Super Smash Quest² - Story - Chapter 58: Pyramids of Darkness
Date: April 2nd and 4th, 2009.
Metal Man (GM): Last time, the Questers finished a wild, wacky Mario Kart battle; Dragoshi won a coupon for a Kart of his choosing. Which will be sent to him once he mails back a response to the Mushroom Kingdom. Shortly after the race a strange device went off in the ship and sent selected people to a bizarre hallucination, which as of now has faded due to some bizarre property of the gas that caused it. However it can be remembered that Jack did it, since that tag that was thrown into the ocean had it. The group is now at HQ. The mail hasn't quite come yet... hmmmm.
Kenku: *looks over at Digi. "Fine with me calling Robotnik with that over?"
Digifanatic: "Huh... so, nothing interesting that anybody outside wants us to do... No, go ahead. We don't have much else to do and frankly, sitting around isn't always the best thing."
Deloth walks slowly out of one of the living quarters. He's still got a good bit of alcohol in his system from the WTF-tonic he made yesterday.
Aribar sits in the empty library. The mage is paging through his Panel spellbook. One day he'll get this technological spell...*
???: "HEEEEEEEEEY!"
Metal Man (GM): Some weird man runs in from the distance.
Digifanatic: "Huh?"
Metal Man (GM): It's a mail man of some kind.
Mailman: "You have mail!" He flicks two letters in front of the doorstop of the Stadium.
Deloth: "...Who are you supposed to be?" *blinks.*
Mailman: "I am the Mailman!"
Digifanatic: "Oh, okay then..." *walks over and picks them up.*
Dragoshi: *Blinks.*
Mailman: "I run from place to place. I hate this place though. I have to run across the ocean. My winged boots get soggy."
Dragoshi: "...I don't blame you."
Deloth: "...Oh."
Metal Man (GM): He kicks some seaweed off of his boots.
Mailman: "Anyway, I'll be heading off."
Metal Man (GM): His ears are suspiciously pointy...
Digifanatic: "Thanks."
Metal Man (GM): He turns around and runs off real fast. The two letters lay on the doorstep.
Kenku goes to pickup the phone "Anything interesting Digi?"
Deloth: "I don't like him. He's got clipped ears."
Digifanatic: "Well, lessee..." *reads.*
Metal Man (GM): Letter 1: From Jack, to Questers. It's a postcard. 'How'dya like the hallucination gas? I've got more in store for you if you don't pay me back! -Jack' On the postcard is an image of Jack on the Maverick Continent, shaking his fist at Ael, who has... somehow melted his boat.
Digifanatic: *slightly sarcastic.* "Oh well, we get gas masks and dump in into some body of scalding liquids where it'll dissolve without harm..." *reads the other.*
Metal Man (GM): The envelope is scuffed up to the point of nearly being unreadable. Have to open this bizarre all-black envelope to find out what's inside.
Digifanatic: "Wow, they hear of express mail or something?" *opens.* "Unless anyone would like to judge the message by the envelope, I am going in."
Metal Man (GM): The envelope opens up normally enough. However the writing is so strange it takes a while to see what it says...
Deloth: "Just read the letter."
Digifanatic: "Well, a little bit odd..."
Deloth: "Excuse me for a second." *slips off to the bathroom.*
Metal Man (GM): Picking out the writing, Digi sees... 'Hello Questers. I got a chance to write, since this moron decided to go nuts and attack Ael.'
Digifanatic: "Huh." *keeps going on.*
Metal Man (GM): 'I just thought you might find this place useful. I saw it while thoroughly abusing my inter-dimensional status and walking around as a sort of... static being. Considering they managed to understand who I am even then, I think they might help you.' This part's especially messed up. Man, he sucks at drawing.
Deloth comes back in, feeling a bit better after a couple of aspirin. "So who's it from?"
Digifanatic: "Think it's Metal Man."
Dragoshi: "Metal."
Metal Man (GM): It doesn't have a signature, which is strange.
Digifanatic: "Question is, where the heck are we supposed to find a building like this? No address, the quality's kinda cheap..."
Deloth: "So what does he want?"
Digifanatic: "I dunno if it's what Metal wants, but something we'll be able to use otherwise for our advantage, some form or another."
Metal Man (GM): It shows an image of a bunch of old temple buildings laying out to the North of Mario Land. It looks more like a bunch of gibberish though.
Digifanatic: "Oh, it's north of Mario's area..."
Metal Man (GM): http://ssq.metalman88.com/partmap.PNG
Deloth: "So... shall we go?"
Digifanatic: "Considering it's from Metal, it sounds alright."
Kenku: "Definitely something to check out at some point."
Deloth: "How about right now?"
Digifanatic: "Sure. We can take care of Robotnik's things as well. Anybody else have specific things they'd like to announce before we leave?"
Aribar sighs and puts his book down. The half-elf curses Robotnik before heading out of the Library and towards the R&R or wherever the others are.* "Greetings, everyone..."
Deloth: "Hang on a sec." *shuts his eyes.*
Kenku: "I'm just looking for a Shield is all right now... Anything else I'll deal and plan later, and I figure Robotnik is a good place to get one, knowing his badniks."
Deloth: "...Alright, I'm ready."
Kenku: "So yea."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, you're right, Robotnik does love to equip shields."
Deloth: "I had to switch off those pain receptors in my head to get rid of this headache."
Kenku: "Anyway, Lemme make that call, and then Ill be ready to go."
Digifanatic: "Go ahead. We'll be waiting." *heads for the ship.*
Kenku grabs the phone and dials up Robotnik.
Deloth calmly heads out and gets into the ship.
Dr. Robotnik: *Phone.* "Hello... what is it?"
Kenku: "Hey Dr. Robotnik, its Kenku of the Questers. I was wondering if you had a basic type of shield for sale I could possibly purchase?"
Dr. Robotnik: "Not really. If you want to buy a roughly shield piece of metal you can be my guest, but I don't see it helping you too much. So... should I hang up? This phone call isn't free, you know."
Kenku: "I see" Kenku says and thinks for a minute. "Umm... What would it cost to get something crafted?"
Dr. Robotnik: "I don't know, because I don't know what you want. And I'm not a shield maker. Generally when something worries me I make a large mecha and smash it to pieces. Or expendable robots to destroy it for me."
Deloth: "Where IS he?" *drumming his fingers on the seat back.*
Metal Man (GM): Kenku is... taking a while, heh. People in the ship would notice that.
Kenku: "Really? I thought I had heard you had crafted shields many a time for you bots. Ah well..I guess I am mistaken... good bye." and goes to hang up the phone.
Digifanatic: "Well, he's not in a hurry, so nothing's probably bad..."
Dr. Robotnik: "They weren't meant for--" *CLICK.*
Kenku walks to the ship. "Well that was a failed idea... I wonder where else I should check" he says as he steps in.
Digifanatic: "Oh, Robotnik isn't into shields anymore? Odd..." *takes off and goes to Mario Land.*
Kenku: "That or they're part of the structure of the bot themselves."
Digifanatic: "True. Maybe there'll be some place on Continia that can help."
Metal Man (GM): The ship begins flying to Mario Land.
Digifanatic: "One of those tech-savvy continents."
Kenku: "True, probably could also talk to Carrington."
Metal Man (GM): The ship is now on the edge of the Mario continent. There is Mario Land below.
Digifanatic: *lands it somewhere soft and safe.*
Deloth gets out and looks around. "Wonder what Metal wants us for."
Digifanatic: "I'm not even sure if he wants us... He may just be giving us information."
Metal Man (GM): The ship lands at Mario Land. There's a booth, and a Toad in it.
Kenku: "More of he suggested to come here as an ally."
Toad: "Ey, you back for more nonstop fun at Mario Land?" The place is a ghost town.
Digifanatic: *gets out, letter in his pocket, and walks to the Toad booth. Does have a free choice between a Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, or Super Leaf? Kidding on that question.*
Deloth: "...What happened here?"
Aribar: "... How did the fight between Luigi and Waluigi end?"
Digifanatic: "Oh yeah, that... meh."
Dragoshi: "...yeah, I have to wonder that as well."
Digifanatic: "Anyways..." *takes the letter out and shows Toad the odd drawing.* "I know the drawing isn't great, but does this vaguely look like any interesting buildings around here?"
Toad: "Ah... that one, long ago? I walked away, it seemed to be a never-ending draw."
Metal Man (GM): He looks at the picture.
Toad: "What kind of poor drawing is that?"
Digifanatic: "One neither of us drew. A friend sent to us, and it seems like he was in a haste."
Toad: "I mean, sure. If you squint, and stand on your head, and drink gasoline, that might resemble some junk just North of this place. But maybe not."
Digifanatic: "Heh, it was supposed to be north but..."
Deloth: "Thank you for the info." *starts walking north.*
Digifanatic: "I dunno about the gasoline part. Thanks, anyway." *follows Deloth.*
Kenku follows the other two.
Dragoshi: *North!*
Aribar: *Dennis.*
Toad: "It's... a ways North. You sure you don't just want to fly there?"
Deloth: "...Fly. Right. We have a ship."
Toad: "Otherwise you'll have to cross three board games the size of small towns to get there."
Deloth turns back around and gets back into the ship.
Digifanatic: "Oh..."
Aribar: *Ship, then Dennis!*
Digifanatic: *takes it off when everyone gets back on.*
Kenku walks back to the ship.
Metal Man (GM): The group goes to the ship and takes off, heading North. There is a sandy area with some old ruins. Hm. It makes sense. Seemingly.
Digifanatic: *gives it another nice, easy landing.*
Metal Man (GM): The ship lands. In the sand. It's grand. Definitely not bland. Just like the Questers demand.
Kenku steps out.
Deloth gets out and walks up to the ruins.
Digifanatic: *heads out and looks for the area that he hopes matches the intended picture.*
Aribar exits the ship... By using his hand!
Deloth: "...Metal? Hello?"
Kenku: "He's probably not here... it wasn't him we were supposed to me..."
Metal Man (GM): No Metal Man here. Just a leaning, abandoned ruin.
Dragoshi: *Walks over to the ruin. wheeee.*
Deloth walks inside. "I bet he's in here."
Metal Man (GM): The ruin creaks.
Kenku walks towards the entrance of the ruin tapping the sword against the ground in front of him as he walks."
Metal Man (GM): *CLONK* a block falls from the ceiling and breaks. It looks dangerously unstable.
Deloth: "..." *steps back.*
Digifanatic: "Weird..."
Dragoshi: "...Hmm."
Digifanatic: "Let's see... Deloth, Kenku, Aribar, Dragoshi... Well, this may help." *plays some cards and gives each of them a barrier.*
Aribar: "Metal wanted us to come here for a reason..." *The Quester puts his arm above his head and enters the ruins.*
Deloth starts walking in again as well.
Digifanatic: *follows, obviously barrierless due to its limits but hey, he's helping the others.*
Kenku walks ahead, tapping his sword ahead of him as before.
Dragoshi: *Moseys on along.*
Metal Man (GM): *CREAK* *CRACK* *CLONK CLONK* Two more blocks fall in. The floor begins to sag under the weight of the Questers. There is some sort of door on the other side...
Deloth still keeps on walking.
Kenku puts his sword away, and runs for the door.
Metal Man (GM): *CLONK* ...CLONK... CRASSHHHHHHH
Digifanatic: *goes for the door, he hopes.*
Metal Man (GM): A few moments later, the Questers wake up half-underground, buried under blocks.
Deloth: "...Ffffffff."
Metal Man (GM): It's pitch black and apparently the floor was built over some basement.
Deloth: *Well, THAT sobered him up right quick.*
Metal Man (GM): Being quite ancient you just fell right down.
Dragoshi: *...Pulls out his laser sword.* :x
Kenku pulls himself out of the blocks.
Deloth starts trying to dig up and out.
Metal Man (GM): Also, damage to everyone.
Dragoshi: *Time to light up the place!*
Metal Man (GM): It is possible to dig it up. By the light of the laser sword it's clear the Questers are trapped into the basement.
Digifanatic: "If nothing else, you can't say I didn't try..."
Metal Man (GM): The basement has another room ahead. May as well explore while trapped I guess.
Digifanatic: *enters that room.*
Metal Man (GM): It's a finely attired, large room.
Deloth gets up, groans, and then follows Digi through the next door.
Kenku shakes off the sand in his fur and moves ahead.
Metal Man (GM): Outlayed in gold murals of Koopagyptian kings. Images that look like Bowser line the walls, as well as text it is possible to decode.
Deloth: "...The HELL?"
Metal Man (GM): A large, unlit torch stands in the room. There are also some unlit torch holders on the wall. There is also something off about the walls.
Digifanatic: "I guess Bowser's clan had some... interesting backgrounds."
Aribar groans as he slowly gets up and looks about. "Metal's going to slightly pay for this the next time we meet..."
Digifanatic: "Anyone got a good fire projectile?"
Deloth walks over and slaps a Fire ele on the largest torch.
Metal Man (GM): The torch lights up. The flame reaches up into the air. There is a rope above it. *Sizzle.* *SNAP.*
Deloth: *flinches and ducks.*
Metal Man (GM): By the new light there is an elaborate trap was set up here. The snapped rope breaks and releases two pots that were on the ceiling.
Kenku: "Uh oh..."
Metal Man (GM): The pots fall to the ground and cover the ground in oil. ...For a moment, all appears silent, as the torch quietly burns.
Deloth switches to a water Ele and puts out the torch.
Kenku: "SHIT!" Kenku yells and runs for the door as best as he can.
Digifanatic: "Well, at least we tested it from a distance."
Metal Man (GM): Kenku runs outta there. There is a piece of rope hit the floor... FWOOOOSH. The floor catches on fire! The Questers still in the room catch on fire! ...By the light it is possible to see the walls have weird steps in them. As the Questers stand there, sizzling. It is vaguely uncanny.
Deloth: *growls and slaps out the flaming fur.*
Metal Man (GM): Kenku takes no damage.
Kenku: "Looks in, and starts to dump sand over people."
Dragoshi: *Puts it out with a water Ele.* e_e *Or something.*
Digifanatic: *runs out, singed a bit.*
Metal Man (GM): Kenku then saves the Questers from burning to death with some (thankfully available) sand. The water does nothing against the oil. The oil does burn out however, leaving the once splendid room cinged and mucky. It's also a bit dark again.
Deloth: "We're terrible archaeologists..." *tries climbing those steps in the walls.*
Kenku walks towards the stairway.
Dragoshi: *Leaves the room before Del sets off an arrow trap or something.*
Metal Man (GM): The steps are not a trap. However once the Questers hit the ceiling there is a slotted ceiling tile.
Aribar unsheathes Sunlight. "We can just use all of our laser weaponry for light..."
Metal Man (GM): It appears to not open without some special trick. Or something. Who knows what that weird slot in it is for.
Digifanatic looks at the size of the slot...
Metal Man (GM): The mucky room has some images of people burning. The Questers notice them now since that time they were on fire lit them up. The slot is almost large enough to fit fingers in sideways.
Kenku walks back down to the room below and looks for a key or something.
Metal Man (GM): It is rectangular and skinny. Kenku finds a scroll. It was (unfortunately) partially burned. It shows an image of someone sticking a rod into a slotted brick. And some weird, indecipherable text.
Deloth: "...You know what? I'm already beaten up, so..."
Aribar: "You know, I don't feel safe standing next to any of you."
Deloth tries shifting a tentacle to the right shape and jamming that into the slot.
Dragoshi: *Is going to walk out of the room now...*
Metal Man (GM): It fits the slot. The brick feels loose.
Aribar follows Dragoshi.
Metal Man (GM): But a little bit heavy.
Kenku: "Guys I got something... can't read the text... but I think got something."
Deloth: "Hrm..."
Digifanatic: "Hang on, Deloth may have it..."
Deloth steps back a bit and tries wiggling the brick loose.
Metal Man (GM): The block wiggles, but it doesn't fall loose. Not downwards, at least.
Deloth: *tries pushing it up.*
Metal Man (GM): It pushes up, but will take nearly all Deloth's strength to push up.
Digifanatic assists him with this...
Dragoshi: *Decides to watch this off from the side so he doesn't get caught in another mess.*
Digifanatic: *Blah.*
Metal Man (GM): Digi sorta loosely grasps Deloth's ankles and holds onto them.
Kenku: "Ok." Kenku says, and walks up the stairs, and seeing them pushing, help push.
Metal Man (GM): Meanwhile, Deloth shoves the bizarre brick up, revealing a way up. Kenku then falls off the wall-steps and takes damage. There's a room above, which Deloth automatically enters. It's slightly brighter up there.
Digifanatic: "Huh." *walks in.*
Dragoshi: *Walks backs in and sees that Del hasn't activated another trap. So... he moves on up.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers must have gotten turned around--no way it leads to the way they came in from--it'd be outside then. The next room shows several fine statues of ancient Koopa. There's one with a flute. A mural shows weird characters and an image of someone grabbing the flute.
Kenku: "OW!" he says, and gets up. He looks at his nose, and sees its bleeding "Oh great... anyone have a tissue or something?" he says as he holds a hand to his nose.
Metal Man (GM): There's a large stone slab ahead past all the statues that looks like a way ahead, or out. The floor is weirdnesslyish block-filled.
Kenku walks up to join the others.
Digifanatic: *looks at the flute one.*
Metal Man (GM): The ceiling is old and looks a bit cracked. The flute one shows an ancient Mushroom Man grabbing a flute. From the statue. Which is right next to it.
Deloth: "...Oh, no, not a puzzle room." *kneels down and looks at the floor.*
Metal Man (GM): It's all uneven and weird.
Digifanatic: "Well, I'm not going to touch the flute yet..." *looks at the floor for any interesting patterns.*
Metal Man (GM): Nope. All random.
Aribar: "It looks like our choices include grabbing the flute, walking over to the slab, or staying here and starving to death."
Deloth: "...Should I grab the flute?"
Digifanatic: "Well, one of us should, at least."
Aribar stays far back. "Sure."
Deloth: "I elect myself as official trap-tester."
Digifanatic: *keeps his distance.*
Deloth walks over, takes a deep breath, then tries grabbing said flute.
Metal Man (GM): Deloth grabs it no problem.
Deloth: "..."
Metal Man (GM): It's sort of like a Recorder. It is played by blowing into it.
Deloth: "...Well. Time to see if those music lessons ever paid off." *takes the flute and gives it a tweet.*
Metal Man (GM): It plays the Warp Whistle tune, although a bit more ancient-sounding. Then the 6 statues' eyes click.
Deloth: *ducks again out of instinct.*
Metal Man (GM): They then walk off of their pedestals.
Dragoshi: *Just keeps his sword at his side. It isn't raised, though.* :/
Deloth: "...You've got to be kidding me..."
Kenku gets his nose to stop bleeding and looks around the room. "Umm... who's a good music player?"
Metal Man (GM): They stand in the middle of the room. They're Koopa... Brothers of some kind. They open their mouths. FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH. The entire room fills with flame! damage to everyone! ...And if someone doesn't stop them... everyone will be barbequed!
Deloth: "GHHH!"
Kenku: "Uh... Hi..." is all he gets out before hes hit with flame. "Argh! Hey wait! were not here to hurt you!"
Digifanatic: "Uh, some more Water Eles or something?"
Deloth tries flinging another water Ele into one of the statue's mouths. "BACK! BACK, EVIL STATUES! BACK!"
Metal Man (GM): The flames go out for a moment. *Click click click.* *Click click click.*
Dragoshi: *Gets out of the room.
Aribar goes to hide in a corner.*
Kenku ducks and charges to smash a statue.
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi gets out of the room.
Dragoshi: *By going down of course.* e_e
Deloth dives down the hole.
Metal Man (GM): *SMASH.*
Digifanatic: *leaves.*
Metal Man (GM): One of them breaks like pottery. *Click click click.* FWOOOOOSH.
Kenku keeps smashing as he grits his teeth from the flame.
Metal Man (GM): Those who haven't left the room take damage--the corners aren't safe either. Kenku smashes them over and. My computer freaks out. And... FWOOOBOOOOM!
Aribar flees down the steps!
Metal Man (GM): Kenku bravely takes damage as the statues explode on him, and are now dead. The room is now safe.
Deloth: *blinks... no more sounds of flamethrowers...*
Aribar: "WHY did Metal want us to come here?!"
Kenku coughs and does a courage the cowardly dog laugh.
Deloth: "Kenku? You okay?"
Kenku coughs. "Mostly..."
Deloth climbs back up into the room.
Digifanatic: "I have no clue... unless it was someone posing as Metal."
Deloth: "Metal owes us hazard pay big-time for this."
Dragoshi: "..." *Doesn't even say a word.*
Digifanatic: "Anyways..." *next room, if that's okay.*
Dragoshi: *Let's move on.*
Deloth heads over to the stone slab and looks at that.
Metal Man (GM): The room with uneven tiles, cracked ceiling, blocked slab-door and fried statues is strangely empty now. The slab has a mural of a Mushroom Man putting both his hands against it and pushing.
Deloth: *Checks if he still has the flute.*
Metal Man (GM): Yes.
Digifanatic: "Well..." *walks up to the slab, two hands on it, and waits for others to help.*
Kenku goes to help pull.
Deloth tucks the flute into his hyperspace inventory and braces himself on the slab, ready to push.
Dragoshi: *Decides to wait down below in case of another trap.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers do as the mural says. Too bad this is a Koopa shrine. They push/pull on it. It detects the pressure and falls atop Digi, Kenku, and Deloth.
Deloth: "SHI--" *WHAM.*
Metal Man (GM): Pancaking them for damage each. It breaks in the process, revealing it was just a dead end anyway.
Digifanatic: "Aribar... Kinesis next time, please?"
Dragoshi: *Climbs back up.* "...You guys really need to stop falling for obvious traps."
Deloth: "Drag, shut up."
Aribar peeks out from the stairway. "Sure! As long as it doesn't put me in mortal danger."
Metal Man (GM): There is another mural. It shows a Toad running into a wall at top speed.
Deloth: *coughs and crawls out from underneath the slap.*
Digifanatic: "Well, you figure there'd be a break in the action somewhere!"
Kenku: "Sonova!" Kenku yells, looking rather worse for wear.
Dragoshi: "...If you insist."
Deloth looks around for KOOPA murals.
Dragoshi: *Mumbles under his breath.*"But I have a feeling I'm going to be seeing this happening a lot."
Metal Man (GM): Sadly, none are here, except more images of an ancient King Bowser and some weird symbols which look holy. Sunlight from the cracked roof streams in to light the mural.
Digifanatic wonders if there's a certain marking or whatnot that depicts where the Toad runs into.
Deloth: "..."
Aribar looks about the room for any other passages or markings.
Deloth looks upwards at the roof.
Digifanatic: "And if anyone wonders, it's so I'm looking at where NOT to go."
Kenku looks to Ari "Hey Ari, see what happens if you apply something to a holy symbol."
Metal Man (GM): The Toad runs into the wall to the immediate left. There's some weird markings there, too. Deloth would see the roof. It looks brittle and cracked.
Deloth: "Hmm..."
Aribar looks over the holy symbols and would cast Sensory on them to see if he can decipher them.*
Deloth: "If we could bomb open the roof and climb out..."
Digifanatic: "Yeah... and what if something is placed over it that'll drop like a cartoon anvil if we blow it up just right?"
Metal Man (GM): Aribar detects the holy symbols were made with expensive paint.
Deloth: "...Fine, do YOU have any better ideas?"
Metal Man (GM): The roof looks paper thin around the crack.
Digifanatic: "Well... do it from a distance, and be prepared to run."
Aribar: "Everyone back away; I'll bring it down."
Digifanatic: *does so.*
Deloth: *backs away as well. Way away.*
Kenku steps to a corner of the room.
Dragoshi: *Goes back down again. woo.*
Aribar awaits for the others to be safely away before castings Kinesis on the blocks near the cracks in the roof. He attempts to bring them down in a controlled cave in.
Metal Man (GM): The roof breaks open to reveal a nice person-sized hole to the outside.
Deloth: *Checks if he can climb out easily.*
Metal Man (GM): Yeah. It's a tiny jump anyone could do.
Deloth: "Alright, everyone stay back as I screw up yet again." *jumps up and climbs through the hole.*
Metal Man (GM): The Sun itself flies from the sky and attacks Deloth for---no, it's just the roof. Deloth is atop the weird temple. It's a bit shifty up here.
Deloth: *Shifty?*
Metal Man (GM): Yeah. Walk too far away from where Deloth arrived from the room he was in and the floor starts sinking in again.
Deloth looks around. What's around out here?
Aribar follows Deloth up to the surface.
Digifanatic: *climbs out.*
Kenku looks up. "What's up there?"
Metal Man (GM): There is a wide blue sky. And a wide tiled roof that slopes either way.
Deloth: "...Looks like another dead end."
Metal Man (GM): There's a small nest on the edge of the roof. It is huge.
Aribar edges towards the ends of the roof and looks off of the side.
Deloth: "What is the POINT of this place?!"
Digifanatic: "I'm not sure..."
Kenku sighs "I see", and the looks at the mural, and attempts to judge which wall the Toad was running at at charges it shoulder first.
Metal Man (GM): Anywhere except a very small line that leads to the nest seems dangerous to walk down.
Deloth tries stepping very slowly and carefully towards the nest. If the roof starts wobbling, he's stopping and going back to his original position.
Metal Man (GM): Kenku runs into the wall. The wall falls on him. Another trap! Very loud flapping noises occur. A large shadow appears on the roof.
Deloth: *backing away ASAP.*
Digifanatic: *tries to as well, if that doesn't mean he falls through the roof or what.*
Metal Man (GM): A... massive raven lands on the roof and looks at Aribar, then Deloth.
Kenku: "Oh for gosh sakes!" Kenku yells, and looks around.
???: "I see you have come as instructed. Although you foolishly walked into the unstable temple floor."
Metal Man (GM): It's a very loud voice, people not on the roof would hear it echoing.
Deloth: "...Wha?"
Kenku looks up from the mess he made and walks over to the hole.
Raphael: "I am Raphael the raven, the sole inhabitant of these ancient Koopa ruins."
Aribar turns to look up at the bird. He sheaths his sword and wonders if this is who Metal wanted them to see.*
Raphael: "A bizarre staticy man came to me, lost in the desert, lost between dimensions. He said something about you needing... something." He puts a wingtip to his chin. "The desert winds disguised the rest from me. What, then, do you seek?"
Deloth: "Um..." *thinks.* "I... seek to know what I am? Ever since my change, I haven't been sure..."
Aribar: "We are the Questers, and that static man used to be our leader."
Digifanatic: "It might be what we're looking for... That, and a good place to find healing items..."
Raphael: "You are who you believe you are, lost person. Let not a lack of pre-existing words cloud your judgment; you are only what you know you are, nothing more, nothing less."
Kenku: "Or healing magic..."
Deloth: "...Could you put it in a way that's a bit less Zen?"
Digifanatic: "Yeah, like, a species name or something?"
Raphael: "If I told you it outright, you would learn nothing. For in the knowledge of words you would find no meaning. A label is empty."
Deloth: "Try me. I bet I can."
Raphael: "You have already told me the answer, if you seek to know it now."
Aribar just stands there and watches the exchange between Raphael and Deloth.*
Raphael: "For you know, not I."
Deloth: "..."
Aribar: "Apparently, inside of you is the answer, Deloth."
Raphael: "Infinite is the knowledge of the fool. Empty is the knowledge of the wise."
Kenku climbs up on top of the roof, and sees the raven, and quietly says "Wow."
Deloth: "I'm pretty sure I really don't know the answer, thank you."
Raphael: "In not knowing lies the answer."
Deloth: "..." *eye-twitch.*
Digifanatic: "No... we specifically look for concrete details, not philosophical journeys. Thanks but no thanks."
Dragoshi: *Just silently listens to the convo.* .oO(...well, then.)
Deloth: "Alright, you wanna know what I know? Fine. You're a big, juicy, tender bird. I'm a cat that hates Zen philosophies."
Raphael: "Is concrete intelligent? Can cats fly?"
Deloth: "No, but ravens can go die in a fire for all I care."
Aribar: "Deloth, what WOULD you gain in knowing what you are?"
Kenku: "Del... simmer down a little, we don't want to make enemies of allies."
Dragoshi: "Not normally, no. Though, it is possible for both to happen. It just... requires more effort than it's worth, really."
Raphael: "In the fire of wisdom the truth is found. The coldness of concrete, lies are found. Is not life continuous dying?"
Deloth gets his dark sword out, eye twitching madly.
Raphael: "When victory for victory's sake is the only goal, failure is found instead. To heal the wounds you have you must increase your pain."
Metal Man (GM): He points off at the ocean.
Deloth: "JUST TELL ME WHAT THE HELL I AM!"
Raphael: "Across the ocean in a land of evil there is great healing."
Aribar: "Raphael, I must warn you that Deloth... Can get rather testy and stabby when angry."
Raphael: "How can one be tested without becoming testy?"
Dragoshi: "Yeeeaaaahhh..."
Aribar: "What is this land of evil?"
Kenku curiously says "Increase your pain?" and looks over to where Raphael is pointing.
Dragoshi: "That is what I am curious to know of as well."
Digifanatic: "Yes, do you know of its inhabitants?"
Raphael: "It is the land of concrete, of coldness, of fools to knowledge."
Kenku tries to discern what direction the raven is pointing.
Dragoshi: *Pulls out his coupon and checks to see what details he needs to fill out on it while listening to Raphael. Might as well get something done while listening to the giant, intelligent raven.*
Raphael: "In the search for magic they cursed all with wretchedness. Beneath a pipe of utter darkness there lies the path to this land. Or if you fly as I fly then going to the Northeast will bring you to your destination."
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi just needs to fill in a color and engine class (50cc, 100cc, 150cc) and send it in the included envelope.
Kenku: "Does someone have the map?"
Deloth: "Can I just have a species name or do I have to get violent?!"
Raphael: "You yourself told me you were a cat."
Digifanatic: "He doesn't know it for sure. He's simply taking a guess."
Raphael: "Then in not knowing the answer is found. Limited words may fail for something above the absolute."
Deloth sizes up Raphael. He tries to determine if Raphael looks like a tough fight.
Metal Man (GM): He looks large enough to step on Deloth and smash Deloth into a pancake.
Dragoshi: *Pulls out a pen and writes down 'black' for the color and 150cc for the engine class. He puts the coupon away.*
Metal Man (GM): Or alternatively carry Deloth off and drop into the ocean. He's sorta frightening. He is a bird, though. Not like he's covered in armor. And he doesn't have a laser gun.
Deloth: .oO(Control anger... control anger at smart-ass philosophers...) *just sheathes his sword and sits down with a sigh.*
Raphael: "In your eyes I see the hatred of confusion. But you create the mist which you ask for me to remove. Conquer the anger and your mystery shall be revealed to yourself. You are mysterious beings from another place. In the vast nothingness of unknowing you will find all that you seek."
Deloth: "But that makes no SENSE."
Raphael: "To be confined by senses is to become an animal."
Dragoshi: "Just don't think about it too much unless you want your head to explode." :x "That's the way I see it."
Deloth: "Besides, I'm terrible at Zen."
Aribar: "Then become better at it, Deloth."
Raphael: "Use your failing to understand..." He thinks. "...That you can use the dark magic of the concrete fools if you should fail to be senseless."
Deloth: "Isn't dark magic supposed to corrupt your soul? At least, the way I've always heard it."
Raphael: "If you reject the sublime state of knowing nothingness, then you have little other option to your confined self but the magic of concrete, animal beings."
Kenku: "Knowing nothingness?"
Deloth: "...I don't suppose you could take me to that island?"
Raphael: "It is a long explanation, filled with many things you cannot understand. However if you wish to know nothingness I can teach you. Otherwise I will leave you to find the island. The way to the ground is of leaping into the air."
Metal Man (GM): He points to a seemingly deadly gap behind him.
Kenku: "Perhaps another time... The island interests me more..."
Aribar walks over and looks in the gap.
Metal Man (GM): It's a long way down which then leads to the relative safety of the ground.
Deloth: "..."
Metal Man (GM): However it looks like there's nothing between the ground and where Aribar is now.
Deloth: "Bird, if this kills me, I WILL come back and wreak havoc." *takes a deep breath, flexes his claws... and steps off of the edge of the gap.*
Raphael: "It is hard to damage what is already desolate."
Metal Man (GM): Deloth falls down... and lands in the sand, unharmed. But up to his shoulder in sand. A quick jump would get him out of the sand though.
Kenku Leaps into the gap, hurt enough as is.
Metal Man (GM): It's dry sand... powdery.
Deloth: *hops out.*
Metal Man (GM): Kenku does the same.
Kenku shakes the sand off and hops out.
Digifanatic: *follows.* *and jumps out, heading back to the ship.*
Deloth: "...Maybe I do need to start learning Zen." *gets into the ship, brushing the sand off of himself.*
Dragoshi: "...yeah. Perhaps another time." *Casually jumps to his safety!*
Digifanatic: *brushes his sand outside of the ship, but meh, gets in anyways and waits for the other two.*
Metal Man (GM): Where doth thou goest nexteth?
Deloth: "Let's check out that island. I don't think we have any other leads..."
Kenku heads to the ship. "Well... I guess to the isle... unless we want to take a break..."
Digifanatic: "Alright..." *heads over there.*
Metal Man (GM): The ship is on its way to the next destination.
Kenku Says as they fly "Uhh... sorry to ask... but does anyone have a Band-aid they could give me or I could buy off them?"
Deloth: "Sorry, I'm fresh out of healing items."
Aribar: "Sorry, I've never spent even a coin on medical supplies."
Julian: "'nother magic mission... Need to find me some place on this planet that teaches hand-to-hand."'
Kenku: "You got any Julian?"
Metal Man (GM): There is an island up ahead.
Deloth has managed to heal a bit on the ship. Enough to keep from bleeding all over the rich Corinthian leather, at least.
Metal Man (GM): It is wreathed in darkness. Clouds of it. The clouds are magical in nature; indeed, they surround the water around it too. Do you fly into the darkness?
Deloth: "...Dang. He wasn't kidding."
Julian: "...We sure we wanna do this?"
Kenku sees no response from Julian and decides no one has any. "Alrighty then. Just to note guys, I'm gonna try to take it easy... that stupid temple took a lot out of me."
Metal Man (GM): Of course, Schatze is there too.
Deloth: "..."
Schatze: "Hmmm... No wonder why this island never showed up in the satellite photos..."
Digifanatic: "I'm not doing anything til I get as accurate of a vote as possible.":
Deloth: "I REALLY want to see if this place has any info on what I am, but..."
Aribar: "You managed to miss the area wreathed in blacks clouds of darkness?"
Deloth: "I... guess we can put this off if you guys want to." *slumps in his seat.*
Schatze: "It came out as a black spot. I could never get a picture of what was inside it."
Digifanatic: "Understandable..."
Schatze: "I thought it was a speck on the lens."
Digifanatic: "Ari, Julian, your thoughts?"
Schatze: "My scans indicate unstable energy within. If we enter it might be a bit rough."
Julian: "I ain't got nothin' to gain from this."
Schatze: "Of course, you're Questers... so it's up to you, not me."
Kenku: "I'd say we push. I wish I wasn't so bruised, but I say we push."
Aribar: "We're injured, going into uncharted territory, and the island looks dangerous." *The half-elf says this, but not his opinion on the matter.*
Deloth: "Yep..."
Julian: "I'm recommendin' against this."
Deloth: .oO(We were so close. SO DAMN CLOSE TO FINDING OUT...)
Digifanatic: "Okay, I see two and one..."
Kenku: "Why don't we take a quick break at Marios and come back then, it's not like it's gonna move."
Dragoshi: "...yeah. This might be a bad idea. I'd suggest we rest up before even bothering with this."
Digifanatic: "All we need is a good place to buy stuff, heal up, and then head out."
Julian: "Mario's..." *snaps fingers.* "They got a Dojo around the palace. Let's head back to the MK."
Digifanatic: "Sure." *takes it there for now.* "Besides, the Kingdom's got to have a few good stores nearby." *As in, flying it back to the Kingdom.*
Deloth mumbles a bit to himself.
Digifanatic: "Deloth, we're just getting a few things, calm down..."
Julian: "Calm down, freako, we're gonna find out whatever the fuck you are eventually."
Metal Man (GM): The ship begins flying back to the Mushroom Kingdom.
Deloth: *flatly.* "Thank you for your support."
Aribar: "Deloth, would you rather we stumble into another mess half-prepared and half-dead?"
Digifanatic: *Sure.*
Deloth: "No, sorry, I'm just getting fed up with all this. Excuse my aggravated rambling."
Metal Man (GM): The ship lands just outside what should be Toad Town.
Digifanatic: *heads out and starts looking for shops.*
Julian exits, and heads directly for the Kung-Fu district.*
Metal Man (GM): Oh no, not this again: there is the tons of random shops everywhere. The Questers will need a specific idea to find... anything.
Aribar heads to the fortune teller's house. "I'll be back."
Digifanatic: "Okay..."
Kenku steps out and looks around, and sees if he can find an info booth or something.
Digifanatic: *follows Kenku around.*
Deloth just stays in the ship, having only 45 coins and all.
Metal Man (GM): Okay, first up is Julian, who wanders into the Dojo. Several Toads are there, standing around. An older, hunched over man with a cane is among them. They don't notice him since many people just wander in. Apparently.
Julian: "..." .oO(Awkward.) "Yo, I take it this is the dojo?"
Master: "Yes, I am the Master. What knowledge do you seek?"
Julian: "...The knowledge to hit people better, I guess."
Master: "Hmmm." He stares at Julian, approximating in his mind what Julian can and can't do. "You are capable of beginner and middle-tier techniques. What sort of attack do you wish to know? The long-reach snake punch? The flying heel drop?"
Julian: "You got a list? Also, is this shit gonna cost anythin'? I'm kinda runnin' low on funds..." *47 coins? Believe it!*
Master: "A list? ...No, my techniques are mostly kept to myself and those who I choose to teach. I am afraid it will cost some money. Thirty coins per lesson... and of course, you can't learn too many at once without wearing yourself out. I can figure out which technique you need based on what you ask for, however."
Julian: "I'm in need of stoppin' power. I'm fallin' behind in damage wit' my partners. That flyin' heel drop thing sounds coo', whas' that like? I know Garrick had one'a those an' it hurt like a motherfucker."
Master: "Like this."
Metal Man (GM): He gets in a stance. Then leaps high into the air at a punching bag. Then he lands on it with his heel, flips, and lands. The bag bounces.
Master: "It is a medium level technique. For 30 coins I will teach it to you."
Julian: "Hmm... Think I seen one'a my boys do somethin' liike that way back when." *Julian reaches into his equipment bag, produces the 30 coins, and hands it to the old Toad.* "You got yo'self a deal."
Master: "Now, here is the trick."
Metal Man (GM): He points at the bag. then he gets a laser pointer and points at the exact spot.
Master: "The damage comes not from weight alone, although being heavier than me you will have a higher default damage. It is all in picking your target closely."
Metal Man (GM): He turns around and points to a mannequin-style punching bag, which has shoulder, head, etc. He points at places like the head, shoulder, etc.
Master: "Depending on where you hit, and what you attack, you will deal different extra effects, beyond the normal damage, if you aim properly."
Julian watches the tiny man silently, taking this all in.*
Master: "Of course, bad aiming may be worse than none at all, so be careful." He points at, say, the forehead of the guy. "You could just slip off, dealing minor damage and flying on your back or feet painfully. Now I will show you it one more time before I have you try it."
Metal Man (GM): He leaps up, spins again, and aims for the left shoulder. *BONK* He deals damage... but also knocks the mannequin entirely over, making it take more.
Master: "Now. You try."
Metal Man (GM): The mannequin is stood up again.
Julian: "Alright..." *Julian drops low, then charges the mannequin before leaping into the air and trying to bring his heel down like a hammer on to the Mannequin's... head, let's go for the showstopper out of the gate.*
Metal Man (GM): Aaand roll it. *BLAMMO.* Julian hits the mannequin, crushing its head, and then it squeezes back and bounces into a distant corner of the Dojo. Plus if that was a real person it coulda been KO'd (not killed, just KO'd) by that. Of course... these are like, perfect conditions.
Julian snaps his foot back under him quick enough to land on both feet, bends at the knees a few inches to cushion, then stand straight back up, looking at the Master.* "Like that?"
Metal Man (GM): Headshot, instructor standing nearby, against a unmoving object and with the luck of the Gods. The Master bows once.
Master: "You have learned well. Come see me again once you have practiced it more."
Julian: "Can do. Thanks for the help." *Exit!*
Metal Man (GM): Now for the next person in order. Aribar looks for the Rutuer Mupahl. I mean Fortune Teller. Aribar finds it, Merlon's booth is one of the oldest and fanciest here. It is open for business, it is possible to just wander in.
Aribar would enter the booth. The mage has a one-track mind; he knows that the fortune tellers of the Mushroom Kingdom are well-versed in magic. He hopes that they have spellbooks.* "Hello? Is anyone home?"
Metal Man (GM): Suddenly, out of nowhere, a man made of paper flips into Aribar's vision.
Merlon: "Oh. It has been a while since I have seen anyone here. What future shall I find for you?"
Aribar: "I am interested in a future involving procuring some goods; tomes of spells, to be precise. Your reputation as a mage has led me to believe that you may have such objects, and I wonder if you would be willing to let me borrow them in exchange for gold."
Merlon: "Hm... hmmm... hm." He holds a hand to his dark, hard to see chin as he stands behind the crystal ball. "I once had a tall library, but it was lost when Bowser attacked Peach's castle. Goombas burned it to the ground. Even then, I had no use for it, for I could prophesize where the last remaining books went. For a small fee I can find any book you may desire."
Metal Man (GM): He takes out a list. It's as thorough as the one on the site!
Merlon: "Any of these can be found. But some of the more ancient ones... require both more effort to find with my magic... and most likely are owned by powerful sorcerers."
Aribar points to the Minor Heal, Enchant, and Element spells.* "How many coins would be required to locate these three?"
Merlon: "Just know that I will not give up my Divining Rod, for my time for that hasn't come." He holds up a vastly ancient device encrusted in symbols as he points at the spells Aribar has selected and thinks. "Healing of the smallest sort... Enchantment of a medium bent... and Element in its medium power." He calculates. "10... then 30... then 30 more... 70 coins it shall take to locate all three. I would lower my prices, but..." He holds the Divining Rod aloft. "It requires coins as a focus. Oh but if I could remove that limitation, but the only thing which could do that is one of the most difficult things to find, guarded by the most ancient of powers."
Aribar: "And what is that?"
Merlon: "Energia, another legendary power. I have never had enough coins to divine who has it, but my peripheral senses tell me whoever it is would be among the strongest beings in this realm. It would require nearly 200 coins just to find out... let alone how difficult it would be to wrench from the grasp of whoever had it. ...This is also why no one has stolen MY rod either... For you cannot simply steal World-changing objects... they are bound to their owner until you have thoroughly defeated them. Perhaps even killed them. Depending on whether their spirit can bear leaving the object in order to live..."
Aribar frowns and mutters, "I still haven't even gained the power of the Pure Element, let alone that of these spells..."* "I wish I could help you find Energia, but I've only a fourth of the coins needed..."
Merlon: "So... have the coins to find all three books... or shall it be two or one?"
Aribar: "I can only pay for the information on Minor Heal and Enchant, sadly." *would put 30 coins on Merlon's counter.*
Merlon: "Then pay and I shall find... my mistake, it is 40 for both."
Aribar frowns. That would mean that even if he finds the spells, he wouldn't be able to research them. The mage starts to take his coins back, but then decides to pitch in the extra ten.*
Merlon: "Very well." He waves his wand. "Divining rod, find me the books he mentioned."
Metal Man (GM): He taps the table. The coins fly into the air and circle the rod. Eventually, the first image appears. It shows a hospital in the Echidna town on Angel Island. A book with a red cross stands on a shelf. Oooh. It's been so close all this time! Yet so far... The second search appears alongside it. It shows a Dominoes Pizza box. Then it zooms up! Hmmm... it shows a library in a land of darkness. It sits on a shelf... but menacing looking monsters with spears patrol the library it is kept in. Both images appear to magically burn into Aribar's memory before vanishing.
Merlon: "Your books have been found. I am afraid a sadly large number of books are inside that mysterious dark library. I'm surprised we got a clear picture... the darkness is a great magical spell. The person who controls that realm has an artifact of the same class as mine. Beware his wrath."
Aribar would think of that library... he wondered if it looked anything like those clouds of darkness from before.
Metal Man (GM): Yes. It would in fact, in Aribar's mind, swivel around to show darkness and stuff. It's somewhere inside the darkness cloud.
Aribar puts his last two coins on the counter as a tip to Merlon, mutters numerous thank-yous, and casts Rejoin to get back to the ship.
Metal Man (GM): Next up... Digi and Kenku. They wander around and find a booth labeled 'info.' A toad with a long mustache and 1900s period clothing is behind it.
Digifanatic: "Hello. Do you know of any good stores around here, sir?"
Weird. O: "Hello hello, and who are you two boys and girls? I can find anything you want... any shop... just five coins a shop! And I can change your strengths with my friend Rip Cheato! Just tell me what you want and we can get started. If you have the cash."
Digifanatic: "We don't want any particular items, just looking for the locations of some stores. Something that'll sell things like, uh, Mushrooms and such?"
Weird. O: "Mushrooms. Of course. Just give me 5 coins and BAM! You will be there!"
Kenku: "I'm looking for some healing items, and a armor and shield shop" Kenku says as he readies to put out 10 coins.
Weird. O: "That's three different shops, my friend. Do you have 15 coins? Oh. You want mushrooms too."
Metal Man (GM): He points to Digi.
Digifanatic: "I have my five."
Weird. O: "Five more coins my friend then!"
Digifanatic: *gives his five.*
Kenku: "Just Shields and Healing items then" passing 10 coins.
Weird. O: "Mushroom shop, coming right up!" *BOOM* In the smoke of a smokebomb, the two Questers appear inside a shop where every mushroom ever made is for sale.
Metal Man (GM): A weird looking Toad is behind the counter, eating mushrooms. Cannibalism?!
Mush: "Mmm... mmph..." He eats some bizarre rainbow ones. His eyes flash like a Starman. "Hello."
Digifanatic: "Hi. We're taking a look around..."
Mush: "Okay then... all five of you. Talking couches... raaadical."
Metal Man (GM): There is mushrooms of every kind.
Digifanatic: *Well, he looks for descriptions... maybe Super Shrooms--the Paper Mario kind--or Ultras.*
Metal Man (GM): There is, in a semi-neglected section... 'Mush' - 10 coins (Heals 22 HP) 'Mushroom' - 20 coins (Heals 66 HP) 'Mushroooom' - 40 coins (Heals 188 HP) 'Mushroooooom' - 50 coins (Heals all HP) 'Master Mushroom' - 100 coins (REVIVES PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD)
Kenku looks at Digi. "Can you spot me 20?"
Digifanatic: "Yeah, I believe so. What are you looking at?"
Kenku: "A mushroom. Just need something to recharge myself when I'm in dire straights."
Digifanatic: "Ah." *hands him 20.*
Metal Man (GM): On the other side of the aisle, there is... more mushrooms.
Kenku says thanks and takes the coins and the mushroom to the shop owner.
Digifanatic: *turns the corner for the heck of it.*
Metal Man (GM): 'Gabba Mushroom' - 33 coins (Hear strange pounding noises, damage doubled, damage taken double) 'Metal Mushroom' - 33 coins (Become coated with metal; take half damage, but be hit by everything) 'Flying Mushroom' - 33 coins (Grow wings and fly for a short period of time) 'Bob-ombshroom' - 66 coins (Grow twice as tall and be able to breathe bob-ombs at people!!!) 'PARANOiA EViL Mushroom' - 99 coins (God only knows) These ones all pulse and glow and shine sinisterly.
Digifanatic slowly walks away and heads back for the healing Mushrooms.
Kenku gets a "Mushroom."
Metal Man (GM): Kenku gets the normal mushroom.
Digifanatic: "Hmm..." *buys 3 normal Mushrooms and two Mushs.*
Kenku puts it away for now, figuring he will get some rest before journeying out again.
Digifanatic: *80 coins well spent.*
Metal Man (GM): Make sure to count the coins spent. Now... the next store appears! In a poof of smoke! There's a shield store. A Toad idly stares at the wall in the store with shields. Shields line the place. He looks at the Questers.
Shield T.: "What's up, mysterious smokebomb-using weirdoes?"
Kenku: "Hi" Kenku says "I was wondering what you had for a basic lightweight shield."
Shield T.: "Well, first... you have a free hand when you fight, right? You can't do two-handed things with a shield. Second thing is shields require your work to make useful. So if you have one, it isn't so much the shield alloy, as long as you're not fighting a radioactive acid breathing fire lizard. Plain old shield is 35 coins."
Kenku: "I see... and yes I use a 1 handed longsword, so I have a free hand." *thinks for a moment, and passes him the coins.*
Metal Man (GM): He gives Kenku the shield. *Zelda item get music.*
Shield T.: "Be sure to come back later when you have more money. Heh heh--"
Metal Man (GM): *POOF.* The Questers are suddenly in... the next store! They appear in an armor shop.
Kenku hefts it and moves it a little before saying "Thanks", and then wonders where they are.
Metal Man (GM): It has lots of armor laying around. Having no money, Kenku and co. leave, then meet back up at the ship.
Deloth: "All done?"
Digifanatic: "Yeah. Now who thinks they're in serious need of healing?"
Dragoshi: *Is snoozing in the ship. Yeah.* >_>
Deloth: "I'm still pretty sliced up, if that counts." *takes out the flute he grabbed--if he still has it--and idly looks it over.*
Kenku: "I could but that's what I got the mushroom for."
Aribar: "As long as I stick towards the back of our group, I shouldn't be in dire need of healing."
Kenku: "So were going out now, or getting some rest?"
Metal Man (GM): The flute is mostly a rock recorder. So...
Julian: "I'm ready to go, I dunno 'bout y'all."
Aribar: "I've learned that there is a library filled with spellbooks in that dark land. We're going."
Deloth: "...Think someone'll buy this thing?"
Digifanatic: "Ah."
Julian: "I wouldn't."
Dragoshi: "...I say we get some rest."
Digifanatic: "Seriously though, Deloth? Aribar? Julian? Want a Mushroom or something?"
Julian: "I'll take 'em if yo're jus' givin' 'em out?"
Metal Man (GM): It's a hunk of rock.
Deloth: "If I can get a heal, I should be ready. I really want to go today..."
Digifanatic: "Ah... Well, we'll manage all of this when we land. For now though..." *pilots it off the ground.* "Let's take care of this."
Kenku: "I'm fine with either."
Digifanatic: *Pilots to the island.*
Schatze: "I see you are prepared for... something."
Metal Man (GM): He stands to the side as the Questers approach the nasty island again.
Kenku eats the mushroom he purchased.
Metal Man (GM): The ship is on the fringe.
Julian: "Whatever it is."
Kenku: "I would just use the weapons sensors or something."
Digifanatic: "Ah. If you want the other seat, go for it."
Metal Man (GM): Well, once the ship fly through the mist it becomes clear. The sky is just tinged with darkness. The Questers feel like they just entered a gritty next-gen game.
Deloth: *tucks the flute back into his hyperspace pocket.* "Yeesh. This place is depressing."
Metal Man (GM): There is a beach.
Julian: "It's a whole island of darkness, 'course it is."
Digifanatic: *Lands on the beach.*
Metal Man (GM): Can't see much from inside the ship.
Julian: "...welp, guess this is it."
Deloth calmly opens the door and gets out, looking around.
Kenku follows Del out.
Digifanatic: *gets out and takes a walk around.*
Dragoshi: *Gets out of ze ship.*
Metal Man (GM): Man, the air burns a little. There's a forest up ahead. Two freaky things wearing freaky masks crawl around near it.
Julian: *Exit.*
Kenku doesn't like the feeling in the air, and pulls his shirt up, before seeing the masks.
Digifanatic: "Hmm..."
Deloth: *switches to non-breathing mode and ducks down, trying to catch a glimpse of the... things.*
Digifanatic continues onward. There doesn't seem to be much elsewhere to go.
Metal Man (GM): They look like... weird... long armed freaks. They have stone masks with a bunch of little engravings on them.
Julian: "Hate this place already." *Julian reaches into his equipment bag as he steps off the ship, pulling out the Egg Smasher to light their way.*
Metal Man (GM): They turn around, noticing the ship. They make bizarre, unearthly noises. Then slowly begin walking towards the Questers on all fours.
Kenku pulls his sword and shield, and prepares for an oncoming attack.
Deloth takes out his laser sword and sword of darkness.
Aribar unsheathes Sunlight and exits drops down into a defensive stance. He doesn't feel very diplomatic today.
Julian: "...You think that darkness sword's really gonna do any good here?"
Metal Man (GM): !!! Deloth takes out the sword of darkness. They stop about 10 feet away from you. Then kneel to Deloth.
Julian: "... Maybe it is."
Metal Man (GM): They also stare at Aribar and hiss at him.
Julian: "Ari, put Sunlight away. Del? You're takin' point."
Deloth: "...Wow. I've never been kneeled to before."
Aribar sheaths Sunlight. He knows the value of not being the hated and chewy half-elf of the group in a foreign land.
Metal Man (GM): He had the Darkness sword made with an odd crystal he found around and a magi-technology energy thing. The masked beings wait for Deloth to make something remotely resembling a command.
Dragoshi: *Just stands behind Del, staring at the beings.*
Julian: "Tell 'em to lead us to... wherever."
Deloth: "Uh... take me to the source of magic on this island."
Aribar: .oO(Deloth, I love you.)
Metal Man (GM): They turn around and begin crawling towards the forest.
Deloth follows, sword out.
Metal Man (GM): For being weird freaks, they move about the same speed the Questers do. Probably so they don't leave the Questers in the dust.
Kenku follows slowly behind Del, putting his sword away.
Deloth: "...Right, Ari, thank you for that."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers begin walking through the forest.
Aribar follows.
Julian: "Follow the freaks'!" *Followin'.*
Metal Man (GM): Weird, almost surreal bats fly from the trees. Then they see Deloth's blade and fly away.
Dragoshi: *Follows them along.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers take a bizarre, gnarled path through the forest. They then suddenly stop at a part of the trail which looks normal.
Digifanatic: *follows.*
Metal Man (GM): Then turn to the left into the woods, off the path. Good thing they have bizarre freaks for trail guides, I guess.
Deloth: *continues following the freakazoids off the path.*
Kenku follows shield in hand.
Deloth: "This had better not be a trick..."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk a weird roundabout path and reach the path again. There is something behind the Questers--that path they wandered away from was actually a pit full of spikes! Weird. They then wander out of the forest, into... a ruined town.
Kenku: "There must be some strong illusion magics here..."
Metal Man (GM): First thing there is is pretty freaky.
Deloth continues following, darkness sword resting on his shoulder.
Metal Man (GM): An oversized telephone receiver, 50's style, embedded into the ground.
Deloth: "...People lived here?"
Metal Man (GM): Made of wood.
Julian: "... And they had a phone."
Kenku decides to walk over carefully an pick up the phone.
Deloth just shakes his head and keeps walking.
Metal Man (GM): It's a primitively made, almost medieval image of one. There is another house just up ahead. The freaks go to the left, walking through what appears to be a fence, but isn't one.
Julian: "...Fake fence. Coo'." *Follow... THE FREAAAAAKS!*
Deloth steps through the illus-o-fence and follows them to the left.
Aribar would follow the freaks, but he makes sure that he is close to Deloth, and his sword is ready to be drawn, just in case they attack.
Metal Man (GM): To the left... they stop in front of a weird building with a book symbol.
Kenku puts it down and catches up with the others.
Metal Man (GM): They then stand on either side of the door to it.
Digifanatic: *to the left to the left...*
Metal Man (GM): The door opens for the Questers.
Deloth: "Thank you." *steps in.*
Kenku tries to follow Del.
Digifanatic: *opens.*
Julian: *Waits for everyone who's actually interested in the magic to go in before he heads in as well.*
Digifanatic: *enters.**
Aribar hastens inside.*
Metal Man (GM): The Quester walks inside. It's an old library, with two shelves. However, instead of pikemen... there's a freak wearing a metal chameleon helmet.
Dragoshi: *Enters.*
Kenku blinks "Uh... hello."
Dragoshi: *:psyduck:.*
Metal Man (GM): He makes a weird screeching noise, as the Questers surprise him.
Rinith: ...
Julian: "...Yo. Don't mind us."
Dragoshi: "...hello there."
Deloth winces at the sound. Ow, his eardrums!
Kenku Grimaces and drops his shield holding his ears down.
Aribar would go over and grab the closest book and open it up to see what is inside.*
???: "Who are you... and what are you doing... in my Kingdom."
Metal Man (GM): He speaks this strangely flatly. He stares at Deloth's sword. it is possible to almost feel the greed.
Julian: "I'm escortin' these suckas. They're here for the books."
???: "Books... my... books... they are all mine."
Kenku releases his ears "We are the Questers. We came seeking knowledge on the advice of a friend..."
Julian: "Can we borrow 'em?"
Aribar pages through the book, oblivious to his surroundings.*
Deloth: "...Incidentally, have you seen any other people that look like me?"
???: "I do not need coins. But... dark sword... yes! Heheehahahaheheehehe... give me the sword... borrow three books... for as long as you waaant... There is only one person with an unusual dark sword... you... I... heheaAHAHAhahaha... have none either."
Deloth cautiously rests his sword on a shoulder, popping a tentacle and holding onto it with that as well as with his hand.
Kenku looks to Del "Your call there... its your weapon."
???: "Live in the twilight... relish the darkness... but I do not... heheha... have... hehave... the sword... the magnificent sword you have..."
Julian: "...You got some kinda speech impediment or somethin', pal? Get a little too much laughin' gas in yo' system 'fore we got here?"
Deloth: "...I'm sorry, but I really went through a lot of trouble to get this in the first place. No."
???: "Hehehe... hehehehahaahaha... no... no... I have just never seen such... magnificence..." He reaches at the sword, then stops himself.
Deloth: "This is my blade of havoc-wreaking and I'd feel awfully empty without it."
???: "Well... weell... I guess... if you don't want to... then you won't have any books... hehe..."
Metal Man (GM): He idly flips through a Dire Element book.
???: "I must admit... fetching them from... from the fire... with my spells... was... hehehard..."
Kenku: "Fire?"
???: "If I did not hehave them... I might have killed you for the sword... but... I need no... sword... with them..."
Deloth chews on his lip at the selection of magical tomes. It's... tempting... "What do you plan to do with this sword, anyways?"
Julian: "You really got ask that? Look at 'em, Del."
Aribar tries to think of a plan to procure as many of these books as possible...*
???: "A proper focus... for dark energy... my minions would do everything I said... instead of half of everything I said..."
Julian: "Sucka is 100% Grade-A Crazy. What you THINK he's gonna do with it?"
???: "I could... hehehehe... GHEHEHEHEH... do anything I waanted..."
Julian: "See?!"
Kenku: "And what do you want to do?"
Deloth: "Yeah, that bumps my 'no' up to a 'hell no'."
???: "Darkness... everywhere... entire world... my playground... heheheheheee..."
Digifanatic: "It's not necessary. You could find other spells in other places."
Metal Man (GM): He then looks at Aribar.
???: "Hehehehe... want... the spells... want them... do you? You... look strong..."
Deloth: *grips the sword with another tentacle. That's two of those and one hand, juuuust in case he tries a smash and grab for it.*
Aribar looks up. "I would like to know how you acquired the books in this library."
???: "Death... killing... violence... theft... So many... delicious! ...lives snuffed... They will pay... all of them pay... money is no longer valuable... blood... the blood will pay for how my power was destroyed... You... look... strong... help me... and I will... hehehehelp you..."
Rinith: =/
Julian: "..."
???: "I am... very smart... I do not... attack... hehehehe... people who pose no threat to me, see?"
Julian: "Yeah, no."
Digifanatic: "I'm ready to move on."
Aribar would attempt to subtly cast a Sensory spell to detect how much magical power surrounds this figure.
???: "So you may... hehehe... come back... walk all you want... but do not lose the... hehehe... dark sword..."
Metal Man (GM): GAH! Aribar... senses immense power... he has an Antimatter beam up his sleeve! ...No wonder why he walks around like that. He's got an overly huge helmet on his head and a powerful spell in his sleeve. Must take everything he's got not to just fall over.
Rinith: ...
Julian: "So we're not dealin' with this guy? Fine, let's get outta this dump."
???: "Oh... you are a mage... hehehehehe... yes... I have a lot of things... but I only take payment in deaths... hehehehe..."
Deloth: "Well, since you don't seem to have any info on my species, I think it's time we make our leave."
Aribar: "Exactly what would you want me to do in exchange for a spellbook?"
Rinith: ... "Wait what?"
???: "D... d..." He cackles. "Death of... HYRULE ROYAL FAMILY!!!... Hehehehehe..."
Deloth starts backing out of the room. Slowly.
Digifanatic: *starts to walk out.*
Julian: "I'm out." *Julian... LEAVES!*
Rinith: <-.->
Dragoshi: *Just... decides to GTFO. Like... now.*
Kenku sees the others step out and follows quickly. "So much for that..."
Aribar raises an eyebrow while trying to hide a shiver as he recalls his past transgressions against Hyrule... "What connection do you have with Hyrule?"
Metal Man (GM): Right now? He's so comfortable with his status he doesn't even bother to hide he's got an uberweapon in his sleeve.
Deloth: *still keeping a deathgrip on that dark sword, BTW.*
???: "H-h... Hyrule... I h-hate it... the people there... were once my slaves..."
Rinith: *Walks off, not knowing who that family is, does not seem as surprised.*
???: "The... H-hero killed me... the royal family... has a... spell! Foiled my... plan... Not even my God... could kill them..." He weeps silently. "H-hate... HATE them all... they... must be somewhere... SOMEWHERE on... this planet... they must... d-d-d-DIE... but... I cannot leave this... darkness... and you will not give me... the p-portable darkness... so I stay here..."
Deloth: *Outta there by now.*
Metal Man (GM): He doesn't notice the others leaving. Or really care. With Deloth's sword nearby, they are safe.
???: "I... see your friends have no interest. But you stay. Perhaps... you still seek spells?"
Aribar sighs. The half-elf is close to an endless spring of magical knowledge, but so far away! He puts the book he was looking at back on the shelf and casts Rejoin.
???: "See you... next time! Hehehehe... hehehaHAHahahaha..."
Metal Man (GM): Aribar hears that screech again as the group wanders out. The group is outside. There's a house they haven't entered yet. Or do they choose to go back to the beach?
Digifanatic: *next house.*
Aribar: .oO(I may want to master the magic of this world, but I've fallen into such darkness one too many times...)
Dragoshi: *Might as well check it out.*
Deloth: *...house, I guess. But I've still kept that sword close.*
Kenku follows the others.
Julian: *whatev.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers head to the house. There's two ghost like people in it. A weird fat man with a large nose is inside.
Kenku stays back for the moment.
Julian: "..."
Deloth: "...What the..."
Metal Man (GM): He motions for the Questers to enter. He seems in a rather bad state.
Digifanatic: *walks in.*
Rinith: "Welcome ba-- hm."
Julian looks around suspiciously before heading in.*
Deloth steps in slowly.
Tarin: "Finally! Someone! I keep fighting off these freaks from my house! Ever since this darkness came here... Gah! Er. I'm Tarin." He goes to shake Deloth's hand. His hand passes through Deloth. "GAH! Curse this Dark World!"
Digifanatic: "Hi."
Kenku: "Er... Hi... what is this place exactly if I may ask?"
Julian: "'Sup. Dark World. Duh."
Kenku: "Actually I was wondering if I could get a bit more clarity."
Julian: "A world, that's dark. What, you got wax in yo' ears?"
Deloth: "So, uh... can we assist?"
Tarin: "This... was once the Dream of the Wind Fish. When the dream ended, we wound up here. Then this weird man cursed it into darkness. ...I don't know. The Dark man is virtually unstoppable."
Kenku: "The dream of the wind fish?"
Tarin: "Really, if I could just get out of here it would be good."
Julian: "We figured... An' I don't think we could move you. You're kinda... a ghost."
Tarin: "We can figure out how to destroy him when he's not just down the way from us. ..." He laughs. "Why don't you look at yourselves?"
Kenku blinks and looks.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers look ghostly here, too.
Deloth: "...Huh?"
Rinith: feels oddly at home in the "Dark world" or at least a lot more calm.
Tarin: "Everything that isn't dark looks like that here."
Julian: "...Well I'll be damned. C'mon, then."
Deloth glances down at himself.
Digifanatic: *takes a look.*
Julian: "Let's get the fuck outta here, don't wanna be here any more than I have to."
Tarin: "You've only been here for a moment, so... you're only slightly ghostly. Me, well... any longer and I'd have vanished."
Kenku interesting... must be the affects of the place "Hopefully the ship is incorporeal as we are."
Deloth blinks at his new translucent-ish look.
Tarin: "Marin, let's get out of here."
Dragoshi: "...yeah, let's just get out of here."
Julian: "Well come the fuck on, then!" *Back to the ship!*
Marin: "Huh? ...Yes." His daughter follows him as the Questers go to leave.
Kenku: "Uh... that's not good... we better fly out..."
Digifanatic: *starts to run back to the ship.*
Aribar trudges back to the ship..*
Metal Man (GM): The Masked Freaks appear to be busy waiting for their OTHER master, so I doubt the Questers would get them to help.
Kenku turns towards the ship and runs off at full force.
Rinith: *walks back.* "I wonder... how my light and dark energies are effected here..."
Deloth: "Yeah, let's go." *starts walking back to the ship, following the path they took before.* "Dunno. C'mon, c'mon, no time to lose."
Dragoshi: *Just runs along after the others.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers run to the ship. A friendly owl flies towards the Questers--OH GOD ITS HEAD IS SOME FREAKISH PURPLE CONE ABOMINATION GET IN THE CAR.
Digifanatic: *What the? Oh well, he gets in there anyways.*
Deloth yelps and dives into the ship.
Dragoshi: *GETS IN THE SHIP.*
Aribar: */followanddon'tgeteatenbyowlthatneverstopstalking.exe.*
Kenku leaps in the ship and gets strapped into the weapons setup.
Julian: *Into the ship!*
Rinith leaps in to the ship then. -.-
Deloth motions for Tarin and Marin to get in, like, now.
Metal Man (GM): And now that the Questers will probably never see it again, here's what the masked freak looked like. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zelda_-_Twilight_Princess_-_Twilight_Realm.jpg.
Kenku gives a sigh of relief as they read the clouds.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers escape the gritty darkness.
Deloth flops down on his seat, laying the dark sword on his lap. "Well, information-wise, that was a bust."
Digifanatic: "If there's someone else in this area we can go to, it's not over yet."
Julian: "Anything else you suckas wanna get done, or should we just head back to the Stadium?"
Digifanatic: somewhere.*
Kenku: "Yea... but we might have gotten some allies..." he looks at the Marin and Tarin "You guys okay?"
Aribar: "It gave proof that Hyrule might exist in this world. It also gives us the location of a vast library filled with many spellbooks."
Deloth: "Yeah, but what about ME?"
Julian: "What ABOUT you?"
Digifanatic: "Like I said, let me get this thing up to altitude and see if we can go someplace else." *takes off.*
Deloth: "...Fly back to the ruins, I'm going to give that bird a piece of my mind."
Metal Man (GM): They're in the ship. But, exhausted by the return to fleshy state, pass out.
Digifanatic: "Deloth, you don't want me to cruise around and look for someplace less freaky?"
Rinith: ... "While you guys do all that... I want to study the effects that the darkness is having there..."
Kenku smiles, seeing that's all. "Looks like were going to ask someone to house them or something when we get back... I still wonder about what Tarin said, about the dream..."
Deloth: "No. We're not going back."
Digifanatic: "Alright..." *pulls it out of the darkness and drives it back to the ruins.*
Kenku: "I said when... where to now then?"
Digifanatic: "Deloth wants the ruins and Julian just wants out."
Deloth: *said that to Rinith.*
Kenku: "I'd be fine with exploring more, or getting another mission."
Deloth: "If you can, land it on the roof because my patience with those traps is beginning to run out."
Kenku: "And earn some more cash."
Dragoshi: "Personally I think we should just go back to the stadium and rest already."
Julian: "That's what I fuckin' said! But Del's pissed off at whatever and now we're headin' somewhere to take care of it."
Digifanatic: *sighs.* "Deloth, I'm sorry but this time you seem to be outnumbered. I can drop them off if it's necessary."
Deloth: "Oh, fine, you bunch of pansies."
Digifanatic: "And still bring you to the ruins."
Kenku: "This is also true, its been a long day, and our new passengers are pooped out more than us..."
Marin: "Zzzz..."
Digifanatic: "Let them take Tarin and Marin into the Stadium, I'll help you sort things out with Raphael."
Deloth: "No, no, let's just go home. ...Fine."
Digifanatic: *starts to fly back to the Stadium as the first stop.*