Pandora Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 "Yes, this I heard from Master Thothwick, that the Bog Witch Baba who enslaved Bluto Ziegfried has come to Eubric and is now effectively controlling the Wolfgang." "That's it, Lady Baba or somesuch; terrible warbler but charms everyone who hears her. I saw her at the Founder's Day Ball too. I don't like her. At all." Nyx turns to the young girl and elven woman. "Hello Sküld, it's very nice to meet you, I am Nyx. You have an honourable position as the Oracle's altar girl - you must be a child of accomplishment. Thank you for coming to meet us. Teresa, you say you're a representative of the Embassy - forgive my ignorance but.. which Embassy?" "Let's at least take on Stitches over there. You look at that thing's face and tell me it wants a better Eubric." "Hey, you know I'm always up for setting fire to people, but it sounds like even taking on that dude might start a riot. Anyway, Namyrra's the leader this time round, so it's up to her. I'll fight if she wants me to. Mind you, there's a big sign there saying 'Keep out!' and frankly that's as good as an invitation in my eyes. "
Sandy Posted October 12, 2013 Author Posted October 12, 2013 "Hello Sküld, it's very nice to meet you, I am Nyx. You have an honourable position as the Oracle's altar girl - you must be a child of accomplishment. Thank you for coming to meet us." "Accomplisment? Oh no, it's just that the leader of my tribe, Åsa Niflheimr, is good friends with Oracle Semiramis. She recommended me to the shrine. I'm the last child of my tribe, after all, so all the grown-ups pamper me to no end." "Teresa, you say you're a representative of the Embassy - forgive my ignorance but.. which Embassy?" "The Eubric Embassy, Miss. I work under the venerable Largh-múnd, keeping relations with all the various races dwelling in this city and collecting information about them. A lot of it is charity work, since many of the races have a hard time finding their place in this melting pot of cultures. However, there has been a big change in the position of the greenskins, for example, much thanks to the work done by Kukulkan, their spokesperson, but the Wolfgang has also been heavily promoting racial equality especially here in the Hovels. Just a few months ago, the Embassy opened up a school for the children of the slums, and most of the funding came from Ulric. So you can understand why I am reluctant to deem the organization as a mere crime gang, despite their earlier actions against the Six Houses."
Quarryman Posted October 12, 2013 Posted October 12, 2013 "Sküld, it's good to see you again, can you take us to the Oracle now?" OoC: in Belgium at the moment, so somewhat limited posting possibilities.
Pandora Posted October 12, 2013 Posted October 12, 2013 "Still, it's an accomplishment to be the last of your kind, kiddo." Nyx grins at Sküld and turns back to Teresa "Oh, that Embassy, the big one. Right, gotcha, sorry. And yeah, I agree with racial equality and education and social care and all that stuff, I'm just really wary of the fact that the Wolfgang is probably now being controlled by a nasty old hag who pretends to be some sort of songstress. Whatever good they may appear to be doing now, there's a whole heap of badness to come, but Namyrra's leading and she wants to go see the Oracle now, so let's go."
CMP Posted October 12, 2013 Posted October 12, 2013 Atramor glanced at the freak in the top hat once more and grumbled to himself, turning away. "Fine, let's move on."
CMP Posted October 13, 2013 Posted October 13, 2013 It's been well over 24 hours, can we assume Docken agrees as well?
Sandy Posted October 14, 2013 Author Posted October 14, 2013 QM Note: Sorry, I wasn't waiting for BD, I was just busy with other things. Sküld seems relieved that the heroes aren't willing to stir trouble after all. "Awright, let's be on our way then! See you around, Teresa!" "Goodbye, Sküld, and give my regards to the Oracle. And it was good to meet you too, heroes. Your words about the witch are certainly news to me, although I did hear about some strange events at the Foundation Day Ball. We will all just have to see how far Ulric is willing to take this idea of making Eubric a kingdom." Waving goodbye to the elf, Sküld leads the party down the narrow winding street to the marble-walled Shrine of the Oracle that looks delicate and out-of-place squashed in between the tall and worn-out buildings surrounding it. When the party enters the antechamber of the shrine, they see a young girl in red accompanied with a U'kin warrior, who are standing idle. The girl smiles as she recognizes a few of the party members. "Nyx! Atramor! It has been such a long time! Are you here upon the Oracle's behest?" Sküld looks at the party, surprised. "Oh, you know our new novice priestess? Gee, the goddess certainly works in mysterious ways."
CMP Posted October 14, 2013 Posted October 14, 2013 Atramor blinked in surprise and chuckled as Skuld lead them into the temple. "Good to see ya' again, Ella. Aye, we're here to see the Oracle, but what the hell are you doin' here? Trainin' under her, I s'pose?"
Pandora Posted October 14, 2013 Posted October 14, 2013 Nyx stares. "Ella??" she says, hardly believing her eyes "Is that really you?" a broad grin spreads over her face as she recognises the girl in front of her and she rushes forward to hug the Emperor's daughter tightly, releasing her again before firing off a number of questions. "What are you doing here? Oh, yeah, novice priestess - I heard just now, but... how?? How did you know to come to Eubric? Does Tarn know you're here? He could have been here, he offered his services for this quest, I'm sure he'd love to see you again..." Nyx realises she may have strayed into delicate territory.. "And how are you? How's Dastan? The Empire - still... stable? Tell me everything."
Sandy Posted October 15, 2013 Author Posted October 15, 2013 The girl called Ella looks flustered. "Oh, I don't know where to begin..." "Your highness, who are these people are someone you know?" "I apologize, U'Voros. These two are Nyx and Atramor, heroes of Heroica who were involved in the dreadful events that took place in Dastan a year and a half ago. Fret not, they know my true identity, and I can trust them with my life." "Wait a minute... You are Her Imperial Highness Princess Ella Septrine of Dastan, aren't you? Librarian Byblos of Heroica, at your service." The princess is a little taken aback by the grim appearance of the Metasimian. "Oh... Thank you, good librarian." She then turns to her old acquaintances. "After the incidents in Dastan when I was kidnapped, I knew it was time that stopped being just the daugther of my father, and followed my own destiny. The Empire is doing splendid, and I was frankly put boring my mind off loitering around at the court. I went to visit the Oracle of Drakencourt, and he told me that his colleague in Eubric was looking for a new priestess in her shrine. The decision was made all the more easier knowing that Heroica was based here. It meant that I could potentially spend more time with Tarn and the rest of you. I just arrived, so I didn't have time to seek you out yet, but it looks like Fabula Sibylla had it all figured out already. Oh, I met Thothwick on my way here, too." "Thothwick is my cousin, just so you know. And he has a boyfriend, so you shouldn't bother to waste time on him if you're looking for a manly Metasimian, hehehe..." Ella's eyes widen. "Why would I be looking for something like that?" Byblos blushes. "Oh, I don't know... To sweep you off your feet?" "Alright, step back, alright? That is quite enough is what that is." "Wow, this is getting weird. Ella is training to become a priestess here, because the Oracle hasn't been feeling well lately, and Liandra and myself have our hands full managing this shrine by the two of us. The Oracle should be up and about now, if you are ready to meet her." "Please, don't let me hold you back! I'm not going anywhere, so we can catch up more later. So, Tarn is in town? That's good to know..." "I am not sure it is safe to leave you here is safe, after all. It seems there are too many lowborn suitors around, it seems." The U'kin glares at Byblos, who is still staring Ella with a stupid grimace on his face.
Quarryman Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 "Yes, I think we're quite ready to meet the Oracle."
Sandy Posted October 15, 2013 Author Posted October 15, 2013 "Very well. This way!" Sküld pushes open the mighty double doors at the antechamber. The princess-priestess waves at the party. "Good luck, everyone!" Inside the inner sanctum was two women, which Namyrra recognized as Oracle Semiramis and her attendant priestess Liandra. The Oracle is meditating silently in front of a statue of Fabula Sibylla. The other priestess gives her a concerned look, and then turns to the heroes. "I'm so happy you could come, heroes! The Oracle has been pestered with the nightmares for weeks, and the lack of sleep has made her feeble and unfocused. She even says she cannot feel the Goddess like she used to. I only hope your visit to the ruins of Azzurat proves fruitful, and the Oracle's peace of mind will be restored. What you will find at the ruins, I cannot even guess, but the Oracle has spoken about a gigantic eye staring down at her from the sky above the desert." "Might I inquire, where do the demons mentioned in the quest pitch come into picture?" "I don't know the full details, but the Oracle has told that she was once the queen of Azzurat. Her husband, King Nebukadnezzar XIII, acquired a black tome that promised to make him the most powerful man in the world. Through the book, the king learned to summon demons to do his bidding, but as you know, you cannot really win when you make pacts with creatures beyond the Void. In time the demons overtook Azzurat, covering it under sand. Only the Oracle's devotion to our Goddess saved her and her followers from being engulfed with the rest of the kingdom. But now the Oracle fears that something has awoken in the ruins of her old homeland. Whether it is a demon or something else, I truly cannot say." Suddenly the Oracle spoke. "Thank you for your recount, Liandra, even though it does no justice to the grief and pain I had to go through when I was forced to leave my once-beloved husband and most of my people behind." The Oracle turns around, and the heroes can see weariness and deep sorrow in her eyes. "Azzurat was once a land of sparkling rivers and verdant gardens, but my husband's avarice brought in the demons of greed and desolation, and all the riches were lost under a rising sea of sand. If it weren't for the visions I've been both blessed and cursed for all my life, nobody would have made out of there alive. I lead the remains of my people to the small fishing town of Farzibar, where they spread to all cardinal directions. That is where you must now go as well, to find a way to the forsaken ruins. But be mindful that the desert is not of nature's making, but still crawling with the evil creatures that created it. You will face many perils before you reach Azzurat, but if anyone can make it, it is the five of you. Do you have anymore questions before I send you off?" "Wow, you're all so brave for doing this..."
CMP Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 (edited) Atramor tilted his hat towards Ella as the party headed inward to the shrine. "I'll make sure Tarn knows you're around." He leaned against the wall as he listened intently to Liandra's tale, McCafferey staring at the Oracle until the Veteran chose to speak. Her gaze reminded him immediately of Ella back in Dastan. The gaze of someone that's probably seen, well, too damn much more than anyone should. Atramor frowned and scratched the side of his head. "No good comes outta payin' heed to anythin' that crawls outta Azazot. Are we headed to the ruins of the capital or somethin'? If that's where the demons were summoned, I'd imagine that's where their leader is, or...whatever the hell this eye is now." Edited October 15, 2013 by CallMePie
Pandora Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 Nyx looks at the Sand Queen, so old and tired. "Don't remember me, huh? So we get a nice holiday somewhere hot and get to blast some demons back where they came from. Is there a downside? Do you have any kind of blessing to bestow before we leave? You know, from Fabula Sibylla, seeing as we're helping out and everything? I have a horrible feeling your husband's probably the source of all this trouble. Sorry, but that's men for you." Nyx shrugs "We'll let you know when we get back, and we'll do what we can for any of your people we encounter. Is there anything else we need to know about? Anything you might have foreseen that we might get a bit upset about? Now's the time... " Nyx arches an eyebrow in question.
Brickdoctor Posted October 15, 2013 Posted October 15, 2013 "What happened to this book, do you know?"
Sandy Posted October 16, 2013 Author Posted October 16, 2013 Byblos mutters to himself. "Farzibar? Now where do I know that name from...?" "No good comes outta payin' heed to anythin' that crawls outta Azazot. Are we headed to the ruins of the capital or somethin'? If that's where the demons were summoned, I'd imagine that's where their leader is, or...whatever the hell this eye is now." "Yes, you would be heading to the city proper of Azzurat. The rest of it used to be grassy plains and riverlands as far as the eye could see. Now there is only sand. And death." "Don't remember me, huh? So we get a nice holiday somewhere hot and get to blast some demons back where they came from. Is there a downside? Do you have any kind of blessing to bestow before we leave? You know, from Fabula Sibylla, seeing as we're helping out and everything? I have a horrible feeling your husband's probably the source of all this trouble. Sorry, but that's men for you." Nyx shrugs "We'll let you know when we get back, and we'll do what we can for any of your people we encounter. Is there anything else we need to know about? Anything you might have foreseen that we might get a bit upset about? Now's the time... " Nyx arches an eyebrow in question. "Oh Nyx, always so nonchalantly leaping into mortal danger. Fate has been favourable to you so far, but I am unsure how long it can last... What comes to my husband, I truly hope Nebukadnezzar has found peace in the afterlife, but I cannot be sure. He was under demonic influence the last I saw him, there is no telling what happened to him after that. You will have to go on the spot to see what is really going on there. I wish I could say that your quest will be a success, but the Goddess has not graced me with prophecies for many weeks. Your future is as hazy to me as it is to you." "What happened to this book, do you know?" "The book that enthralled my husband got buried with him, as far as I know. And yes, it was another copy of the Pandemonicon. Byblos here has shown great capability in researching the book that was discovered underneath Eubric, which is why he was chosen to this quest. Actually, chosen would be a wrong word. It is more like he was destined to join." The librarian sighs deeply. "You put a whole lot of baggage on the shoulders of a simple Metasimian, milady..." "A lot, yes. Too much? It remains to be seen. Byblos has a great part to play in the coming events, so please ensure his safety, everyone. If there is no other inquiries, I will show you your means of travel."
CMP Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 Atramor glanced suspiciously at Byblos. As one of the Veterans, he respected the Oracle well enough, and his time with Ella made it quite clear seeing that those like her seeing the future generally turned out to be accurate. But fate and destiny? Those were ideas he could never get behind. The ragged-looking ape would have to prove himself if he wanted any help from Atramor. Good fortune didn't get anyone far. He nodded to the Veteran even as McCafferey pecked discontentedly at the edge of his hat. "With all due respect Miss Oracle, it's gonna take a lot more than fate's disfavor to end us. I'm ready to go."
Quarryman Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 "I believe we're well informed now, so please show us our means of travel."
Pandora Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 Nyx nods at Namyrra and the others in agreement at leaving. She mooches off to the side of the group muttering sullenly to herself "If there is such a thing as "fate" then it's not been that favourable, I have developed a nasty tendency to die a lot, after all."
Sandy Posted October 16, 2013 Author Posted October 16, 2013 "The Port of Farzibar is located on the coast south-west of where Azzurat used to lie, on the whitesand shores of the Pearl Sea. The journey by ship would take weeks, but luckily I have a much faster solution." The Oracle motioned the party to follow her to the backroom. On of the walls was hanging an elaborate tapestry, and a strange light seeped from behind it. "When you reach Farzibar, please find a man called Nizam. He is one of my people, and one of the few who knows his way around the cursed desert. You should find him at the village bar called the Drunken Monkey." "Drunken Monkey?! That's where I know the village from! The bar is owned by my and Thothwick's great-aunt Hathor. She moved there when we were just children, but she used to send us letters. It's been ages since I've last written to her, though. I hope she isn't offended... But how exactly can we reach Farzibar from this room?" "The village is just one step away, through here." The Oracle grabs the tapestry and pulls it down. Bright light fills the room, momentarily blinding everyone. "This is the ethereal portal that lead me from Farzibar to Eubric. I had this shrine built around it, since I wanted to keep it hidden. I have never stepped through it again - it would pain me too much to return to all those memories - but I've kept it open to stay in contact with those who chose to remain in Farzibar, Nizam included. Sometimes I send Liandra trough it to take care of my businesses, but it is now your turn to use it. It will lead you to an empty house in the village, just a short distance away from the bar. You can use it to return anytime you wish." "If that's all, we should go through immediately. I cannot wait to meet my great-aunt again, she always sent me such nice gifts. The bananas on the Pearl Coast are most exquisite." "As you wish. Please take care, and may Fabula Sibylla guide you in your quest." With the Oracle's blessing, the party walks through the shining gateway. Immediately they are struck with the heat and humidity of the southern atmosphere. Their clothes tangle into their skin and sweat begins to trickle down their foreheads. They step out of the little house with the portal and into the scorching sunlight. The village of Farzibar is minuscule, but the houses are colorful and the many palmtrees provide shelter from the sun. Straight ahead of them the party sees a guidepost. Which way will they go?
CMP Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 ...and the many palmtrees provide shelter from the sun. Must be magic palm trees then, because mine sure as hell don't. "Drunken Monkey? Sounds like one of the taverns back home." Atramor looked sideways at the Oracle before, last in line, he stepped through the strange ethereal portal. His skepticism was well-founded, but ultimately pointless. He felt his foot sink into sand the first step he took through it. The second brought him fully into Azzurat. He looked around quite interestedly. It wasn't terribly different from Draida. All it needed were a few dozen drunken pirates wandering the streets. He swept off his hat and wiped his forehead before stuffing it back on. "This ain't bad at all. Thought it'd be far worse considerin' it's built on top of a kingdom consumed by demons. To the bar, then? Damn heat's makin' me thirsty already."
Brickdoctor Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 "This seems fairly straightforward." I move to follow Atramor to the bar.
Pandora Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Nyx raises her face to the warm sunlight and closes her eyes. The weather's almost warm enough for her to take off he cloak and gloves, but not quite. Another new land, more sand; she breathes in the smells and listens intently to the sounds, enjoying the experience. She listens to her questmates, and opens her eyes and grins at them. "I don't think there's much doubt that I would of course like to go to the bar, and "The Drunken Monkey" is an awesome name. Let's go!"
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