xinoehp512

Nogard stood up. "He killed it." He shot a look of hate at Rotcennoc.

I mean, is there a specific sort of vehicle that a reasonably everyday person could get on that would take them from one place to another through the alleys?

Rotcennoc looked up at Araha. His irises had begun to fade to their usual color, but they still glinted with shadow. "Are you sure you want to know the answer to that question?"

Is there an Alleytransit system?

Rotcennoc shot a glance towards Araha and Damaya, then turned back towards the gemheart. He reached in and strengthened the connection between it and Royeta. Idly, he noticed that the power in the glove was nearly out. He queried the island for a direct channel of Investiture. After a brief delay, he felt the energy boosting what he had stored. He frowned. The island seemed distracted. Royeta? ~~~~~~~ Kate saw the fall of the alleycane with mounting anger. It may have been unnamed, but that didn't mean it didn't deserve to live. How could the island just sit there while the birds devoured it? But, of course, she knew why. Why incite the wrath of the birds when it didn't have to? It was far easier for the birds to take down alleycanes than islands, especially unnamed ones. And when the alleycane fell - for it inevitably would - the two alleycanes that had just shown up could deal with what was left. As the storm gave its last blow and disappeared, Kate's rage boiled over. I will not wait! she shouted at Michael. And with that, she charged the island.

Nekorb followed.

Victory! Good game to all.

Rotcennoc closed his eyes and focused, reaching into the gemheart with his mind. He felt the spirit of the island that was grounded in the gemheart. It wasn't much; it was basically a baby, by island standards. In a normal case, other islands - usually the "parents"- would contribute stone, dirt, and - most importantly - life. The island would connect to it, making the land themself. After that, base knowledge would be added directly (again, usually by the parents) At that point, the island would be as intelligent as most adults. But, of course, that was all moot in this case. Because Royeta wanted this gemheart for a different purpose. He pulled on the power of his glove and grasped the soul of the gemheart. His eyes opened. The irises were black. There was a flash of black light. Rotcennoc exhaled. He had succeeded. The new island was no more.

@Sorana, @Silva

How did I miss this? I should have gotten a notification... Signing up.

Do not worry, small one, spoke the island. Your friend recovers already. ~~~~~~~ Nogard uttered a groan as the pain receded from him. He opened his eyes, but did not make any move to sit up. He felt empty inside, as though something had drained him of his energy. He felt Investiture begin to flow into him, but it was far weaker than it had been. What was going on? He managed to get to a sitting position just in time to see the stranger raise the gemheart to the ceiling. ~~~~~~~ The unnamed alleycane faltered above the island. Weakened by the shadowbirds, it could not resist the pull of the gemheart below. With one last blow of wind, it let itself be pulled into the gemheart fully.

Rotcennoc shot Damaya a brief glance. "Why don't you ask the island?" He turned back to the gemheart, which had continued to grow.

Rotcennoc shook his head in disbelief. "Again, it's not me. I-" He cut off and looked down at has hands. Nestled between them was a small silvery gemstone. He sucked in a breath and smiled. "There we go," he spoke softly.

Rotcennoc shook his head. "There is no other way. Trust me, this is for the best." ~~~~~~~ Kate blew impatiently. Michael? ~~~~~~ Rotcennoc felt the connection shift. It was time. He cupped his hands together and concentrated. Something glinted.

I would treat it as physical enhancement plus however much you think a shade is worth. Imagine it as an epic power, for example.

This is spoilers, right? I haven't read the book yet, so...

Will we be informed of who attacked us if we successfully defend?

Rotcennoc watched his hand intensely. Any moment now... Suddenly, he felt a warning from the island. He looked up just in time to see one of the women - Araha? - sprinting towards him. He yelped and threw up a shadow wall in front of her. He glared at her. "It wasn't me who did that." He pointed at Nogard. "And I need to concentrate for this next part, so please, don't attack me." ~~~~~~~ Michael waited, then called out again Island? Can you move? No response.

Michael reached out to the island. Island? he thought-spoke. Are you there? He felt a pulse of acknowledgement. Can you move? We're going to attack the birds, and we don't want you to get hurt. There was no response from the island. ~~~~~~~ Up above, the center of the storm passed over the center of the island. Far below, in the cavern, Rotcennoc's eyes snapped open. "Now," he whispered. ~~~~~~~ The island shivered with happiness at the word. At last. She reached out and pulled on the connection to Kodeka. The connection that, coincidentally, passed through Nogard. ~~~~~~~ Nogard heard Araha and Damaya ask him what was wrong as if through a crowded room. He tried to respond that he was fine, they didn't need to worry, but he couldn't seem to form the words. Suddenly, he felt a pain - no, an agony- explode inside of him. He felt himself being stretched in a strange way. It was like being the rope in a game of tug-of-war played with giants. And, in a way, that's what it was. He crumpled to the ground, unable to even cry out.

So wait - does Aluminum remove the powers of the person it is spiked into? Is it permanent, or only as long as the spike lasts? This is spicy. Can't wait to see this actually in effect!

I need a feature that automatically opens spoilers like the mods.

It's empty.

That's true. Probably go with Mac's nicrosil feruchemy idea.

The island rumbled. He speaks the truth, small one. He is here to rescue me. Rescue me from this half-life here, back to the skies.... She trailed off. She opened the hole at the top a little wider. At the top of the cavern, wing-beats stirred, hidden to the people below. The island turned her attention to Nogard. Do not be alarmed, small one. I will not harm you. With that, she reached into his soul and grasped his connection to the other island. ~~~~~~~ Nogard let out a gasp. Something had just happened, although he wasn't too sure what. Everything seemed to have taken on a dreamlike quality. It all seemed strangely far away.