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| The Maze and the Monster [Complete]; Inky! | |
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| Topic Started: Mon Jul 4, 2011 4:44 am (696 Views) | |
| Rin | Mon Jul 4, 2011 4:44 am Post #1 |
 
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The sand dunes seemed to stretch away from the lone figure in every direction. Heat shimmered above the blazing hot grains of sand, making the entire horizon blur and dance like the flame on a candle. Rin paused, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of one hand. She had not been prepared for the trial of crossing the wide expanse of desert. Thankfully, she had managed to “acquire” a makeshift cloak before setting out on the journey, otherwise her entire body would probably be as red and cracked as the exposed skin around her bleary blue eyes. She had take the white blanket from a clothesline, wrapping it around her body at the insistence of the Grimoire before entering the seemingly endless dunes, but she had done little else to prepare. Her water had run out days ago, and what little food she carried in her satchel was merely a memory. Underneath the cloak she wore only a thin sundress, with silvery ribbons wrapped around her forearms and shins. She had adjusted the ribbons to also cover up the soles of her bare feet, although they provided scant protection against the blazing sand. Most human girls would have died soon after running out of food and water in this bleak place, but Rin was anything but normal. She was a construct, a being created for a sole purpose on Imythess. She had been created in such a fashion that she required no normal substenance; the girl could continue for weeks without food or water without drastically impeding her ability to function. However, just because she didn’t need to drink didn’t mean it wasn’t incredibly uncomfortable to go without. Her lips were dry and cracked, bloody from the absence of moisture. Her entire throat seemed to be screaming in agony with every breath of searing air she inhaled. Although she had attempted to protect her feet with the ribbons, they were still blistered and grimy from the long journey, and every ponderous step resulting in a flash of pain spreading up her legs. She stumbled, falling to one knee as the treacherous sand shifted beneath her toes. Gritting her teeth, the girl forced herself to stand upright, but almost immediately lost her footing again. This time she tumbled down the incline of the dune, her already battered body slamming into the deceptively hard ground with bruising force. When she finally came to a halt it seemed there was not a single inch of her flesh that wasn’t aching, burnt, or bleeding. Still, after a moment she began to rise again, hands clenched into tight fists. Rinrae…. Do not talk to me. Not now. Not ever. Rinrae,stop! The command echoed through her frame, instilling immediate obedience. The girl allowed herself to fall back to her knees, her expression fierce. Her eyes would have been wet with tears if there was enough spare moisture in her body to produce them. She called out to the desolate landscape, anger and frustration reverberating in every syllable. “What? What do you want? You made me so I feel pain! I hurt! What more do you want from me? I am trying!” That plant…. Cut it open. The girl had been too distracted by the internal voice to even notice the odd brand of fauna protruding from the sand a few feet from her. She crawled over to the plant, eying it suspiciously. Its skin was an unusual green hue and appeared waxy, with sharp spines extending from the surface every few inches. She reached within her makeshift cloak, hands fumbling at the latch of her satchel. She weakly withdrew a sheathed sword from the large pouch, warily drawing the longsword. With a single slash she cut open the cactus, slicing the thick leaf in half. Look inside it… There should be water. Rin’s eyes widened and she scrambled over to the opened plant, dropping her longsword in her haste. She pried open the fruit’s flesh, a sob wrenching itself from her throat as her fingertips encountered the moisture. She held the leaf above her mouth, headless of the sharp spine as she squeezed the fruit, a few droplets of water following into her open mouth. Soon she had a steady rivulet of water, and she closed her eyes in ecstasy as the warm water dripped down her throat. She stayed crouched over the plant for over an hour, slicing leaf after leaf open to withdraw the hidden water. Nightfall found the girl curled up around the decimated remains of the cactus, the blanket serving its intended purpose. If someone had been there to witness the event, the reason for her difficulties during the day would be revealed. Her flesh slowly mended throughout the hours she was asleep. Grains of sand were forced out of the open blisters on her feet as the skin closed, flawless within hours. Her sun-fried skin, flushed from the exposure of the day, slowly returned to its fair coloration. Despite almost a week of trekking through the desert, her skin was still only faintly tan. Although the augmented regenerative abilities were meant to help her in her journey, instead it forced her to relive the pain of the brutal journey every morning. Two days later the girl was standing at the crest of a high dune, her sheathed sword serving as a makeshift cane. She had begun to make better time after discovering the storage properties of cacti, and the derived water had slightly eased the pain of traversing the desolate desert. It was nearly dusk, the raging heat of the day finally fading. Laid out before the girl was a massive structure. Walls crafted of hard white stone stretched thirty feet above the sand. During the day, light shined off of its walls like a beacon, drawing attention to its presence. Although its walls barely appeared to be curved from any specific angle, she knew that its outer wall was in fact completely circular, with only a single entrance. She smiled wearily, knowing that her trek through the desert was finally over. “The labyrinth…” Another page had taken sanctuary here in the Istan Desert, and its defenses were indeed formidable. She had set out for the massive complex as soon as she had sensed its outburst of power, but it had still taken almost two weeks for her to travel here. Its appearance out of nowhere had surely caused quite a ruckus somewhere, and she needed to navigate its corridors before any other treasure seekers. Rin slid down the side of the dune quickly, both arms outstretched for balance. The entrance to the labyrinth was simply a gap in the wall, allowing one to enter a corridor that was roughly five feet across. Although haste was probably necessary, Rin knew she would probably fail miserably if she started into the giant maze now, when she was tired from a full day of traveling through the barren wasteland of Istan. Instead, she curled up next to the entrance, using the makeshift cloak as a blanket and pillow both. Within moments she was asleep, breathing lightly as the dusk darkened to night. |
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| Nkiruka | Mon Jul 4, 2011 9:59 pm Post #2 |
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"... Luckily, sand wurm tracks are easy to spot as giant depressions in the ground. You see one, you get out of there. Immediately." Darzi nodded at his superior, only half-listening. The tedious ride into the desert had taken a toll on his attention span, making him only inclined to stare blankly straight ahead as his camel plodded over another set of dunes. Feeling eyes on his back, the guardsman looked over his shoulder at the person following him and Captain Zaman. Hunched over her camel with eagle wings half-folded, the woman wore a uniform that bore the colors of the Army of Istan. Her white scarf was wrapped around her head and the bottom half of her face, leaving only a pair of violent grey-gold eyes to stare back at the man. "Does the federal make you uncomfortable, Darzi?" Zaman asked. "Be nice: we've been too understaffed lately to function without the army's help." The guardsman quickly turned to face forward again. "She's a bit severe, ma'am," he admitted in a low voice. "I can't relax with those eyes burning into my back." After crossing another large dune, a white stone structure rose from the expanse of desert just a few hundred feet away, framed by the setting sun. Darzi could only stare at the impossibly massive structure, eyes wide. Zaman kept her own surprise in check, but still managed a quiet, "Wow." How could this have appeared virtually overnight? The soldier reached the peak of the hill and stopped her camel next to the two guardsmen. "I don't suppose you get things like this down south, eh patrolman?" Zaman asked her in a friendly tone, grinning under her helm. The soldier was silent as she looked over the humongous, seemingly barren labyrinth. "Someone's here," she said, urging her camel forward. "Pardon?" Zaman followed after her. "Enemies, ma'am?" Darzi tried to keep up. "No. A person on the ground by the gap in the wall," Nkiruka clarified. Both of them looked ahead, squinting a bit. Darzi could sort of make out a formless blob of cloth a long way off. "You've got good eyes," Zaman said. It took a few minutes to close the distance, but Darzi was the first to speak when the trio was close enough. "Er- excuse me, ma'am. Are you alright?" Meanwhile, Captain Zaman dismounted her camel and approached the small, pale girl with some haste. "Ma'am?" She touched her gently on the shoulder, soon noting that the girl was unconscious rather than dead. "You shouldn't be out sleeping in the desert like this, ma'am." "I don't think she can understand us." Darzi was a little more hesitant to approach. "Damn. Do you know any Common, Darzi?" "Not enough," he said apologetically. Trying anyway, he regarded the girl again, speaking in Common this time: "Good evening, girl? Are you injured?" "Ah, quiet. Your accent annoys me." Nkiruka came to a stop just inches from the girl, arms folded. "Wake up!" she roared in clear, unaccented Common. "We're from the town guard of Hashem and the Army of Istan looking into the sudden appearance of this structure. If you're dying because you decided to spend the whole day out in the miserable wasteland that is northeast Istan, then you've earned every ounce of suffering from your stupidity." She lowered to a crouch so she was at eye-level with the girl. "Tell us why a pale waif like you is camping out by this maze." |
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| Rin | Mon Jul 4, 2011 11:41 pm Post #3 |
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There was something the girl could hear, just barely audible: a rumbling of conversation in some language with far too many consonants, unintelligible to her ears. She mumbled softly, arms tightening around the cloak unconsciously. Snippets of a greeting entered her mind, at the very edge of consciousness. “… evening, girl… injured?” Somewhere in her mind, the Grimoire was calling out too, warning her that she was no longer alone at the entrance to the labyrinth. Yet Rin did not stir, settling back into the comfort of sleep. Although the Grimoire had claimed she was not designed to require sleep, the girl enjoyed it, and was often difficult to wake. Her dreams were twisted by the pages she had already recovered, legends and stories from a dozen worlds bouncing around the inside of her skull. “…quiet. You… me.” The girl squeezed the blanket tighter, a small smile curling her lips. “Wake up!” The harsh voice cut through Rin’s sleep like a razor blade, jarringly jerking her into consciousness. In a flash the girl was on one knee, immediately crouched in a fighting stance. No trace of sleep clung to her features, replaced with a glint of determination that seemed incongruous with her innocent and young appearance. She reached into her satchel automatically, fingers wrapping tightly around the longsword’s hilt. However, after taking a moment to study her unexpected alarm clock, the girl did not make a move to draw the blade. There had been no hint of kindness in that voice, no suggestion that mercy would be forthcoming if Rin truly upset the speaker. Drawing a sword on the woman would be a sure way to incite her ire. She had unusual eyes that were dark gold in color, and they promised violence if Rin’s responses were not satisfactory. Her skin was tanned, far darker than Rin’s pale coloration, suggesting she was a native of the desert that surrounded them. Her next words proved that assumption to be true. "We're from the town guard of Hashem and the Army of Istan looking into the sudden appearance of this structure. If you're dying because you decided to spend the whole day out in the miserable wasteland that is northeast Istan, then you've earned every ounce of suffering from your stupidity." She lowered her body with a lithe grace, staring Rin in the eyes. She had the bearing of a trained warrior, ad Rin instinctively knew the woman was much more experienced than the girl herself. She slowly unwrapped her thin fingers from her weapon. "Tell us why a pale waif like you is camping out by this maze." Rin stood tenuously, making sure to not make any threatening moves. Two others stood behind the woman, although their presence was much less imposing. In fact, they almost seemed subservient to the woman, as if they were as intimidated by her as Rin was. “My name is Rinrae. Rin. I am he- No, I’m here to search the labyrinth.” She automatically corrected her words, mentally berating herself for the slip up. The girl had been created with an innate understanding of the Common tongue, but no experience speaking it. She had only recently discovered that it was typical to use contractions in conversation, and the readjustment was taking much longer than she had expected. “There is something that belongs to me in its walls. I will recover it.” Although she had not intended it as such, there was a hint of challenge in the girl’s voice, as if she feared these strangers would stop her from accomplishing her task. There was almost no hint of her tribulations on her body. Her brief rest had allowed her cracked feet and lips to heal once more, and fresh new skin had replaced the injured flesh. She was oddly beautiful, as if her face had been sculpted by a master artist. Her blue eyes were so bright they defied description, and they flickered between Nkiruka and her two companions. She slowly turned away from the trio, still moving slowly, as if she feared the slightest provocation would give them an excuse to attack her. Although she had not drawn the sword, her hand still stayed near its hilt, the sheathed weapon hidden in her large satchel. Bright blue eyes surveyed the corridor leading into the labyrinth critically, and a frown creased her face. “It is- It’s dangerous, so I chose to rest here before entering.” She removed the cloak slowly, revealing her outfit that was completely inappropriate for the harsh environment. She stepped to the entrance, stopping with her toes a mere inch from the smooth stone floor of the structure. “Watch.” She threw the cloak within the walls. The cloth slowly floated to the floor, fluttering slightly in the desert wind. With a vicious Snap! a trap snapped shut on the cloak shredding it instantly. Built like a bear trap, the vicious metal teeth closed seamlessly, ripping the blanket into pieces far too small to be useful. Rin did not react at all, simply watching calmly as the tattered scraps of fabric floated to rest on the labyrinth’s smooth floor. “I must admit, I’m not entirely sure how to proceed.” The girl turned to the trio, her eyes bright with a reckless curiosity. It was obvious that she did not intend to allow the traps to dissuade her. |
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| Nkiruka | Tue Jul 5, 2011 2:06 pm Post #4 |
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One common theme in Nkiruka's life was that she had to routinely expect the unexpected: like a flea-bitten old beggar suddenly transforming his body into a swarm of biting flies, for instance. Every time she didn't see those things coming, she paid for it somehow. In this case, the defenseless-looking little girl was able to go from sleeping to battle-ready, hand on concealed weapon, faster than the soldier could even blink. Nkiruka flinched, hands racing to the handles of her own sheathed shortswords, but her response was painfully slow in comparison. For whatever reason, though, the waif didn't attack. Now that the pale girl missed her opportunity to really gain the upper hand, the ex-mercenary continued their conversation, confident but a little wary. "She's here to get something from the labyrinth," Nkiruka told her two allies. "Aye," Zaman said. "She sounds determined." The three of them watched closely as Rinrae removed her cloak and used it to test the labyrinth's deadly capabilities. This time the soldier didn't flinch, instead observing the trap destroy the cloth with newly-piqued interest. She neglected to translate the girl's last few sentences, figuring that they were self-explanatory. "Hm." Nki's gaze followed all the way up the thirty-foot outer wall of the labyrinth. Behind her, Darzi approached Rinrae with a friendly smile and offered her a handshake. "Hello. My name is Bero Darzi," he said, his Common still a bit slow and awkward. "The other one is Captain Aisha Zaman," Nkiruka added, giving a vague motion in the woman's direction. Hearing her name, the guardsman approached and also offered to shake Rin's hand. Unlike her allies, Nki pointedly kept her hands resting on the handles of her shortswords. "And I'm Nkiruka. We're going to come with you when you decide to enter this labyrinth." "We're going to help her, right? She probably knows more than us about how to bypass those traps," Zaman said. "Yeah." Nkiruka flipped back to Common. "This thing appeared virtually overnight, Rinrae. It's standing right in the middle of a trade route some Hashemi nobles were setting up, so you can imagine what kind of fits they're having. Our orders were to search both the perimeter and interior of the structure to make sure it wasn't dangerous. Personally, I'm just curious." "It's getting late. We should probably set up camp," Darzi said, to which the Captain nodded. Nkiruka looked about ready to follow them. "They seem like decent fighters. They'll keep you safe. Their dialect of Istani is almost impossible to understand, though." She gave an irritated huff, adding almost as an aside, "It should be a crime to not know Common in this day and age. Goddamn northerners." Expecting no response, the soldier left to pitch her tent and care for her camel. A tiny fire flickered at the center of their camp from inside a glass cylinder. In the desert, where there was virtually no wood to speak of, those enchanted "portable campfires" were popular products among travelers and the military. Not very experienced with them, Nkiruka noticed that Zaman's magical fire burned brighter and hotter than its mundane counterpart would have. That would definitely be useful once the intense cold of the desert night set in. "So, Rinrae, what is it that you need from the labyrinth?" Zaman asked to break the silence, using Nkiruka as a translator. The soldier herself couldn't care less, really. The Common-speaking girl was a nice change from the struggle of the northwest Istani dialect, but Nki was far more interested in the labyrinth than the improperly-dressed Rinrae. |
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| Rin | Tue Jul 5, 2011 6:35 pm Post #5 |
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One of the woman’s companions came forward, offering a hand in greeting to the girl. A pang of sadness crossed Rin’s features as she remembered the first time Ezekial had shown her how to shake hands. She gently gripped the man’s fingers, allowing him to control the handshake, all the while studying his face. He also had incredibly dark skin, and the attire of all three suggested they were not newcomers to the desert. His Common was thickly accented, obviously flavored by his consonant-heavy native tongue. It was just barely intelligible. “Hello, Bero Darzi and Aisha Zaman.” She mimicked their inflection on the names perfectly the first time, pronouncing them exactly as they had been stated. “Hello, Nkiruka.” She bowed in greeting to the trio, taking the opportunity to further examine them. All three had weapons, although only Nkiruka was currently in a position to wield them. They explained why they were here, and Rin was not surprised the labyrinth was the reason. She had hoped to solve its puzzles before others could arrive to investigate the structure, but she had clearly taken too long to navigate the expansive desert. The two guards began talking in their thick tongue, attention momentarily diverted from the girl. She found that only Nkiruka was still paying her any attention, and her hands still rested on the hilts of her sheathed swords. She explained that they were setting up camp. Rin was surprised to hear the frustration in the woman’s voice as she complained about the language the others were speaking. Before the girl could speak up the woman smartly pivoted and walked back to her mount. It was an odd creature. It had knobby knees and thin legs that seemed unnaturally long, with a lumpy, misshapen body and a long neck. It had a thick set of eyebrows that protected its deep-set eyes, and a round snout that seemed to be perpetually masticating. What… What is that? The Grimoire snorted in amusement. A camel, Rinrae. A desert animal that is very adept at living in this accursed habitat. Rin continued to watch the pack animals with unveiled interest as the others went about setting up camp, moving with an efficiency that suggested they were used to the routine. She cautiously crept close to the camels, watching them warily. One of the mounts cocked its head, staring back at the girl with disinterest. Rin hopped backwards as it spat a wad of thick, viscous saliva at her, the gross mixture splattering on the sand where she had been standing moments before. She stuck her tongue out at the animal and waltzed away, a smile on her face. She had missed the company of others while traveling through the desert and these people seemed kind, if not entirely interested in her presence. That was fine with Rin; she did not want these strangers to interfere with her collection of the page. She had learned that most mortals were suppressing Rin sat near the others, her eyes locking onto the enchanted fire as soon as it was revealed. She was insanely curious about the device, but sensed that the three soldiers were not very likely to enjoy being beset by dozens of questions. She had been exposed to many aspects of normal life since her creation, but there was still so much that intrigued the girl. She had been warned by several acquaintances that her curiosity bordered on recklessness and obsession at times, but there was no changing the girl’s nature. Still, she had learned to respect others, and usually asked her questions to those she trusted would not get upset. The female captain seemed to have no such misgivings about interrogating the girl, using Nkiruka as a translator to ask about the labyrinth. Rin did not answer immediately, wondering how much information she should share. What if their orders were to take whatever had created the labyrinth? That would be an unacceptable outcome. “Well, the architect of the labyrinth is somewhere inside. He took an item… That was very precious to a friend of mine.” The words were true, in a fashion. That is, if you considered a sentient book that recorded all of reality a ‘friend’ and defined its reality-bending pages as ‘a precious item.’ “I need to find it, and quickly. I don’t believe the maker will be very happy to see me… Or anyone, really. That is why there are so many traps.” She nodded, turning to stare at the monolithic structure. “He does not seem fond of visitors…” Her fingers unconsciously bunched up into fists. She had traveled too far and too long to have her progress halted by anyone, even if they held a page. Hours later, everyone but Rin was asleep. She sat up as silently as possible, brushing sand from her limbs. Since throwing her makeshift cloak into the labyrinth's trap she had no blanket or pillow for the frigid nights, and was unable to sleep. The girl stood stealthily, looking over the others. I do not trust them to be safe in the labyrinth. I must depart now. The labyrinth is dangerous, Rinrae. Their assistance might be required. Not after what happened to Ezekial. The pages are too dangerous for mortals. You are mortal, Rinrae. You can die as easily as any of them. The girl deigned not to respond to the Grimoire's words immediately, carefully stepping in the sand to avoid making noise. She slid down the dune towards the labyrinth entrance, her way lit only by the light of the moon. I don't care. Even if my body is sundered, it can be remade. I am a construct. These beings are much more fragile. She paused at the opening in the sheer walls, staring at the trap she had triggered earlier. The book made no reply, and so she cautiously stepped into the maze. Edited by Rin, Fri Jul 8, 2011 9:28 pm.
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| Nkiruka | Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:47 pm Post #6 |
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Nkiruka slept fitfully, if at all. The usually heavy sleeper still hadn't gotten used to the massive temperature fluctuations of the region. It made her miss temperate central Imythess or, at the very least, the windy canyons of southern Istan -- her "homeland." She lay with her bedroll half-unzipped, wings flopping out to either side while she silently suffered from a cold sweat; the outside of her bedroll was too cold, but the inside of it was too hot. Giving up on trying to sleep, the ex-mercenary pushed herself to a sitting position and gave an irritated huff. It probably wasn't even the middle of the night yet, although the desert was almost pitch-black. Nkiruka's vaguely catlike eyes reflected the light of the fire, turning them into unnatural bright discs from certain angles. She took a deep breath, slipped on her boots, and tied her shoulder-length hair into a ponytail. Just a few seconds later, Nkiruka realized that the girl was gone. A hissed curse escaped her lips as she rushed to grab her belt sitting on the sand next to her. Clambering to her feet, she stepped over Darzi and continued down the mountain of sand. The speed of her descent combined with powerful wingbeats, pulling Nkiruka off the ground, and she glided down toward the towering walls of the labyrinth. With any luck, she wasn't too late. "Rinrae!" It wasn't quite at the volume of a shout. Nkiruka forced her wings vertical, throwing her feet forward and allowing for a graceful landing just in front of the opening in the walls. "Rin?" She looped her belt over her trousers and removed both shortswords from the sheathes clipped onto it. Then, without even considering the danger, she charged into the maze. Nkiruka quickly spotted the girl and gave a sigh of relief; Rinrae must not have left very long ago. The soldier's boots pounded loudly against the stone floor, practically announcing her approach. "You idiot!" her voice dripped with disgust. She sheathed both weapons. "What made you think it was a good idea to throw away our help and enter this deathtrap at this ungodly hour? Can you even see a damn thing in front of you?" Nkiruka stepped closer. The harshness in her voice toned down a bit when she added: "I think you might be hiding something about this place. Tell me everything." [OOC: Darkvision used.] |
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| Rin | Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:18 pm Post #7 |
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Rin was crouched down, examining the floor of the labyrinth closely when she heard footsteps from behind her. The girl stiffened and glanced over he shoulder, blue eyes widening at the sight of Nkiruka brazenly walking through the white corridor, demanding an explanation. “Nkiruka! STOP!” She knew she was too late as soon as she spoke and flinched as the Istani stepped onto a panel of white stone, identical to its neighbors in appearance. There was a scraping noise as the woman’s weight pressed the concealed button down, snapping into place with a harsh clank. The girl threw herself at the soldier, her bare shoulder slamming into Nkiruka’s stomach. She carried the older woman to the ground, holding her against the stone with both arms and pressing her own thin frame against the soldier's. The walls whirred, hidden panels swinging open on three different altitudes on each wall. Mechanisms ground into life as wickedly-sharp axes spun out of the hidden openings, slicing through where the woman had been standing only moments before. One of the blades was close enough to the ground to sever a single strand of the girl’s blond hair. She rolled off of Nkiruka as the blades continued to spin, some hidden clockwork powering their motion. “That was a close one!” The blades altitudes were staggered, designed to cut through any intruder at their knees, waist, and neck. Rin crawled towards the left side of the corridor, making sure to keep her body pressed as close to the ground as possible. Once she reached the open panel the girl reached into her satchel, unsheathing her longsword. She shot up as soon as the axe whistled over he head, slamming the length of her weapon into the hidden mechanism. Rin dropped back to the ground as the cogs ground to a halt, the metal screaming in protest. The three axes on that side shuddered to a halt, leaving a small gap for the two females to squeeze through. Rin beckoned at Nkiruka, deftly crawling over the prone axe towards the relative safety further along the corridor. Once she was confident she was outside of the range of the axes she stood, although her stance made it clear she was not going to relax yet. “You are right. I know more about this place. I… I am looking for a magical artifact. It was used to construct this labyrinth. I as afraid that soldiers would confiscate the item if I asked for their help in recovering it...” She reached out, running her thin fingers over the smooth, featureless walls, wondering how to explain an abstract concept to a woman who appeared to think with her fists first. “I can feel its power, Nkiruka. Like… echolocation, I suppose. I can sense where the walls are, and where the floor is. Where there are traps, its aura is more… concentrated.” She bit her lip nervously, looking at the woman. “Does that make sense…?” She knelt once more, back in her original spot from before Nkiruka had interrupted her and put both of their lives in danger. “Like, here…” She reached into her satchel, pulling out a small handful of sand. She sprinkled the grains over the floor in front of her, careful not to physically touch the ground. She leaned forward, blowing gently on the scattered sand. Most of the dust was blown away, but some of the grains stayed embedded in the floor, revealing the corner of another pressure plate in the ground. “I think this one launches an arrow from the wall ahead… But I didn’t plan on finding out.” She glanced at Nkiruka warily, her eyes determined. Her next words were blunt, although she did not mean them to be insulting. “I didn’t want you getting hurt.” |
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| Nkiruka | Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:44 pm Post #8 |
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For a waif, Rin really packed a punch. Nkiruka slammed back-first into the ground, wings pressed flat. The expression on her face was more of bewilderment than anger. Before she could say anything, the walls of the labyrinth came to life with unnatural metallic whirring and clicking. Axes spun out of the walls at three levels; if not for the girl's foresight, Nkiruka would have definitely been killed. Breathing unevenly from the magnitude of what had just happened, Nkiruka remained motionless for several seconds after Rin rolled off of her. By the time she disabled one of the sides, the soldier had recovered and was prepared to follow her through the narrow section of maze that was safe from the spinning blades. It was one of the many moments that Nkiruka hated having wings, especially ones as bulky as hers; the fit was much tighter for her, thanks to them. After checking to make sure she was clear, she rose to her feet. "Thanks," she breathed. Rin spoke, finally having a moment to respond to Nkiruka's questions. She explained why she had snuck out in the middle of the night and, in a way, why the labyrinth had appeared in the first place. The soldier remained silent, considering this information. After a short pause, the girl continued, talking about her innate sense of this structure. The corners of Nkiruka's lips pressed down slightly, but her tone of voice was much calmer than before. "You say that as if I could never understand." She unconsciously tugged at one of her sleeves to further hide the black, angular lines printed on her skin, but this self-conscious action belied the intensity in her eyes. "I know exactly what you're trying to describe. It's deeper than echolocation. You can feel it in your bones. It's like your soul itself is permanently tied to this thing, and you can never ignore it or shut it off." She was silent again, allowing Rin to take in her response and proceed to examine the next trap. Nkiruka hesitantly approached, stopping several feet behind the girl to make sure she didn't accidentally trigger another one. First, she looked around. There was a curve ahead: above, the walls looked much taller now, from the inside of the maze. Nkiruka spread her wings, testing out the width. Her flight feathers brushed against the sides of the maze. "I thought I could maybe fly over the switches and disable the launcher somehow, but this won't do. Look." Her expression turned apologetic. "Not enough space. Even if there was enough, there isn't any wind or thermals or even floorspace to run and flap my wings." |
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| Rin | Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:36 pm Post #9 |
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Rin nodded as Nkiruka furthered her description of her innate ability to sense the maze’s traps… with more eloquence and making much more sense than the girl‘s own explanation. Clearly, the woman had experienced something similar in her life, and her tone suggested the memory was not necessarily a fond one. She is no common soldier… She could sense the Grimoire’s silent agreement, as well as its suspicion. The sentient book did not trust the soldier, that was evident. Rin had no such misgivings; there was something reassuring in Nkiruka’s bearing, a confidence that the girl found trustworthy. It reminded her of Ezekial. Rin stared at the patch of hallway for a minute, chewing on her lower lip. The soldier chimed up from behind her, spreading wings from her back. Rin turned to look at the feathery appendages with mute wonder, staring at them with unabashed curiosity. Earlier, the woman had worn a thick cloak to protect herself from the intense Istani sun, so her wings had been hidden as well. “Wow! Those are amazing!” The feathers were dark brown with streaks of lighter plumage, and the wingspan was wide enough to stretch the entire length of the corridor. The girl’s eyes shined with pure delight. “They’re beautiful, Nkiruka!“ The trap momentarily forgotten, she stepped towards Nkiruka and reached out to touch the soft feathers before the Grimoire spoke up. You probably shouldn’t touch them, Rinrae. It’s not polite to grope other people. Even if they have wings. The girl yanked her hand away from the appendage as if she had been burnt, pursing her lips in a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. She put both hands on her hips, staring at the soldier with an odd expression. Nkiruka explained that the close quarters basically rendered her wings useless. “I wish I could fly…” The girl turned back towards the stretch of hallway, trying to focus on the essence of the Grimoire located within the featureless floor. She could sense several patches of concentrated aura, indicating that the pressure plate directly in front of them was not the only trap. I do not- don’t think that I can guide us through here without triggering this one… She frowned, pondering the best course of action. Suddenly her face lit up and she turned to Nkiruka with a wide grin. “Wait! I can fly!” She twisted the satchel so its pouch was along her left hip, throwing the flap open and digging into the backpack with both hands. Numerous objects clanked together as she shifted through its contents, determinedly searching for something specific. In moments she had pulled out a glass vial filled with a thick, amber concoction. She smiled and showed the container to her companion, giggling softly. “I got this from a bad witch! It’s magic!” She popped the lid off of the vial, raising the glass so a large drop of the viscous liquid dripped onto her outstretched tongue. She swallowed the potion as she screwed the container closed once more, her mouth filled with the sweet taste of honey. Her lips and tongue began to tingle as the magical concoction spread into her skin. Soon the sensation had spread to her entire body so that her skin seemed to be buzzing with energy. “Watch this!” Rin jumped up, grinning… and stayed suspended above the ground. She twirled in mid-air, her hair and sundress spiraling around her thin form from the motion. “I’ll be right back! I can fly over the traps now!” Rin shot up into the air, laughing from the sensation of the wind in her hair. She quickly rose up near the top of the labyrinth’s walls, hovering over the pressure plates far below her feet. A sudden realization crossed the girl‘s mind. I can just fly over the entire maze and go to the center! And that way Nkiruka will have to stay here and won’t get hurt! looking down at the soldier, she continued to rise towards the dark sky, humming under her breath. Rinrae, STOP! The Grimoire’s warning was accompanied by a mechanical thump from the surrounding walls. Rin spun in mid-air, her eyes locked on the walls. From this altitude she could see that the top of every wall was covered in a layer of thick, sharp spikes. The spikes also rimmed the precipice of the walls. She barely had time to register this new information before there was a thunderous crash from the surrounding walls. The spikes along the vertical section of the wall blasted away from the stone, whistling as they cut through the air with deadly force. Rin immediately dropped in elevation, throwing her arms in front of her face to protect her from the deadly projectiles. One of the spikes scraped along her shin, piercing the ribbons there and digging into flesh. Another embedded itself in her left shoulder, the sharp metal sinking into her unprotected flesh. With a cry the girl plummeted from the walltop, spiraling wildly as blood splattered the walls, marring their pure white surface. She realized the danger she was in a moment before she struck the ground, bringing her wild descent to a jarring stop. Rin hovered mere inches from one of the hidden pressure plates, so close strands of blond hair were curled on the white stone. She looked up at Nkiruka, flashing a pained grin at the soldier. “That was close...” She shifted her left arm with a grimace and felt the spike in her shoulder move… and then fall from her skin. With a shout she spun in mid-air, reaching out to grab at the thick metal before it struck the ground, but to no avail. The dislodged projectile fell to the ground, its weight just enough to trigger the trap. Rin shot back into the air as the wall behind her swung open on hidden hinges, revealing a series of crossbows aimed in a wide pattern that would spray the hallway with deadly quarrels. “Nkiruka! Duck!” Not knowing how else to help her partner, the girl was forced to bite her lip and watch as the mechanisms in the wall triggered the crossbows with a series of low thumps, sending their deadly load rocketing down the corridor. |
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| Nkiruka | Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:48 pm Post #10 |
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Nkiruka's eyebrows raised slightly, indicating a mixture of surprise and incredulity. She was so concerned with how strange the comment was -- the first time anyone had ever described her wings that way -- that she didn't give a noticeable response to the girl actually reaching out and touching one of them. Rinrae's sudden withdrawal actually startled Nki too, and she just barely flinched. The soldier folded her arms and returned Rin's look with her own questioning stare, expecting her to say something further on the subject of flight. After appearing deep in thought for a few moments, the girl hatched a plan involving some sort of levitation potion. Her excitement was apparent, probably from her irrational desire to "protect" Nkiruka and the two guardsmen by taking on the labyrinth alone. The soldier watched Rin float away with mild interest. Everything happened far too quickly. Nkiruka could only watch helplessly as the wounded Rin plummeted to the ground, frozen for fear of triggering one of the hidden pressure plates. Her whole body remained tensed and ready to act even when the girl managed to stop herself just inches from the ground. The pin hit the floor, and Nkiruka fell prone. Air whistled just inches above her half-folded wings. The moment the sound died down, the soldier clambered to her feet and rushed down the corridor. "Come down. Where'd it get you?" she said, skidding to a stop and looking the girl over. She reached into a small pouch on her belt and pulled out a tight roll of linen cloth strips. If Rin listened to her request, she would immediately kneel and begin to wrap the bandages around the girl's bloodsoaked shoulder and shin. "I guess flight is out of the question," she said. |
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| Rin | Mon Aug 1, 2011 5:02 am Post #11 |
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Rin slowly levitated down to the ground, clenching her teeth. The spike had managed to sink several inches into the flesh of her shoulder; she was amazed that it had become dislodges so easily. When the girl landed on the marble floor, she heard one of the hidden pressure plates sink beneath her weight, but she was glad that no more panels swing open. Clearly, the architect of this labyrinth had expected one volley would be sufficient to skewer and trespassers. Only the magical concoction and Nkiruka's lightning reflexes had saved the duo. She sank to her knees, right hand going to the injury on her shoulder. Blood immediately covered her fingers, flowing down her left arm in a crimson river and puddling on the white floor. The girl bit her lip to keep from crying out as another wave of pain crashed through her body, curling up in a ball on the cold stone and trying to ignore the alternating flashes of heat and freezing cold spreading from the wound. Within moments of her landing the soldier approached and whipped out a roll of thick linen bandages Rin nodded in silent permission and the tanned woman immediately began to wrap the cloth around the wound. Blood immediately blossomed across the pure white fabric, but the woman continued to wrap the injury until . The girl ground her teeth together as Nkiruka tightened the bandages before tying them in a firm knot. She gingerly ran her hand along the soldier's handiwork, wincing slightly as her fingers brushed the sore skin. Her entire arm felt stiff, and her first attempt to raise the limb resulted in another surge of agony that left the girl gasping. "That... was not predicted..." She managed to rise to her feet without Nkiruka's help, although it was a close thing. Her left arm hung limp, and she knew that it would be mainly useless in their attempts to navigate the labyrinth. "I am sorry Nkiruka. I did not mean to endanger you further." She looked down the curved path, blowing a strand of blond hair out of her blue eyes. Although her stance was still determined, guilt pulled the corners of her mouth into a small frown. She looked up the soldier, obviously ashamed of her actions but unwilling to apologize for her attempt to protect the older woman. "I will be... more careful, Nkiruka. This labyrinth is obviously more sophisticated than I believed..." Rin sighed and ran her right hand through her hair, pushing the golden locks out of her strained features. This was the most complicated use of the Grimoire's page she had encountered thus far. She wondered what other surprises would be in store for them.
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| Nkiruka | Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:51 pm Post #12 |
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Nkiruka's breathing slowed as she straightened, folding her wings to regain a sense of composure. "Stop worrying about my safety," she stated simply, not taking her eyes away from the hallway. Cautious, she proceeded through the labyrinth, pausing occasionally to look back at Rin. Just because the girl could sense the traps didn't mean she should press forward carelessly. Continuing down the hallway, a long time passed without any indication of a trap. Nkiruka got more and more tense as time went on, paying attention to every step she made and looking in all directions for hidden traps. They rounded around another bend, and a harsh noise shook the maze immediately afterward. Nkiruka stopped, glancing down at her feet. "Why? There was no pressure plate-" A humongous metal ball rolled into view. Tall enough to prevent them from jumping over it and wide enough for its spikes to grind against the walls, it plowed down the hall at a surprising speed. Nkiruka's mind desperately grabbed for ideas. Holding out her arm in front of Rin protectively, she shouted over the noise: "Back up, around the bend! It should slow down when it has to turn, right?" When the soldier was in position, she lowered herself into a steady stance, waiting. The grinding noise got louder and louder. The giant morningstar tip hit the sharp bend, slowed to a crawl, and rolled back into her view. Against all common sense, Nkiruka approached it, pressing her shoulder into the space between spikes. Fighting the progression of the trap with all of her strength, she dug her boots into the floor even as they began to slip. "How do we get past?!" she called back to Rin, grunting from exertion. |
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| Rin | Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:57 pm Post #13 |
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Rin's cheeks colored at the soldier's gentle admonition. She knew that the woman was right; she had no right to decide that the labyrinth was too dangerous for Nkiruka. For all the construct knew, the woman was far more capable of navigating the twists and turns of the maze without her. After all, the Istani had not yet been injured, while Rin's shoulder was still throbbing incessantly. She continued after the soldier quietly, too embarrassed by her actions to continue speaking with the soldier. Although she kept her eyes and ears open, attentively watching the walls and floor in front of them, constantly watching for further traps within the looming marble walls. Every now and then she would float for a moment after taking a step, but soon the levitation effects of the magical potion faded, leaving her earthbound. Directly after walking around another sharp turn in the labyrinth the girl stopped walking, her eyes going wide. "Wait a... No, that's not right!" Although they had not directly triggered any traps, she could still feel the composition of the maze around them transforming and changing due to their presence. "There... There is someone manipulating the labyrinth!" She could detect the subtle variations in the Grimoire's energy, the almost invisible traces of an individual's unique alteration of its natural aura. There was a terribly noise from ahead of them as a massive spiked ball began to roll down the corridor. The sharp spikes ground into the walls as it moved, digging deep furrows in the walls as it ground towards the duo. They quickly retreated behind the bend in the corridor, trusting that the sharp corner would slow down the trap. Rin stared back and forth wildly, her blue eyes wide and frantic. There has to be a way out, there has to be a way out, there has to be a way out... Nkiruka took a much different approach to the problem, throwing herself at the massive ball. She propped her shoulder underneath one of the spikes and desperately slowing its approach. Rin looked at the soldier, biting her lip nervously. She had no idea how to stop the ball... Nor did she know how to avoid its crushing force. Rinrae... I think I have a solution. The construct looked at Kniruka nervously, but the soldier was completely distracted by attempting to stop the massive spiked ball. Rin held one hand out, focusing on the tome's power to bend reality. The air around her fingers blurred as if there was a mirage present, the air warping and rippling as she called to the weapon provided to her by the Grimoire. "Laevateinn." Suddenly she held a greatsword so massive it was almost comical, with a blade almost six feet long and a hilt a third of that length. The edges of the blade had an inscribed flame motif, and the pommel consisted of a massive ruby carved into the shape of a flame. Without further ado she stabbed the point of the blade into the wall. Runes carved along the length of the greatsword, glowing crimson so the white walls looked like they had been painted in blood. The sword was too long to be held perfectly horizontally, forcing her to tilt it upwards and stand on her tiptoes to hold it comfortably. "World of men, crumble and break, for Surtr's footsteps make the very earth quake!" The wall around the tip of the sword began to glow and shudder. Suddenly a hole was blasted through the wall, a fierce storm of flames burning through the marble and scattering rubble on the corridor where the ball had started. She instantly quelled the conflagration, leaving a five foot wide hole in the wall. The edges of the rock glowed cherry red, heat emanating from the melted stone. Twisted pieces of metal shrapnel and small piles of rubble filled the adjoining corridor from her brutal method of creating a door. Still, it would have to do. "Nkiruka! Get through the hole!" Rin dashed back to the soldier, clumsily hefting the massive sword with one arm. This time she propped the tip of the sword against the floor of the maze, setting it up so the crossguard was pressed against the spike the soldier was holding. The massive ball groaned as it pressed down on the sword, but for the moment it held against the immense pressure. She beckoned towards the hole before jumping through it herself, aware that Nkiruka would probably not appreciate being told to go through first. She had already chastised Rin for trying to coddle her... twice. The girl landed in a clumsy roll, ending the movement on her knees. She watched the hole worriedly, hoping that the Istani could escape the spiked ball as well. |
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| Nkiruka | Fri Aug 19, 2011 3:21 pm Post #14 |
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Little beads of sweat formed at Nkiruka's hairline as she redoubled her efforts to keep the trap from continuing. Her boots slid back against the smooth floor, but she stepped forward and pressed the soles harder into the ground. Rin mumbled something behind her, but Nkiruka was too focused on holding back the oversized morningstar to notice or care. The wall practically exploded behind her. Nkiruka could feel the high heat radiating from the point of origin, where Rin had apparently dealt with the problem. She didn't hesitate when Rin ordered her to get away. Backing off from her position under one of the trap's massive spikes, she turned and bolted toward the hole in the wall with a rim that glowed red-hot. Uncaring that she could be burned if her wings or limbs touched the stone, the soldier jumped through. ...Wait, was Rin carrying a giant sword back there? Nkiruka rose from a crouch, checking herself over for injuries. Rin followed her a few seconds later. The soldier wiped her brow with the base of her wrist and exhaled slowly. She repeated what was beginning to become a common phrase for this little adventure: "That was close." She got up, approached the hole and poked her head through it. The loud groaning stopped and the grinding resumed as the bracing of Rin's massive greatsword finally gave way. Picking up momentum again, the morningstar continued down the labyrinth's winding corridors. Nkiruka casually leaned back just a few seconds before the trap would have slammed into her prone skull, holding her folded hands behind her back. When she turned around to face Rin again -- and after making sure the coast was clear of other traps, like another morningstar ball -- the corners of Nkiruka's mouth turned upward into a subtle, calm smile. "You're just full of tricks, aren't you," she mused. Briefly, she looked back into the hole and down the hallway, regarding the greatsword on the ground. "Very nice weapon. I knew someone who could wield one of those one-handed, just like you." Her expression turned almost wistful, like she was recalling a fond memory. Nkiruka approached the girl and offered a hand to help her up, then continued down the labyrinth with her hands resting on her sheathes. A few minutes later, Nkiruka willingly broke the silence again. "How's your shoulder?" |
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| Rin | Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:43 pm Post #15 |
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Rin smiled at the soldier's praise, her eyes bright and cheerful. "I'm not quite strong enough to wield it one handed... but almost! It seems like a very powerful weapon." The girl stood up slowly, rotating her wounded shoulder methodically in its socket. Blood from the wound had already discolored the white linen bandages, but the injury wasn't as painful anymore. In fact, it just felt like her entire shoulder was numb, as if it wasn't actually a part of her body. That was probably a worrisome prospect, but for now she was just relieved that it was no longer sending waves of agony pulsing through her frame. "I think my shoulder should be fine... I can at least move my arm a little now." That was true, after all. She could still move the arm, although it was stiff and nowhere near its full strength. She hoped it would be enough for her to safely navigate She blew a few stray strands of hair out of her face, peering through the hole she had blasted through the wall of the maze. Laevateinn was lying on the floor, completely unscathed from the experience. Despite the weight and pressure that it had been exposed to from the massive morningstar ball, there was no sign that the weapon had been bent or warped from the strain. Rin hopped through the hole, leaning down to grab the hilt of the longsword with her uninjured hand. She carefully jumped back through the hole, making sure that the weapon fit through the hole as well. The greatsword was almost too long to be wielded effectively in the cramped hallways, but with her longsword stuck in the wall near the entrance of the maze she knew she needed the weapon. "Who else do you know who fights with a sword like this? Maybe they can give me some advice!" The girl giggled as she followed after Nkiruka, literally dragging the greatsword behind her. In the hands of its original wielder Laevateinn had been nothing more than a shortsword, yet it was literally longer than Rin was tall. She was already planning on how to effectively fight with the weapon; without the strength of a fire giant she was would be forced to wield the weapon in quite an unusual fashion. Momentarily distracted, the girl didn't realize what they were approaching until they were almost there. Six sets of armor lined the hallway, three on each side. They seemed to be almost identical in appearance, each of them holding a broadsword with both hands with the tip of the blade resting against the smooth stone floor. A sparkling jewel adorned each of their helms, diamonds and rubies and emeralds and more. Each of the flawless jewels was probably worth a small ransom. Rin's pace slowed as they neared the armor, the girl stepping in front of Nkiruka and peering at the still suits. If this had been a medieval castle they wouldn't have seemed out of place; however, in the desolate labyrinth any sort of aberration was noteworthy. She could sense the Grimoire's power in each set of armor, but it was no more concentrated than she had sensed in the walls or floor of the monolithic structure. The construct swung Laevateinn forwards carefully, poking the massive weapon at the nearest armor. The tip of the greatsword scraped against the steel cuirass, leaving a long scrap mark in the polished metal. She frowned and turned to the soldier, shaking her head. "What do you think? Could they just be decoration?" She tried to withdraw her weapon, but it did not budge. Rin turned her head quickly, just in time to see the lobstered steel of the armor's gauntlets firmly wrap around the edge of the blade. The ceremonial armor jerked the weapon out of her hands before she could react to this new development, throwing Laevateinn to its counterpart across the hall. That suit of armor screeched into life as well, snatching the greatsword as if was as light as a feather. The girl backed away as all six sets of armor jerked into life, their heads swiveling to stare at Nkiruka and Rin. The girl made a soft "Oh..." sound as they lifted their broadswords, making their intentions very clear. "Well. That answers that question..." |
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Don't want for all of your posts to be direct reactions to mine! I'm also going to say that with the injury, Rin's mind is more distracted and less likely to notice the presence of traps... Tee hee.| Go to Next Page | |
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2:11 PM May 19
