Let's go find a dragon

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

2 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

"Month and a half's worth of travel, though I have a shortcut lined up for us that might shave a lot of that off. How come? Got somewhere to be? Someone to hide from?"

Ara laughed nervously. “That last one, probably. Though I doubt the Aerduaran government has much power this far away.” I hope I’m not putting you in danger.

[Knight of Iron she/they]

2 minutes ago, JesterLavorre said:

Ara laughed nervously. “That last one, probably. Though I doubt the Aerduaran government has much power this far away.” I hope I’m not putting you in danger.

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Ha, more like putting the government in danger of Exodus...

“I’m excellent at hiding from authorities,” he said, “If you need someplace to hide after this is all over, I can set you up somewhere nice.”

5 minutes ago, Condensation said:

"Not necessarily. I just want to know how long I'll be gone."

“Fair enough,” he said. Then, to both of them, asked, “If you could wish for one thing for yourself, of all the world has to offer, what would you wish for?”

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

27 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

“Fair enough,” he said. Then, to both of them, asked, “If you could wish for one thing for yourself, of all the world has to offer, what would you wish for?”

Ara shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess… I just want to help people be happy. Some of my family, Memory, they have so much they have to go through, deal with. I wish I could just help them somehow.”

[Trutharchivist he/him]

4 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

Roy, having watched the man eat in amazement, entered the back again and came out with four more chicken legs, which he threw on a brass plate that he slid along the countertop. He pinched the coins off the counter. "Qui' the appeti' there! Wha's your name?"

"Arik. Arik Wolfson." The tips of his lips rose a little while he kept wolfing down his food. He threw some more coins on the counter. "Bigger parts. Now."

He glanced at the three other people at the tavern. They were talking, almost too far for him to hear - if the bar was full. He could here their every word, this early hour. They talked about... dragons, and Realms. The Wolves Above told him to keep notice of these things, and so he listened.

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Unless, of course, Exodus did something to avoid unwanted listeners.

 

[Knight of Iron she/they]

7 hours ago, JesterLavorre said:

Ara shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess… I just want to help people be happy. Some of my family, Memory, they have so much they have to go through, deal with. I wish I could just help them somehow.”

Exodus nodded. "What kind of stuff do they go through?"

7 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

"Arik. Arik Wolfson." The tips of his lips rose a little while he kept wolfing down his food. He threw some more coins on the counter. "Bigger parts. Now."

He glanced at the three other people at the tavern. They were talking, almost too far for him to hear - if the bar was full. He could here their every word, this early hour. They talked about... dragons, and Realms. The Wolves Above told him to keep notice of these things, and so he listened.

Roy sighed. "I'll be back, stay ri' here." He left threw the door again, staying in the back a bit longer than he had before. The barkeeper, on the other side, was putting some sliced pork across his creation and setting it gently in the stone over the fire.

Meanwhile, a voice in Exodus's mind whispered. Yᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ.

Exodus glanced at the Wolfson. What, the barkeeper?

Tʜᴇ ᴡᴏʟꜰ-ɢᴜʏ.

Wolfson, Exodus corrected, Just a Wolfson. Not that smart.

Wʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀʏ, ʙᴏss.

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It's always your characters who end up getting information on Exodus...

 

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

7 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

Exodus nodded. "What kind of stuff do they go through?"

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Dang it, Exodus, I’m trying to avoid spoiling the book.

“Well, Memory… They say they aren’t human, that they can’t feel emotion. But… I think it hurts them, even if they don’t say so. And I wish I could help them.”
 

[Knight of Iron she/they]

Just now, JesterLavorre said:

“Well, Memory… They say they aren’t human, that they can’t feel emotion. But… I think it hurts them, even if they don’t say so. And I wish I could help them.”

Quote

What can I say? Exodus is assuming he's going to be the world's true and all-powerful god by the end of this, he wants to know how he can reward his helpers.

Exodus nodded, understanding. "A selfless wish. But nothing for yourself?"

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

3 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

Exodus nodded, understanding. "A selfless wish. But nothing for yourself?"

“I guess, I don’t need much?” Ara winced. “That kind of sounds narcissistic. But it’s true. I just don’t…” Ara’s expression went blank for a moment. Blood. The smell of burning. Memory’s panicked screams. Ara smiled. “I’m fine. My problems are trivial, in comparison.”

[Knight of Iron she/they]

4 minutes ago, JesterLavorre said:

“I guess, I don’t need much?” Ara winced. “That kind of sounds narcissistic. But it’s true. I just don’t…” Ara’s expression went blank for a moment. Blood. The smell of burning. Memory’s panicked screams. Ara smiled. “I’m fine. My problems are trivial, in comparison.”

"I am partly the same way," Exodus said, "If I could have such a wish, I'd rewrite the world, with little benefit for myself."

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

Ara looked at Minuet, smiling encouragingly. “What would you wish for?”

@Condensation

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Gotta sleep, so I’ll hand this conversation off.

 

[Trutharchivist he/him]

4 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

Roy sighed. "I'll be back, stay ri' here." He left threw the door again, staying in the back a bit longer than he had before. The barkeeper, on the other side, was putting some sliced pork across his creation and setting it gently in the stone over the fire.

Meanwhile, a voice in Exodus's mind whispered. Yᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪsɴ'ᴛ ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ.

Exodus glanced at the Wolfson. What, the barkeeper?

Tʜᴇ ᴡᴏʟꜰ-ɢᴜʏ.

Wolfson, Exodus corrected, Just a Wolfson. Not that smart.

Wʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀʏ, ʙᴏss.

Arik growled impatiently. Then, when he heard what the conversation was about now, he turned to look at them. Asking someone about their heart's desire... Now that's a good question. He listened carefully. The younger, blond girl... she longed for her friends and family to be fine. A worthy thing to long for. Then again, everything was. When his food still didn't come, he took his money bag - leaving the coins on the counter - and sat up next to them.

 

4 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

It's always your characters who end up getting information on Exodus...

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Well, perhaps it is. But Exodus is kind of right about Wolfsons; being smart is not their strongest side. But then again, they can make a lot of trouble. And they're not that stupid, I guess.

BTW, I'm not sure how long I can drag the impending meeting at "it's fine, there's still time until dawn". Should I just start?

 

[Knight of Iron she/they]

3 minutes ago, Trutharchivist said:

Arik growled impatiently. Then, when he heard what the conversation was about now, he turned to look at them. Asking someone about their heart's desire... Now that's a good question. He listened carefully. The younger, blond girl... she longed for her friends and family to be fine. A worthy thing to long for. Then again, everything was. When his food still didn't come, he took his money bag - leaving the coins on the counter - and sat up next to them.

Quote

Go ahead! The sun’s rising now, I guess.

The early rays of the sun’s light began to pour through some thick, glass windows.

Exodus nearly cringed when the Wolfson sauntered over to their table and sat down. Perhaps he could try again, to overcome his dislike of them. After all, he intended to help them, too.

“How may I help you?”

[Trutharchivist he/him]

2 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

The early rays of the sun’s light began to pour through some thick, glass windows.

Exodus nearly cringed when the Wolfson sauntered over to their table and sat down. Perhaps he could try again, to overcome his dislike of them. After all, he intended to help them, too.

“How may I help you?”

"Heard you talking about wishes. One can't wander the world without a thing to long for. Me, I long for revenge. Some monster, or dragon, or demon, stole my pack from me. But I was told that mere living is what I need to long for now." He stopped for a moment. "Say, might you be a mister X? Because some Snakeson told me to pass his greetings to you, just outside here."

_______________________________________

And then, all over the world, the Owlsons closed their eyes... 

To find themselves in the Ideal Realm, with the Great Owls, Bringers of Knowledge.

"And so, our meeting begins." Said the representative of the Parliament. "So, what new knowledge have you to share with us?" 

Sef said, in a loud voice: "I have a pressing matter to talk about-" but was cut by one of the Great Owls themselves, who said: "We know of it, librarian Sef, and so we shall start with it. A Spiritual entity, a demon by the name of Zanidar, told us of it."

The whole conclave turned their attention to it, a little surprised. What matter was pressing enough for such a thing to happen?

Another of the Great Owls spoke up: "Zanidar claimed that a prophecy came, foretelling that a certain dragon was to be approached, and that the Great Calamity is to return, unless something will be done about it."

The Owlsons started whispering among themselves. Not much was known of the Great Calamity, but one thing was clear: Wanderers in general didn't exist before it.

Yet another of the Great Owls, the Idei of Practical Wisdom, said: "The Great Calamity, as it is, will collapse the world as we know it. We made you in fear of this day, so we'll have the ability to affect the events of the Physical Realm. Now, we need to act quickly. The group which heard the prophecy, the one with the boy bounded to Zanidar, must make passage as close to the dragon city as possible. Researcher Gal, you must use quick passage through here with your fellow travellers."

Gal gasped in surprise. "But... Great Idei... I didn't think..."

"You have no time to lose." Said the Practical Wisdom Idei. "Draw the diagrams. Bring your friends. Now. And while you're at it, we'll find the closest to the mountains we can get you."

Gal prepared himself to get back to the Physical Realm, while Sef said: "no need for new drawings, Gal. I already have it ready in the library."

***

Gal opened his eyes and ran back into the tower, shouting: "Orpheus! Valzwyn! Mr. Shadow! You all need to come to the library now!"

@Channelknight Fadran, @Tesh

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I'll assume Talnic slept with us in the tower. Hopefully, Tesh'll be able to reply.

I probably could've made it more impressive. I'm not that good at writing prose, at least not as good as I wish to be.

 

[Condensation she/her]

15 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

“Fair enough,” he said. Then, to both of them, asked, “If you could wish for one thing for yourself, of all the world has to offer, what would you wish for?”

"Perhaps control?" Minuet left it vague. He didn't need to know her whole life story.

[Knight of Iron she/they]

6 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

"Heard you talking about wishes. One can't wander the world without a thing to long for. Me, I long for revenge. Some monster, or dragon, or demon, stole my pack from me. But I was told that mere living is what I need to long for now." He stopped for a moment. "Say, might you be a mister X? Because some Snakeson told me to pass his greetings to you, just outside here."

"Revenge, of course," Exodus said, "Must've been an important pack. I am Xeus, so perhaps I am this X. I have met Snakesons before. Did this particular one have a name?"

5 hours ago, Condensation said:

"Perhaps control?" Minuet left it vague. He didn't need to know her whole life story.

"Over what?" He asked, and smiled a bit. "Don't leave it vague," he added, half-joking.

6 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

Gal opened his eyes and ran back into the tower, shouting: "Orpheus! Valzwyn! Mr. Shadow! You all need to come to the library now!"

"I think Ni's back!" Orpheus shouted. "Hold on!"

[Condensation she/her]

1 hour ago, Knight of Iron said:

"Over what?" He asked, and smiled a bit. "Don't leave it vague," he added, half-joking.

"Over... oh, I don't know. Circumstances? Oneself? One's family? There could be a lot of interpretations of that." Minuet smiled slyly.

[Trutharchivist he/him]

6 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

"Revenge, of course," Exodus said, "Must've been an important pack. I am Xeus, so perhaps I am this X. I have met Snakesons before. Did this particular one have a name?"

"If you've met Snakesons before, you should've known they don't give names all too easily. This one seemed, at the moment, like a black haired man with scars over both eyes. But that'd tell you nothing, what with their illusion magic and all that. He just told me I'd meet a man named mister X inside, and to pass to him his greetings. Didn't give me any way to recognize said mister X. A Snakeson, as I said." At this last time he said the name "Snakeson" disgustedly, as some kind of swearing.

6 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

"I think Ni's back!" Orpheus shouted. "Hold on!"

Gal stopped in his place, stunned for a moment. "Ni? Didn't he die just yesterday?" He ran towards Orpheus, bumping into him and Valzwyn on their way. "What in the name of the Great Owls is going on?"

@Channelknight Fadran

_______________________________________

Meanwhile, Sef sat on his chair in the library, partially in the Physical Realm, partially in the Ideal Realm. The Owlsons there discussed on the topic of who lived the nearest to the dragon mountains. The Idei said something about Wondersouls and the probability they'd agree to help, but in the end they all agreed that salesman Ner was best. He already has the diagrams ready, too, for his own reasons.

[Channelknight Fadran]

Val was standing shellshocked in the kitchen doorway.

[Knight of Iron she/they]

14 hours ago, Condensation said:

"Over... oh, I don't know. Circumstances? Oneself? One's family? There could be a lot of interpretations of that." Minuet smiled slyly.

"Quite so," he answered. "Keep your secrets, then."

9 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

"If you've met Snakesons before, you should've known they don't give names all too easily. This one seemed, at the moment, like a black haired man with scars over both eyes. But that'd tell you nothing, what with their illusion magic and all that. He just told me I'd meet a man named mister X inside, and to pass to him his greetings. Didn't give me any way to recognize said mister X. A Snakeson, as I said." At this last time he said the name "Snakeson" disgustedly, as some kind of swearing.

"Peculiar," Exodus answered, "Well, should you see him again, tell him to mind his own business."

The barkeeper and his assistant both walked over to their table. The assistant with a plate of stacked thick chicken strips, raw, and the barkeeper with a steaming hot concoction of the odd tomato-cheese-bread, with small slices of pork layered over top of it.

"Your order's ready," the barkeeper said, smiling, and he set it down in front of Exodus, Ara, and Minuet. "I think I cooked it about right. Smells good, that's for sure."

"An' 'ere's your chicken, Arik!" said Roy cheerfully.

9 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

Gal stopped in his place, stunned for a moment. "Ni? Didn't he die just yesterday?" He ran towards Orpheus, bumping into him and Valzwyn on their way. "What in the name of the Great Owls is going on?"

4 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Val was standing shellshocked in the kitchen doorway.

"Oh, there's the kitchen," Orpheus noticed. He stepped up behind Valzwyn, near Owlson, and gaped in awe. "Cara? ...a ghost?"

@Isabelle6060

[Condensation she/her]

2 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

"Quite so," he answered. "Keep your secrets, then."

The barkeeper and his assistant both walked over to their table. The assistant with a plate of stacked thick chicken strips, raw, and the barkeeper with a steaming hot concoction of the odd tomato-cheese-bread, with small slices of pork layered over top of it.

"Your order's ready," the barkeeper said, smiling, and he set it down in front of Exodus, Ara, and Minuet. "I think I cooked it about right. Smells good, that's for sure."

"I will," Minuet said. "What's this?"

[Knight of Iron she/they]

2 hours ago, Condensation said:

"I will," Minuet said. "What's this?"

"An ancient delicacy of a long-forgotten people," he said, using a smooth knife to slice it into pieces. "They called it 'pizza'!"

[Isabelle6060 she/her]

5 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

"Oh, there's the kitchen," Orpheus noticed. He stepped up behind Valzwyn, near Owlson, and gaped in awe. "Cara? ...a ghost?"

On 8/24/2021 at 8:54 PM, S4S said:

Solemnly closing the notebook while dropping his hands in his lap, Ni slowly nodded.

Cara snapped her head up, just now noticing the crowd of people staring at them. "He's not a ghost. He's alive now, somehow..."

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

2 hours ago, Knight of Iron said:

"An ancient delicacy of a long-forgotten people," he said, using a smooth knife to slice it into pieces. "They called it 'pizza'!"

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Wait, is lgfad secretly a far-future earth? 

Ara pulled off a piece. “This looks really good, Exodus!” She awkwardly took a bite, not sure whether to use a fork or not. “Mmm. It is good.”

[Knight of Iron she/they]

16 minutes ago, JesterLavorre said:

Ara pulled off a piece. “This looks really good, Exodus!” She awkwardly took a bite, not sure whether to use a fork or not. “Mmm. It is good.”

Quote

Hehe, but it’s not. I’m just being a bit silly in inconsequential ways.

Exodus lifted up a piece and wolfed it down. “It’s divine.”

The barkeeper bowed, and moved to leave, watching them curiously.

“Not so fast,” Exodus said, “Try one.”

“I’m quite alright,” the barkeeper replied.

“Please, take one,” he insisted.

“Well, alright!” The barkeeper grabbed a slice and marched off behind his counter, where he began to eat it. “Not bad!”

Exodus looked to Arik and mentally sighed. Might as well offer one to the Wanderer. They couldn’t eat the entire thing themselves.

“Care for a piece?” he asked, trying to sound polite. “I’ve been trying to get it to catch on again.”

@Trutharchivist

[S4S]

1 hour ago, Isabelle6060 said:

Cara snapped her head up, just now noticing the crowd of people staring at them. "He's not a ghost. He's alive now, somehow..."

Placing the strange notebook back into his jacket as he heard the others approaching, Ni hesitantly looked up at the kitchen doorway. Although he didn’t meet their eyes, he noticed Valzwyn was now standing in the doorframe, and that the “plate man” and another one of the adventurers Ni had seen yesterday was standing behind her.

Wrapping his arms around himself as he continued to kneel on the floor, Ni said nothing as he pulled the edges of his damp jacket tighter around his body, almost as though he were trying to hide within the oversized coat he wore.