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STATUS: Hey remember when this site didn't have 3 tabs in the IC threads? Crazy. 12 mos ago
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12 mos ago
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Hey remember when this site didn't have 3 tabs in the IC threads? Crazy.
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4 yrs ago
I feel like Myriad Reality is somehow the secret glue holding this entire site together
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5 yrs ago
People like to nudge aside the fact that there's a level of commitment to hosting, and joining an RP. The majority of players don't have it in either case, regardless of how interesting an idea is.
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5 yrs ago
I've been gone so long that I forgot what the status bar was like. It's like coming back to an old apartment, except it's not an apartment anymore, it's just two walls and a lot of heroine addicts.
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6 yrs ago
The status bar serves one of three purposes. You can be pretentious, you can tell people about your personal problems, or you can be a smartass.
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Bio
Nihilist, but like, the cool type of nihilist, you know?
Most Recent Posts
I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion...
@Dynamo Frokane Are you openly dissing kingdom hearts on a site full of weebs?
Smash bros is its own beast entirely, and can't really be effectively compared to most other fighting games. I think there's a whole lot of reductive commentary going on about the state of smash bros 'round here though. All things considered, this newest title looks a lot more interesting than the past 2.
And what's all this talk about 'innovation' anyways? Like, that's such a broad term, what is it referring to exactly; gameplay feel; competitive strategy; visual flare? And from there, how?
I for one think that smash ultimate introducing direction air dodges and perfect guards already adds enough to entirely mix-up how the game is played. The differences are nuanced, sure. But if you compare it to something like the addition of 'tag battle' functions, it's hard to argue which mechanic brings more change.
Combo extensions add literally nothing to a fighter, except a way to increase your damage. The only healthy mechanic of tag-battlers is the ability to call in assists that follow a unique set of rules on the battlefield. Even then, these differences can be minimal at worst.
Smash has always been a party game first, but the game is perfectly viable competitively. Brawl and smash 4 have offered very little in positive innovation admittedly, Brawl especially falling completely flat on its face. But the slight tweaks to mechanics have prevented them from being stagnant titles. The balance changes between titles have been rather extensive, too. Hitboxes, I.Frames, Superarmor, all that good shit that competitive players care about has gone through a fair amount of change. If you praise the balance changes in face-to-face fighters, and condemn the changes that smash makes, I feel that to be a little narrow.
And what's all this talk about 'innovation' anyways? Like, that's such a broad term, what is it referring to exactly; gameplay feel; competitive strategy; visual flare? And from there, how?
I for one think that smash ultimate introducing direction air dodges and perfect guards already adds enough to entirely mix-up how the game is played. The differences are nuanced, sure. But if you compare it to something like the addition of 'tag battle' functions, it's hard to argue which mechanic brings more change.
Combo extensions add literally nothing to a fighter, except a way to increase your damage. The only healthy mechanic of tag-battlers is the ability to call in assists that follow a unique set of rules on the battlefield. Even then, these differences can be minimal at worst.
Smash has always been a party game first, but the game is perfectly viable competitively. Brawl and smash 4 have offered very little in positive innovation admittedly, Brawl especially falling completely flat on its face. But the slight tweaks to mechanics have prevented them from being stagnant titles. The balance changes between titles have been rather extensive, too. Hitboxes, I.Frames, Superarmor, all that good shit that competitive players care about has gone through a fair amount of change. If you praise the balance changes in face-to-face fighters, and condemn the changes that smash makes, I feel that to be a little narrow.
Noru paused for a moment and stared at Flin blankly. He wanted to say something, but nothing he could share would help unveil the situation at hand. The man finally shook his head. "Of course not," He huffed, "We weren't familiar with one another in the least."
"We shouldn't concern ourselves with this attack one way another," Zay interjected, "When we return from Marrenfall, I'll submit my report and let Yvette deal with the situation. We have other things to worry about." The Captain yawned and rose from his seat. Neale lowered his head reluctantly in agreement. "There's no good in investigating any further on our own, is there?"
"No. No, I suppose not," Neale agreed while laying down on his bunk. Not another word left his mouth as he turned to face the Caravan wall. "I should rest, anyways."
"You should," Noru grunted. Zay made his way outside right afterwards, showing no interest in furthering the conversation with a casual wave of his hand. When he spotted the sudden influx of dragonflies outside though, he went rigid like a statue. A chill crept up his spine as he climbed up the ladder leading upstairs, shooing away dragonflies that rested on the handlebars.
"The hell is all this, Lia?" Zay said quietly, tip-toeing past the bugs that covered Caravan Centaurus' roof.
"We shouldn't concern ourselves with this attack one way another," Zay interjected, "When we return from Marrenfall, I'll submit my report and let Yvette deal with the situation. We have other things to worry about." The Captain yawned and rose from his seat. Neale lowered his head reluctantly in agreement. "There's no good in investigating any further on our own, is there?"
"No. No, I suppose not," Neale agreed while laying down on his bunk. Not another word left his mouth as he turned to face the Caravan wall. "I should rest, anyways."
"You should," Noru grunted. Zay made his way outside right afterwards, showing no interest in furthering the conversation with a casual wave of his hand. When he spotted the sudden influx of dragonflies outside though, he went rigid like a statue. A chill crept up his spine as he climbed up the ladder leading upstairs, shooing away dragonflies that rested on the handlebars.
"The hell is all this, Lia?" Zay said quietly, tip-toeing past the bugs that covered Caravan Centaurus' roof.
"You're asking questions I can't answer," Neale grunted, "Paladins in Arcadia don't go stomping around all willy-nilly, and Yvette has an air tight record of the Order's holy knights. She would've known about Katelyn, and she should have filled me in as well!"
"She wouldn't have known," Noru corrected Neale rather quickly, "...Nobody knew of her identity except for me and Father Exodus, or so she'd claimed."
"You sound awfully close," Zay teased.
"With all due respect Captain," Noru looked Zay in the eye with a profoundly angry frown, "Please shut up." Zay leaned away from Noru's glare like the man had pushed him back with some kind of magic. He deserved it. Even if the Captain remained doubtful of Neale's words, that didn't give him any grounds to mock a dead woman. Still, it made no sense to him. No man should have survived a romp through the Baeshri hills with an injury like that. A straight path from the Southern trading route was at least a couple of hours away on foot, after all.
"You're telling me Miss Eridal, Lieutenant Colonel Eridal, did not know about Katelyn's alignment with Maeti?" Neale growled, "The fact that you wouldn't report an unregistered paladin is tantamount to treason, boy." Noru flinched at Neale's comment.
"I'm in no position to explain myself. Despite my allegiance, I honor my debts, especially to those who'd play a part in saving my life. You'd do well to do that same." Noru sneered and crossed his arms.
"Is that a threat?" Neale planted his good arm on one knee and began to push himself up, but Zay moved his foot up towards the man's gullet and kicked him back into the bunk. "Just as I thought! You are running a circus here!"
"Call it what you want. We saved your life. I feel there are more pressing matters to consider than who was familiar with miss Vestabar. I'm sure her father and the head of the paladin order both played a part in concealing her identity, for whatever reason. Remember that she was the one who saved you, not the one who damn near tore off your arm," Captain Copp said irritably. Neale groaned in pain and rubbed his shoulder.
"So we're to ignore the woman's presence and write it off as political mystery then?"
"What?" Zay chuckled, "No! Don't be an idiot. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't immediately assume any malign intent behind her being there." Noru nodded along with Zay's comments.
"It may not be relevant at all, to be perfectly honest," Noru added, "The group that attacked you is an entirely different beast, far more fearsome than the creatures that hide in the wilds."
Outside of the Caravan, the buzzing quickly grew and became much clearer. Lyullia couldn't discern its origins, nor would she spot the creatures making the noise immediately. Before that, one of them zoomed towards her with reckless abandon from above. But as it made contact, she felt nothing. Not a single thing. It flapped its little wings as it sat in place, recreating the little buzz that accompanied its flight and giving away its presence. Turns out, that buzzing was merely a little purple dragonfly, finding respite on Lyullia's shoulder for a moment, likely after quite a long trip.
Marilyn was met with a similar entourage. Three more dragonflies stopped nearby, landing on her beret, the benches nearby, and the railing around her. Soon after, the entire Caravan was covered in the little purple bugs. Marilyn smiled as they approached her and gave them a little wave.
"She wouldn't have known," Noru corrected Neale rather quickly, "...Nobody knew of her identity except for me and Father Exodus, or so she'd claimed."
"You sound awfully close," Zay teased.
"With all due respect Captain," Noru looked Zay in the eye with a profoundly angry frown, "Please shut up." Zay leaned away from Noru's glare like the man had pushed him back with some kind of magic. He deserved it. Even if the Captain remained doubtful of Neale's words, that didn't give him any grounds to mock a dead woman. Still, it made no sense to him. No man should have survived a romp through the Baeshri hills with an injury like that. A straight path from the Southern trading route was at least a couple of hours away on foot, after all.
"You're telling me Miss Eridal, Lieutenant Colonel Eridal, did not know about Katelyn's alignment with Maeti?" Neale growled, "The fact that you wouldn't report an unregistered paladin is tantamount to treason, boy." Noru flinched at Neale's comment.
"I'm in no position to explain myself. Despite my allegiance, I honor my debts, especially to those who'd play a part in saving my life. You'd do well to do that same." Noru sneered and crossed his arms.
"Is that a threat?" Neale planted his good arm on one knee and began to push himself up, but Zay moved his foot up towards the man's gullet and kicked him back into the bunk. "Just as I thought! You are running a circus here!"
"Call it what you want. We saved your life. I feel there are more pressing matters to consider than who was familiar with miss Vestabar. I'm sure her father and the head of the paladin order both played a part in concealing her identity, for whatever reason. Remember that she was the one who saved you, not the one who damn near tore off your arm," Captain Copp said irritably. Neale groaned in pain and rubbed his shoulder.
"So we're to ignore the woman's presence and write it off as political mystery then?"
"What?" Zay chuckled, "No! Don't be an idiot. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't immediately assume any malign intent behind her being there." Noru nodded along with Zay's comments.
"It may not be relevant at all, to be perfectly honest," Noru added, "The group that attacked you is an entirely different beast, far more fearsome than the creatures that hide in the wilds."
Outside of the Caravan, the buzzing quickly grew and became much clearer. Lyullia couldn't discern its origins, nor would she spot the creatures making the noise immediately. Before that, one of them zoomed towards her with reckless abandon from above. But as it made contact, she felt nothing. Not a single thing. It flapped its little wings as it sat in place, recreating the little buzz that accompanied its flight and giving away its presence. Turns out, that buzzing was merely a little purple dragonfly, finding respite on Lyullia's shoulder for a moment, likely after quite a long trip.
Marilyn was met with a similar entourage. Three more dragonflies stopped nearby, landing on her beret, the benches nearby, and the railing around her. Soon after, the entire Caravan was covered in the little purple bugs. Marilyn smiled as they approached her and gave them a little wave.
As Caravan Centaurus slowly closed in on the Baeshri pass, the hills were beginning to stir again. Only a sharp eye would catch it, but the sounds were too clear to mistake. A low buzz hummed across the open hillside, its origins unknown. But it was getting closer. Unfortunately for those inside the Caravan, it wasn't loud enough to pierce through the outer walls. Marilyn looked to her right briefly, but was dragged back to the Venbu. They stirred anxiously. The pilot had to keep her mind focused, otherwise the entire cart would have been plunged into a ditch.
"This one's got a mouth on him, Captain," Neale grunted. Zay rubbed his forehead. "What I saw doesn't help in the least. They were wearing various clothes, stuff you'd see anybody wearing outside the walls. None of 'em wore anything that associated 'em with any Nation I'd ever heard about, and none of them looked familiar." Neale reached for his injured shoulder. "The guy with the hammer was a lot bigger than me. I could point his giant ass out in a lineup easily, sure. But unless I see him again, that information ain't worth a whole lot is it?"
"Not unless we come across them ourselves," Noru whispered.
"I doubt that'll happen. They wouldn't have followed me through the entirety of Baeshri. Probably thought I was as good as dead. If it weren't for Katelyn I wouldn't have made it as far as I did..." Neale's eyes went wide. Noru cringed at the mention of Katelyn's name.
"Katelyn?" The dark haired medic gasped.
"Aye! Katelyn! Katelyn Vestabar!" He rose his head high and tapped the bottom of the bunk above him again. "Eugh.." Zay cocked an eyebrow back curiously. Noru looked away from the men subtley.
"Remember something?" Zay asked.
"She was on toppa' the cart when we got toppled. It's a little fuzzy, but she's the one that gave me a chance to flee. Killed at least one of our attackers easily! I think the guy that crushed my soldier was forced to engage her." Neale covered his face with one hand. "She held her own easily, too. I don't understand how though! Girl was timid as a bunny. She specialized in soul and elemental magic; Invisibility, stealth, making armor, repairing the Caravan, that sort of stuff. I'd never seen her hold a weapon before in my life!" Neale's breathing began to rapidly increase. With both hands, Noru leaned in to catch him before he fell forward. It only took him a moment to identify the trauma that was cause for such a reaction. "S-Sorry," Neale wheezed.
"I know that girl," Noru hissed. Zay glanced at him in surprise.
"Oho? Old lover?" the Captain teased. Noru shook his head.
"No. She was a Paladin."
Smor'Gen'Blok - The Low Kul Hearth Site
The runes lining Low Kul's Hearthstone pulsed timidly with a ruby glow as Ha'Kul entered the final steps of his daily ritual. Arcane symbols, prehistoric in their origins when compared to the technology and advancements of the most prominent Nations, began to fill with a more brilliant light one after another. It wasn't long before the entire stone was set aglow with a spell that hid the Lok'Sha from the presence of the subterranean terrors.
"Boy," Ha'Kul groaned, lifting himself off the ground quickly, "Morning bring us strength." Several other Lok'Sha emerged from their sleeping areas. Some slept in crevices, barely blocked off by carved stone. Others used the thick pelts of Venbu to drape their families in tenting. Regardless of how they chose to house themselves, the Low - Kul Tribe was small enough that even a single cavern could house not only their people, but their forge, Hearth site, and tribal walls with ease. There were several tunnels that lead away from the tribe. Some were used daily by nearby Tribes to access different parts of the cavern, while others lead to hunting grounds or the surface. Unfortunately, the Low - Kul, despite their minimal scope, sat right on top of a major Nexus leading further up towards the surface levels of Ruliman. The gate in question saw very little use. Rarely would the Tribe that bottle-necked their only way out, the High - Wor Tribe, allow for travel to the Deep Tunnels above. Only in the most desperate of times, on days when Chieftain Wor'Boa was feeling particularly generous, could anyone cross his wretched line of defense. Even Berserker Priests of the Deeper tunnels saw trouble when met with his law. Some hoped for a day when Lu'Li'Po would correct these injustices. But it was the unfortunately truth, that she did not concern herself with the dealings of Dark Skins in the tunnels under Ruliman. Until Smor'Gen'Blok reached an Age of true unity, Low tribes would be forever condemned to darkness.
"Ju'Kul wishes to speak soon. I will stay with Hearth."
"This one's got a mouth on him, Captain," Neale grunted. Zay rubbed his forehead. "What I saw doesn't help in the least. They were wearing various clothes, stuff you'd see anybody wearing outside the walls. None of 'em wore anything that associated 'em with any Nation I'd ever heard about, and none of them looked familiar." Neale reached for his injured shoulder. "The guy with the hammer was a lot bigger than me. I could point his giant ass out in a lineup easily, sure. But unless I see him again, that information ain't worth a whole lot is it?"
"Not unless we come across them ourselves," Noru whispered.
"I doubt that'll happen. They wouldn't have followed me through the entirety of Baeshri. Probably thought I was as good as dead. If it weren't for Katelyn I wouldn't have made it as far as I did..." Neale's eyes went wide. Noru cringed at the mention of Katelyn's name.
"Katelyn?" The dark haired medic gasped.
"Aye! Katelyn! Katelyn Vestabar!" He rose his head high and tapped the bottom of the bunk above him again. "Eugh.." Zay cocked an eyebrow back curiously. Noru looked away from the men subtley.
"Remember something?" Zay asked.
"She was on toppa' the cart when we got toppled. It's a little fuzzy, but she's the one that gave me a chance to flee. Killed at least one of our attackers easily! I think the guy that crushed my soldier was forced to engage her." Neale covered his face with one hand. "She held her own easily, too. I don't understand how though! Girl was timid as a bunny. She specialized in soul and elemental magic; Invisibility, stealth, making armor, repairing the Caravan, that sort of stuff. I'd never seen her hold a weapon before in my life!" Neale's breathing began to rapidly increase. With both hands, Noru leaned in to catch him before he fell forward. It only took him a moment to identify the trauma that was cause for such a reaction. "S-Sorry," Neale wheezed.
"I know that girl," Noru hissed. Zay glanced at him in surprise.
"Oho? Old lover?" the Captain teased. Noru shook his head.
"No. She was a Paladin."
* * *
Smor'Gen'Blok - The Low Kul Hearth Site
The runes lining Low Kul's Hearthstone pulsed timidly with a ruby glow as Ha'Kul entered the final steps of his daily ritual. Arcane symbols, prehistoric in their origins when compared to the technology and advancements of the most prominent Nations, began to fill with a more brilliant light one after another. It wasn't long before the entire stone was set aglow with a spell that hid the Lok'Sha from the presence of the subterranean terrors.
"Boy," Ha'Kul groaned, lifting himself off the ground quickly, "Morning bring us strength." Several other Lok'Sha emerged from their sleeping areas. Some slept in crevices, barely blocked off by carved stone. Others used the thick pelts of Venbu to drape their families in tenting. Regardless of how they chose to house themselves, the Low - Kul Tribe was small enough that even a single cavern could house not only their people, but their forge, Hearth site, and tribal walls with ease. There were several tunnels that lead away from the tribe. Some were used daily by nearby Tribes to access different parts of the cavern, while others lead to hunting grounds or the surface. Unfortunately, the Low - Kul, despite their minimal scope, sat right on top of a major Nexus leading further up towards the surface levels of Ruliman. The gate in question saw very little use. Rarely would the Tribe that bottle-necked their only way out, the High - Wor Tribe, allow for travel to the Deep Tunnels above. Only in the most desperate of times, on days when Chieftain Wor'Boa was feeling particularly generous, could anyone cross his wretched line of defense. Even Berserker Priests of the Deeper tunnels saw trouble when met with his law. Some hoped for a day when Lu'Li'Po would correct these injustices. But it was the unfortunately truth, that she did not concern herself with the dealings of Dark Skins in the tunnels under Ruliman. Until Smor'Gen'Blok reached an Age of true unity, Low tribes would be forever condemned to darkness.
"Ju'Kul wishes to speak soon. I will stay with Hearth."
Neale looked up with Noru, and Captain Copp spun around to face him.
"What happened to formal introductions?" Neale barked, "You running a Caravan, or a circus here, Captain?" Zay looked back at Neale and breathed heavily, stifling a chuckle.
"Pardon the boy - This is Second Lieutenant Flin Meeru," Zay whispered, "But allow me to reaffirm his curiosity. For a single man to take out an entire Caravan is hardly a believable little tale." Zay turned to Flin for a moment, and motioned with his eyes for the man to sit down next to him. Neale rolled his eyes. Noru did the same.
"I don't know who it was, but he wasn't alone. It was a full-scale ambush. Happened too fast for anyone to react," Neale groaned, "I remember it pretty clearly though. The whole Caravan got toppled out of nowhere, like a colossal crashed into us. Two knight were killed on impact - Lieutenant Keflar Broke her neck and our pilot, Lieutenant Jones was crushed underneath the Caravan after getting tossed out of his seat. Jones would've been the one to ask about that what and the how."
"Toppled a Caravan?" Zay said, skepticism ever so thick in his voice, "How about that! So we've got a hammer-wielding nut job playing golf with Caravans, do we?"
"Captain," Noru said sharply, glaring at Zay. Neale looked down at his feet angrily. Zay immediately regret his mockery, even though he doubted Captain Neale's story.
"I told you, nobody could see what was happening outside. The wall cracked, and we were tossed. That's all I got."
"What happened to formal introductions?" Neale barked, "You running a Caravan, or a circus here, Captain?" Zay looked back at Neale and breathed heavily, stifling a chuckle.
"Pardon the boy - This is Second Lieutenant Flin Meeru," Zay whispered, "But allow me to reaffirm his curiosity. For a single man to take out an entire Caravan is hardly a believable little tale." Zay turned to Flin for a moment, and motioned with his eyes for the man to sit down next to him. Neale rolled his eyes. Noru did the same.
"I don't know who it was, but he wasn't alone. It was a full-scale ambush. Happened too fast for anyone to react," Neale groaned, "I remember it pretty clearly though. The whole Caravan got toppled out of nowhere, like a colossal crashed into us. Two knight were killed on impact - Lieutenant Keflar Broke her neck and our pilot, Lieutenant Jones was crushed underneath the Caravan after getting tossed out of his seat. Jones would've been the one to ask about that what and the how."
"Toppled a Caravan?" Zay said, skepticism ever so thick in his voice, "How about that! So we've got a hammer-wielding nut job playing golf with Caravans, do we?"
"Captain," Noru said sharply, glaring at Zay. Neale looked down at his feet angrily. Zay immediately regret his mockery, even though he doubted Captain Neale's story.
"I told you, nobody could see what was happening outside. The wall cracked, and we were tossed. That's all I got."
@fluorescent Just a few notes:
Beyond that, if she has the capacity to be anywhere in Thoris, I may be able to discuss her entry in more detail later on. Just contact me through the discord, or PMs, afterwards.
- Just to note on Soul magic, although it's more powerful than Psychic magic, it isn't exempt from the Laws of Sentience and Independence. With that in mind, using it on unwilling individuals (Offensively) may work on less experienced magic users and some beasts, but creatures and people with well-trained Mana will have little trouble in shrugging off attempted Soul-magic. It should also be noted that soul magic is nearly impossible to control adequately at long range (Anything that isn't skin-to-skin, basically) and at that point, it may become impossible to affect anything that has living Nodes. Psychic magic is more lenient with range, but still reduces in effectiveness the farther you are from your target. In a nutshell, touching things is far more effective, but even then, not always successful. Beware!
- Do keep in mind that sinister Psychic/Soul magic is practically illegal in Nations like Arcadia and Marrenfall. Some Nations really don't care though, as long as you don't go around making eldritch horrors.
- There's a small conflict of interest within the Paladin order. Some paladins are capable of healing that far surpasses most practices of magic at no risk to the caster or the patient. They could still seek her help with psychological healing though, and likely would. Considering her abilities, she would likely be approached by several institutions within Arcadia to help with studies, as well. Whether she accepts/accepted at any point might be a point to make.
Beyond that, if she has the capacity to be anywhere in Thoris, I may be able to discuss her entry in more detail later on. Just contact me through the discord, or PMs, afterwards.
Neale was silent for a short while after hitting his head, but he managed to keep his eyes open. It wasn't long before Captain Copp was in the room, but his presence didn't change much. Noru leaned over Neale's head and glared at him, eye to eye. The injured Captain cringed and reached up with his good arm, pushing Noru's head back.
"Unsettling," He grunted, "But good to see you again, Lieutenant." Noru fixed his hair and straightened his uniform.
"You're lucky that we found you," The medic sighed. Zay slapped his right hand on top of Neale's armor a couple of times, like he was some kind of a dog.
"Yeah, lucky as a domesticated Venbu. Luckier still, that you survived a trip through Baeshri hills," Zay cut in. Neale looked at him quietly for a moment. He shaped his mouth to sound a few vowels, but it was to no avail. Then his eyes went wide and he pushed himself upright, letting his feet hang over the edge of the bunk. Zay took a seat nearby and waited for the man to compose himself.
"Where am I?" Neale asked sternly.
"You're on board Caravan Centaurus. We're on-route to Marrenfall, currently traveling via the eastern Trading route. A simple supply check, estimated to last 7 days time. I'm Captain Copp. On board are six lieutenants..." Neale looked at Zay, patiently waiting for him to explain further details. But when Centaurus' Captain went silent, he seemed worried. Zay adjusted himself and crossed his arms. "Expecting more?" He whispered.
"No... No, I don't know what I was expecting." Neale leaned into his hand with a groan. "How long was I out?"
"A few hours," Noru chimed in. "We found you with a severe shoulder injury. You barely had any blood left in you by the time you'd reached us. That fact that you're still alive is a miracle." Neale quickly moved his hand to feel along his right shoulder. It felt normal, minus the scar running along his clavicle.
"Huh. I would have expected to lose that arm after pushing myself so much."
"What happened?" Zay asked eagerly. Neale lowered his good arm back down to his side.
"What didn't happen?" Neale grunted.
"Helpful," Zay quipped. Neale glared at him and cleared his throat.
"I wasn't expecting to be interrogated straight away. Who are you, anyways?" He looked around the room at the knights, both sleeping and awake. "I don't recognize anyone except for Noru. And the name Copp doesn't ring any bells."
"No, why would it?" Zay hissed through a snicker.
"Arcadia is a big place, Sir," Noru insisted.
"Not big enough, evidently." Neale grunted. Zay rose an eyebrow at his comment, but shrugged it off right afterwards. The newcomer stared at Zay, waiting for a formal introduction. Centaurus' Captain rolled his eyes.
"Captain Zay Copp. Noru's already told me about you, so skip the pleasantries. What I'd like to know is what happened to your arm, and your Caravan." Neale puffed a bit of air through his nose and put on a fake smile.
"Some guy with a big hammer smashed it, right after killing everyone on my Caravan." Zay and Noru didn't react. Neale's smiled melted away and he leaned forward.
"That wasn't a joke."
Earlier in the day, 9:14 AM
Smor'Gen'Blok
The Ruliman Plateau reached high into the sky, reflecting beams of sunlight back up into the clouds from the shining quarters of Warchief Lu'Li'Po. Her tented hut was adorned with gemstones and glimmering fabric from origins unknown, and stretched wide across the highest point of Smor'Gen'Blok. It looked more like a miniature fortress than a simple war tent, but from within, all national dealings took place under the Warchief's guidance. It wasn't nearly as heavily guarded as one might've imagined, but the men and women inside were a formidable force to be reckoned with. If anyone was foolish enough to run into the War Tent with intent to cause harm, they would find their last moments extraordinarily unpleasant.
The two closest peaks, sitting only a few hundred meters beneath the top of the Ruliman Plateau, were nestled closely into the sides of the mountain, meshed in like the shoulders of Smor'Gen'Blok's great Nation. On one of these surfaces, the largest of the three, was where the Berserker's Shrine stood, structured even more prominently than the Nation's more important quarters. Stone dividers cradled each-other closely, resulting in a multi-layered outer wall that hugged the outer edges of the plateau. A single wide open arch-way lead into the inner sanctum of the shrine, where the Berserker's Holy Flame burned indefinitely with various yellow hues. The outer walls of the shrine held Smor'Gen'Blok's most frightening warriors, as well as relics of untold power that only the Lok'Sha could wield with any success. If there were a pivotal point of interest within the practical stronghold of Ruliman, it would have been right there. The open gate and widen open training area were a deceptive execution grounds where many arrogant Lok'sha met their ends. It was also here, atop the second highest point in Smor'Gen'Blok, where the previous Warlord met his end at the hands of Arcadia's Late General, Father Maxie Tremm. At the expense of his life, the grand Paladin Father brought an end to Koal'o with the aid of his follow knights, bringing an end to the second great war atop the peaks of their enemy's Nation.
To the opposite side of the highest peaks, resting dormant on the third highest stretch of flat rock, were the ruins of Smor'Gen'Blok's devastating weapon, the Fwoo'Sha. This artifact no longer holds any importance, present only as a remenant of Smor'Gen'Blok's once oppressive power, and a reminder to refrain from challenging the world's combined might. The Fwoo'Sha's history remains shrouded is mystery. Nobody quite understand how it was mounted atop Ruliman. It wasn't built by the Lok'Sha, that much was certain, but its complex inner workings spoke volumes of an ancient technology capable of wiping out droves of soldiers in a single blast. The now misshapen husk of stone was torn to pieces by the forces of Marrenfall during the second great war. The Lok'sha will never again be able to use its fierce power to defend their Nation, or see to the complete control of Ruliman's surroundings.
These three peaks, the Lok'Tri'Sha'ra, signified Smor'Gen'Blok's resolute composure. Massive staircases, crude in their craft, lead down into the Great Tribes, home to some of the most respected Lok'Sha in all of Smor'Gen'Blok, as well as some of their most well guarded secrets. Lok'Sha that found a place in the Great Tribes did not do so through strength and brutality alone, quite the opposite, actually. The predominant tribes that rose to the highest rungs of society were clever, careful, and conscious of their surroundings. Even the most aggressive Tribe out of all the Great tribes, Great - Shaka, were known for their chieftan's capacity for strategy and tactical genius during the second great war. But it was for that reason alone that the Great Tribes made up a microscopic fraction of Smor'Gen'Blok's overall population. It was also for this reason, that the lower rungs of Ruliman were littered with bitter Lok'Sha that would seek to overthrow Lu'Li'Po's rule. As time passed, Tribes that even the Late Warlord Koal'o respected were sullied with rumors and prejudice from the dark caves below. Throw any word of mouth into the wide spanning networks throughout Ruliman, and it wouldn't take too long for its people to twist any rumor into something terrifying.
Some Tribes were resolute enough to shrug off the encroaching mindsets that polluted Smor'Gen'Blok however. One such Tribe - Perhaps one of the smallest tribes in the entire Nation - was buried deep beneath the earth where the Low Tribes rested in darkness. The Low - Kul Tribe was a small grouping of Lok'Sha that coexisted peacefully alongside their brothers and sisters of the Deeper tunnels. Under the guidance of their benevolent Chieftain, Ha'Kul, the Low - Kul Tribe has been acknowledged by higher tribe as a progressive example for the surrounding tribes. However, news like this was not immune to the twisted butterfly effect of Smor'Gen'Blok's National Communication. It took only a decade for the Low - Kul Tribe to be robbed of its notoriety among the High Tribes by the smothering practices of those that stood between them and the surface world of Ruliman.
Ha'Kul sat by the Tribe's Hearth Stone with one hand planted firmly against the carvings that lined its smoothed surface. It was early enough in the day that he held no worry of interruption. For a Chieftain to wake long before his people was common practice in the Low Tribes. It was his Duty to uphold the aura that protected them from the tunneling horrors below Ruliman, after all. If the Hearthstone were to lose power for even a few minutes, all Lok'Sha nearby would be put at risk. Ha'Kul Murmured quietly to himself as he continued to imbue his mana into the ancient stone. For the Lok'Sha inept in Mana retention and Node care, men like Ha'Kul were a closely guarded rarity. Repairing Nodes after Node Death may have been possible, but such use of soul magic was extremely dangerous, even when pitted against the hardiness of Lok'Sha Physiology. It wouldn't be long before his family and friends awoke to the ritual...
"Unsettling," He grunted, "But good to see you again, Lieutenant." Noru fixed his hair and straightened his uniform.
"You're lucky that we found you," The medic sighed. Zay slapped his right hand on top of Neale's armor a couple of times, like he was some kind of a dog.
"Yeah, lucky as a domesticated Venbu. Luckier still, that you survived a trip through Baeshri hills," Zay cut in. Neale looked at him quietly for a moment. He shaped his mouth to sound a few vowels, but it was to no avail. Then his eyes went wide and he pushed himself upright, letting his feet hang over the edge of the bunk. Zay took a seat nearby and waited for the man to compose himself.
"Where am I?" Neale asked sternly.
"You're on board Caravan Centaurus. We're on-route to Marrenfall, currently traveling via the eastern Trading route. A simple supply check, estimated to last 7 days time. I'm Captain Copp. On board are six lieutenants..." Neale looked at Zay, patiently waiting for him to explain further details. But when Centaurus' Captain went silent, he seemed worried. Zay adjusted himself and crossed his arms. "Expecting more?" He whispered.
"No... No, I don't know what I was expecting." Neale leaned into his hand with a groan. "How long was I out?"
"A few hours," Noru chimed in. "We found you with a severe shoulder injury. You barely had any blood left in you by the time you'd reached us. That fact that you're still alive is a miracle." Neale quickly moved his hand to feel along his right shoulder. It felt normal, minus the scar running along his clavicle.
"Huh. I would have expected to lose that arm after pushing myself so much."
"What happened?" Zay asked eagerly. Neale lowered his good arm back down to his side.
"What didn't happen?" Neale grunted.
"Helpful," Zay quipped. Neale glared at him and cleared his throat.
"I wasn't expecting to be interrogated straight away. Who are you, anyways?" He looked around the room at the knights, both sleeping and awake. "I don't recognize anyone except for Noru. And the name Copp doesn't ring any bells."
"No, why would it?" Zay hissed through a snicker.
"Arcadia is a big place, Sir," Noru insisted.
"Not big enough, evidently." Neale grunted. Zay rose an eyebrow at his comment, but shrugged it off right afterwards. The newcomer stared at Zay, waiting for a formal introduction. Centaurus' Captain rolled his eyes.
"Captain Zay Copp. Noru's already told me about you, so skip the pleasantries. What I'd like to know is what happened to your arm, and your Caravan." Neale puffed a bit of air through his nose and put on a fake smile.
"Some guy with a big hammer smashed it, right after killing everyone on my Caravan." Zay and Noru didn't react. Neale's smiled melted away and he leaned forward.
"That wasn't a joke."
* * *
Earlier in the day, 9:14 AM
Smor'Gen'Blok
The Ruliman Plateau reached high into the sky, reflecting beams of sunlight back up into the clouds from the shining quarters of Warchief Lu'Li'Po. Her tented hut was adorned with gemstones and glimmering fabric from origins unknown, and stretched wide across the highest point of Smor'Gen'Blok. It looked more like a miniature fortress than a simple war tent, but from within, all national dealings took place under the Warchief's guidance. It wasn't nearly as heavily guarded as one might've imagined, but the men and women inside were a formidable force to be reckoned with. If anyone was foolish enough to run into the War Tent with intent to cause harm, they would find their last moments extraordinarily unpleasant.
The two closest peaks, sitting only a few hundred meters beneath the top of the Ruliman Plateau, were nestled closely into the sides of the mountain, meshed in like the shoulders of Smor'Gen'Blok's great Nation. On one of these surfaces, the largest of the three, was where the Berserker's Shrine stood, structured even more prominently than the Nation's more important quarters. Stone dividers cradled each-other closely, resulting in a multi-layered outer wall that hugged the outer edges of the plateau. A single wide open arch-way lead into the inner sanctum of the shrine, where the Berserker's Holy Flame burned indefinitely with various yellow hues. The outer walls of the shrine held Smor'Gen'Blok's most frightening warriors, as well as relics of untold power that only the Lok'Sha could wield with any success. If there were a pivotal point of interest within the practical stronghold of Ruliman, it would have been right there. The open gate and widen open training area were a deceptive execution grounds where many arrogant Lok'sha met their ends. It was also here, atop the second highest point in Smor'Gen'Blok, where the previous Warlord met his end at the hands of Arcadia's Late General, Father Maxie Tremm. At the expense of his life, the grand Paladin Father brought an end to Koal'o with the aid of his follow knights, bringing an end to the second great war atop the peaks of their enemy's Nation.
To the opposite side of the highest peaks, resting dormant on the third highest stretch of flat rock, were the ruins of Smor'Gen'Blok's devastating weapon, the Fwoo'Sha. This artifact no longer holds any importance, present only as a remenant of Smor'Gen'Blok's once oppressive power, and a reminder to refrain from challenging the world's combined might. The Fwoo'Sha's history remains shrouded is mystery. Nobody quite understand how it was mounted atop Ruliman. It wasn't built by the Lok'Sha, that much was certain, but its complex inner workings spoke volumes of an ancient technology capable of wiping out droves of soldiers in a single blast. The now misshapen husk of stone was torn to pieces by the forces of Marrenfall during the second great war. The Lok'sha will never again be able to use its fierce power to defend their Nation, or see to the complete control of Ruliman's surroundings.
These three peaks, the Lok'Tri'Sha'ra, signified Smor'Gen'Blok's resolute composure. Massive staircases, crude in their craft, lead down into the Great Tribes, home to some of the most respected Lok'Sha in all of Smor'Gen'Blok, as well as some of their most well guarded secrets. Lok'Sha that found a place in the Great Tribes did not do so through strength and brutality alone, quite the opposite, actually. The predominant tribes that rose to the highest rungs of society were clever, careful, and conscious of their surroundings. Even the most aggressive Tribe out of all the Great tribes, Great - Shaka, were known for their chieftan's capacity for strategy and tactical genius during the second great war. But it was for that reason alone that the Great Tribes made up a microscopic fraction of Smor'Gen'Blok's overall population. It was also for this reason, that the lower rungs of Ruliman were littered with bitter Lok'Sha that would seek to overthrow Lu'Li'Po's rule. As time passed, Tribes that even the Late Warlord Koal'o respected were sullied with rumors and prejudice from the dark caves below. Throw any word of mouth into the wide spanning networks throughout Ruliman, and it wouldn't take too long for its people to twist any rumor into something terrifying.
Some Tribes were resolute enough to shrug off the encroaching mindsets that polluted Smor'Gen'Blok however. One such Tribe - Perhaps one of the smallest tribes in the entire Nation - was buried deep beneath the earth where the Low Tribes rested in darkness. The Low - Kul Tribe was a small grouping of Lok'Sha that coexisted peacefully alongside their brothers and sisters of the Deeper tunnels. Under the guidance of their benevolent Chieftain, Ha'Kul, the Low - Kul Tribe has been acknowledged by higher tribe as a progressive example for the surrounding tribes. However, news like this was not immune to the twisted butterfly effect of Smor'Gen'Blok's National Communication. It took only a decade for the Low - Kul Tribe to be robbed of its notoriety among the High Tribes by the smothering practices of those that stood between them and the surface world of Ruliman.
Ha'Kul sat by the Tribe's Hearth Stone with one hand planted firmly against the carvings that lined its smoothed surface. It was early enough in the day that he held no worry of interruption. For a Chieftain to wake long before his people was common practice in the Low Tribes. It was his Duty to uphold the aura that protected them from the tunneling horrors below Ruliman, after all. If the Hearthstone were to lose power for even a few minutes, all Lok'Sha nearby would be put at risk. Ha'Kul Murmured quietly to himself as he continued to imbue his mana into the ancient stone. For the Lok'Sha inept in Mana retention and Node care, men like Ha'Kul were a closely guarded rarity. Repairing Nodes after Node Death may have been possible, but such use of soul magic was extremely dangerous, even when pitted against the hardiness of Lok'Sha Physiology. It wouldn't be long before his family and friends awoke to the ritual...
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