[Nexus] Outside XXIX

[Reinholdt]

This place is just as it sounds. It's outside.
Want a change of scenery? Go outside.
Always wanted to visit the beach? Come outside.
Looking to have a climatic fight on clifftops? Attempt outside.
Secret meetings being held where there's no cameras? Try outside.
Want an ambush without nasty base defenses? Yep. Outside.

Any and all are welcome here. There are no NPCs unless you bring them in. The major exception is the creepy eyed squirrel. The creepy eyed squirrel does not interfere with anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel is everywhere outside. The creepy eyed squirrel is always watching. The creepy eyed squirrel never sleeps. The creepy eyed squirrel can not be damaged, manipulated, or killed by anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel will eat anyone's very being who attempts to do so. Anyone can god-mode the creepy eyed squirrel. You may pet the creepy eyed squirrel at your own risk.

Other NPCs currently include:
The menacing crabs. These intimidating creatures are usually found by the shore.
The non-existant duck. You'll miss every time you shoot at it.

There is very little you can't do outside. However, like always, please follow the forum rules and general rules of conduct. Private conversations can be held outside. If it seems like a private (secret) conversation, please respect that. Those having such a conversation should do their best to indicate it as such. Otherwise, other characters may stumble upon you. Those desiring to spy in on private conversations should first PM those holding the private conversation, more out of courtesy than anything else.

There are many areas outside, and people can be in multiple places outside. In order to keep areas outside separated so there's no confusion, consider bolding your outside location at the start of each of your posts, like so:

The Fields

Reinholdt sets up various targets and practices his sharpshooting. All these events recently has made him a bit rusty. To his left, he notes the creepy eyed squirrel. Giving him the heebie-jeebies, Reinholdt decides to head somewhere else.

The Cliffside

Calublufiok broods over his latest scheme as he flies over the cliffs. The creepy eyed squirrel is watching him again. He finds occasionally landing and telling the creepy eyed squirrel his plans helps him find holes in his plotting.

Note Reinholdt and Calublufiok do not interact because they are in different areas outside. They could interact, if Reinholdt moves to the cliffside. Of course, various things like telepathy help bypass this. Also, please note outside has no major buildings, though minor ones crop up from time to time.

And most importantly, enjoy outside. That's what this is all about.

Outside now contains various Outside locations! Such as...

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[Dead Pine Lake]

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This lake lies in the middle of the forest. On the eastern shore, woodpeckers feast on the dead pines that give the lake its name. Sometimes one can find Lady Death here, the Aspect of Eve also known as The Grandmother, or Jedwiga.

(Please PM happyturtle if you wish to interact with Jedwiga.)

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[The Islands]

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An island cluster forms an archipelago along the coast. Some of the islands are settled, some not, but most are at least occasionally visited by the fishermen who work these waters.

[Gersemi's Island]

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Now more commonly known as Melody's Island, since Gersemi has long ago retired.

Where once was a single hut with a few sheep, now stands a single hut, a barn, a few sheep, and a small tented community of orphans. Gersemi's loom still rests in one corner of the single hut.

Melody, like Gersemi before her, is a healer for the surrounding islands.

(Please PM Lex-Kat if you wish to interact with Melody.)

[Redbrick Falls]

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A mountainous, cliffy region with a prominent waterfall. A large quarry once was worked in these cliffs. Now, only a few scattered villages and solitary dwellings remain.

[Norosa, Great City of the Elves]

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A Lawful Evil city with an incredibly strong military and a very charismatic leader (Archmage Tyrion Lannister). It has a few CG resisters, but, otherwise, it is a city of peace and law, despite its evil nature.

[Brillian's Baneful Bestiary]

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A secret series of caves where a mad scientist lives. A mad scientist who creates mutant attack creatures. These can be purchased for the right price.

[Auxiliary MagCave]

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A relic from the days of the Age of Apocalypse, this abandoned cavern was once used by the infamous cyborg Magtok as a back-up laboratory and underground fortress, should Calublufiok have ever stormed the primary MagCave.

[The Katz Motel]

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Located in the middle of Nowhere, our roadside motel is the only decent place for miles near the Taverna that has a bed. Run by a suave anthropomorphic cat, there is a strict No Dogs policy.


A bellhop by the name of Bates is always ready to assist in carrying your luggage. Please ignore his constant mutterings about his mother. Other more unsavory employees can occasionally be found. Please try to avoid eye contact with them.

We at the Katz Motel wish to ensure you have a splendid stay. Any inconvenience due to randomly locking doors, giant spiders, secret passages, vampires, creepy paintings, and the occasional possession and subsequent exorcism are incredibly rare. Just look at our complaint cards! Not a single one mentions dying horribly in their sleep or becoming food for the monster in the basement.

And if you get bored, the owner will always be up for a game of sport, old boy.

((The Katz Motel is a horror filled place with the highest casualty rate of any motel in the Nexus area. Checking in is usually pretty easy and pleasant. Checking out is rare. Anyone can play the Motel and the NPCs within, free to invent their own horror. The NPCs within that can die usually only suffer death temporarily, the supernatural force causing the disturbances bringing them back to life for its own nefarious purposes. PCs get no benefit from this.))

[The Troll Cave]

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A cave in a craggy hill. The undergrowth outside is trampled completely flat, and there's not much wildlife. There's a burned patch where a fire is sometimes there. Inside are a few large caves, linked by surprisingly smooth tunnels that look like something big has been regularly pushing through them.

[Blind Cat's Bluff]

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A sheer cliff dropoff that travels straight down into the water, this is a favored point of people who commit suicide, romantics wanting to watch the sunset and anyone looking to get rid of evidence. The drop is pretty far and there are rocks at the bottom that spell almost certain doom, so watch your step.

[North Forest]

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A magical forest with a mythical spring of beauty. A bit like the Weald, but not nearly as dangerous. For starters, you can find your way back out and the pixies aren't cannibals.

PM Reinholdt if you wish to add locations to Outside.

[billtodamax]

[Charred Lands]

Kirk finishes his call and flicks his shoe a little Durned ash sprite is getting his shoes dirtier than they already were! He's not going to outright harm it though. That just seems like a horrible idea.

He gets on the bike after dislodging the sprite - and hopefully it doesn't get on him again. He's just starting to take off when he spots the robot. Hm, might as well take a look. The drow flies over to the scrapped robot, gets off the bike, and investigates.

The scrapped robot is quite melted. Its legs are basically slag, but its arms and torso are less melted - however Kirk might want to stay away from the arms if he recalls where most of the weaponry was kept, that might still be dangerous.

The covering plates around the torso are melted badly, exposing a lot of the wiring and mechanics, which look remarkably slipshod compared to the plating, if Kirk can tell.

There's some parts in there that look like they might be scavengable - the main light in its head is fairly intact beneath the melted casing, and the cpu it's connected to seems better protected than the rest of the robot, so it's probably recoverable.

[Gullara]

[Charred Lands]

Admittedly, Kirk knows exactly jack all about robotics. Definitely not something he's had any inerest in before, nor much of an opportunity to pursue it. That doesn't mean he won't take the opportunity to lootsalvage though. He produces a knife and tries to pry away anything that's stopping him fro recovering that light. He'll snag the cpu as well if he gets that far.

[billtodamax]

There are several bolts in place, but they are screwed on that tightly, and even melted down some Kirk should be able to remove most of them.

The light's firmly attached to the CPU, but that slides out rather easily along with it. He'll be carrying a small piece of melted metal along with him, but it should be easy enough to move.

It's worth noting that the CPU - and indeed, many of the plates if Kirk looks closely - have the name "Iggy" scratched into them.

[Gullara]

[Charred Lands]

Kirk takes note of the name. Iggy, eh? He'll have to look into that. For now he shoves it into his extradimensional pocket and returns to the bike. Presumably the conversation that took place in the Remnant thread takes place sometime after that.

Some time after that. Kirk will fly the bike back to the obsidian block. He'll start using the cable in the bike to tie up the block so it can be carried. No doubt this'll be rather difficult, but with some time he'll manage.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Charred Lands]

The only particularly difficult part of tying up the rock is the weight.
Getting the cable beneath it would be bothersome, but all that's necessary to support it, in all likelihood.

Congratulations Kirk, you have a giant block of molten glass with a lizard inside.


Meanwhile, hidden in ever little nook and cranny they could find, little ash sprites stare out from within the bike.

[Gullara]

[Charred Lands]

Kirk goes to fly the bike off after the difficult process. before he gets to it, however, he spots some of the sprites. "You're kidding me." Kirk scowls and tries to shoo them away, going as far to bat some of them away with his hands.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Charred Lands]

Nooooo, they don't want to go!
This bike is so comfy and warm!

Most try to flee his shooing hands, towards different hiding places.
But one just tries to grab his fingers with its little bitty hands and legs, to acquire a koala-grip.

This may be accompanied by staring with wide, curious eyes that take up most of the sprite's body.
They would seem to say "Why? Why don't you love us? We just want to be your friends.
Your best friends. We love you."
They're very expressive.

[Gullara]

[Charred Lands]

>.> Kirk is immune to cutesy eyes! He flicks his wrist to try and get the sprite off. If that works, he'll mutter under his breath and just get on the bike. The things seem harmless enough. Taking of will happen soon after, barring any interference.

[Chaotic Bob]

[Charred Lands]

It falls in slow motion, reaching a hand out towards him with a terrified look on its face.
Somewhere in the bike, another one releases a drawn out squeak, perhaps their version of "Nooooo!"

And then it hits the ground, bounces, and gives a little squeak.
The sprite explodes in a tiny puff of dust and the others on the bike immediately become quiet.

Most of them slide away from Kirk a little bit, but still stare as he prepares to leave.
Maybe it was an accident?

[Gullara]

[Charred Lands]

Kirk certainly isn't showing any remorse, or any sign of caring at all really. He just proceeds to get on the bike and take off. It's a bit difficult with the load he has top carry, however, and progress is slow.

[ThirdEmperor]

Field of Battle

No retreat. Not even an option. While it's true that quickly flying over to Gordon and warping out of Ilpholin's range would be the most effective way to minimize damage, it would also be fleeing, and Prometheus refuses to show such weakness in front of the other AMENites. So rather than retreat, try to dodge, teleport away, Prometheus chooses what may well be the least advisable course of action, considering the circumstances;

He charges.

The bladed wings fold away against his back, shotgun discarded in favor of drawing the longsword as Prometheus drops into a dive towards Ilpholin, shield raised against the whirling bladed flail, not even pausing to question how monumentally dangerous this is. He who hesitates is lost and questions are for those who, unlike Prometheus, are not already certain of their own superiority.

As he makes not even a token attempt to dodge, the damage to his wings rendering such impossible in the first place, this doozy of a plan involves getting Prometheus torn to shreds. The very first crack of the whip aimed in his direction tears a jagged gash across his chestpiece, cutting an equally unpleasant wound into the flesh below, the next two decimating what little remains of the golden wings and sending a massive jolt into his left through the shield, as well as tearing dozens of smaller rips into the outer plating, subjecting him to multiple shocks.

But the fourth strike aimed at him meets naught but thin air. See, that little computer in his visor does more than merely calculate trajectory. It also records longitude, latitude, complete sets of coordinates, transmits them to another, linked device. A short range teleportation activates. Prometheus blinks out of existence-

-and re-appears right next to Ilphy, behind her now, swinging the longsword in a quick arc to meet her whip as it spins round, the sword every bit as sharp as Prom's wings were and seeking to cut the blade-whip in twain at it's base, hopefully cutting Ilphy's attack short. Of course, at this point Prom's wings are damaged enough that they're no good for anything but controlling how he falls, so in any case he'll likely be making a rapid descent quite shortly.

-----

Meanwhile, the cords connecting the generator to Prometheus's prototype armor are yoinked! This in and of itself provides no difficulty, nor would there be any problem at all had Prometheus's recent work not been rather piecemeal, at best. See, in order to prevent the power armor from being rendered so much deadweight by any damage to the generator, which was to be installed at a later date, Prometheus built in a set of six compact, high-storage capacitors to serve as a back-up..... And said capacitors are fully charged.

When Magtok pulls the metaphorical plug, the automated systems register the sudden removal of their primary energy source, instantly swapping to secondary power. Due to previously established issues with armor basically going haywire when provided with power, this results in two things;

The first is an insanely high-pitched whine that shall no doubt annoy the hell out of everyone within hearing range. The second is that all that freshly released power goes shooting along superconductive conduits, rushing past circuits and unimplemented safety measures until they reach the emitters built into the armor's chassis.... Creating a brief, powerful surge of electricity that pulses outwards in all directions from the prototype, arcs of lightning leaping from the emitters in the chestplate, pauldrons, armguards, gauntlets, some simply burying themselves in the ground while others fly straight towards any exposed metallic surfaces.

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

After some walking, a short trip on the riftline, and quite a bit more walking, Julie and Kate will have made it here from Riverside. It's an unassuming place, but Julie seems to be walking purposefully towards the top of one of the larger nearby hills, despite how much her legs and back are screaming at her to rest.

"It's just over there. Arty likes to keep things hidden, but we all know the way in just in case." Arkinos has apparently hidden the entrance to his abode behind some form of illusion. If Kate is just looking in the normal spectrum, the hill seems completely normal.

[Lost_Deep]

Hills - A Portal

Kate will follow Julie, supporting her if necessary. "Looks normal enough. Lead on."

She doesn't really know what to make of this, but is willing to help Julie in any way she can. Especially with this hill...

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

When they make it to the top of the hill (Julie having leaned heavily on Kate for support during the last few steps), Julie reaches up, rapping her knuckles against the air just slightly above her head. Whatever is being hidden gives a hollow thunk, and a black pane of glass shimmers into view.

"Right, here we are. Thanks for going through with this by the way." With no further explanation than that, Julie grabs hold of an edge of the glass and gives it a good tug. It swings towards them, revealing a gaping hole in reality that Julie will nod towards, then step through.

If Kate follows, she'll find herself in a massive warehouse filled with piles of every possible handmade good imaginable. Julie is leaning against one nearby, which looks to be largely made up of pillows and silverwear.

[Lost_Deep]

Hills - A Portal

Kate does step in, and looks around. "Wow... where did this all come from? Did they make it all by hand? Impressive."

Kate will help Julie if she needs it... or even only if she looks like she needs it.

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

Julie is panting a bit, but otherwise fine. She raises up her hand to keep Kate from fussing over her, "Arkinos makes these things. This isn't his only warehouse either, he has tons of them just lying around outside the Nexus. Wally used to help, enchanting and such, but ever since he was crippled he hasn't been able to."

After a short rest, Julie is back on her feet, getting her bearings until she thinks she has Waldorf's area pinpointed.

"You can stay here and look around if you'd like. I'll be a while with Wally, and Arkinos doesn't mind people taking his things. He just loves making things, and doesn't really care what happens with them afterwards." The succubus begins to toddle off towards the far wall, looking back to see what Kate's response will be.

[Lost_Deep]

Hills - A Portal

"Some of it is enchanted? Huh. I might like to meet more of your family. I mean, I don't know much about your story at all."

Kate will follow, still looking around with some curiosity. These people must have a lot of free time... Oh, and they're probably demons like Julie is. Well, with a bit of luck they are rational like Julie is.

[Mindfreak]

Plains of Allama
Katherine arrives here in her armor, having tracked the dragon for many miles.
This isn't any ordinary dragon and this isn't any ordinary Katherine.
This is a Katherine 10 years into the future of the one currently employed at WATCHTOWER. Having gone into her world again 5 years past the current Katherine, this new Katherine re-entered the Nexus in the same time as Present-Katherine.
For all intents and purposes, this is 10-Years Future Katherine.
Older and wiser, this Katherine has been stalking the Shadow Dragon that was after her head for years, never wavering from her path.
And today it was going to end.
As she moved through the tall grass, making the long greens move aside, she drew her blade as she heard a rustling sound.
Sending a slice directly behind her while turning, she grazed the Shadowdragon's scales, knocking off a few of them.
"Either you've gotten slower or I've gotten faster...Allama."
A slice rippled through the exposed chainmail side, causing Katherine to grunt as she absorbed the blow.
"Looks like it's both."

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

Julie is anything but rational. Those must be some pretty nasty demons Kate is comparing her to, if she seems even slightly normal by comparison.

Julie will be gone for quite a while, so Kate should have plenty of time to look around. There isn't any apparent filing system for the objects, but every stack seems to be made of one or two distinct things. Kate won't be bother for a little over an hour, and as mentioned can take what she pleases.

After the time is up, Julie can be seen hobbling back this way, an odd looking man at her side. He's tall, extremely so, with slick black hair slightly greyed at the temples. He's smiling politely, and once they come even with Kate gives a deep, scraping bow as Julie goes back over to the pointy pillow pile.

"Ms. Kyland, I have seen much of your exploits in the past few encounters you have had with my sister. It is an honor to finally meet you in person." What's this, Waldorf is lacking his distinctive annoying slur? Madness!

[Lost_Deep]

Hills - A Portal

Or maybe Kate is having trouble connecting Julie and the Julie in the file... that seems like something that Kate's mind would do to her.

Kate looks at Waldorf with some confusion, giving a slight bow. "Nice to meet you, too...?"

She looks between Waldorf and Julie, looking for family resemblance... and on a less conscious level she scents the air, comparing the scents of Waldorf and Julie...

"A lot of people seem to look over Julie's shoulder..."

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

Waldorf doesn't look much at all like Julie, except perhaps the shade of their hair. He also doesn't smell much like her, or much like anyone else really. Rather than having his own distinct scent, Waldorf's is much more vague, smelling only of humanity and maleness. It's almost as if he'd not existed long enough to pick up any distinguishing factors.

Julie, mind you, smells faintly of brimstone, and much more strongly of the sorts of hormones one produces during a pregnancy. There's something else, but it's suppressed for now.

Waldorf does share one trait with his relative, that being his keen perception. He spots Kate's observation as it's being made, and responds, "Oh no, I would not be so crass as to look over someone's shoulder while reading a book. Rather, we share our experiences, and see through one another's eyes. That is what family means to us, Ms. Kyland. It's more important than how closely we can trace our ancestry."

[Lost_Deep]

Hills - A Portal

Kate seems to think about this... and nods.

"That's a peculiar angle for family... albeit one that does make sense once you wrap your head around it. It might help family members empathize with one another, and certainly encourages family bonds... I guess. Hmm."

Kate ponders this, pros, cons, possibilities, examples, other such things... she basically zones out for a minute or two.

"Hmm. That is an interesting idea. What's the story behind that, if you don't mind my asking?"

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

Waldorf's smile becomes eerie, his eyes crinkling at the corners as the edges of his lips curl.

"I don't mind unanswerable questions all that much. We've apparently kept the origins of our family a secret, even to each other. It's not unheard of to eliminate troublesome and dangerous thoughts from a mind, so I'm sure that, whatever our reasons for commiting such a dire act, they were entirely warranted." Waldorf gently crooks a finger, and from a far off pile of detritus a set of furniture soars to land nearby. A recliner, chaise lounge, and coffee table arrange themselves, and Julie quickly gets up to claim one end of the couch.

"Are you staying for tea, Ms. Kyland? As I understand it, Julie is not needed back at the camp grounds for some time."

[Lost_Deep]

Hills - A Portal

"Hmm. Well, some tea would be nice, thank you." Kate will take a seat that is not otherwise taken. "Peculiar that someone would remove something like that, but they probably had a good reason."

Kate looks around a bit more. She hasn't picked up anything, but there may have been some things that have caught her eye...

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

There are quite a few things around, this is true. the nearest pile seems to be made entirely of little glass spheres, each perfectly round and containing a small amount of coloured liquid, constantly swirling around in the bottom.

A bit farther off is a neatly arranged stack of musical triangles, all softly chiming in unison. Behind Kate's seat on the couch, taxidermy specimens of all sorts, both mythical creatures and mundane, stretches high up to the rafters. As she looks back, one of the snakes winks at her.

"So this god of yours, how exactly would one get into contact with him?" Waldorf has suddenly moved from his place standing to the recliner, without crossing the space in between. A steaming tea set sits on a lacy doily on the coffee table, made of brushed silver.

[Lost_Deep]

Hills - A Portal

Interesting things, by all means, but Kate doesn't see anything that strikes her as useful. Oh, hey, Waldorf is over there now. That's odd, but not all that odd. Probably just small-scale teleportation.

"I'm not all that sure. I suppose I could tell him you wanted to talk to him, if you wanted to speak to him right now. Apart from that... I suppose you would either need to draw his attention or maybe use some kind of magic to beseech him?"

Kate doesn't really know much about tea, she just knows that she doesn't dislike most kinds and she prefers it not straight.

[Slii Arhem]

Hills - A Portal

The tea is actually a rather mild chai, with hints of chocolate under the red spices. There is a dish of creamer, and one of milk, as well as a small server for honey and a few fresh lemon wedges.

"You needn't call on him just yet, but perhaps the next time he is around you can pass along my interest. I'm quite perplexed as to how he simply summoned the god of revelry to cast such favors on you." And possibly mildly annoyed, if the slight frown he's semi-successfully hiding behind his tea cup. He, unlike Kate, takes his tea without any additives.

Julie seems to be abstaining from tea for now, and if Kate bothers to look over, she'll see the succubus has fallen dead asleep where she sits, a line of drool inching its way down her chin.

Poor gal must be exhausted.

"And there is one other matter I would like to address with you, while you still have the time." He doesn't go into detail just yet, content to take another sip and center himself.

[Lord Magtok]

Field of Battle

The first is an insanely high-pitched whine that shall no doubt annoy the hell out of everyone within hearing range. The second is that all that freshly released power goes shooting along superconductive conduits, rushing past circuits and unimplemented safety measures until they reach the emitters built into the armor's chassis.... Creating a brief, powerful surge of electricity that pulses outwards in all directions from the prototype, arcs of lightning leaping from the emitters in the chestplate, pauldrons, armguards, gauntlets, some simply burying themselves in the ground while others fly straight towards any exposed metallic surfaces.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

That whining sound provided the cyborg with more than enough reasons to run away. Of course, it also provided a humongous, maddeningly painful headache, and it's terribly difficult to run away while a horrible screech is going off right in your face. Were it not for that flight suit Magtok decided to hold on to, he would certainly be dead right now. Instead, he is thankfully just almost dead.

"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

The spasms are absolutely terrible. Magtok very nearly severs his own tongue completely in half with his gnashing teeth. As it stands though, he'll have an awful lot of blood to spit out in a few minutes, and he definitely won't be in a position to be making any long-winded victory acceptance speeches later.

"-AAAAAAAAAAGH!"

He's not dead yet, though. Dragging himself up off the ground and finally recognizing that the weird, wailing noise he was hearing was coming from his own throat, he frowns at the generator, wondering if this is really going to be worth it. I mean, Prom and Ilpholin and Gordon are all almost dead now, right? Some fancy finishing move isn't going to make much of a difference at this point, not if Ilpholin can't be given medical attention soon.

[Hattish Thing]

Field of Battle (GO TEAM!)

Javert sits in the lawn chair. He's worried.