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Rushu42

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  1. Rushu42
    Silence was a constant state for Aln, similar to breathing or having arms. She had no way to distinguish sounds, or even to really understand the concept of noise. Nevertheless, the room was the quietest she had ever heard it. She could see the flickers of conversation out of the corner of her eye. The others in the room had ignored her panic. Well, why wouldn't they? She was nothing to them. The Sleepless - it was the Sleepless, right? - was ignoring her too, crawling aimlessly across the floor. Her breath came fast, all remnants of her previous calm vanishing from her mind. Her spren might have said something, but she couldn't hear him over the silence. She felt the ghost of pressure on her eyelid, saw the shadow of a demonic grin. For a moment, bullets filled the air around her. She was fifteen again, completely alone, in a world she couldn't understand, listening to people she couldn't hear. From her hands streamed her brother's blood and her own ineffective Stormlight. The faces of all those whom she had failed to help drifted into her mind. Trent. Nultūk. Xena. That Worldhopper girl. The friendly soldier from Roshar. The countless innocents who had died in the war. Temeria. Knowledge is power, whispered the echo of a distant memory. Well, it wasn't. Because she had devoted her whole life to learning, and she was still helpless. She was so storming helpless. She stared at the bug, hands shaking. She remembered the hatred in Temeria's eyes that morning. Her sister's expression had carried contempt for the coward whom she saw. Aln's eyes flickered up, taking in the room. She saw rows of thick books in plain bindings, stretching from the floor to the ceiling. They were from all over the universe. Once, she had run away from those who wanted to hide her in library, sealed off from the outside. She had left her home, seeking adventure, searching for the sort of knowledge that could only be found by living it, not just by reading it. Each fragment of information had been a precious gem, a hard-won victory. Now sshesat, like those books, on a dusty shelf, forgetting and being forgotten by the world. Because it had been hard, and it had been scary, and she had been alone. But she was still afraid. And she was still alone. Hardly realizing what she was doing, she rounded the desk, her purposeful stride carrying her towards the insect. She was tired of the fear. She was tired of being helpless. Her foot raised, and she slammed it into the dark carapace, again and again, and again. The terror remained, but there was something stronger behind it. Aln was done with hiding. @Ark1002
  2. Rushu42
    Eyes still fixed on the ceiling, Aln knew nothing of the conversation around her. Her thoughts were running in panicked circles. How did he find me? Why isn't he dead? How do I get away? WHY ISN'T HE DEAD? "Aln," said a quiet, familiar voice in the back of her head. "Calm down. Close your eyes." She hated to let the bug out of her sight, but she obeyed. She felt a surge of panic as the darkness fell around her - what was happening in the room? What if the bug moved? - but she took several deep breaths, and imagined a shimmering globe, rotating in the darkness. Her breathing slowed, and she could feel some clarity return to her mind. "Now," said her spren, "what do you know about Sleepless?" She recalled the research she had done, poring through fragments of histories and vague descriptions of encounters. They have one consciousness, but their body is formed of hundreds or thousands of cremlings. This makes them very versatile and very powerful. Because their mind can survive when much of their body is destroyed, Sleepless are very hard to kill. It is, however, possible to do so if you destroy enough of the cremlings. They're found all over the Cosmere. "So what are the options?" Perhaps he stored his consciousness in a separate, secure group of cremlings, sl allowing them to survive the attack. That seems like a probable precaution, as he mentioned having been wounded before. Perhaps his mind was mostly destroyed, and now the remaining cremlings are returning to me as the last thing they saw. Unlikely after six months, though. Perhaps it was a different Sleepless, or even an ordinary bug. "So what can be done?" I don't know. Aln felt the panic welling up again, overwhelming whatever calm her spren had instilled. She wrenched her eyes open, and saw the cremling crawling towards her across the floor. She jumped backwards around the desk, and fumbled for the nearest thing she had to a weapon - a small knife of the sort used for sharpening pencils. "What do you want?" She asked the bug, ignoring her spren. She could feel her voice trembling. "Why did you come here?" @Ark1002 @mathiau @Invocation
  3. Rushu42
    The Stormlight streamed into the air, dissipating ineffectively, and Aln sagged, disappointed. Why could she never heal when it mattered? Suddenly, the man stopped thrashing an muttering, and sat up. Heartbeat still thudding with adrenaline, Aln started to say something, but stopped when she saw his tears. She tensed, unsure of how to comfort him. She settled on trying to help him back to his seat, saying gently, "You had some sort of fit. Apparently it was associated with a vision of some sort, either a hallucination or perhaps a memory. If you like, you could try writing it down, and I could help you make sense of it." She felt helpless as she walked to grab some more paper from her desk. Gathering it, she noticed that Myriad's spanreed was flashing. She debated for a moment, then turned back to the amnesiac; his needs seemed more urgent. As she returned, her eyes automatically took in the room. In the dim light, it took her a moment to realize what the dark shape on the ceiling was. And then she froze. She could feel her breath coming faster. Perhaps it was only an ordinary bug? But no. It had the same horrible, dark carapace that she could not banish from her dreams. She stumbled back into her desk, and her trembling hand unconsciously touched her eyelid. He had died. HE WAS GONE. Right?! @Ark1002
  4. Rushu42
    Aln jumped backwards as the man suddenly tumbled from the chair, his forehead narrowly missing the table. His eyes were far away, lips twitching as if to form words. Aln hesitated, then drew Stormlight into herself, dimming the lights around the room. The familiar energy surged within her, and her thoughts seemed to quicken. DidI not heal him properly the first time? No... The concussion was gone. This must be something else. Related to his amnesia, perhaps? There was no time to wonder. She poured Progression into him, hoping for something.
  5. Rushu42
    Aln raised a bit of an eyebrow, but nodded. "Seems like a reasonable test." She carefully tore a piece of paper from her book, and handed it over, along with a pencil. She held still for a moment, insuring that he could get a sufficient look at her, then stood up. "I hope you don't mind if I attend to something while you do that?" Without waiting for a response, she walked over to where Zerameth sat, and leaned against the low table. "How are you feeling?" She asked. "Have you seen-" she gestured vaguely - "anything else?" As she spoke, she took in his appearance. His wound seems healed - that's just dried blood in his hair. He looks troubled, though, and frightened. How did he lose his memory? @Invocation
  6. Rushu42
    The sun had barely leaked its rays over the horizon when Alderbon slammed to the ground in the middle of the Plaza. He still wore the dramatic cloak from the night before, and his angular crown was fitted around his forehead. Stormlight trailed slowly from his eyes as he examined the scene, noting spots of rough terrain and points of exit. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his Blade. As the light began to warm the rooftops of the sleeping settlement, he let a thin smile twist the corner of his mouth. They would know of the Law soon enough. @Elend Venture
  7. Rushu42
    A few hours ago? It must be his bane, then. Aln wrote down what he told her, then looked up. It seemed like an extreme bane, particularly given what his boon was. Usually the Nightwatcher balanced these things out. "So you can only pay attention one thing at a time? That's a pretty significant liability. Does your mind process things faster when you're focused?"
  8. Rushu42
    Aln scribbled something on to her page. "Interesting. Is this a common occurrence?"
  9. Rushu42
    After a moment of watching the figures disperse, Alderbon dismissed his Blade and strode away.
  10. Rushu42
    Aln glanced in the direction of his finger; he pointed at the door to the restroom. Then she gently took his arm and guided him to a chair. Sitting as well, she focused on him, flipping her notebook open. "What exactly just happened?"
  11. Rushu42
    Alderbon, who had stepped into a side alley, glanced back as he saw a few figures emerge from the tavern. He watched with narrowed eyes for a moment, then slipped deep into the shadow of a building. Before hiding himself, he drove his Shardblade into the ground, leaving it as a huge, silvery marker for any who sought him. And, from concealment, he watched.
  12. Rushu42
    King Alderbon watched with a raised eyebrow as the man started a fight with minimal provocation. He had also claimed a title; interesting. Perhaps it was worth going to the duel just to gain more information on this man. "You are second to no man!" Ranted his spren in his head. "His ignorance must be punished!" Peace, Alderbon responded, still staring at the door. The city will learn of me soon enough. He glanced back at the insolent girl, and his fingers twitched on the hilt of his Blade. He stopped himself; it is not lawful to kill one so young. "This is no place for children," he said sternly. Then he dropped to the floor and strode from the room. The door fell to the ground with a thud as his Shardblade sliced through the hinges, and he was soon enveloped in the night. @kenod
  13. Rushu42
    Probably not, but I personally would not be in favour. Perhaps the fact that Adolin isn't necessarily my favourite character affects this, but I feel like Adolin as an Edgedancer would feel too contrived. I'm also not super thrilled with the idea of resurrecting Maya; I suppose it just feels rather predictable. Of course, I'd love to see some good Adolin development. One of my favorite moments with him was when he mentioned how he feels out of place now, overshadowed by all of the Radiants. I thought that was fascinating, but it's hard to dig deeper if he suddenly gains those powers, and returns to his status as one of the most important people in the room. I don't wish him ill, but I think that handwaving Maya's death and pushing him back into the spotlight would be a waste of an interesting opportunity for growth. Plus, he provides a refreshing perspective as one of the only non-Radiant major characters. It just doesn't feel like something Sanderson would do.
  14. Rushu42
    I'm still on for the MIT hunt, but I can't do the SPH with you guys due to scheduling. I'll probably look at the puzzles at another time, though.
  15. Rushu42
    "What were you doing before your visit to the Nightwatcher? You're from Scadrial..." She trailed off. Folorian was staring at Zerameth, and had clearly heard nothing. She stepped up to him, and cautiously tapped him on the shoulder. "Are you okay?" She reached into her satchel as she said this, and retrieved a notebook. He had mentioned a bane - perhaps she could glean some more information from this.
  16. Rushu42
    New information about the Knight Radiants? Well, perhaps I can help with that. Her eyes flickered back to where the amnesiac sat quietly. She'd have to see to him eventually. Perhaps it was worth establishing a permanent lodging associated with the Guild. Aloud, she said, "Interesting. That's not a boon/bane pair that I've seen before. I try to catalogue any that I come across. This was very recent, then?"
  17. Rushu42
    Aln nodded again. "I should be able to help with that. If I may ask, how did you come here? I'm always interested in the stories of others."
  18. Rushu42
    Aln nodded. That should make things easier. "In that case, I may be able to contact your family. Whereabouts on Scadrial?"
  19. Rushu42
    Aln sighed slightly. A Rosharan date. Unhelpful. "There's a certain amount of time distortion in the Alleyverse. It's status as a pocket universe allows it to connect with worlds that are each at different times, and sometimes even the same world during different Eras. The most notable example is Scadrial, where you're from. We separate Scadrian history into two periods: Era 1 and Era 2. These are pre-Catacendre and post-Catacendre, respectively. It is far more difficult, impossible, even, to access Era 1 Scadrial from the Alleyverse. So tell me: when you left, did the Lord Ruler reign?"
  20. Rushu42
    Alderbon watched him start towards the exit. "It is good that you are willing to serve the crown," he responded, the edge to his voice softening. "We always have use for a strong fighter. You may join my forces. Prove yourself, and you will receive great rewards." The girl was muttering again, quite rudely. He did not wish to kill a child; she would someday learn subservience.
  21. Rushu42
    Aln nodded. She'd reach out to Temeria about lodging at some long, but she still had to figure out how to interact with her sister. For now, she could pull down a spare mattress. The other question might be more difficult. She had some contact with a few universities in Scadrial, but nothing fast or easy. And if he was from Era 1, time distortion could make that nearly impossible. "That depends," she responded carefully. "When are you from?"
  22. Rushu42
    Alderbon turned his head slowly, ignoring the insolent child who was muttering to herself. "I have been chosen," he stated calmly. "I am the Law." He still hovered several feet above the ground, enhancing his already formidable height. He shifted his grip on his Shardblade. "Now is the time to kill them," urged his spren. "They require punishment." Patience, he returned. They have broken no law, as of yet.
  23. Rushu42
    Aln let a smile flicker onto her face. "You're welcome to join. We require no qualifications; I'm hardly going to turn away someone who seeks knowledge. Besides, I'm sure that your actions will speak for themselves eventually." She paused. "You likely need a place to stay, correct? Unfortunately, the guild itself does not contain lodgings, but I'm sure that I can help you arrange something." Temeria said that Mac gave her his boardinghouse. I wonder if she'll keep it open for the public. She began digging in her bag; after a moment, she emerged with a small form, which she handed to Folorian. "If you wouldn't mind signing this, please." It read: I, the undersigned, hereby pledge myself to the Guild of Scholars, and promise to strive to gather and spread knowledge throughout the Alleyverse and corresponding worlds. Signed, _______________
  24. Rushu42
    Aln hesitated, trying to pull her thoughts together. It had already been a long day, and this was a complicated explanation. "To answer your first question, that depends on what you mean by 'Cosmere' If you're using this to be synonymous with 'universe', then for the most part, no. There are some complicated experiments with Alleys and whatnot, but the more widely accessible places are just planets. Of course, there are more beyond the standard 'Cosmere' set (by which I mean Roshar, Scadrial, Nalthis, Threnody, etc.). These mostly consist of parallel 'Earths' - which are each alternative realities on the same planet of 'Earth'. This subject only gets more complicated the further you examine it; I spend much of my time trying to work these things out." She glanced back at the amnesiac for a brief moment, to see how he was taking this in, then returned her attention to Folorian. "As for your second question, the Worldspike is a massive Hemalurgic spike that was initially used to create this world. It essentially spiked stability into this realm. Where, exactly, the DA acquired such a spike, I don't know." It irked her, sometimes, talking about these things. She had had to spend a lifetime travelling around the universe and poring through old books just to figure out what she knew now, and she still likely got half of it wrong. And yet, there were people in this city that knew the answers to all of these questions. Why did the DA insist on remaining so storming mysterious? She had to stop herself. She was still on edge from her encounter with Temeria (which she could still barely wrap her head around), and fielding questions on complex Realmatic theory was hardly helping. All she wanted to do was hide behind her desk with a thick history book, maybe from Reckoner's Earth. @Invocation
  25. Rushu42
    Ah, a new arrival, Aln thought. Makes sense. "If you're seeking information, you've come to the right place," she replied. "This guild's mission is to seek and distribute truth." Her eyes darted back to the other man - the amnesiac - for a moment. There was still a mystery there to be solved. But Folorian was looking at her expectantly, and she remembered how it had been when she had first arrived herself. She gave an inward sigh, then gestured to the unnamed man. "Just one moment." Then she turned back to Folorian. "This is the Alleyverse, or to be more precise, the Alleycity." She pointed in the direction of a map which hung in the space between two bookshelves. "You can think of it as a pocket universe that is tied to the Alleyways of most worlds. The reason we can all speak the same language is a subject of some debate, but the most widely accepted theory at the moment is that the huge amount of Investiture in the Worldspike is powerful enough to instantly Connect your Spirit Web to the world. Interestingly, the same effect does not apply to written languages."
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