[IC] Magic RP (Open to new players)

[MarshiestMallow]

"Sounds like the perfect place to look" Nyx said, almost fearlessly. It wasn't that she had forgotten about the fact that She and Larek had an egg, almost ready to hatch, or that she was being reckless. It was the sudden opportunity to explore something unknown.

****

Jammy gave a soft sigh, "I learned a long time ago to not push Tran. He can be incredibly stubborn, when he wants to be. And pushing him will just cause him to be more reluctant. You just need to find away to give it to him without him really knowing" She said

*****

Railing brought his Sparring blade up, blocking the attacking, feeling that Kos was going slow so as to gauge his skill.

Railing moved quickly, turning slightly, and bringing his blade up and around, a quick strike

[Aristocles]

"Alright, let's look" Larek said, seconding his wife's wishes.

"Fine, but let's keep close together" Tala said, still limping a bit.

Vespion nodded and walked forward, assuming a rather protective gesture towards Larek, Nyx, and Tran. They were young and if anyone was going to take a hit, it would be him.

--------------

"Hmm. Maybe if we phrase it like he's doing something for us?" Orna wondered. "That said, once he is relaxed, I am sure he will be much more pliable. And malleable" she added with a smile, gesturing with her hands as if kneading some dough.

-------------

Kos blocked the blade, respecting that Railing was a bit quicker than he had anticipated.

"Not bad. Have you been training for a while?"

[MarshiestMallow]

NYx stayed close, her curiosity burning, to discover what this lead to, what they could find, but she wasn't foolish enough to not be wary. She had her bow ready to fire.

Tran could understand the draw to this sort of thing. But it wasn't something he wanted to do all the time. Right now, he wanted to be home, with Orna, but he followed the others ready to help if need be.

------

Jammy laughed "yes if you phrase it like that, he will do it" she said, laughing at Orna's kneading gestures. "You will figure out how to phrase if right" she smiled

-----

"Since I could hold a blade" Railing replied, taking a step back. "My uncle taught me intially, and then I learned on my own"

[Aristocles]

At the bottom of the stairs, they discovered a room completely shrouded in darkness. Tala quickly conjured a light spell, but it quickly faded, given her exhaustion earlier.

"Allow me" Vespion conjured a second light spell, and the room lit up. It was a large, rectangular chamber filled with tables, platforms, stands, and receptacles. On these platforms were dozens of books, wands, mirrors, and other artifacts.

"Is this a treasury of some sort?" Larek wondered.

"It isn't officially a part of the temple, possibly a later construction by a later group which once inhabited these ruins. It may have been a part of the temple at one time but was sealed up and forgotten later. I don't know. Look around, but please do not touch anything until I inspect it! These items could be cursed, you know. Unlike the items from the temple proper, I have no idea about this place as of yet." Vespion hoped that his warning would be heeded. "That said, you can look all you like. If something moves or tries to attack you, defend yourself."

----------------

"Well, what do you think I should say?" Orna wondered. She hadn't been married to Tran for long, so she still had yet to figure out all of these little odds and ends about him. "Also, I have been trying to figure out where he carries his stress. It's so much harder to tell in males, you know. He doesn't get under my thumbs very often, so to speak, so I haven't been able to tell."

----------------

"My father taught me since I was about three" Kos explained. "I practiced almost every day after my schooling and chores."

[MarshiestMallow]

Nyx looked around the room as the light washed over it, eyes narrowed, she took it all in, ready for any sign that something was going to attack them. When it seemed nothing would, and Vespion gave them leave to look around, she did so, not touching anything.

She wondered what the mirrors were for, and looked at one. Some sort of communication thing? Or just normal mirrors? She didn't know, and she frowned for that. Magic was something she probably would never understand.

------

Jammy thought for a few moments, and shrugged "You have to find them yourself. I usually just said "Tran, I want to try something new, care to be my test subject?" and normally that would work, but that was because I help those in our community" She said

--------

"In the end, it doesn't matter who train us. If you have the skill of fighting, you'll be good" Railing replied, holding his blunted blade at the ready, watching Kos for any sign of an attack

[Aristocles]

Vespion examined some of the books. Most tomes were harmless, but a few of them caught his eye. He tested them for enchantments, and finding that there were none of any consequence, flipped through them. After a little while, he sighed. "These belong to a cult to Tiamat." There was a long pause.

"That's bad?" Larek asked.

"Yes, that's bad" Tala confirmed.

"She's an evil goddess worshiped by the most vicious dragons. Whatever group established this repository years after the temple was abandoned" Vespion added. "Still, some of the items in here seem like they were taken from the temple itself and should be harmless."

----------------

"Hmm. Now that we are doing this together, it might work. Something like that." Orna suggested. "Maybe as a test for something similar I will give our children someday. Were all of your children 'test subjects' for your massage therapies?"

----------------

Kos attacked again, using more force this time.

[MarshiestMallow]

Nyx looked over, listening as the others spoke, "Should be safe? That sounds confident" She said, looking back around, she still didn't touch anything, preferring not to risk it.

Tran looked about, following Nyx's example and not touching anything, "But why hide it all here?" He asked, "it seems a bit risky"

-----

"No. Railing was easy, he would ask, especially after training. He knew the key to keeping well, and to developing his muscles as well as to maintain his fitness level was to treat his body well, and massages helped that. Hermia would also ask, Sasha, well, sometimes I had to just force her into it, and Nyx was...more focused on saving Railing" Jammy said

-----

Railing moved one foot back, bringing his blade up to block, putting his strength behind the block as he did so

[Aristocles]

"By the time this repository was established, the temple was long out of commission. As for the risk posed by the constructs, it is possible that the cult had some means of dealing with them, likely a now-lost control rod" Vespion explained.

"I won't take anything. Nyx and I have a child on the way, and I don't want to risk bringing a dangerous item into our home" Larek explained.

"I can respect that" Tala said.

------------------------

"Sounds a bit like my family. Larek, Caex, and Veax, they liked that sort of thing almost as much as I and my sisters did. My other brothers didn't like it much after they were about seven years old. Anyway, have you been having much luck with your healing? It truly is important work you do" Orna replied.

------------------------

Kos pushed against Railing's blade, trying to break the block. He dug his claws into the ground and for the first time in a long while, found that he had to struggle to make any headway against his opponent.

[MarshiestMallow]

"Still" tran said, "with many adventures looking for some lost treasure it seems like a risk still." Although he knew that whoever the prople were that had done all this could easily defend against adventures, it still seemed foolish to him

NYx frowned. The presence of this place made her feel uneasy "how do we know that this cult won't return, soon? And what if they have something planned, something bad?"
------
"There's always more that could be done" jammy said "I do my best, but im only one person, and there's so much that could be done, if i was able to do more. Still, I manage, and I do a good job" she said "there's a lot that can be done, if you know how to do it"
------
Railing kept his expression blank, as he continued to block the attack, flexing his own claws before digging them into the ground. After a minute, he brought one foot back, and seemed to calculate for a moment as he gave Kos some headway, and then he broke the block, ducked to the side to avoid the momentum filled stumble he suspected would happen, and swung his blade around in an attack.

[Aristocles]

"Given the age of the relics here and their sheer amount of dust on them, I'd say no cult has been here in a very long time, and any plans they might have had are long-shelved." Vespion said. "I'd suggest we not try to destroy anything, as that might unleash dangerous energies. The most responsible thing to do would be to return to my temple and inform the priests there about this place, and a proper recovery team will retrieve these items for analysis, sanctification, and safe disposal. In the meantime, we can keep exploring" Vespion explained.

"Right. No cult here" Larek said.

"Don't be too sure about that!" A voice came out of what seemed to be nowhere.

-------------------------

"Even if you only change the life of just one person for the better, it is worth it" Orna told Jammy. "It must be so much more fulfilling than simply serving people's material wants, like if you were selling jewelry or perfume."

-------------------------

Kos suspected that such a thing might happen, having been on the receiving end of that move many times in training with his father. Even so, he barely managed to block Railing's blade. Kos had taken a few steps forward when he saw that Railing had stepped to the side and was about to attack. After blocking Railing, Kos took a few steps back himself.

"You're good. Very good." Kosjurec didn't give out compliments such as that one lightly.

[MarshiestMallow]

Nyx spun towards the voice, bow raised and arrow knocked, but seemed unable, for the momeent, to figure out just where the voice had come from. "See, see, you never take things at sight value!" She said, glancing quickly to Vespion, "You have no instincts for this sort of thing!" She glanced around the room, arrow still knocked

-----

"People have all sorts of different needs" Jammy said, "Some people like those materials needs, and if their merchant can provide them that, then they are offering comfort as well" Jammy said, with a shrug, "I do what I do because Its what I need to do"

-----

Railing nodded, a gesture of thank, "You're good too" He said, but didn't waste any more time on talking, taking two quick steps, Railing made to attack head on, quickly stepping to the side as he did so, and bringing the blade around with him.

[Aristocles]

Vespion gave a little smile. "On the contrary, feigning igorance of danger is exactly what draws these things out. If I had acted as if I was prepared, this entity would have remained hidden."

Vespion raised his hands and pointed in the direction of the voice. Using a dispel magic spell, he undid the invisibility spell on the source of the voice, revealing it to be a construct with glowing blue eyes.

"You gotta give old Vespion more credit..." The cleric said.

Larek just rolled his eyes and stood near Nyx, keeping his sword drawn.

-------------

"Well, that is true. Although many of the merchants get rich from selling people what they want, even if it means neglecting what they need. Things like alcohol and tobacco." Orna drank a bit of wine sometimes, but never smoked.

------------

Kos blocked the incoming attacks, but could not find an opening to counterattack. Eventually, he got a bit of distance from Railing.

"We're pretty evenly matched" Kos said. In terms of skill, this seemed to be true. Kos was not sure who would tire first.

[MarshiestMallow]

Nyx didn't like not knowing that they were, technically, being used as bait. She thought it was foolish, that Vespion didn't say anything. What if he had been attacked? Then the construct could have attacked then. She sighed, drawing her bow towards the construct.

This one clearly was different.

------

"Everyone has a weakness, Orna. For some, it is excess drinking, or indeed, smoking. For others, it could be food, or other such things. Is it not better that they get their addiction from merchants, rather then other means?" Jammy asked, giving a soft shrug.

------

Railing nodded, stepping back, he kept his blade ready to block, just in case. "Seems so" He said, "What's the longest you've sparred for before?"

[Aristocles]

"Vespion, while I think you have it in hand, how about you WARN US next time?!" Larek explained, drawing his sword.

"If I did that, this being might have overheard." Vespion replied.

"Damn it, you're not always right..." Larek sighed. He turned his attention to the talking construct. Tala stayed silent, but paid attention to it.

"Now, what are you?" Vespion asked the construct, although he had his suspicions.

"One who has transcended mortality" It replied.

"He was probably a cultist who put his soul in that construct" Vespion explained.

"How observant" the construct said, its voice monotone and mechanical.

--------------------

"True, although it is best to enjoy natural pleasures. Addiction to stuff like drugs can only lead to pain" Orna replied.

--------------------

"Hours. Not sure how many" Kos replied, not taking his eyes off of Railing's weapon for a moment.

[MarshiestMallow]

"And did you ever stop to think, that by not telling us, you could have led us to death? IF the construct had attacked and you weren't aware?" Nyx said annoyed, shaking her head.

Tran had no idea what was going on really, but didn't think it was good. He figured you were meant to trust those you were going into potentially dangerous situations with, and there didn't seem to be any trust between The others and Vespion. What had he gotten himself into?

------

"It can, but you can say that about everything. Some people are addicted to adrenaline and the feel it gives. Is that not dangerous to them? And yet, without it we might not have the ability to make clear decisions in sticky situations." Jammy pointed out "while I rarely use drugs when treating people, I do see their benefits. For example, with pain"

------

Railing supposed that was a reasonable answer. He shifted, bringing his blade up in front of him. "Then let's see how long we can go"

[Aristocles]

"Nonsense. I can handle any danger you might have come across, or failing that, heal your injuries" Vespion replied.

"No offense, but next time we adventure with you, I'd like my father to lead us. Nyx is right." Larek said, trying not to be insulting.

"None taken. I don't adventure as often as your father does. Or did. I don't really keep up with him as much as I did a few years ago"

"Boys, could you please just focus on the threat?" Tala exclaimed, pointing at it.

"Oh, a threat am I? How flattering..." the construct replied.

--------------------

"Hmph. I suppose rubdowns don't take care of all pains. Still, it's best to avoid drugs when possible. That's what my mother said, anyway" Orna replied.

--------------------

Kos nodded and pushed his sword against Railing's, knowing that this could get tiring.

[MarshiestMallow]

"You're a construct that just happens to be in this room, which appears to be some sort of colt, connected to something bad, so, yeah, a threat" Nyx said, drawing an arrow back once more, aiming it at the construct.

----

Jammy nodded "It is always best to avoid drugs, however with serious injuries, it often is impossible to avoid them. There are, of course, natural remedies"

-----

Railing pushed back, as he quickly contemplated how best to attack, to move, and to counter attack. Kos had a different style of fightng to what Railing had been up against before, so Railing was using this as a chance to test his skills.

He slid a foot back, and let it take all his weight, and then as the result of Kos's pushing, he let the momentum, spin Railing around, hopefully causing Kos to stumble

[Aristocles]

"The cult? Oh that. They left years ago. I put myself into this construct so I could run the cult for centuries on end, without death eventually getting in the way" The construct said. "I don't even remember details of my past life anymore."

"Well... what do you remember?" Larek asked.

"That the last time I tried to destroy adventurers, I was nearly wrecked myself"

"You aren't going to attack us?" Vespion asked, suspicious.

"No. I'm outmatched."

-------------------

"Maybe we can get things ready for when Tran gets back?" Orna suggested.

-------------------

Kos stumbled forward for a moment, but used his tail to regain his balance. "Good move." He leapt up to Railing, swinging his sword. "But not good enough!"

[MarshiestMallow]

Nyx watched the construct warily. Why take it at it's word? After all, it had just said as much that it had wanted to run the cult for...well, ever. She did lower her bow, only to trade it for a dagger.

"then why approach us at all?" She demanded

----

"What things would you like to get ready?" Jammy asked Orna

-----

Railing just chuckled with amusement. He was more just getting a feel for Kos's abilities, as he stepped back, dodging the blow, and not blocking, using a side step to leap out the way, and bring his own sword around

[Aristocles]

One of the other items, a wand, began to glow behind Larek and Nyx.

"Why, to distract you, of course!" Before the item could cause any harm, Vespion blasted it with a beam of light, nullifying whatever effect it would have unleashed. Larek attacked the construct, striking it with his sword and knocking it back.

----------------

"Incense, some lotion, maybe a table for Tran to rest on, and a pillow for him to rest his head" Orna suggested. "Possibly something to polish his horns and claws with."

----------------

Kos blocked Railing again. "Maybe we are too evenly matched. Should we call it a draw?"