Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

The local tavern of Astral city works with citizens to find work within the community. Citizens are offered one free drink per day and the rest can be paid with missions to the forest. Use the tavern to find friends and take on fun missions
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Flux
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Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

Post by Flux »

In the Brush of forest that surrounded the place the very air and space seemed it be rippling. Like water it rippled before a slit of violet light separated and created what looked to be some kind of portal. Through the slit it space and arm would reach out. A kitten would run out from the light as well down the arm and sat in the palm of the beings hand. A few breathes later and a cloaked figure would emerge from the very same light. It's headdress ordained with sapphires and amethyst crystals.. The being would take a few steps forward before taking it's free hand to remove it's hood revealing a head of pitch black hair. Eyes that pierced the darkness gleaming with light green appeal. It was Flux. "Oh Vas, sugar. You really gotta stop scampering off like that. You'll give mommy a heart attack." The last time he went off she got hitched on some crazy mission and almost got eaten by a Horseman. The wandering astral witch had been laying low for quite sometime since then. Hidden within the confines of many ruin in order to learn more of this world, and learned she had. Which brought her here through space to the Lonely Stone. A contact of hers was to rendezvous with her here to discuss something that Flux had been investigating. The origin of her father. The little cub would hop from her hand to her shoulder. She exhaled a deep breathe. She had been on the go so much she rarely took that time to rest comfortably. She had been chasing, searching, clawing for truth. To understand just what it was she was meant to do. Just who was she supposed to be. As such a low born being, what was she to inherit what will did she posses.

Who

Was

She?

We

"Huh? She thought she'd heard a voice. There was no one around her though and she was still a ways away from the tavern. She looked to Vas, had he chimed in via telepathy? She gazed at him curiously and the wide eyed cub tilted his head as he looked with a mirroring puzzled look. He was still just a baby familiar. At most he served as an amplification for her mantra, the catalyst of her source manifestation. Whelp, fuck it. It could've also just been a lingering thought trace from the ruins she picked through the other day. Sometimes it happens. Lingering consciousness trying to tether to something tangible. She pressed on. Making her way through the thickets of trees and bushes as little animals scurried off. Her eyes locked onto the Tavern she spotted a couple people outside. Two humans and a beastling. Creatures born in numerous environments. Pure descendants of various elven beings of the second turn. The physically manifestation of consciousness and naten. She has studied the origin of their race for a few decades. She is such an endearing lover and protector of animals. To meat descendants of now worshiped deities of nature and progression; Evolution. She has even spoken to one such being before. Many moons ago.We should go Vas. Don't want to keep our company waiting." She said with a smirk. She was nervous, she couldn't shake the foreboding thoughts of some form of impending doom. What she was dealing with was old older than all of the lore she had learned about. So the holder of anything pertaining to it must've found something from a similar age. She would soon find out as she reached the doors. Waving hi to the people around her before entering, steeling her resolve. She had come this far, from here on out there would be no turning back for the young Drachiot.
Last edited by Flux on Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Flux
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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

Post by Flux »

"Hey you sit the fuck down ya frigin blarg head"

A woman with a handful of trays and a large kitchen knife exclaimed to a guy who had bout the largest tanker of ale she'd ever seen. The lummox of a man tip and tapped about the space clinkering into just about every man or woman in his path. He slumped over the counter space his eyes reflecting some daring ass energy as hed the nerve to pucker up his lips to her.

"Awe come on sweet thang don't be acting all funny like. Me and my boys are lookin fer fun not trouble"

Here eyes lit up in complete disgust and anger as her fist swiftly and powerfully made its was into the mouth of the man. The impact, brazen in it's coming sent him spiraling into a wall. Damn...this chick was strong. Flux would wince in empathetic pain as he collided with the wall. The patrons of the Tavern began laughing with great enthusiasm.

"Got damn bottom feeder you aint worth the salt on yah shoulders. Don't be coming in here fucking up my floors. Take yah drunk ass on somewhere else if you've not the coin to pay for the damages!"

Her fist smoking from the force of impact. The guys homies ran over to his side. catering to their hurt friends wounds. A user of healing magic was amongst them. Yet by the very nonchalant disputation the healer displayed. This was the first time he'd have helped this numb nuts out. Flux made her way deeper in. She was met by the barkeep/ bouncer her. "Damn Vana, you haven't changed a bit. Still throwing hands with men I see." Vana gazed upon Flux with a smug and triumphant face.

"Of course" This place aint gone keep it self in line, One sec"

She said as she went in the back. After a couple clanks of metal she came back with a bottle of wine. Flux eyes were flushed with joy. So to were Vas's. God it had been so long at least four years now since she had a sip of wine let alone her favorite kind!"Eeeeek! Vana holy crap"! Flux's hands started grubbily reaching for the bottle. Vana would smile before flickering Flux in the forehead. She retracted in pain as she found a stool at the bar. Rubbing her forehead with her lip poked out."Ouch, what the hell was that for?" she inquired.

"Easy, Aren't yah gonna say thank you? It's been sitting in that there cooler for about 3 years now. Not a sips been taken."

She was practically fawning over it at this point. She even pawed at the bottle like a cat. Vas even did the same. She sighed "Ok ok Thank you Vana! You're the best. Now hurry up girl open that shit up!" A light chuckle as Vana did just that. Her hand holding the bottle glowed for a moment before the cork popped out the bottle and hit the guy from earlier right in the forehead as he was just getting up knocking him back unconscious. Vana would quietly mouth she was sorry to the healer who at this point was about to say fuck it and let the guy stay that way. He though gave in and started the healing spell over.

"So Flux, Mother only knows what brought cha back to The Lonely Stone after all this time. Been to any good spots lately?"

She asked as Flux watched her drizzle the wonder fluid into a finely crafted white glass Vana had made various sets using different minerals and stones as bases. It was her magic after all. Though she did not directly belong to a coven her hobble served as a cornerstone of intel gathering.

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Koudo Zhol Omawynn
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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

Post by Koudo Zhol Omawynn »

Rhem... Rhum... Touq... Uem. Again.

Rhem... Rhum...


The journey through the Astral Alps wasn't quite as pleasant as the trek through the Hyperion Mountains that housed the secret entrance to the Obsidian Labyrinth. Firstly, The Dragon didn't have his Pearl and that alone made the trip worse than any travel he'd experience before. Odea had been at his side for longer than he could remember. A constant companion through his journey to adulthood. With her gone, Masur felt lost in the world again; Suspicious and weakened.

Worse still, his suffering was more than mental. Metaphysically, too, the wind had been stripped from his sails. His wife was his power station, together they were an unstoppable dynamo. Their spirits and souls so intricately intertwined that when together they couldn't help bit bring out the best in the other: Mentally, physically, emotionally and metaphysically. Without her, Masur was hemorrhaging Naten. Without her boost, his body was working over time to produce the energy that it was naturally used to having with her. Because of this... overcompensation, Masur was much weaker physically than he'd ever been before.

Touq... Uem. Again.

He repeated the mantra in his head once more. It was the only thing keeping his mind sound, as it swirled with the possibilities of the atrocities that could befall Odea if he wasn't quick enough getting back to her. It, too, kept him standing upright, despite his slight slouch and small limp, and moving at all. The names of his most basic techniques steeled his mind, and resolve, while simultaneously invoking their power to restore him to some semblance of normalcy.

Rhem contained his naten around his body. Rhum cannibalized this excess naten to strengthen Masur's body back to a respectable level. Touq keep the energy focused within his body so that it couldn't escape again. Uem masked his presence to make him seem like less of a threat. Important when moving through a forest one isn't familiar with.

Masur stayed low, not that he had much choice with the level of strength at his disposal. Ducking in and out of underbrush and trees when he could smell a larger beast approaching. It reminded him of times as a child, going on expeditions with his grandfather. He always remained in the safety of the blinding snow, while he watched his grandfather wrestle wild beasts. It wasn't until he came of age that he was the one doing the wrestling.

He would do the wrestling again, once he was restored to full strength. He could almost hear Odea singing in his ear, cautioning him against reckless behavior. Reckless behavior like challenging beasts that could swallow him in one bite. Something he saw firsthand, ducking into one last bush as a roaming pack of dinosuar-esque lizards stampeded past and deeper into the Woods.

Once they were gone, Masur was able to navigate himself out of the Woods, only to notice a city on the horizon. The city, Masur assumed, could only be the young kingdom that Odea had told him about a few days ago. Masur wasted no time venturing the last amount of distance he needed to get to the outskirts of this young kingdom.

Reluctantly, he used Ghei to completely suppress his own life energy, hoping the appear more "human" than he normally did. Upon entering the city, he could see warriors and scholars, poets and musicians of all sorts. He wasn't surprised, he'd heard that humans were experiencing a sort of renaissance. Opening their borders to neighbors their ancestors may have been suspicious of, and allowing a new age of openness and understanding to manifest.

The warriors were the ones that bothered him. This city had security, top shelf by the smell of them and the feel he got off their naten. Some, few, even had strength levels to rival his own current levels, something he'd scarcely imagined was possible for a human. Of course they weren't as powerful, in his opinion, but they'd certainly give him a trying time. He wondered if normal warriors of this land could reach such a caliber, then what must their leaders be like.

It was no matter, Ghei would keep him hidden from even the most experienced sensor of naten. Masur was an experience tracker himself, after all, and no good tracker worth their salt was good at being tracked too. If the technique worded as intended, he would appear as a normal man, though of larger stature than most, with little to no naten awareness at all. Just enough awareness to live a normal, middling life of a farmer or builder. Though his clothes were a direct sign that he was a foreigner.

His dimming blues, which now were much more hazel or light brown like his mother's, scanned the area for a rest area. He breathed a sigh of instant relief when the local tavern fell into his gaze. It was only a couple steps away, steps he took without any delay.

And he entered The Lonely Stone.
Flux wrote:
Fri Apr 09, 2021 7:07 pm
She was practically fawning over it at this point. She even pawed at the bottle like a cat. Vas even did the same. She sighed "Ok ok Thank you Vana! You're the best. Now hurry up girl open that shit up!" A light chuckle as Vana did just that. Her hand holding the bottle glowed for a moment before the cork popped out the bottle and hit the guy from earlier right in the forehead as he was just getting up knocking him back unconscious. Vana would quietly mouth she was sorry to the healer who at this point was about to say fuck it and let the guy stay that way. He though gave in and started the healing spell over.
Masur, briskly, stepped to the side to narrowly avoid the cork that found itself embedded in the forehead of an unconscious man who fell back amongst a crowd of his peers. Masur tried to pay them no mind, but he couldn't help but to crack a small smile. Seeing the man passed out among friends reminded him of his traveling times before he met Odea. The world outside Lale Caelora was a spectacle to behold. He supposed that in his desperation to escape immediate danger, recover some semblance of his strength, and save his wife Masur had forgotten to wonder he'd experienced traveling with companions he'd outlived.

His eyes traced the trajectory of the cork back to the bar top, where it appeared two women were sharing in merry conversation. He hadn't the mind to interrupt them, instead deciding to kneel amongst the men, "Here friend," he said kindly, offering a hand to the man who was knocked unconscious after his friend finished his healing invocation. Something Masur had much more interest in than actually helping the man in question, who was actually a head or two shorter than Masur himself.

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Flux
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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

Post by Flux »

Masur, briskly, stepped to the side to narrowly avoid the cork that found itself embedded in the forehead of an unconscious man who fell back amongst a crowd of his peers.
The moment he entered Vas’s little ears perked up. His whiskers flicked a few times prompting the kitten to stir its gaze towards Masur. His gaze lingered ,lazily following the giant as he made his way towards the now conscious man. Flux who’s focus was solely on the bottle Vans was holding, didn’t even notice that someone entreated let alone had managed to grab Vas’s almost instant attention. He tended to be disinterested in most corporeal things.

Vana finished garnishing the drink for Flux with a few pieces of fruit. A small handful of chilled berries imported from the Kingdom of Denkou seated in the Emerald Ascension. They seeds are saturated in the ionizing storm they effects the acidity of the berry giving it a sweet but slight sour almost “shocking” sensation. She slide the creation down to Flux who was simply groveling in the bar top at this point. Without out a single thought she snatched up the beverage and begin taking it down.

”Oh damn… that was definitely worth it. I can see why the Gaxarian Empire went to war at the tail end of the last Astral Dynasty. Interestingly Vana the ruler of said structure actually razed entire villages in search of the culprit. He actually tried to create a tax structure as atonement. I personally think my mana drank it all and was just being a sour puss”

She said as she picked a berry from the brim of her cup. She’d squeeze it over the glass tracing her finger over the brim to spread the flavor around before sapping up some more. Vana simply shook her head.

“Chyle…I swear sometimes you act more like an anthropologist than a witch Ozma “

For a moment Flux gaze whipped towards her sister with eyes as piercing as a feline glare. Focused, her face was mostly covered by the glass save for her eyes.”History IS magic Vana. The breadcrumbs of times before…they are the blue print to all we ever where…are and ever will be.”Her stare lingered for about a second more before her attention was on the soon to be end of the joy ride her pallet had been on since she first tasted the drink. Vana would knod throw her hands up as if surrendering before she leaned over towards Flux.

“Sooo? Spill it. Where’d you come from?”

Flux shot her a cheeky smile as she finished sapping up the last of her drink. Her face was slightly painted red from her minute intoxication. Tipsy enough to chop it up with we girl about the wild place she had just came from, and the startling vision she had.” No, seriously Vana, you’re not even gonna believe this! So, there I was knee deep in this ruin next to a mountain range dead center of the Fresh Water Shores the likes of which would’ve blown your mind. It was ridiculous. It had all these crazy almost translucent colors and crazy architecture. Here let me show you.

Her eyes would gleam green before her index finger lightly danced with lavender naten. ”Visito” she uttered as she touched the center of her forehead. As she pulled away from it a small plume of magical essence traced her guidance. She allowed thee plume to condense into a droplet that rippled once it touched the counter top. From it quickly bloomed a “burst” that gave sight to a finely crafted display of the ruin she had stayed in.

Vana, was always so amazed whenever flux used her magic. She was always so naturally able to manipulate forces despite being so much younger and born of such low birth. Vana watched in wonderment as the embers gave life to the ruin she visited. The man who collapsed earlier took the hand of the strange man. With a begrudged tone he glared Vana down.

“Grrr dammit woman be watching where you flang them things..”

He squared Masur in the eye nodding affirmatively before going to find some som business elsewhere in the tavern. Vas would hop up after stretching his legs and walked casual up to the strange pup point a squat behind him staring. His eyes almost frozen. Flux , enamored with the thought of being able to fan girl with Vana wasn’t even paying attention to the little excursion the kitten had gone on.”So while I was there I bore witness to an Ancient Urizen colony that were adept water mages and hydrotheologist. They believed that one day a water dragon of indescribable power will one day shift the very tides of our world itself. There was also this weird Gateway she said as the image began to contort and shift into a visual of the gateway she found. She didn’t care who witnessed her display. She knew most folks could not even survive the depths needed to even gaze upon her discovery let alone take credit for it and it be believed as fact.
Last edited by Flux on Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Koudo Zhol Omawynn
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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

Post by Koudo Zhol Omawynn »

Masur watched in stunned amazement as the healer of this band of warriors invoked his healing arts. Regional differences in the expression of Naten were common, and Masur was ignorant to the new ways in which the human populace was able to manifest their naten. His methods were secret and quite old, but not any less impotent in comparison to the modernity.

A circle of fey green light spread across the ground underneath the unconscious gentleman, etched with foreign runes that Masur was witnessing for the first time. It took time for the circle to full form before the light intensified around engulfed the man laying down upon it. The other man, conjuring the healing arts, laid hands on his friend with a dour sigh. Clenching his eyes, and squeezing his hands tight, he tensed in anguish for a small while before releasing his grip and allowing for the light show to die down.

Masur noted the small amount of pain that registered for the man as he finished up his technique. It must hurt to use, and so he was reluctant to heal his companion when they weren't in life threatening situations. It was an assumption, of course, but a safe one for Masur to make. Perhaps, with time and training, this man could develop the skill to use his healing without receiving pain as a result. It was an amazing gift.

Masur thought to ask the man if he cared to help him out with a mission of dire importance, but he decided against it. From his experience, Masur was a man that was capable of accumulating massive amounts of damage at one time. The man's burgeoning abilities wouldn't be enough to heal Masur and keep himself alive. Masur would kill him with one use of his ability. In a hundred years, if the man was alive, Masur would find him again.
Flux wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 7:52 pm
Flux shot her a cheeky smile as she finished sapping up the last of her drink. Her face was slightly painted red from her minute intoxication. Tipsy enough to chop it up with we girl about the wild place she had just came from, and the startling vision she had.” No, seriously Vana, you’re not even gonna believe this! So, there I was knee deep in this ruin next to a mountain range dead center of the Fresh Water Shores the likes of which would’ve blown your mind. It was ridiculous. It had all these crazy almost translucent colors and crazy architecture. Here let me show you.

Her eyes would gleam green before her index finger lightly danced with lavender naten. ”Visito” she uttered as she touched the center of her forehead. When she pulled away from it a small plume of magical essence traced her guidance. She allowed thee plume to condense into a droplet that rippled once it touched the counter top. From it quickly bloomed a “burst” that gave sight to a finely crafted display of the ruin she had stayed in.
Curiously, he perked his ears to the conversation behind him. This novice healer was one thing, but another spelunker like himself might be exactly what he needed. Combat aid wasn't a requirement, if he could reacquire his Pearl, but a guide of the ruins in the area would be invaluable. The woman who'd stolen his wife from him masked the entrance from his perception, so he needed information.
Flux wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 7:52 pm
Vana, was always so amazed whenever flux used her magic. She was always so naturally able to manipulate forces despite being so much younger and born of such low birth. Vana watched in wonderment as the embers gave life to the ruin she visited. The man who collapsed earlier took the hand of the strange man. With a begrudged tone he glared Vana down.

“Grrr dammit woman be watching where you flang them things..”

He squared Masur in the eye nodding affirmatively before going to find some som business elsewhere in the tavern. Vas would hop up after stretching his legs and walked casual up to the strange pup point a squat behind him staring. His eyes almost frozen.
These thoughts, as well as a multitude of others much more violent in nature, filled his mind. They managed to distract his attention away from the small friend he would have otherwise noticed immediately. Not that the cat seemed harmful in anyway.

It's intent glare might have set him off, if the spectacular show of lavender fire hadn't erupted within the center of the tavern's bar drawing the eyes of every patron who wasn't face down in their own juices or tilting a bottle towards the ceiling. The more skeptical of flashy light shows quickly averted their gaze once they'd gotten an eyeful, remaining suspicious while hiding their curiosity. It wasn't every day someone used their talents to project the interior of ancient ruins in the middle of an alcohol binge.


Masur nodded firmly as well, using the man's retreat deeper into the recesses of the tavern as a cover for turning his eyes towards the display of ruins, the woman who conjured them, and the lady serving drinks.
Flux wrote:
Sat Oct 30, 2021 7:52 pm
Flux , enamored with the thought of being able to fan girl with Vana wasn’t even paying attention to the little excursion the kitten had gone on.”So while I was there I bore witness to an Ancient Urizen colony that were adept water mages and hydrotheologist. They believed that one day a water dragon of indescribable power will one day shift the very tides of our world itself. There was also this weird Gateway she said as the image began to contort and shift into a visual of the gateway she found. She didn’t care who witnessed her display. She knew most folks could not even survive the depths needed to even gaze upon her discovery let alone take credit for it and it be believed as fact.
Ancient Urizen? Masur thought to himself, confused. He was quite old himself, but was unfamiliar with the Urizen culture that this woman, of raven hair, green eyes and purple flames was speaking about. it could be that it was a relatively young, in relation to him, but significantly older than the woman who was speaking so enthusiastically about it.

He was reminded of himself, at a younger age, exploring the icy caverns of his home tundra and returning with epic stories of adventure for his grandfather. The old man would humor him with hearty laughter, and encouraging words about how no one had discovered them before. All the while, knowing he'd been the man to dig those caverns simply for his grandson to find!

Strangely, that wasn't the main thing that stuck out to him, "Gateway?" he found himself saying before he realized it. Certainly it couldn't possibly be another Gate, not this soon or this close to another one? Masur's doubts were instantly dashed when the magical images of the woman began to shift and contort to resemble the Gates he'd spent the last half century searching across the surface of the queen mother for.

This one was much smaller than the one from the Labyrinth, but there was no mistaking the shape. Masur didn't recognize the craftsmanship, and assumed because it was newer than all the others he'd found to date. Maybe there were still members of this Urizen society around who could tell him more able it. Perhaps they were the missing link he needed to find out how to get to where he wanted to go.

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Flux
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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

Post by Flux »

As her hands swayed and flowed over the spectral image she found herself bubbling with excitement. Magic always got her like this but more so was the hidden gem of the past she managed to uncover because of it. Having been so caught up in the glamour of her spell, she barely noticed Vas had run off. As the stranger walked passed him, the tiny kitten tailed after him. Upon seeing Flux's magic the familiar snapped out of his trance like state and hopped back on the counter top, just in time for Flux to hear the man slip of the tongue. However loud or soft he spoke, she could hear him. One of the perks of being a witch with a feline familiar. Her senses of smell, sight, and hearing were all enhanced. She had learned throughout her years how to suppress undesirable sounds. The voice of curiosity however, was not one of them. Flux's eyes wouldn't even turn to face him just yet, eyes locked on her mural. "Yeah, here, take a closer look" she said as she brought her palms together before separating them again. Upon doing so the flames would "expand", what they actually did was zoom in on her memory of the gateway she saw. It seem to had snagged the attention someone in the crowd. She wondered briefly just what kind of scrawny nerdy archeologist was out sniffing about this time. She'd waved her hand ushering them closer. "The Urizen, as they are known now are one of the Nine founding families of the Hellgate bloodline. That's right...the bloodline line of our esteemed Astral Kingdom."[/color] She said as Vas came pawing at a glass of milk Vana had brought out for a guest. She'd smile warmly at him, she thought he was just the cutest little bastard and with purpose poured him a little saucer full. Flux would wiggle her nose causing two small sugar cubes to envelop themselves in a small, lavender light as they hovered over to his saucer plopping in. He'd look wo Flux with a gleeful face and she'd wink at em before continuing on.

"Rightly so seeing as how there's practically nothing in the Astral in terms of architecture, weapons and over all engineering that they haven't had their hands on. A fact that they don't let anyone else forget that's for sure. Their present day kin know this and walk around like they built the place...well....they did especially but whatevs. They're jerks." She chuckled. As she did so she looked up finally after showing some of the Urizen family insignia around the map before going back to the gateway. "I mean they don't share that they even once constructed temples like this one here...tbh I don't think it's common knowledge even for them...which makes me think...in what time period did these particular Urizen exist. What was there goal in creating this place? The most mysterious thing...is if this temple someone how existed to protect this thing...whatever it is truly."Speaking of the aforementioned gateway. Her hand folded between each other then under her chin as she rested her head atop of them."Then the bigger question becomes. What are they being protected fro-". It wasn't until she finally let herself look up that she seen him. A man, or giant standing far above even the tallest man here. The voice, the depth of it, she was sure it belonged to him. Her gaze was stuck on him. Something about his presence stirred he pit of her stomach. He...was gorgeous. His looks though weren't exactly what she stayed stuck on...it was the smell of a magic so old...so foreign to her she could even wrap her head around it...who was he? She...she was drawn to him.

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Koudo Zhol Omawynn
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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

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Flux wrote:
Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:23 pm
Flux's eyes wouldn't even turn to face him just yet, eyes locked on her mural. "Yeah, here, take a closer look," she said as she brought her palms together before separating them again. Upon doing so the flames would "expand", what they actually did was zoom in on her memory of the gateway she saw ... She'd waved her hand ushering them closer.
Unexpectedly, Masur's soft whisper was answered with an excited, accepting tone. He thought he'd been silent enough, but enhanced senses were a common thing for those with an advanced understanding of Naten and their connection to it. Casually, he did step forward, at her beckoning, arms folded across his chest as he did so. The woman herself, currently, wasn't the object of his curiosity, but the way that she commanded her flames with ease.

He would have marveled, if there wasn't a slight uneasiness about him. His shoulders looked stiff and his posture was all off. For a man of his size, and presumed strength, he was having trouble holding himself up. He hid it well, but anyone with enhanced senses like this woman would be able to tell immediately.

That wasn't the only thing wrong. He'd encountered many a magical inclined individual; Witches, Warlocks, Sorcerers etc. She smelled of them, but there was something else that she reeked off. He couldn't put his finger on what it was, and desperately tried to before the need to engage with her, but it was something he'd smelled recently and he stayed guarded despite her friendly demeanor. The thoughts of her reminding him of younger version of himself all but falling to the way side.
"The Urizen, as they are known now are one of the Nine founding families of the Hellgate bloodline. That's right...the bloodline line of our esteemed Astral Kingdom."
The Urizen was still a name that Masur wasn't very familiar with, but the Hellgates? Masur knew of the Hellgates. They were a more ancient family than even his own, which was saying something for Masur had lived a young sixteen hundred years and counting. Myths and legends of them had passed amongst the Elves that they were the closest to all the way out to the Elven races on the far reaches of the Queen Mother's surface. Masur had never treated with them himself, nor could he speak for his Mother's people, but it was possible his grandfather might have.

So this kingdom was their official domain?

He wasn't surprised, from the stories he'd heard as a child about the Hellgates. They were regal, but respected the Queen Mother more than he could say any other nobles he'd met had. They also had great respect for Elven kind as well, so were held in high regard as a result. If they could be friend to him remained to be seen, however.
"Rightly so, seeing as how there's practically nothing in the Astral, in terms of architecture, weapons and over all engineering, that they haven't had their hands on. A fact that they don't let anyone else forget that's for sure. Their present day kin know this and walk around like they built the place... well... they did essentially but whatevs. They're jerks." She chuckled. As she did so she looked up finally after showing some of the Urizen family insignia around the map before going back to the gateway.
The Seeker's, now, hazel eyes narrowed on the Urizen family crest that was plastered upon the walls of the temple she had discovered. Oddly, it was familiar to him, even more than the Hellgate name. Not because he'd seen a crude drawing or some shoddy imitation, no. Masur was familiar with this crest because he was with the adventuring party that helped excavate the ruin many centuries ago, when he was little more than hatchling.

He had met the Urizen!

One training excursion beyond his tribes hunting borders. He snapped his fingers. She did mention a prophecy... did they think he was going to return like some hero of legend? Masur was almost amused. He had been a mere boy then. If those original Urizen, or even a close descendant of one, were still there would they remember him, now, fully grown?

He was glad they heeded his warnings as a youngling. Even then, Masur was curious about ancient architecture beyond his comprehension. The Gate, at the time, was active, so he warned them of the dangers after aiding a few in taking down an eldritch abomination who'd escaped through. He didn't expect them to erect a temple around it, but assumed it was to keep it hidden away from prying eyes that might abuse the power.

Centuries later, and it seemed like it had become inert, much like the rest of them. Masur imagined it was because very few people on the Queen Mother's surface could conjure the astronomical amounts of energy that it would take to power one of these things. An assumption... that had already been proven wrong once today.

Masur gripped his sides a little tighter, feeling a twisting pit in his stomach growing. He was beginning to run out of time, and his weakened connection to his wife was growing weaker the more he listened to legends. He couldn't act rashly however, but he was beginning to get aggravated with his own feelings of weakness more than the woman and her informative stories.

He figured it was time he spoke up, "It was to protect this land from further dangers. I'm glad to see they used it well."
It wasn't until she finally let herself look up that she seen him. A man, or giant standing far above even the tallest man here. The voice, the depth of it, she was sure it belonged to him. Her gaze was stuck on him. Something about his presence stirred he pit of her stomach.
The seeker dropped his gaze to hers when he felt her eyes sizing him up. It was a common thing for humans to do when they saw him. Even for the humanoid form of a Dragon, Masur was unnaturally tall. Briefly, for this woman, he dropped his Ghei and gave her a glimpse at the full breadth of his Naten potential. It was suffocating, and it lasted by a small moment before his shroud returned and he was a normal man of abnormal size again.

"Though I have to say, you my have gotten their prophecy mistranslated. It can't be 'a water dragon,' those aren't real." He offered a charming, hopefully disarming smile.
Last edited by Koudo Zhol Omawynn on Wed Nov 17, 2021 7:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

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He figured it was time he spoke up, "It was to protect this land from further dangers. I'm glad to see they used it well."

The seeker dropped his gaze to hers when he felt her eyes sizing him up. It was a common thing for humans to do when they saw him. Even for the humanoid form of a Dragon, Masur was unnaturally tall. Briefly, for this woman, he dropped his Ghei and gave her a glimpse at the full breadth of his Naten potential. It was suffocating, and it lasted by a small moment before his shroud returned and he was a normal man of abnormal size again
In the split second he stopped masking his presence her sense erupted into a frenzy. For a single moment his presence flooded the area with the crashing force of a tsunami. In that one moment she could calculate just how almost abysmal the depths of his potential were. In that moment Vas hoped up form his milk and stood in front of Flux with a guarding stance. He to could smell the ferocity of his power....flux could read more into it though...he was seething with vehemence. It wasn't toward her though, nor Vas or anyone else here for that matter. He was struggling though...the dropping of his veil gave way to her magic sense that his strength currently, wasn't half of the potential he showed...was he injured? One thing for sure though...he reeked of water naten and another presence she just couldn't shake. During the rousing of his potential flux held her stomach close. Her curse...it was reacting to this man...for what possible reason could that be? The more she gawked at him...the more alarming it all became to her. In the height of her daze like state the spectral ruins seemed to crumble before "falling" into a plume of smoke that fizzled out.
"Though I have to say, you may have gotten their prophecy mistranslated. It can't be 'a water dragon,' those aren't real." He offered a charming, hopefully disarming smile.
After he reconciled his presence her mind was able to focus again. Her eyes blinked a few times before she noticed that her magic had faded out. She grabbed Vas placing him in the palms of her hands as she stroked his head soothingly. "And I should just take your word for it?" she returned a cheeky yet curious jib in kind. She was almost 100 percent sure that what she had discovered hadn't been heard of in the last couple centuries, possibly an entire millennia. How...how would he know of it. Was he also a Echo user? She'd never met another person who could recall the past in the ways she did...or was there another reason he held this knowledge. Whatever it was...she was damn sure going to find out."Vana...we need to use that space". Vana one smiling gaze turned into a bit of a scowling one. They exchanged glances for a second.

Vana: You serious? You know that place is only for sister kin.

I won't tell if you wont...did you already forget Darek?

Vana: Oop...bitch... Go head, don't ask me for shit else Flux. And you better not friggin blab about Darek to the others or I swear.

Yeah yeah girl I gotchu relax, Key please!


Telepathy, a passive trait of all Drachiot. While they stared at each other Vana suddenly blushed before going to the back of the house with some pep in her step. Flux would fix her hair a bit before standing up. Vana hurriedly came back with a snide smirk on her face. She should've known Flux would've remembered her little...side mission that one time. The girl wouldn't forget a mouse fart if she heard it. She dangled the key in front of the panther witch before Flux nabbed it. She'd stood, still holding Vas in her free hand. "Would you mind accompanying me?" For a moment her gaze was serious, deadly serious. Then it shifted to a sultry wink. Conveying to anyone watching that the two were about to have a "night cap". In truth...she needed to speak with him. Her instincts told her...she had manifested a lead. She'd stand tapping Vana on her shoulder with the key before smirking and heading to the back where she hoped the man would follow. In fact, based off his response to her magic...he would. Ash the traveled Vas didn't stop staring at the man. He didn't trust him as far as he could throw him, and considering the fact that he was a kitten, had no opposable thumbs, that was saying much. Shortly they made their way down a funnel of stairs before reaching a blank stone wall. "....." She was silent. Nervous and filled with anxiety but she continued stopping just a few feet shy of the wall. "Something tells me I don't need to give this disclaimer but I will anyway." She said as she placed her hand on the cobble brick wall.

Slowly she allowed her hand to feel the bumps and clogs of stone etched onto the building's interior eventually her and would stop."You cannot repeat anything you see here...to my people it's sacred." She said as her hand alit with a similar lavender glint from earlier. However this time the magical lux was darker in tone....a symbol that more magic was focused than before. The key resonated with the purple luminance. Elevating toward the wall . As the light engulf the key it would give way to hundreds of tiny runes scribbled onto it. The magic then projected these very same runes onto the wall. "Eria, koben valdea" (Underneath the fractured world...the Sisters of Ovalu sleep) The runes of the wall began to shift around more rapidly, they bore a language not spoken this side of vescrutian soil. Flux's people were subterranean by nature and had over 30+ variations of their dialect. Most of which were situational means of conveying knowledge with one another."Vol, Rus, deicolia"( Within the heart of my sister kin, I am Whole). As the last words were spoken, Flux motioned her hands to sign several times before locking them in one particular form. The would meld into the door as the runes coaled creating the image of a door way. Upon unlocking it the myriad of cobble bricks began to shift out of the way and what he would see coming in was a rare and gorgeous sight. It was almost like stepping into a dream. A separate plane. Where they were now was one of the inner sanctums. A bunker dimension that could only be reached by one of her ilk. Here they could converse without the preying eyes, ear and whatever other appendages folks were using to fish for knowledge. "My name is Flux, if there are to be introductions. This little guy here is Vas, he's my familiar and you are?" There were a myriad of place he could sit. The clouds her magical and could solidify and take shape akin to the whims of those around them. The décor was marvelous and they were a litany of plant life around. Some were vescrtuia native others seemed otherworldly in nature. A large jewel encrusted Cauldron laid in the middle of the space. Tomes that numbered vastly in the thousand were stretched through the space, containing any range of dynamic from history to fiction, magic to science. As she sent to sit near it the clouds formed a comfy "benne bag" like chair for her to plop down into. Vas would flutter his little wings and win up on her head. He couldn't fly far distance but could flutter about spaces.

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Koudo Zhol Omawynn
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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

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Masur watched her magic faded away, expecting that his smile had been the thing that caused it. It was usually how he tried to gather information from humans of the opposite sex. This woman, from what could see, was very far from being a normal human, but having magical power wasn't necessarily uncommon. The extent to which her magic defined her, however, was what told him she was special and the person he needed the aid of.

Playfully, Masur took a step back when her "ferocious" protector leaped forward. Masur meant no ill will. The show of his power wasn't to enforce his dominance. He figured it would cut down on the small talk and allow them to get to the crux of their conversation. Kurohime, a pet he had at home, was much like this little friend. Though her breed of panther was a much, much, MUCH larger variant.
"And I should just take your word for it?"
"I've met a few 'water serpents,' they prefer to be called Leviathan." Whether he was being truthful or not was up to her to decided, but his disarming smile certainly leaned towards deceit. He had only ever met one, and she did prefer Leviathan. 'Water Serpent' was the derogatory term Dragons used for their submerged cousins, but Masur used it in good humor.

'Levi' herself, however, wouldn't take kindly to its use if she ever was within earshot to hear.

He looked from her to the barkeep she was speaking with. That space? Curiosity certainly piqued in Masur. He didn't assume that there were any secret spots in a public tavern, but he had been to taverns before where 'business' was conducted in the backrooms.
Vana suddenly blushed before going to the back of the house with some pep in her step. Flux would fix her hair a bit before standing up. Vana hurriedly came back with a snide smirk on her face. She should've known Flux would've remembered her little...side mission that one time. The girl wouldn't forget a mouse fart if she heard it.She dangled the key in front of the panther witch before Flux nabbed it. She'd stood, still holding Vas in her free hand. "Would you mind accompanying me?" For a moment her gaze was serious, deadly serious. Then it shifted to a sultry wink.... She'd stand tapping Vana on her shoulder with the key before smirking and heading to the back where she hoped the man would follow. In fact, based off his response to her magic...he would. As they traveled Vas didn't stop staring at the man.
"I suppose most woman in the Astral don't move as fast as you." Masur jest and followed her without protest. The seriousness in her eyes let him know that he hadn't accidentally mistaken a woman of the night as a tentative ally. The sultry wink was a cover that went along well with his jest.

His attention fell to Vas and he tried not to antagonize the creature anymore than he already had. He had a soft spot for all animals, mainly the many different species of dogs and larger cats. He kept his gaze locked with the animal as they traveled, hoping to portray in his eyes that he was no threat to him, nor his mistress. In fact, he needed them more than they could know.
Shortly they made their way down a funnel of stairs before reaching a blank stone wall. "....." She was silent. Nervous and filled with anxiety but she continued stopping just a few feet shy of the wall. "Something tells me I don't need to give this disclaimer but I will anyway." She said as she placed her hand on the cobble brick wall ... "You cannot repeat anything you see here...to my people it's sacred."
Masur remained silent, following this woman as she'd asked. He wouldn't tell her secrets. There was no need for him to do so. Sacred lands among ancient or magical people was, again, not an uncommon to him. He'd been welcomed into other magical sanctums in his long life, and Flux's wouldn't be the last.

It was still a spectacle to behold as she unlocked the gate. It only confirmed that he had found the right person. If she couldn't aid him, then he would just have to go scorched earth and deal with the consequences later. However, if he could avoid alerting any higher powers in the area to his presence, until he was ready to reveal it himself, then he would certainly prefer that. In the past, Dragons were hunted for sport, which is why most have hidden themselves away.

As she worked her magic, the intricacies of her spell weaving weren't lost on Masur, but they would be better understood by his wife. There were the magically inclined in his homeland, but Masur hadn't been born with that 'gift' and, thankfully or not, none of his brood seemed to bare the burden of magical potential either. Odea, herself, was something beyond magic. A mystery The Seeker was still trying to solve.

The darkened hue of her already purple magic reminded him of the heliotrope flames of the witch that kidnapped his beloved, and the plume of feathers. He didn't want to make assumptions, but it was too much of a coincidence for there to not be a deeper connection between this woman and the women worshiping a demon in the ruins. Magic manifested differently in different cultures. Some shared color, light, or sounds. Others elements and the like. They both used flames, and they shared the same purple color. Maybe there was some correlation.

When the wall finally gave way to a majestic doorway into an otherworldly library, Masur couldn't help but be momentarily taken aback. No magical inner sanctum he'd seen been like this. It was looked as if it cataloged all the knowledge that was available on the Queen Mother's surfaces. The books seemed to vanish from the bookshelves and return in their own time, as if their knowledge was being called upon briefly only for them to be sent back after whatever deed they were needed for was done.
"My name is Flux, if there are to be introductions. This little guy here is Vas, he's my familiar and you are?" There were a myriad of place he could sit. The clouds her magical and could solidify and take shape akin to the whims of those around them. The décor was marvelous and they were a litany of plant life around. Some were Vescrutia native others seemed otherworldly in nature. A large jewel encrusted Cauldron laid in the middle of the space. Tomes that numbered vastly in the thousand were stretched through the space, containing any range of dynamic from history to fiction, magic to science.
Masur took a second to roam the central area of the library Flux had allowed him into. It was a pleasant surprise that she trusted a stranger enough with a glimpse into one of her people's inner sanctum. She knew next to nothing about him, and still trusted that he would keep the secret of this sacred place. He was humbled by her and, he hoped by association, her peoples' openness to others. Coming from a secretive society himself, however, he understood that openness could be abused.

Masur was a righteous man, for the most part. Because she shared more than enough with him, "I am Masur, The Seeker, of Lale Caelora to the North." A myth shrouded in legend. One he'd felt comfortable confirming for her people's documentation.

Lale Caelora didn't appear on any maps, and it certainly wasn't a well known location on the Queen Mother's surface. It was lost to all history books, and only races and families older than the Dragons themselves still held any records of its existence, and by extension their own. Situated in the icy heart of the long forgotten tundra, Lale Caelora was a winter paradise if you could survive the harsh conditions. Home to the Silver Dragons of which Masur would, eventually, become the chief. They dressed for the coldness of the harsh winter that constantly surround them, but when home they dressed lighter and lived partially submerged.

Any recent reporting, simply spoke of barbarians in the north. Bare-chested against the harshness of the bitter cold, they were savages who wouldn't be traded with. Save for the few elven races that were able to show themselves as friend, rather than foe. Truthfully, the Silvers were not the easiest to trade with, but it was because all dragon species were very protective of their image.

Save for those animalistic greens...

"Flux, Vas. You are magical. Your scent drew me to you." He stopped his roaming and turned to face Flux and Vas. Masur wouldn't sit, there wasn't time, "I need your help." He took his time to draw a breath and make sure that he had her attention.

"My wife," Masur tightened a bit, but relaxed, "and I are adventurers, seekers of ancient ruins and those Gateways you stumbled across in your exploration. Coincidentally, we stumbled across a similar gate in a ruin that isn't too far from the Obsidian Abyss. Have you heard of it?" He paused there, hopefully that she was familiar with the region near the Hyperion Mountains. Considering the extent of documentation within this library alone, he was sure that she might be.

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Re: Journey To The Heart Of The Empire

Post by Flux »

Either he was a good actor or the man was just naturally smooth but it made Flux chuckle that he so suavely followed her que. Vana shaking her head and sucking her teeth went back to her finishing up her shift. She was of the few given leave to live above ground. Aside from...the heretics. Vas wouldn't budge despite Masur's intentions. Not at first however. However Ozma was more perceptive than her carefree demeanor conveyed. For a someone as powerful as he to be witling away like this meant that he was a still a person in need. Vas, though less prone trust, was innately drawn to people or things with deep reservoirs of naten. Had she been paying attention to her familiar earlier she would have known much more about his potential from Vas's interest in him alone. Though he was suppressing his power, what he did hold was still above the talent of the others there save for maybe Vana who was a lot stronger then Flux at present.

Vas kept his gaze locked with Masur's eventually the kitten brave façade would falter and his gaze softened. The sudden jolt of his naten had spooked him because of Masur massive size. Since Flux though had he back turned to him the entire time they traveled to the wall where the door would manifest, it let him know that Masur was not a threat. Though Vas was still just a kitten. He was just as old as Flux herself . Over 200 years old. The ebon feline would stand on Flux's shoulder and kneel his head. It was his way of saying he would consent to Masur petting him. He would trust him as his other half did.

Her mother was a healer, Flux spent the better part of her life helping her care for people. She even had traveled with her other for a few years as a voyaging apothecary. Always in service to others...always giving of herself. Her mother had embed that trait into her. She did not covet much, save for her pursuit of knowledge. Of truth.
"I am Masur, The Seeker, of Lale Caelora to the North."]
A Seeker?
.
There have been many cultures, cliques, and religious cults to have taken up the mantle of being
"Seekers" in more ways then one, in some ways she could have thought of herself as some kind of seeker as well. Something though, about the certainty around his title that consecrated for her that it was a much deeper purpose than simply looking for abstract relics of the past or spelunking through old caves and musty tunnels. She didn't say much of anything. It had been quite sometime since she had been here, she kinda took it all in. Still being attentive to him of course, trying tp process what kind of land this "Lale Caelora" must be to house a titian like himself. What even was he for that matter. Surely he wasn't one of those "serpents" he jested about earlier.

There hasn't been any record of dragons existing on the face of the mother for over a Millenia. Once coveted for their power, scales, naten saturated blood etc she wouldn't imagine meeting one in her lifetime. The myriad of tomes were being accessed by the sisters of her who are linked to this particular domain. Of the 7 Queendoms it is the land of Serpentera, ruled by the hand of the Viridian Mamba herself only those under her rule could access this information.

Even amongst all of her sister kin many secrets still existed and trust was often a fickle thing amongst Drachiot kind. It was a spell that allowed them to access this room without needing to physically enter the space at a moments notice. "..." she remained silent. Her eyes did widened to acknowledge his words. He followed their scent? How long had he been tailing behind them? "Your wife huh?". The good looking ones were always taken, especially the strong. It actually was very taboo for anyone of non Drachiot birth to enter here, let alone a man. However this particular room was given to Flux and Vana to safeguard.

That being said, it was not under the eyes of Tera. But she had to know his deal...why did he smell like... fractured magic? That when he mentioned it Obsidian abyss. Her eyes shot open in surprise. He had actually managed to get through that tar looking mess and enter the ruin there. Further more, there was a gateway there to? "I fucking knew it...". She said as she snapped her fingers. Within seconds a tome would martialize in her hands. Thumbing rapidly through the pages she came across the geography and lore of what was written concerning the Abyss. There wasn't much save for their knowledge that it is a place saturated in fractured magic. Her gaze in the tome was serious, and when she looked back toward Masur her looks were even more serious, excited, and concerned.

She pointed the book at him that had picture of the pool of darkness. "I have. I tried to...venture there but couldn't discover what was at the pit of the blackness. There was a powerful presence there, one that prevented my...venturing.". This was getting interesting by the second. Now that he revealed having found a similar gateway what he said earlier about the Urizen was becoming more tangible. She was close to putting the picture together. Just what in the hell had she gotten into this time?

"I assuming you actually found a way into that place...and got separated there?" It was less of a question directly to him and more of her outwardly processing everything. She hadn't agree to help him just yet. If she was right about the "Presence" that prevented her from from gaining sight beyond the black ichor like waters via her "Phase-Walking". Then she was in grave danger...and Flux's own life might be at stake here as well. The source of the magic she felt earlier they would not take kindly to her being there at all. Though she believed him to be genuine.

She could not risk divulging to much just yet. She could tell this was a difficult thing for him. They must be practically inseparable. The book proofed away. Flux would heave a hefty sigh before walking over to the bejeweled cauldron. Her eyes shimmered lightly She waved her hand for him to come closer."Masur". She said his name softly before her increasingly glowing mirrors became transfixed on him."Do you Love her?" She asked him. It was one question that had an apparent answer, but it was needed to arouse him. Flux's people had a very different view of "Love". Relations between their people were often contractual agreements for the purpose of creating new Drachiot who could bring new magical embodiments to the covens In certain Queendoms they operated from a place of care like Masur himself did.

Flux however, had never known a man and woman to actually share a genuine bond of love...not aside from the her mother told to her about how she felt concerning her father. The only man she ever loved, the only man allowed free passage and reign through the Queendom. Perhaps she would witness it if she went with him...in fact. She was sure she was going to experience a myriad of things if she helped him...but first. She need to here with his own mouth. What she meant to him. He didn't seem like the type to wear his heart on his sleeves. After all he was hiding his wounds and parading about as if unphased by it all. In order for her to help him...she needed a strong emotional tether to go on....

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