[Nexus] Random Places and Plots 5

[Dark Elf Bard]

[Beren's Hold]

C'mon Akoraun, make the right choice, make the right choice!

...Fine. DAMMIT!

So Akoraun will walk up to the castle and smack the door a few times.

[orb_of_blood]

[Beren's Hold]

Doors. Plural. Giant, carved stone doors that always stand open and inviting. Two guards stand to either side, but they look as vacant as the rest of the humans, and do nothing but smile happily at them as they walk by and into the castle.

Shade doesn't have to guide them very far. The conference room where Beren's waiting for him is fairly easy to find in the mess of corridors that is the Hold of the Tyrant.

And there Beren sits, eyes down on the drink in his hands. He appears completely human. Dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin. Little else to note, except a clean-cut appearance... and perhaps a faint push from him on the edge of Akpraun's mind. He isn't trying to read thoughts, not yet, just find a few personal details about the young drow.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Beren's Hold

Akoraun feels very, very small.

Um... excuse me, sir? My, um half-brother Shade would like his daughter back please.

Beren might notice a few details about Akor:

Spoiler

Show

Right now his mind wanderin this situation to his adoptive halfling father, and what he would do in front of this creepy guy. He'd probably.... say hello and laugh! Nixa... Nixa would probably be an awesome sister and breathe fire on the weird guy.

[orb_of_blood]

Beren's Hold

When Beren never replies, Shade shift uncomfortably. "I- er, brought you a gift." He attempts to shove Akoraun into the room.

Beren looks over at last, regards the child expressionlessly for a few moments, and gestures to the chair across from him. "Sit, please. You look terrified. I apologise for that. No-one should be afraid in my Hold. Should I take away the fear, Akoraun?

Yep. He knows his name already.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Akoraun trembles, and doesn't resist being pushed onto his hands and knees.

Sorry sir. I'm all right. May we please have Shade's daughter? I want to go back.

[orb_of_blood]

[Beren's Hold]

Beren takes a thoughtful sip of... whatever that is that he's holding. "You want to meet Ophelia? Well, Akoraun, I don't plan on releasing either of you until Nixa puts in an appearance. But until then, if you wish to meet the other children..."

[Dark Elf Bard]

Um... All-all right... Wait... what do you mean "release? How do you know my name?

Akoraun looks very frightened and slowly stands up. He jams his hands in his pockets and hunches his shoulders. Clenching his teeth, his longinsh white hair falls over his face as he fights back tears.

[orb_of_blood]

[Beren's Hold]

Beren knows because mind-reading is his specialty. "You look scared to death," he comments quietly.

But he can fix that. Again, the presence returns to Akoraun's mind. Rather than poke around for information, the illithid pushes, trying to access the part of the mind that generates emotions, and tugs rather harshly, trying to draw out all fear and dissipate it.

[Dark Elf Bard]

[Beren's Hold]

Akoraun is a very stubborn child. As most are.

Wha... stop. STOP! Akoraun pushes his palms against his forehead.

Beren gets a busy signal.

[Eadin]

Necanth Prison- To The Warden!

Up the wall and the associated ladder is a narrow, horizontal crack. The ladder stops at it and the ceiling's not far off, so presumably the path continues down there. It's a bit cramped, and slopes steadily, though shallowly, upwards until it opens up into a larger tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is a door.

Oooh! A fancy door!
Cat will probably try to open it! Since doors are for opening!
And she wants to get out of here ASAP.

[Zefir]

Necanth Prison- Cavern

The way I see it, a human's primary sense for receiving information is sight. Its second is sound. That's why blindness and deafness are so much more disabling than being unable to taste or smell. A grimlock isn't a human, and lacks the sense of sight; its primary sense for receiving information is sound, and its second is smell. A flashbang disables humans by screwing up their two most important senses, but on a grimlock it would only affect their primary sense, so it's like temporarily blinding somebody but leaving them their sense of hearing, though a grimlock may well be deafened for longer than a human.

Necanth Prison- Cavern

As said. Zefir doesn't have the knowledge about them to know this. He just knows that a flashbang in a cave against something living there allways is more painful for them. Don't forget that Zefir isn't stupid he has sunglasses and something for his ears to avoid self damage.

[Rebonack]

[Prison]

Is it really a fancy door?

Or is it just a totally normal and average door?

Hopefully not fancy.

Because everyone knows that fancy doors are the doors which are most likely to be trapped!

Wouldn't want a bunch of poison spikes to go and skewer Cat now would we?

Freddie cautiously keeps watch. Just in case something horrible decides to try sneaking up on them.

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- To The Warden

The door's rather plain, and looks like a normal single-panel door in many houses. However, it's made of titanium, not wood. It's also not trapped, and opens easily.

Beyond the door is a large, dimly-lit chamber with large windows in the floor made of one-way glass. At the far end of the chamber is a large double door, in one corner is a ladder leading into the ceiling and along another wall is a smaller door that looks like it leads to a closet. Etched into the walls and ceilings are hieroglyphics.

Necanth Prison- Cavern

Well then, when Zefir continues on, he will eventually find a large, round grate, perhaps two metres in diameter, through which the water flows. There's a rope ladder tied to one of the grate's bars, and there's enough space between the bars for the average humanoid to fit.

[Eadin]

necanth prison

Okay, not so fancy door leads to room with windows!
....
In the floor?
Cat will try not to step on them, flying over them if she has to.

Will look through the windows, though. Curious to see what's on the other side.
Let's hope nothing bad.

Bad is... Well...
Bad.

[orb_of_blood]

[Beren's Hold]

Akoraun is a very stubborn child. As most are.

Wha... stop. STOP! Akoraun pushes his palms against his forehead.

Beren gets a busy signal.

Beren withdraws his mind quickly. "Yes. He's Nixa's brother. That much is certain."

"So... I can see Ophelia?"

Beren finishes his drink, and a guard appears in the doorway, summoned mentally. He speaks, and the occasional stressing of certain words is rather ominous. "Take them to 'see' the children. Akoraun can share a 'room' with them. I've decided he can stay with us for a 'short' while."

He turns back to the small drow. "See? No harm done to you. Is that satisfactory?"

[Rebonack]

[Prison]

Picture writing, huh?

Freddie almost certainly doesn't understand it. They used good ol' fashioned letters in his homeworld. And he's fortunate enough to be able to read even those.

He'll glance down the windows as he passes them. Unless they're one-way in the opposite direction. In which case... well... he won't.

One way windows and all.

"I guess we could check the ladder first?" the Huldra suggests, pointing at the ladder in question. "I have the feeling the closet might be one of those solitary cells."

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- To The Warden

It's unlikely the closet is a solitary cell. That's for the simple reason that the one -way glass enables Cat and Freddy to see into many small, simple chambers with a hole in the centre of the floor, a raised padded bunk, several pipes in the corners of the windows to enable regular wash downs of the cell and its contents and two taps, one supplying fresh drinking water, the other supplying a paste-like foodstuff containing all the nutrients one may need. Most of the cells contain people, most of them dead. Some are empty, others contain people who are alive. Etched into the corner of the glass are more of the mysterious hieroglyphs.

Of the empty cells, one has had the window shattered, seemingly from the inside, a nearby blood stain suggesting whatever happened next was violent. Three seem as though they were never filled. One has had the hole extended and the rubble piled around the cell's corners; the next cell along has a similar hole and two dead bodies lying in it. The last empty cell has a shadow in the form of a creature with four arms burnt into the wall.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Beren withdraws his mind quickly. "Yes. He's Nixa's brother. That much is certain."

"So... I can see Ophelia?"

Beren finishes his drink, and a guard appears in the doorway, summoned mentally. He speaks, and the occasional stressing of certain words is rather ominous. "Take them to 'see' the children. Akoraun can share a 'room' with them. I've decided he can stay with us for a 'short' while."

He turns back to the small drow. "See? No harm done to you. Is that satisfactory?"

Um.. okay... just a short while...


Akoraun follows the guard.

[orb_of_blood]

[Beren's Hold]
((One long bit of description, and I'll save myself time later, as I won't need to describe everything again. Sorry for length!))

And so they begin their journey, leaving Beren behind to think.

Yet, his presence is there, constantly. It never leaves, and it's never particularly forceful, put the push on Akoraun's mind is unceasing, incessant, and it requires a certain amount of attention and willpower to keep it at bay. If the attention slips, even for a moment, it seeps in, trying to take control of thoughts and emotions.

The hallways twist and turn until it's very difficult to remember just how to get out of there. They seem to be heading generally downwards. Slowly, the marble floors give way to stone, rough and broken in places. The corridors melt into tunnels, and it seems they've walked right into the side of the mountain.

It's still a good few minutes of walking before they reach the first of the cells, cut away into the side of the tunnel. Outside each is a tray covered entirely with dark grey, and red-splotched cloth.

They aren't small cells at all, with plenty of space for the inhabitants to pace. They have all the basic necessities, and even a few extras, including a large metal blood-splattered table in the center of each. It seems the other furnishings are rather plush however, such as soft feather-beds, and obsidian dressing tables,.

But... it's still a cell, and everything is colored a rusty red. The inhabitant of this cell is very, horribly wounded. He looks up when they approach, and smiles, showing row upon row of razor-edged teeth.

Vampire?

Cut upon cut has been made into his flesh, he's obviously lost a lot of blood, and two of his fangs are missing. Still, he's got the same vacantly pleased expression on his face. "Hello everyone! Oh, a new face down here. How are you, little drow? Has Andaress made your day a pleasant one?"

[Eadin]

Necanth Prison- To The Warden

It's unlikely the closet is a solitary cell. That's for the simple reason that the one -way glass enables Cat and Freddy to see into many small, simple chambers with a hole in the centre of the floor, a raised padded bunk, several pipes in the corners of the windows to enable regular wash downs of the cell and its contents and two taps, one supplying fresh drinking water, the other supplying a paste-like foodstuff containing all the nutrients one may need. Most of the cells contain people, most of them dead. Some are empty, others contain people who are alive. Etched into the corner of the glass are more of the mysterious hieroglyphs.

Of the empty cells, one has had the window shattered, seemingly from the inside, a nearby blood stain suggesting whatever happened next was violent. Three seem as though they were never filled. One has had the hole extended and the rubble piled around the cell's corners; the next cell along has a similar hole and two dead bodies lying in it. The last empty cell has a shadow in the form of a creature with four arms burnt into the wall.

Wow, that was not really what Cat expected to see. No clue what she /had/ expected to see.
"I think we should probably leave them alone." she quietly tells Freddy. The ones alive would probably not like them dropping in.
And gotta be careful around dead ones. Could turn undead at any moment! Usually when you think you're safe. Creeps.
She'll point to the shadow burn thingy.
"Any idea what that is?"
Looks weird! Kinda creepy too.

[Zefir]

Necanth Prison- Cavern

Well then, when Zefir continues on, he will eventually find a large, round grate, perhaps two metres in diameter, through which the water flows. There's a rope ladder tied to one of the grate's bars, and there's enough space between the bars for the average humanoid to fit.

Necanth Prison- Cavern

Zefir will have a look around first. Best not get suprised from here. Then he looks down hoping to see if there is anything . Just in case he takes out one of the flashbangs ready to throw. such situation allways leave a good suprise attack.

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- Cavern

There doesn't seem to be anything hiding or hidden in the area around the grate or its surrounding stalagmites.

There's no light down the cavern, so there's nothing to see down there.

[Dark Elf Bard]

[Beren's Hold]
((One long bit of description, and I'll save myself time later, as I won't need to describe everything again. Sorry for length!))

And so they begin their journey, leaving Beren behind to think.

Yet, his presence is there, constantly. It never leaves, and it's never particularly forceful, put the push on Akoraun's mind is unceasing, incessant, and it requires a certain amount of attention and willpower to keep it at bay. If the attention slips, even for a moment, it seeps in, trying to take control of thoughts and emotions.

The hallways twist and turn until it's very difficult to remember just how to get out of there. They seem to be heading generally downwards. Slowly, the marble floors give way to stone, rough and broken in places. The corridors melt into tunnels, and it seems they've walked right into the side of the mountain.

It's still a good few minutes of walking before they reach the first of the cells, cut away into the side of the tunnel. Outside each is a tray covered entirely with dark grey, and red-splotched cloth.

They aren't small cells at all, with plenty of space for the inhabitants to pace. They have all the basic necessities, and even a few extras, including a large metal blood-splattered table in the center of each. It seems the other furnishings are rather plush however, such as soft feather-beds, and obsidian dressing tables,.

But... it's still a cell, and everything is colored a rusty red. The inhabitant of this cell is very, horribly wounded. He looks up when they approach, and smiles, showing row upon row of razor-edged teeth.

Vampire?

Cut upon cut has been made into his flesh, he's obviously lost a lot of blood, and two of his fangs are missing. Still, he's got the same vacantly pleased expression on his face. "Hello everyone! Oh, a new face down here. How are you, little drow? Has Andaress made your day a pleasant one?"

Akoraun starts to break a little bit as Beren's mind starts to seep through his will power, but he doesn't notice, as he's keen on finding where he's going.

Um.. no... I want to leave... Who's Andaress? Akoraun is shaking slightly at the sight of all the bloodstains.

[orb_of_blood]

[Beren's Hold]

The wounded man believes him to be joking. He smiles and even laughs, though that cases quickly when it causes a few more torrents of blood down his side.

"You're a cute little kid, you know that? Hey, there're a few other kids down here. I'm sure they'll you play with them. You'll like it down here, I'm sure."

As if on cue, Beren tugs a little again, this time trying to sap Akoraun's willpower.

[Rebonack]

[Prison]

Freddie scowls at the 'shadow'. "Looks like someone was incinerated and no one bothered to clean up the mess."

Sort of like all the corpses and blood.

"And I'll agree on leaving them alone. Give them plenty of room, too," the Huldra suggests as he inspects the ladder.

Might it go somewhere interesting?

Let's hope so!

Because this particular area is less interesting and more creepy. The smell of death is pretty thick... wonder why the ghouls haven't eaten the corpses?

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- To The Warden!

The bodies are undisturbed because they're still sealed behind glass windows, with the exception of small holes enabling them to breathe.

The ladder leads up! At the top is a titanium hatch with a round wheel in the middle; twisting it unlocks and opens the hatch.

[Dark Elf Bard]

[Beren's Hold]

The wounded man believes him to be joking. He smiles and even laughs, though that cases quickly when it causes a few more torrents of blood down his side.

"You're a cute little kid, you know that? Hey, there're a few other kids down here. I'm sure they'll you play with them. You'll like it down here, I'm sure."

As if on cue, Beren tugs a little again, this time trying to sap Akoraun's willpower.

The jolt of psionics sends a wave of pain into Akoraun's little head. He's starting to break down. Beren is flooded with all of Akoraun's fears, hopes, dreams, and beliefs. Crumpling, the small drow tries t crawl down the corridor.

[orb_of_blood]

[Beren's Hold]

Beren's been doing this a long time. He sorts everything he's got out a little. The fears dissipate. The hopes, Dreams and beliefs that would make him seek to leave the Hold dissipate too. The rest are calmly returned. He wants Akoraun to be happy there.

The guard simply turns to continue walking, but Shade's a little gentler, oddly enough. "Get up." It's a rough command, but h does gently try to pull him onto his feet. "Look at you, haven't you got any willpower at all?"

[Murkus]

Beachside

Tina draws a pair of sunglasses, strange things that reflect the night sky no matter the hour. She filches a drink from Dio's tray and hunkers down, taking a long draught. "That's right, it's an introduction party. Who wants to start?"

[Chaotic Bob]

[Beachside - Whoo Introduction Party!]

Pinkie Pie blinks a bit and peers over at Dionysus.
"Wait, so are you saying...that that kind of party might last forever?
The little pony seems quite awestruck by this idea.
"Quick! Somepony make a bunch of invitations!

Ooh! And while you do that, I'll introduce myself. Iiiiii'm Pinkie Pie! Hello!"
There is a disappointing lack of fireworks to accompany this, although she does whack the radio to the tune of...what sounds like tubas.

This was probably the perfect setup for a song.
And Pinkie Pie probably intended for there to be one, but a certain god had to bring up a certain line of thought oh gods she's singing anyway.
"Welcome to my very first introduction party,
Where we'll dance and we'll play and enjoy drinks oh so hearty!
I'll write my fun little letters,
And you'll say your fun little names,
And then we'll all get together for a nice b-

Ooh, another crab!"
Okay. She started to sing. Sort of. Seemed more like a bunch of partial sentences that rhymed and were mashed together before she got distracted by a crab.

Poor thing is trapped under a pile of confetti and is desperately trying to free itself.