[ACRO] Outside IX: There are Mosquitoes

[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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[Greensbrook]

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A peaceful farming village overseen by John De Metz. Formerly home to Rocky the Render. Notable families included the Bobrow and Giles families.

[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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Gersemi the seighkona lives on a small island in the archipelago with a single hut and a few sheep. Inside the hut, there is a single room, and a fireplace. A loom rests in one corner.

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

[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.

[Whitemount]

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A rather large town with some scattered farms and the seat of a duchy.

[Castle Silhouette]

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Genesis' base of operations.

[Club Banana]

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Here be primates of all sorts and much silliness? An aircraft hanger turned into a club used exclusively by intelligent apes.

PM Reinholdt if you wish to add locations to Outside.

Special: Reinholdt will update the Outside threads and post new ones when it is time. Please don't post a new thread without his permission or he is away for an extended period of time.
Thank you.

[Recaiden]

[Ashna's World]

It's not like he's ever asked about her past or anything.

Well, who wouldn't? Ashna says, smiling. The fires blink a few times.

It was good to meet you Brendan. Farewell to you both. The amoeba turns to leave.

[The Bushranger]

[Ashna's World]

He should probably fix that at some point.

Brendan's cheeks turn just a little redder, and he smiles, and bows a little to their hosts. "It was good meeting you as well. Farewell, and may the wind always be at your back, and the sun upon your path...

...that really doesn't work here too well does it?" he whispers to Ashna a little sheepishly.

[Recaiden]

[Ashna's World]

Probably.

The nameless amoeba amoeba-bows to him.

She shakes her head and starts walking back the way they came in. No. Especially since if we didn't know better, the "wind at your back" part we be a curse.

[The Bushranger]

(Ashna's World)

"...oh." Brendan is genuinely embarassed now. "Guess I need to learn a few things before putting my foot in my mouth like that, huh?"
He follows, looking thoughtful. "Where my dad's ancestors came from, that's an ancient blessing - part of it, anyway."

[Osnagard]

[Forest Glade]

Creepy eyed squirrel glares at the thing ringing the bell. It's killing his beautiful home! As it is, it's painful just to listen to that bell. But Creepy-eyed is a lot stronger than the normal animals. It chitters angrily at Os before darting off and away.

The fist slams into the Drayd and she emits a choked shriek, the wind knocked out of her. Hugging herself and curling up, she whispers, "No-"

And then the bell tolls. The tree dies, and with it, the Dryad. The mindscape Dranas is in becomes a blank slate, and the mental Dryad vanishes.

[An Internal Struggle]

A cruel smile comes to Dranas' face. For a moment. He then he doesn't have time to relish the Dryad's pain. Or her death. He's got more important concerns for the moment. The bell finally gets a grip on him, and forcefully removes him from the Dryad's body.

[Forest Glade]

Normally the chittering of a squirrel would mean nothing to Os. He doesn't concern himself with the world around him, it's not his problem. Not normally. But then... he just killed everything in this glade. Everything, unless there's a player character level being around. And that squirrel just chittered.

That's not unusual in itself. Os once knew a fully sentient llama. It was his first friend in town in fact. He takes a moment to look for the source of the sound. A mere instant. But that's often all it takes for things to go wrong.

The trees die at the reverberating peal of the bell, leaves droping. Any NPCs, were there any nearby, would find themselves drifting into a sleep they're destined never to awaken from. Thankfully he's in the forest and not in town. Just the wildlife takes a hit. Unfortunatly, with the trees, the Dryad's body stops moving as well. She's grown still and cold, and Os doesn't notice. Not in time to save her soul from the abys.

What he does notice is the skeleton hacking the head of the Dryad with it's shovel-axe.

No. NO!

Too late. The shade of Dranas rises out of the body, confused for the moment, disoriented. It had a body. IT ALMOST HAD A BODY! Why was it now out, and the body laying there, without a head.

Os reacts fast enough, now that he's clued into the situation. The large bell goes back into it's pouch and the next small of the seven (aye he has seven bells, each with a different power) comes out. The binding bell. He begins ringing it in a complicated pattern. Dranas' shade shrieks and withers at the sound. Right hand ringing furiously, Os' left hand reaches into a rear pocket and produces a small gem. Storage.

The pattern changes, the gem glows slightly. Shifting between blues and purples. A whisp of Dranas arcs towards, and then into the gem. Slowly it's sucking him in. Consuming the shade of a dark elf, powerful... and evil. Os will have to brek him later, this isn't something that will accept him as master easily.

Finally the ritual is complete. Os tucks the gem back into it's pocket and replaces the bell in it's appropriate pouch. He looks down at the dead Dryad and sighs. Well. I've stopped their conflict for you, there won't be any more fighting between the trees of this valley. He pats the gem in his pocket. I'll see if they'll take this for payment.

He shrugs. So what if he killed her. It was her own fault ater all. She tackled him. A quick dispell of the skeletons, they fall back into their protal for later use. He releases the weak shade back into death. No use for it now.

One last look around the glade. It'll rebound soon enough. Life has a thing about that. I ought to kill that squirrel, cost me a client. Spits on the forest floor and heads back to NO headquarters to make his report.

[Recaiden]

"...oh." Brendan is genuinely embarassed now. "Guess I need to learn a few things before putting my foot in my mouth like that, huh?"
He follows, looking thoughtful. "Where my dad's ancestors came from, that's an ancient blessing - part of it, anyway."

[Ashna's World]

They're back up to the surface. The creepy voices on the not-wind are back. Brendan should not quite be able to make out words.

Well, it's only recently taken that meaning. Ashna waves around. Don't worry about it, love.

[Destro_Yersul]

And here we have a paladin, out for a walk. Seems Endrik got bored with sitting around in a castle all the time and decided to take a stroll.

He's probably not even looking for anything. Just taking some time to think. What he might find, of course, is entirely different.

[UncleWolf]

Wolfbane curses as a noise spooks a deer he had been stalking. He really hopes it isn't something he'd have to fight as he needs a bit of rest, but even so, he draws his hammer and moves towards the sound to investigate.

[Destro_Yersul]

Fighting is, at this point, Wolf's choice. Endrik has found a convenient rock to sit on, and the scraping of his plate armour against the stone is probably what made that noise in the first place.

He seems to have noticed someone is nearby. How is not exactly clear at the moment, but he hasn't stood up. Hello?

That ought to determine if it's an animal or not.

[UncleWolf]

Wolfbane, noticing the figure sitting, puts his hammer back at his side. "Hello." Endrik will see a man in a suit of rather beaten up dark platemail and a bright red scarf covering the lower half of his face walk out of the woods nearby. He moves cautiously.

[Destro_Yersul]

Endrik notices that. He also notices the tears in the plate and spends a few moments wondering what such a man is doing out here. Bit unfair of him, that. He's out here, after all. You look as though you have seen better days.

Straight to the point, as always.

[UncleWolf]

Wolfbane nods his head and sits wearily on a different boulder. "Yes, very much so. Ran into some magic castle and its owner earlier. I was lucky."

[Destro_Yersul]

It is always best to scout such places before entering, Endrik agrees. They are not always pleasant to be in.

[UncleWolf]

He scoffs and adjusts his scarf. "I didn't even make it inside."

[Destro_Yersul]

Oh? That causes a raised eyebrow. Endrik is unfamiliar with architecture that tries to kill you while you are outside it. Though perhaps the owner was to blame for that...

[UncleWolf]

He nods. "Some... girl who called herself Genesis. Summoned a daemon on me." Wolfbane lowers his scarf, revealing some very heavy scarring, and takes a drink from his waterskin before putting it back up. "Killed the cursed thing, but as you can see, I had to get out of there."

[Destro_Yersul]

I see... And in fact, he does. Though he's never met Genesis, anyone who summons demons is not on his favourite person list. Yes, you would have needed to retreat and regroup before confronting her again.

[UncleWolf]

Wolfbane sighs and shakes his head. "More of refit and rearm." He looks at the man. "And you? What is a holy warrior such as yourself out here for?"

[Destro_Yersul]

I decided to take a walk. I needed some time to think. And one must never be unprepared for danger. That, at least, explains the large hammer slung over his back, as well as the armour. He looks like he's ready for battle, the current lack of helmet excepted. There's one on his belt, though.

[UncleWolf]

Wolfbane nods. "Sound advice. Unfortunately, there seem to be things that are even better prepared than you can assume." He says, gesturing at his mangled plate.

[Destro_Yersul]

I have run into a few of those. Endrik things of the many surprises he's had to deal with during his career. There were more than a few. It taught me to over-prepare.

[UncleWolf]

He simply shrugs. "I have more than a few tricks myself. Those were what got me out alive."

[Destro_Yersul]

Better than the alternative. Is all Endrik has to say to that.

[UncleWolf]

Wolfbane nods and stands. "It is. Farewell for now, I must now track down the game your arrival scared off." Endrik may notice that the wounds he had earlier are much smaller than before.

Wolfbane reenters the woods, where he goes back to hunting for fresh meat, and deadtime.

[The Bushranger]

[Ashna's World]

They're back up to the surface. The creepy voices on the not-wind are back. Brendan should not quite be able to make out words.

Well, it's only recently taken that meaning. Ashna waves around. Don't worry about it, love.

[Ashna's World]

"Ah. I won't then." Brendan smiles, then looks around a little disturbed-ly. "Those voices give me the creeps..." He moves a little closer to Ashna, intending to be protective if need be.

[Recaiden]

[Ashna's World]

Ashna nods on her way back to the car.
That's normal. It takes a lot of time to get used to them. Like she needs protection in her own family home? She doesn't mind though.

[The Bushranger]

[Ashna's World]

Brendan is, perhaps, just a bit old-fashioned that way, gentlemanly, noblisse oblige and all that.
"I suppose I should try and get used to them...provided they're only voices and some boogieman isn't going to jump out from behind a tree or something at some point," he chuckles.

[Recaiden]

[Ashna's World]

Not a bad thing.
Oh, yeah, pretty much the second the sun goes down all the way. It's pretty close to the horizon already.
We've got plenty of time though.
Ashna walks over to the car and climbs in.

[The Bushranger]

"Er...I was kinda kidding, actually..."
Brendan starts looking around a little more intently, as he climbs in the other side of the car. "I'm sure they won't mess with you, though." He grins.