|
Post by ch00beh on Oct 28, 2006 1:10:38 GMT -5
Artifex leaned back in his black leather armchair. In one hand he had a dictionary-sized book, its spine and cover decorated with runes that seemed to dance without moving. His other hand held an ornate golden goblet, filled with wine, to his mouth.
Traveling into alternate dimensions is normally a trivial matter. It is simply a question of whether or not one has enough energy to break through the barriers around his current world. Gates, as well, are only a step up, as they simply require a constant source of power, such as a group of sorcerers in deep concentration or an enchanted artifact. Higher spatial dimensions, for example, are notoriously exploited by technology and magic alike, usually to teleport targets through three-dimensional space nearly instantaneously.
However, despite the triviality with which one can cross parallel universes, non-parallel, or skew, universes are much more difficult to navigate. Naturally occurring skew universes generally do not share the same physics or magics with each other. A careless mage, for example, after managing to cross into a skew universe, could find himself trapped because he cannot tap into that particular world's magic.
There are artificial skew universes, though. The artificial skew universes always branch off of a parent natural universe at some point. These dimensions are created by powerful beings, be they mortal or not. Those created by immortal beings can be as drastically different from the parent as a naturally occurring skew. However, those created by mortals tend to share many characteristics with its parent, because mortals have their limits. Xzata Imnes is probably the most known artificial skew universe, created around 1000 AD by several dozen powerful wizards who were exiled by humans.
The energy required to cross into a skew universe increases exponentially as the current reality and the target reality become less parallel with one another. However, skew universes require more than just energy. Artifacts are needed as focal points and as gateways. Also, materials from a target universe can make travel much easier, though they are not necessary.
Artifex flipped to the next page, which he quickly scanned. He saw nothing of interest, so he closed the book and set it down on the table. He tipped the goblet up to finish its contents, then stood up. His footsteps echoed in the dark, stone corridors as he made his way back to his library. I need some Imnesian material...
About an hour later, after some searching and reading, Artifex had found what he was looking for. He muttered something and waved his hand, disappearing from his library.
The Geninfor reappeared in a thick forest. The crescent moon barely lit the area with its dim light, but Artifex could still see as if it were day. His normally brown eyes seemed to glow a slight green because of the light spell he had cast, though the glow was only noticeable because of the surrounding darkness.
A thought popped into his head. I'm really not sure, exactly, which direction those cloaks are in... The book only mentioned there were some number of cloaks stored in some palace of the nature folk in this particular forest... and that the fabric of the cloaks was originally from Xzata Imnes, so they're supposed to be saturated with magical energies. So he just started walking forward.
|
|
|
Post by prime on Oct 30, 2006 13:20:29 GMT -5
I guess I'm out then, no idea's really...
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Oct 30, 2006 23:44:03 GMT -5
OOC: John's not gonna be in this >.<
This is just for people who want some fancy enchanted cloaks. Or, well, cloaks that are full of magical energy and thus, Artifex can enchant them with ease. Plus, they're pretty.
Oh, and we get to fight the magical woodland creatures who gaurd teh cloaks
|
|
|
Post by Tout-Perd on Oct 31, 2006 8:21:54 GMT -5
OOC: I'll try to manage a post today. I'm intrigued.
|
|
|
Post by prime on Oct 31, 2006 23:15:01 GMT -5
Riracu stared at the apparently oblivious mage who'd teleported in several feet in front of her. The evil staff in her hands blazed with a sudden red light. She laughed, and the sound of dark bells filled the forest. "I guess it likes you," she said softly. She did a cursory scan of the person in front of her, found it to be a lich. And found that lich to be male.
"No doubt you're also looking for the cloaks which the nature idiots guard?" she asked. "It would probably be best if we were to team up. We'd stand a better chance of getting them if we worked together." She shifted on her feet, waiting for a response, and dimmed her red aura somewhat, so the mage would have less trouble seeing through the glare.
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Oct 31, 2006 23:40:57 GMT -5
Artifex whipped around, his own staff in hand. His staff was the ivory white of cleaned bones. The top resembled a skeletal hand clutching some invisble object, though in the daylight, it was obvious the staff was made of wood. He held the staff in his right hand, raised to cast a spell, though when he saw a fellow mage laughing, he lowered the weapon.
"Perhaps I am looking for the cloaks, perhaps I am not," he replied. He didn't like how this woman conducted herself. She reeked of evil energies, or rather, her staff did. 'We may share a common goal, but that woman will probably only use the cloaks for selfish reasons. Though my strengths lie in the dark arts, my causes are noble,' Artifex thought.
"But no doubt a reply such as the one I have given solidifies your assumption. Perhaps if you know the location of these cloaks, I may acquiesce to your request so that we may travel together." 'Though I am loathe to do so with such a source of pure evil,' Artifex thought to himself.
|
|
|
Post by prime on Oct 31, 2006 23:57:43 GMT -5
Riracu scowled heavily. "You should keep a tighter hold on your thoughts, lich. As you are aware, most mages are telepathic, if only to a limited degree. And though the staff is evil, my cause is purely in the interest of obtaining knowledge, whether it is considered good or evil. I make no distinction between the two; they are simply the opposite ends of the same spectrum."
She lifted her arm, and pointed a finger. "And the location is that way. I am unable to teleport any further, due to magical interference. It seems that the very trees themselves bar our path." She focused for a moment, then levitated off the ground at a distance of about six inches, effectively putting her out of harm's way in the event of any traps.
"Oh, and one more thing," she said as she drifted forward. "Becoming a lich is a wholly evil act."
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Nov 1, 2006 0:23:59 GMT -5
"Aha. Perhaps we share the opinion that labels of good and evil are ignorant notions. However, I am of the opinion that becoming a lich is not a wholly evil act. All knowledge cannot be pursued while trapped in the mortal flesh," Artifex gestured towards his companion, "as you can see with yourself." He chuckled, indicating that he was not entirely serious.
"I am not a lich. We Geninfors do not share a lich's naive reliance on the living to revive ourselves. And perhaps if you had done your studies, you would not have made the assumption that all mages are telepathic. Such is a terrible stereotype. Manifestation of the universe's energy and interpretation of man's thoughts may be similar, but one would need at least rudimenatry knowledge in the arts of the mind to read thoughts.
"However, such bickering is counterproductive. Since you know the way, I will gladly accept your help."
Artifex turned on his heel, his blue robes flapping behind him, and began walking in the direction Riracu had pointed.
|
|
|
Post by Tout-Perd on Nov 1, 2006 1:26:12 GMT -5
"Room for one more?" A figure, obscured by a large trench coat, and most of the rest of his body hidden by gloves and boots, stepped towards the duo. "I heard you two speaking of some cloaks of great value. I'll gladly accompany you both, and face whatever gets in our way."
|
|
|
Post by prime on Nov 1, 2006 1:33:33 GMT -5
Riracu shrugged. "I have no objections, I only desire a single cloak, and some muscle isn't unwelcome. I myself dislike physical combat," she said, then turned to her unlikely companion. "And you? Do you have any objection?" she asked the Geninfor.
|
|
|
Post by Tout-Perd on Nov 1, 2006 2:13:34 GMT -5
"Physical might is not all that I bring to the table." The man twitched, the loud flap of his trenchcoat echoing in the woods. A leafy branch ahead exploded silently, the leaves fluttering to the ground. He smiled widely from under the brim of his fedora. "I also bring my own fair share of tricks."
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Nov 1, 2006 2:56:16 GMT -5
"I have no objections to the company of this man," Artifex said. "I only require a small piece of fabric. The book I read claims there exists plenty of material. However, the night grows old, so we must make haste. Come daybreak, the forest guardians will awake, sensing our presence and our will to take the cloaks. For now, while under cover of night, the trees still slumber.
"And pleased to make your acquaintances, I am Artifex," he bowed.
With that, Artifex continued walking in the direction Riracu had pointed. As the group went farther and farther in the direction, the trees and brush became thicker and thicker. Artifex was aware of the watching eyes, but the elves and owls were only scouts. They knew they could not defeat the three travellers. The real defence came from the tree spirits, though without sunlight, they would not and could not move.
Suddenly, as soon as the three thought the brush was impassable, they came into a clearing. In the middle was a massive tree. At its base there was a hole leading somewhere.
"The book claimed that the cloaks were located within a certain 'Tree of Ages'. I feel no soul inside the tree itself, so it should be safe to travel inside, though I know not what we may meet afterwards."
As he said this, Artifex saw the rays of sunlight in the sky, indicating dawn had come. He heard several echoing roars, which he inferred to be the tree spirits.
"Though perhaps we must stop right now to face some of our enemies."
From the thicket surrounding the clearing came six humanoid figures, each about the same size as a normal person. They seemed to be made of living wood which had curled and twisted around itself multiple times. Despite their composition, the six figures moved quite gracefully. The wood they were made of was enchanted to be as strong as any metal and resistant to fire.
Each of the spirits held one arm out in front of itself. Branches crawled down from their legs into the ground, as if planting themselves. In a moment, more branches began to twist around their bodies and into their outstretched arms. The branches grew upwards, then suddenly tightened together to create lances.
One of the spirits held its free hand towards Artifex. Though the lances took a while to form, the next attack was fast. The spirit's arm had suddenly lengthened, trying to strike the Geninfor from a distance. Artifex held his hand forward and shouted. Magical energies flowed out of one of the gems in his sleeve, twisted into his hand, then projected into a shield. The force of the spirit's attack on the shield caused the energy to violently arc in random directions.
|
|
|
Post by Tout-Perd on Nov 1, 2006 10:21:51 GMT -5
"Is that a colossal wooden lance, or are you just happy to see me?" the man cracked, and then whipped a handgun out of his pocket. He dove to the ground, holding down the trigger as the weapon pumped ten rounds of lead into the creature. It didn't flinch: the shots mostly glanced off or lodged themselves in its bark. He chuckled a little, grabbed the lance, and used it to pull himself to his feet and evade a sharp root that shot out of the earth.
"Looks like you can take it." The man whipped out a small crescent shaped blade, clutched in the palm of his hand. He lunged at the creature, swinging the blade at the lance to lop off the tip. He then charged the creature and hammered it in the chest with the blade. There was a brief ooze of bloodlike sap, and then the wound healed, absorbing his blade into the creature.
"Crap. You aren't a slouch, that's for sure."
|
|
|
Post by albatrosstrevelyan on Nov 1, 2006 11:49:54 GMT -5
Everyone's neck hair stood on end. Then soon a crackling noise sounded off on the forest floor. Then a loud thunderous bang, and Jami stood there in the middle of the fight. He looked around. "I really have to get better at that teleporting through the clouds thing..." He ducked as a spirit swung a lance. "You guys need some help?"
He opened his arms, and electricity pulsed loudly from his fingertips to the ground. "I'll help..."
|
|
|
Post by prime on Nov 1, 2006 14:02:55 GMT -5
Riracu scowled at the disturbances, irritated that they'd even try to stop them. "I hate ents," she said. "They annoy me to no end." She stretched out her arm, and her staff found a target. "Orum entra lithra onos crido enrique thesla," she said softly. Bands of light began to form around the end of the staff, almost like glittering, transparent flower petals. They suddenly contracted, and the earth around an ent contracted as well. In a split second, the ent was compounded in a small mountain of rock.
She looked at the newcomer, and the electric finger being slowly lowered to the ground. "THRANUM!" she cried, shielding her companions from below a split second before the bolts of electricity arced upward from the ground, impaling several ents.
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Nov 1, 2006 22:33:48 GMT -5
OOC: mmk, Prime, you don't read, do you? -_-
Tree spirit != ent just like a Geninfor != lich. My description definitely says that the spirits are human sized and nimble, not colossal and slow. In fact, in my mind, they were mildly inspired by physical versions of dryads, which are completely different from ents. I understand that I'm not always completely clear, but the description I made is clearly different from one that I'd give an ent.
Also, 6 spirit thingies came out of the forest, not an army. So with 6 opponents for 4 people, I'd expect at least more than two sentences to beat one. Because last time I checked, that's superplaying.
BIC: "I would much rather fight an Ent than these spirits," Artifex said, "Though an Ent has its colossal strength and size, it can be burned with a single thought."
Artifex held his staff in one hand and pointed it at one of the spirits. Atrum hiberna ventus, attero vita, verto viridis ut frons, he chanted. His voice seemed to echo in everyone's head, even though he wasn't speaking particularly loudly.
As he spoke, white energy formed in the hand at the top of his staff. When the last syllable left his lips, the energy exploded forward, causing the air to ripple in a cone shape in front of the mage.
The attack hit the targeted spirit straight on. For a moment, it looked like the spirit was going to be blown backwards, but it had literally rooted itself in the ground. The attack seemed to leave it unfazed, since it promptly uprooted itself and began running at the Geninfor. However, the desired effect was done. Before, the spirit had had green shoots and leaves intertwined with the branches that made up its body. After the attack hit, all of the green had crumpled up and turned brown.
As soon as the spirit was close enough, he pushed his staff forward, making the top touch the creatures. Morbus inficio, he said, again with the voice. The tree spirit seemed to shriek and stumbled back. The spot that his staff had touched glowed red with the destructive energies Artifex had focused. As the spirit moved back, Artifex drew his longsword.
Fracta. He plunged the sword into the weakened skin of the spirit. The blade of the sword glowed black for a moment, as it absorbed the soul into one of the Geninfor's many gems.
|
|
|
Post by Damien on Nov 2, 2006 11:31:28 GMT -5
From behind the group a bolt of black energy fired toward one of the spirits. Though a direct hit, the attack did only superficial damage. An older man with a cane moved forward and continued firing dark energy bolts at the powerful guardian of the forest. With a roar, the spirit charged forward, barreling through the newcomer's attacks. Then, from more than ten feet away, the creature extended its lance with a lightning-quick motion that struck the man in the shoulder and spun him off his feet. Rather nimbly for his age the man got back onto his feet. Running forward he brought his cane up like a baseball bat and clubbed the spirit around the head several times with it.
Unfazed, the spirit struck back, grabbed the old man and slammed him into the hard earth. Again the man rose to his feet; his arms were scraped and bleeding slightly but he appeared otherwise unharmed. Once again raising his cane, he pointed it at the spirit's face. A ball of blue light erupted from the end and seemed to wrap around his foe's head.
Confused and partially sighted, the spirit withdrew slightly as it scratched at its face, attempting to remove the barrier hindering its senses. The old man took this moment to introduce himself to the group.
"Good morning. Benjamin, black mage and avid dominoes player at your service," he said with a wink. To the Geninfor and the other mage the overwhelming stench of magical energy (and a lot of old spice) would be all too apparent. This man was not what he seemed: powerful barriers protected his thoughts and soul from prying minds.
He was around six feet tall, with long grey hair and a trimmed grey beard. His face was wrinkled and his eyes were a dark green colour. The man was close to sixty years old, and the cane that he held was a dark ebony colour with a gleaming silver tip.
|
|
|
Post by albatrosstrevelyan on Nov 3, 2006 8:21:54 GMT -5
Jami did a flip in the air, and used the momentum to slam his fist into the ground. The ground erupted with electricity which pulsed toward and hit one of the spirits.
The spirit's body was pumped with thousands of volts of electricity. When the barrage of volts ended, the spirit looked at Jami angrily while electricity still coursed through its body.
"That was a mistake..." Jami whispered as he monkey-rolled to the side, dodging an extended axe. He rose and ran his fingers through his medium-length hair, and it stood up on end, revealing the top half of his face. His eyes crackled with electricity, and a loud clap of thunder went off.
Jami slammed his hands together, and a thunder clap was heard again. He drew them apart, and electricity jumped back and forth. He was moving his hands in bizarre patterns, creating a huge ball of lightning. Everyone's hair stood up, and they all began to build a sort of static cling. It was easy to tell something big was coming.
He looked up, and shot the ball into the air. "What happens to a spirit when you pump several thousand volts of electricity through it?" A large bolt of thunder, bigger than the human eye could see, slammed down onto the spirit and coursed through its body until it fell to the ground and twitched.
Jami turned and smiled, his hair falling back down to its original position. "The name's Jami, I work with electric."
|
|
|
Post by prime on Nov 10, 2006 1:35:19 GMT -5
"Obviously," Riracu said, turning her head to the mountain she'd raised. Individual roots seeped out of the cracks, and slowly reformed the spirit she thought she'd killed. "Interesting," she said, raising her staff. "I think I'd like to study you."
She touched its reforming vines with her staff. "Rein risa kloin cha ri oki um thralos reino viestrala okuda rethrelos gal." She pulled a large book out from under her robes, and held it open before the creature. A bolt of lightning hit the book, then ricocheted off and smacked into the tree spirit. An ionized path formed between the spirit and the book. "Be caged, so that I might grow wiser." Riracu said, as the tree spirit was sucked into the pages of the book. Its moving image beat at the inside of the page, trying to get free.
POHATU EDIT: Uh, I think Kevin was making a joke there... you know... a joke... it was kind of what you'd call a witty catchphrase...
|
|
|
Post by Tout-Perd on Nov 10, 2006 11:35:21 GMT -5
Detective Ods grinned widely, and instantly, five more of him appeared. There was no noise or any such thing, just a flicker, and then the small group was all over the spirit. They all began beating on the creature as the real Ods stood back. He produced a knife from his sleeve, and whipped it at the creature. The knife exploded with a small poof. Ods had forgotten to bring any high-explosive knives this time; the ones he had on hand must have been from his stash of weapons for killing lower-level beings.
The other Ods, unfazed, continued distracting the creature with a pummeling. One got speared in the chest, and dissolved into a cloud of smoke, but the others continued the assault. Ods systematically checked his weapons for something useful, and then moved his arm. The spirit's head flew off, bloodlike sap spurting wildly. Ods grinned, but stopped when the creature's body decapitated two of his copies with a swing of its lance. "Not done yet, I see."
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Nov 12, 2006 23:24:39 GMT -5
"Pleasure to meet you two, Benjamin and Jami," Artifex nodded to the two new fighters, as if it were a normal day. Voice still calm, he added, "However, I believe the four remaining spirits need to be dealt with before proper introductions can occur." The Geninfor heard an explosion and saw Ods' handiwork. "Three and half."
Artifex pointed his soul-stealing sword at one of the spirits. He closed his eyes and held his hand over the blade. As his lips moved, the blade glowed a more intense black, though no sound escaped his mouth. A moment later, he opened his eyes again and sternly said, Captus quod infectus, vos accersiti estis.
A shrill scream emanated from the sword, the same scream that had come from the recently killed spirit. A black beam of energy projected out of the blade. Almost as fast as it emerged, it hardened and condensed into the same roots and branches that made up the spirits' bodies. It flew at blinding speeds toward the targeted tree spirit, and the thing had no time to evade as its entire midsection was run through. Although it was now had a large, magical shaft of wood through it, the tree spirit looked otherwise unfazed. It attempted to remove the shaft, but the branches had almost merged themselves together.
Iratus phasmatis habitum quod veho exori vis. Tendrils of red energy erupted from the blade and travelled into the newly formed branch. As it traveled up the branch, the wood forcefully bloated outward. Artifex had used the recently captured soul to carry a spell through the branch and into the opponent. The spell was designed to quickly condense any magical energy in the area, then expel it back outwards as pure kinetic force.
The spell hit the tree spirit, blowing out it's left side. The sap spurted in all directions as it flailed around widely. Terra quod silicis permoveo. Large chunks of rock flew from the ground as Artifex said the spell. Two of his rings were channeling their excess energy into his staff this time. Suddenly, the rocks all flew forward and smashed into what remained of the spirit. If it wasn't dead yet, at least it would be incapacitated until the group could go inside.
|
|
|
Post by Damien on Nov 14, 2006 5:29:57 GMT -5
Benjamin nodded to Artifex before returning his attention to the spirit. The mage held out his left hand and several streams of blue light coiled outwards from his palm. They sped toward the tree spirit and channeled into the spell surrounding the creature's head. The blue energy tightened, slowly crushing the spirit's head, then it seemed to disappear as it forced its way in to the beast's body.
An orange glow began to flicker inside the tree spirit as it roared and screeched at an earsplitting volume. It clawed at its torso as the light inside grew brighter. The wood that made up the spirit's body started to blacken on the outside. Ben lifted his cane and stabbed as hard as he could at the creature's midsection. With a loud crack the spirit's chest broke open, and flames licked their way up the forest protector's neck.
It didn't take long for the flames to engulf the spirit completely. Soon it gave in and collapsed on the ground. Thick black smoke rose from the body of the wooden warrior. Ben smiled: a job well done.
"Are we ready to progress now? I believe this beast is finished," he said while wiping soot from the tip of his cane.
|
|
|
Post by albatrosstrevelyan on Nov 15, 2006 11:26:23 GMT -5
OOC: I think that was only three... I will just post finishing a fourth.
BIC:
Jami smiled. "I'll take the last one."
A strong wind blew, and electricity cackled around him. He charged forward and leapt into the air. Several spears of electricity formed around his body and shot forward, piercing the beast in both shoulders, the forehead and the midsection. The spirit lay there, stuck in the ground. Then Jami's right foot began cackling, and he propelled himself downward and slammed all his weight and energy into the beast, causing it to shatter.
"I agree... let's go..."
POHATU EDIT: I think Kevin meant to write "crackled" and "crackling", there, but "cackled" and "cackling" are just so much more entertaining.
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Nov 24, 2006 2:38:54 GMT -5
OOC: Anyone wanna take the last two...? >.>
|
|
|
Post by Tout-Perd on Nov 26, 2006 1:52:55 GMT -5
OOC: Whoops. Thought somebody took mine out.
BIC: Ods waved his hand dismissively, and the clones disappeared in a cloud of smoke and fire. He then drew his a revolver and stepped back a little. His hand twitched. An explosion sent shrapnel and pieces of the creature's shoulder flying, and as it turned towards him, he produced another handful of explosive knives. He hurled them at it, and all of the blades stuck into its torso.
They did not explode, but simply remained embedded in its barklike hide. Ods directed his fire at its legs, splintering the limbs and sending the plant being crashing to the forest floor. He hit a button on a small detonator, and the creature exploded in a cloud of flames.
"I hope we don't have many more problems. I used most of my heavier... ammunition. And I'd rather not need to use too much more."
|
|
|
Post by ch00beh on Nov 29, 2006 22:43:22 GMT -5
"I will take the last, if no one else will," Artifex said nonchalantly.
Artifex chanted the spell he had used last. More chunks of earth flew from the ground then sped at the last tree spirit. The spirit, however, was ready. With its lance, it began a dazzling display of leaps and stabs to dodge and destroy incoming debris. As the spell finished, the spirit ran toward the Geninfor, lance held high and ready to strike.
Artifex clumsily jumped to the side to avoid the first stab. However, while he tried to regain his balance, the spirit swung the enchanted wood sideways, tossing the Geninfor like a ragdoll. Artifex had placed numerous enchantments on his body, but the base was still that of an old man. Slowly, he got up. As soon as he had his balance again, however, he pointed his sword at the spirit. Per ventus permoveo. He disappeared, puffs of energy released by another one of his gems lingering in the air.
Exori vis. His voice came from behind the spirit. The tip of his sword was at the spirit's neck. From the tip emanated a blast of pure kinetic force, blasting off the tree spirit's head. Without hesitiation, Artifex brought the sword straight downward, scratching the rest of the body. The tree spirit's soul was forcibly pulled out and stored in one of Artifex's empty gems.
After finishing the attack, the man fell to his hands, breathing hard. "Excuse an old man. I am not quite as strong as I once was. We will venture into the Tree of Ages very shortly."
Two minutes passed before Artifex pushed himself up with his staff. He put the long sword back into its sheath at his waist, and he gestured toward the group to follow him into the dark hole.
|
|