Jump to content

Leaderboard


Popular Content

Showing most liked content on 04/07/2022 in all areas

  1. 1 like
    Aside from the core being interesting upon entry, Eden sat with a confused, mouth-agape expression for most of the ride and the following conflict... Not that anyone could see it through the scarf. They were just bewildered by the group of ruffians that they and Lusine had landed in. Sure, the town had some people who was less than savory, but this was beyond the pale. A murderbird, a "zombie" that they would need to study, the extortionist, not to mention Alliyma, who kept shooting them dirty looks, even when Lusine left their side. What was her deal, anyway? Once it slowed a bit, Lusine tugged them close and whispered, earning a nod from Eden. As the elderly woman wandered off, Eden took a deep breath. This was not a great place to be, but maybe once everything was said and done it would be worth it. Besides, they had their cores back, Eden just had to retrieve them. But first... "Let's see, should be... ah, here we go." they muttered to themselves as they ripped the core from the ruined rig of the blue-eyes player, examining it. A second ritual core. Perhaps this would be able to accelerate their research. Of course, the rest of the rig was... below average. This was a regular core thief in the area? And they had all been fooled by it? Preposterous. Hopping down with the core in tow, seemingly no one paying them much mind, they wandered off, just before the barbaric girl with the spear began to brag about the rig. "Beautiful." Grabbing his collar and straightening it out, Sid gestured toward Ida in the distance, "Ay! Glasses! Use that ugly hunk of junk of yours to haul this thing into Behemoth!" Pausing, he amended his statement, "if the core looks to still be working, leave it out here. I don't need more of that nonsense." With a roll of their eyes, they headed back into the rig. They still had to pay a ransom, and this core sure wasn't that according to what he said. All the better for them. However, as they headed in, their ear caught a conversation between the barbarian and Alliyma. "Whomever can put these back in my rig can share my dinner. It's red meat." People still ate red meat? Even with how scarce animals were in this day and age? Insect meat was one thing, they were a menace, but... There were so many more efficient ways to use animals than that. Eden began to turn to avoid them entirely, as getting that woman's rig working was none of their concern. But... if the animal was already dead... "I can fix it easily. But... can I get you to share the meat with someone else?" Alliyma frowned slightly harder than her default, her eyebrows raised, "You're a curiosity. Why would you want to give away something so valuable?" There it was, that scowl again. Well, they had expected it. "My master was a young adult when the world became... this. She probably has nostalgia for red meat, so I am sure she would enjoy it more than I would. After all, I don't think she's had any since then." As if by cue, Alliyma's frown was replaced by a gentle smile, "Of course. Those who come before us are deserving of reverence. Get my ride working and your master will have my portion as well." "Excellent, I am sure she'll be pleased. Hand me the core, and I will get right on that."
  2. 1 like
    Ida eventually found her way over to Magpie as the Behemoth got under way, trundling out after the core theft. She raised up her own ruined project for Magpie to see. "Yes, you are working," she acknowledged. Her voice had none of her usual cheer, and her face was deathly grim as she looked out the same window as Magpie. "Just felt like giving you a little extra motivation." She flicker her gaze over the girl. "You've had one hell of a life, Magpie, so I don't think it's fair of me to ask this of you... but I can't help but be on the same page as you on this matter." She could already tell what Magpie was thinking. Not that it was hard. "I know you're good to take care of it." She didn't tell Magpie to be careful, she didn't tell her to be safe. There was utter confidence in the look she gave the girl. Respect for what she was capable of. "Of course I'm good to take care of it." Not taking her eyes off her target - her prey - Magpie smirked "I wouldn't be here if I couldn't handle some cowardly thief. I bet he isn't even armed!" Ida smiled, still with a grim aura to it that wasn't her usual demeanor. "He probably will be," she said carelessly as she turned back to walk to the front of the Behemoth. It was clear from her tone that she didn't consider the fact anything to worry about. Ida strode from the Behemoth with a grim determination. She stalked towards the smoldering wreck on the ground, and the triumphant spear-holding girl atop it. She couldn't help a grin as Magpie triumphantly offered the rig as salvage to Sid. "Knows how to get things done, doesn't she?" she asked in response to Lusine. Sid soured it momentarily when he called for her D-Rig. She pushed her glasses up over her eyes, the sunlight glinting off of them harshly as she gave him a fierce grin. "Ugly? MY rig? Bold talk for the owner of a box with wheels. My machine is BEAUTIFUL." But she didn't fight the request, rushing forward to the pile of cores and fishing out her Link core. She also took the time to grab Magpie's, raising it to gesture at her companion with a grin. "Take some time to relax after a job well-done," she called up to her. "I'll have your core reinstalled the second I've dragged this bastard into the Behemoth. YOU get priority." She lowered her voice conspiratorially, waggling her eyebrows as she sauntered over to her rig, grabbing the tow hook off its spot on the Behemoth where it had been dragged: "You know, us staying on with him for a time might not be the worst idea. Did you see that core of his? It could be the start of a brand-new breakthrough! A blessing in disguise, perhaps-" She stopped, tow hook in hand, staring down at the rig. The white racing-style car was battered and dented, if largely in one piece. She hadn't been watching during the actual duel itself; She had been waiting for Magpie to swoop in. But now that she looked at it closely- "Hell," she muttered, slamming the hook into the rig's bumper and rushing toward her own. She tossed the cores into the seat beside her, relying on the dregs of power left in her engine to get the rig into the 'box with wheels.' It would do for a rush job, and Ida was suddenly very interested in rushing. "Magpie, get inside the Behemoth," she called, in a voice that Magpie wouldn't be at all used to: Unquestionably an order. And worried. "We have to get out of here. Yesterday." "We have to get out of here," she declared as the rogue rig dropped onto the Behemoth's floor, hook swinging loose and detaching as Ida turned her own off, standing and leaning out her door to address the group inside the Behemoth as a whole. "Reinstalling our cores will take time, time we don't have. Sid, how fast does this thing move?" She was all business now. "I have no idea what the specs on your core are but it looks capable of some serious power. We need to get away from here long enough to reinstall our cores, then scatter." "Why?" Sid frowned, raising an eyebrow, "I'm not sure if you looked in there, but this guy isn't going to be causing us any more problems." "You'd be surprised." Ida jumped down from her rig and kicked irritably at the door of the rig. "I recognize the rig. He's one of the outriders of Holloword. And unless they greatly overestimated his abilities he probably has friends. Close by. They don't mess around." "I hope you don't think this huge thing is disappearing into the night. The tracks alone are enough that we would just be followed. If someone comes, we can just throw your pet at them and I'm sure things will resolve themselves." Pausing for a moment, Sid narrowed his eyes, trying to get a read on Ida, "Besides, you all owe me treasure still. Maybe that Hollow Ward is a good place to look?" Ida visibly bristled, clearly flinching at the suggestion. She pushed her glasses up her nose swiftly, voice tight. "Fact that Magpie netted you an entire rig aside, have you not heard of Holloword?" She pronounced it slowly, making clear it was a single word. "It's one of the worst places you can find in the Wasteland, take it from me. You try to roll in for treasure and they'll strip you of your strange core and anything else they feel like taking and leave you to wither in the dust." And ruin my life's work while they're at it, she thought bitterly as she caught sight of her shattered project behind Sid. She had an uncomfortable memory of being ridden down by a colossal machine, but with Magpie in place of her. She shook her head, walking up to Sid and lowering her voice. "This is a bad idea, Sid. I speak from experience. Magpie's killed one of their own. They won't take that lying down. Just give us the time we need to reinstall the cores. I at least owe Magpie that."
  3. 1 like
    Staggered "Olive...remind me when we get to the temple proper...that I may need to tell you something else. I suppose, if we're working together in unison on this...then I may need to bring something up..." Olivander stopped in his tracks, just behind Kitt. "No. There shouldn't be secrets between us, Kitt. Not now. Not when something so critical is happening. Whatever it is, I need you to tell me now," he requested. "If it's damaging, I'd rather we approach it together sooner than later." Kitt stopped as well, sighing heavily before glancing at Olivander. He pulled him aside and made sure it was away from people. "I'm trying to say this most likely shouldn't be spoken out in public...hence why I was waiting until we got to the temple." he sighed. "I don't think anywhere we go here will be safe. Unless we go all the way back to the Swallowtail, there's no point," Olivander said quietly. "We can't trust anyone or anything we see. So what's so urgent?" Olivander had a point, unfortunately. No where around here could be trusted and with the buildings, gods forbid they could trust any of that. He sighed and just motioned towards a small area the both knew were simply ruins. Once he did that, he sat on the ground, running his hand through his hair. "Olive, you know how the gods tend to not interfere directly in the affairs of mortals, right?" Olivander nodded. "I do. Go on." "That said..." Kitt paused, before sighing again. "Let me tell you a story my father told me...it's meaning will come in due time." He exhaled slowly, seeming to steel himself. "There once was a man...one who knew the ways of the craft from his father, and his father's father. Betrothed to him was a true work of art, one he made his wife. Between the two, they would create a true work of art: the gift of life, bestowed upon a child. Like all things, in life, tragedy struck the man and he lost both his wife and the child. Desperate, he returned to his craft, wanting nothing more than his lineage to continue...but the vessel created was unsuited for the tasks provided. Until one day...he prayed to the Forge Master to assist him. The Forge Master was bemused by this and accepted this request, creating a vessel that couldn't be rivaled, before breathing live into it..." Olivander could only stand silent as he tried to decipher the story. "... the Forge Master created a person? Is that what you're getting at? But, who are they and what do they have to do with this?" Kitt remained silent for a while, before sighing again. Forgive me Taros, but I need to speak this to him...in order for us to be triumphant against whatever may come. he thought, before looking at his companion. "I thought the same when my father told me that story...but as I grew, I was told that there was another part to it. The Forge Master created and breathed life into his created vessel under a circumstance that he presented to the man...that the creation would follow him and be his tool, a law of equivalent exchange so to speak." Kitt leaned his head against the wall behind him. "So...my father agreed." He looked at Olivander, beginning to see the look of realization on his face. "Yes...I'm the vessel Taros created...and brought to life." Olivander's face shifted from shock to satisfaction. "That explains so much," he thought aloud. "It explains why you're so forward and virtuous. You are of Lord Taros after all, quite literally. Wow, Kitt," he said with a sigh. Olivander rubbed his chin and pondered a bit. "But then, you don't think this changes our relationship do you? That I'd look to you differently because you weren't born of men?" "Truthfully, I know not what this would've changed if anything at all." Kitt admitted, only sighing again. "All I know is that Taros spoke to me of it and said that this was practically taboo...a secret to be kept away from his brethren. But...I myself, didn't want this to end up being brought forth and used as a wedge and leverage to turn us against on another." Olivander extended his hand to Kitt. "Right now, you're one of the few people I do trust." "Honestly, at this point that's all we got..." Kitt looked at Olivander's hand and immediately had his hand clasp the thief's. Olivander gladly shook Kitt's hand as they finally reached the temple. There was still a lot of investigation to do, but hopefully the god's could shed some light on Oblivion. "We'll reconvene shortly. As you speak with Lord Taros, I shall speak with Lord Hinder. Let us return to the Swallowtail to converse afterwards." The Watchdogs temporarily went their separate ways and Olivander found an altar to pray to Hinder. As he kneeled, he felt anxious. Questions rushed to him one after another, but he wasn't sure where to begin. "Lord Hinder, hear me," he said as he offered a coin to the altar before him.
  4. 1 like
    Another job well done... or so Magpie would have liked to say. Truth be told, calling this a job was a bit generous. It was barely even satisfying. It was the same dull, only faintly enjoyable yet ultimately nothing-like feeling one might feel from hunting a wild animal. No battle to the death to revel in, no ringing and clashing of steel, she didn't even know what her target looked like! But it was necessary. The audacity to tear open her D-Rig and steal the core from inside could only be answered with death. Sitting atop the flipped D-Rig, balancing herself atop one of its tires, Magpie gave a smile and wave to the approaching group. She had even received praise for her work. As she should have. In particular, she eyed Sid. The man who demanded her most valuable salvage in exchange for getting her core back. Did she have a surprise for him! “Sid. I present to you my most valuable salvage. A full… mostly intact D-Rig! It’s a bit banged up but it still has…” Tapping various parts of the vehicle with her spear, she listed off “Wheels. Doors. Suspension. And a frame. And if you don’t like it you can just break it down for its parts. What a deal!” Sid's eye lit up, almost hungrily, looking at the rig upon which the girl sat. "Beautiful." Grabbing his collar and straightening it out, he gestured toward Ida in the distance, "Ay! Glasses! Use that ugly hunk of junk of yours to haul this thing into Behemoth!" Pausing, he amended his statement, "if the core looks to still be working, leave it out here. I don't need more of that nonsense." Returning his focus back to Magpie, he put a hand to his chin, "You know, you seem to know your way around a fight. Interested in employment as a bodyguard?" “Already employed.” Magpie hoisted her spear up to grab it closer to the business end, and pointed it at Ida. “She keeps my D-Rig nice and in good shape, and I stab things that give us trouble while we both pursue a mutual interest. What, have you got a better offer or something?” With a shrug, he gestured toward the Behemoth, "Free house." Not waiting for her to respond to the offer, he turned on his heel, snapping his fingers at Ida as he passed, pointing back at the wrecked rig. At the back of said rig, the armored woman from earlier, Alliyma, was using her blade to jimmy open the trunk of the vehicle. With a concerted press of her weapon within the seam, the hatch broke open, dumping the stolen cores onto the ground. Picking up a pair of cores, one golden and resembling a sun with a face, and the other silvery blue with the appearance of a matching personified moon, she shouted up to the one responsible for stopping the vehicle, "Querrequerre, one of these yours?" Magpie turned to ascertain what all armored Alliyma had acquired. An abundance of active cores in acceptable states. And among the array, her own. Hopping down from her perch atop the “salvaged” D-Rig, Magpie picked up one of the two fusion cores from the pile. “This one. Those two you’ve got there sure are fancy though. Custom-made, like your armor?” "Once upon a time." Alliyma showed very little emotion, once again looking Magpie up and down, now in the light of the girl's recent ultra-violent actions, "That was… quite the performance, Little Bird." “Oh that? That was nothing. Just a bit of stabbing at someone who’s clearly never had a weapon pointed at them. If it’s a performance you’re after, you should have seen me at my old job.” Turning to empty space and pointing her spear at a foe that wasn’t there, she enthusiastically shouted “Lower the gates! When they said that, it was just two people and one circular arena, plus the audience cheering them on. Not a single person in the crowd was rooting for me in my first match, can you believe that!? The nerve! Everyone was rooting for uh… what was his name… Auren? Or… something like that. This was his spear, actually! Just between you, me, and the sky, I’ve been putting this thing to much better use than he ever did. But the point is, that’s a performance. This is just casual stabbing, what I just did.” "Oh?" A slight bite of her lip, her eyes narrowing in thought, "I wonder if you can use that core as well as you use your more mundane weapon? I suppose that remains to be seen, for as long as we may be traveling in the same convoy." Alliyma rolled her shoulders, eliciting a series of pops, before slinging her cores over her back and walking back toward the Behemoth, letting out a shout to whomever it may concern, "Whomever can put these back in my rig can share my dinner. It's red meat." Tatsu watched the whole thing. It wasn't the first time she'd watch someone kill someone else - far from it - but something was different this time. In her experience, men killed each other for honor, or for land, or even just to survive. It was all for a greater purpose. And while getting stolen D-Rig cores back seemed as valid a reason as one could hope - especially if the alternative was being stuck in Sandy Grove of all places - that wasn't the sort of vibe Tatsu got from the violent stabbing she'd just witnessed. The perpetrator seemed more like somebody who would kill just for the sake of it. There were those sorts of people everywhere to be sure, but Tatsu would be lying if she said she'd ever met one in person. She made a mental note to keep a wide berth from that pink-haired girl. Killing just wasn't in her nature, but if it came to blows and one of them had to die... Anyway, the important thing was that the thief had been stopped. Tatsu wasted no time stepping out of Sid's vehicle, perusing the cores another armed women had spilled out from the busted-up D-Rig. Finding the ones belonging to her D-Rig wasn't difficult in the slightest. The way they were built was distinctly different from the rest. Not as much as that sun and moon pair, but still enough that it was easy to pick them out in a pile. With her cores retrieved, Tatsu peered into the windows of the thief's car. There was something else important. Her olive oil. Which she did find! ...in a saddening state. The bottle was shattered, and its contents spilled all over the inside of the car. It must have happened when the car spun out. Damn. It seemed unlikely she'd be able to find more in this land, too. Just another motivation to find some sort of useful tech to bring back home ASAP, then. Meanwhile, Sid had offered this pink avatar of violence a security job of all things? That sounded a lot like keeping your house secure by installing a self-destruct button. Speaking of Sid. There was that core of his. Unlike anything she'd seen, that's for sure. Did he make it himself? Only one way to find out. "Um, excuse me, Sid. With all of... that, taken care of, I'd meant to ask. That core in your D-Rig. What exactly is it?" "Do I look like someone who would know? It is some kinda fancy battery, and it lets me avoid collecting more of them." "I see..." Now that. That sounded useful! This core warranted further investigation. For now, though, there was the matter of getting her own cores re-installed. She was no D-Rig expert, but she could at least do that much by herself.
×
×
  • Create New...