[Nexus] Outside XXXVI

[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.

Frozen Forest & Hermitage
A large forest of tall trees and once very pretty flowers lies here. The entire forest has been completely frozen over, and a blizzard constantly storms and snows over the forest, but doesn't affect even an inch past the forest border. The forest is still very pretty; the flowers and mushrooms glittering under a frozen layer. The place is pretty safe, if you're used to constant snow and cold temperatures.

PM Reinholdt if you wish to add locations to Outside.

[Rebonack]

Meadow Crash Site

The unicorn, Captain Volley Shot, draws her other two pistols and aims at the charging bandits, one per bandit. She fires as the other two pistols are reloaded behind her; her special talent is reloading pistols, which given the technology is more impressive than it sounds.

Cinnamon Stick, the earth pony, ducks beneath the sword and lashes out at the mount's legs with her cudgel. It's a very hard cudgel, and Cinnamon is easily strong enough to shatter the horse's leg. She's not ideally a combatant, though that's not because she's unskilled- it's because her right eye is made of glass and she can't see anything on that side of her body.

Doc Sorebones, whose cutie mark depicts a pony skull over two scalpels, lashes out at the dismounted bronze age bandit with his cutlass. He's not very proficient with its use; his special talent of amputations might make up for that, however.

Two more bandits are blased out of their saddles by the pistols. Cinnamon sends another sprawling through the dirt when his mount's leg gets shattered. Earthie strength is nothing to take lightly after all.

The grounded bandit manages to scramble away from Doc before diving to the side and grabbing his sword off the ground. "Stay away from me, demon!" the bearded bandit hisses, the weapon shaking in his hands.

Hadad can tell this is going really poorly. He grabs a horn at his side and blows a long blast, signaling his men to retreat. Those that are still mounted and able turn tail and flee!

That didn't go well at all.

[Earl of Purple]

Meadow Crash Site

Volley has reloaded her first two pistols and fires them at the retreating bandits whilst she reloads her other two pistols. She'll return them to their holsters when she's finished reloading them, however.

Cinnamon will turn to the fallen rider and try to smash his head in with her stick. Pirates don't have mercy, especially for such ungainly creatures that attack from the backs of pony-like creatures.

Doc Sorebones is surprised that the creature he faces can talk; he assumed it to be a hideous demon-thing. He'll tuck his cutlass beneath his wing to free his mouth for talking. "Surrender, and I'll ensure you won't be hurt. I'm not a demon, I'm a pony, and I've never seen such a hideous creature as yourself." Of course, since his cutlass is essentially sheathed, the bandit might get the courage to attack.

[Rebonack]

[Meadow Crash Site]

The bandit, who we'll call Gad, drops his sword on the ground and holds out his hands to show that he doesn't have any other weapons. "Please, I beg you, don't kill me!"

Looks like he wants to live!

That's an understandable position to take.

Another bandit gets his head squashed while his horse is busy making terrified animal noises. Poor thing.

The rest of the bandits flee for their lives!

Fleeeeee!

[Earl of Purple]

Meadow Crash Sight

"Doc, we got an injured pony... Thing over here! It's OK, don't worry, we'll help you." Cinnamon Stick tries comforting the horse, completely unaware it can't understand her.
"Cinnamon, get over here and keep yer eye on this chap here. He's surrendered, and might know something so you can't hurt him 'till the cap'n says otherwise." Doc will wait until Cinnamon is watching the bandit before he goes to check up on the horse to see if he can help.

The captain, meanwhile, is trotting awkwardly to the nearest human corpse so she can see if he has any gold on him. She wishes she hadn't broken her articulated leg, the one that she could use her telekinesis to bend.

[Gullara]

[Fey and Springs]

"I'm not comfortable with being naked, okay? If you get that people shouldn't have to deal with things they're uncomfortable with, you should understand well enough." Nadia says. She's tired of trying to explain it. Misha's not getting what she's saying and Nadia herself doesn't really have her head wrapped around it anyway.

Misha feeling Mimi up isn't helping any. Nadia keeps her eyes carefully averted. Mimi looks like she's enjoying it at least. Maybe that's why she's been so quiet. She wriggles against Misha, making it all the more awkward for Nadia.

"Um, if you two want to, um, want to do that we can go." She says, eyes darting for the nearest means of escape already.

[Fey and Fields]

"Yeah, I could. Maybe. It'll be harder with you around, though." With Misha there's a much greater chance of alerting her quarry after all. "Can you make yourself, like, harder to see or something. You're so big."

[Rebonack]

[Meadow Crash Site]

The horse is snorting, his barrel heaving up and down with each breath. A broken leg isn't exactly a nice injury for a horse. Looking into the animal's eyes, Doc won't be able to see even the slightest trace of intelligence. Just pure bestial fear and pain.

Gad is watching Cinnamon warily.

How could such a colorful, harmless looking creature be so fierce? The man just can't make heads or tails of these things. Even stranger, he had seen the sling stone strike them with no apparent injury. They might not be spirits, but they aren't any normal beast either.

The captain will find a small pouch of silver coins on the bandit, but no gold. And a bronze sword, of course. It is vastly inferior to Equestrian steel.

[The Bushranger]

[DirtCo]

"It isn't, really, but it was a friend who made these things. Really, it isn't usually nearly this obtrusive but given that it was just generally easier to go outside with something large, heavy, and generally sturdy-looking so that it looked like I was properly contained is just something that was a bit of a necessity given... Public opinion." she said as she fiddled with something that seemed to be on the inside of the collar. It seemed the additional leverage was necessary given the lack of an extra hand and while the teifling had other ways of manipulating things, the nature of her shackles precluded that sort of interaction.

Once the particular area sought out was found, though, the chain in Susan's hand would be swiftly made into.. Well.. It would probably be busy not being there, really. In fact, save for the raw marks on her wrist, ankles, and neck, there was no sign that any such bonds had existed. In it's place was a black choker set with a large opal, a decorative keyhole etched into it's center. The sudden lack of weight seemed to be greatly appreciated at any rate. "Ah.. That is much better.. Though that ointment you mentioned would be kinda nice.." she said, rubbing at the affected areas. The mental pressure from before seemed to be building still but in a way that was being directed so that it wouldn't necessarily intrude anymore on one's own mind at least. A bit of a reprieve at any rate.

"...ah. That's rather handy. And a shame that, ah, 'public opinion' would make such a thing necessary. I'll see about the ointment. And, ah, I can look into regeneration too, if you want?" Susan asks starting back up the ramp into her ship for said ointment!

[Earl of Purple]

Meadow Crash Site

Well, the captain wears chainmail in her coat because she was fed up of having to visit Sorebones after every battle. But Cinnamon was knocked over by the stone; she just got up again pretty soon after.

"Whatever it is, it's not smart. No trace of intelligence in its eyes, anyway. I've seen smarter bunnies." Because broken legs are incredibly horrific injuries for a horse, and only recently stopped being a fatal injury, the doctor takes his cutlass and tries to kill the horse to put it out of its misery.

Cinnamon is glaring at Gad, daring him to try and escape. He might note that her right eye, which is yellow not green like her left, doesn't seem quite right because it's made of glass. She stole it from a ship they looted after she obtained the scar and lost her original eye.

Volley Shot will continue looting the corpses, leaving the swords. If she had need of such a weapon, she'd take one from The Element of Betrayal. But she's not a good swordspony, even without taking her inflexible wooden leg into account; she much prefers to reverse her telekinetic grip on the pistols and use them as bludgeons- it's something early pistols were actually designed for.

[Lost_Deep]

Strike the Earth

Neni hovers down off the ship and looks around. There isn't much around, of course, but it's not like she can help much right now.

She's starting to regret not taking Joy up on that offer of manual dexterity...

[Rebonack]

[Meadow Crash Site]

Welp.

That horse is dead.

No sense in beating it.

Gad is trying really hard not to look at the ponies. Even though their appearance is strange and wrong their faces are still close enough to human that he can read their emotions to a degree. It's not difficult to tell when someone means you ill and is just looking for an excuse to attack.

Most of the dead bandits have a few silver coins on them. Though one has a tiny golden idol worn around his neck no doubt as a good luck charm. Not that it helped him much, what with the bullet that exploded his skull.

[Earl of Purple]

Meadow Crash Site

Cinnamon is definitely looking... or rather, waiting... for an excuse to attack. She's sitting there, looking up at Gad often, cleaning the end of her cudgel.

Doctor Sorebones will trot over next to her and quickly look her over for injuries, getting a pained gasp when he gently prods her where she was hit by the sling-stone. "Ah. You're hurt. Hold still; I'll make sure you haven't broken any ribs or done anything serious." He'll examine the area more thoroughly, getting more gasps of pain and winces from the ship's cook, before pulling a roll of bandage from his saddlebag and carefully wrapping the area. "You're lucky. It's just a bruise, and on your blind side, too- it could have been worse. Speaking of blind, you caring for your eye properly?" The chef rolls her eyes and nods. "Good. It's an old wound, but infection is always a risk, especially with stolen prosthetics. I know we were ambushed so you didn't get a chance, but please try not to wear it in battle. If it shatters, glass shards could lance up your optic nerve and into your brain and that's called death, which I can't fix." Glass eyes may be sturdy due to their shape, but Doc Sorebones is a medic and worrying is his job.

Meanwhile, the captain is lurching over, the idol held in the orchid grip of her telekinesis.

[Terumitsu]

[Fey and Fields]

The idea of hunting would certainly be a good one given the presence of available game. Still, as Mimi said, Misha was rather noticeable although not just due to her size. Enchanting auras might make being stealthy a little difficult at any rate.

Still, far off in the distance was some smoke as well as the smell of something fermenting. If either fey had memories of the process, they might be able to tell that it was mainly wheat but with more than a few fruit scents included with peach seeming to be the most promenent.

It didn't seem to be causing much of a bother, though. At least not this far away. In any case, there was certainly quite a bit here depending on what the fey decided on.

[Quality Soil LTD]

"Wait what? No, just the ointment." she said after Susan in a bit of a defensive tone. She didn't sound like she wanted the whole regeneration thing if it was for what she thought it would be applied towards.

In any case, she thought about taking the time that Susan was away to find a place to sit but just decided on the lazy route. Taking a single, momentary breath, she exhaled a blast of frigid cold and ice at the ground while shaping how it collected and grew until a rather tall-backed chair of nearly transparent frost had taken shape. It was showing off a bit but no reason to not be comfortable if one could be, right?

In any case, Neni's Chasis would be given some note as the Teifling sat down. "Hello there!" she called. "So, could I prize some information about this area from you?" she asked. It seemed like the first thing that needed to be done, at least. Or one of the first things.

[Lex-Kat]

Melody's Island

"Sorry." Reinholdt feels terrible about those. But wonders if just stepping fully there wouldn't just be worse. He'd take his shoes off, but this isn't a nice floor where that could be recommended. So he does as instructed, watching Melody's reaction to make sure it's not too much.
Dance dance.

Before he even gets his feet on hers, she frowns. Take your shoes off, please. She wiggles her blue toes, not wishing them to be shoe crushed.

[Melody's Island- Mermaid Cove]

Derek was following her into the water when she turns to run from the ocean. When she starts to tumble he will step forward to try and catch her before she falls. If she is really off balance there is a chance she will just end up pulling him down with her. Or maybe his exellent balance will help hold them both up. He seems unafraid of the cold waves rolling up onto shore.

I see them both falling, as she is completely off balance, and the fall into him has a high chance of turning into a tackle as she tries to catch herself on him.

[Reinholdt]

Melody's Island

"You don't wear shoes? Why?" Reinholdt does as instructed. He suspects there will end up being splinters and it will be terrible. the sand's particularly hot after the summer day, but if Melody can take it, so can he.

[Felandria]

TARDIS

Felandria gets to her feet, having shifted back to her normal form.

She looks sheepishly towards Butler and Decker.

Before you say anything...

I was just doing my job, which I've only had for like, an hour.

I just wanted to keep Butler safe.

All you had to do is say you were together.

Then he started shooting up the joint and I.....

I'm sorry.

[horngeek]

[Forestside]

"Sounds good to me." Says KR.
The repulsors on her back increase in intensity, slightly, and she starts floating, hovering about half a foot off the ground. As she does so, her helmet snaps shut again, leaving Rose staring at a featureless, polished silver faceplate instead of a face.

[Forestside]

"Sounds good to me as well. Just be careful, if demons are in the city, chances are there is magic in the area. This city feels rather paranoid about it though." The demon says before turning into a small blue wisp, crackling of electricity.

Rose nods, before her stance... changes. Her looks becomes less focused, the way she's standing becomes slightly less stable and more slouching, and her shoulders relax.

To KR and the demon, it likely calls what was there before into even more focus, as Rose switches her mannerisms from that of a trained combatant to...

Well, those of a teenage girl. So have her speech patterns, for that matter. "'kay! I'll get to the front gate. Got some sightseeing to do! Cya guys in the city."

She starts to make her way to the front gate, whistling softly.

[Lex-Kat]

Melody's Island

"You don't wear shoes? Why?" Reinholdt does as instructed. He suspects there will end up being splinters and it will be terrible. the sand's particularly hot after the summer day, but if Melody can take it, so can he.

I like the feel of the sand between my toes. Melody says happily. He won't have to take it for too long, as she's the one standing in the hot sand now.

Once he's on her feet, she begins to once again dance slowly. It's a bit awkward at first, but after a little practice, she doesn't seem to mind his added weight.

[Rebonack]

[Meadow Crash Site]

Gad isn't being very exciting.

Mostly he's just hugging his legs to his chest and hoping really hard that he doesn't get killed.

Also?

He's probably praying to Marduke. Marduke is a pretty standup god as far as he's concerned. A nice tough fellow to pray to. Whether or not this will do the bandit any good remains to be seen.

Mostly because whether he lives or dies all hinges on whether the ponies want answers or blood more.

[Reinholdt]

TARDIS

"I did say she was my wife ma'am." That Butler did! Early on too even. But it was so far gone from him at that point, I don't think anyone was even listening.

"I forgive you ma'am." Just so long as she doesn't start throwing loud thunder around and becoming big and scary again.

Melody's Island

"Don't step on any jellyfish?" Rein asks, as he dances carefully, concentrating on staying in time with Melody. It is much easier this way, admittedly.

[Gnrlshrimp]

Boris's reaction to the coconut hitting his shoulder is to take a knee and observe his surroundings, trying to find whatever's throwing them. He doesn't say any words, but Ithuriel may notice him reaching for his ballistic knife.

[Fey Diplomacy (With coconuts)]

The coconuts are of the unmagical kind. However as they land they start to emit a sound which is remarkably similar to a small child crying at the top of it's lungs.
Boris and Ithuriel might be able to see small furry shapes moving around in the branches above them, stopping only to throw another of the screaming coconuts at them. It appears like balls of fur with arms, legs and a tail of a monkey attached to them. Their noses look like the ones of a pig however and their eyes are particularly mean-looking.

As the angel speaks one of the little creatures leap down from the trees, revealing itself to be the half of the length of your average human making it larger than any of the other of it's kind that's are almost half that length. It beats itself on the chest and makes another grunting noise.

"...screaming coconuts?" Ithuriel looks quite perplexed by all this. It's not every day you're assaulted by coconuts that cry when they hit the ground. Curious, she reaches down to pick one up.

Oh, and then there's the pig-monkey-thing beating its chest and grunting at her.

"The local wildlife would seem to be a tad unfriendly. Boris, do you have any means of dealing with this creature without harming it? Something that doesn't involve throwing knives at it, perhaps?"

[GrandDM]

[Swordsmithing- Bandit Base]

(I need break posting order for this one, I can't make this adventure too easy. That would kill all the fun.)

Shadow uses his tracking skills to try move to where his allies are, which is the prison. However this is the Nexus, a very unstable place where things keep moving. As Shadow uses his powers to travel into the prison something happens and he is stopped. Any continuous effort to go to the underground area, via shadow superpower, will be blocked by some unknown power. (i.e. me railroading the plot somewhat) So shadow is still in town above ground where the townsfold are gradually getting even more afraid, though one does step up.

"Hey.... you whatever you are! We don't know nuthin about no ambush. So leave us be!" A random citizen shouts hysterically.

"My apologies. There are bandits hiding out in this town. I assumed they had taken it over. I don't suppose anyone knows where they are?"

[Asha'man]

Bandit Base ~ Fashion Accessories

Okami slants his head in a stereotypical dog like manner, Alright, my apologies... He obviously has no idea what's going on with Beatrice...
He turns to Serph, I see and understand. I am completely worthless with any weapons, personally. All of my training has to do with unarmed fighting, speed, and reflexes. He'll then suggest that they move on up the stairwell.

[Swordsmithing- Bandit Base]

"Sounds like a plan." Says Beatrice. She tucks most of her knives and darts into the rope at her waist, holding a throwing knife lightly in her right hand, and three darts in between her fingers in her left.
"Any of you boys suggest 'ladies first' and I may have to hit you, though."

Serph was tempted to say, what lady?, but he'd rather not get another injury. As they walk up the stairwell Serph throws all emotion into the flaming void in his mind, with this he becomes in tune with his surroundings at the cost of his emotions.

When they arrive in the floor above there is a guard sleeping by the door. Although I say guard he looks like another prisoner as he is wearing the same garments as Serph and company. The guard is sleeping on a chair and holding keys, these keys are for the cells downstairs.

Upon further inspection they are in a big underground mine where people are mining what seems to be a white colored ore. All the people are mining yet no one seems to be guarding them or spurring them on to work. No one notices the trio.

"My apologies. There are bandits hiding out in this town. I assumed they had taken it over. I don't suppose anyone knows where they are?"

The same guy that shouted earlier replies. "I told you we don't know nothing." He then walks away. The other onlookers go away, in fear and some a bit angry, to their homes or to go about their business. If Shadow looks around he'll see that the town has a number of houses, a Saloon, a Bank and what seems to be the Jail where the sheriff's office is. There is no visible entrance to the underground mine in the vicinity.

[Aric Kale]

Serph was tempted to say, what lady?, but he'd rather not get another injury. As they walk up the stairwell Serph throws all emotion into the flaming void in his mind, with this he becomes in tune with his surroundings at the cost of his emotions.

When they arrive in the floor above there is a guard sleeping by the door. Although I say guard he looks like another prisoner as he is wearing the same garments as Serph and company. The guard is sleeping on a chair and holding keys, these keys are for the cells downstairs.

Upon further inspection they are in a big underground mine where people are mining what seems to be a white colored ore. All the people are mining yet no one seems to be guarding them or spurring them on to work. No one notices the trio.

Shifting into his True Form of the wolf, and then proceeding with utmost stealth, Okami attempts to sneak up behind the "guard". After doing so, he changes back into a human, covers the man's mouth with one hand and taps his shoulder with the other.

[McBish]

[Melody's Island- Mermaid Cove]

So they crash down into the water. Derek does his best to catch her as they fall so she lands ontop of him. The waves wash up around his face not quite threating to go into his mouth or nose. He is grinning at her. "You are never going to learn to swim if you run away from the ocean."

[Earl of Purple]

Meadow- Sunken Sky-Sloop

"Cap'n, your turn. Take off your coat an' let me check for injuries. Leg, too." The captain nods and stands by Gad whilst her telekinesis works at the buckles strapping her leg to her stump so she can set it aside and take off her coat. Because her pegleg doesn't bend where her original leg did, it's hard to take anything off whilst it's worn. Beneath her coat, her hide has several large scars crisscrossing her fur; most seem to be slashes and cuts, but there's a scar from a pistol ball on her barrel and a P-shaped brand on her right shoulder. Also, her coat makes sounds of metal against metal when it's cast aside. "So, ungainly thing. I have some questions. If you answer them, I will release you. If I am not happy with your answers, I'll order the doc to shatter your limbs. First off, what are you, where are we and where's the nearest town?" The unicorn isn't wincing from the doctor's ministrations; the sling stone was mostly absorbed by the chainmail in her coat, and she managed to teleport to the ground when her ship went down.

[Rebonack]

[Meadow Crash Site]

Well!

This is the moment of truth isn't it?

"M-my name is Gad Ben-Hameen. I am a, ah, a man. From the nation of Sandree," the bandit stammers, then points off toward some rocky outcrops in the distance. "My companions and I, we rode through the Whispering Canyon and found ourselves in this strange place."

Strange is certainly one word for a land settled by tiny talking demon horses.

"I am a stranger in these lands. As I suspect you are as well. But... we found a road over those hills on the other side of the river. It has a bridge to make crossing easy, so there must be a city at the road's end."

[Earl of Purple]

Meadow Crash Site

"A man, from Sandree. Hmm. I think I'd remember if I had a map purporting to display such a realm. So, Gad Ben-Hameen, how do you mans not fall over? I have enough difficulty trying to balance on three legs, let alone two. Oh, and does this mean anything to you?" She'll float the idol over to him to have a look at.

[Rebonack]

[Meadow Crash Site]

What weird questions.

Gad looks somewhat confused. "We... ah... We learn to walk when we are babies? We crawl on all fours first. Then walk later. Most children can walk after their first winter."

Considering that foals can walk within a day (or less!) after they're born that's saying quite a bit.

"I think... maybe our bodies are just very different?"

But he's no expert on comparative anatomy.

When the idol is held up he gives a little gasp. "An image of the great goddess Ashera, the Queen of Heaven. If you intend to keep her token, you must be respectful of it or you will invoke her wrath."

He sounds very serious about this.

[Earl of Purple]

Meadow- Sunken Sky-Sloop

"Ponies can walk within a day, no problem. Unless they're a pegasus, in which case they're flying in hours. I have no intention of keeping it; it's gold. I can't eat gold, nor can I shoot it from a pistol, not without melting it down first, nor can I use it to seize other ships. What I can do with gold is sell it to somepony to raise money so I can buy another sloop, hire a crew, buy some cannon and go about pirating again. Now, hand over any coins you have. Gold, silver, bronze, I don't care." Gad may now find a pistol aimed at his head. Just the one; four would be overkill.