OK, I'm finally out of the funk, and should be for a while. I might even release another turn today if you people are fast enough with your actions.
TURN 2:Thom:
Now, where could I find some money? Thom thought to himself, as he wandered the underground. The other Warlocks were generally quite reticent about offering work, there were only so many underhanded things you could do in a day, after all.
Need work?
The voice came seemingly out of nowhere, and Thom drew his blade. You could never trust the shadows. However, his fears were assuaged when a man, wearing the uniform of an Empath, stepped forward.
"I have a proposal for you, if you wish to earn some money. Nothing too hard, and if you perform well I may even recommend you to my superiors for further employment."
"Interesting. What is required?"
"Oh, nothing out of your abilities to handle, I can assure you. You would be accompanying some others on an artifact hunt. You would simply be required to remove any of your kin's minions during our travels. Others would be employed to protect you from any physical harm."
"How much?"
"That will be negotiable, but on a successful mission, I can assure you will be well rewarded - three to five units (a unit being one month of an official's pay)."
Thom didn't need to think twice about that offer... or did he?
"The catch?"
"Ah. Only minor, I can assure you. The artifact's location is on the other side of the Demon's Maw. But as I said, there will be more than sufficient protection."
"I'll think about it."
"Don't take too long. We leave at the end of the week. Oh, and I'm sure the Orders would be very interested in hearing about the 'Master' you've been soliciting."
Martin & Trap:
"Woah."
This place was massive, far larger than anything Martin had ever seen. Luckily, the stranger, Trap he said his name was, seemed to know his way around. Finally, he paused in front of a rather imposing carving, depicting a many headed monster devouring an opponent.
"This is it. Mind if I come with you? I'd like to see inside."
"Sure, I guess. Are you allowed?"
"No one's stopped me yet."
And with that, Trap led the way, pushing past a gaggle of unnaturally pretty women, who glared at Martin as he tried to squeeze past.
"Woah."
There were Shapers EVERYWHERE. All in groups, talking, lounging around, or even sparring. Attracted to the combat, Martin headed in for a closer look, Trap close behind.
Two men sood facing each other, in a prepared stance. Another man was there, clearly as a referee of sorts. With a clap of his hands, the battle begun. The first man immediately leapt into the air, sprouting wings and great slashing talons. Taking flight, he swooped around, preparing to dive at his opponent. Unfazed, the other man simply stood there, waiting. As the bird-man reached the end of his dive, preparing to strike, the other suddenly exploded into motion. Thousands of whiplike tentacles burst from his skin, ensnaring the unprepared bird man. Drawn in, the bird-man struggled, desperately changing form, but he was held fast. Grinning, the victor held one bone-bladed arm to bird-man's throat.
"My win."
Impressed, Martin watched as the two returned back to (roughly) humanoid forms. He'd never learnt to fight, only heal. Now, he felt the burning desire to fight as they did. Breathing deeply, he approached the victor.
"Um... sir. Do you know where, ah, I could learn to fight like that?"
"Hmmmm? It's easy! All you need is a brain. Tell you what, I'll show you to the tutors, they should be able to give you some advice.
"Wait, I just need to check with my fri... never mind"
Trap was gone, leaving elsewhere during the battle. Shrugging, Martin went off in the direction he was pointed, happily grinning to himself. That fight was AWESOME!
Trap(continued):
Alone, Trap looked around. He appeared to have found away into some sort of enclosure. A single, massive tree took up the centre, thousands of gnarled branches reaching into the sky. Trap tried to step closer to the tree, but had no luck - there was some kind of barrier.
"No one's allowed there anymore, after what I did"
Trap felt a chill on the back of his neck. The voice was a young child's, but he had checked, and no one was around. Something felt weird, and suddenly he turned around, to see a young boy, grinning up at him.
"Who are you? What are you?"
The boy's eyes lit up.
"The Tome Eternal, Historian of this planet and the people that have been and will be, record keeper of all eternity. But you can call me Tome. I have a message for you. Things are happening. My old foe stirs, and I am currently bound. I would stop him myself, but that is out of the question. Stupid greedy people are heading over the mountains, but they'll wake him up for sure. Accompany the one who can create. He has a part to play. Beware nobles and those who pretend to offer deals. In the end, there is no choice. A Link has already been formed, he stirs the city up. Your fate is to do what I cannot."
Before he could reply, the boy was gone, and the feeling of weirdness with it. All the damned... thing had done was raise more questions. Could he trust it? It had said itself that it had done... something to cause a barrier to be raised. What if he was being tricked? He'd have to think more about this...
Theo:
Fooood... he could smell it, could taste it, it was almost there. Involuntarily, he opened his mouth, a low hiss beginning in his throat as he prepared to pounce. Then, suddenly, he stopped. The human he had been following had just paused in front of a doorway, and a green shadow slowly unfurled, lowering itself down, preparing to catch him up into its claws and take him to the roof to be devoured.
NOOOOO! MY PREY! Can't let the other take it!
Screeching, Theo leapt, hoping to take his meal before the other could react. Then, in almost comical slow motion, he saw the human turn around, watching as death flew towards him, and... smirked?
Suddenly, his limbs went dead. Crashing to the ground, he struggled, but to no avail - his body refused to cooperate. Glancing up, he saw the other had gone - smart.
"Now, what have we here? Trying to kill an Order representative is an offence, you know. Normally, I'd leave you a warning and let you be, since you buggers have it hard enough out here as is, and you keep the criminal population in check, but I was instructed to fetch one of you today. When you join, they never warn you about being live bait... anyway, you're coming with me. Welcome to the Orders, bodyguard!"
You just got pressganged - into the same team that everyone else is being recruited into. Who knows, if I can't get anyone else to do it you may singlehandedly save the world.
Cullos:
He hated attracting attention like this, but money was money. Calling out to the crowd, he managed to procure two daggers, and one wooden club. Grinning, he placed his own sword on the ground, pommel down, and gingerly balanced himself on the tip, standing on his hands. Though difficult, he trusted in his abilities. Magic coursed through his veins, empowering every muscle, every tendon, every fibre. His body would do what was required of it, and he could repair any minor cuts.
Gingerly, he leant to one side, deftly picking up a dagger with his toes. Then, he leant the other way, and did the same with the other. Then, slowly at first, he began to juggle. The daggers flew higher and higher, before, with a quick twist and a flick, they were joined by the club. Enthralled, a crowd began to gather. But he had to do something else to keep them, to win their hearts and their coin. Wait... he had an idea.
At the zenith of its flight, and with a momentous burst of effort from Cullos, the club burst into flame. Recovering with only a minor wobble, Cullos renewed his efforts, tossing the weapons ever higher. Finally, he finished, springing himself off the sword in a majestic backflip, catching a dagger in each hand and the club between his teeth, before landing on, and somehow balancing on, the sword's tip.
As the crowd slowly drew away, though not before he'd earnt some money, he had another voice, and a slow clap.
"Bravo! You know, my superiors and I could use someone of your talents..."
Do I really need to repeat the offer? Til the week's end to accept, come with him on expedition, plenty of protection, much money as reward, minor issue with being over mountains, yada yada.
Joseph:
Blow that for a joke. Go over the mountains, just to check out an artifact of some interest? It was interesting, yes, but not interesting enough to warrant risking his life. Leave the bigwigs to it, but I'm staying right where I am, Joseph thought to himself, before realising he had the mother of all headaches. Screw that too, he was heading for the Empaths. At least they knew how to keep quiet.
Ahhhh... better already. Joseph allowed himself to soak in the silence as he entered the Empath dormitory. Each mind was a blank wall, broadcasting only things that the owner wished to broadcast. No more goddamn chatter, except from that one group over there - what were they thinking about? Interested, Joseph tuned in.
There's been an anomaly.
I felt it too. Imagine, a Link in our city!
I thought they were just rumours to frighten the children.
No, it's definitely real. We shall inform the Orders, and they can observe him. We must find out what it wants, before it knows we have discovered it.
Stranger, since you have been listening, would you care to help? A lot of us will follow this intruder, and track him. He will be easy to follow, just don't try to read him too deep, unless you want to go nuts. If you do help, we'll find a reward. Maybe a room here?
Now I know why I put this off. An hour and a half, at least. Once again, tell me if there any issues, and feel free to ask questions. Day 1 is over, all turns should try to compensate for the fact that it's a new day, even if I'm too lazy to write more than a few minutes of results per action.
Please post an action quickly, and I'll try to churn out another one today.
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Topic: Changing Lands - A Roleplaying Epic! (Read 12644 times)