shadowsaint007

Crystallis

Sarah

“Yeah, that’s right,” Steph confirmed after Sarah attempted to answer Peter’s question. “I guess you could say that it’s a bunch of very small artificial workers reassembling the basic components of things, like someone turning a piece of wood into a table or chair.”

"I think I understand?" Peter says in a tone that indicates he probably didn't, and begins trying to squint at the thing, as though expecting tiny elves taking apart things and putting them together. Sarah just giggles at him.

"I don't think you can see them; it's in the name after all," she explains. "Nanotechnology is too small to be seen by the naked human eye; you'll just strain your eyes."

A moment later, the holographic display flicked to life, and Steph couldn’t help but give voice to a small gasp.

“Mom…” she whispered as she felt her eyes begin to moisten. She watched in silence, while her mother described her work on Project Prometheus.

@Ponn

Sarah notes Steph's sorrow, and lightly puts a hand on the other girl's shoulder, squeezing gently to reassure her and give her a warm smile.

"It's nice to meet your mother," Sarah says, looking at the fading hologram. "What did she work on... back then?"

In the archive the girls found a map of the world as it was known:

World Map

Legend

Circles are for villages, Triangles are for Castles

MAP LEGEND:

• Amazon: A City of all Women Warriors.
• Brynmaer: A Village in the center of a poisoned forest
• Goa: A Castle of Warriors who Study the Secrets of Martial Arts.
• Joel: A village of caves hidden in the sea.
• Leaf: A Simple Town of Religious folks. This is where the Mystics live.
• Nadare: Land of Ice, the people are fisherfolk.
• Oak: Poisonous Swamp land, it's people are strange and not to be trusted.
• Portoa: Land of Waterfalls, a paradise. The people there are prone to vice.
• Sahara: A Dessert land. The people call themselves the "Fremen"
• Shyron: The Castle of the Kingdom of Thunder. They are isolationists and their army uses strange weapons.
• Swan: A Harbour Town filled with Pirates.
• Castle Solace: The Capital of humanity.
• Draygon's Fortress: A dark and ominous fortress. The people of Solace have no knowledge of the inner workings of the citadel.
• Tinkertown: A village of Tinkerers and Archeologists who live in an excavation site where they seek to understand the mysteries of ancient technology.

Asra blinks into existence in Sarah's eyes. "The map of the old world does not correlate to the map of the new world," she comments in her pretty voice, "I am unable to decipher any patterns between the two. The number of Oracles which were created is uncertain too, whether or not they existed in the facilities which worked on the Prometheus Project is uncertain." Asra's voice took a more serious tone, "We should follow rumors of people using incredible powers like Kensu used the lightning. He was powering the battery with Pip's electro-energy and then channeling that through the sword. Someone else may have discovered the same use of such a power. If we find another battery I can talk to Stephanie as well. Tell her that it is good to see her alive for me would you please? I was dearly worried until she picked up the sword of stone."

@Maglar

Sarah wasn't expecting Asra to pop in on them like that, and looks around to see if anyone else can see her. Sir Gravy and Peter showed no reaction, which shows they probably can't see her, and Steph seems a bit busy - and maybe her 'receiver' isn't yet fully powered yet, and getting a battery will help her see Asra more easily.

Still, despite what Asra tells her, maybe they can spot a pattern. Even if the facilities had shifted in the meantime, they could still follow their general locations and narrow their searches down a bit.

"We should also be on the lookout for rumors of strange powers and such," Sarah speaks up, deciding to voice what Asra told her. "The Oracles and their equipment had powerful biogenic energy abilities linked to them, so we could follow such rumors on the road. I mean, some of them must have woken up already. Did every Oracle have a Wizard guarding them, or are there some Oracles still missing in the various ruins? Maybe they woke up a long time ago... and had to live by themselves."

The thought of being alone in such a world saddens Sarah as she thinks about it. That could have been her; lost in the wirlderness, not even a Wizard to guide her, and trying to figure things out on her own. It would be a lonely existence.

Crystallis

Sarah

@Ponn

"Well, will wonders ever cease," chortles Sir Gravy as Stephanie not only identifies the small crystal as the mysterious tome, but transforms a mundane pouch into... something that can hold it.

Peter is similarly wide-eyed and amazed.

"Begging your pardons, Ms. Or- Stephanie, but that's some wondrous magic there," he manages to speak up. "How did you do it?"

"It's... it's not magic," Sarah says, shaking her head, remembering something vaguely. She turns to Steph. "It's... nanotechnology, right? It's... well, it's complicated, but it's as though I know the basics of the process, as well as a lot of things I've never even seen or heard about, the moment I stepped out of my pod... Just enough to familiarize me with things, I guess..."

The makeshift 'reader' powers up, and the crystal starts flickering. For a moment, one could see bright flecks and glittering objects within the tiny frame of the crystal, as though it were an image of the night sky, with the stars themselves shining within. Then a spectral geometric shape appears a foot above the crystal, slowing unfurling until it forms what Stephanie could recognize as a holographic display. It glitches out a bit, but it takes form in sharp detail rather quickly, revealing what appears to the others as a scholarly woman in the garb of the Ancients, but Stephanie can clearly recognize as Julie Anderson, her long-lost mother, in a happier time.

Julie's Message

"...date today is... December 12th, year [STATIC] and here we are, working on Project Prometheus yet again. I swear, Dr. Logan's a freaking slave driver; he wants the miniaturized reactors ready by next week. And the cryopods. And his precious 'biogenic-sensitive' circuitry prepared. Why not ask for the Sun in the palm of his hand while he's at it?

"Okay, okay, I kid. Dr. Logan is... driven, and to be honest, it's hard to not get infected with his enthusiasm for the project. He just seems to tied up in his Biogenics lab and only pokes his head out once in a while, so it's hard to get across that a lot of this stuff takes time, especially at the crazy purity levels he's asking. We can make stuff sturdy, reliable, and effective, only 82% pure, and it'll last centuries, but nope, he wants his precious pieces at 95% or higher. It'll take more time, so tell him to cool it a bit. All the time we're telling him this is for just prototypes, but damn it if he isn't persistent.

"Still, I know what it's like to be a perfectionist, so can't blame him for it. Hopefully Dr. Westfield will help mellow him out a bit. She's got his same spark, but I had coffee with her once; she seems like a friendly sort.

"Anyways, moving on, here's the list of the facilities where the equipment is being sent. Some of it's supposed to arrive right about now, others are going to be there within the next two weeks, so tell Drake to get off our case, we're doing the best we can. The files and records will be on servers designated PANDORA-4 and higher, though as I said Bob, I always make copies of my work, so I'll be sure to send you something secure.

This is Dr. Anderson, signing out."

A three-dimensional map of... somewhere forms in the hologram, and Stephanie can recognize it as the land masses of old, prior to the Harbinger Incident. Several dots appear, marking what appears to be the facilities her mother was talking about, with small percentages next to them indicating completion rates of various items.

"Forgive me Stephanie, but... I don't think I understood much of that," Peter apologizes.

Pip similarly looks at the map, and tilts his head at Stephanie with a curious whine. It's almost as if he's curious too.

Crystallis

Castle of Solace

@Ponn

After a while, the King took his leave of the girls. He wanted to hear more from the Oracles, but alas, the state calls. Also, Bandersnatch seems to have strangely withdrawn his siege. The citizens of the castle were elated and began celebrating, but the King remains... unconvinced.

"Draygon's men have a way of being cruel and cunning," he tells the Oracles. "Even if Bandersnatch had no way of ending the siege, we must remain vigilant against an attack by treachery. I'll see to the defenses and the men, in the meanwhile Sir Gravy will lead you to the royal archives so you may find what you seek there.

"Take care, fair maidens, and may fortune smile upon you on your journey..."

With that, the knight Sir Gravy guides the two girls to the Archives, whereupon they find endless scrolls and books, some new, others old, some even older than the castle itself. The good knight offers his aid, but he can't seem to find anything by Julie Anderson.

Sarah take the opportunity to turn to Stephanie.

"So what was your mother like?" Sarah asks curiously. "She seems to be a dedicated sort, if we're reading her works this long after... whatever happened..."

"My sincere apologies, dear maidens," Gravy says, "it appears I cannot find the tome, though the scribes assure me it's here somewhere; Master Tornel referred to it quite a bit, so it must be here. Give me a second..."

He tries looking again, in a shelf, but something small falls out.

"Hmm? What is this?" he says, picking up the small object and holding it to the light. "How odd, it seems to be a gem - nay, merely a crystal. Rather shiny, but it doesn't seem to be worth much... Shouldn't this be in the Royal Treasury instead?"

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

“The Void that knocked the ship off course was much more dangerous than the one you faced.”

@Inedible

Penny's mouth twists into a scowl, but decides to leave the sour remarks to Astrelle. While it seems like everything on this trip seems to trying to kill them, it can be excused that the presence of Nox and Voids made all contact between cities near-impossible, so maybe they just had some bad luck.

She's clearly not happy with it, though.

“I-It looked like you were fightin’ another Ars Magi… W-Was it some kinda Void that could shape shift?”

Victoria’s gaze turns to Dana when she broaches the subject of the other Ars Magi. The Wing of Justice is quiet for a moment, considering before she replies. “That was...” A pause. “An enemy combatant. I couldn’t tell you any more than that.” She doesn’t clarify if it’s because she doesn’t know, or if it’s some other reason she’s declining to speak further. “Regardless, what you saw is not to leave this ship.”

“Understood?”

"Wait, what?!" is Penny's only response. She looks from Dana to Victoria and back again, having not seen whatever it was they're talking about. The fact that Victoria is neither denying or ignoring meant Dana was right and had seen something. Or maybe the other girls had seen something too. Penny looks at Nichole and Astrelle, trying to see if they could confirm.

Right now, though, she's tired, sick, and has a broken arm, and wants to just sleep. Already, she's struggling to keep her eyelids open. She keeps silent, but she's not happy about it.

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

Penny tenses for a moment, preparing her elementum in case Vanna's strike fails to finish off the Void. However, this time, the thing stays down - and then melts into an ugly mess. It's over; the thing is dead and gone. They're safe now, she can breathe easily again.

"Vanna, that... that worked!" she tells the noblewoman in exhausted elation. "Of course, it left an ugly mess on the carpet, but I'm guessing Void aren't big on manners. Come on, let's rejoin the others, they must be worried sick."

It's then she realizes Vanna is out cold; the fight must have taken a lot out of her. To be honest, Penny feels about to crash herself; a long trip followed by a short but intense, harrowing fight. She seats herself carefully next to the taller girl, and lays back, breathing out as she feels her exhausted body ache all over, especially the arm.

"I'll be honest," she talks to the unconscious Vanna, "I wasn't expecting this, but hey, a story to tell the other girls at the Academy right? We took out a Void before we got our awesome Ars Magi powers and weaponry, bet the other girls will be jealous. I think we made a pretty good team there.

"Also, thanks for saving my life - I really pulled some boneheaded moves there. From now on, though we'll fight as partners, I promise. No more harebrained moves."

Nichole's arrival brings Penny back to focus.

"Nichole, how's everyone else?" she asks, trying to get up. "Vanna got it with one last hit, and I think that tuckered her out. To be honest, I think I'm about to crash myself.

"Here, help me carry her; you take the left side, I've got the right. Watch that spot, that's what's left of the thing."

Upon finally arriving at the control room, Penny is relieved to see the crew and the other girls safe and sound, and helps lay Vanna down on a sofa before she herself collapses on a chair, letting the medical staff work on her broken, dislocated arm.

"Oh sweet mother of God I wanna just go to sleep," she sighs wearily. "Are all flights like this, or did we just book the horror experience express?"

She turns to the other girls.

"So what the flying fuck happened here? And where's-"

Her protests were cut short upon seeing Victoria rather beat up.

"Christ, lady, did you get into a fight with an industrial mixer?" she asks the Wing of Justice.

“The ship is clear and back on route.” She informs the girls. “When we land we’ll have each of you examined and treated. This level of Nox shouldn’t be overtly harmful to you, but the doctors will want to be sure.”

Crimson eyes pass over the five girls, the older Ars Magi silent for a pointed few seconds before she continues: “As you’ve guessed, we ran into an area of heavy Nox.” She doesn’t comment on the battle that some of the girls caught a glimpse of, continuing instead: “I neutralized the worst threats, but you were left to deal with the lesser on your own. Admirably--but unfortunately.”

“We should be landing within the hour. Until then you’ll be kept under guard here. If you notice anything abnormal, report it to the crew members immediately.”

@Inedible

"So what exactly happened here - ma'am?" Penny asks the Wing of Justice. "I know that was just a lesser Void, least compared to some of the real prizes out there, but what happened to you?"

Crystallis

The King listens intently to the description of the harpy, his face drawn and grim.

"From the description, it seems you're talking about the one known as Jubjub Bird, one of Draygon's Lieutenants," he says solemnly. "I have heard of her exploits, and she was a cruel being who reveled in the suffering of others. While I hold no love for her or her ilk, and her loss is no sorrow to the world, I fear that Draygon's interest may be drawn to the loss of one of his chosen. Be careful in the world, Stephanie. It is not only a less advanced one than your own, but dark forces stir in it, more's the pity."

Stephanie's explanation of Sarah's origin is clearly interesting him, though her technical talk leaves him confused.

"To hear this," he muses, "it's as if we talk about the powers of the gods themselves. To create humans from nothing, it seems so... fantastic. Then again, these are strange times, I suppose, and there are stranger things about.

"Though about your mother, forgive me, but I do not think I know her name," the King continues. "And if her tome was important, it would be kept in safe-keeping. Normally, such important tomes - especially those of the Ancients - would be Master Tornel's responsibility, but I'll check to see if we have it."

Sarah's response to being a person created from scratch is... conflicted. On the one hand, it does give her some idea of where she's truly from, and would explain her absent memories. On the other, it means that unlike Steph, she has no roots, no past, no identity. She might be an Oracle, but even the lowliest peasant in this world has a claim to something she would never have; family and a past. She just turns her attention to Pip even as she's deep in thought.

OOC

Basically a quick response to Stephanie, feel free to put in a timeskip here.

Crystallis

Sarah

@Ponn

Pip likes this one. She knows how to pat a dog properly.

"The Old World, you say?" the King muses with interest. Sarah also seems intrigued by Stephanie. "My dear girl, you must have seen such wonders, wonders I can only imagine in this darker age. Sarah says she doesn't remember anything before she woke up from her pod; do you have any idea why that is? I thought that you both being Oracles, perhaps you could enlighten us about the Ancients."

Sarah shakes her head sadly.

"I have... glimpses, your Majesty, but they're not exactly what you'd call visions. More... I think glimpses of the world, as though I'm still in my pod, looking out. They... they come and go, and they're not exactly clear. As I told your Majesty, I have no clear memories of my existence before waking up from the pod."

"I see," King Kovar muses. "Back to Stephanie's tale, was there anything notable about the Harpy? I have my suspicions, though that comes with good news and bad if I am correct."

Crystallis

ooc

Better get this thing going again, I'd imagine.

Sarah

@Ponn

"So, Stephanie, right?" Sarah asks her new acquaintance. "It's nice to meet you. And you too, Peter. I'm Sarah, this is my... my friend, Pip."

Pip barks as though in confirmation.

"Dear girl, please come in," says King Kovar. "It seems I've been blessed by a very unusual day; a visit by two Oracles of old! These are certainly unusual times... but perhaps they are so for a reason. Reports have been... troubling as of late.

"You too, my dear boy," he says, gesturing to Peter. "It's surely been a long trip, and you've come a long way if you're Master Minoc apprentice. How is the old Master these days?

"Sarah has been talking to me about her journey thus far, perhaps you can regale an old man as myself with your tales as well?"

Crystallis

Sarah

@Ponn

When Tornel prepares a second strike, Sarah stiffens, Pip growling in her hands. For a moment, she considers drawing her sword and fighting Tornel, but then she remembers the King is still there, and she doesn't want to endanger him. She's not sure what to do about Tornel wanting to kill her, though, as he seems convinced she's a threat to the King.

However, the King's angry response - and the timely arrival of another knight - seemed to defuse the situation, and forced Tornel onto the back foot. Sarah couldn't help but wince when the King smacked Tornel; even though Tornel was just threatening to kill her, she feels that it wasn't seemly of the king to get physical like that, plus she felt pity for Tornel, whose dignity was damaged by that. Even though he attacked her and Pip.

Pip, however, held no sympathy, growling at Tornel until he leaves, giving an angry little snort when the Wizard had left.

Sarah breathes a sigh of relief when Tornel leaves. She just wishes the whole thing hadn't escalated so badly. Why did he believe she was a servant of Draygon? What had she done wrong?

When the Knight introduces his guests, Sarah waves to them.

"Hello, I'm Sarah, a pleasure to meet you," she says.

descriptions

To Stephanie, Sarah seems to be a pink-haired girl of 18 years old, a bit tall for her age, and with bright green eyes. She's carrying a small dog, similar to a corgi with shiny bits attached, and they seem a bit scuffed up, as though they've been hit by a small explosion - which she probably heard on her way up. The dog seems in better condition than Sarah.

For Sarah, seeing Stephanie in those clothes... it stirs something deep within her. A memory? More like a glimpse of one, a flash of recognition that fades away almost before it registers. She remembers the tube from her nightmare in the caverns under the influence of the miasma. She remembers vaguely seeing figures outside her tube, in similar designs.

Or is she just imagining things? The memory flashed by too quickly to examine.

"I'm... I'm not sure why he thought we were servants of Draygon," Sarah says with a shrug. Then she notices the dog in her arms start fidgeting. "Uh, Pip, what are you doing...? Pip?!"

Pip jumps out of New Master's arms, and trots over to the newcomers. The Knight he gives a quick sniff, but more out of mild curiosity than anything. The boy with him he gives a bit more interest, circling him once or twice as he sniffs his feet and legs. Clearly an outsider, from a distant village, but any uniqueness to his scent seems to have rubbed off from the third one, a girl.

Sniffing the girl gives more intriguing results. She smells... unique. Somehow it's similar to New Master's scent, but different in a way. He circles the raven-haired girl a few times, sniffing curiously, before looking up at her, tilting his head with a curious whine, then barking cheerfully and panting.

"So sorry about that," Sarah says, walking over to pick up the over-eager dog. "Pip's very excitable, and I've only had him for a short while now..."

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

Penny draws in careful, measure breaths, trying not to move her mangled arm too much, trying to wait for what would be a good opening. Astrelle surprises her by literally disappearing into the ground and turning into a shadowy figure, slipping past the Void and managing to reach the other side of the corridor. She'd heard of shadow-based Elementum, but never quite imagined how it would look. Just another reason why this day is so educational.

'Now to survive the next few minutes,' she thinks, turning back to the beast raising its claw to attack. She wonders if she can dodge the strike in time.

Fortunately, Vanna gets its attention via thrown shoe - and soon follows it up with a deadly impaling strike, despite getting a little cut up in the process. It strikes true, apparently hurting the thing, though not mortally. Penny has to stifle a cry of triumph to not draw the thing's attention again, but she can't help the wide grin forming on her face. The thing is clearly badly hurt. She can make a break for it - or she can help take it down for good. She struggles back onto her feet, taking careful breaths to keep herself focused and conscious.

"So what's the plan, Vanna?" she asks. "I say we finish this thing off, but if you think we can make a break for it, I'm with ya. I think I got one last charge for this ugly fucker, so just say the word."