Rani and I had, maybe a month or two into the hiatus, met up in order to do some training. He was unbelievably strong for a Demigod, perhaps as strong as Garrett. Either way, we had gone with the concept of "Iron sharpens Iron" and had spent the time honing each other's skills. Rani had almost mastered Divine Light by the time we began, yet I couldn't cast Divine Torch at all. His techniques to let emotion take control helped and, after weeks of intense practice, I pulled it off yet again. By the time the year was up, I could cast Divine Torch twice, three if I was desperate. Rani had, when we arrived at the meeting location, decided to whistle, which was normal enough. It didn't take an air mage to realize that, when he began his tune, the wind shifted to point west. This was followed by a metallic taste in the air, the sky darkening, and, of course, a blast of lightning right in front of my... Nephew?
"You called." A man said, everything but his head covered in a dark cloak. The white hair was a clear sign that he was Tobias. "That whistle is supposed to be for when you decide to fight me. Do you think you're prepared to face me?" He asked. I had no idea what Tobes was talking about, as this was likely having to do with something prior to my descent.
((Hey guys just popping on quick to say that I should have my post up by the end of the day. I've got a lot of preparation for thanksgiving that needs to be done before my family arrives.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1 Year ago the military was on the losing side of the war. All seemed bleak until one soldier brought a penguin in to training. They had trained that penguin in the use of explosives and sent him out into the field. They had thought that they had won but the agent went rouge. Now he only lives on as a legend, the legend of ShotgunPenguin.
(( I sort-of addressed this via PM with you, Man Man, but I guess you didn't quite get the point I was trying to make. To try and define any global lore is the same as writing history that would effect everyone. I'm not sure how I'd describe what rule this breaks. PowerGaming for controlling the history and lore of the Roleplay without my permission? That's probably the most accurate term. In the following spoilers, you will find a chunk of the OP that details the origin of magic. You will find no mention of "dragons" or any sort of primordial beings, excluding the Gods. In bold, you will find the specific mentions of how magic was given to the humans and how said magic was put on the planet. The Lore of Caelum is both unknown and an exception to the following, yet the scenario doesn't change for not being able to touch it.
While Man lived on Earth, a set of divine beings lived in Aer, more popularly known as Heaven. Their power is insurmountable, the weakest of them able to cause the world to shake on a whim. Obviously, the population of the Gods is much smaller than that of the Humans. Anyways, the deities of this world decided that the sins of humanity needed to be cleansed and the only way to do that is through spilling blood. Since these beings had transcended the savages below, the Gods decided to create a new creature, one who's standing on the food chain is above humans. These are the Tainted Ones, the living representation of the evil of humanity, bred solely to kill and devour humans. They had one major edge over their prey: Magic.
Humans, who lived with physical tools, were no match for the superior beings known as the Tainted Ones. They lived in constant fear and the moral changes the Gods had hoped for began to develop. Humans stopped pointing their weapons at each other and gathered together to face their common enemy. However, their attempt at surpassing the Taint was ill fated. It would take three soldiers at least to stand up against a single Tainted One, but the various armies of the world had been spread thin. Since this is a story, we cannot allow Humans to die off so quickly, and thus, a new player entered the game: Fallen Angels.
Fallen Angels are Gods that had chosen to descend from Aer, giving up a good chunk of their powers and the whole of their immortality as payment. These beings possessed knowledge of magic and began to spread this gift to the humans, who became Wizards, Magicians, Sorcerer's, whatever you'd prefer to title them. A single sorcerer would be able to take on one or two Tainted Ones on their own, which is a huge improvement. The Fallen Angels could easily take out more, since they were basically weakened Gods. Over time, those who had be given the gift of magic shared it, passing the sacred art down for generations. Unfortunately, there were still a relatively small number of people who could use magic, even less than the amount of soldiers across the world.
My concern here is that, no matter how many times I slap you on the wrist for doing this, you continue to try and twist the lore. No beasts taught magic to the humans, nor were there an Anti-God troupe of Demons. Nothing called the "Makers", "Mad Ones", "Royal Dragons", or whatever else exist/existed. The lore is simple: humans lived peacefully, they turned corrupt, they were punished, magic was given to have them save themselves. I know, I'm not nor have I ever gone into the nitty gritty with the Lore because it isn't needed. There is no need to over complicate things that will never touch the plot anyways. Consider this the last time I'm going to speak about this issue, although I was really hoping to never have to do this in the first place.
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEEEEEE- "Man that's annoying." I said as I silenced the notification on my phone. It had been almost a year since I fought against Medusa and woke up in a hospital bed in New Central. When I had woken up the doctor explained that I was severely injured and that I had lost a lot of blood before they were able to lift me to this hospital. When I had inquired where Ordis was the doctor told me that the man who bandaged my wound on the beach told them to contact him as soon as I woke up. I spent 2 months in the hospital getting my injury treated before they released me. Apparently when they had contacted Ordis he told them to give me a message when I got out. The message was "Lucy don't try to find me. In ten months meet me at this location outside of New Central." Along with the message came a set of coordinates for the location in the message.
In that time I had committed myself to getting stronger. I was able to defeat Medusa by a stroke of luck and if I ever had to go against someone like her again I couldn't count in getting lucky to save me. I spent half of the time training my body to peak physical condition while the other half I used to increase my magic capabilities. I had strengthened my magic shield so it would be more durable, but I had also learned how to use my flames to create durable duplicates of myself. These duplicates would disappear if hit by an attack but they were durable enough to be able to attack without disrupting themselves. I also taught myself a variety of offensive spells that could be cast at a distance.
Now after ten months of training I waited at the destination outside of New Central, a small metal shack in the middle of nowhere. "Come on Ordis where are you?" I thought out loud as I heard a cough come from behind me. Whirling around I was confused as I didn't see anyone behind me. "Huh weird." I thought as I turned around only to be flicked by a metal finger. "Ow that hurt." I said while rubbing the spot that was flicked. "Oh come on Lucy you've been impaled, stabbed, punched and kicked but a flick is what you whine about?" Ordis said as he crossed his arms. "Well that's because-" I stopped my complaint as I noticed Ordis's new appearance. His arms were now a metallic black and his eyes shone with yellow light. He was wearing a black t-shirt with a pair of jeans and black running shoes.
"Ordis what happened to you?" I asked as I gave him a once over. "I'll explain later but for now I sense a large amount of power coming from central and I'd like to check it out." He said as he picked me up bridal style, causing me to blush. Ordis then squatted down before jumping towards New Central at amazing speed. We arrived at the scene as light seemed to dance around Rani's body as he faced off against Tobias. "So Rani was the source of the surge, interesting." Ordis said as he put me down before noting Demi's presence. Walking over to her he said "Oh Demi it's nice to see you again. Thanks again for helping Lucy back then." He said before looking towards Tobias and Rani. "Ummm so did I miss something because right now it looks like Rani and Tobias are going to destroy the town."
((Welcome back Ronin, we've missed you))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1 Year ago the military was on the losing side of the war. All seemed bleak until one soldier brought a penguin in to training. They had trained that penguin in the use of explosives and sent him out into the field. They had thought that they had won but the agent went rouge. Now he only lives on as a legend, the legend of ShotgunPenguin.
This was peaceful. Alone, contained in a facility sturdy enough for me to barre "worrying about the safety of my students" from my to-do-list. A place where I could tinker with my magic, explore the arcane without any repercussions or possibilities of a leak of what I discover. A place just for me, where I could melt away the stress of running THE most specialized arcane fighting force on this half of the world and enjoy just being Iris.
Spiraling fractals of alien geometries and impossible hues rotated aimlessly around me, the sheer force of their complacent movements creating unnatural air patterns, things nature could only dream about. The air was a prismatic blur of opaque shades, a web upon which each individual fractal emanated their respective coloration onto the tangible fabric I inhaled with each and every breath. The maelstrom of nauseating colors was only a non-sequitur to the real action.
The nebula extended a tendril into the pulsating lavender sea of mana around it, a byproduct of my aura. The teal mass of magic reacted violently to the sensation of such an extension, causing it to alternate in form as if it were a chameleon of matter, constantly changing to suit it's environment. The fog of my exertion chortled out a deluge of pure energy droplets, each erupting into a jagged spire of frozen intent. Morose strings of ebony lavisciously ascended from the peak of each pillar, forming a net of darkness that encumbered the area in the shadow of oblivion.
This didn't last long.
An infinitesimal ripple of light disturbed the tranquil array, before reverberating back in the same direction, twice as large. As this process repeated itself time and time again, the rate of acceleration followed suite, eventually leading to the illusion of a stormy sky, illuminated by bolts of lightning and the echoes of thunder. The build-up created tension in the night-sky, which subsequently caused an ethereal pressure and more importantly, heat. As we all know, magic likes to manifest heat in one particular way.
Fire.
The placid emulation of the night sky shattered at once, a large crack in the apparently solid substrate of the ceiling quickly destabilizing the placid barrier. Thousands upon thousands of minuscule crystalline chunks rained from the broiling heavens, draining the recently liberated light like porous facets of the shadow of existence. As each infantile bread-crumb sized fragment collided with the cold metallic floor, each erupted into a deep violet flame. The rough plinths of glacial mana instantly liquefied once more, eerily drifting towards the ceiling as if possessed.
The flames ravenously consumed the lavender miasma, spreading like a disease before ultimately surrounding my vision. The incomprehensible fractals shot out of the protection of the neon maelstrom, each one repulsing the embers as if they were two magnets of opposite poles. They collided with the walls soundlessly, melding into the alloy and burrowing. Each simultaneously clicked, before expanding into identical crystalline shapes, still utterly indescribable. From each expanded a wave of complex runes, slithering outward as if a horde of serpents.
As these symbols became obscured behind the rapidly reconstituting mass of fire, bulbous tendrils of neon started lashing out with the alacrity of an incapacitated animal trying to escape. The markings on the walls connected to each other with a resounding flash of energy, which snuffed the flames out as easily as if I were blowing out a candle. The snaking appendages of the rapidly rotating storm of color surrounding me receded as if burnt, before rapidly expanding outwards. It was as if a bubble had popped.
The gas condensed against the walls, the arcane etchings releasing the occasional pulse of energy, which then echoed throughout the constituency with extraordinary might. A brane of gelatin rabidly enshrouded the cloud under itself, the ethereal emanations of the markings reaching a zenith, before collapsing all of the varying shades and hues into a singularity of pitch black.
The room was mostly empty now, and I found myself building up willpower for what came next. Even though I couldn't see my arm, I extended it and created a ball of cyan light. Immediately the room was illuminated, and immediately I whimpered softly. The outline of hands and faces pushed against the membrane, the screams of writhing children and grief-ridden mothers filling my mind, regardless of the eerie silence in the room. They pushed harder, now. Wave upon wave of humanoid figures clawed against the walls, desperately trying to free themselves.
I easily stifled the brief panic I felt rising inside me. This was anticipated, after all. Momentarily turning my attention away from the madness-inducing walls, I started jotting down notes. It's a shame the dimensional boundaries weren't harder to bypass. I mean, it took me just a single year! I've accomplished less astonishing things in hundreds of times that much time.
The spark of an idea tickled my psyche. Pausing my incessant writing, I add a note to the side. This would certainly be a topic of confusion if I ever taught the technique to somebody else. The spell I just crafted DOES NOT bring one to the entrance of Hell. No, that'd be too easy. It calculates your coordinates on this plane (the fractals), then ejects you from this plane into the one directly adjacent to it (lavender flames). It replicates the coordinates onto this new level of three-dimensional space (the runes), then transposes you into the plane you desire to enter (neon bubble popping). Finally, it creates a small indentation in the spacial fabric, creating a one-way mirror of sorts (black membrane). This allows you to observe, without the threat of the inhabitants coming to kill you. However, you can still exit the membrane, enter the plane, re-enter the membrane, then return to your native plane of existence.
I had used it to enter Hell, but it could in theory be used to enter Aer as well. Not to mention any other undiscovered layers of reality. If I were to unveil the spell to the magical community, they'd be astounded! I'd receive prizes, notoriety, fame, glory... Shame I don't need any of those things. Oh well, I guess it'll just be my little secret. The flickering orb of incandescent light imploded outward, briefly removing my eyesight. When my vision returned, I was back in the warehouse, all evidence of my arcane incursion there missing. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop myself from giggling a bit. I always get a bit of a high whenever I push the boundaries of known magic.
Well, my work is done. I'll need to record the instructions, in case I get hit with another wave of memory loss. One of the bad things about being immortal, I guess. Well, one of a LOT of bad things about immortality. Don't trail off into a tirade, Iris. Maintaining my composure, I teleported away.
(( There is only one method to get to Aer and it can only be used by Xeltia and Tobias. This is very intentional. Just keep that in mind. ))
[Demi]
Lucy and Ordis had come to where Hell was about to break loose. "Good to see you guys! Even if they make a mess, Tobias can probably clean it up. Speaking of, something feels different about him..." I trailed off, wondering about what Tobias could have done over this year. His aura was completely hidden, but even I could feel the ethereal energy revolving around him. Tobes' grin wasn't filled with egotistic pride, but rather pure confidence. His body was a bit sturdier, so he must have been training quite hard. I had never, not once, seen him train either his body or his spells at all. He was a genius since birth and his spells only improve by getting modified. How different was this Tobias from the one I once knew?
[Tobias]
"Out of respect for the difference in our strength, I will not use any offensive techniques until a minute has passed. Use this time to strike." I said, carefully crafting my words. With a small hand motion, I activated a more advanced version of Mana Shield. Instead of constantly draining my energy to maintain the shield, it created a single barrier. By pouring a bit of energy into it, I thickened that defensive Ward to the point where it was three feet thick and stronger than steel. This wasn't going to protect me against The Whistler, who likely had trained his Divine Light to near perfection. It was merely to stall,
Since he would likely waste most of the minute attempting to break through, I got to work drawing a fairly complicated circle array on the ground beneath me. It utilized three different magic formats: Elven (the chosen people of Lief who are majorly long dead), North Eternian, and a bit of my own custom design. The purpose of all of this was to pull in enough magic energy from my surroundings to maintain my display of power. Even with all of the magic energy I possessed, I wasn't stupid enough to try and cast it without a constant intake of high density energy. The Elves were masters of Nature Magic, hence why Lief favored them, and one of their various techniques included gathering magic energy from their environment in order to cast spells way above their regular 'price range'. In the Northern Ranges, it was essential for nomads to be able to condense the air to make it possible to breathe even at the highest of heights. These two things, combined with my own Affinity Alteration method, fit perfectly in order to turn Nature into a gigantic mana battery.
"Do you know the difference between a Mage, a Sage, and me?" I asked, making some idle chatter while finishing up the array. The minute was nearly up but I couldn't waste time focusing at all on The Whistler. "A Mage is someone who understands the laws of magic enough to utilize it's power. A Safe is someone who can use those laws in their entirety to command the very fibers of magic. I, however, can write, bend, and break those laws as I see fit."
((I tried to imply it as being more along the lines of Iris assuming it was possible. Regardless of her vast knowledge of magic, she isn't very experienced with Heaven.))
(( Nulling my previous post for no reason other than I had forgotten that I wanted to save the Infinity Focus surprise for later. I hope you weren't preparing a response because you'll have to restart .-. ))
[Tobias]
"It is fairly arrogant, I must guess." I admitted, finishing up the chalk diagram. My issue a year ago was that, after all the battles had been finished, the toll from activating my Affinity State was too much for me to bare. I had spent several weeks training solely towards converting the energy around me into applicable power and the fruits of my labors were quite plump. "Still, you can not say it isn't the truth." I took a brief moment to use my aura as a radar and determined that there were two Ranis, although one had a superior amount of energy to the other. If I were to guess, I'd assume he was trying to pull my attention to the inferior based on immediate sight, but the real one was likely in position to strike. The time I had decided on was nearly up. Uncovering my new arm, I used the masterfully crafted prosthetic limb to smash the shield around me. I didn't have high hopes, but it sent a web of cracks throughout the entire barrier and shattered it like paper-thin ice. If I had but a moment to surprise him, it would need to be with something that would stop the warrior in his tracks. Luckily, I knew what spell this was.
"Oblivion Pane." I said. As soon as the last syllable left my lips, I could feel the void form behind me. Rather, I could sense the lack of any magic. Last time the Whistler had merely touched the Pane's energy-stealing barrier, he was sent into near Arcolic Shock. There's no way his body would be able to pass through and still have the energy to fight me, so I'd likely have bought myself a few moments. Striking now was ideal, yet any warrior would recognize this as a window of opportunity. I'd be insulting my opponent by taking such obvious paths. Instead, I did a bit of a roll to make even the slightest amount of distance. When I stood up, I willed a bit of stone to form little spheres and float above me. "So, there were three jurors you never likely got to meet. Heracles could control Gravity, so I picked up one of his tricks." With a flick of my wrist, the direction of the force of the Earth changed for these rocks. They launched themselves toward the Whistler.
Brom was in no rush; the Jurors obviously had not invaded. He would have heard of that. But still, he wanted to know what had happened. Perhaps Tobias went out of his way to defeat the remaining Jurors? Perhaps he led an invasion force. No, something as big as that would have made it to even the remote towns in the mountains, and to Brom. The Jurors were likely still out there. And Brom was sure they'd want revenge for their fallen friends.
Brom made it to New Central, and found Tobias and friends pretty quickly. He and someone were fighting, and Tobias had created something that seemed like a magical gravity well, as well as sent a volley of rocks to his opponent. Though they didnt seem to be lobbed... they almost seemed to fall sideways, gaining speed instead of maintaining it. Brom decided to wait this out before asking about the Jurors.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Puella Magi Madoka Magicka is an awesome, feel-good, cutesy anime. You should watch it!
((Alright, I feel the need to clarify something with you. Does the nullification of all those ideas I tossed out there include the stuff I talked about way back when? It was Iris's second IC post, something about the civilization that lived where her species lived before her kind migrated there. I only ask because it doesn't necessarily concern itself with world history, but I still remain uncertain. So, yes or no?))
[Iris]
Once again, I found myself surrounded by future comrades, soldiers, and students. Well, sort of. I was a guest at Brambleton High, the school for the extraordinarily gifted. It was a government funded resort of sorts, where the children who showed a capacity for magic of a certain level, which were then whisked away to a land where their talents could be harnessed to the fullest of their abilities. In truth, the school was all ages under twenty, what with that being the age of magical maturity in MOST people. Some continue to grow for several years past that point.
Most of the graduates of this school would become my students, after a decade or so accumulating additional knowledge. A prominent reason for this is the fact that each student is literally guaranteed to have an Arcolic Capacity of at least 3.2 terrathaums, 325 gigasols, and 50 gigalums. This ensures that they have the capability of becoming a Grand Magus within the first year of training.
Currently, roughly forty students surrounded me, eager looks and curious glances pervading my peripheral, their thirst for knowledge mere moments from being satiated as I mentally prepared today's speech. If you were wondering, the topic is teleportation, and not via portals. It's essentially the linking puzzle piece that connects Physics and Magic, opening the door to grand spells that produce waves or ripples in the fabric of reality itself.
Beyond that, it only gets more and more convoluted. Beyond three-dimensional space, the door opens to the dilation of time itself, or even the manipulation of the strings of fate itself. To change causality, alter the path of the future, and bend probability and possibility to your whims. And even beyond that, changing the actuality of a concept on a separate plane, then opening a door into this totally alien realm, to allow these maddening, truly unknowable ideas and forms.
Stop it Iris! You're getting ahead of yourself. Okay, calm down, start your lesson. Going over the mechanics in my head again, I gathered my charisma and patiently awaited the teacher's introduction. She told them my name, explained the topic, and set up the foundation. As she wrapped up, I opened my lips to start talking.
"As you well know, teleportation is the instantaneous movement between one point in space to another. However, to accomplish it requires more than simply that. Knowledge of higher dimensions, of how to manipulate them, when to stop delving too deep, and how to prevent the creation of a Kugelblitz. Well, that's why I'm here. If you don't already have paper out, get some. This is integral for your future, so listen up."
A few stray eyes finally aligned upon my location, and I allowed a smile to grace my lips. This was teaching. This, was important. One day, I might see one of these faces again. Older, more mature, more powerful, the Golden Years of their lives would possibly be spent training under me. And yet, this joy was accompanied with a misery older than Eternia. While I'd see them in their prime, they would eventually fade away, lost from my clutches. This was the truth of immortality, and I'm strongly of the opinion that the price was too steep. I mean, the last time I tried to date I became so obsessive I abducted him for two weeks. And then he killed himself... So there's that. That's your future, Iris. Alone and detached, yet forced to bear the burdens of those around you. No escaping that. Not until Cetus is born.
Rani evaded my attacks without an issue, a definite sign of improvement. He then sent a barrage of light projectiles my way, but two of us could play the dodging game. Each one sailed past me, exploding against various buildings. I'd have to repair those. I would have returned the favor with a couple bolts of lightning, but I remembered what I wanted to discuss.
"We're going to have to put the duel on hold." I told my opponent. "Since a few of you guys have gathered here, it's about time to give you the new crazy scheme. I decided that I wanted to go on a field trip to a distant country called Doal. However, the entire thing is nothing more than a giant mess of ruins and I personally hate archeology. I decided it'd be much cooler to travel through time and explore their culture first hand. An informant of mine has supplied me with the means to slip through time, which should get us there. I figured that, since time travel has never been accomplished before in any substantial way, you guys might be interested in joining me on this expedition."
Brom was taken aback. Time Travel? The thought if it being real was... intriguing. Then, Brom began to think through the implications. Could it all be predestination, where all the events of our shenanigans already occurred, and we're fulfilling it? Or maybe we'll influence the future in some way, which could lead to a paradox of perhaps one of us not being born in the first place. Perhaps the future is pre-written, and no matter what we change, the future will still go in the same general direction as before. Brom was unsure if he'd partake.
Then, he thought of the personal implications. Going back and saving his parents from the horde of Taint that ruined his village. Keeping Zicka from being killed by Alice. He then thought of how it would work out with all the theories on time travel. Predestination would mean he cant change anything. Influencing the future is what he desired, but it ran the risk of paradox, and unknown repercussions. A pre-written future meant even if he changed something, the future would still play out as it is, meaning his parents might die to sickness rather than the Taint, and Zicka might die some other way.
But the very thought of time travel was alluring. He could visit ancient lands, distant futures, and re-watch some of the most famous moments in history. Brom would need some convincing, though, if he were to go back to where Tobias was planning. And he still needed to ask of the Jurors. Brom voiced his question of what time travel theory might be true, leaving out his personal desires, and asked why they would be going to that specific place and time. He held his question about the Jurors for now.
((I claim this page in the name of Splatoon, winner of two Game of the Year awards, Best Shooter and Best Multiplayer.))
Tobias laughed a bit at Rani's question, which I found odd. Had he grown insane over this past year, or did he just have a weird sense of humor? Nonetheless, he replied, "Is there a requirement of a reason to break every rule in this world in one fell sweep? I want to study their magic, their artifacts, and what got the entire nation of Doal destroyed. The specifics on all three of those topics are lost in time, but a new friend of mine has created a mock version of a small tool they used. The blueprints were very hard to find, but with my friend's mechanical talent and my magical knowledge, it turned out alright." He reached into his jacket and pulled out what looked to be some sort of steampunk pistol. The main two parts of it were a wooden stock and a bronze barrel, if you could call the latter that. It was a wide tube, maybe two inches wide, that widened like a horn toward the end. Closer to the stock, the tube split off into two smaller ones, each looking like exhaust pipes.
"According to the recovered notes, the Doalians were a peaceful people with no offensive magic and no technology designed to be weapons." He continued, aiming the weird pistol around. "Apparently they had mastered the Affinity Shift technique in order to create magical fuel out of other matter, which is one of the reasons they caught my interest. Watch and learn." When he pulled the trigger on the strange gun, it began sucking in the air. A small fireball was produced and shot out, although I could tell it was really just a mass of harmless heat. With his demonstration over, Tobes looked back to us. "Our trip is already prepared, although there are only two rules if you'd like to accompany me: you may bring nothing relating to our current technology back unless it is crucial and, regardless of whatever heroic instincts you may have, you must not prevent the destruction of Doal."
Brom was ignored, but he decided not to fuss. The way Tobias talked implied that the future could be changed. He held onto this thought for later. "I will accompany you, if you will assure that we will not be left behind, and tell us what we might gain from this experience." Brom said. He certainly didnt want to go to be left behind, and he didnt see anything that he could gain personally.
((Limited time sorry for short post))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Puella Magi Madoka Magicka is an awesome, feel-good, cutesy anime. You should watch it!
((That sudden drop of quality tho. Also Kumquat, I'll just make the post.))
[Alice]
Oh, New Central has such lovely weather! That's kind of odd, considering the huge scourge of Tainted that had previously run rampant not too long ago. But at the same time, it's to be expected. As the last bits of lemon juice dribbled from the freshly-squeezed lemon held firmly in my grasp, I found myself at peace. And for once, I didn't feel the need to think. To contemplate. I just, [i]was[/i][/i].[i] [/i]And that's all I ever really needed.[/i]
[i][i]I gingerly gripped the glass of lemonade, being careful so as not to spill. My tender grasp swiftly warped into a gentle firmness, accompanied by the soft footsteps of my scuttling feet. Arriving upon the door into Ivan's workplace, I expertly swapped my drink into my other hand, using my cold, moist hand to rotate the knob and enter my favorite room in the entirety of our six-story complex.[/i][/i]
[i][i]Immediately, the tinge of an infantile spark stung my cheek, and I reflexively grabbed protective goggles from the wall, where they placidly lay suspended along small hooks. I crossed through the danger zone towards Ivan with practiced ease, the action being almost subconscious now. And finally, as I peered over his shoulder, the lemonade spilled. A little dribbled down and was quickly soaked into my dress. And while Ivan didn't seem to notice or care, this was quite an annoyance to me.[/i][/i]
[i][i]Putting aside my indignation, I analyzed his work. A diminutive, violet creature rolled around on his table. It cooed, the sparks of newborn curiosity evident in it's mechanical eye. "They're getting better." I said, and it was true. The integration of Tainted traits into Rykov Industries (I think that's the name) was a task we'd been working on for months, one which had been making steady progress.[/i][/i]
[i][i]The idea was simple: Instead of biomatter as a template for the Tainted energy to meld onto, we could use cybernetics instead. This had numerous advantages, mostly in terms of utility, as Tainted devices were far more developed to multiple uses and purposes. It's like the difference between a machete and a pocket knife, except for the pocket knife is actually a machete too, and also a flamethrower and a grenade launcher. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.[/i][/i]
[i][i]"Lemonade?" I queried, prostrating myself to him somewhat so as to put the drink into view. He didn't take his eyes away from his tinkering, instead expertly taking one hand and setting the drink down at the far end of his work area. I smiled appreciately while he closed up a small hatch on the stomach of the creature, apparently finished making alterations.[/i][/i]
[i][i]After setting the small life form down on the table, he looked at me and smiled, his eyes obscured behind his special pair of tinted goggles. "Ready for a test drive?" He asked, the corners of his lips tugging upwards in a mischievous smile. I giggled in response, grabbing the animal of the bench and practically bounding through the door towards the demonstration field. That was our deal of sorts, he'd make stuff and I'd test it's efficiency. He'd generally have somebody else do it, or simply have it tested through combat, but as the Tainted are my forté, he has allowed my expertise in the field to be of use.[/i][/i]
[i][i]He stood off in the distance, a solid thirty meters away, and several feet behind me. His arm pulled up to face his core, and a large evergreen screen projected out of what appeared to be a watch. He nodded slightly, and stated loud and clear "Ready." I nodded, determination overwhelming giddiness as I prepared to battle.[/i][/i]
[i][i]I poured a small bit of magic into the creature, waiting until I could feel the mechanical gauge click into place. I didn't need to wait very long. Almost immediately, the cyborg-ish creature disassembled and reassembled into a long, curved blade clearly emulating a claw. My eyes hardened into focus, all prior stray thoughts all singling in on what was in front of me. My lips drew back into a snarl as I finally leapt into combat.[/i][/i]
[i][i]The weapon had, as far as I knew, fourteen configurations. It really was shocking to see what Ivan could do in just a year. This tech was just a finishing touch away from being mass-produced, along with the perk of being the "it" tech of Rykov Industries. It had huge potential, and it could very well be the last test drive necessary before we start selling these things. It is with those thoughts that I made a decision. The weapon shrank back into an animal as I chucked it through the air towards Ivan. He caught it easily, before looking at me questionably. "You should use it." I said, smiling before leaping out of the general vicinity, towards Ivan's position. "What better way to publicize the impressive capabilities of Rykov Industries than leaking a video of a Rykov murdering a bunch of wooden dummies with our newest, most trending weapon?"[/i][/i]
"Since you guys seem to be okay with it, we'll head off. I'll keep the rift open for the people who have yet to arrive." I announced, with a grin. Energy began to swirl around me, swarming like moths to a flame. It took nothing more than a couple already prepared magic circles, each one looking like intricate golden hoops, and the energy conversion ritual I had begun earlier in order to bypass time and space. The three frames floated in the air, revolving around an invisible core, where a small speck of purple light appeared. That light expanded outwards to the point where anybody in the group could get through without clipping their head on the fabric of reality. "Time to go on a field trip." An excited me said. I jumped through without a second thought, ready to be the first person to travel through time.
The experience was overwhelming at first. I had aimed the special shift aspect of the portal correctly, as I was definitely in Doal, but I was hoping our exit site would be a bit more... Grand. The portal lead to a small warehouse, filled with crates of all sorts of contraptions. Bronze automatons whirred to life just by me being in their proximity. Exactly as I had wanted, they demonstrated a form of Affinity Conversion to turn the air around them into fire, which fueled their weird engines. It'd be nearly impossible to drag Ivan out of here. I noticed one remaining thing that would definitely show we were from a different time: our clothing. There weren't many garments laying around, so something would have to be done about that, but it was an issue for later. For the time being, I just wanted to get to know exactly how these people utilized their limited magic, as well as why and how they were destroyed.
Once again, Brom had been ignored. Or at least, misheard. Tobias seemed to think Brom had agreed to coming, when in reality, Brom had asked questions and wanted them answered before departing for the past. He watched as Tobias opened a portal, likely the one they were to go through. Brom was about to ask his questions again, only Tobias had leaped through the portal. Brom sighed and shook his head. "Tell Tobias i'm staying back," Brom told the person Tobias had fought with. "I'll stay in new central until you get back, which could just be a few seconds. Have a good time."
((I need a break from RPing for awhile. Im not quitting, i just need to focus, cause i have mid-term exams coming up in my school.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Puella Magi Madoka Magicka is an awesome, feel-good, cutesy anime. You should watch it!
(( Welcome back. Never leave again. <3 ))
[Demi]
Rani and I had, maybe a month or two into the hiatus, met up in order to do some training. He was unbelievably strong for a Demigod, perhaps as strong as Garrett. Either way, we had gone with the concept of "Iron sharpens Iron" and had spent the time honing each other's skills. Rani had almost mastered Divine Light by the time we began, yet I couldn't cast Divine Torch at all. His techniques to let emotion take control helped and, after weeks of intense practice, I pulled it off yet again. By the time the year was up, I could cast Divine Torch twice, three if I was desperate. Rani had, when we arrived at the meeting location, decided to whistle, which was normal enough. It didn't take an air mage to realize that, when he began his tune, the wind shifted to point west. This was followed by a metallic taste in the air, the sky darkening, and, of course, a blast of lightning right in front of my... Nephew?
"You called." A man said, everything but his head covered in a dark cloak. The white hair was a clear sign that he was Tobias. "That whistle is supposed to be for when you decide to fight me. Do you think you're prepared to face me?" He asked. I had no idea what Tobes was talking about, as this was likely having to do with something prior to my descent.
((Hey guys just popping on quick to say that I should have my post up by the end of the day. I've got a lot of preparation for thanksgiving that needs to be done before my family arrives.))
Null.
(( I sort-of addressed this via PM with you, Man Man, but I guess you didn't quite get the point I was trying to make. To try and define any global lore is the same as writing history that would effect everyone. I'm not sure how I'd describe what rule this breaks. PowerGaming for controlling the history and lore of the Roleplay without my permission? That's probably the most accurate term. In the following spoilers, you will find a chunk of the OP that details the origin of magic. You will find no mention of "dragons" or any sort of primordial beings, excluding the Gods. In bold, you will find the specific mentions of how magic was given to the humans and how said magic was put on the planet. The Lore of Caelum is both unknown and an exception to the following, yet the scenario doesn't change for not being able to touch it.
While Man lived on Earth, a set of divine beings lived in Aer, more popularly known as Heaven. Their power is insurmountable, the weakest of them able to cause the world to shake on a whim. Obviously, the population of the Gods is much smaller than that of the Humans. Anyways, the deities of this world decided that the sins of humanity needed to be cleansed and the only way to do that is through spilling blood. Since these beings had transcended the savages below, the Gods decided to create a new creature, one who's standing on the food chain is above humans. These are the Tainted Ones, the living representation of the evil of humanity, bred solely to kill and devour humans. They had one major edge over their prey: Magic.
Humans, who lived with physical tools, were no match for the superior beings known as the Tainted Ones. They lived in constant fear and the moral changes the Gods had hoped for began to develop. Humans stopped pointing their weapons at each other and gathered together to face their common enemy. However, their attempt at surpassing the Taint was ill fated. It would take three soldiers at least to stand up against a single Tainted One, but the various armies of the world had been spread thin. Since this is a story, we cannot allow Humans to die off so quickly, and thus, a new player entered the game: Fallen Angels.
Fallen Angels are Gods that had chosen to descend from Aer, giving up a good chunk of their powers and the whole of their immortality as payment. These beings possessed knowledge of magic and began to spread this gift to the humans, who became Wizards, Magicians, Sorcerer's, whatever you'd prefer to title them. A single sorcerer would be able to take on one or two Tainted Ones on their own, which is a huge improvement. The Fallen Angels could easily take out more, since they were basically weakened Gods. Over time, those who had be given the gift of magic shared it, passing the sacred art down for generations. Unfortunately, there were still a relatively small number of people who could use magic, even less than the amount of soldiers across the world.
My concern here is that, no matter how many times I slap you on the wrist for doing this, you continue to try and twist the lore. No beasts taught magic to the humans, nor were there an Anti-God troupe of Demons. Nothing called the "Makers", "Mad Ones", "Royal Dragons", or whatever else exist/existed. The lore is simple: humans lived peacefully, they turned corrupt, they were punished, magic was given to have them save themselves. I know, I'm not nor have I ever gone into the nitty gritty with the Lore because it isn't needed. There is no need to over complicate things that will never touch the plot anyways. Consider this the last time I'm going to speak about this issue, although I was really hoping to never have to do this in the first place.
Ronin, will you need a recap of recent events? ))
((Alright.))
[Lucy]
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEEEEEE- "Man that's annoying." I said as I silenced the notification on my phone. It had been almost a year since I fought against Medusa and woke up in a hospital bed in New Central. When I had woken up the doctor explained that I was severely injured and that I had lost a lot of blood before they were able to lift me to this hospital. When I had inquired where Ordis was the doctor told me that the man who bandaged my wound on the beach told them to contact him as soon as I woke up. I spent 2 months in the hospital getting my injury treated before they released me. Apparently when they had contacted Ordis he told them to give me a message when I got out. The message was "Lucy don't try to find me. In ten months meet me at this location outside of New Central." Along with the message came a set of coordinates for the location in the message.
In that time I had committed myself to getting stronger. I was able to defeat Medusa by a stroke of luck and if I ever had to go against someone like her again I couldn't count in getting lucky to save me. I spent half of the time training my body to peak physical condition while the other half I used to increase my magic capabilities. I had strengthened my magic shield so it would be more durable, but I had also learned how to use my flames to create durable duplicates of myself. These duplicates would disappear if hit by an attack but they were durable enough to be able to attack without disrupting themselves. I also taught myself a variety of offensive spells that could be cast at a distance.
Now after ten months of training I waited at the destination outside of New Central, a small metal shack in the middle of nowhere. "Come on Ordis where are you?" I thought out loud as I heard a cough come from behind me. Whirling around I was confused as I didn't see anyone behind me. "Huh weird." I thought as I turned around only to be flicked by a metal finger. "Ow that hurt." I said while rubbing the spot that was flicked. "Oh come on Lucy you've been impaled, stabbed, punched and kicked but a flick is what you whine about?" Ordis said as he crossed his arms. "Well that's because-" I stopped my complaint as I noticed Ordis's new appearance. His arms were now a metallic black and his eyes shone with yellow light. He was wearing a black t-shirt with a pair of jeans and black running shoes.
"Ordis what happened to you?" I asked as I gave him a once over. "I'll explain later but for now I sense a large amount of power coming from central and I'd like to check it out." He said as he picked me up bridal style, causing me to blush. Ordis then squatted down before jumping towards New Central at amazing speed. We arrived at the scene as light seemed to dance around Rani's body as he faced off against Tobias. "So Rani was the source of the surge, interesting." Ordis said as he put me down before noting Demi's presence. Walking over to her he said "Oh Demi it's nice to see you again. Thanks again for helping Lucy back then." He said before looking towards Tobias and Rani. "Ummm so did I miss something because right now it looks like Rani and Tobias are going to destroy the town."
((Welcome back Ronin, we've missed you))
[Iris]
This was peaceful. Alone, contained in a facility sturdy enough for me to barre "worrying about the safety of my students" from my to-do-list. A place where I could tinker with my magic, explore the arcane without any repercussions or possibilities of a leak of what I discover. A place just for me, where I could melt away the stress of running THE most specialized arcane fighting force on this half of the world and enjoy just being Iris.
Spiraling fractals of alien geometries and impossible hues rotated aimlessly around me, the sheer force of their complacent movements creating unnatural air patterns, things nature could only dream about. The air was a prismatic blur of opaque shades, a web upon which each individual fractal emanated their respective coloration onto the tangible fabric I inhaled with each and every breath. The maelstrom of nauseating colors was only a non-sequitur to the real action.
The nebula extended a tendril into the pulsating lavender sea of mana around it, a byproduct of my aura. The teal mass of magic reacted violently to the sensation of such an extension, causing it to alternate in form as if it were a chameleon of matter, constantly changing to suit it's environment. The fog of my exertion chortled out a deluge of pure energy droplets, each erupting into a jagged spire of frozen intent. Morose strings of ebony lavisciously ascended from the peak of each pillar, forming a net of darkness that encumbered the area in the shadow of oblivion.
This didn't last long.
An infinitesimal ripple of light disturbed the tranquil array, before reverberating back in the same direction, twice as large. As this process repeated itself time and time again, the rate of acceleration followed suite, eventually leading to the illusion of a stormy sky, illuminated by bolts of lightning and the echoes of thunder. The build-up created tension in the night-sky, which subsequently caused an ethereal pressure and more importantly, heat. As we all know, magic likes to manifest heat in one particular way.
Fire.
The placid emulation of the night sky shattered at once, a large crack in the apparently solid substrate of the ceiling quickly destabilizing the placid barrier. Thousands upon thousands of minuscule crystalline chunks rained from the broiling heavens, draining the recently liberated light like porous facets of the shadow of existence. As each infantile bread-crumb sized fragment collided with the cold metallic floor, each erupted into a deep violet flame. The rough plinths of glacial mana instantly liquefied once more, eerily drifting towards the ceiling as if possessed.
The flames ravenously consumed the lavender miasma, spreading like a disease before ultimately surrounding my vision. The incomprehensible fractals shot out of the protection of the neon maelstrom, each one repulsing the embers as if they were two magnets of opposite poles. They collided with the walls soundlessly, melding into the alloy and burrowing. Each simultaneously clicked, before expanding into identical crystalline shapes, still utterly indescribable. From each expanded a wave of complex runes, slithering outward as if a horde of serpents.
As these symbols became obscured behind the rapidly reconstituting mass of fire, bulbous tendrils of neon started lashing out with the alacrity of an incapacitated animal trying to escape. The markings on the walls connected to each other with a resounding flash of energy, which snuffed the flames out as easily as if I were blowing out a candle. The snaking appendages of the rapidly rotating storm of color surrounding me receded as if burnt, before rapidly expanding outwards. It was as if a bubble had popped.
The gas condensed against the walls, the arcane etchings releasing the occasional pulse of energy, which then echoed throughout the constituency with extraordinary might. A brane of gelatin rabidly enshrouded the cloud under itself, the ethereal emanations of the markings reaching a zenith, before collapsing all of the varying shades and hues into a singularity of pitch black.
The room was mostly empty now, and I found myself building up willpower for what came next. Even though I couldn't see my arm, I extended it and created a ball of cyan light. Immediately the room was illuminated, and immediately I whimpered softly. The outline of hands and faces pushed against the membrane, the screams of writhing children and grief-ridden mothers filling my mind, regardless of the eerie silence in the room. They pushed harder, now. Wave upon wave of humanoid figures clawed against the walls, desperately trying to free themselves.
I easily stifled the brief panic I felt rising inside me. This was anticipated, after all. Momentarily turning my attention away from the madness-inducing walls, I started jotting down notes. It's a shame the dimensional boundaries weren't harder to bypass. I mean, it took me just a single year! I've accomplished less astonishing things in hundreds of times that much time.
The spark of an idea tickled my psyche. Pausing my incessant writing, I add a note to the side. This would certainly be a topic of confusion if I ever taught the technique to somebody else. The spell I just crafted DOES NOT bring one to the entrance of Hell. No, that'd be too easy. It calculates your coordinates on this plane (the fractals), then ejects you from this plane into the one directly adjacent to it (lavender flames). It replicates the coordinates onto this new level of three-dimensional space (the runes), then transposes you into the plane you desire to enter (neon bubble popping). Finally, it creates a small indentation in the spacial fabric, creating a one-way mirror of sorts (black membrane). This allows you to observe, without the threat of the inhabitants coming to kill you. However, you can still exit the membrane, enter the plane, re-enter the membrane, then return to your native plane of existence.
I had used it to enter Hell, but it could in theory be used to enter Aer as well. Not to mention any other undiscovered layers of reality. If I were to unveil the spell to the magical community, they'd be astounded! I'd receive prizes, notoriety, fame, glory... Shame I don't need any of those things. Oh well, I guess it'll just be my little secret. The flickering orb of incandescent light imploded outward, briefly removing my eyesight. When my vision returned, I was back in the warehouse, all evidence of my arcane incursion there missing. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop myself from giggling a bit. I always get a bit of a high whenever I push the boundaries of known magic.
Well, my work is done. I'll need to record the instructions, in case I get hit with another wave of memory loss. One of the bad things about being immortal, I guess. Well, one of a LOT of bad things about immortality. Don't trail off into a tirade, Iris. Maintaining my composure, I teleported away.
(( There is only one method to get to Aer and it can only be used by Xeltia and Tobias. This is very intentional. Just keep that in mind. ))
[Demi]
Lucy and Ordis had come to where Hell was about to break loose. "Good to see you guys! Even if they make a mess, Tobias can probably clean it up. Speaking of, something feels different about him..." I trailed off, wondering about what Tobias could have done over this year. His aura was completely hidden, but even I could feel the ethereal energy revolving around him. Tobes' grin wasn't filled with egotistic pride, but rather pure confidence. His body was a bit sturdier, so he must have been training quite hard. I had never, not once, seen him train either his body or his spells at all. He was a genius since birth and his spells only improve by getting modified. How different was this Tobias from the one I once knew?
[Tobias]
"Out of respect for the difference in our strength, I will not use any offensive techniques until a minute has passed. Use this time to strike." I said, carefully crafting my words. With a small hand motion, I activated a more advanced version of Mana Shield. Instead of constantly draining my energy to maintain the shield, it created a single barrier. By pouring a bit of energy into it, I thickened that defensive Ward to the point where it was three feet thick and stronger than steel. This wasn't going to protect me against The Whistler, who likely had trained his Divine Light to near perfection. It was merely to stall,
Since he would likely waste most of the minute attempting to break through, I got to work drawing a fairly complicated circle array on the ground beneath me. It utilized three different magic formats: Elven (the chosen people of Lief who are majorly long dead), North Eternian, and a bit of my own custom design. The purpose of all of this was to pull in enough magic energy from my surroundings to maintain my display of power. Even with all of the magic energy I possessed, I wasn't stupid enough to try and cast it without a constant intake of high density energy. The Elves were masters of Nature Magic, hence why Lief favored them, and one of their various techniques included gathering magic energy from their environment in order to cast spells way above their regular 'price range'. In the Northern Ranges, it was essential for nomads to be able to condense the air to make it possible to breathe even at the highest of heights. These two things, combined with my own Affinity Alteration method, fit perfectly in order to turn Nature into a gigantic mana battery.
"Do you know the difference between a Mage, a Sage, and me?" I asked, making some idle chatter while finishing up the array. The minute was nearly up but I couldn't waste time focusing at all on The Whistler. "A Mage is someone who understands the laws of magic enough to utilize it's power. A Safe is someone who can use those laws in their entirety to command the very fibers of magic. I, however, can write, bend, and break those laws as I see fit."
((I tried to imply it as being more along the lines of Iris assuming it was possible. Regardless of her vast knowledge of magic, she isn't very experienced with Heaven.))
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(( Nulling my previous post for no reason other than I had forgotten that I wanted to save the Infinity Focus surprise for later. I hope you weren't preparing a response because you'll have to restart .-. ))
[Tobias]
"It is fairly arrogant, I must guess." I admitted, finishing up the chalk diagram. My issue a year ago was that, after all the battles had been finished, the toll from activating my Affinity State was too much for me to bare. I had spent several weeks training solely towards converting the energy around me into applicable power and the fruits of my labors were quite plump. "Still, you can not say it isn't the truth." I took a brief moment to use my aura as a radar and determined that there were two Ranis, although one had a superior amount of energy to the other. If I were to guess, I'd assume he was trying to pull my attention to the inferior based on immediate sight, but the real one was likely in position to strike. The time I had decided on was nearly up. Uncovering my new arm, I used the masterfully crafted prosthetic limb to smash the shield around me. I didn't have high hopes, but it sent a web of cracks throughout the entire barrier and shattered it like paper-thin ice. If I had but a moment to surprise him, it would need to be with something that would stop the warrior in his tracks. Luckily, I knew what spell this was.
"Oblivion Pane." I said. As soon as the last syllable left my lips, I could feel the void form behind me. Rather, I could sense the lack of any magic. Last time the Whistler had merely touched the Pane's energy-stealing barrier, he was sent into near Arcolic Shock. There's no way his body would be able to pass through and still have the energy to fight me, so I'd likely have bought myself a few moments. Striking now was ideal, yet any warrior would recognize this as a window of opportunity. I'd be insulting my opponent by taking such obvious paths. Instead, I did a bit of a roll to make even the slightest amount of distance. When I stood up, I willed a bit of stone to form little spheres and float above me. "So, there were three jurors you never likely got to meet. Heracles could control Gravity, so I picked up one of his tricks." With a flick of my wrist, the direction of the force of the Earth changed for these rocks. They launched themselves toward the Whistler.
Brom was in no rush; the Jurors obviously had not invaded. He would have heard of that. But still, he wanted to know what had happened. Perhaps Tobias went out of his way to defeat the remaining Jurors? Perhaps he led an invasion force. No, something as big as that would have made it to even the remote towns in the mountains, and to Brom. The Jurors were likely still out there. And Brom was sure they'd want revenge for their fallen friends.
Brom made it to New Central, and found Tobias and friends pretty quickly. He and someone were fighting, and Tobias had created something that seemed like a magical gravity well, as well as sent a volley of rocks to his opponent. Though they didnt seem to be lobbed... they almost seemed to fall sideways, gaining speed instead of maintaining it. Brom decided to wait this out before asking about the Jurors.
((Alright, I feel the need to clarify something with you. Does the nullification of all those ideas I tossed out there include the stuff I talked about way back when? It was Iris's second IC post, something about the civilization that lived where her species lived before her kind migrated there. I only ask because it doesn't necessarily concern itself with world history, but I still remain uncertain. So, yes or no?))
[Iris]
Once again, I found myself surrounded by future comrades, soldiers, and students. Well, sort of. I was a guest at Brambleton High, the school for the extraordinarily gifted. It was a government funded resort of sorts, where the children who showed a capacity for magic of a certain level, which were then whisked away to a land where their talents could be harnessed to the fullest of their abilities. In truth, the school was all ages under twenty, what with that being the age of magical maturity in MOST people. Some continue to grow for several years past that point.
Most of the graduates of this school would become my students, after a decade or so accumulating additional knowledge. A prominent reason for this is the fact that each student is literally guaranteed to have an Arcolic Capacity of at least 3.2 terrathaums, 325 gigasols, and 50 gigalums. This ensures that they have the capability of becoming a Grand Magus within the first year of training.
Currently, roughly forty students surrounded me, eager looks and curious glances pervading my peripheral, their thirst for knowledge mere moments from being satiated as I mentally prepared today's speech. If you were wondering, the topic is teleportation, and not via portals. It's essentially the linking puzzle piece that connects Physics and Magic, opening the door to grand spells that produce waves or ripples in the fabric of reality itself.
Beyond that, it only gets more and more convoluted. Beyond three-dimensional space, the door opens to the dilation of time itself, or even the manipulation of the strings of fate itself. To change causality, alter the path of the future, and bend probability and possibility to your whims. And even beyond that, changing the actuality of a concept on a separate plane, then opening a door into this totally alien realm, to allow these maddening, truly unknowable ideas and forms.
Stop it Iris! You're getting ahead of yourself. Okay, calm down, start your lesson. Going over the mechanics in my head again, I gathered my charisma and patiently awaited the teacher's introduction. She told them my name, explained the topic, and set up the foundation. As she wrapped up, I opened my lips to start talking.
"As you well know, teleportation is the instantaneous movement between one point in space to another. However, to accomplish it requires more than simply that. Knowledge of higher dimensions, of how to manipulate them, when to stop delving too deep, and how to prevent the creation of a Kugelblitz. Well, that's why I'm here. If you don't already have paper out, get some. This is integral for your future, so listen up."
A few stray eyes finally aligned upon my location, and I allowed a smile to grace my lips. This was teaching. This, was important. One day, I might see one of these faces again. Older, more mature, more powerful, the Golden Years of their lives would possibly be spent training under me. And yet, this joy was accompanied with a misery older than Eternia. While I'd see them in their prime, they would eventually fade away, lost from my clutches. This was the truth of immortality, and I'm strongly of the opinion that the price was too steep. I mean, the last time I tried to date I became so obsessive I abducted him for two weeks. And then he killed himself... So there's that. That's your future, Iris. Alone and detached, yet forced to bear the burdens of those around you. No escaping that. Not until Cetus is born.
[Tobias]
Rani evaded my attacks without an issue, a definite sign of improvement. He then sent a barrage of light projectiles my way, but two of us could play the dodging game. Each one sailed past me, exploding against various buildings. I'd have to repair those. I would have returned the favor with a couple bolts of lightning, but I remembered what I wanted to discuss.
"We're going to have to put the duel on hold." I told my opponent. "Since a few of you guys have gathered here, it's about time to give you the new crazy scheme. I decided that I wanted to go on a field trip to a distant country called Doal. However, the entire thing is nothing more than a giant mess of ruins and I personally hate archeology. I decided it'd be much cooler to travel through time and explore their culture first hand. An informant of mine has supplied me with the means to slip through time, which should get us there. I figured that, since time travel has never been accomplished before in any substantial way, you guys might be interested in joining me on this expedition."
Brom was taken aback. Time Travel? The thought if it being real was... intriguing. Then, Brom began to think through the implications. Could it all be predestination, where all the events of our shenanigans already occurred, and we're fulfilling it? Or maybe we'll influence the future in some way, which could lead to a paradox of perhaps one of us not being born in the first place. Perhaps the future is pre-written, and no matter what we change, the future will still go in the same general direction as before. Brom was unsure if he'd partake.
Then, he thought of the personal implications. Going back and saving his parents from the horde of Taint that ruined his village. Keeping Zicka from being killed by Alice. He then thought of how it would work out with all the theories on time travel. Predestination would mean he cant change anything. Influencing the future is what he desired, but it ran the risk of paradox, and unknown repercussions. A pre-written future meant even if he changed something, the future would still play out as it is, meaning his parents might die to sickness rather than the Taint, and Zicka might die some other way.
But the very thought of time travel was alluring. He could visit ancient lands, distant futures, and re-watch some of the most famous moments in history. Brom would need some convincing, though, if he were to go back to where Tobias was planning. And he still needed to ask of the Jurors. Brom voiced his question of what time travel theory might be true, leaving out his personal desires, and asked why they would be going to that specific place and time. He held his question about the Jurors for now.
((I claim this page in the name of Splatoon, winner of two Game of the Year awards, Best Shooter and Best Multiplayer.))
[Demi]
Tobias laughed a bit at Rani's question, which I found odd. Had he grown insane over this past year, or did he just have a weird sense of humor? Nonetheless, he replied, "Is there a requirement of a reason to break every rule in this world in one fell sweep? I want to study their magic, their artifacts, and what got the entire nation of Doal destroyed. The specifics on all three of those topics are lost in time, but a new friend of mine has created a mock version of a small tool they used. The blueprints were very hard to find, but with my friend's mechanical talent and my magical knowledge, it turned out alright." He reached into his jacket and pulled out what looked to be some sort of steampunk pistol. The main two parts of it were a wooden stock and a bronze barrel, if you could call the latter that. It was a wide tube, maybe two inches wide, that widened like a horn toward the end. Closer to the stock, the tube split off into two smaller ones, each looking like exhaust pipes.
"According to the recovered notes, the Doalians were a peaceful people with no offensive magic and no technology designed to be weapons." He continued, aiming the weird pistol around. "Apparently they had mastered the Affinity Shift technique in order to create magical fuel out of other matter, which is one of the reasons they caught my interest. Watch and learn." When he pulled the trigger on the strange gun, it began sucking in the air. A small fireball was produced and shot out, although I could tell it was really just a mass of harmless heat. With his demonstration over, Tobes looked back to us. "Our trip is already prepared, although there are only two rules if you'd like to accompany me: you may bring nothing relating to our current technology back unless it is crucial and, regardless of whatever heroic instincts you may have, you must not prevent the destruction of Doal."
Brom was ignored, but he decided not to fuss. The way Tobias talked implied that the future could be changed. He held onto this thought for later. "I will accompany you, if you will assure that we will not be left behind, and tell us what we might gain from this experience." Brom said. He certainly didnt want to go to be left behind, and he didnt see anything that he could gain personally.
((Limited time sorry for short post))
((That sudden drop of quality tho. Also Kumquat, I'll just make the post.))
[Alice]
Oh, New Central has such lovely weather! That's kind of odd, considering the huge scourge of Tainted that had previously run rampant not too long ago. But at the same time, it's to be expected. As the last bits of lemon juice dribbled from the freshly-squeezed lemon held firmly in my grasp, I found myself at peace. And for once, I didn't feel the need to think. To contemplate. I just, [i]was[/i][/i].[i] [/i]And that's all I ever really needed.[/i]
[i][i]I gingerly gripped the glass of lemonade, being careful so as not to spill. My tender grasp swiftly warped into a gentle firmness, accompanied by the soft footsteps of my scuttling feet. Arriving upon the door into Ivan's workplace, I expertly swapped my drink into my other hand, using my cold, moist hand to rotate the knob and enter my favorite room in the entirety of our six-story complex.[/i][/i]
[i][i]Immediately, the tinge of an infantile spark stung my cheek, and I reflexively grabbed protective goggles from the wall, where they placidly lay suspended along small hooks. I crossed through the danger zone towards Ivan with practiced ease, the action being almost subconscious now. And finally, as I peered over his shoulder, the lemonade spilled. A little dribbled down and was quickly soaked into my dress. And while Ivan didn't seem to notice or care, this was quite an annoyance to me.[/i][/i]
[i][i]Putting aside my indignation, I analyzed his work. A diminutive, violet creature rolled around on his table. It cooed, the sparks of newborn curiosity evident in it's mechanical eye. "They're getting better." I said, and it was true. The integration of Tainted traits into Rykov Industries (I think that's the name) was a task we'd been working on for months, one which had been making steady progress.[/i][/i]
[i][i]The idea was simple: Instead of biomatter as a template for the Tainted energy to meld onto, we could use cybernetics instead. This had numerous advantages, mostly in terms of utility, as Tainted devices were far more developed to multiple uses and purposes. It's like the difference between a machete and a pocket knife, except for the pocket knife is actually a machete too, and also a flamethrower and a grenade launcher. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.[/i][/i]
[i][i]"Lemonade?" I queried, prostrating myself to him somewhat so as to put the drink into view. He didn't take his eyes away from his tinkering, instead expertly taking one hand and setting the drink down at the far end of his work area. I smiled appreciately while he closed up a small hatch on the stomach of the creature, apparently finished making alterations.[/i][/i]
[i][i]After setting the small life form down on the table, he looked at me and smiled, his eyes obscured behind his special pair of tinted goggles. "Ready for a test drive?" He asked, the corners of his lips tugging upwards in a mischievous smile. I giggled in response, grabbing the animal of the bench and practically bounding through the door towards the demonstration field. That was our deal of sorts, he'd make stuff and I'd test it's efficiency. He'd generally have somebody else do it, or simply have it tested through combat, but as the Tainted are my forté, he has allowed my expertise in the field to be of use.[/i][/i]
[i][i]He stood off in the distance, a solid thirty meters away, and several feet behind me. His arm pulled up to face his core, and a large evergreen screen projected out of what appeared to be a watch. He nodded slightly, and stated loud and clear "Ready." I nodded, determination overwhelming giddiness as I prepared to battle.[/i][/i]
[i][i]I poured a small bit of magic into the creature, waiting until I could feel the mechanical gauge click into place. I didn't need to wait very long. Almost immediately, the cyborg-ish creature disassembled and reassembled into a long, curved blade clearly emulating a claw. My eyes hardened into focus, all prior stray thoughts all singling in on what was in front of me. My lips drew back into a snarl as I finally leapt into combat.[/i][/i]
[i][i]The weapon had, as far as I knew, fourteen configurations. It really was shocking to see what Ivan could do in just a year. This tech was just a finishing touch away from being mass-produced, along with the perk of being the "it" tech of Rykov Industries. It had huge potential, and it could very well be the last test drive necessary before we start selling these things. It is with those thoughts that I made a decision. The weapon shrank back into an animal as I chucked it through the air towards Ivan. He caught it easily, before looking at me questionably. "You should use it." I said, smiling before leaping out of the general vicinity, towards Ivan's position. "What better way to publicize the impressive capabilities of Rykov Industries than leaking a video of a Rykov murdering a bunch of wooden dummies with our newest, most trending weapon?"[/i][/i]
[Tobias]
"Since you guys seem to be okay with it, we'll head off. I'll keep the rift open for the people who have yet to arrive." I announced, with a grin. Energy began to swirl around me, swarming like moths to a flame. It took nothing more than a couple already prepared magic circles, each one looking like intricate golden hoops, and the energy conversion ritual I had begun earlier in order to bypass time and space. The three frames floated in the air, revolving around an invisible core, where a small speck of purple light appeared. That light expanded outwards to the point where anybody in the group could get through without clipping their head on the fabric of reality. "Time to go on a field trip." An excited me said. I jumped through without a second thought, ready to be the first person to travel through time.
The experience was overwhelming at first. I had aimed the special shift aspect of the portal correctly, as I was definitely in Doal, but I was hoping our exit site would be a bit more... Grand. The portal lead to a small warehouse, filled with crates of all sorts of contraptions. Bronze automatons whirred to life just by me being in their proximity. Exactly as I had wanted, they demonstrated a form of Affinity Conversion to turn the air around them into fire, which fueled their weird engines. It'd be nearly impossible to drag Ivan out of here. I noticed one remaining thing that would definitely show we were from a different time: our clothing. There weren't many garments laying around, so something would have to be done about that, but it was an issue for later. For the time being, I just wanted to get to know exactly how these people utilized their limited magic, as well as why and how they were destroyed.
Once again, Brom had been ignored. Or at least, misheard. Tobias seemed to think Brom had agreed to coming, when in reality, Brom had asked questions and wanted them answered before departing for the past. He watched as Tobias opened a portal, likely the one they were to go through. Brom was about to ask his questions again, only Tobias had leaped through the portal. Brom sighed and shook his head. "Tell Tobias i'm staying back," Brom told the person Tobias had fought with. "I'll stay in new central until you get back, which could just be a few seconds. Have a good time."
((I need a break from RPing for awhile. Im not quitting, i just need to focus, cause i have mid-term exams coming up in my school.))