Estylwen

The Dark Beyond: Adventures in Candyland (Prequel)

Pyramid Map

Here is the map for the new area of the pyramid, for everyone's reference! There is a locked door between 4 and 5.

The Dark Beyond

AHHHH-

Revue of Annihilation

Hehehe, I feel a bit satisfied now. :>

Revue of Annihilation

They're in the same boat, I take it. xD And thank you, Izurich.

Revue of Annihilation

Elys Adair

Oratorio, //O3 - The Pallid Mermaid
@ERode

---

The scrape of two flat surfaces as she heard an object slide across the bar. A hand shot out to catch it, but her neutral face broke the moment she tasted it.

Milk?

What was she, two? Her lips pressed in an irritated scowl. However, the atmosphere of this tavern wasn't… well, it wasn't welcoming, to say the least. So she swallowed her pride, set her staff against the counter, and downed the milk as the owner told her about his cellar rats, and then to ‘run along home’.

Why am I seen as a child? I'm near thirty, damn it…

A light went off in her head, and her scowl deepened.

It's the eyes, isn't it?

Her heart rate picked up as she felt heat in her bones. Not from embarrassment. No, from wounded pride, and righteous anger.

The swaying shape coming up from behind, she saw it coming a mile away. It prepped her for the slap on the counter, which she only half-flinched to.

From the tone of his voice, she could tell where this was going. Her hand subtly moved to her sword hilt, ready.

A way to vent her wounded pride was about to come up, she could feel it.

“I’ll be happy to oblige, hehehe…” A hand on her shoulder.

“You bastard.” She growled, baring her teeth.

In the next beat, one thumb flicked her sword a half-inch out from its sheath, while her other hand gripped the hilt. The pommel immediately found itself buried in the man's gut, aimed to knock the wind out of his wheezy little lungs.

In the next instant, her disgust did the talking for her as she swiped her blade upward. In one clean stroke, she had slit through the wrist of the hand the man dared to touch her with, severing the hand from the rest of the body. She side-stepped out of the way at the same time, keeping herself clear of the spray-zone she knew would shortly accompany.

If that didn't upset the relative peace of the tavern, she didn't know what would. With a resigned huff, she sheathed her sword, knowing she'd have to clean it later. Her staff found its way into her hands through muscle memory as she addressed the owner.

“As much as I fancy a bit of coin, I feel I've overstayed my welcome.”

She pressed her last coin on the counter in way of apology for the mess.

“As you were, gentlemen.” She said icily, adamant there would be no snickers thrown her way this time around. Did the men have tempers, though? Would they bar her leaving, now that she'd hurt their own?

Bastard deserved it anyway.

With a dissatisfied click of her tongue, turning down the offered work in an effort to avoid the aftermath of her little ‘outburst’, Elys turned and made her way towards the door.

Iris Ascendis

Ciara Ventura

Acendia, Room 103 Fountain
@Nanaya

---

"Now...!”

She felt the sword lunging directly at her as she appeared, her own sword moving a fraction too slow to catch it. She was going to get hit!

Until Iraleth snagged the professor into a choke, giving Ciara a second to catch her breath. The professor was good. Too good. Did he have actual physical combat experience? He had to, in order to keep up with her movements. Clearly not just an academic.

”I still hate his guts, even if his strength is admirable.” She thought with a grimace.

Light poured in, evaporating her tendrils and shrinking down her shadow to a singular spot under her. She raised a hand to block the light, cursing under her breath as she watched Rio and Chloe dive in from above. The professor moved quick, and Ciara had barely enough time to dodge as Iraleth and Rio were pushed aside.

And then, she saw it.

In Chloe's grip, a hole had formed in the professor's barrier.

“This one has power in her hands.” A Voice whispered, brooding.

“She's gonna hurt the professor!” A small, child-like Voice.

“Oh, wondrous days!” The Voices echoed this one, cheering Chloe on.

Ciara's eyes widened. “She's gonna hurt the professor? That's- that's not according to the plan!”

“So? That light-hugger deserves it.” A Voice said coldly.

“Yes, just let it happen.” Another Voice crowed.

Ciara shook her head. “No, it's not right. I- I gotta- I gotta-!”

As rain poured from above, creating steam from the heat of the flaming sword, Ciara ran, and then teleported forward, appearing in mid-air in front of Chloe. Her hurt arm extended to the side, aiming to clothesline Chloe in a half-tackle, to tear the girl away from the professor. If she was successful, both her and Chloe would roll to the ground, past the now withered thorn barrier. Ciara would hiss under her breath - being too close to the flaming sword for even a moment caused the steam to lick at her back. She could feel mild burns, mild tenderness of the skin.

Anger bubbling up, she turned to face the professor from where she half-sat up from the ground, wincing in pain from her arms and mild burns.

“Your barrier is broken. That's enough!”

The Dark Beyond: Adventures in Candyland (Prequel)

Why do I feel like a crack dealer all of a sudden. o^o;;;

xD

The Dark Beyond: Adventures in Candyland (Prequel)

Yessss, that was a joy to read!

"But in order do to that, you can't pick any other artifact."

What a smart father! Knows exactly what to say to his little one to ensure safety, in a way she will understand. //nod of approval

That means it's my turn again! I will aim to have a post up in 2-3 days, if that's alright!

Revue of Annihilation

First post is up, please lemme know how it looks.

Revue of Annihilation

Elys Adair

Location: Oratorio, //O3
@ERode

---

This nauseating, dizzying city.

It was nothing like the wide, open dirt roads she was used to, sparse of people.

No, this. This was too much.

Elys, against her better judgment, stood in the middle of the street in the edges of Oratorio, her weight bearing on her walking staff. She could see shapes of bodies passing by her at flurrying speeds, hear the rush of the city streets as people searched for bounty and weakness of their brethren. She could smell the stench of a heavily populated area, and a poor, or entirely lacking sewage system. She couldn't see it, but maybe that worked in her favour.

She could picture well enough the deplorable state of being this side of town brought.

Yet, despite its lackluster impression, she still felt heavily drawn to the center of the city. To the Abyss. A place praised and cursed by merchants and travelers on the road.

A change in the direction of the warm wind. A stench. A slight woosh above her. A grimace as Elys side stepped past the shapes of bodies, narrowly avoiding the plummet of something quite unsavory. She checked her hooded cloak, ensuring it didn't get wet with who knew what. Then, with a slight click of her tongue, she pressed on.

She desired the centre of the city, but a detour first. All cities had watering holes, and Oratorio was no exception, even in the roughest outskirts. She held her head up, smelling the air for telltale beer, listening for the jovial, or violet banter of voices surrounding a tavern. Eventually, she found a building that fit the description, and she could see it's shape and sides.

Just where was the door, though?

She tapped her staff along the foot of the wall, moving past shapes of bodies, until she tapped out an indent. A push gave way to her discovery - a door.

She entered what she assumed was a tavern, rough and torn at the edges, the scent of sweat and stale beer coating the air as she moved past the shapes of chairs and tables. There was a shape of a long block ahead, and another shape behind it. The owner?

Elys walked up, dropping one of her last coins on the table. Her covered eyes looked directly at the shape she could see, though it was doubtful she was looking directly at their eyes or face. They'd see her robes, her staff, and the sword hanging from her hip.

“A drink, please. And a lead for a monster-slayer. I'm looking for work.”

She was looking for so much more, of course. But, baby steps. These people didn't know who she was, after all. And for now, that was preferred.