[Nexus] Outside XXX

[orb_of_blood]

[Dragon Caves]

Draaxar smiles. Though, gotta say, it's difficult to tell a smile from a grimace when it's on a dragon. "Yes, it takes some getting used to. Most my nieces and nephews are turned as infants. Those that are fit the blood much better."

...Wait, was that an insult? It could have been... but it's so hard to tell with him!

"You're hungry? Not rude at all, Child." He lifts his head, and lets out a mighty bellow. "SHADE!"

It's only a few moments before the black werecat appears in the mouth of the tunnel. He's silent, but gives Lute a polite nod. Though it doesn't do much to make a large diseased critter, with a thick black tail, and huge fangs, probably weighing a few hundred pounds and all of it muscle, much less intimidating. "You went hunting a few days ago, I remember. Bring something for your new sister."

Again, soundlessly, without even the sound of pattering feet, he leaves. Apparently having a new sister didn't come as much of a shock at all. Draaxar turns back to Lute, lowering his head again. "What did you say your name was, Child? Lute? Well, you can keep it if you like. It's becoming and even fitting for a siren. But if you ever desired a new name, now is the time. A new family, a new life... and a new sirname. 'Vivilandra'. 'Apprentice' in the dragon tongue. Suitable?"

[Rebonack]

[Alloy Mine]

No ****, Sherlock.

"Right, but what would they be looking for here? Alloy?"

Maybe there's something else inside this mine!

Or they want to improve their weapons.

"I don't know, maybe? It seems like some pretty impressive stuff," Freddie replies as he ponders this latest of discoveries! "But somehow I doubt it. There must be something else going on. Something else that they're after..."

Probably something nefarious.

[Eadin]

Alloy Mine

"But what could they be after..."
Cat will poke around the other machines.
Not too much though.
And no pressing red buttons.

[Rebonack]

[Alloy Mine]

The Huldra can only shrug to that question. "It's hard to say. Given how varied the Nexus is there could be anything down there. Maybe an artifact. Some kind of machine. There might even be some huge monster that they're trying to wake up."

Maybe they're going to burrow to the core of the planet and replace the metal with chocolate.

That would be evil.

...right?

"We'll just have to make our way down there and find out."

Cat fiddles with machines! Most of them look broken. And they will make beeping noises if she pushes buttons.

[Eadin]

[Alloy Mine]

Cat looks a bit worried as Fredie mentions a monster.
Like the trolls aren't bad enough.

"Alright, let's continue down one of those tunnels."
Cat will step outside, allowing Freddie to pick a tunnel.

[Rebonack]

[Alloy Mine]

Trolls are never bad enough!

Can always use something far far worse. It makes life a bit more interesting after all. What would the Nexus be like without all sorts of weird monsters? A much less flavorful place, that's for sure.

Anywho!

Freddie will try heading through the door on the far wall!

...

Apparently it's a closet of sorts. Just a small room filled with all sorts of supplies.

[Eadin]

[Alloy Mine]


Fun for the puppeteers, not for the puppets who get smashed around by said monsters!
Oh well.

Supplies! Yay!
Let's look around and see what can be found!

[Rebonack]

[Alloy Mine]

Mostly replacement drills and stuff. A few lenses for lasers. Machine lubricants. Some lights. Some explosives...

Too bad neither Cat nor Freddie know what explosives are.

Otherwise those might come in really handy.

...unless they do know what explosives are.

Do they?

Freddie sure doesn't!

But what about Cat?

[Eadin]

[Alloy Mine]


Cat has no idea what explosives are!

"Guess there's nothing useful for us here."
Since they're not machines.
Or are they?!

"Let's try another tunnel?"

[Rebonack]

[Alloy Mine]

Well, the supply depot was a bust wasn't it? Hopefully the next path our heroes pick will turn out to be a little more exciting.

The tunnel is a bit narrower than those previously encountered. The lights are low and a few flickering. Power must be having some trouble getting down here. The walls on either side are pock-marked with small tunnels and divots.

Perfect for something horrible to hide in.

Something like... say...

A troll?

Or a berserk robot?

Probably.

Eventually the tunnel gives way to a small chamber with a mining suit in it! A wearable robot for the purpose of mining very quickly! It looks quite complicated.

Several more divots are bored into the walls here.

[Eadin]

[Alloy Mine]


Creepy tunnels!
And a mining suit.
"Uhm. What's that?"
She doesn't know what the suit is! Or what it's for.

She seems to slowly feel a little uncomfortable in these small tunnels.

[Lex-Kat]

{Melody Island}

Vincent shakes his head. "Alright." He says with a little sigh and sitting back. Why don't other people instantly jump from awake to asleep to awake again with no in between? It's so silly.

A few minutes passes, and the only movement Caroline makes is to curl up further into a fetal position.

[Rebonack]

[Alloy Mine]

"More mining equipment?" Freddie hazards as he inspects the machine. It certainly seems safe and normal enough. No doubt there's no chance what so ever that it will suddenly come to life and try to kill our heroes.

...

The mining suit suddenly comes to life and tries to kill our heroes.

Lights blaze bright and drills begin to spin as it hefts a limb at Freddie!

The armored Huldra ducks out of the way, narrowly avoiding a drill to the face and instead gets the left pauldron of his armor chewed up pretty horribly.

"And of course it's violent..."

[Eadin]

Alloy Mine

Cat figured it out.
The whole thing is a trap! The space marines lured them in there as a sacrifice to the trolls!

Aaaaargh!

'' Everything is trying to kill us!''
She sends a doom blast at the thing, as electricity is probably a bad idea.

[Reinholdt]

{Melody Island}

A few minutes passes, and the only movement Caroline makes is to curl up further into a fetal position.

{Melody Island}

Vincent waits. Perfectly still, staring in the direction he's staring. Occasionally he makes an impatient gesture at the screen, but otherwise continues to do nothing.

[Rebonack]

[Alloy Mines]

That seems pretty silly Cat. If the space marines had wanted to kill them they could have just shot them a whole bunch. That would have been a whole lot easier.

Anyway...

The doom blast causes all of the fasteners in the machine's drill arm to suddenly become loose, resulting in the force of the spinning drill cuasing the whole assembly to fly to pieces!

WOOSH!

"Gah!" Freddie cries out as he drops prone to avoid the better part of the sailing bolts, rivets, and bits of sheet metal. With him flat on the ground the machine decides that trying to stomp him would be a great idea.

Freddie rolls under the attack, directly under the machine, and blasts it in the soft exposed underbelly!

Except the underbelly really isn't any softer than the rest of the robot.

[UncleWolf]

Dark Forest

"The Mother wouldn't have sent me to find you if she wanted you to die," Kell says sadly. "I want to help you."

Dark Forest

"I'm sorry." Edda whimpers. "I don't know how I can be helped." She replies honestly, holding her arms around herself.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Campsite]

On a small clearing by the side of a road, intended as a location for travellers, a single tent has been pitched and two hooded figures stand besides it.

It's late at night and rain is pouring down heavily, no doubt soaking the two figures as they stand there quietly discussing things together.

"They should be here soon. Everything is ready, but, are you really sure you want to go through with-"

"Yes, I am. You know I don't have a choice."

"Alright, alright, yes. I understand. I just can't help but think...oh never mind."

The two figures fall silent and resume their watch. From underneath one hood a set of green glowing eyes peers out...

[Vhaidara]

[Near the Campsite]

Jit simply appears. His Ghost armor is a bit battered, and his rifle is in his hands. He slowly lowers it.
Damn. And we almost had the bastards.

(Wasn't sure if you wanted them just showing up in the camp. I'll move him in if you want.)

[Reinholdt]

Quest Road

Reinholdt is just walking down the road. Admittedly with an umbrella open. He doesn't much like the rain and it certainly kills any flying mood he might have. So walking he does.

He'll be walking right near the campsite even, taking a gander in their direction.

[Beans]

Leymah finds the flattest area she can on the roof of the vehicle, and lays down the blanket.
This looks like a good spot.

[Megatank - Field]
Lamet nods, sitting with her.
It is always a good spot.

[ThirdEmperor]

Quest Road

Also approaching the campsite along the road, albeit from the opposite direction, is the Cat Burglar. Strolling along, whistling, generally just being an average, everyday Joe taking a nightine in walk....

Dressed as a cat-themed supervillain.

Yeah, he might stand out a little. He carries a black briefcase in one hand, containing the various tools and trinkets of his nefarious trade, although currently it's doing double duty as a shield against the rain.

[Viera Champion]

[Megatank - Field]
Lamet nods, sitting with her.
It is always a good spot.

Well unless we decide to remodel.
Leymah says humorously.
So what did you pack?

[Beans]

[Megatank]
She pulls out two pitas stuffed with bacon and... stuff, as well as their waterbottles and... other things one would pack for a tank picnic. Tank picnic things!

[Lazorath]

[Dragon Caves]

Draaxar smiles. Though, gotta say, it's difficult to tell a smile from a grimace when it's on a dragon. "Yes, it takes some getting used to. Most my nieces and nephews are turned as infants. Those that are fit the blood much better."

...Wait, was that an insult? It could have been... but it's so hard to tell with him!

"You're hungry? Not rude at all, Child." He lifts his head, and lets out a mighty bellow. "SHADE!"

It's only a few moments before the black werecat appears in the mouth of the tunnel. He's silent, but gives Lute a polite nod. Though it doesn't do much to make a large diseased critter, with a thick black tail, and huge fangs, probably weighing a few hundred pounds and all of it muscle, much less intimidating. "You went hunting a few days ago, I remember. Bring something for your new sister."

Again, soundlessly, without even the sound of pattering feet, he leaves. Apparently having a new sister didn't come as much of a shock at all. Draaxar turns back to Lute, lowering his head again. "What did you say your name was, Child? Lute? Well, you can keep it if you like. It's becoming and even fitting for a siren. But if you ever desired a new name, now is the time. A new family, a new life... and a new sirname. 'Vivilandra'. 'Apprentice' in the dragon tongue. Suitable?"

[Dragon Caves]


It's clear that confusion is written all over Lute's face. Just because she wasn't born this way it didn't mean that she wasn't fit enough to fit in with the bloodline of the Vivilandras.

Luckily she doesn't take it personally and just thinks of it as a challenge to get used to her new self.

Lute looks behind her when Draaxar summons Shade.
"Who's that? And why is he so...fluffy?" Lute was slightly confused but also a little curious.
She gives a friendly smile towards Shade.
"So...that's one of my brothers...he looks interesting..." she thinks slightly confused.
Before Lute even realizes Shade is gone causing her to seem confused for the first couple of seconds.

She focuses back onto Draaxar with a thought on her mind. She looks into his eyes.

"Well...umm...I wasn't thinking of changing it but I would like to extend it slightly to Lutarus Vivilandra..." Lute says, slightly nervous but overall pleased with her conversation with Draaxar thus far.

((Who would she have to ask to make a cave for her???))

[happyturtle]

Dark Forest

"I'm sorry." Edda whimpers. "I don't know how I can be helped." She replies honestly, holding her arms around herself.

"Do you still want to go to the city? There are many more strange people there, I am afraid." Kell says.

[Viera Champion]

[Megatank]
She pulls out two pitas stuffed with bacon and... stuff, as well as their waterbottles and... other things one would pack for a tank picnic. Tank picnic things!

Ooo... Looks delicious. Glad I thought of this.
She says, picking up the fooling and beginning to chow down.

[Beans]

[Megatank]
Lamet smiles in amusement, sitting near the other girl.

[UncleWolf]

Dark Forest

The Ensign is quiet for a while before finally nodding. "I...I think I would like to go. I can't live out here. I promise I won't cause any more scenes."

Campsite

A man wearing a skintight black bodysuit strides along to the camp. The suit is armored by dull gray plates and his stride is of a grace that's more than simply human. None of his skin is revealed, with his face hidden behind his white Comedy mask. The only other adornments that cover him are his weapons and a series of pouches. He carries two blades sheathed across his back, what looks to be a spike with a handle on one thigh, and a long rapier of tarnished silver on the other.

Javert is silent on his way to the meeting place and seems to ignore any others that might cross his path.

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Campsite]

The hooded figure with glowing eyes in an apparently rather casual fashion does a quick stroll round the campsite, in the process doing a complete 360 degree sweep before walking back over to the other one and engaging in conversation in hushed tones.

"How many do you see?"

"Four, I believe. That should be about right."

"Alright then, let's make sure they're here for the right reason."

The fellow without glow-y eyes steps into the tent for a moment, emerging with a small lamp which he lights and holds up, providing some dim illumination, though not enough to reveal their faces.

"Fellow travellers! It is a cold and wet night, why not come join us so we can share in a little shelter and warmth together?" He calls out loudly, his voice sounding rather old.