TURN FIFTY-TWO: MIDDAY SOJOURNERSAlrighty. Now that I've gotten that massive workload from the weekend out of the way, I am able to focus more on updating this RtD more frequently. The max will still be 2 weeks, but if there are less players posting, I might be able to update a turn once every 4 days to 2 weeks, depending on how the future days look for me and how many people post quickly. Hopefully, this will strike a good balance between giving people more chances to post and not burning myself out. Also, the reason there's a four-day-minimum is to give some people time to post longer responses if they wish. However, if you guys/girls would like that to be different, please let me know.
Thanks.
((Also, I still haven't finished what I need to work on with the Compendium, but it'll come, it'll be here soon
TM.))
Alex would stare over in curiosity. He would get down low and watch the creature. He felt burning interest towards the brutal beast. It was what he strives to be. A manifestation of death, vengeance for losing what they once had. "What a brutal creature. I like it."
Alex RamanIt is interesting that someone of your caliber would be attracted to the brutality of a creature like the one you are currently witnessing. One would think that, with
your power, someone would be willing to work as an archetypal superhero - someone who protects the innocent against the evil. Apparently, this was not the exact figure you had in mind. Revenge, however,
might still fall under the umbrella of the hero type, though. I'm not completely sure how many people killed turns you from a hero to a villain, though. We will have to see shortly.
Feeling no particular love for the Theyin guard, you simply take cover behind a fence and watch the creature do its work. This turns out to be a wonderful arrangement for you, as you don't have to risk your life trying to exact your revenge. Perhaps, while it is distracted, you will be able to either run or move closer, depending on your will. Now then, let's turn our attention back to the action. The beast, with a strange liquid - perhaps blood - dripping out from its chest, raises one of its limbs, presumably to strike at the guard. You watch with a pinch of excitement as the monster attempts to kill the guard. In a turn of fate, the other guard fires a quick burst at the monster, with three of four bullets hitting it. This time, the monster decides that the bullets are too much to ignore. It flinches back off of the struggling guard, screams with a sharp pitch, and begins to charge at the other guard instead. The first guard takes this opportunity to scramble back for his gun. Fearing for his partner's life, he shouts,
"Run, Jackson, run! Move!" The other guard - the one named Jackson - catches the hint and takes off in a sprint, ducking around the corner of a building. The monster pursues, continuing to leave heavy amounts of what you presume to be blood behind it. It definitely is wounded somehow, but it doesn't seem to mind that too much. However, due to the injuries, it seems to be moving slower than it was before.
You notice that the other guard is hesitating. He can't decide whether to ditch his partner and save his own life or risk himself and potentially be killed. A second later, he decides that perhaps his partner is worth the trouble, and he runs after the monster. He seemingly resists the urge to fire at the monster, presumably wanting to avoid collateral injury. He moves around the same corner that the two other entities whirled around. You see no one else in the street, though you can still hear voices around the city and an alarm blaring off. People seem to be staying in their homes still, but you can definitely see lamps and lights being turned on as curiosity possesses the townspeople.
You are still suffering from dizziness and lack of energy, but you seem to be recovering at an extremely slow pace. You don't think that you'll be able to use your powers very well, if at all.
"Hmm. 'Jan', you interest me. I would like to have a conversation with you about some of the more intricate things of the world. But you must swear to keep this a secret from everyone, or the boogeymen will get you. Do you agree?"
Rune"Jan" has a peculiar understanding of her surroundings, one that would suggest she is more perceptive than the average human being. Perhaps she may be of use to you. She could enlighten you on some of the recent events or the stirring of your power -
if, indeed, she has that knowledge. However, for all you know, she might just be a common girl who just so happened to see through your ruse. That doesn't stop you from attempting to see if she has any abilities or potential that could be advantageous to you.
The other two boys have already left, intimidated by the soul-wrenching, impassive stares from the golems. Your protectors seemed to have done their job well in intimidating the young ones. Hopefully, they will have the same effect on militia or even trained soldiers. If not, their fists and legs should be able to convince them otherwise. Jan looks up to you and remains silent for a moment. She looks around her, noticing that the other two boys already escaped. Returning her gaze to you, she says,
"Well, I don't believe in boogeymen. But if it's a secret you want, then I shall keep it." It interests you that she does not mention that this is still a dream to her, but you continue to play along. She has promised her secrecy now.
Thankfully, nobody seems to have been alerted yet to your presence down here. At the very least, you'll be able to converse with Jan for a short while before you're at risk of being spotted by someone, armed or otherwise.
"Well done, you're improving. I'm going to go to the town and see about that sword. I'll be back later."
Time to locate Deon, and keep my eyes open on the way in case I pass where I need to go on my way - no point in wasting time.
LirianCromwell seems to be somewhat satisfied, giving a small smile.
"Alright then. Let me know what you find. Take care." With that out of the way, Cromwell returns to the interior of the Kito Complex, while you head out to the town in search of a quality blade that you could use to aid in your future struggles. It would be prudent to first seek Deon out, who probably knows where you could find a blade better than you could, you being an outsider and all.
It takes you about ten to fifteen minutes, but you do find Deon. He's sitting at a table outside of a restaurant in the center of the town, eating a small lunch. You approach him and greet him, asking how his day has gone so far. His eyes brighten up as he sees you approaching.
"Oh, hey! How's your stay been at the Kito residence? Has Allen taken care of the two of you?" You continue to chat with him for a little while longer before asking him if he knows about a weapons store in the town, preferably with some swords.
"Uh, well, don't really know why you would need a sword. But if you do, I know where to find it. Ms. Ulrich lives on the other side of town. She owns a store with a bunch of different hand weapons and guns, though I've heard that she charges a sizable amount. Just let me finish my lunch and I'll take you there."After allowing him to finish eating his meal, you walk with him to the east end of town. It's past a few streets and corners, but you are able to remember the path to the store that he describes. You also take note of other places around the town, such as eateries, government buildings, and other stores which might be useful in the future.
Soon enough, you enter the store that Deon pointed you to. Deon waves you goodbye for the moment and you walk up to the counter, looking around at the rifles, shotguns, and knives racked up on the wall. A disinterested-looking woman notices you and places her hands on the other side of the counter.
"Welcome to the Armata. How can I help you?"
If the river is within earshot, go back to the river, then drink from the river and eat some of my stored food. If I cannot hear the river, drink from my waterskin and eat some of my stored food, then try to remember which direction the river is.
Jonathan EridisAs best as you can with your wounds, you pick yourself up and start off in the direction where you think the river is. You can hear the very faint running of water in the distance. You might as well head in that direction, seeing as there's no other indication as to where the river could be, and the events of yesterday have left you very disoriented. It pains you to walk, but walk you must, lest you keel over and die on the ground before you. The images of that slimy creature and the bony, animated structure still linger in the back of your mind, like a faint foggy imprint on a window.
Mother Nature has decided to be kinder to you today. The environment is fresh and inviting. The air smells of rain, the soil below you softens and morphs below your feet, and birds fly overhead, hopping between trees. There could never have been a more verdant day than today for you. You continue trekking through the forest, getting closer and closer to the source of the sound of running water. Finally, you come across exactly what you were looking for. The same river that you were at before runs before you, continuing to snake down the forest and closer to the horizon. Plants and flowers of all types spread along the river bank, taking in the abundant moisture and proudly displaying green, magenta, and yellow colors.
If yesterday did not happen, you would have sworn that nature bestowed a gift upon you. You decide to dip your feet in the cold water, letting it run over you and relax you. To the side, you collect water in your hands and drink the fresh water. It's as refreshing and cool as it looks and feels. Deciding to bask in this moment, you take some dry food from your bag and nibble away at it.
After about twenty minutes of this, you retreat from the river and take up a spot near a particularly large tree, curling up in the space in the tree trunk's shape. You feel much better now, now having gotten time to rest and replenish yourself. You'll still need to figure out a way to get something to bandage your wounds properly, but for now, you feel just about good enough to continue walking for a little while longer. The help of the stream's direction will give you a boost to your traveling efficiency. Overall, things are looking up from where you were last time.
((
Head's up: Time dilation will take effect next turn for you, due to your remoteness and your relative health. So plan your turn for about an hour or two of in-game actions.))
Eh Ah
Well, take the woman back to Aecrocia. She seems touched in some fashion, perhaps a useful subject for further study. Not like standing around here is much better for her.
Eh AhIndeed, you are correct. There's no use in leaving the woman behind here in her trance. At the very least, you might be able to bring her to the Empress or another involved figure to understand what she's experiencing. Though her appearance was somewhat unexpected, you've found at least
something that you could report back to the Empress. Perhaps this will go some way to figuring out where you are to go now, and how you would go about rebuilding your life - if that's even possible at this stage.
You decide to take the same path back that you took coming here. There's no point in complicating your route if you're just looking to get back to Aecrocia. You experience no troubles along your path and urge the woman along as she stumbles in her half-asleep state of mind. After about a half an hour of walking, you make it back to the city. Nothing much seems to have changed since you left. Theyin soldiers still walk among civilians, though with less frequency than before. Reconstruction is still taking place for the buildings and the roads that were shelled. A tension is still in the air between some of the soldiers and younger population, but overall, the atmosphere seems to have stabilized. This is the best you could have hoped to come out of the situation, for the moment. There is still a lot to be done and many questions to be asked.
It would seem odd to most people that you are guiding around a comatose woman, so you decide to take some of the back alleys near the bay. This was the same area that you took refuge in originally when the invasion of the island began. Deciding to take a little rest, you let go of the woman's hand and sit against the wall.
You're currently about three hundred meters from the government complex, where Seira Theyin has taken up her limited office. As expected, the woman with you continues to stare into a brick wall, focusing on nothing in particular.
Warren Drake
"Not a drinker?" Warren wonders. "Have you actually had a drink before?"
"Well, in any case, some food would be much appreciated."
Ask. Possibly receive food. How buzzed am I at the moment, by the by? If not particularly, take one last sip.
Warren DrakeYou are not very surprised by her rejection of your offer. After all, due to her relative distance from civilization, she might not have access to drinks or have a real preference for that sort of enjoyment. Attempting to establish conversation, you ask her if she has ever had a drink.
"No," she responds,
"Water and juice sustain me. Well, whenever I can get juice that is. Most of the time, I just eat the fruits directly." This would make sense, considering she is in the middle of the forest and seemingly living off of the earth. In fact, if you didn't know any better, you'd say that she was
literally born out of the earth. That would certainly make for an interesting story of genesis.
With that out of the way, you reply to her offer of food positively.
"Right then! I'll be back quickly." You nod and watch her disappear into her shelter. About a minute later, she returns with a bowl full of apple pears, chestnuts, and leeks. "Full" is a more relative term here, as she doesn't seem to have
that much food. The bowl is only about as large as your head, so there's not too much in the way of food for the both of you. However, before you can respond, she adds a bit of information.
"Most of it's fresh. I was planning on saving it, but you're welcome to take as much as you want. I don't need to eat much on my own."You don't feel like you're particularly inebriated at the moment. Sure, you're feeling the beginnings of the buzz, but it's not too bad right now. You could afford another sip. You remove the cap from the bottle and once again take another drink, downing the rough liquid quickly before replacing the cap.
Author's Note: So, yes. I'm going to try and be quicker with the turns and have them be a liiiiiiiiitttle shorter to speed it up a bit. I won't compromise anything important, however. You can be sure of that.
Thank you everyone and have a wonderful week,
Artemis.
Author
Topic: Roll To Medium: Awakening [Chapter VI] (Read 146357 times)