shadowsaint007

My Test Thread

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Nope, doesn't work.

Crystallis

Sarah

The king reached over and put a reassuring hand on Sarah's shoulder. "It's alright child," the king said warmly, "It's alright." He sat back in his chair, "You've had quite the adventure haven't you? Spider-queens and flying mo... AHH!" he said as the food arrived. "Here is our repast! Please, don't be modest, I'm sure you are famished." The attendant put the food down on the table between the two of them. The King picked at one of the pieces of bread nearest him. "Try the cheese with the wine, it'll help with the strong flavor, and sip the drink child, don't gulp it." He looked at her as one would look at a grand daughter.

@Maglar

Sarah nods at his kindness and cheers up a bit more. When it's time to eat, she first starts digging in; she's pretty hungry, even though it's only been a day spent riding sky-mantas. However, she soon takes note of the King's table manners, and begins to copy them accordingly. It's not that she's been eating sloppily or has poor table manners; rather, it's a fascination of studying the quiet dignity of someone eating in a more refined manner, all the while trying not to be obvious about her observation, which made her feel embarrassed and awkward whenever she feels the king catches her watching him. However, she quickly gets the gist of 'higher table manners', and privately feels elated at the achievement.

Pip, meanwhile, eats like a dog should; happy the food is here, and managing not to spill a drop, which is surprisingly polite by dog standards.

"I've visited Kensu's island when I was younger, though it has been sometime," the King smiled, "I know of the cave you speak of, it did look most dangerous, I'd not send one as young as you to such a place, but Kensu must have known what he was doing. You say you found the sword?"

Sarah nods.

"I have, Your Majesty," she says, pulling out the sword from her belt and handing it over carefully. "It's... well, it's as I felt the sword, rather than found it. I just followed a strong sense... it was though the sword was pulling me towards it in the cave, even in the darkness and miasma."

"My what a beautiful peace," the King said forlornly. He handed the sword back to Sarah, "It is good that you were able to save some of the people of the islands. They have always been a peaceful group, and they have always been very generous with their gifts to the castle. Master Kensu always said it was the will of the ancients that we be good to each other. What was that he used to say, oh yes it was that we 'love the way we look at others, and love the way others look at us.' It is a queer expression from those old archives he used to study." The King shook his head nostalgically, "It is a shame he has passed, especially in these times." The King drained his wined glass in a single swallow and poured himself another.

"Those are some really wise words, Your Majesty," she says. "Makes me wish I had had more than a day to get to know Master Thunderfist."

"The flying creature that disguised itself as a man was most likely one of Draygon's underlings. They somehow have the perverse magic to do such things." He looked out the window at the small, moving figures camped out in front of the castle moat. "Out there is one of them," he said, "His name is Bandersnatch, and he is a truly awful creature. He can change form between a beast and a man as well. As a beast he stands taller than three men head to shoulder, and he exhales an awful green sludge that poisons the water and burns the flesh." The King chewed his food while he talked and did not take his eyes from the window, "and now we've given him our own Sword of the Fire. I knew the weapon had power, it never dulled, never chipped, but we thought it was mostly decorative. Whatever infernal magic lets him use it to shoot fire I don't care to know."

"So that's how there was a beast and a man there," Sarah muses softly. "They change forms? That's... that's an interesting power, though it's also rather terrifying, especially what they transform into."

Sarah listens intently to the information about Bandersnatch. That there were more people like the one who slew Master Thunderfist clearly upset her, but she decides to pay attention so that she could be better prepared against Bandersnatch, should she ever face him too.

"Wait, he uses the sword to channel energies of fire?" she asks curiously. "Where exactly did the sword come from? And did it have a strange pommel attached, like mine?"

She pauses, lost in thought. If Bandersnatch was using an Oracle's sword, would that mean he's an Oracle too? Or has Draygon found a way to use the power of biogenic energy and given it to his servants? Either possibility was disturbing; the former that Oracles, chosen to help the world, would cast it aside and become monsters, or that their abilities could be used for evil - and indeed already have been.

The King turned to face Sarah again and smiled, "Don't worry though child. He will not morph into his horrid monster form and eat us all," he talked to her like he was telling a story to his grand child and not like there was a threat immediately out the window. "All he wants is a tribute, and to try and make us frightened. We will... OH Yes! Thank you William." The attendant put a heavy book on the table by the food, bowed, and retreated back to his spot by the door. The King moved the tray and flipped through the book to a marked page. There, drawn in beautiful detail, was a perfect drawing of Sarah, pink hair and all, laying peacefully in her cryostasis pod.

"There," the King said, pointing as if that explained everything, "There.. you.. are, child." He smiled and looked into her face, reading her reaction. "This book has been prepared by our wise men over the last 200 years. It catalogs all that we know from the world of the ancients, and it also tells the story of who we are and where we came from." The old King turned to a page closer to the beginning of the book, "Here it tells of the great Cataclysm that destroyed the world," he said pointing to a picture of castle in the sky floating over a burning landscape.

"After the Cataclysm it teaches us that there was a dark age as the world tried to heal. But then look at all the pretty animals and plants that bloomed." The King carefully turned through pages and pages of animals and plants which included descriptions and notations naming them as edible or medicinal.

He stopped at a page with a drawing of a young man sleeping in a pod, "...and here are the chapters devoted to the Oracles. According to our histories we found the first Oracle about 300 years ago. They, er.. I mean you, were never made public knowledge. A Brotherhood of Wizards were formalized to study you and protect you. They began a crusade to search the world studying the artifacts of the ancients and tend to what Oracles they find. As to your purpose or function I don't know. Tornel never seemed to credit you as any more than empty shells useful for decoration and testaments of the ancients." The King smiled into his mustache and carefully turned the pages of the book, there were not many pictures of Oracles, and their locations were not recorded. "It's surprising that you've woken up, and it's strange that the agent of Draygon wan....." A loud rapping sounded at the King's door.

Sarah eagerly reads through the book with King Kovar, drinking in the details and secrets within. It helps her form a more complete image of why Master Thunderfist had been watching over her, and why the King seems to know so much about her when she barely knows who she is.

But if the King and Master Thunderfist and the other Wizards all knew the Oracles were real, why did this Tornel regard them as mere decorations? That makes no sense; surely if the Ancients wanted to show off their power and abilities, they'd do better than creating lifeless mannequins in pods, right?

"Your Most Royal Highness!" Came a familiar voice, "It is I, Tornel, I seek an audience." The King motioned for the attendant to open the door. Tornel came in, wiping his hands on a cloth as if he just washed them, "Your Highness I have excellent news! We have captured one of Dra... Who is that!?" He exclaimed, pointing at Sarah.

"Do you not recognize her Tornel? She is one of your beloved Oracles come to life and sitting in our presence. Her name is Sarah." The King said.

"Your Highness step away from her! She's a servant of Evil!!" With a flick of his wrist a small vial hurled towards Sarah's feet and when it hit the ground it exploded jolting Sarah and Pip against the wall....

Tornel's loud and sudden arrival knocks her out of her thinking and reading, and she stands up, not sure who to expect. She certainly didn't expect Tornel, though he's not what she expected from a Wizard, especially after the calm but jovial presence of Kensu Thunderfist.

"Hello, Master Tornel," she says, introducing herself with a bow. "My name is Sarah, and I'm-"

His angry declaration cuts her off, shocking her with his hostility. What on earth was he ranting about? She then sees a small vial flying through the air towards her, and for a split second, it seems as though time itself crawls to a halt.

The explosion knocks her and Pip off their feet and knocked into a wall, their cries of pain and surprise drowned by the thunder of the explosion. Sarah feels the world spin around her, but she manages to shake off the stun and tries to get up, reaching for Pip to see if he's alright. The poor dog is badly wounded, but he'll live, so Sarah lays her hands on him and begins healing him as fast as she can. This allows Pip to get up, shake off the explosion, and start growling angrily at the man who tried to kill them both.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!" Sarah manages to cry out once she's regained her senses.

Crystallis

Sarah

Sir Brunch brought before the King the young girl with the pink hair. The King was sitting in one of the large, comfortable chairs in the room facing the doorway. "Your Royal Highness, may I present Lady Sarah, from the Islands of Kensu Thunderfist." King Kovar regarded the girl as she came into his study and kneeled. She was accompanied by a small, blue dog that seemed very happy and very attached to her.

*BOOM!* another fiery volley crashed into the castle wall. Purposefully the fireballs weren't doing a great amount of damage, Bandersnatch seemed to be shooting at stone walls and wasn't aiming at any flammable or populated areas. Most likely the beast was letting them know he had the power to bring death to them and was choosing not to. As long as he was content to be threatening they had time to come up with a plan for how to defeat him.

@Maglar

Sarah startles at the sound of the fireball crashing into the walls. She remembers what Asra said about one of Draygon's minions assaulting the castle, and her fair, soft features harden as she glares out the window angrily. She's seen what one of these monsters could do, and she barely beat that one back. Asra was hesitant to let her engage this one, meaning he must be equally dangerous.

It's only the king's calm reaction that calms her down in return. She sighs and turns back to the King.

"How long has this one been assaulting the castle, Your Majesty?" she asks. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You're saying that Master Kensu is dead?" The King's heart raced but he didn't let his face express any emotions, as Royalty he was expected to learn the discipline of controlling his expressions since he was a child. "Please child, be at ease. Sir Brunch!" He commanded, "get us some food, wine, and water for our Guest, we will eat here." Pip let out a soft bark, the King smiled, "and some food and water for the dog." The Knight bowed and left the room.

"Now child, come, sit." The King motioned for Sarah to sit at the desk close to his own chair. "Do not be afraid of me, I may be a King but I am not a tyrant," he smiled warmly, "Please tell me your tale. Where did you come from, and what happened to Master Thunderfist?"

Sarah sits down, and takes a deep breath.

"Well, you see Your Majesty," she begins, "it began with waking up from my capsule in a cave. I... I have no recollections before that, just knowledge implanted during my long sleep, which is why I'm able to talk to people and understand things, but beyond that, I was just... sleeping. All I know was I had to find someone, and not because I had woken up with nobody around..."

She decides to keep Asra to herself for now. She's not entirely sure the King would believe her about a flying fairy that was actually the holosense avatar of an artificial intelligence living in orbital space platforms. She's not entirely sure she believes it herself, despite her own implanted knowledge.

"When I walked to the village... there was nobody there. It was... strange. Eerie. I had to explore some more before I found anyone - Master Kensu Thunderfist. He had been exploring a cave on the island, one shaped like a skull, so he missed my awakening and whatever had happened at the village. He greeted me, told me more about my purpose, and that I had to retrieve a sword from the cave. He had tried to find it, but never could, so it was up to me."

She pauses to take a sip of wine to wet her throat, but flinches at the sharp taste of alcohol, despite the wine's overall sweetness.

"Sorry, is wine supposed to taste like that, Your Majesty?" she asks. "It's sweet, but there's this sharp, strong flavor underneath. I've... I've never had wine before, to be honest. Sorry if I've offended in any way.

"Anyways, as I explored the cave, however, I found out what had happened to the villagers." she says with a shudder at the memory. "Turns out a monstrous spider-queen... thing had settled in the cave, and had had her children use a poison gas to incapacitate the villagers and took them into the cave as... as food. The gas made my journey into the cave more difficult, as it was impairing my progress. If Pip weren't with me... well, I don't know what would have happened. I managed to find the villagers, find the sword and fight the spider-queen. The queen had somehow closed the cave entrance, so her death meant Master Thunderfist could finally help me with getting the villagers out, but then..."

She silent for a bit, trying to gather the strength to continue. She's on the verge of tears, hands clenched tightly into fists.

"T-then a giant, flying monster arrived, and began smashing into the cliffside," she says, her voice trembling. "I... I managed to get most of the v-villagers out, b-but some... some still got crushed under the rocks... I... I couldn't help them, all I could do was try and get the others to safety, get the monster away from...

"I-I managed to draw its attention, intending to throw off its attention, but then I s-saw a hooded man in a cloak. I didn't realize it at first b-but that may have been the monster in disguise. I tried to fight him, but he was too strong... then Master K-Kensu tried to help me b-but... but he..."

She stopped, and started sobbing quietly, tears dripping onto the table.

"I'm s-sorry, M-Master Kensu," she cries softly into her brunch. "I c-couldn't save you..."

Crystallis

Sarah

---

The King and Sarah

The Manta Rays approached the Castle from the North. From her perch on the back of the Manta Sarah could see Bandersnatch as a little dot on the south side of the castle shooting balls of fire over the outer wall and hitting the stone of the towers. Directly underneath her she could see the top of a large square parapet lined pavilion built atop one of the towers. There were maybe twenty guards standing on the pavilion looking up at the Manta's. "It appears we are expected," Asra's voice chimed in Sarah's ear.

The Manta's landed and the soldiers began to unload their goods. One of them walked up to Sarah and helped her down. "Miss," he said chivalrously, "we weren't expecting a lady in attendance. Welcome, to Castle Solace! From whence do you come?"

@Maglar

"Oh," Sarah gasps as they approach the castle. "That's a bit surprising... I don't think Master Thunderfist had time to mention me to anyone..."

Stepping off the Manta, she straightens her cloak, pulling back the hood, and gives a polite bow.

"Forgive my sudden intrusion," she speaks up. "My name is Sarah, and I've come from Master Thunderfist's island. The villagers were kind enough to allow me onto these majestic sky-mantas, so forgive my sudden appearance.

"However, I have... sad news. M-Master Kensu Th-Thunderfist... is dead. He was slain by an agent of Draygon. I... I'm sorry."

---

King Kovar looked out the window from his study. He could hear Bandersnatch yelling a challenge. Give up the Oracle and Wizard and no one has to die. Over and over again he yelled before blasting the castle again. Kovar felt sad, he didn't know what to do. There was no Oracle at the Castle, it had been sent away as a gift for some cousin or another's wedding. Tornel had told the king that they weren't valuable, just decoration. But now one of Draygon's lieutenants was banging down his door looking for one. Why now? he thought, why after all this time we've been left alone do they now harass us? And why do they want the Oracles? The King was at a lost.

The door banged loudly. "Your Highness!" A Paladin's voice called though the thick door, "The Rays from the Islands have brought their load, and they brought a passenger sir." The King motioned for his attendant to open the door.

When the Knight saw the King he fell to his knee. "And why is that my concern?" The King asked.

"She has Pink hair sir," The Paladin said, looking down.

The King stroked his long beard. He remembered that one of the Oracle renderings had pink hair, maybe the Rays had brought them a way out of this mess. "Bring her to me, and good work young Knight. What is your name?"

"Sir Brunch, Your Highness." The knight said. He snapped up at the King's command and went to fetch the young girl to see the King.

SYNOPSIS

Sorry, I had to write this out quick, so there may be errors. Sarah has landed at Solace and the King has requested an Audience. Not bad, waking up one day and seeing a King shortly after. You just landed, I hope you're not overwhelmed :)

Sarah is quite surprised by the stares and the gawking; she suspects something about her appearance isn't very common around these parts. It's probably the pink hair; none of the villagers on the island had pink hair either.

"L-look, Master Kensu wanted to dispose of these cannisters, whom should I talk to about-"

She then realizes they're leading her... somewhere. She takes the opportunity to look around. The place is certainly a lot bigger and grander than the village she was in, and it has a lot more people. Still, after the claustrophobia of the caverns, it's welcome, even if the size can be a bit intimidating. Meanwhile, Pip kept trotting along, panting happily at being able to walk around after being forced to stay in one spot during the long flight to the castle.

She finds herself in front of an old man with a dignified air and commanding presence, someone she realizes is the King - though partially because Sir Brunch announced him to her, making her do a double take.

"Ah! Forgive me, m- your majesty!" she says hurriedly, giving an equally hurried bow. "M-my name is Sarah, and I'm most honored to meet you! I... I've come from the island where the Wizard Thunderfist lives... or rather... where he lived..."

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

Penny's eyes widen in surprise and terror as her fist misses, and her arm is grabbed by the creature. Suddenly, she feels a powerful, crushing grip around her forearm, sending a strong, piercing pain through her arm. She cries out in pain, and realizes from the wet breaking sound and the intense pain shooting through her arms that her bones just got broken. The pain is blinding, and she feels tears fill her eyes. Yet she still keeps lightning shooting through her arm to spite the thing, try and electrocute it into letting go.

The response is... much more vicious than she anticipated. It tosses her around like a rag doll in anger and pain, and she hears a wet pop and feels another sharp pain in her shoulder. Not only are her forearm bones broken, she can't move the arm as a whole without severe pain; the thing must have dislocated her shoulder in its anger.

She looks up at the monster, and even through blurry vision sees its face split open in a roar of anger.

"Heh, that all you got you little bitch?" she can't help but say with a grin. She can probably use her other arm, but it's currently propping her up, and she's not sure if she can react in time with the pain clouding her mind.

Crystallis

Sarah

"Oh!" Sarah gasps in understanding as she completes the process Asra outlines. "In which case, I'm not copying the ability to the sword, I'm basically transferring those qualities to a suitable focus. Using biogenic energy to apply specific properties on certain objects and rendering them into complex tools or weapons. Very useful..."

She's still not used to knowing the basics of this stuff without any prior experience, but she supposes it makes it easier for her to grasp the concept.

As for Asra's description of herself, it was certainly interesting - and sorrowful. All that marvel, all that ability and creativity, wasted.

"I... I watched a recording of Dr. Logan, talking about me - that is, me or another Oracle called Sarah, but he called her a 'Galatea prototype'. He seemed... very proud of us. That we'd help lead the way to a better world. But he said we were to help 'normal' humans, not rule over them. That's weird...

"And if you're an AI, what was Harbinger... what drove it to malfunction?"

OOC

Don't give Sarah all the details just yet :P she's just being curious and asking questions. It's okay if she has to find more data on her own.

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

Penny's running very high on adrenaline right now, or she'd be puking up what's left of breakfast. Right now, her main jobs are avoiding getting skewered by the Void's sharp claws, and concentrating enough Nox in her body to charge up for another thunderous fist. It was sort of like building up enough pressure in a potato gun, only each shot had to be pumped strong enough to send a piece of potato through a heavy door. Having to dodge made the charge-up process take longer.

“I’m so excited to be an Ars Magi. Wouldn’t it be so fun to be impaled by a Void like the poor guard? Unfortunately, my abilities aren’t suited for fighting. The most I can do is act as a guard dog for your backs, or I can go and try to find Victoria.”

"Well, you and me both. So why don't we both go ahead together? Maybe find Victoria, maybe find some answers, maybe die screaming. Your date, your call, babe."

"Getting some reinforcements would really be appreciated right now, girls," Penny calls out, dodging another swipe by a claw. "Not sure how long I can keep this thing back - it really likes the idea of bringing out my inner beauty with its claws." She'd be a bit more annoyed at Astrelle's tone, except part of her agrees jumping in to fight this thing single-handedly was a bad idea.

Fortunately, she doesn't fight it alone for long.

"Miss Grenoble," Vanna began as she took her place by the other girl's side, makeshift weapon in hand, "if nothing else you have courage."

@Onarax

"Vanna! Thanks for the save!" she calls out breathlessly, glad to see the Void beast forced to halt its attack and split its attention between the two. "Really needed it here. And yeah... that was kinda stupid of me, I guess..."

"If you wish to survive today's harrowing adventure please listen closely. The Void are dangerous, especially for incomplete women like ourselves. I do not know what class of Void creature stands before us, but I suspect our odds of defeating it are slim, I believe our best bet is to find an opportunity to extract ourselves and run from the creature. But if we can't escape."

And so her brother's words came back, an echo for a new recipient.

"Low level Voids are relatively dimwitted beasts, using their raw strength to overpower humans. Magic is the most effective weapon and they have a core hidden somewhere in their body. Find the core, break it with magic, and you get a dead Void." 'Simple right?'

"Well, that's a step up from my previous plan; beat it till it stops twitching," she says breathlessly. "Let's try that!"

Of course, she guesses it's not going to be all that easy, but at least Vanna has an idea of how to fight these things, so that takes the edge off Penny's anxiety.

"Now brace yourself, I believe you angered the beast."

"Oh, it's plenty mad, alright," Penny says, bracing herself for attack. "On three, we both smack this thing as hard as we can, then make a break for it while it's reeling.

"One, two...

"THREE!"

Penny slams a particularly super-charged lightning fist into the beast's face to stun it.

Crystallis

Sarah

On the Manta's Back

The Manta Ray flew for the entirety of the day, crossing a desert of ocean that stretched as far as Sarah could see in every direction. They didn't seem to need sleep, food, or rest; they just flew and flew and flew, aiming for their destination like an arrow fired from a long bow. As the sun waned gently into the horizon and Sarah and Pip were nestled comfortably in their saddle a flicker of light blinked into existence in Sarah's periphery, and a small, musical voice began to chime.

"Sarah... Sarah it is me, Asra! I'm so happy to get to talk to you again!" The holographic fairy's voice sounded like its usual, peppy self, but it also contained a trace of strange melancholy. "Umm... how are you?" the fairy asked.

@Maglar

Sarah was just enjoying the view, though she finds the stamina of these sky-mantas remarkable. Do they ever sleep? Or perhaps they stay awake for long, long times and just hibernate every once in a while? She made a mental note to ask about that when she could.

Just then, something sparkled and shone in her peripheral vision.

"A-Asra?" Sarah asks in surprise. "What are you doing here?

"Well, I'm doing alright. It's... it's been a rough day yesterday. First my awakening, then the trial to find the sword... then..."

She trails off, unable to continue. Pip, sensing her returning sadness, rubs against her, whining softly.

"It's understandable that you'd be wondering why I'm here. Well, I've been present ever since you attached the battery to your thunder sword. You see, the swords are part of a circuit that is formed with your body and together you work as a dynamo for charging the receiver that is built into your brain, which is where the transistor exists that communicates with where I live. Once other Oracles wake up you'll be able to talk to each other through me, and I have other functions as well." The fairy seemed distracted and hesitant.

"Well, that seems... convenient," Sarah says, rubbing her head as though trying to feel whatever is connected to Asra in there. It feels a bit weird to have something in her head she has no knowledge of.

"I.. I'm sorry about Master Kensu. I know you only just met him but you've already been through so much together; he was a great man. I would've come to you sooner but it didn't seem the right time." She was quiet for a moment, the soft sound of the cold wind blowing filled the silence.

"It's... it's alright," Sarah says softly, though she doesn't smile. "Yesterday's been a bit rough, and I would have been too distracted to talk anyways."

"You should name your sword, It's completely yours now you know? You can call it Thunder Fang or Bolt or, or anything else you can think of, because it's yours you see, and no one else's, and when you own something you can make it into anything you want, isn't that right?"

Sarah looks at her sword, tucked away under her belt and under her cloak.

"I'll try and think of something," she says. "Can't think of anything right now..."

"Oh, I'm sorry for the strange conversation, I'm... I'm unsure of myself. I haven't felt any other Oracles except for the one in Leaf, and he's dead. It seems like as soon as you wake up you head straight into some dangerous situation and... and how did things get this way? No one could have known that things would be so scary when you, we, woke up."

"Wait, what happened to the Oracle in Leaf?!" Sarah asks in concern. The idea of others like her oddly gave her hope, something to look forwards to in this world, and the idea of one of them being dead was distressful. It feels like losing a sibling you never knew about. She's also worried if the other Oracles might similarly get killed off...

"Now that you've attached the battery to the sword I'm allowed to access the energy stored in the battery to manifest. That's how the battery's work, they contain charge. Kensu found that he could charge the battery with lightning from Pip and then release that lightning when he needed it, though he really wasn't able to channel his own energy to create lightning himself, no."

Asra seemed to be rambling and it was unclear as to why, but she continued, "I have two very important things I need to tell you, the first is about yourself. The swords exist to help you easily channel your energy into the manifestation of their elemental force, like lightning; however, you don't need the swords. You are capable, through focus and practice, to learn abilities from the materials, animals, and people around you. What you have to develop is a sense of analyzation, which, now that I can pull energy from the battery, I can help you with. Hold the pommel of the sword, where the battery is located, close to something and call on me to scan the element, animal, or person you want to learn from, and I will create a biogenecular diagram. Then, after I have the scan, attach the battery to any metal apparatus, this can be a rod, sword, spear, or other item of your choosing, but it needs to be metal. I can create a circuit channel which, when you push your biogenic energy through it, will form that energy into the desired effect. Pay close attention to how the energy feels as it its effects manifest, because with time and practice you'll be able to channel that energy intuitively without the aid of the apparatus. If you tried, you should already feel the ability to shoot a small spark from your body because of your work with the Lightning Fang, or Electric Talon, or whatever you want to call it." Asra's voice was smiling.

"The Second important thing I need to tell you is that the Castle of Solace is being sieged by a great and powerful monster known as the Bandersnatch. It's not safe to land there, you'll have to be careful. I don't know if the Manta Ray's can fly high enough to avoid him, he's very fast and dangerous, you might all do better to find another way in. If you land north of the Castle there is a river that you can follow to the northern gates. Bandersnatch is focused on the south gates, and so you might be able to slip by him."
"The Third thing I need to tell you, which is silly because I told you that there were only two," she giggled, "is that you can now access me in your peripheral display and ask me questions directly. I have access to a certain database of information and I will provide you with any help I can."

"It is nice to talk to someone again, if you want to talk I am here, but you may need to sleep. You will be in sight of the Castle by the morning."

That was quite an infodump Asra had given her, and Sarah tries to memorize all that. It feels a little overwhelming, especially since she was only 'awake' starting yesterday. Some of it somehow 'clicks' with her, as though reaffirming some knowledge implanted in her mind during her long sleep. Other facts are new, and she makes a note to remember them.

"So, first scan the source of the ability, then put the battery on a metal object, and touch it? Can I use the sword, or does it have to be a different metal object?" She shakes her head. "Sounds a bit complex to me..."

The idea of another agent of Draygon assaulting a poor town or castle has her simultaneously revolted and shivering. She'd seen one of these dreaded lieutenants before, and he killed Kensu in front of her eyes. She has no idea whether she can even face this next one. She wants to jump in and help, but the fight with the stranger made her worry if she'll be able to even do anything to him. She frowns as she slides deep in thought that she almost misses Asra's next bit.

"Oh, that's good," Sarah says. "At least I'll have company, right?

"So, Asra, can I ask you something?" she continues. "What exactly are you? You're the first entity I met since my hibernation, and yet you have answers I'm trying to find. I'm beginning to understand the duty of the Oracles thanks to Master Thunderfists' documents, but if the Ancients made you to help the Oracles, why weren't they better prepared for... well, all this?"

Crystallis

Sarah

Leaving Kensu's Island

The following morning Steven rapped upon the door of Kensu's fishing hut, immediately Pip started barking. Over the night the people of the island prepared Master Kensu's body, and this morning they had begun work on his funeral pyre. They'd be finished by the evening, and would begin their 7 days of mourning, as was taught to them by the Masters.

@Maglar

She's not aware at what time she fell asleep, only that it was shortly after dinner. She must have been really tired, she thinks, as she gets up, still a bit stiff from yesterday. It's been... a rather hectic first day. Even if she'd been in the pod for heaven knows how long, yesterday was the first day she genuinely experienced life outside the pod. The loss of Master Thunderfist was still a sore blow to her, and judging by the villagers' reaction, they sorely missed him as well. She wants to attend his funeral, and those who had been killed by the stranger's attack yesterday. Every one of them weighed heavily upon her; she had saved them from the spiderlings only to see them get killed by something else, and it makes her feel helpless.

It doesn't help that while the people here are grieving, they seem to have accepted sorrow and loss. Is this normal in this world? Would she have to accept losing people and seeing them die? She doesn't know if she's strong enough for that.

There's a knock on the door, and she answers, Pip following her.

"Oh, I'm glad to see you're awake," Steven said reverentially as the door opened and he saw Sarah. "We've prepared transport for you miss, err... madam, uh, m'lady." He stumbled over his words as he bowed slightly, the way he thoughts knights of the kingdom might. "Please, come this way." He blushed as he led her to where the Manta Rays were waiting.

"Please, just call me Sarah," she says with a smile. "And thank you for your generous hospitality. I'd stay, but Master Thunderfist's records show I have a long ways to go."

Manta Rays

"The flying Mantas are our friends," Steven said to the bewildered Oracle, "Master Kensu was the first to communicate with them, he gave them fish," he smiled warmly, "ever since they've stopped here every time they're close by for more." He chuckled, "they said they will take you and Pip and all your belongings to the Castle."

Sarah blinks in surprise as she watches the mantas fly overhead. She assumed she'd be taking a boat to the mainland, but this seems like a more interesting way to travel. She's actually curious as to how the mantas manage to fly - and wonders how it feels like to fly on one of their backs.

"I'm sorry, I haven't told you about the castle," Steven stopped and looking down took her hands in his. He then looked intently into her eyes, "Master Kensu was the only one here who knew anything about you, your kind that is. He was part of a great Brotherhood of Wizards who work to protect the world from the evils of, well, evils like the ones you have already seen." He looked down apologetically, "I'm sorry that you woke to such a world as this one, I... I hope you find us acceptable, to help, I mean. We are... simple, but we are noble, at least we think we are, we try to be." Steven looked back up at her, "the only other of the Brotherhood that any of us know is Master Tornel, the Fire Wizard. He chooses to be the public representative of the Brotherhood while the others all remain hidden. He lives at the Castle of Solace, a beautiful castle across the great sea and far from the reach of Draygon and his monsters."

"It's alright, Steven," Sarah says with a soft smile. "Yesterday's been... rather hectic, to be honest. I woke up in the morning, went to retrieve a sword from a cave full of monsters, then had to fight... that man. And Master Thunderfist died before he could tell me much. I... I just regret not being able to help him. Or your friends. Some Oracle I am; saving people from one thing only for them to perish in another..."

She looks away in sadness. Pip whines sympathetically as he nuzzles her ankle.

"The Mantas will take you there, to meet Tornel where you can... well.. and go about your holy work." Steven smiled weakly but zealously, he dropped her hands and turned, "come on, you need to meet them!" He hurried to the beach.

Sarah follows along, keeping up with the young man, with Pip scurrying along as fast as his short, stubby legs can carry him, tongue lolling out as he pants in excitement.

****

Along the beach were a row of six, giant Manta Rays. Attached to the Manta's back were large leather saddlebags filled with a variety of fruits, clothes, and gifts from the islanders. It looked like the island people weren't just sending Sarah but were sending a whole shipment of goods to the Castle. "We've packed some special items for you, Oracle.. er, Sarah. Clothes and food of course, we want to make sure you never lack what you need when you are at the castle, but we also included the canisters Master Kensu brought from the Spider's Den. I, don't know what they're for but I'm sure you'll find use for them, it seemed important to the Master that you have them."

Steven turned to her, "Our people owe a debt of gratitude to you that we can never repay," Steven spoke gleefully, "you are welcome here, forever and always, as a member of our Island and our family. Come to us whenever you are in need, and I hope you are successful on your quest. I'm sorry to say it but, I think this is.... goodbye."

Sarah looks at the gifts with surprise, but appreciates the gesture. She makes sure to separate the gifts meant for her from those the villagers meant for the Castle. The cannisters, however, she looks at with a mixture of unease and disgust. She still remembers the miasma from the cave, and wants nothing more to do with that. Kensu had meant to dispose of them. However, with the Wizard dead, nobody on the island knew what to do with them; maybe this Tornel would help.

Sarah turns to bow to the villagers.

"Thank you all for your generosity, kind people," she says. "I won't forget your kindness, and I only wish I could have done more to help. Perhaps I'll return someday. Untill then, farewell. Please take care of the village for me, Steven...

"Come on, Pip," she says, picking up the dog and carrying him with her onto the Manta. She gets on, and nods to Steven, signifying she's ready. She waves to the villagers as the mantas lift off and take for the skies.

Flight is... rather exhilarating, Sarah discovers. She put on a cloak to protect her from the wind, but while she leaves it buttoned, she opens it enough to let it flap behind her in the wind as hair danced in the gust. Looking down from the sides of the sky-manta was vertigo-inducing, making her realize this is probably the farthest from the ground she's ever been in her life, and that a fall would most definitely be lethal, but once she gets past the vertigo, the sights are incredible. Everything looks so small, so insignificant, and the world spreads before her like a massive canvas, painted with brilliant shades of blue, green, and gold, with strokes of white clouds marking the sky and the occasional flock of birds squawking as she flies past them. The small fishing village, never really that big even on the ground, quickly became a small speck on the ground, and Sarah found herself flying past towns and cities bigger than the village she left, even though from her perspective they might as well have been model towns filled with ants. She finds herself wondering if anyone down there is looking up to see her on the sky-manta, and that causes her to wave at a couple of towns she flies over.

Even though the sun is bright and merciless up here, it feels so beautiful and warm she can't help but smile and soak it in, managing to feel the warmth of its rays despite the coldness of rushing air. She spreads her arms to feel the rush of air all around, and closes her eyes against the elements of air and light all around. The wind roars in her ears as it rushes past, giving a nipping sensation of mild coolness even as the sun warms her arms and face. It feels... wonderful.

Pip is also enjoying the strange ride, tongue lolling as he pants eagerly, ears flapping in the wind, and occasionally barking at the nearby flock of birds. Sarah is too busy enjoying the ride to notice he's sliding slightly due to his light weight, only coming to when the poor dog gives a surprised yelp after a particularly strong gust nearly tosses him overboard. It takes Sarah's heightened reflexes to grab Pip before he falls off the Manta.

"I think you should stay somewhere safer for now," Sarah chuckles, embarrassed at her lack of attention. This time, she wraps herself in her cloak, hood off, with Pip grasped securely in her arms and in the cloak. His head is still poking out of the cloak, allowing him to enjoy the view as the two fly to the Castle of Solace in style. It's a long trip from what she remembers from one of the maps in Kensu's study, but for a while, she forgets her woes as she soars above the clouds.

Crystallis

Sarah

Sarah pauses. Wait, Dr. Logan named one of the Oracles Sarah... and he had written a love letter to a girl named Sarah? Was she named after her? If she's as charming and intelligent as Dr. Logan made her seem, she's actually rather honored, and wishes she had known the girl. Given the circumstances, it was impossible; that other Sarah must have perished hundreds of years ago, if not by the Cataclysm then by sheer old age.

For what it was worth, she hopes Dr. Logan and this other Sarah had been happy together.

Once she's done with Master Thunderfist's files, she goes to take a shower and sit down to eat. She's hungry, and it's been a rather busy day.