The Alleyway Bar.

[Nohadon he/him]

16 Years later:

The bar was still in ruins after the events of the seven day war, the building was deemed too dangerous to be rebuilt, bottles of liquor lay around the ruins, whiskeys, wines, various spirits and other various items

[Silva]

Pry turned the corner and stepped onto the cracked cobblestone of the once populated street. She herself had never seen Alleycity before the war, but she had been told it was quite glorious. 

If one can call a mess of alleys glorious.

Pry’s leather boots crunched on broken glass. She could see where root beer had been absorbed into the cracks.

Nasty. she thought. No wonder no one’s bothered rebuilding it.

She took a mental picture of the ruins, so she’d be able to sketch them later. Nothing adds more color to a collection than musty ruins of a bar.

Pry then continued on her way and left the alley, going wherever felt right.

 

Edited August 24, 2018 by Silva

[little wheel he/him]

All of a sudden, a horde of mimes, mutated from the radiation, flew in and repaired the bar at light-speed.

[Gancho Libre he/him]

And Ioc ordered a drink.

[I think I am here. he/him]

Mara appeared in the fixed bar, in awe of its renovation. She’d heard stories of this place, stories of how it’d been blown up time and time again, stories of how it had been used as an assassination grounds, how it had apparently been a favourite place to hang for Rashan Caer. She sat down on a stool and saw one other person, though it wasn’t her brother.

***

Max qiuetly entered the peaceful aura of the bar, appreciating the undisturbed silence around it.

Walking through the pristine double doors and entering this beauty of a place, he saw Mara. She looked back at him and said nothing.

***

Mara swallowed up her fear as her brother took a seat. Silph had said they needed to talk, and Mara knew it.

But before she could move or say anything, Max wrapped her in a tight embrace.

***

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,”

Max whispered the words in Mara’s ear as he continued to hug her, no intentions of letting go. “I’m sorry for rioting your fear when I was stupid, I’m sorry for shouting at you, I’m sorry for...”

And he continued, stating his problems, his flaws. Because he was sorry about being such an inconvenience to his sister. He was sorry he’d betrayed her on Hemalurgy. He was sorry, and he didn’t know what else to say.

***

Mara felt the hug and heard the words, remembering all the times they acted like siblings, all the petty arguments they had.

She felt Max’s words, she felt them resonate within her in a way emotional Allomancy never could. She tried to look at her brother’s eyes, and saw a slight tear sliding off of one. Max would probably never admit it, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Max felt what he said, truly.

After a brief moments of hesitation, Mara carefully brought her hands around Max and shared the hug.

“Me too,” she said.

————30 (Rosharan) minutes later————

“So, what have you been doing so far?” Mara’s words had a certain (good) tone to them now, which made Max happy. The siblings had moved past their initial problems. Though there was still a sense of unease every now and then, both of them believed the relationship had been mended, at least somewhat.

“Not much,” Max lied. “I did some stuff at the Ghostbloods (though he didn’t specify what), I took an odd card from the Hall of Legends (though he didn’t say what was on it), and I talked to you, and apologised.”

“Huh.” Mara said, leaning onto the bar counter. “What does the card say?” Oh well, Max could do with another person in on the secret.

“Well it’s a treasure hunt,” Max said before a childish ‘oooohh’ came from Mara. “And I think I just might now where some of the treasure is.”

Hopping behind the bar counter, Max immediatly tried searching the shelves and stands for at least three spirits, remembering what the card had said.

Three sets of armour between three sets of spirits.

He’d assumed the spirits were supernatural, before wondering if they could be a trick, and the writer actually meant three alcoholic spirits. Only one way to find out, he thought as he searched the bar.

@Nohadon

[Nohadon he/him]

Quote

Huh, For some reason I didn't see Itiah's post. That's weird.

The Bar was repaired as it was before the explosion, drinks sat unfinished from customers who left. The twins find one table, in the corner of the room. A horneater white, a scadrian whiskey and a nalthis ale sat on that table, each glass has a clear fingerprint smudge on it. The Horneater white has a faint glimmer and a sparkle at the bottom of the bottle, the wine would have to be rid of to get to it.

@I think I am here.

Edited September 7, 2018 by Nohadon

[Gancho Libre he/him]

Ioc thought the drink it wondered would be good, but it hadn't tasted that particular type before.

[I think I am here. he/him]

On 6 September 2018 at 11:21 AM, Nohadon said:

The Bar was repaired as it was before the explosion, drinks sat unfinished from customers who left. The twins find one table, in the corner of the room. A horneater white, a scadrian whiskey and a nalthis ale sat on that table, each glass has a clear fingerprint smudge on it. The Horneater white has a faint glimmer and a sparkle at the bottom of the bottle, the wine would have to be rid of to get to it.

@I think I am here.

"Huh," Max said, spotting the three glasses. "Three spirits."

"They've all got fingerprints on them," Mara chimed in. "And that one has something at the bottom."

Looking at the jug of Horneater White, Max carefully spilled the contents of the cup onto the floor, revealing what was inside.

[Nohadon he/him]

The bottle refilled itself immediately.

The other two bottles glimmered different colors. Red for Solace's and Green for Rashan's, while the horneater white glimmered blue. An Inscription showed in the air, written in Aons.

Northward bound goes the red. Impostor of the dead. He sought two of a kind. Devotion and Dominion in his mind. You will need to know both if you want the armor.

East goes the green. An assassin, skilled and keen. He fought, he saved he died. His legacy still survives. You will need to know them if you want the armor

South goes the blue, a leader. A teacher. A friend. You will need to know to who if you wish to avoid your end.

The Liquid on the floor glowed a faint blue before disappearing into the floorboards.

@I think I am here.

Edited September 7, 2018 by Nohadon

[BitBitio he/him]

Quote

Is South Kane?

pleasepleasepleasepleasebekaneahhhhhhhhh

 

[Gancho Libre he/him]

Ioc tasted it's drink. 

It was amazing.

[I think I am here. he/him]

On 08/09/2018 at 0:29 AM, Nohadon said:

Northward bound goes the red. Impostor of the dead. He sought two of a kind. Devotion and Dominion in his mind. You will need to know both if you want the armor.

East goes the green. An assassin, skilled and keen. He fought, he saved he died. His legacy still survives. You will need to know them if you want the armor

South goes the blue, a leader. A teacher. A friend. You will need to know to who if you wish to avoid your end.

Max wrote the odd phrases down, Mara behind him. “Devotion and Dominion,” she repeated.

The twins looked towards each other. Despite their squabbles, they still loved each other. Devotion.

Dominion, however. The word made Max think of the man he’d controlled, the man with the spike. He knew Dominion, sort of, in a loose way.

The Green cup was confusing. An assassin with a legacy? Max knew a lot of the Ghostbloods, but he’d never heard many documents of one dying. They were pretty powerful as was. But one did. And he’d left a legacy too.

“You don’t honestly believe Rashan Caer is a part of this riddle, do you?” Mara read his mind, picking up the Scadrian whisky and shaking it.

“I found this riddle in Master Sheonar’s statue pocket,” Max said, shrugging. “They used to be friends, right? So it makes sense.”

The Aons said they needed to go East, just as they said North for the Red, and they said they needed to know Rashan’s legacy.

But Rashan hadn’t had any belongings he left behind, had he? Only the twins, who he’d saved.

And last, the blue. Max guessed it was Master Sheonar, but Mara said it could also be Master Kane. Apparently only knowing who the Blue was would activate it, so they left it as it was.

“Hey,” Mara said, putting the whisky down and picking up the red glass. “What do you think happens if I drink this?”

“I don’t really think you sh-”

“Too late!”

She downed the glass.

@Nohadon

[Nohadon he/him]

Mara downed the red glass and began to see things. The psychadelic triggering.

 Hello there. You seek the armor. What’s the answer to the riddle of red?

@I think I am here.

Edited September 9, 2018 by Nohadon

[I think I am here. he/him]

14 minutes ago, Nohadon said:

Mara downed the red glass and began to see things. The psychadelic triggering.

 Hello there. You seek the armor. What’s the answer to the riddle of red?

@I think I am here.

Mara saw things. Flashes. She started shaking. This was so similar to when Max had supertapped fear into her, but so different. This was something else.

“Max!” She shouted. “What’s the answer to the riddle of red? What’s the answer to the riddle of red!?”

“Uhh...” Max fiddled with his notebook, finding the red riddle. “It doesn’t say there’s an answer!” He shouted back. “It just says that you need to know Devotion and Dominion.”

“Well, obviously there’s an answer,” Mara replied. “Because the rusting voice in my head is asking for it!”

Trying to stabilise herself on a nearby stool, Mara thought of who the riddle could be referring to. Devotion and Dominion. Imposter of the dead. She was only half sure the riddle was referrin to Solace, but she would do anything to get the voice out of her head.

“Solace!” She yelled to the voice. “It was Solace, but you didn’t ask for that. You asked for an answer, though there isn’t one. We just need to know Devotion and Dominion. But I’ve never known Dominion.”

Max watched intently, choosing to neglect mentioning he had, when he had controlled that spiked. It had been horrendous.

@Nohadon

Edited September 9, 2018 by I think I am here.

[Nohadon he/him]

You know of devotion, yet not of dominion. You are a part of a whole. A part that cannot work without another. You have half an answer. Not a whole.

The red glass is refilled.

@I think I am here.

[I think I am here. he/him]

“Rust,” Mara said, holding the green glass now. “I guess we’re not worthy. No red armour for us.”

“Mara, what are you doing with the green drink?”

Mara downed it, but before the voice could come she immediately tried her answer.

“Us. We’re his legacy. That and his sword, but who knows what that was. We’re his legacy, right?”

As Mara waited for an answer, Max drank the blue cup carefully, preparing his answer to the riddle.

“It’s Master Sheonar, isn’t it?” He guesses. “Devaan.”

The two waited for the responses.

@Nohadon

[Nohadon he/him]

The Bartender stopped preparing a drink for another patron as he heard the twins say their answers

That's my queue

"Ello. You two. Come with me"

He led the twins down a hidden staircase under the bar. 

"You two kids seek the armour eh? It's been five years since the last lad came in here and answered the riddle. Poor bloke, had a right good sense of adventure about him, but the trials tore him apart"

 

[Gancho Libre he/him]

Ioc grew tired of just drinking it's drink. Too slow. Instead, Ioc proceeded to stand up from it's seat, smash it's glass on the floor, tip over a couple tables and attempt to tip over the bar. It didn't realize, however, that the bar was screwed into the floor.

Dangit.

[I think I am here. he/him]

12 hours ago, Nohadon said:

The Bartender stopped preparing a drink for another patron as he heard the twins say their answers

That's my queue

"Ello. You two. Come with me"

He led the twins down a hidden staircase under the bar. 

"You two kids seek the armour eh? It's been five years since the last lad came in here and answered the riddle. Poor bloke, had a right good sense of adventure about him, but the trials tore him apart"

 

“Trials?” Max said, looking to Mara. “We can handle trials, right?”

“If you say so. Last time I remember you doing any trials, you grazed your knee and started crying.”

“That happened over a decade ago!”

“Didn’t stop it from happening, though.”

As the pair descended, Max thought of something.

“Hey, what trials are down here, anyway?”

@Nohadon

[Nohadon he/him]

"They're personalised. Changing, terrifying." The Bartender said

"Some who make it out alive are changed forever"

He stayed quiet after that comment, leading them down a winding staircase until he stopped in front of a large, ornate door made of nicrocil, inscribed in it is:

The Trials of Armor. If you wish to find it, you must go through the door. But once you enter, there is a chance you will not come back

@I think I am here.

Quote

Ok but seriously, I'M NOT KIDDING HERE there is a very real possibility character's can die in this trial, or be caused serious damage. Enter at your risk.

 

[MetaTerminal he/him]

Quote

Alright, good luck Max and Mara! Just remember the three pieces of Trial wisdom:

"Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side they see."

"A penitent man may pass."

And:

"You can't handle the truth!"

...Wait, wrong trial. What was the third one again?

 

[I think I am here. he/him]

7 hours ago, Nohadon said:

Ok but seriously, I'M NOT KIDDING HERE there is a very real possibility character's can die in this trial, or be caused serious damage. Enter at your risk.

Quote

Alright. I’ve read the Terms and Conditions, and I’m ready.

Mara looked to Max, who nodded. This seemed more serious than they’d taken it for. If the Armours were really so valuable, then there was a good chance whatever laid inside could kill them. Why would they risk their lives?

For Mara, it was easy. Adventure. Exploration. She’d made a mistake in coming this far, if she left now, she’d never let herself stop thinking of the missed opportunity.

For Max, it was something else. Because while his will to not die was strong, and he knew emotional Allomancy probably wouldn’t be as helpful now, his desire to be better was stronger. His desire to improve.

Not to mention the trials were personalised.

Looking at each other, the twins shared a look of concern as they took a step back.

And charged through the door.

@Nohadon

[Gancho Libre he/him]

Ioc was mad. It was very mad. It was also mad. Very mad.

The two mads combined to make a super MAD(TM) and that was, in itself, completely mad. Thus, it could only be used by someone who was so mad and mads that they didn't mind being either mad or mad.

Ahem.

Ioc started punching the bar.

[Nohadon he/him]

They ran straight into the door

"Oh thats my bad. Forgot to unlock it"

The Bartender opened the door

"on you go"

The twins walked through the door, and into an empty room. A voice filled their heads

Welcome, twins. You have come far, solved the riddles. You seek the armour. Overcome these three trials to receive your reward

You must face me.

A man walked into the room. He held a sword that was glittering white. He had scars along his body, a wound in his chest long healed. He wore various bands of steel on him, each one embedded into his skin. 

But His eyes.

They possessed a power about them, those eyes knew things no normal man could have.

Rashan Caer, ghostblood assassin, saviour of alley city, fell into a stance with his blade, Sethramir pointed towards the twins.

@I think I am here.

Quote

dun dun DUUUUUUUUN

 

Edited September 11, 2018 by Nohadon

[Grey Knight]

Quote

Take my upvotes, you magnificent cremling