|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Jun 7, 2018 1:06:40 GMT
Five shapes, white crescents with cratered surfaces and a baleful red eye set deep into their stone faces, a thin beak jutting from the inner curve of it's mass drift quietly over the ground, making for a cave not far from where the party is encamped. The cave itself is drawn to attention by a ruddier red light emanating from inside, growing brighter as though something approaches. This is more akin to torchlight.
|
|
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 26, 2024 13:32:53 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Jun 7, 2018 2:28:59 GMT
"What are those?" Crimson wonders. More and more, the world keeps opening itself up to her, showing things she could not have imagined. On the one hand, it's a little frightening... but, on the other, it reaffirms her belief that this is her place. That it is the only prize worth having.
"There is a light over there... and it seems to be drawing those things in." There's some mild curiosity in her chitters. The thought reminds her of her own hive. "Perhaps investigating would reveal something interesting..."
|
|
|
|
|
677 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Spaaaace
|
Oct 25, 2023 14:56:46 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Bowyer on Jun 9, 2018 1:20:35 GMT
As the lights come into a bit more focus, Iwakashi manages to identify the moon shaped creatures in the distance. "Those creatures are Lunatone. Normally harmless, no matter what the superstitious humans might claim. They tend to be more active when the moon is out but...not much reason for them to be in a group though."
The beckoning light in the cave did seem like the only explanation. But who would be out here in the middle of the night? Some lowly traveling party not unlike themselves? Or some other threat that they couldn't fathom. "I am inclined to agree. Whoever is there poses too much of a risk to leave unattended. And if they are harmless, perhaps we will have news of what has transpired in our absence."
|
|
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Jun 10, 2018 10:24:50 GMT
With a short passage of time, and some observation, the orange lights reveal themselves to be a similar Pokemon, though resembling the sun in contrast. In a short, dance like ritual, each Pokemon circles it's counterpart twice in a standing stone ruin. Then, the Lunatone disappear whence the Solrock came, and the latter start off across the landscape with the same methodical silence their predecessors had come.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by masterblade007 on Jun 10, 2018 10:36:20 GMT
The moon and sun are literally marching across the landscape. Truly this is a magical place.
"I don't suppose any of you know how to speak celestial body?" Lootbox commented with a sly tone. The comment of course was spoken in jest; these things had no mouth in which to communicate. Even then they'd probably just hand out their names. "Doesn't rule out the possibility of treasure though. This is your turf, Iwakashi; lead the way."
|
|
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 26, 2024 13:32:53 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Jun 10, 2018 19:00:45 GMT
"If they have thoughts, I can do my best to connect with them," Crimson chitters, not picking up on the joke. "However, as I have learned, it is not always quite as fluent if they cannot do so naturally. Like with humans. If only they had developed that instead of language."
|
|
|
|
|
677 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Spaaaace
|
Oct 25, 2023 14:56:46 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Bowyer on Jun 11, 2018 2:50:11 GMT
Observing the strange ritual, Iwakashi stays quiet. He'd not known that Lunatone and Solrock to be so....ritualistic. Or form groups at all really. Perhaps some of the rumors of their dangers were true. Something to worry about if they encountered more of them. Or if they investigated as Lootbox wanted.
"They must be able to communicate some way," Iwakashi muses, rumbling on, "It is possible that you might be able to reach into their minds. As for treasure, there isn't likely to be anything thing there. Neither of these Pokemon are known to hoard anything valuable." He stares down at the ruins for a little longer. "It does seem likely that something has drawn them here. I would like to know what that might be. The night nearly gone. We might as well start the day now." He gathers up his pack, conscious of how little food they have remaining.
|
|
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Jun 12, 2018 12:43:35 GMT
A cursory (and subtle) examination of the ruin reveals that it is devoid of life once the Pokemon have concluded their eerie dance, and the first rays of dawn cast themselves against the stone. Stone curvatures in a bowl shape, with raised triangular pedestals offer passage to the center, where the rock is marbled red and white along half the floor, and a smoothe black polished glass along the other semicircle, leading into a vast unbroken crescent. The entry into the cave beyond is unadorned.
|
|
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 26, 2024 13:32:53 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Jun 12, 2018 18:51:41 GMT
"This really is something..." Crimson marvels. "Surfaceworlders have such great craftsmanship. It is something that I consistently forget. I will have to remember this sort of design..."She goes forth, down to the center, trying to figure out if the design is simply something decorative, or if there is another purpose to it. For there seemed to be some ritual going on... so perhaps this is a place of power. Occult: 14
|
|
|
|
|
677 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Spaaaace
|
Oct 25, 2023 14:56:46 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Bowyer on Jun 14, 2018 17:48:08 GMT
"People of Ransei have many facets. They have the capacity for works great and terrible. This is fine work," he gestures to the strange ruins, "But I don't know which peoples made this. It isn't in the usual style of my people or the of the humans that live hear. Or at least it wasn't."The design has him a little unnerved. There hadn't been people this close to the border before he had died. At least, none that weren't involved in defending it. It was from an earlier time surely. History wasn't something Daichi had spent much teaching him but he touches the stone all the same to perhaps glean a little from it. General Ed to perhaps learn something of the history of these ruins: 7
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by masterblade007 on Jun 17, 2018 0:30:03 GMT
Lootbox follows behind, letting those with better vision lead the way. This had absolutely nothing to do with the ability to make a tactical retreat should things go south quickly; that was just a bonus.
Though the lack of torches between the group did put Lootbox at unease. Same with the lack of other essential supplies. Perhaps if this cave had anything of value, it may be 'offerings to the dead' that they would be in right to claim. After all; they too had died once. Only fair they get a share.
|
|
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Jun 18, 2018 22:40:04 GMT
Moving along the decorum of these ruins, Iwakashi's attention is drawn to a peculiar sprawling script employed by his people. To any other, it might just be a mar or imperfection in the stone, but to him it is the first sign that his people might yet live. It reads 'We, The Standing, Offer This Throne of Dusk And Dawn To The Wayfarer. May They Walk Among Us And Know Peace'.
Strangely religious speech, lacking the usually poignancy of the Stoneborn, how long had it been?
|
|
|
|
|
677 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Spaaaace
|
Oct 25, 2023 14:56:46 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Bowyer on Jun 19, 2018 3:29:36 GMT
Even the untrained eye would notice a change in Iwakashi's face. Normally so impassive, the scowl has somehow deepened further with a quizzical cast as well. "This was made by my people," doubt clinging to the words, "None could replicate our script. It almost seems to be a 'holy site'. Something the we have never had need of." Could they have abandoned their callings too? Choosing to live as the humans?
Shaking his head, as though to shake away the thought. "This place is dedicated to the Wayfarer. I don't suppose you've heard of such a deity, Lootbox? Whether the Solrock and Lunatone came before this shrine I do not know but its name would suggest it." Such strange tidings. That witch had left him stranded in far too long.
"Though it may reveal us, I must find out what has become of my people. Any village should have news of them." Gone is the doubt that clung to the words before. Only determination remains.
|
|
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 26, 2024 13:32:53 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Jun 19, 2018 5:35:15 GMT
"None?" Crimson chitters, "That seems to be a bold claim of uniqueness. Are you sure that none could have learned it? Especially if it is something so different to those that you recall?" This is definitely the rockman's domain, though. So, while she does not particularly like continuing to follow another... for now it seems to be the best course of action to continue to let him lead.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by masterblade007 on Jun 19, 2018 18:23:47 GMT
Lootbox squints his eye at the figurative and literal Moon Runes standing before him. "Don't suppose they'd be referring to YOU, would they? It would make ownership claims of treasure a whole lot simpler."
"More likely than not, it may simply be a shrine for Travelers in general. Wayfarer is another word for travelers. The Moon and Sun are important traveling tools. Depending on the script, it may be an offering to camp out at this location rather than in the middle of nowhere like we did."
The latter interpretation also has potential, should that be the case. Lootbox kept an eye out for any misplaced items, or other valuables that may have been left behind.
Perception: 7
|
|
|
|
|
677 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Spaaaace
|
Oct 25, 2023 14:56:46 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Bowyer on Jun 20, 2018 3:49:59 GMT
Waving aside Crimson's concerns, "You wouldn't have even noticed the line if it hadn't been pointed out. Perhaps some might have learned to read it, an exceptionally keen eyed individual. but to mimic it? Bah. It would be like asking the birds of the sky to fly through the ground. Their eyes might be sharp but they still can see into the stone. The script is the same. But it's not something I would have expected from our people. The closest thing to reverence we have are our progenitors or our callings, but we build no shrines for them." A grating of stone sounds as he considers for a moment.
The moment is interrupted by Lootbox's musings. Claims that the shrine would be for him? Preposterous. Not even worth considering But the thought that perhaps this was a way stop of sorts, "Travelers? That might be the answer. A change in the script is....possible. Unlikely, but possible." Having partially avoided the idea of The Wayfarer, he glances around again. Staring at the cave entrance a short distance off. "Would that mean the Lunatone and Solrock are it's keepers? Or there might be something else inside holding vigil."
|
|
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Jun 24, 2018 11:51:16 GMT
No answer is forthcoming or definitive. Not from the cave, nor Iwakashi's companions. The Solrock have long since faded from the area of the site, and the Lunatone's glow can no longer be seen inside. Possibility and prospect churn in this place as the sun begins it's slow climb into the sky, lighting the landscape and waking it's denizens for another day.
|
|
|
|
|
8,803 posts
|
16 likes
|
Sept 26, 2024 13:32:53 GMT
|
Administrator
|
Post by DataNinja on Jun 25, 2018 3:43:41 GMT
"Perhaps deeper within might have the answers you seek?" ventures Crimson. She wouldn't mind proceeding underground herself. It's a comforting place. Even if it is not quite so beautiful as the world above. "Whether that be more writing, or from the minds of those who went further."
|
|
|
|
|
677 posts
|
0 likes
|
|
Spaaaace
|
Oct 25, 2023 14:56:46 GMT
|
Member
|
Post by Bowyer on Jun 26, 2018 23:54:40 GMT
"Yes a delve into the cave should answer some questions." It might lead to even more but it was a start in learning how much things had changed. It might prove nothing was there but there was really no risk in it. "Who knows. Perhaps some supplies were left for travelers."
|
|
|
|
|
6,672 posts
|
92 likes
|
|
I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
|
|
|
Member
|
Post by Robot on Jun 30, 2018 1:53:24 GMT
A short distance past the threshold the tunnel widens as though sculpted that way, no tool marks are present upon the rock and it holds a surprising sheen, helping the sun's rays carry to at least here. A deep basin is fed by two channels, one disappearing into the rock wall towards the cave mouth, and the other trickling water lazily from the wall. Set before the simple vessel is a fire pit rife with coal that smells faintly of sulfer and other reagents. Stone formations that bear vague semblance to low walls for privacy, and furniture meld with the earth and offer some small comforts.
(Perceptions please.)
|
|
