* Last time on the show with the goofy, non-pretty name! * Everyone met! And there were answers coming, to help you adjust to this strange new land. But that was shattered, due to a random, (or not so random) attack. * Questions were had, as were answers, and now everyone is off to commit mass suicide! Er... meet Clay and ask more questions. ( I most certainly am NOT going to commit suicide!) * Along the way, Naoki snagged Tzezhin. In a nice, friendly, not-quite-sane way. Said something about a date. * Elonith grinned and laughed at Tzezhin as he was pulled off. * That past, all in all, you've been travelling about 2 days. It's hard to tell, due to no passage of night or day, just day and day and day. * You're approaching something visible. It's big, and tall. Maps identify it as the city of Telcentia. * Start! (We're on foot?) * Carter most certainly has not been crying in his sleep. Really. No way. ( If you preferred. Preferred travel was provided. ) * Tobias flits around the group at a high speed,"Why hasn't the sun set yet? Does it ever set? Are we not on a planet really? Or are we just moving very slow? Do you have any candy?" Here we are. First stop on the way, Telcentia. * Monica evil-eyes Tobias often and with pleasure oh boy Telcentia! .. whats Telcentia? * Elonith is riding whatever was available, as he's not an uber-fast person like the rest of you. "It's a city." * Carter rides a bike. It is a new and fun experiance. * Monica walks at her own pace. Hurrying never helped anyone. What kinda city? A port city, a university city, a factory city, a plant city, a *he goes on and on and on* ( What's the terrain like that we've been going through? ) * Elonith is riding a bike then. It's easy, and people won't look at you twice for being a kid and riding one. He made sure to get rid of the little basket that was on it, though. I think the term is a 'normal' city. ( AFK a sec. Grrr. ) Aww... thats no fun!! ( More like a lot of seconds. ~_~ ) By whose standards, Elonith? 'Normal' can mean different things to different people. * Elonith smiles and shrugs. "That's what's so wonderful about it." People live there. They have diverse skills, occupations, hobbies, et cetera. Normal. By that definition, all cities are 'normal', Miss Monica. *smiles* I hope normal means there's lots of fish to eat! I smell some, but can't tell how many from here, Tobias. Is that all you do? Eat fish? No! I do lots of other stuff! But thats my most favoritist food!! Well, he apparently developes one-way portals to here, at least. Let's hope he can make a one-way portal out, too. That would be nice, yes. I would like to go home... *wistful* Well, our best bet is probably Joshua over there. Though I'm not going to power this one... Why you wanna go home so fast? We ain't even hardly started to see stuff! ..... Too standard, too normal, too... Mundane. I don't want to live in a stagnant location for the rest of my life. We've hardly had a CHANCE to stagnate. Let's leave the judgements on our own worlds. * Carter looks a bit sad. * Elonith looks over at Carter. "Something wrong?" * Carter shakes his head. "Just a little homesick, that's all." *brightens visibly* "Sorry, didn't mean to rain on anyone's day!" I like it here! I ain't ever been this far away from home before! Mommy and Daddy never let me go far, they always show up RIGHT after I get someplace and make me go home!<;;> That's understandable. Sometimes I wish I could return to my home as well... But then I realize I can never go back. Tobias, how old ARE you? I'm sorry, Elonith. I truly am. * Elonith smiles. "Don't worry 'bout it. I'll find a place to settle eventually." I'm 14 springs old!! ...let's just hope that choosing to settle here is an option, not a requirement... * Elonith raises an eyebrow. "14 years old? That *would* explain it." There's a different measure. Where I come from, we measure in Winters. How old are you, Elo? You act older than you look... Oh me? Um, by standard human terms... 22 Earth years. ( "I am the Darkness. I am the Storm. I am the Lord of Winter!" ) Winter is when things die! They get born in the spring! Wow, you're old!! o.o ...older than me... Now I understand the impetuousness. Youths are only good for one thing. * Tobias hovers infront of Monica and Carter,"How old are you two?!" * Elonith eyes Tobias. "I doubt Monica's going to appreciate that question." Why? Call it a general universal rule: Human females (or most females, for that matter), don't like being asked as to the aspects of their age or weight. * Monica swats at the annoying, catish mosquito. It is not a question one asks a lady. Why? * Tobias mreeks! and zips away from scary lady! I'd give you my theories on that, but Monica would probably be swatting at me afterwards. I, however, am 17 years, seven months, and 26 days. ( Blagh. Back. ) Tobias, remind me to talk to thee about tact and humans this evening, please? ( Repeat any questions, please? ) * Elonith chuckles at the use of old English. (We're talking amongst ourselves. No work for you!) * Alex has been in a trance-like state since they got in sight of the place. She just now snaps out of it, shaking her head. ( *was sniffing the air for the scent of fish earlier, at Tobias' question, but that wasn't important. ) * Carter notes Elo's snickers. "Oh, sorry, forgot myself." You're old too!! ... humans are wierd... Ysfallians dont' have so many rules!! * Elonith raises an eyebrow. "Humans aren't the only ones like that, you know." I shirk the use of rules. However, consideration is paramount. I would be interested in discussing the differences in our cultures at some later time, Tobias. * Tobias asks,"They're not? yah! that would be fun!" Hey, when you do, be sure to record it. I'd want to see the similarities and differences as well. Thou art- er, You are welcome to join in, too, Mr. Elonith. * Tobias sees a dragonfly and chases it! * You're close enough to make out more of it. It's pretty tall. About three miles tall. There's three main struts at an angle, forming a low angled pyramid. * Elonith chuckles again. "Don't worry about ye olde English. Thou art well spoken, for a knave." * And there's flat discs at even intervals. The don't seem to be connected to much, at least nothing visible from this distance. * Elonith smirks at Carter, then starts looking up, and up, and up at the city. "So... Technology or Magic?" Thank you. I pride myself on my language. Though I be not a knave, merely a commoner. *scans the city ahead* It's out of range. Of course, citizen. I have to be closer. * Tobias hovers above Elonith and Carter,"Now you're talking funny!" Both. More magic is used in the actual working of it. * Elonith waggles his finger at Tobias. "Not funny. Different." Ah, facinating. I'll have to look into it then. The discs there, *she points at the building,* are suspended from the top one. Like a rope ladder. The struts hold the top disc. Toby! Your incessant prattle irks me. Silence yourself, or I will do it for you. Synonyms? * Tobias looks at where alex is pointing,"Don't call me Toby! My name is Tobias!" * Elonith smiles. "Sure thing. Toby." * Monica grins at having found a button to press. * Tobias sniffs. Interesting... *studies the architechture, fascinated* This is really a city for flyers, but it's the closest to a break we'll get to the construction site. I've got some business there myself, as well. Gah, flying. Remind me to make a jetpack for myself. So, Alex. If it's so dangerous to go see Clay, why are you joining us? Does this business in any way concern us, Miss Alex? Lots of reasons. No. This is.... personal. Very well. I shall pry no further. *bows* * Tobias looks at Alex,"Fliers? Like me?" * Alex grins. "Yeah, like you." * Tobias mrews happy! Is it navigable for those who cannot fly? It's a pain. *she growls a little* I swear they made all those damn stairs just to annoy people. Stairs? Dammit. No escilators? Whatsits? How else do you get up a building? I see... Darn it, how long 'til we get there? I'm hungry. I wish. *twitches a little* I have a hunger myself. I'm not strong enough to cary anybody, or I would!<;;> Ohoh, can't you just grow wings, Elonith? You're always hungry, aren't you? * Monica winks at Carter and meows. Usually... *eyes Monica embarrassedly* * You're getting closer! You're almost there. You can see figures flitting from level to level. And there's lots of circular staircases. * Elonith shakes his head. "Can't grow wings. Just small features... Like this." He concentrates and a single horn pops out of his head. Oooh, you can be a one-horn!! Those are very speical people on Ysfall! ... I can carry anyone who really needs the help, but would prefer not to. * Elonith concentrates again, and the horn 'shrinks' back into his head. * The struts seem quite thick, and the discs are abotu a foot thick, and don't seem visibly attached to anything. There's a shimmering in the air on the outer and inner edges of each disc, though. * Oh yeah. They're donut discs, with holes in the middle. Nah, I don't know if I could stand going to Ysfall. * Tobias strokes his tail and says,"... most people there arn't like me..." * The stairs run both on the inside and outside, and wrap at an annoying long descent, almost having to walk around the entire building just to ascend or descend one level. * Elonith mutters something to himself. * Monica starts walking. How else does one climb a tower? Should we find lodgings first, perhaps? * Tobias flies up! to check things out! Ah... That's been arranged. There's a hotel on the third floor. Ah. Where should we leave the bikes, Miss Alex? ( I killed the game! ) Yeah. Where we leaving the bikes? * Alex growls. "There's a check-in station for stashing stuff on the first floor." Thank you, Miss. Is something wrong? The least they could've done is put it on ground floor. The hotel? Or your destination? The check-in station. Wait, what? The first floor isn't ground floor? Oh. European counting system... * Alex sighs, and points up. First floor is the first disk, right? * Elonith looks up. "Oh." * Alex takes the lead, trudging up. The stairs make an annoying echo-y sound. * Elonith follows, trying to drag the bike but having a somewhat difficult time of it. Here, Elo, let me take that. *picks up his bike and puts it on one shoulder, offering to do the same with Elo's with his free hand* * Elonith hands Carter the bike. "Um, okay." * Carter takes it, now being more balanced as he has two bikes, one for each shoulder. ^_^_v * Carter examines the architechture and the energies supporting it, as well as any people around, as they climb. His stomach growls ominously once or twice. * There's various people flying around. Wings, energy shells, jetpacks, etc. But it's lightly populated. A rough guess would place 500 people here. * Elonith looks around, taking in the architechture. You could swear that inside his head gears are whirling as to how to implement this someway somewhere else. Wow... there are more people on the smallest Station, and it's not this big... I don't think this place has many visitors, for obvious reasons. * Alex falls back a little, matching pace and place with Monica. You're quiet. Someone must have built it, and for the purpose of living here, I would assume. Why so big if there are not enough denizens to populate it? We're stopping only to waste time. * Elonith shrugs. "They like the open air." Oh... What do you mean, Miss Monica? It's a long trip. We're stopping to break into not so long trips. Joshua and Brute want us to meet Clay. I want to meet Clay. If there's a way home, we need to find it. What use is there in stopping here? I don't plan to stay in this world. Why make friends? I, at least, could use a good meal. I'm sorry to inconvenience you, ma'am, but there it is. Because friends can help you get off this rock. Rest, shelter. I'm pretty positive your 'Joshoua' would be able to get us off on his own. And I'm your guide, and I'm not guiding you without stopping here. The construction site isn't on those maps, and I know the easiest way to get there. Reason enough? And most likely, he'll use you as fuel to do so, if I'm not mistaken. Not if I have anything to say about it, he won't. * Carter looks embarrassed again. He'll have to kill me first. And Silver Lancer here knows the way to the site, Alex. Oh good. The gnat, Toby. Hi. * Tobias flies back to the group,"Theres this ghost named Marphas! Somebody stoled a shiny red gem from him and now he can't sleep we have to help him find it!" * You're all about 3/4 of the way to the first level. First drop the stuff off, then look into helping the locals. That is, if we have the time. What is this, an FF game? Why do we have sidequests? ^^; I told him we'd help him! * Alex frowns at Tobias. "You didn't .... you did." * Elonith eyes Tobias. "And *why* did you agree to help him while knowing we were doing something else?" Something to do!<^^> * Carter looks from Elonith to Monica to Alex, and rolls his eyes helplessly. Toby agreed to help. This guy doesn't know we're with him. Feel no obligation, people. * Alex shrugs. "Marquis Marphas... Heh." Do you know him, Miss Alex? How could I? He was dead long before me and my sisters got stuck here. Shiny red stone, you say? This is news. Oh. Well, there goes the last shred of motivation for me to help. * Carter looks at Monica, confused. Yah! There was a green one and a yellow one and a blue one, but no red one! Somebody took it! Oh, the pretty colours of the rainbow! We must help the poor, poor man. * Elonith rubs his temples. "Okay, fist off we drop our stuff off." * Alex glances at Monica. Hmph. * Elonith keeps trudging up the stairs, regardless of what the other people are doing. * Ding! First floor, tired feet, and a drop-off station * Tobias flies up there,"Too bad you can't fly!" Tobias, please stay with us until we get checked in...it would be nice not to have to try to find you in this city with no indication of where you've gone. * Tobias awws..."Okay!" Toby, don't listen to him. Go where you like. We'll (not) find you when we're ready. * Alex taps Carters shoulder, and points to one of the buildings. "You can stash your stuff you wont be using here." Why can't we push her off? Because that would be murder, Tobias. aww.. * Carter heads towards the indicated building to drop off the bikes. Trust me. It's a pain to carry around everything going from place to place here. * Tobias flies after Carter! Just try it, pest! * The building is pretty ordinary. There's large closets inside, with keys hanging by each door. They lock and unlock via that key only, and a sign politely reminds you to not lose the key. * Elonith shrugs. Any restrictions on firearms? Nope. Just don't go trigger happy. * Carter puts the bikes in one, locks it, and hands the key to Elonith. "I don't have any pockets." * Elonith takes it and pockets it, since he does have pockets. ^_^ * Alex looks up, and sighs. "Onwards." Now would I do that? * Elonith glances back at the exact location of the bikes, then follows Alex's lead. Miss Alex, would you care for a ride up? You look tired, and it would be faster. I can come back for anyone else who wants one, too. *His stomach growls again, belying his true reasons for desiring haste, as he hovers a couple feet off the ground* * Tobias flits a bit ahead again, looking for anything red and shiny. Or suspicious people! * There's nothing red and shiny! Or red or shiny. And there's not that many people, not any near, anyways. * Elonith blinks at Carter. "Full of surprises, eh?" * Alex blinks. "Huh? Uh, sure." * Tobias looks at Carter"wow! you can fly too!" ^^; * Alex attempts to lengthen her miniskirt, trying not to look guilty while doing so. Um... would you prefer I carry you or piggie-back? * Elonith snickers. "How much *can* you carry comfortably?" * Alex GLARES at Elo. ...about half a ton... Carry. Carry is good. * Elonith raises an eyebrow. "Your not even my species. Why would I be interested in you?" * Carter sweeps her up into his arms! And then turns red, before taking off to where she tells him the hotel-type place is! * Tobias flies after!! * It's up on the third floor! And ample directions and pointings are given. * Elonith starts hiking up to wherever it is. Even though he didn't ask for help, he still looks pretty tired. Poor people that can't fly. * Monica continues up the stairs, no fatigue evident. * It's be pretty hard to miss, anyways. The hanging banner says 'Inn.' * Carter pauses. "If you wish to wait, Elonith, or Miss Monica, I will be back and can carry you..." *he then continues* * Elonith smiles. "That'd be appreciated. I'll see about lightening the load myself." * Monica continues walking. So, Joshua, tell me about Clay. Why didn't you appear in the same place as me? * Carter returns, and takes Elo! "You can't weigh more than 150 lbs, can you, Elonith?" I did. I got here before you, though. * Elonith looks around suspiciously. "Not normally, but I never know about my new forms." * Elonith is carried by Carter. Damn that kid is light! He must weight at most, 60 lbs. *carry and return* Need a ride, Miss Monica? Joshua? Mr. Maleck? Clay was pretty nice. And smart! He understood a lot of what I said about portals how I got here. He said that he could help me go back. We're fine. * Carter nods. Okay. *dashes off, as if in a hurry* * Maleck looks up a bit to protest, but stops at Monica's words. * Carter orders lots of food and semi-food-like products when he gets to the inn! Weird. Guess the portals bend time, too. So, how are you going to power the portal this time? * Elonith gets to the inn too! And promptly sits down, leans against the wall, and starts taking a quick nap. * Tobias looks around, under beds and chairs and stuff for the gem! If I devise a counterspell to the portal that brought us here, and project it into ... space? Void? Not sure. But if I do that, and link it to the same type of portal that brought us here, it should create a reverse path. But I'd need essence of succubi to do it with. Then you'd better start looking for one. (I think he's already found one. ~_^) ( She means one he can use. ) * Joshua looks quite pointedly at Monica, but dosen't say anything. (Oh, fine. Get technical on me.) * And eventually, you all get there! But Alex isn't there anymore when you all do. ( Well, you see, my dear Elo, the succubus energies are delicately balanced. A wingless type, such as our Monica, is unstable in the cusp of the equation graph, and thus is unsuitable as a parallel power source. ) (Oh, don't start me.) ( start him. >: ) ) ( *removes the keys from Elo ) ( No. :P ) * Carter is polishing off a plate. It isn't his first, by the stack of them beside him and the shocked look on the barkeep's face. * Elonith snaps awake when everyone else gets there. He gets up and checks to make sure everything is there. ( The bikes are missing! ) * The inn is well, an inn. There's a small resteraunt right inside, and rooms upstairs. The whole thing is managed by a old looking person, their featrues too lost in wrinkles and hair. * Tobias watches Carter eat, all amazed. Um, Can I have some more of that dry, krinkly stuff? Please? And some of that water, too? It had more nutrients than I expected... * Elonith streches and walks over to Carter's table, if that's what he's sitting at. * Monica approaches the bartender. "I've got a bit of a hunger myself, sir. Care to help me 'scratch my itch'?" Sure, no problem. What do you need? * Elonith laughs at Monica's... line. Well, if you could lead me into the kitchen, I can make it much more clear there. Hold on, please missus? I'll be right with you, but I've got to take care of these ravishing young'uns. ( Ravishing? Or Famished? ) ( Or both? ;P ) * Tobias stands up and walsk around, looknig for anybody who looks like they know Stuff. * Oldy does just that! And comes back with more of what Carter requested. * Elonith looks at the bartender person. "Ya got a nutrient menu here?" Thanks. *tears into it, though neatly and with as good of manners as someone wolfing down food can* Such hearty appetites. Remind me of Marphas when he was still around, 'Julince di Barafas.' Mr. Elo, I think you would like the Chef's special today. It's got several things that seem necessary in thy diet. No nutrient menu here! Just good ole fashioned food instinct. * Elonith raises an eyebrow. He checks over the menu available. * Oldy turns to Monica. "You can say what you need to say while I gather his order. Does that sound okay, missus?" ...though I would reccommend balancing it out with some milk, or a vitamin supplement, if you have them. * Monica sits next to Carter and plops her chin in her hands. * Tobias asks the old guy,"Do you know where the red gem is?" * Oldy frowns. You can make out that much through the hair. "There's been rumors." What they say?! ( Some one set Tobias up the bomb! ) (...) Rumors are a casual thing to take so seriously. *He/she leans forward, peering at Tobias.* Why are you taking this so seriously? I wanna help! * Elonith puts his menu down and waits for the guy to be done talking with Tobias. Help? If thats the case....Kli might know something about it. So say rumors. Whose that? One of the people who live here. She was respected here, until the rumors started. What did the rumors say?! Rumors can destroy a people's, or a person's, life. * Tobias bounces up and down the balls of his feet with excitment. I suppose it can't hurt to tell you. You'll hear of it if you stay around soon enough. * Elonith shakes his head. "Urban lore. It's never worthwhile." Tell me tell me!! Please! Rumors say that the ghost of Marphas came out and possessed her, and made her steal one of the jewels. Why'd he do that? He said he wanted it back! Oh? Yah! He asked me to find it! Why would rumors of possession make one unpopular? It could hardly be blamed on her. The legend of Marquis Marphas' grave, says that if one of the gems is removed, bad luck will fall on whoever sets sight on the thief, and the theif themself will meet a bloody end. I see. Legends and superstitions. * Elonith hmmms. He pulls out his laptop and starts typing. Much like propaganda and prejudice, they are often not worth believing. Noone will speak to her, because of these legends and superstitions. They have more power here in this land than you would give them credit for. Aww... thats sad. Where is she? * Elonith frowns, and starts typing. Up on the 7th disc. It's the house shaped like a hexagon. Perhaps our young detective would like some food before bounding off? I ate some meat already! And anyone else? If you wait, I at least will accompany you, Tobias. * Tobias yeys! and sits next to Carter,"you done yet?" Yeah. Can ya get me, ummm... Well, just something to go. * Oldy looks them all over, then turns to Monica. "And you, misses. What is it you wanted?" Two more bowls of that excelent stew, and I shall be, I think. Oh, and some whole milk, please, if you have it, ma'am. *this directed at the barkeep* Nevermind. *humph* You eat A LOT! * Oldy nods, and retreats back into the kitchen, emerging momentarily with the requested foods. * Elonith glances back. "Just give me some of that stew and skim milk with some vitamin supplements..." * And then again, for Elo's order. Thank you. *eats the last two bowls more slowly, and then washes them down with a long drink of milk* Okay, anyone else going, or is it just Tobias and me? * Elonith packs his laptop away and eats the food at a reasonable pace. He finishes up just after Carter and chugs the milk. It would take everybody else FOREVER to get there! * Carter looks around, waiting for responses from others... * Elonith gets up and looks around. "Hey, you don't happen to have something like a busted jetpack lying around, would you?" Lancer, stay here. Make sure Joshua doesn't escape. * Monica stands and begins ascending the stairs to tier 7. Mr. Elonith, I'll just carry you, if you don't mind. Fixing one of those would probably take too long to be worth the effort right now. Well... if you insist. And don't call me mister. I never graduated from college.^_^ Okay. *offers Elo a piggieback ride, unless he indicates some other preferred method of carriage* * Elonith takes the piggyback ride. * Oldy emerges, looking around. "I'm afraid not. But it seems your friend is willing." * Tobias yeys!! and flys,"Come on! Lets leave scary lady behind!" Let's go, Tobias. Thanks, inkeeper! *flies out* * Maleck kinda grunts, his only response to Monicas command. ( o/~ Up, up, up, to the 7th disk tier, up,up,up,up, to the heavy side layer o/~ ) To the 7th tier! * Elonith points his finger up semi-dramatically. * Carter levitates upwards smoothly, it almost feels and looks like he and his cargo are falling upwards. * *ding* 7th floor, womens laundry, childrens toys, customer service, and Kli! * The hexagonal one is easy to pick out. That's because it looks like a beehive. * Tobias flies over there and knocks ont he door! * Carter heads towards it, arriving shortly after the over-exuberant chimera. * Door is knocked! And the response: "Go away!" * Carter lets Elonith down when he lands. * Elonith gets off of Carter when he stops. ( Zegon: Mind, out, now. ) Hey! We wanna talk to you, please!! * "It's for your own good! Go away!" * Carter scans the place out of idle curiosity. And to look for anything dangerous after that last statement. * Elonith shakes his head. "What's the readout Carter?" (tromp tromp tromp) I don't belive in curses! * Tobias looks for a widnow or something. * Carter bows to the approching thunderstorm- erm, Monica. * Windows? Vaguely transparent orange ... well, not windows. More like buildups of clear wax. Nothing unusual, at least, nothing more unusual than thee or Tobias or Mis- erm, than you or Tobias, here. * "You.... don't believe in them?" There do not seem to be any indications that there are extraneous energies about, ma'am. I wanna help find the red gem! Believe in what? Urban legends are nothing but stories. * "But.... well.... Oh, fine! If you get cursed, it's your own fault. Don't say I didn't warn you!" Curses, what are they good for? Letting off steam? ^^ (Absolutely nothing!) * The door cracks open. (Huu... Haaa... Good god, y'all!) * Tobias tries to run in! * Elonith looks up at whatever it is that opened the door. * Carter bows politely to the person behind the door. * Tobias runs in! And would have slipped and falled flat on his ass but for his cat-like movement. * The one who opened the door is not showing itself, either. Apparently, you have to come to them. I appologize for the abruptness and lack of manners of our companion. May we come in? (tromp tromp tromp) * The inside is orange and amber and dimly lit, and the floor is quite smooth. There's various decorations, indicative of at least some status. * And the one who speaks seems to speak with a trilling double voice. "Your choice. What do you want?" Thank you. *enters slowly* We wish to speak with you regarding the incident that made you believe yourself to be cursed. We wanna know what happend! * Elonith looks around and slowly enters after Carter, staying behind the larger person. * The figure makes itself known. Short, about 4 feet tall, wide eyes, and antennae, too. Four arms, with segmented chitounous armor on them, and black and white stripes up and down. Almost like.... a bee. The wings are inactive, and four legs are stood on. Nothing happened! Then why do you believe yourself cursed? It's.... been happening. People have been around me, and have had bad luck. But I didn't do it! You're believing in bad luck, so it's happening. Or, more precisely, they are. ( Of course, we will all have bad luck, but that's because Dicey hates us. :P ) (Darn tootin'!) ( IT'S ALIVE! (again) ) Did you really get possessed?! .... *she glances back and forth* I don't remember. What do you remember t hen?! Oh, now that's good. I don't! All I remember is waking up outside my house, and then it was discovered that one of the gems was missing! * Elonith scratches his head. "Okay. Was anything different when they went missing?" Then why'd they think it was you? They said I was possessed, that they had seen me do it. But I didn't! Who saw you? ..... several people. Enough for everyone to beleive them. Who were they, and would they have any previous vendetta with you? Any specific names? Have they been interviewed? And did they witness the theft of the actual gem? Did they see where you put it? Noone saw me do it. But they saw me around.... We usually avoid the Marquis' tomb. (tromp tromp tromp) Let me guess. The tomb is at the bottom of this tower. ( Did I forget to mention that? ... Yes I did. Blah. ) * The tomb is the big shiny sphere free floating in the middle of the city. It's quite shiny, and reflects the sun in a variety of colors. Going down is easier than going up. Don't even have to be able to fly to get down fast... * Elonith eyes Carter. Get down fast, eh? * Monica sticks one leg out, and points her opposite finger to the sky. Did anything odd happen before? I don't think you got possessed! Cause Marquis said he wanted it back! * Elonith blinks at Monica. "What *are* you doing?" ( *is having trouble telling what Monica is trying to gesticulate* ) I'm gettin' down, brotha! .........*facefault* (it's Saturday Night Fever!) * Elonith realizes the pun, and laughs. * Kli stares at Tobias. And at Monica. "The summer flower dance!" I went to the big shiny thing and this thing asked me to get its gem back! Elaborate, please, Miss Kli? The summer flower dance? I only rememeber it vaguely. I was young when I came to this place. But it's our dance to celebrate summer back..... home. I see. I'm sorry. * Elonith shrugs. "I'd like to say home is overrated, but it isn't." ...were any people like, born here? * Monica begins tromping down the stairs again. "Maybe I'll arrive before them this time." * Elonith shrugs. "I'm sure of it. I'm dead sure of it." There's some people who are born here. Didn't you know? No, thats why I asked!<^^> So far as I know, we've yet to meet one. Nearly all of the Mytrites are native to this land. That doesn't surprise me. * Kli flutters some, seeming a bit more at ease. "Weren't you told?" Our orientation was interrupted. Rudely interrupted. I'm sorry to hear that. We are on our way to have a word with the responsible party, but are not an a terribly tight timeframe. This mystery has me curious. * Elonith steps out from behind Carter, although it's been pretty obvious he's been here the entire time. Mystery? Oh! You mean... my predicament. *she turns to Tobias* What do you mean he wanted them back? Are you a ... psychic? Did you talk to him? He asked me to get the red gem back! No and yes! You're not a psychic, then. *she deflates some.* Why do you need a psychic? * Elonith shrugs. "People are usually stupid enough to tell you what you'd find out anyways." Because I don't remember. Maybe a psychic could ... help. Hm... Elonith, do you think Monica's...abilities...would be able to help her remember? * Elonith hmmms... "Perhaps. But it's up to her if she wants to help, remember?" * Elonith turns to Monica. ( Er, she left already ^^; ) ( Monica tromped off back, I thought. ) ( Went down the stairs, and all that. ) (Oh. Damn.) Um... if we were on Ysfall you could use a mind helmet! ... but we arn't.. ( jnes is still playing, and probably waiting for us to catch up at the tomb ) Well, I say we should check out the scene of the crime. * Kli flutters nervously. "It's bad luck to go there." Miss Kli, would you care to accompany us to the tomb? Perhaps Tobias can call up the ghost again, and we can all get some answers. And we could catch up with Miss Monica. I went there and I'm fine! Luck, shmuck. Let's get going. But.... bad luck can be overcome, right? *looks at Tobias* I... hope so. *flutters more nervously* Miss Kli, if you have been there as the rumors purport, then wouldn't you already have bad luck, and be unable to garner more by a second visit? * Kli looks at Carter. "... I don't know. But I'll.... I'll go." Yey! Lets go!! * Tobias lifts off again, his wings beating so fast they're a blur. * Kli follows suite, going after Tobias. Thank you, ma'am. *heads out, and offers Elo another piggieback ride down before following Tobias to the tomb* * Elonith looks up at Carter and takes the ride. * There's a noticably larger area of avoidance, now that Kli is with you. * Tobias flits to the SHINY thing. * The tomb is SHINY! And it's a sphere. But not overwhelmingly bright. It's got footholds, and a flat platform around it, about a foot wide.There's some writing on it, that none of you recognize, and four gem sockets. 3 of which are occupied. * There's a green, yellow and blue gem present. * Elonith peers at the writing. * Carter does the same. "Okay, Tobias, where's your friend? * Tobias points at the place the head poked out of,"He was right here! Hello? I'm back!!" * The writing is nothing you recognize. There seems to be two different dialects, though. Hey, what's this language? * Elonith points at the writing. * Monica peers at the languages, trying to glean something she can relate to her extensive linguistics history. * Kli looks at it, blinking occasionally. "It's a holy script of Marphas. I don't know much more." * Tobias knockknocks,"Hello? I brought friends!" Marphas? And the Marphas is... Oh, Miss Monica? Can you command someone to remember things they may have forgotten, and have them do so? * Tobias flies around to the other side spouting off hellos and such. I am persuasive, nothing more. Commands are prone to failure. Requests are much more effective. * A ghostly shape peeks out. And immediately tucks back in. Marphas! Who has disrupted the goodwill? * The ghostly figure reemerges, and slides along the surface. "Don't know! Asked him to help." *points at Tobias* Did you find it? Can I rest? * Tobias points,"There he is!! no.. but I found a clue!!" he points at Kli. * Carter bows respectfully to the apparition, and then stares wide-eyed at it, scanning it almost reflexively. * Kli is frozen solid in fear. * Elonith takes all this in stride. Who is it? I don't know this one. Bee-girl is blamed. Paranoia is her only curse. What will befall the thief of your gem? Tobias, can you go get Joshua and the Lancer? * Ghost partially reaches out to touch Kli, but falls short, not able to escape from the sphere. Okay! what do I do there? Fear not, Miss Kli. The apparition seems to bear us no ill will, and regardless is trapped by the surface of the tomb. It cannot harm you. * Ghost retreats back into the sphere, only it's head showing. "Theif ... thief bad! Did you find the theif?" * Carter examines the tomb more closely, running a hand along its surface to see if it is as smooth as it looks. Man, just like a puppy. Tobias, just ask them to come here. Okay! * Kli um... breathes. "You mean.... you haven't seen me? Before?" * Tobias flies away. Marphas, what curse will fall on the thief of the gem? We then only need to find the person suffering such a curse. * Tobias flies to where he last aw Joshua and the Lancer. Curse! *shrivels away into the sphere almost completely* Accumulation of bad karma, until it is returned. * Maleck and Joshua were last at the Inn. Karma? * Monica begins speaking in her native tongue. * Tobias flies there then. If not returned for long enough, is fatal. Karma. It's kind of like your luck 'rating'. Or a goodness rating. If fatal, it continues to grow. The more you good, the better karma you get, and viceversa. I see. Hindu belief system, I believe. *seems to be muttering to himself* Bad curse. (Err, the more you're good.) Yup. * Ghost retreats completely into the sphere * Elonith rolls his eyes. "You want me to start speaking in tounges too?" What did you say to him, Miss Monica? I said what he needed to hear. He was being dodgy. He is perhaps contemplating being helpful now. ...I see. * Kli breathes... more. She almost seems alive again. * Carter pulls a little dried out fruit-like thing from his belt and munches on it. I just hope for all our sakes it doesn't come back to haunt us. Is it gone? My head hurts.... * Monica, Soul roll! * Dicesuke throws the bones for Monica (2d6) and gets 5. Why does thy head hurt, m'lady Kli? Okay Carter. I think we've had enough old english, don't you? Oops, sorry. ^^; I don't know. I've got a headache.... Why do you keep talking like that, anyways. It's not like you're from Mideival Europe. * Monica peers at Kli. "Interesting..." It is proper english, and how the Court speaks. It sort of worked its way down through the Empire. We do speak 'normally' when dealing with non-terrans, usually. I just keep forgetting myself. Sorry. Oh, well, whatever floats your boat, I guess. I'm gonna have to start calling you 'Sir' Loin of Beef if you keep going, though. Loin of Beef? o ( er... o_O ) (Ba-dum ching!) * Elonith shakes his head. "It's no good if someone doesn't get it." ( *doesn't get it any more than Carter does* ) (I choose to ignore that terrible bit ^^;) Excuse me.... My head hurts. (Sirloin of beef. It's a kind of food, you know. :P) (Sirloin of beef) ( ah. *thwap* bad Zeg. ) (It wasn't me! It was Elo!) ( Okay, bad Elo, then. *doublethwap* ) * Kli takes off, slowly. I think it would be safest if you were to stay with us, Kli. Hm... Elonith, do you have any pain reliever she could have? Pain reliever? I don't think so, let me check... Tobias? Miss Monica? I'm in no danger. Every else refuses to go near me or look at me. How am I in any danger? * Elonith fishes thru his backpack, but finds nothing resembling pain reliever. * Monica walks over to Kli to hold her down. * Tobias is not here. Nope. Don't have any. Carter, could you go check out Kli's home? Just to be sure no one is waiting in ambush for her? And be thorough. * The ghost peeks out. "She knows who it is, but she can't remember?" * Elonith waits here. "Carter, tell me if you find anything and need help." * Carter bows to Monica. "Yes, ma'am." *zips off as fast as his gravitics can carry him, senses spread wide* * The ghost almost reaches all the way out of it's sphere. "She saw them. The curse is on her. It spreads?" * Tobias - Joshua is too heavy to fly with. * Elonith sits down. He pulls out something that looks like a mp3 player and a small mircophone thing as well. (there's a way to the sphere w/out flight, right?) ( Nope! ) (ooooo oki.) ( Well, there's jumping from way higher above it. ) * Tobias gets Joshua to pretty close then flies out to the others,"He's over there! Go get him before he gets away!!" ( Hm... and Monica got there somehow. She _does_ have wings! HA! honest... or she's indestructible ) * Joshua is nice and tired. Is content to sit on the wall whence let go of. (I didn't know there was no way there. I guess I had to relent and let Carter carry me.) ( drat. No evil plots within plots there. ) (Now I'm wishing I got a level in flight...) ( What am I, a bus service? ;) ) (... Yes?) (You can fly. And right now, you are searching for the red gem) ( Oh, well then. Exact Change Only, Please ) ( Indeed. ) So, Monica, you say you talked to him? * Carter gets to Kli's house before her, hopefully? (Umm... didn't I restrain Kli?) Talked to who? Marphas? Yeah. What language was that? ( So you tried. Blah. >_< ) I have learned many languages in my travels. Certain ones are more useful in certain situations than others. You're avoiding the question. * Kli is not on her way then. Merely watching Monica with scared-puppy eyes. Too true. * Carter searches the house for interlopers, ambushers, and, erm... "traps", especially red ones. * Endies!