories. The fox shifter tilted his head as he glanced at the leather band that Elsharaz had brought back with him, studying it intently for several moments before shaking his head. "It's not in any language we know," he replied, before glancing at Rose. "Rose, do you think you can read this?"

Rose hummed thoughtfully as she took a look at the leather armband as well, trying to figure out what it said. Unfortunately, she wasn't as well-versed in ancient languages either, so she eventually shook her head in the negative, a slight frown upon her face. I'm afraid not. It would take me at least seventy years to figure out such an ancient language.

--------
Word List: Numbers
Word used: Seventy
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Miunari
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The Lost One
[ *  *  * ]
(OOC: Oookay. I'm going to use hiding for Naya aaand... shifting for Selena)

Naya:
After being waked up from her little nap at the forest by people passing through Naya'd gone hiding herself in the undergrowth after quickly changing into her true form as a small ninetailed Kitsune. The people had looked a little scared and nervous and thus she thought to herself that whatever was scaring them might also be a danger to her so that she might as well take a look at it and maybe even get rid of it through the usual way. Slowly sneaking after those people she soon got to a part of the forest where breathing got a little tougher, but as she was only foxsized at this moment and the smoke and stuff was still up in the air she didn't really encounter any problems except for her purple pelt turning slowly grey and brown, which only helped her to blend in with her surroundings. After a while of simply walking through the forest, constanty trying to stay as near to the ground as possible and hardly breathing she noticed that the people had stopped moving and that they had reached the end of the forest, staring at ruins of what might've been a mighty city once. Since those other people didn't give any hints that they were trying to go furthe Naya slowly cret forward and past them, entering the ruins where she needed to watch every step she took.
Jumping from solid looking places to still standing buildings she made her way through the ruin without really getting hurt, except for once nearly falling down as a not so solid building colapsed under her where she managed to jump of the last second but ended up getting some scratches anyway. After a while of completely focusing to not have this happening again Naya finally ended up on the still standing part of the city on top of the ramp.


(OOC: The 'people' I'm refering to are simply NPCs in the village that only went to the ruins if that is fine; 315 words)
My heart wants what it wants ღ

Primary Character & her Shinies
Selena Damons, female Shapeshifter, bold #00A6FF
Anaizth, male Silver Mottle Dragon, bold #5a5959

Voyath, female Green Dragon, Bold #07ab21
Miu, female Shay Illaro, Italics #A3EAFF

Secondary Character & her Shinies
Naya, female Kitsune, Bold Italics #6B0D6B
Elendeth, male Black Mottle Dragon, Bold Italic #00031c

Yui, female Void Astrum, Italics #470047

Tertiary Character &[url=XXX]her Shinies[/url]
Nika, female human
Valorn, male Valor Unicorn
Fenrir, male Sylvan Illaro
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Tidesweep
Shrine Attendant
[ *  *  * ]
Tide landed with a thump on the mossy stone and immediately felt the power of the water rushing underneath her. While she was a good swimmer, the vibrations coming up from beneath the soles of her feet hinted that this water wouldn't be a good place to test those skills. Placing her hand against the stone floor, she shivered at the feel of power rushing up. The crashes reached her eyes and sounded like muffled explosions. Yep. No way was she ever gonna take a dip into those waters. She liked oxygen way too much.

A quick look around showed that the statue had a lot of cracks running through it. Moving to look into one of the wider cracks, Tide jumped and rammed a shoulder into the stone as she heard a voice nearby. Sinet, spoke a little late, to warn her. We have company Tide. "Yes...Thank you for the warning Sinet." Rubbing her shoulder, she turned around to see who had spoken. They obviously weren't a threat or Sinet would have already had them pinned down.

Tide's eyes widen as they looked at the other. She was pretty. That was the first thought that popped into her mind. The second was that she had some really good balance as she perched there on the rim of the basin. Shaking her head to clear it a little, Tide looked at the ground. She had a bad habit of staring sometimes and didn't think it would be a good idea to stare at this woman for too long. She had noticed the sword after all and not knowing the temperament of the other made her cautious.

"The day has not exactly been off to a good start." Casting a quick glance up at the other explorer, Tide tried to gauge how likely it was that this person had a violent temper. The voice didn't seem connected to a violent temper, but she had learned that one could have a soft voice and still hit you for the smallest thing. "You or yours were not hurt in the earthquake earlier, were they?" Worried coated her voice as she moved back to the edge of the basin and away from the cracks in the foundation.
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Raferties
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Lorekeeper
[ *  *  * ]
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Anari slid off of Aegis' back, hand already wrapping around her flail instinctively as she took in the ruins. Everything was relatively quiet. The animals had long since been silenced by the advent of the Egg's appearance, so the only noise she could hear aside from the breathing of herself and her companions was the occasional beating of heavy wings as others were brought here via dragonback or other such conveyance. But other than that, the ruins were far too quiet. Any wildlife had probably been frightened away by all the noise.

I don't smell anything, other than dust and ancient times, Rannegar commented as he scented the air.

"Good. Stay alert, you two. This place may appear deserted, but there's no assurance that's the case." Anari made sure her flail was lose in its holster as they passed through several streets. Or at least, Anari thought that at once time it had been streets. It was hard to say with the couple of columns that they had to navigate around, not to mention all the bits of broken building and such. Anari even started to climb her way over the remains of what appeared to be a half-wall, only to have it give out and the sphinx need to make a hasty dash to catch her before she fell hard into the rubble.

I can't quite put my wing on it, Aegis murmured as she righted herself, but something about this place feels... off, to me. Anari nodded in agreement, rubbing a hand over Rannegar's head in thanks.

"I know what you mean... wait! What's that?" The sunlight had glinted off of something half-buried in the ruin. Moving over, she knelt down while the others stood guard and uncovered what to her appeared to be some sort of... headband? Tiara? Either word worked for the woven bronze adornment of three vines and a ebony-engraved turquoise.

That's pretty, m'lady, commented Rannegar, glancing over. You would probably look nice in it. Anari chuckled.

"Perhaps, but I'm not quite so foolish as to randomly put on things like this. For all we know, it could be cursed! But mayhaps I can show it to Cassandra later on; she might be able to tell. She could even be here."

Then we should explore around some more, and find out. Taking the gryphon's suggestion, however, would not lead them to the djinn, but instead to something that Anari hadn't had a clue about finding in this place: a... fox? Something like that? At least, the shadow she caught sight of as she rounded a corner was a foxy-ish tail... more than one, if her eyes didn't trick her.

"Who's there?" she called towards Naya as she stepped around into view, Aegis and Rannegar close behind her, braced but not threatening.

(479 words, my word - deserted)

*************************

Posted Image

Having both Keldos and Belial with him was an amazing boon for Raferties' courage; he felt no fear as the trio pressed on through the ruins. While they had initially been making for the source of the smoke when they had first looked over the site, as that would have taken them away from the Egg they decided to leave it be for now, instead moving deeper within towards the winding staircases that led up to the Egg.

As they passed by the first few buildings that were more or less intact, Raferties paused to peer within. The single-room structure was utterly empty, not even so much as a mark on the wall or piece of broken furnature to indicate what it had been used for. It could have been a home, a guardhouse, or a one-room prison for all he could tell. But he did note that there were no bones or any other sign of the former occupants anywhere that he could see, just bits of broken pottery and clay with very strange artwork on it... wait...

Abruptly, and quite startling to Keldos, Raferties knelt to a knee in the road, picking up one of the pieces and studying it.

"I think there is writing of some sort on this!" he exclaimed excitedly, gesturing with it towards Belial. "If we can gather up enough, between the two of us I am certain we could decode their language." It didn't take the Lorekeeper and devil more than a minute, while Keldos bemusedly stood guard, to gather up a few dozen of the fragments which they began to quietly pour over as they walked on towards the stairs. First writing on the pots, then the writing on the wall by the stairs that was visible even at a great distance... surely there must be some clue there that they could use! Hopefully eager, the thirdborn Solarian began moving that direction. But he had to wonder, why was it when his eyes glanced over the obelisks towering over the ruins did he feel distinctly unnerved? He was grateful that their path wasn't moving towards them!

(355 words - Pressed)

********

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The Firstborn Archangel was sore pressed to keep his amused smile at bay as he watched the excitement on his Little Brother's face. Finding out that there was writing on the bits of clay had his the Lorekeeper right in his interest, and for a moment he mused that Raferties was almost like a little kid at times.

The ruin, while beautiful in its own way, gave him a much different sensation. It was old, that much was undisputed, and quiet with all the wildlife in the area frightened away by the advent of the Egg and resulting quake. This caused every other noise - a building crumbling somewhere, a piece of stone breaking, their own breaths and voices and movements - to ring uncommonly loud and put his warrior's nerves on edge. This was a place of great mystery, but equal, and unknown, danger.

While Raferties was consumed with the bits of historic literature that he was trying to glean from clay bits, Keldos' eyes were taking in other things: in its day this city must have been quite bustling, by its size. Even though it had been buried, there were still clearly delineated streets to be seen, and the fact that some of the buildings were two or even three stories attested to an more advanced society than might have first appearance.

And finding the weapon was further confirmation of this. As the archangel pulled out the haft and blade he looked over the strange item he realized that it was forged almost entirely of metal - steel, in fact, attesting to skill with the forge. A gentle press with one thumb told him that time had not yet touched the blade itself, and as for the other clearly devoid end he took it that at one point, this had been a double weapon, the deadly kind where a wielder could strike from both ends of the thing and was dangerous at all angles. It took great skill to be able to manage a weapon like this. The appearance of the blade itself also spoke volumes, even to one less scholarly as Keldos. The shape was intentional, meaning that it had some purpose. Likely either it was ceremonial in nature, an homage to fire perhaps, or somehow attested to a fighting style of the original wielder. Experimentally he tested its soundness, then finding it solid went into a small kata, swinging the weapon around and listening to the whistle as the blade sliced the air. Yes, it was still a good weapon, even despite its broken state. After tearing a piece of fabric from the bottom of his tunic (a minor deed, since the nature of the fabric would restore itself by the next morning) to wrap the empty end against injury from the sharp jags of metal, it was more than solid - it was serviceable. He would hold onto this discovery, just in case. Like his brother, Keldos never believed that things happened for no reason. Even though Raferties couldn't hear the Chorus from here, Keldos could, and knew that Solaris was watching over them. He sent up a small prayer that Solaris maintain his vigil as they encountered whatever lay ahead, then checked on Raferties and Belial. When they signaled that they were ready, he led the way up the stairs (pausing frequently while they examined any one of the circles and puzzled over what it said), to draw close to the top where the Egg rested.

(579 words - Fighting))
Note: Until further stated, Scarheart, Belial, and Cassandra have standing permission to powerplay Raferties or Anari.
Raferties and his Shinies ~~Anari and her Shinies~~ Keldos and his Shinies~~Cobalt and her Shinies~~Taki and her Shinies~~Kemori and his Shinies
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Listening to Foxie talk to himself (and Rose), Cassandra just nodded and gave a slight shrug. "Oh well. I suppose we'll have to just see if we figure it out later. Maybe we'll find something else that helps us... or someone." Shrugging once more, Cassandra nudged Elsharaz with her foot. "Come on, pup. Let's keep looking... since you're so good at finding things, maybe you'll be able to find something else."

To her own words, she smirked, and they started walking again, this time with a little more intent. "I'm really curious about those monoliths." She shook her head and pointed in the direction of the closest ovular monolith. "Let's go see if there's anything over there. There's just something about it... I don't know." Rubbing her temples, Cassandra ignored the impending paranoia at approaching the destination and just forced a smile to Foxie. "For something to have so much magic that it's emanating a sensation like this... it has to be important, right?"

I don't know how much I like this... Elsharaz grumbled softly, sulking a little bit, though it was hard to tell if it was at not having his treasure or at approaching the obelisk.

____________________________________________________________________________________

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~*~
The Selu smiled slightly at Tidesweep and tucked a bit of her purple hair behind her ear to prevent it from blocking her vision. "Then I hope it turns to a more positive day. No, I was not harmed by the quake and I do not know many others, to be entirely truthful. That I am aware, no one has been injured, but I can not attest to the village nearby. I appreciate your concern, however."

Ashyana edged her hand a little farther away from her sword to give assurance that she was not about to attack - her keen elven eyes managed to pick up on Tidesweep's uncertainty and Ashyana was not the the type to enjoy an uncomfortable conversation. "My name is Detsuru Ashyana. You may call me Ashyana. Do you know of this place?" She hesitated, contemplating the rudeness of her invasive questions before deciding to continue anyway. "What were you looking at down there?"

With that, she shifted on her perch so she could see around the vague area surrounding the fountain, not wanting to be surprised by anyone slipping up in lieu of her conversation.
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"You're probably right, sugar plum," Foxie answered with a nod. Deciding it might be a good idea to shift into their fox form in case of any danger, Foxie quickly transformed. He and Mangle now resembled an Arctic fox, aside from the pink accents on his muzzle and tail tip. He trotted towards Cassandra, only to be unexpectedly picked up by Rose. The Stiletto held him close, knowing that her ward was much smaller in this form and thus more vulnerable. She would not let anything happen to him if her life depended on it. Foxie sensed this and didn't attempt to squirm out of her arms as they headed towards the monoliths.
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Belial
Member Avatar
Archduke
[ *  *  * ]
The fragments presented an interesting challenge. Belial could see roots of words written on the pottery shards but he couldn't be sure he actually recognized the language. It was scattered in pieces, after all, and he knew enough languages to know that he knew several that were similar in appearance at first cursory glance and he would have to assemble the puzzle to know for sure whether he knew anything or not.

He and Raferties made comparatively short work of gathering up what pottery fragments there were. Now if only Belial had thought to bring glue or some such to attach the shards. But who thought to pocket a tube of glue in the middle of an apparent crisis?

No time for recriminations, particularly pointless recriminations. Belial was powerful, but he wasn't psychic, and he never had been. Telepathic, once upon a time, but not psychic. The future was not his to divine.

Languages, however, were Belial's true love -- so to speak. Raferties was also his true love. But apart from their bond, that which had beaten in Belial's heart for eons before they'd ever met was an almost obsessive love of languages, for nuance of communication. If it was spoken, written, or signed, Belial yearned to learn it, ached to impress the unique grammar into his ever-expanding mind and add yet another language to his rather vast collection.

(Not vast enough, he thought somewhat bitterly. Beelzebub and Mephistopheles both had him beat as far as known languages went, making his nine hundred and forty six spoken languages [and total of one thousand seventeen languages known altogether] seem paltry and spare. Belial was ever aware of being the slow child in the remedial classroom around his linguistic betters.)

He followed Raferties, hoping to find some kind of flat surface upon which to lay the pottery shards to sort them into some kind of sensible picture.

ooc| chosen word "presented" If I'm too late for the challenge, please just ignore it. ^^;


Posted Image

Shrayla was still getting used to this "living in a weyr" thing when things started getting... mildly cataclysmic. She had been trying on the new clothing that came with being a dragonrider. Leather pants, thick leather flight jacket to protect from the empty cold of between, boots, gloves, even goggles perched upon her forehead.

She'd never worn goggles before.

She'd also never ridden a dragon. Anaeth was both pleased and annoyed at this development. On the one hand, Anaeth would be the first dragon Shrayla had ever ridden, which was as it should be. On the other hand, the werewolf ranger had no experience and was probably going to shriek and fall off like a sack of potatoes.

Shrayla growled (good-naturedly) at her dragon, mentally reminding the Green Mottle that she'd ridden a falling flying city almost all the way to the ground without screaming once.

That was when the apocalypse started.

Or so it seemed.

Walls were shaking, people were either screaming or yelling, people rushed here, there, and everywhere, and Shrayla admired the fact that so many seemed to know what they were doing -- or were very good at pretending such, anyway -- when all she could think about was a jumbled mess of chaotic questions.

Figuring the best way to get answers was to go straight to the authority, Shrayla ducked around the tumultuous scattering of humanoid bodies and made her way to the Weyrwoman's quarters, where she apparently stumbled blindly into an ongoing argument.

"...-not safe! That's why I need to be out there, Sandasa!" Weyrhealer Larandaithiel was snarling. He had spine for a twiggy elf, Shrayla had to admit.

Sandasa was not impressed. "In a time of crisis, the Weyrhealer needs to remain at the Weyr. The injured are going to come here for help."

"I can do more good getting to the source of this problem and you know it!"

"Say you could, Laran. Say you could. How are you even going to get out into the field? It is a long, long walk to that egg."

Larandaithiel rallied for another outburst, and at this point Shrayla coughed and held up her hand.

"Anaeth and I could take him. I mean, if the people trying to solve the problem are going to get hurt out there, best bring the healer to them, right?" Her ears had a slightly sheepish cant to them, points down and to the sides. It wasn't often Shrayla actively railed against authority, despite her...disorganized and somewhat anarchic nature.

Sandasa glared, but it was one of those out-of-focus expressions that Shrayla had come to recognize as conference with one's dragon or other bonded companion.

"Fine. Fine. But you bring the Weyrhealer back in one piece or Yuleth will have your hide. She likes Laran, for some reason."

Shrayla could recognize fond antagonism when she saw it. She and Valen had picked on each other often enough to blow off steam in the Underdark.

"Um, yeah, I'll do that. Let me just grab my bow and some arrows and we'll be good to go, yeah? Oh, and I don't suppose you've got more practical clothes? I mean, hard to fly in a dress. Robe. Thing."

Aware that she was being awkward, a point driven home by Sandasa's sudden outburst of laughter, Shrayla backed out of the Weyrwoman's weyr and bolted for her own.

Larandaithiel was grudgingly dressed like a dragonrider when she met up with him in the courtyard. He glared, but thankfully said nothing as Shrayla harnessed up Anaeth, the weyrling master's instructions fresh in her brain from yesterday. She mounted like she'd done it before, strapped in, got Larandaithiel strapped in behind her.

Anaeth sprang into the sky.

It was almost as stomach-lurching as the falling city of Undrentide had been, but this time, she had the solid reassurance of Anaeth's mind against hers and the Green Mottle's neck between her thighs and even the wiry arms around her waist helped center her enough that she could focus less on her learned fear of heights and more on...

...well, damn.

That was an egg.

And ruins and stuff below, apparently. It took Shrayla a moment to remember to actually put her goggles over her eyes so that the stinging winds of flight didn't blur things badly out of focus.

Shrayla directed Anaeth to set down in what looked like some kind of courtyard, perhaps, with a statue and a fountain and two people already there.

Anaeth was careful not to disturb Ashyana and Tidesweep too badly when she backwinged to land almost daintily.

Shrayla gratefully shoved the goggles back up over her forehead and unstrapped herself and her passenger from Anaeth's harness, patting the Green Mottle's copper-stained neck before sliding off.

Her legs were just a little wobbly as she not-quite-staggered to join the two female figures by the fountain. Larandaithiel, she noted with some chagrin, was walking just fine.

"Hello," Shrayla greeted lamely, unsure of what to say. Smooth introductions were not her forte. "Do you...know what's happening?"

Just a half step behind her and much more vigorous, Larandaithiel about elbowed her out of the way.

"Is anyone injured?" the healer demanded, shifting the knapsack of supplies he had slung over his shoulder, hanging on the opposite hip.


ooc| word "living", again, please ignore if too late to meet challenge ^^;
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Miunari
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The Lost One
[ *  *  * ]
Naya nearly jumped at sudden sound of a voice in the otherwise quiet ruins and quickly turned around only to see a human girl accompanied by a gryphon and a Sphinx, what an odd trio she thought to herself while examining them and trying to evaluate if they meant any danger to her or not. After a few seconds she decided that they could definetly be danger to her, but for now didn't seem threatening. Quietly sitting down and looking at the trio Naya tried to not look dangerous at all and maybe they'd leave her alone again? Or at least wouldn't atack her. Maybe they'd even take her for a mutated fox or something like that, but she kind of doubted that, as her intelligence was glistening in her eyes and her fur wasn't natural coloured at all. If they didn't though she thought, she might as well simply leave and if they'd try to hinder her atack them and then try to use her powers to disappear or try to change their minds.

(OOC: Note that I do not have anything against your char, she seems great but Naya is quite... let's call it antisocial XD)
My heart wants what it wants ღ

Primary Character & her Shinies
Selena Damons, female Shapeshifter, bold #00A6FF
Anaizth, male Silver Mottle Dragon, bold #5a5959

Voyath, female Green Dragon, Bold #07ab21
Miu, female Shay Illaro, Italics #A3EAFF

Secondary Character & her Shinies
Naya, female Kitsune, Bold Italics #6B0D6B
Elendeth, male Black Mottle Dragon, Bold Italic #00031c

Yui, female Void Astrum, Italics #470047

Tertiary Character &[url=XXX]her Shinies[/url]
Nika, female human
Valorn, male Valor Unicorn
Fenrir, male Sylvan Illaro
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Challenge Update

Anari - deserted (8 letters)
Raferties - pressed (7 letters)
Keldos - fighting (8 letters)
Naya - hiding (6 letters)
Tidesweep - segmented (9 letters)
Cassandra - pretend (7 letters)
Ashyana - themselves (10 letters)
Belial - presented (9 letters)
Shrayla - living (6 letters)

  • 3 - 5 letters - 1 point
  • 6 - 8 letters - 2 points
  • 9 - N letters - 3 points
Running totals for the post are as follows:

Foxie - 1 point
Anari - 5 points
Raferties - 5 points
Keldos - 5 points
Cassandra - 5 points
Ashyana - 6 points
Tide - 4 points
Naya - 2 points
Belial - 3 points
Shrayla - 2 points

Community Total - 36 points of a possible 48 (based on active participants).
Great Job, Sundered Weyr!
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Challenge 3

Since here at the Sundered Weyr we use third person as our primary writing style, it is simply stable to use your character's name to help keep the action clear in your RP. That being said, now, you won't.

That's right, in this week's challenge, no character's post can use their own name! So while Belial could mention Shrayla, and Shrayla could mention Belial, Belial is without name for his event, and Shrayla must do without as well.

0 = 3 points (Requires 500 words)
1 = 2 points (Requires 300 words)
2 = 1 point (Requires 250 words)
3 = 0 points (Obviously, none)

To meet the word requirements for this challenge, you can use multiple posts to accomplish the goal, but the rules have to apply to each post. No using your name!

As always, the challenge is per character. Meaning, to be a super awesome-sauce point-earner, you need 500 words, without mentioning your name, on each character. (Kay, in example, needs 1500 words and a lot of hard work.)

Guidelines At the top of each character's section, please put the character's name in bold OOC. Then, simply don't use the name again throughout the entire post. That -includes- putting another creature's dialogue into your post. So no, you can't have npc-X say 'Hey [your name]' to squeak by. Your name must not appear anywhere but the OOC note. Here's a sample:
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Scarheart

Eventually, the river rushed beneath ground in a large cavern, throwing the blind ranger from rock to rock, until he finally slammed onto an earthen shelf around one quick, sharp turn. He would lay there for hours; barely breathing, bleeding, and alone - or so he would think upon waking. However, a set of eyes watched him with great intrigue from a narrow passage into the rough rock.
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Deleted User
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Belial, Raferties, Keldos

The journey to the stairs was easy, aside from the constant need to scoop up another piece of pottery, stone, or glass that had managed to survive with an intact character on it Even though the path was a decent journey, there seemed to be no end of unique characters, creating an alphabet of well over 200 letters, and they were still coming.

The stairs themselves were treacherous, but not nearly as much so to the winged folk. Each crumbling placement was avoided by a thrust of a wing or two, and a strong grip on the stone, or one another. Every single stair had a new bit of righting, at least one or two symbols not recognized within their collection, and these couldn't be gathered - instead they'd have to be re-recorded.

Long before they would arrive at the egg, however, a disturbance would be felt amongst them all. Belial, a master of the hells, was quite keen to the sensation of the dead. Keldos and Raferties, both of angelic nature, too could sense the spiritual presence as they climbed higher and higher - nearly 120 feet into the air by this time.

Keldos, leading, would be the first to lay eyes upon the spectral entity before them. Tall and lithe, but somewhat shapeless, the spirit held out a hand with its strange, elongated fingers held wide in a 'stop' symbol. Its mouth moved, but no words would emanate. Instead, all three could feel a polite intrusion - a mental, telepathic connection that, instead of forcing itself within their minds, gently knocked.

~Your power is strong... you should not venture further...~

Sensing much about its visitors, the specter then faded back into the nether-realm from which it had come. In his place, a single cube of marble was left. Upon close examination, Belial could sense the abyssal magic. Raferties and Keldos too felt a dark taint to it, but not quite evil. How could something of Hellish Origin -not- feel evil? However, that was not the most present question.

Each side of the cube had 25 tiles to it, perfectly arranged and symmetrical. Each of these smaller tiles had a single character upon it. In all, 150 characters could be observed by rotating to view each of the six sides of the cube. Beyond that, the magic inside it was potent, and as each of the three individuals looked at it, it was like looking at two languages at the same time.

When Belial looked at the characters, he saw this strange writing from the ruins, in addition to his Hellish, Native Tongue sort of hovering above the character; translucent and unobtrusive. Keldos and Raferties saw the translation in celestial script, the words of the angels.

Again, the cube was not done. As one would touch the device, small grooves would be felt along the face of each tile. With gentle pressure, the sides could be shifted and rearranged, and each time they were, a new symbol would appear. Several moments of experimentation later, reveals 750 characters in all, a truly complex language of symbols representing ideas, as opposed to letters or even words. A single image could represent a beautiful waterfall at sunset. Combine with another it could mean a flood.

Belial -might- actually have found himself a challenge - a language truly worthy of his love of uncovering, deciphering, memorizing, learning, and employing it.

Unfortunately, the amusement of the Fiend and the awe of the thirdborn, and to be honest, the slight boredom of the battle-angel, would be short-lived. Behind them, from the center of the ruins and the base of the statue and former fountain, a loud explosion of stone and debris would be heard, rattling the mountain, crumbling more stairs, and sending pangs of emergency through the heart of the Guardian.
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Tide, Ashyana, Shrayla, and Unfortunate Guests

Introductions always leave such an impression. Everyone remembers how they met someone. Was it awkward? Was it funny? Was it downright horrible? Well, they'd certainly remember this introduction. Tide's awareness of the vibrations - the rumbling of the water below - would be the first to pick up on the impending doom. A crack practically beneath her feet would form in a split second. The rim of the basin around the bunch would crack as well, almost like a pincer formation around the quartet of people.

Ashyana's elven wisdom would assist her little here, as even her rejuvenated, youthful reflexes would not allow her to escape an entire fountain-base collapsing simultaneously. As though the earth itself had just given up on supporting the weight of this ancient, artistic statue, it all just spilled downward abruptly with such little warning.

Shrayla, being somewhat closer to the rim, actually managed to grab onto a large bit of the stone still attached to one side, but when that broke away as well, it just added weight to her fall. Luckily, and cleverly enough, she let loose of the rock before it could hinder her further.

Sinet and Anaeth both rushed forward to try desperately at preventing the fall of their respective bonded ones, but to little avail. Fatefully, however, Anaeth did manage to snatch Larandaithiel from harm and pull him back to more stable earth. Water splashed up from the pressurized chamber, sending water splashing off the stone onto the three left above.

Below, the water was deep and dark, and incredibly strong - rushing from north to south, toward the mountains at the back of the ruin. So forceful was this cascade that froth formed against the now-present hole. The three unfortunate souls were immediately yanked under and thrown forward with such speed everything became a blur - especially as the natural light of day faded and the tunnel became the only thing around them.

Seconds passed as the air desperately tried to escape their lungs. Tide, obviously, was much better suited for this foray, but with the speed and power, even she could feel the terror welling within them all. That's when their journey came to an end...

All three of them were slammed hard into a reinforced portcullis beneath the ground. Here, a carved circular passage channeled the water, and a strange, metallic barrier let the water through, but not anything larger than an arm. On the other side of this controlled point of access, was a leaver - sticking out from the rock wall and glowing with a gentle, red thrum of magic.

Now, for their very survival, they would have to find a way to throw that lever. The water was pressing hard, trying to force their precious oxygen from their chests.
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Cassandra, Foxie

Two of the egg-shaped, metallic monoliths rose high into the skyline, nearly as tall as the centered statue. From the ramp, the left-most egg (facing the ruins) would call to the company of Hell Hound, Sharpblade, Fox, and Djinn. The journey there would be somewhat uneventful, aside from passing behind the path the winged-folk took, and steering off the beaten path to pour through some tricky street terrain, crumbling buildings make every step difficult.

Every step nearer to the strange construct send shivers of warning down Cassandra's spine and warned Foxie of impending danger. The Djinn could feel her magic slowly waning. Each foot fell harder to the ground for her, and eventually, she could even feel her connection to the flask in jeopardy - at least that's what the sickly sensation inside her would interpret to.

Foxie could feel Mangle fading, his voice becoming more and more quiet as they got closer to the monolith. Moreover, as they cleared the last set of buildings and came into the courtyard of the dreadful statue, Foxie could feel himself becoming trapped in this alternate form. The magic and ability to shift forms, fading just as quickly as the voice inside.

Before them, an apparition appeared - tall and lithe, but otherwise lacking form, the light-based phantom held its long, spindly fingers forward in a sign much akin to 'stop' and spoke, though no words would be heard. Instead, all present would hear the warning inside their minds.

"Go no closer... the egg is hungry..."

The spirit left the scene as quickly as it had arrived. Despite the warning, however, Rose felt a strange sensation nearer to the obelisk, as her mother instinct was pricked by the ancient magic. She felt as though a youth was in danger. She felt as though she had to protect such an innocent, unborn thing. Foxie could immediately feel his bonded companion's emotions, and they were wracking and strong, sending twitches and shudders all through them both.

The intense waves of energy coming from that steel monolith were so overwhelming, the two did not even immediately notice the destruction of the statue, the fountain, the basin, and the now-gaping hole in the center of the ruins. Their eyes were just affixed on that egg-shaped monstrosity of craftsmanship. Perhaps they'd notice later...
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Anari, Naya

There, in the heart of the ruins, the two would have their most-brief of meetings; one ever-cautious, the other ever-alone. Just past them on a small rise of stone, was the purple fire left behind by Ashyana, as well as the cold, lifeless sensation that accompanied that area of the ruins.

As Naya did her best to seem innocuous, Anari's neck prickled with the tingling of danger for a whole different reason than the 'fox' before her. It was the tiniest of vibrations through the ground that were amplified with the altitude and solidity of this raised section of city. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she knew - something was about to happen.

Naya too could feel the sudden increase in vibration. Being lower to the ground, it felt suddenly unstable, even though the platform was dense and safe. Before Anari really had time to respond to the situation further, there was a crack of stone, a thud of structure, and the two could see the statue crumbling into pieces and dropping down into a magnificent hole.

The water was visible even from their standpoint, its crushing waves splattering water all about the former fountain-basin. They could also see the three figures there get consumed by the dark of the flow below. Perhaps there wasn't much they could do at this point, or perhaps there was...
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Tidesweep
Shrine Attendant
[ *  *  * ]
Tide (forgot this the first time) and Sinet

She hoped it would be too. Not that she didn't doubt it too much, but in her experience, whenever something stragne was going on, it was going to get worst before it ever got better. Not to them the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach foretold that the worst was still yet to come. "That is good then. That you were not hurt." She stumbled over her words a little bit as the vibrations got stronger. Least she would swear they had gotten stronger, but that could have just been her imagination there.

Shaking her head, she looked around once more as her companion settled down and laid her massive head against the rim. "No. I do not. This is my first time seeing something like this. What about you?" She did not mind the invasive questions. Mostly for the fact that she did not recognize them as such. "Just the big cracks that were running along the base of the statue. I do not think the earthquake cause them as some of them look quite old.

Seeing Ashyana positioning herself to watch the area around them, she turned back to study the statue. "It is so huge...I wonder how they desgined it." Her study was interrupted by her companion shifting her head as more people approached. Well, a couple of people and a dragon to be more precise. We have more company. Hope you guys don't mind. At least she gave more of a warning this time.

Watching them land, the red haired female had to applaud the landing silently. That took some skill in an area this small. Well, small for dragons anyway.

Shaking her head to both questions, she pointed back to the village. "There are probably more injured people back that way. Far as I am aware, these ruins only have people beyond our help." She reached into her bag to finger the small bone she had found earlier as she said that. Yes. These people were definitely beyond their help. "As for what is happening...No clue."

That is when the vibrations came at their worst and everything went to chaos in a box. Letting out a yell, she looked down as the stone fell away and splashed into the water below. "Run guys! Ru-" She was cut off as she landed in the cold water. It nearly sucked her breath away as the cold penetrated her bones. The pendant from Lost burned around her neck with a cold that could rival the water. Bubbles floated up as she let out a gasp before quickly conserving the rest of her oxygen. She tried to swim up. Up towards the surface for some air. She could feel her companion's panic welling up in her and her own panic soon joined it.

She had no idea if Ashyana and Shrayla made it out okay. The splash and trail of bubbles from each soon confirmed that they had joined her in this watery hell. Concern rose in her as well as she fought the current to reach them both. She could swim. She did not know if they could. She could hold her breath for a least a good part of the day. She had no idea if they could. Though right now, she was lucky if she had an hour. The surprise and the shock of the fall had caused her to release more oxygen then she would have liked to admit.

Up above, the Caradas let out a roar of anguish as her bonded slipped from her grasp. The prescene of their connected minds was the only thing that let her know that her bond was still alive. For now. She could see inside her mind, not as much as Ayiama, but enough to know that they didn't have much time if they ever wanted to see the three that had fallen in again. F***! We have to do something! She turned to Anaeth and Larandaithiel, hoping that they would have a plan. She wasn't a swimmer and she was cursing that fact so much right now.

Down below, it became dark and everything had a faded quality to it. She only knew they were all together cause she had grabbed the other two and held on for dear life as they hurtled through the tunnel. She had given up fighting against the current and actively swimming. It only wasted precious oxygen. All of sudden something hit her in the chest. Hard. Hard enough she swore that she felt a rib or two cracked.

A soundless scream escaped her as the pain flared against her numbed senses. No! She refused to go down like this! To let them go down like this.

Clenching her teeth, knowing time was running out, she saw it. The small warm, red glow of something. Her vision was quickly fading out, but she knew that was their last chance. But it was too far away from her arm. She knew that already and she didn't want to let go of either of the people that fell with her. Didn't want to for fear of them sinking down and never being seen again.

Suddenly remembering Ashyana had a sword, she turned her head in what she hoped was her direction. Remembering lessons from long ago, she gathered up her courage and using almost all of the oxygen she had reserved, she spoke to Ashyana. "Sword on red." It came out garbled and such as she wasn't a merperson, but she had taken lessons from one and she hoped it came out clear enough.

Especially as her vision was going dark now.


(930 words...And not a single use of Tide or Tidesweep...That was fun!!!)
"Death has a bone to pick with you and I'm here to help out." -Cain Skelington

"The waves have their own music...Are you listening?" - Tidesweep

"Don't take my silence for agreement. That would be a mistake."- Gertude Weavian

"I will protect what is mine with a will forged like a diamond."- Mildred Fresi

"Healing can take time. Lucky for you, you should having nothing but it for awhile."- Jeremi Kgute
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Belial
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Archduke
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Weyrhealer Larandaithiel

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These ruins hold only people beyond our help, the girl said, and the elven healer believed it, looking around. Moldering ruins, long since deserted...though whether the original inhabitants had left voluntarily or had been driven extinct in some apocalyptic event was uncertain. Given the nature of the Illogical Field, either explanation would make a certain degree of sense.

Conditions had been rendered unlivable, one way or another. Had it been a cataclysmic extinction? Had it been a slow dying off? A mass migration?

The elf mentally kicked himself, refocusing his mind on the here and now; more important than the long dead were the presently living, anthropological curiosity aside. Neither the other elf nor the strange human-looking girl were injured, so far, which was good. He could neither see nor hear anyone else within a reachable range. Well, nobody was screaming within earshot. That was either a really good sign or a really bad sign.

Guess which one he was banking on.

If you guessed "a really bad sign", you get a cookie.

There was a reason he'd argued Sandasa down into allowing him to leave the Weyr. His bones ached the way they always did before rain storms and impending disasters. He was needed out here, regardless of the injured that were sure to flock to the Weyr for safety. That was what the junior weyrwomen were for, really, his seniors in rank but his students in the craft of healing. They could see to the masses just fine with their stitches and their numbweed salves, more accustomed though they were to tending dragons instead of people.

Someday the Weyrwoman would need to trust his bones. The Weyrhealer's bones were never wrong, not about rain, and not about impending doom.

No matter how much he despised being proven right.

He was neither surprised nor gratified when the ground began to quake and crack beneath their feet. Of course the ground was opening up beneath them. It was only right and proper!

The redheaded girl was the first to fall, closest to the collapsing fountain base. The healer's heart wrenched painfully, watching her drop. And then the other elf, reflexes and obvious physical fitness doing her no favors here, not with the very stone beneath their feet betraying them.

Shrayla got her handlehold on the edge of the gaping maw the ground had become, but that, too, proved treacherous, giving way. The Weyrhealer himself would have fallen, too, if not for the infernally fast reflexes of a certain dragon catching him by a mouthful of flight jacket.

"Drop me this instant, you wretched beast!" he snarled, fighting to get free.

The women were falling, down with crumbling flagstones, into what sounded like powerful rushing water. Not a one of the three of them was particularly well equipped for this emergency. He was. They were going to be injured and half-drowned and if only Anaeth could see that and let him go, he could provide solutions.

Don't be an idiot, Anaeth snarled back, rare though it was for a dragon to grace anyone but his or her own rider with speech. There has to be a way to help them WITHOUT diving in after them.

"Let go of me, you odious monster! I am more help to them down there than I am up here and you know it!"

Anaeth was not a relenting force. So the elven healer did the only sensible thing there was to do, of course.

He twisted out of his flight jacket and dived into the hole, pausing at the edge only long enough to work a small magical charm.

The ability to breathe underwater was generally one of his more useless spells, but it was something he'd learned and kept around as a "just in case" kind of measure. Apparently, he was psychic. Or just very, very lucky.

The water-breathing spell was about half as helpful as he had originally anticipated. No, he didn't drown, yes that was the point, but it ill prepared him for the shock of cold and the frankly treacherous current. It was the kind of current that could drown a fish, and him if he wasn't careful.

In short order, he was slammed shoulder-first into the same portcullis that caught the ladies. It dislocated with a sick crunch as the portcullis proved vastly stronger than his admittedly somewhat...willowy elven body. At least the cold of the water did wonders for distracting him from the pain.

There were things more important than his discomfort at the moment.

Like making sure the ladies wouldn't drown.

He worked the same little charm on Tide, Ashyana, and Shrayla, which would allow them to breathe underwater too. For a little while. They had about three minutes, if he'd cast it right and the Illogical Field hadn't decided to "help".

"Who's hurt?" he managed to gasp, hopefully loud enough to be heard over the water.


ooc| 832 words, not once did I have to spell Larandaithiel's name.


Extra Not-Challenge-Related Thing

Above the hole in the ground where the fountain was just a few minutes ago, Anaeth spat out the now empty jacket.

Well, if the healer was going to be an idiot, let him. She could tell Shrayla, at least, was alive. That boded well for the others. Probably. It did in dragon-logic-land, at least.

Grumpily, Anaeth labored into the air again, on the lookout for some way to help her rider and the others from outside of the gaping hole in the ground. Surely there had to be something or someone that would be useful...



ooc| Larandaithiel was probably kept out of the hole for a reason, but you did also ask what his greatest fear was. ^that was it. Losing people, being helpless to help.
"Life is not about what you deserve. Life is about free will, life is about what you choose. Afterlife is about what you deserve, and all the Heavens forfend you deserve me." --Belial

"Redemption is a work in progress. I've...got a lot of work left to do." --Shrayla

"Fair winds and good fortune to you, friend." --Khareesh

"I think you have me mistaken for someone penitent, and I don't appreciate it." --Melonwei

"If someone rains on your parade, start dancing in the rain." --Linah

"The rules of the Lord of Poetic Justice are very simple. You do unto others as you would have me do unto you, aye?" -- Aletha Hoarfrost

"War's the candy, I'm just the wrapper, but that doesn't make me ready to die any time soon." --Arieh Harel
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Raferties
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Lorekeeper
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Despite the gravity of the situation, a smile had found the Lorekeeper's face and was showing no signs of stopping. The complexity of the language facinated him, and he knew Belial as well, and he couldn't help but feel that somewhere in all of these fragments of words a clue lay to their problem, the mysterious Egg. (and getting to investigate this with his soul mate was doubly wonderful)

It wasn't until Keldos held a hand back that the Guardian realized that something had alerted his older brother to possible trouble, and relt something of a presence above them. Carefully sliding the pieces of clay he had been looking at into his satchel (and being very thankful he'd had the foresight to grab it), and took his staff into both hands. He thought he was prepared for anything, but the being that appeared before them at the top of the stairs caught him a little off-guard nonetheless.

A ghost? he just had time to wonder, before the telepathic touch entered his mind, at first causing some alarm until he realized the benign nature of the intrusion. A warning, it seemed, from this dark-spirited presence. Was it something evil? Merely tainted? The Lorekeeper couldn't quite tell, though he was willing to give the benefit of the doubt at the moment, especially as it did nothing to outright threaten or harm them.

Then it was gone, leaving its strange 'gift' behind. Instantly curiosity reared its head again, pressing the silver-white winged angel to move around his elder to examine it. As both he and Belial poked at it some, the Lorekeeper began to wonder more about their mystery visitor. Had he left this to help them, perhaps provide some sort of clue or help with their cypher? It certainly seemed like it could be the case, as he thought by comparison that some of the ceramic pieces had similar runes upon them. As he knew Belial was the stronger of their two of them when it came to languages, the angel let the devil take the lead, assisting when he could even if he was just a mental sounding-board for some line of thought.

That was when the sound of collapse jarred everything.

It was so startling that the Solarian actually lost his blance and fell into Belial, gasping in shock and quickly looking towards the source, even as Keldos stood on the edge of the stairs observing the fountain's fall.

"There is something - a dragon I believe - flying over the area," the archangel reported as the younger angel stood and helped his lover up with a murmured apology. "But we are too far away for me to see what is happening clearly."

"I should go help," the Lorekeeper insisted, though he was quickly stopped in that idea by both a devil's hand on his arm and Keldos' hand on his chest.

"No, little brother. I will go assist. If there are any pieces of fallen debris, I will be more useful than you." This was truthful, he knew, but he still countered anyhow.

"And if there are injured? You know I am a better healer of others than you are, Keldos."

"That is true, but how will healing them help, if you cannot get the stone from atop them?" To this, the scholar could only nod in agreement. He knew to trust in his brother's ability and his reasoning; it was Keldos' strong suit. So he remained behind as Keldos took to the wing, flying with all speed towards the fountain. Then he turned back to the cube and dropped to a knee to continue with their task. It was possible that something here would help, and any knowledge the devil and Guardian could glean might make all the difference in the world.


(633 words, and not one of them was Raferties!)
********

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The Firstborn's six wings beat a furious pace as he flew with all speed towards the site of the collapse. He'd been much gratified that Raferties had seen reason, and let him see to this. There had not been enough time to explain, but the archangel had a strong feeling that he was the best suited for the situation, whatever he would find.

He was glad that they had decided to go up the stairs when they had, for this gave him an edge in getting to his destination quickly: a slight lift, then folding all wings for a speed-inducing dive before flaring them just above the highest rooftops. Like a peregrine falcon he swooped down, until he could see better what happened - the crumbled fountain, the cleft in the ground, the froth of water that filled the hole... and one very furious-looking green mottle dragon, mouth full of an empty flight jacket. Quickly he flew to Anaeth, shouting to be heard over the rush of water below.

"What happened?"

Her response was quick and with more than a bit of annoyance at the Weyrhealer. The warrior frowned darkly, looking at the turbulent rush. He well remembered the elf from the hatching, how he had relieved Raferties of tending to the wounded and reminded him more than a bit of Valariel. And there were three other lives in danger as well. Both situations impressed a need to do something, but the question was what? Casting about he saw nothing that he could use as a suitable rope to try and fish them out - and likely, given the water pressure, anything he did try would just break at the first pull. No, the angel would have to be clever, tactical.

And his very tactical mind only saw one solution: pitting his strength against the forces of nature.

The golden Solarian Truesteel armor faded into dust, shifting into the silken noble's garb that he wore whenever he wasn't ready for battle. With a quick movement, he tightened the strap on his sword, fastened a quick tie to keep the blade in its scabbard and against his back along with the weapon he'd picked up, between his wings, where it would be less likely to get in the way. He wouldn't need it for this, hopefully, and the armor would only make him clumsy, a situation he could ill afford when ever second counted.

Then, before he could second-guess himself or the dragon could do anything to stop him, the archangel took a deep breath, folded his wings and dived into the water after those who had fallen (or in Larandaithiel's case, plunged in willingly).

The water was cold, almost enough to shock him momentarily was he not bracing for it, and rushing so fast that no amount of said bracing could prevent him from being spun head over heels for a moment. Then he righted himself, positioned his body along the tunnel, spread his wings into a horizontal line like a manta ray's fins, and let the water take him. With his not resisting, even encouraging the flow, the angel shot through the water like an arrow, soon catching up to the others. He could see Tide, familiar from a world ago and known to be a friend of Raferties, pressed limply against a metal grate that was blocking their further progression. Of the others he only knew Larandaithiel on sight, though he thought he had seen the two still-conscious females briefly before. All of them were trapped by the water pressure against the metal bars, and if his eyes didn't deceive him in the dim lighting the elven healer looked wounded. Certainly, a shoulder wasn't meant to have quite that shape. And beyond them, he saw a faintly glowing lever.

Once more, the archangel's tactical mind snapped into focus, formulating a plan - however desperate and dangerous of a plan - and he put it into motion with only seconds to spare before he too hit the grate. With a twist, he righted his body and thrust his arms out so his palms slammed into the grate between them all, bracing the warrior of Solaris back at the fullest extend of his arms as he pushed back against the water. His six mighty wings spread out as well, all muscles tensing to lock the appendages at their widest stretch, all of this with one purpose: to hopefully divert some of the water pressure so the others could act more easily to grab the lever. Now, he had no idea that they had the water breathing spell active upon them, but he himself had nothing of the sort to help. All he could do was hold his breath and hope he could hold out against the strain building up both behind him and in his arms and wings. Already the water pressure was strong enough to start tearing some of the feathers away, sending them flying through the grate where they dissolved into a golden dust as was their nature. At the best, he knew he would come out of this with a few thin patches and unable to fly for about an hour while his wings dried out (the downside to their thick, normally protective feather padding: they could easily become waterlogged). At worst, the water would prove to be too strong, and either the muscles would give out and become strained or even torn, or the bones would snap.

Well, he would just have to hold out long enough, now wouldn't he?

(921 - challenge accepted!)
Note: Until further stated, Scarheart, Belial, and Cassandra have standing permission to powerplay Raferties or Anari.
Raferties and his Shinies ~~Anari and her Shinies~~ Keldos and his Shinies~~Cobalt and her Shinies~~Taki and her Shinies~~Kemori and his Shinies
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