| Welcome to Imythess, the border between dreams and reality. We hope you enjoy your visit. Imythess is a creative writing board where you narrate the story of a character in the medieval land of Imythess, on the planet Chaon. Each topic is an opportunity for your character to interact with the world and its peoples by cooperatively writing pieces of a story with other members, one post at a time. We call this role-playing, because you assume the identity of your character as if it were your own. In order to play, you must register an account for each character you would like to write about, and begin their tale by filling out their basic profile information: Race (human, elf, demon, etc.), class (warrior, mage, etc.), physical appearance, and any other personal details you would like to describe. You are also encouraged to come up with some background history information for what your character's life has been like up to the point at which their story in Imythess begins. There is no approval process or application required to join, so long as you follow the rules then you are free to write whatever character details you choose. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Create a character now! If you're already a member, you can log into your account below: |
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| Bonds of Blood; [P] Seele | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sun Apr 28, 2013 5:27 pm (826 Views) | |
| Ollie | Sun Apr 28, 2013 5:27 pm Post #1 |
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The Memorial Graveyard in the north of Taras was huge. After the attack that crumbled Taras to ruins, many graves were needed to inter the massive number of the dead. There were still places open, the designated hallowed ground foreseeing its place in the future of Taras, and one of these plots were being prepared for another funeral. It was doubtful there'd be many there to see this dead woman placed to rest besides a priest and the gravedigger, but there was one cloaked figure standing to the side, waiting for either the service proper to begin, or someone else to arrive. Ollie fretted in the shadows of a mausoleum. This was a bad idea, and his fly dragon let him know that time and again. Each of his reasons to come were shot down by the small flyer: he wanted to ensure the girl was buried; he wanted to learn magic; learning about Gehrin's slaving operation from within could help him destroy it later. The dragon didn't care. It yelled, bargained, pleaded, ordered, asked for Ollie to not come. Ollie came anyway. It demanded Ollie bring it along. This Ollie couldn't do. Gehrin was hard to read, but he was ruthless. If things went badly, Ollie wanted to be able to flee immediately. He couldn't do that if the elf got hold of the dragon or Justin, his horse, and held them hostage. He told the dragon to watch Justin, get him a stable somewhere, pay for it with the money in the pack. Even if the stablehands felt hesitant about obeying a tiny dragon, they'd listen to coin Ollie changed into his funeral clothes, one he got specially tailored long ago. Black trousers and vest over a dark grey shirt, a black, longtailed coat over it all. The cloak was kept as added insurance against the sun, despite the lightness of its grey clashing with the rest of the outfit, as well as any possible surprises his rendezvous might bring. Quietly, he lit a handrolled cigarette with a match, drawing in the smoke into his lungs, focusing on his chest rising and falling. A ritual first created to displace his need to feed by giving him something inanimate to suck on, he now did it to calm his nerves. He leaned against the cold stone of the mausoleum. He had little to do but wait for Gehrin to arrive, and find out what sort of excrement he'd chosen to dive into headfirst. |
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| Seele | Mon Apr 29, 2013 2:43 pm Post #2 |
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So many people had died in the demon attack on Taras that it was amazing that the city was still functioning today. After the smoke had cleared and the fires had died out the survivors had set about burying their dead, only to find that there was not nearly enough space remaining in the city's various graveyards and mausoleums for such an influx of bodies. The Memorial Graveyard had been created to solve this problem. Gravestones stretched out in every direction, covering the hills directly north of the city proper. New bodies were interred here as well, as it was the cheapest option for funeral services in the metropolis. Seele strode through the forest of gravemarkers, hands folded in front of his waist. He wore simple clothes: a long-sleeved tunic and dark leggings, with soft leather boots and a pair of leather gloves. He had replaced his usual, tattered cloak with a less threadbare version, clasped at the hollow of his throat with a silver broach. He had left out his wide-brimmed hat as well, leaving his metallic silver hair bare. The elf could not remember the last time he had attended a funeral. He had been responsible for many, but the slaver was not in the habit of mourning those whose lives he ended. He was only here because the service had been a prerequisite for a transaction of sorts that he hoped would be more profitable in the future. There was a trio of figures gathered near an open grave nearby, and Seele headed in that direction. His golden eyes flickered among those who were present. A small smile rose to his lips when he saw the one standing near a mausoleum watching the preparations and smoking. The sorcerer went to stand near him, bowing his head slightly in the man's direction. Although the vampire had identified himself as 'Lyle' during their first meeting, the elf suspected that it was an alias. Not that he blamed the undead; he had identified himself with a pseudonym as well. Too many people remembered that Seele had once been the so-called God of Darkness, despite his best efforts to keep that information from spreading. "A good day for a funeral." His voice lacked its usual undercurrent of amusement. He knew that the vampire would interpret it as contempt and did not want to offend his tentative ally. He said nothing further to Lyle, instead turning his attention to the priest and gravedigger standing next to the casket and rectangular hole in the earth. "You may begin, priest." The robed, balding man nodded and opened up the thick book he carried, speaking out in a loud, clear tone that echoed throughout the graveyard. |
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| Ollie | Tue Apr 30, 2013 10:02 pm Post #3 |
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The service was a generic one, the sort given in a land of multiple faiths for those who never aligned themselves with a particular deity or, Ollie guess for this girl, their religion of choice wasn't known. It was a solemn sort of speech made to make any god who saw fit to bear witness comfortable and to say the deceased was a good person with an acceptably clean soul. There was a pause in the speech meant for any of the gathered to add their own words. Ollie stayed silent, so it only lasted as long as Gehrin wished to speak. A few more closing words and blessings, a customary handful of dirt thrown on the coffin below, and the service ended. Ollie backed away so the gravedigger could begin his work, but was intercepted by the priest. "It it good of you two to come out here for her," the priest said. "Tell me, how is it that you knew Elizabeth?" Elizabeth? Was that her real name, or the one Gehrin invented to fill his request for her to be buried under a "nice name"? That did fit the bill well. "I met her a few times in town," he said, turning his back to the hints of sunshine breaking through the clouds. "We weren't that close, but we were friends. When I heard she died, I decided I should come out, since it always sounded like she didn't have much in the way of family." "It's very kind of you, even if you didn't know her well," the priest said in warm tones. "I'm sure she'd be happy you came." Ollie doubted that. "And this is?" "He's a business associate of mine," Ollie interjected, trying to move things along. He realized the priest was simply doing his job, but he had butterflies in his stomach since Gehrin first arrived. "I didn't feel comfortable going on my own, so I asked him to accompany me." "Very good of you to come, sir. I-" "I'm sorry, Father," Ollie interrupted. "We do need to be on our way. Thank you for the service." "Of course," the priest sighed. "Again, thank you two for coming." He nodded as Ollie walked away, cloak pulled tight around him. He rose his face mask as well to protect his face. He wondered how many funerals the priest presided over that were attended only by himself and a gravekeeper to make him thank them so much for simply showing up. "Thank you for at least appearing to take this seriously," Ollie said to Gehrin once he felt they had some distance. "So then, what exactly is the next step you have for me?" |
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| Seele | Wed May 1, 2013 2:29 am Post #4 |
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Seele shook his head slightly when the priest looked to them, clearly fishing for someone to speak on behalf of the departed. The elf did not know who this girl was, nor did he know her real name. She was chattel, a slave that he had acquired and killed in order to slake the vampire's thirst. He had been surprised to learn after the fact that the undead felt remorse for the killing and demanded this service before he would agree to work with the sorcerer. After the short, simple ceremony the priest came over to speak with them. The elf stayed silent throughout the short conversation, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards as Lyle awkwardly defused the man's concern and excused them. "Thank you for your time, Father. We appreciate your consideration." The undead did not speak directly to him until the priest moved out of earshot, thanking him for his attendance. Seele shrugged slightly and began to walk, indicating that the vampire should follow him. "I am always serious when it comes to business, Lyle." The elf led him around the corner of the mausoleum to the opposite side, which was still obscured by shadows. "So then, let us begin. We will be conducting the beginning of your training in a... more appropriate location." He peeled the glove off of his right hand, stretching out one pale finger and drawing a symbol on the wall of the structure. In the center was single line twisted into the shape of an hourglass within two overlapping half-circles. Black energy crawled along the sigil, humming softly. The shadow sorcerer held his hand out for the vampire, nodding to indicate that the undead should grab on. "This might be unpleasant." With that Seele stepped forward, seemingly on a collision course with the wall. Instead of running into the wall he warped through the Plane of Shadows, instantly carrying the two of them across hundreds of miles. The elf felt his body shudder in response to the unnatural journey, but it was a sensation he was accustomed to and he quickly recovered. "Tell me, have you ever been to Balefire before?" The pair was now standing in a narrow alleyway between two squat stone buildings. There were no doorways that led directly out into the twisting passageway, which meant that there was a slim chance of running into anyone. A lantern hung on a hook at the mouth of the alleyway, which meant that anyone trying to see past it would lose their night vision. Seele glanced at the wall behind them and smiled thinly when he saw another one of the symbols faded out of sight, hidden amongst years of graffiti. "You might find it a pleasant place, given your... condition." He gestured towards the sky, which was pitch black. "Would you like a tour, or would you prefer to get to work?" |
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| Ollie | Wed May 1, 2013 11:17 pm Post #5 |
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Ollie glared with knit brow for a moment at Gehrin's hand, but took it. He'd fulfill his end of the bargain, thus far, so he'd have to hope the elf wouldn't take him to some plane of fire after casting some sort of anti-fire spell on himself. "This might be unpleasant," Gerhin said, the usual swagger back in his voice. He reached out to the drawing he made on the stone wall: two circles with an hourglass shape within, ran forward, dragging Ollie toward the stone, and the world lurched. Ollie only saw a blur of landscape in the darkness, the world around him both real and unreal, before everything once again solidified. Ollie released his grip on the elf's hand, but his own unease at the previous realm's strangeness meant his instinctive flight continued and stopped just short of hitting the opposite alley wall. His cloak's hood flew off, but he felt how effortless it was. "Night?" He muttered in confusion. It was early afternoon in Taras. How far did they travel, or how long, to suddenly be in night? He looked around in confusion. The alley was dark except for a lamp hung near the entrance. Muffled street sounds echoed and faded down the narrow channel they were in. "Tell me," Gehrin said, recovering quickly from whatever spell he cast. "Have you ever been to Balefire before?" "Can't say I've gotten around to it..." Ollie said, still floating in the air. He looked up between the buildings. Above them was blackness. No stars, no moon, just a blank canvas of nothing. They were in Balefire. It was never a place he'd visited much growing up. Its chaotic government made the entire place a bit...difficult to navigate in a number of ways, and after leaving home and being turned, he spent far more time in Norwood and Taras than any other city. Balefire had simply not been on his itinerary. He supposed it should have been, as it was eternally shrouded in darkness, but that blank black sky...it made him uneasy. He was used to the stars navigating his way. "You might find it a pleasant place, given your... condition," he said, gesturing upward. "Would you like a tour, or would you prefer to get to work?" Ollie drifted a bit before settling back on solid ground. "If you don't find it inconvenient, I wouldn't mind playing tourist," Ollie admitted, pulling down his face mask. There was no need to hide in a land with no sun. "If you feel harried, though, I understand if you wish to get down to business." |
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| Seele | Thu May 2, 2013 3:32 pm Post #6 |
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Seele flashed a smile at the vampire, who was reveling in the perpetual night by floating a few feet off of the ground. "Not at all. If you do continue to do... contract work for me, you might be required to visit this city. Having an idea of how to navigate the streets would only benefit both of us." He led the way down the alleyway to the street proper, stepping out into a bustling causeway. "Most people get disoriented on their first trip here because of the lack of sunlight. The city doesn't have a regulated cycle of night and day, so it's almost always this busy. Businesses are often open all day. If you look towards the center of town..." Seele gestured towards a tower that stretched high above the rest of the buildings. A glowing clock had been placed on each side of the buildings, providing the time for anyone that was curious. "You should always be able to tell what time it is, if you wish to maintain a regular schedule." They started to walk through the streets, staying on the main thoroughfares instead of descending into the labyrinthine maze of smaller roads and alleyways. He described each of the neighborhoods as they passed through, identifying the primary purpose as residential or business and pointing out locations he thought were distinctive or important enough to merit special recognition. He also mentioned some potential threats in each area, such as any gangs that were especially notorious or boroughs were disappearances were more common. It took almost an hour to do a rough tour of the shadowy metropolis, ending on the eastern side of the city. "And here, in the far reaches of the Eastern Quarter, is where the Gloomwood has begun to take over." Seele nodded at the almost completely abandoned street that led to the outer walls of the city. They had crumbled over the years, allowing the local flora to overwhelm the masonry. Large, mushroom-like growths pushed up through the cobbles and grew out of holes in dilapidated buildings, and the lanterns that the rest of the city was known for had all been scavenged years ago, leaving the street dark and ominous. "I feel this would be the best place to start your instruction. Fewer witnesses... and fewer potential victims, if something goes wrong." Seele took several turns, leading them into a wide, abandoned courtyard. It had once been laid with thick stonework, but most of them had been pulled up and used to reinforce buildings in more populated districts. Grass grew up between the cracks of the few remaining bricks, and a cracked and broken wall wrapped around three-quarters of its perimeter. |
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| Ollie | Thu May 2, 2013 7:14 pm Post #7 |
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Gehrin was certainly pleased with himself, if his heart was any indicator. He happily said he'd show Ollie around, since Balefire was a major place of business for him. Having Ollie know the basics of the city would save them both time and effort in the long run, so the tour began. Ollie did his best to memories districts, street names, and prominent landmarks indicating each, but it was a great deal to take in at once. He did pay close attention when Seele pointed out areas with violent gangs or where people tended to vanish. They could be good hunting grounds for him. They stopped in what Gehrin called the Eastern Quarter, which boarded with the twisted forest known as Gloomwood, filled with phosphorescent plants, warped trees, and the giant fungi that dwarfed them. Ollie had heard of strange beasts that dwelt there, as odd as their forest home. It was another place to go if he couldn't find a butcher to attain animal blood from, but he'd have to be cautious if he tried. Around them at the very edges of the forest, where wilderness met civilization, ancient, dilapidated buildings and ruins surrounded them, all devoid of light from above and below. Without his own enhanced senses, Ollie would be nearly blind. "I feel this would be the best place to start your instruction," Gehrin said, concluding the tour. "Fewer witnesses... and fewer potential victims, if something goes wrong." It was good of Gehrin to actually think of that, though Ollie didn't say that aloud. It'd probably sound like mocking no matter how good the intentions were. "Very well," he said, shaking his hands and rolling his wrists. "So I, um, well, am not sure exactly how you wish to start. You already know how little I know of magic, so I'll need to follow your lead." |
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| Seele | Thu May 16, 2013 2:07 am Post #8 |
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Seele turned to stare at the vampire, pursing his lips silently. He stayed silent for a full minute, almost completely motionless the entire time. When he eventually spoke it was with a thoughtful, contemplative tone that had thus far been lacking. "Magic is different for each individual. At its most basic level, it is harnessing and manipulating a source of energy known as mana. Certain people have a disposition that is better suited for such things. Just as their are naturally-born athletes or musicians, there are naturally-born magicians." The elf flicked his fingers as he spoke, absentmindedly grasping at his own shadow it responded almost immediately, a tendril of utter darkness curling away from the ground and into his palm. The sorcerer rolled the inky substance between his fingers, manipulating it like wet clay instead of something that should, by all logic, be completely incorporeal. "Even among magic users, most individuals an affinity for a particular field. There are powerful pyromancers who could not conjure a drop of water if their life depended on it. Having an equal talent in multiple domains is rare. No one is quite sure why this is true." "Before I get too obsessed with the details, we should find out where your talents lie..." Seele half-closed his eyes, focusing his mind. Although he was always capable of seeing mana that was actively being manipulated, it took a conscious effort to detect ambient traces. After a few seconds of concentration he re-opened his eyes. Everything living within view seemed to glow with an inner light, and motes of light danced through the air as if carried by a brisk breeze. The shadow sorcerer forced himself to ignore his surroundings and focus all of his attention on the undead. As before, he detected a kernel of power within the man that indicated he possessed the potential to be a competent magician. What surprised Seele was the tether of mana that wrapped around the vampire. His eyes widened somewhat as he followed the curling trace of untamed energy, tilting his head back and staring up into the shadowy sky. It ended nearly fifty feet above the ground in a small cloud that burned within his magical sight, indicating it was no natural meteorological phenomenon. The elf snorted and banished his enhanced sight, turning his attention back to Lyle with a slightly annoyed mien. "I thought you could do nothing but summon a light... Yet here you are, with a personal summon. It would have saved us a great deal of time if I had known this." |
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| Ollie | Thu May 16, 2013 3:03 am Post #9 |
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Ollie shifted his weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable under Gehrin's gaze. He figured the elf was performing some sort of magical scry, but he hoped it didn't rely on Ollie matching his gaze anytime soon. The mage's stare didn't linger on him for long, however, as it drifted up, up, up toward the inky sky. Ollie followed it, worried about what it would find. It couldn't be up there. They'd instantly transferred from Taras all the way to Balefire. There's no way it could catch up with him now, or find him, or just...be there...being- But there it was. Just hanging there, being a cloud. Totally innocuous, except it'd been doing that for months. The same damn cloud, hovering in the sky, no matter how clear or cloudy the day. Granted, he had no idea if it was there on cloudy days. All the other clouds obscured its presence, but while they vanished, that one damn cloud stayed, stalking him everywhere. Maybe, somehow, in a sky that looked totally devoid of any meteorological phenomenon, Gehrin wouldn't notice it. "I thought you could do nothing but summon a light," Gehrin said, looking back at Ollie with a grin, "Yet here you are, with a personal summon. It would have saved us a great deal of time if I had known this." "I have no idea what you're talking about," Ollie said. He honestly didn't but he didn't want to bring about his theories of possessing a "stalker cloud." There was no such thing as Stalker Clouds. Clouds were balls of fog in the sky. They didn't stalk. They billowed about, rained or snowed, got pushed around by wind. They didn't tail people across a continent, and suggesting that is exactly what's happened to Ollie would simply make Gehrin believe he was mad. "It's just a cloud," Ollie said, not looking Gehrin in the eye again, and his cheeks managing to darken a bit in the gloom. "Not that uncommon. Doubt any mage would bother summoning one of those, anyway. Aren't summons supposed to be fire elementals or that sort of ilk?" |
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| Seele | Mon May 20, 2013 11:47 pm Post #10 |
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Seele simply watched the vampire for a moment, his face completely blank. After enough time that the silence was beginning to get awkward he began to chuckle. It wasn't long before his mirth erupted into deep, resonant guffaws that echoed through the courtyard. He took a step back, holding a hand up in the universal sign for 'stop' to keep the undead from interjecting or asking any questions. A minute or two later the slaver settled down, wiping tears of amusement away from his eyes and grinning widely. Unlike usual, the expression seemed completely genuine and was reflected in his golden eyes. "You didn't know? What, did you think everyone has a personal companion?" He gestured at the cloud, which was still brazenly floating above them. "How do you think that elementals from the Plane of Air manifest in this world, Lyle? They can hardly all become whirlwinds and lightning storms. Although I doubt this is a summon with that level of intelligence... More like a spirit that has somehow become attached to you. Trust me when I say that it is magically linked with you. It is undoubtedly frustrated, constantly following you around yet never being recognized or used. You should be more considerate." Seele considered using his own magical abilities to lure the cloud closer but decided that would be a poor lesson for his student. "However, if you insist that it is just a normal cloud... prove it. A normal cloud would not reply to a command." He raised one eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Call to the cloud and ask it to lower itself to the ground. If I am wrong and it is simply a freak meteorological occurrence, you will have my utmost and most sincere apologies." Seele wasn't sure of the true nature of the cloud, but following an order as simple as this one would be within the bounds of even the most lax bindings between a magician and an arcane presence. |
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| Ollie | Tue May 21, 2013 12:27 am Post #11 |
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"Look!" Ollie said, the name "Lyle" hitting him in the gut until he recalled that was his name here. "I insist it's just a cloud because telling you the thing's been following me all over Imythess makes me sound like a madman, alright?! People don't get...followed by godsdamned clouds! We go from Taras all the way to here and here it is! That doesn't happen! Clouds don't stalk! They form and dissipate and rain and vanish! You get that, right? A cloud stalking someone? That's mad!" He paused, breathed, and began rolling another cigarette. He thought magic training would be throwing fireballs or moving water, not being the godsdamned Cloud Whisperer. Which was stupid. It was damned stupid. "But you know what?" he asked, circling around to strike a match on a stone wall and light his cigarette, blowing out a stream of smoke before continuing. "Fine, fine! You want me to chat with a ball of fog? Fine! Fine! Let's do that! Afterward, I can go sing with songbirds and frolic with squirrels and bunnies. Does that sound fun? "Hey!" he shouted upward at that hated cloud dangling over his head. "Hey, cloud! Get your vaporous ass down here!" He puffed another ball of smoke as he turned back to Gehrin. "There? Happy? Now can we please move on......" He trailed off as the summoned cloud entered his vision, lowered even further, and stopped about waist height above the ground, somehow managing to look pleased as a cat with fish despite the lack of any sort of face. Ollie stared at it, puffing hard on his cigarette. It was burnt to the stump by the time Ollie dropped it to the ground and rubbed it out under his heel. "Huh." |
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| Seele | Wed May 22, 2013 6:34 pm Post #12 |
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Seele allowed himself one last, amused chuckle as the cloud responded to the vampire's command, floating down until it hovered only a few inches off of the ground. Lyle simply stood in place, staring at the puff with an unreadable expression. The shadow sorcerer allowed the silence to stretch out until the undead had finished his cigarette before continuing, gesturing at the cloud. "Believe it or not, there are others who find themselves bound to the weather such as this. There was once an order of archers who prided themselves on being able to ride the wind. It's a bit of a romantic misunderstanding: their true ability laid in standing atop a cloud as if it were a chariot and raining death upon their foes." Seele reached out as if to touch the cloud, but his fingers passed straight through its surface. He made a face and pulled his hand back out, his pale skin glistening with a film of moisture. "Clearly, if such a thing is possible it is only for the one who actually has the bond."[.color] He wiped the water off on his tunic with a soft sigh, still watching the cloud. "Of course, that's only a guess. It could be a variety of creatures from the Plane of Air, although I know not how such a being could have become indebted to you. You should try to further communicate with it... or ride it, if you enjoy recklessness." |
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| Ollie | Sat May 25, 2013 1:42 am Post #13 |
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"It's not that reckless if you can fly on your own," Ollie pointed out. Still, he thought as he poked at its damp, spongy surface, the idea of riding a cloud was a bit strange. There had been that first fight during the invasion of Striberg, when he'd served as a protector of an airship. He'd been knocked out and found himself waking up not in midfall or on the ground far below, but on a layer of clouds. At the time, he'd brushed it off as another vampire thing, but perhaps it was actually whatever magic - yes, actual magic - that had him call this oddly enthusiastic cloud. It didn't look that bright, if he was the be honest. That made sense; it was composed of water and air, most of that being air. It still managed to give a rather dopey expression, the sort seen on a stupid dog that, no matter how many times it was kicked, would still run up to its master expecting an ear scratch. "Might as well try it..." He said with tepid enthusiasm. He rose into the air and settled, a bit slowly, into the squishy top of the cloud. Instead of passing through when he canceled his flight, he simply sank an inch or so before stopping. The cloud didn't look hurt by this. In fact, it looked pleased, again reminding him of an inbred dog that managed to grab a rolling ball off the ground. "Alright...and it does seem to understand me somehow....So...um, cloud," he said, noting that he really needed a better name for the thing. Maybe name it after a kind of cloud? Cumulus? Cirrus? "Can you show me what else you can do? Like, say, hmmm, what can clouds do? Can you, maybe, hide me from-Ack!" Ollie would have finished with "-the sun," but the cloud decided he was finished with his request and did its best impression of a fogbank. This meant it dispersed too much for Ollie to ride, but on the other hand he couldn't see more than a few inches in front of his face. "Wow, yes, fantastic. Now I can't see anything." Granted, he could still hear perfectly fine and smell as well, if he ignored the damp scent. If his enemies couldn't see through fog, it could give him a nice advantage in a fight. "Alright, cloud, now shrink back to what you were." Ollie found himself suddenly buoyed by the cloud once more instead of floating midair in a thick haze. He looked down at the thing, which still managed to look extremely pleased without facial features at all. "Okay," He said, turning his attention back to Gehrin. "That...yes, I'm sure calling for clouds isn't in the vampire repertoire. Bats? Sure. Hellbeasts? I've read stories, if not actual histories. Clouds? Not really associated with vampires. So, yes, it seems I have some sort of...air magic? Cloud magic? Um," he paused a moment, not sure how to word the question so he wouldn't sound overly eager. "So, archery. Magical archery. With cloud pets. Is there...anywhere else I could learn about this group? Maybe a book?" |
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| Seele | Tue May 28, 2013 2:31 pm Post #14 |
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Seele nodded slightly as Lyle proved his theory correct, standing on the cloud as steadily as if it were solid ground. It wasn't nearly as useful to the undead as it would be to someone who lacked the ability to fly, but the sorcerer was sure that he would manage to find some sort of use for the cloud. The vampire soon proved him correct by ordering it to dissipate, forming a thick bank of fog that completely obscured Lyle from sight. Seele snorted when the youth complained about losing his own visibility, but had to admire his student's quick mind and strategic flair. The largest weakness of any vampire was their inability to effectively hunt in the daylight. If his cloud companion could provide a constant screen against the sun, Lyle could be active at any time of day or night. "Unfortunately, books will only prove so useful to you. Orders such as this rarely write down their secrets on paper in fear of the information falling into the wrong hands and being abused." The elf frowned slightly, tapping the fingers of one hand on his hip thoughtfully. "I must admit, I know very little of the current status of... oh what pompous name did they use to refer to themselves? Hrm... Ah, yes! The Windbows." He shrugged dismissively, eye still distant as he brought to mind the limited information he had collected about the order. "Windbows are well-known for being able to shoot accurately through even the strongest weather. There are legends about a master once assassinating his target in the middle of a hurricane from two hundred yards. I can't be certain of the accuracy of rumors, but if that is the truth I would guess that they specialize in manipulating air currents to refine their aim." Seele paused for a moment, deep in thought, before continuing. "There is another group of snipers that choose to augment their aim and lethality with magic. They are known as the Arcane Archers, and they can enchant an arrow to pierce through steel plate without pause or follow their target around obstacles..." Seele shrugged to himself before returning his full attention to Lyle. "If you seek their arts, I can only be of limited assistance. I am not personally acquainted with a member of either group, but I am sure I could locate one." |
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| Ollie | Wed May 29, 2013 10:10 am Post #15 |
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"No need. I can find people on my own time," Ollie said. He already had someone in mind. If there was anyone who'd know about an ancient order of wind using archers, it's be the winged, pinkclad Black Bowman. In fact, if Ollie had possessed an inkling that his stalker cloud was archery related, he'd have gone straight to Tanderous for answers. He might even know about these magical Arcane Archers. However, the revelation of his "Windbow" talents made Ollie rethink his own abilities. He'd noticed he'd been able to stand on clouds, not be bothered even by the high winds blowing around an airship, and his arrows had a strangely unerring accuracy to them. He'd consider these things vampire powers, vampire powers, and hours of daytime practice, but what if they were Windbow things, as well? What if they were less supernatural and more magical in nature? If that was true, what other vampire skills did he use that weren't really vampiric, but the result of his blossoming into magic in undeath? "But I think this rather demonstrates that I'm a bit...lousy at sussing out what's magical and what is just 'something vampires do.' Not that it's easy to always pinpoint what is and isn't a vampire skill, I've found. It seems every research book I've read on the subject has a different set of rules and abilities for them." He stepped down off the cloud, which rose up to just above headheight and floated about once again, being a cloud. "I'm pretty sure the flying at night thing is a vampire thing, though, and probably the standing on ceilings and using the Voice. Or maybe not?" Ollie scratched his head. "So, um, yes, now I'm just not certain what is and isn't something that came with my turning. The one thing I've learned about vampires in my research is that all their powers and weaknesses can be narrowed down to 'it varies' as it strikes each person in a different way. The only things I've found that have any consistency is the weakness to sunlight and the need for blood, but even there I've found exceptions. So I'm guessing, Gehrin, we should probably start at the beginning with this." |
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8:18 AM Jul 11

