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Post by Jenny on Jul 9, 2014 23:17:46 GMT -5
The Silver Spire, Canicus, in the Tzeitelian capitol, Tevaeh. The surface world on planet Naveen, with the two moons, Hesperos and Vespera. The ruins of Old Kingdom, sprawling beneath Teveah. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Silver Spire, Canicus, was the city of Tevaeh’s crowning jewel. This technological hub was the pride of the Tzeitel people, who maintained domination over the planet Naveen’s latent power. Canicus stood high above the planet’s surface in order to escape the blanket of smog and fumes that continued to blanket over the ruins of the old kingdom, which sprawled extensively around the foundations on which Canicus and the surrounding city stood, made from stone and of bricks of the hardest metallic ore mined from deep and yawning crevices and caves. At first the Tzeitel had maintained a symbiotic relationship with their planet, whose core of the radiant blue light called Eternium was used to power their technology. Within the last few decades, however, the Tzeitel’s vast empire, consisting of cities just as high as Canicus, with bridges for traffic and tracks for transports linking them together rather than roads, the dominant race, who saw themselves superior to the Natali and Citalians, had become supremely parasitic. They counted on the planet core’s immense density to last their needs for centuries to come. Eternium was a semi-solid and dense gas, upon which the land and seas floated. Eternium, once drawn from the dense core, was even more buoyant than the air they breathed. Trapped inside delicate machinery it allowed the devices to float, suspended between rising up and sinking in mid-air, able to stay in the place they were maneuvered for decades before the Eternium expired, being away from the core for so long. The sleek lifts that gave Tzeitelian elite access to the Silver Spire were made of the same ore as the spires themselves and powered by Tzeitel technological advancements. Besides the Silver Spire’s fortified gate, it’s doors wrought with delicate scrollwork and many heads high, the lifts were the only way inside. The lifts could be shut off by a master switch in case of an attack upon the Lady Siofra or the Tzelitel people themselves, perhaps by alien forces, and the heavy gate would be closed, with five rods bolting it shut so securely not even a rodent could make its way inside. The dwellers would be unprotected, of course, and would have to find shelter deep inside the mines at best. The buildings of the old kingdom, once shining and glorious, had crumbled into derelict ghosts of what they once were. The streets were dusted with shattered brickwork and rubble. The old trains and vehicles had long rusted and were unserviceable, nor would they ever work again, for any useful parts had already been gleaned by the dwellers so that they may survive in this wasteland, used to heat buildings and less advance models of what tech remained. Items had long ago been rummaged out of the garbage dump. The light gleaming off of the twin moons, Vespera and Hesperos, which revolved around Naveen in a low orbit, was barely visible beneath the smog. The sun that heated the planet’s surface was stifled and hazy from down below. The dwellers consisted of the more primitive Natali and the Citalians, who were never allowed into shining cities, spanning up to the clouds, except for when slave labor was needed to maintain their spires, or to build on additions to the sprawling cities, which spanned for many miles around the capitol with spires so high they pierced the clouds. The dweller’s only means of access from the ruins up to the Silver Spire were rickety elevators which creaked and shuddered, with only a rusted gate to keep the rider from tumbling towards certain death. If the dwellers were employed they insisted on items of trade, or food, for Tzeitelian currency was of no use to them. Their main employment was to mine the ore desired by the Tzeitelians. If a dweller was not a miner, or of the lucky few that labored in the Silver Spire, or worked the odd job between the dwellers themselves, it was likely that they would have no means of living at all. Those without work would likely starve within weeks as canned provisions had long expired, and those that dared open the rusted and bulging cans often died from food poisoning. The dwellers often had to wear filters over their nose and mouth on the worst days so that the toxic fumes would not build up in their lungs, likely as dark as the ore they took from the earth.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 16, 2014 5:22:16 GMT -5
Athala, a Tzeitelian humanoid, One of Twelve Golden Guardians of the Supreme Ruler, Lady Siofra. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was trouble in the old kingdom tonight. The Tzeitel had withdrawn all contracts with the Natali and the Citalians and without contracts, the food and items of trade that normally came in were becoming scarce between the dwellers as they had been out of work for more than a week. They were hungry, and being so was making them irritable. They could not eat the stone and ore that they continued to mine deep in the core in hopes that there would be need of it and thus a form of income, they could not eat the expired food that crumbled like ash on the lips and made them ill for the trouble. It seemed that the Supreme Guardian, Lady Siofra, had halted its expansion for the time being and routing their energies into other ventures, which was to harness and condense Eternium into a more effective technology, heralded by Tzeitel’s most accomplished theorists, scientists and technicians. The brooding masses below only accentuated the need for Eternium powered weapons so that the elitists could continue to throw their weight around, or defend against attack. Siofra surrounded herself with her shadows, made up of six males and six female elite known collectively as the Golden Guardians. These knights were her strong arms and her defense. Any attempt upon her life would be deflected by the Golden Guardians’ vigilance. Traditionally, the favored weapons of Guardians were Eternium-infused double-edged swords which could double as a blunt stunning baton on one side of the blade to deflect aggressors, and the opposite sharpened edge to cut through flesh and bone and cauterize it immediately, in the case of wishing only to maim, or run them through entirely if they wished to do further harm, in which the enemy would likely lay in pieces rather than a whole. Using the same concept as the orbital pulsing arrays powered by Eternium, buoyant and virtually inextinguishable, which could arc a condensed ray of Eternium to ward off an aerial attack. Weapons would be fitted with this same energy as rifles, though Athala, one of the Golden Guardians, preferred the traditional method. The dwellers were in chaos down in the old kingdom. They were practically ripping each other apart in order to gain possession of what food they had, looting one another’s stores and equipment. It was complete pandemonium. When a Natali rebel leader and his rabble of followers tried to access the service elevator in order to get up to the city and try his luck there, others being of the same mind, Lady Siofra chose two of her Guardians to see that the dwellers did not bring the destruction onto Tevaeh’s city proper. Athala and the male Guardian known as Athan were chosen. They both lowered themselves to one knee in respect of their Lady’s orders before heading to the armory to retrieve suitable methods of enforcement. The male unlatched an Eernium rifle from it’s place on the armory wall, testing it’s weight in his hands. Athan was into the latest tech and had been itching to test the new model out. Athala slid an Eternium sword from its scabbard, preferring melee weapons over technological ones, checking the blade for nicks then giving it a few good swings. The two turned towards each other and wordlessly walked out, weapons in hand. Gathering a group of Tevaeh’s police force they took lifts down to the city proper. They instantly turned off the breaker to the service elevator, leaving the dwellers about two-thirds of the way up from between the ruins below and the city’s main level. The dwellers slung up various unkind remarks up at the Guardians and the police force, practically foaming at the mouth in their desperation. The Natali individual who had started the whole thing began to attempt to shimmy up the cables. Athala twisted a ring around the long hilt of the Eternium sword and it hummed to life, buzzing with energy. She stepped to the edge and watched the dweller progress slowly upwards with a bored expression on her face. “Return to your home and all will be well," she called down flatly. "We will forgive this infraction if you comply.” She reached out and flipped a lever that controlled whether the service elevator went up or down, lowering it into the down position and put her fingers on the breaker. “I certainly hope you can fly,” she said pointedly and turned on the breaker. The elevator was already weighted down and rickety with the other dwellers at his heels and started to go downward in jerking bursts. Having nothing to lower himself upon, the fall would likely break the Natali male's neck if he did not retreat soon. The police force began to laugh at the expression on the dweller's face as he realized the situation he had put himself into. Red faced, arms shaking from holding up his own weight, his eyes fell earthward as the service elevator platform was now a tiny, shuddering spec down below. His eyes snapped up towards her with a venomous look. Athala raised a hand and the force fell silent. "You would just let me fall to my death?!" He shouted huskily up at her. "Yes," she said in blatant honesty. "You have no heart!" The man growled, shaking visibly. Slowly his grasp slipped and he kept his eyes on Athala, glaring at her with hateful eyes. It was only a matter of time before he lost his grip completely. Athala turned away and past the police force, casting her hair over her shoulder. "Leave him. He has chosen his fate..." "Couldn't just let me shoot him?" Athan remarked grumpily as he followed her lead, slinging the rifle casually over his shoulder. "Whore of a Tzeitelian!" The Natali screamed out, desperately trying to hold on. No one saw him fall.
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faust
Eater of Jello
Posts: 76
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Post by faust on Aug 8, 2014 23:52:34 GMT -5
Up in the atmosphere, something strange was happening. A rift opened up in the planes, and falling from the opening, was an outsider. This was a being not of Tzeitel or Naveen, and he fought with a monstrous shape as they both tumbled through the air. Faust's demon had broken his control, and he was fighting for his life. Finally, he was able to banish the demon.
He fell and fell and fell. He crashed through a floating lamp, breaking it into pieces as he hit it with his back, but it did not break his fall. He landed a short time after, somewhere on a track outside Canicus. His head hit the ground, and all went dark. Faust was out for a long time. When he awoke, he sat up, looking around. He didn't recognize this place. His pistol was broken, but it seemed he could still conjure up his magic, so he used a healing spell on himself. He ached all over, surprised he hadn't broken any bones. It was night time, and he headed toward the city in the distance.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 9, 2014 0:20:10 GMT -5
Most of the force had returned to the city’s armory to return their weapons and riot gear. Athala’s indifference towards the rebels had disappointed them, they had wanted a bit of a fight, hot-blooded Athan among them. But Athala had well earned their respect so they did not murmur to each other of their discontent and stood stiffly in attention as Athala herself walked among them to put the Eternium sword back on its hooks on the armory wall. She may be cold, but she was good at combat, top rank among the Guardians. Her distaste for the dwellers was shared among each Tzeitelian of every rank. Thus, her brusque approach in regards to them was tolerated.
The hour was late when Athala emerged on her balcony, overseeing the surface of Naveen. The moon Hesperos was half eclipsed, it’s larger twin Vespera yawned large in the sky. The light of the moons glinted against the gold painted along her body, a beautiful contrast to her midnight shade of skin. She narrowed her eyes as the heavens were disturbed by a rift, opening above Tavaeh like a jagged scar. She though she saw something pitching from it, a twisting mass of organic matter. There was a flash of light and the mass thinned, and she saw it drop below at the outskirts of the city. She moved to grip the balcony railing, her eyes searching around where the mass had hit ground.
She turned quickly back inside, throwing a light silken robe over her shift as she strode out of her quarters, intent on investigating. Once upon the promenade, she strode with purpose towards its location.
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faust
Eater of Jello
Posts: 76
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Post by faust on Aug 9, 2014 1:11:24 GMT -5
He had to find a weapon quick, who knew what dangers abounded this realm. As he approached the city, he broke into a run, heading for cover. If he was lucky, he would find a place safe enough to draw out the circle he needed to portal back to his native realm. The streets seemed empty. A lucky thing.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 9, 2014 1:26:24 GMT -5
He managed to avoid police patrol, thinned due to the late hour. Though if he was to find a weapon in this city it was the Tzeitelian who wielded them. The dwellers relied on outdated tech.
Athala’s footsteps echoed along the empty streets, her stride determined. If there was a threat, she meant to extinguish it. She was skilled at hand to hand combat and she wore gilded tips on her fingers, sharp weapons of their own right. Usually a good swipe would deter the cowardly, and she expected the dwellers to be such. Her height was impressive and she towered over the lesser races.
She paused near the landing site upon a long bridge, her eyes roaming over the pavement of the city streets. If whatever had fallen from the rift had managed to land on Tevaeh’s proper, it would be lucky, for the bridge was slim. There was scaffolding on either side that dug under the bridge for maintenance but other than that, nothing but a sheer drop to the tainted earth.
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faust
Eater of Jello
Posts: 76
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Post by faust on Aug 9, 2014 1:42:39 GMT -5
Athala spotted something out of place. A pistol, but one unlike she had ever seen. It was damaged, though and did not work. Better keep this, as evidence of whatever had come out of the rift. A footprint in the dust with an odd tread pointed toward the city, but there was no other sign visible.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 9, 2014 1:52:30 GMT -5
She picked up the pistol to examine it, twisting it that way and that. This could be something put together by a dweller scavenger but she had a feeling that it was associated with the anomaly she had witnessed. She put it into her hand to test its grip. Whatever it was, the intruder was humanoid and had similar anatomy to her race and that of the native peoples, but this metal was of a strange make. She tested the weapon, pointing it away from her, but the trigger did not fire. It was no wonder it had been abandoned. But if whatever had landed had a weapon it had been willing to defend itself. The next logical step, if whatever this intruder was, was to become armed again. She lowered the weapon and glanced around at the ground, looking for more evidence. She bent to one knee to examine the footprint, brushing the dust to the side of the footprint to gauge the size.
It knew stealth, to have come this far. She had lapsed if she had allowed it to slip past her and she cursed herself, going rigid with indignation. She turned in the direction that the sign indicated. It was headed to the city. She would not leave the weapon where she had found it, it was evidence of an alien presence. Athala’s mood had soured from wariness and curiosity to a darker mood. It was headed towards Canicus, the stronghold of her lady. She began to trail the direction of the step, running at full speed, hoping to overtake the intruder and seize it.
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faust
Eater of Jello
Posts: 76
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Post by faust on Aug 9, 2014 2:53:20 GMT -5
As he came around a corner, Faust saw an official looking uh... creature, for it had projections sticking out from its head, scanning the streets. He ducked back behind a wall before it spotted him. He looked around. There was a catwalk above that he could pull himself up to, to move along the underside of an arcing, raised causeway. He would have summoned a fog to conceal his movements even further, but it wouldn't look natural. The air was clear and mostly dry. He settled on a haste spell, and quickly went through the gestures and somatic component as quietly as he was able, then slipped up into the catwalk.
Faust moved to a well hidden vantage point to watch the patrolling creature. He did not see a weapon, but that didn't mean there wasn't one. Could he subdue the creature? Maybe. He thought he might summon a demon to help him.. maybe a water demon, or maybe an air demon. Those would leave the most unobtrusive traces.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 9, 2014 3:11:08 GMT -5
Athala practically skidded to a halt when she saw the patrol man. Nothing seemed out of sorts, other than the policeman looking surprised that a Guardian was out and about at this hour, and on a common road to boot. She studied him, eyebrows raised.
“Guardian Athala,” the Tzeitelian male began, “Can I help you with something?” He stammered.
Athala closed her robe more tightly at his stare, scowling. “Nothing is amiss, then?”
“No, nothing. Should there be?” He asked, confused.
“No, back to your duties,” she replied with a wave of her hand. She stalked about, sure that the intruder was close, to the curiosity of the patrolman. With nothing out of sorts, she stalked ahead, keen on gaining the trail once again.
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faust
Eater of Jello
Posts: 76
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Post by faust on Aug 9, 2014 4:04:41 GMT -5
Faust's heart nearly jumped out of his throat when he saw a woman coming from the direct he had. She barked at the guard, and scrutinized the area. He shrunk back into the shadows, until she seemed satisfied, and moved on. He let out the breath he'd been holding in a slow, quiet exhale. Faust began gesturing.
"Addu you are called. Faustus commands you. Do my bidding!" He invoked. A wind based storm demon materialized near the guard, buffeting him over with great gusts of wind. The man (for lack of a better term) struck at the demon with his weapon, but you cannot hurt the air with a physical blow, so it went right through. Static electricity built in the air and then all of a sudden a burst of lightning shot up from the ground, electrocuting the man. Almost immediately a loud thunderclap rang through the square. Faust jumped down and banished the demon, quickly searching the body. A weapon, some kind of rifle, more advanced than he'd ever seen.
No time to gawk. He retreated to the catwalk in a hurry.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 9, 2014 4:14:13 GMT -5
The Tzeitelian guard crumpled at the jarring jolt of electricity that surged through his body, thudding to the pavement.
Athala stopped short at the sound of thunder, her eyes moving to the sky. Not a storm cloud to be seen. She turned about suspiciously, scanning the streets again with wary eyes. Something was amiss. Something, unsettling. She was not afraid, more annoyed that this intruder was alluding her, and it obviously kindled some power, of a sort she knew nothing about. None on the face of Naveen possessed such a trait. There was the harnessing of Eternium or nothing at all. She tentatively stepped towards where she had heard the sound.
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faust
Eater of Jello
Posts: 76
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Post by faust on Aug 9, 2014 4:39:23 GMT -5
Faust took a moment to orient himself with the weapon. It was a good thing he was a dead shot. It was a matter of survival more often than he wanted to admit. He was about to move out of immediate concealment when he heard footsteps approaching. He froze.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 9, 2014 4:44:51 GMT -5
Athala approached the fallen guard and knelt beside him, looking for wounds of some type. His clothes were singed… a sure sign that he had been electrocuted. But how? It both unnerved her and angered her that someone would dare do this to a Tzeitelian. She stood straight up, her face quivering in wrath.
“I know that you are here. Show yourself…”
It was a long shot, but the challenge had been set.
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faust
Eater of Jello
Posts: 76
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Post by faust on Aug 9, 2014 5:34:18 GMT -5
He heard a woman's bold voice speak out a demand. He didn't know what she was saying, the words sounded strange, exotic. He knew a languages spell. He spake the words, his voice deep and dry. When she spoke again, he would be able to reply. But he already had figured out what she must have said. Faust dropped to the ground easily. He was lanky and lithe elf (looks like the pic) dressed in a short robe, designed efficiently for both ease of movement and storage capability. A book with strange runes glowing upon the cover hung on the right hip, on the left, an empty holster. His cowl was pushed back. He was bald, gaunt, and skullish, severe of face. There were runic tattoos on his skin and his eyes glowed with a blue blaze.
"I am Faust," he said in a twisting tongue. In a moment she understood what it was.
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