|
Post by corinthius on Aug 30, 2011 20:28:42 GMT -1
"Light intensity at 130 kilolux." The metallic voice chimed over the hum of electricity. The room was completely flooded with light - the intensity of direct sunlight on Earth confined to a single small room. In the centre of the room, the darkness pulsed, slowly encroaching upon the light around it. Corinthius sat cross-legged in the centre of the darkness. He breathed heavily as he battled against the light in the room. Sweat dripped from his brow, but his breathing slowly steadied. He began to rise to his feet and extended his arms. He cried out as he began pushing the shadows further, the room darkening all around him. He fell silent as he realised no light remained, the shadows overcoming the brightness. He smirked and lowered his arms.
"Session complete. New record. Congradulations, Captain." "Why thank you, computer." "Captain! We're here." another voice rang through the intercom. Corinthius smiled and smoothed out his clothes, fixing his cloak around his kneck with a silver broach in the shape of a coiled serpent. He exited his private champers and descended to the ship's command bridge. He headed straight for the airlock, where he expected Jowan to meet him as arranged - he had told his new second to meet him there when they arrived at their destination, and that he wasn't to be disturbed before then. "Jowan, you better have the right place. I've waited long enough."
|
|
|
Post by jowan on Aug 30, 2011 21:06:07 GMT -1
Jowan grunted as Corinthius arrived, not looking up from the staff in his hands. The colourful patterns that once decorated the item had long since faded away, but strong enchantment meant that only a few scars marred the ancient wood. "How could i have the wrong place, it's a pretty damned unique place. Might be hard to find but once you've found it, it's not exactly easy to lose."
The hood of his robe was down for once, revealing his pale face which was currently etched with anxiety. He continues to nervously twist the wood in his hands before glancing in Corinthius' direction. "No one's ever been here you know. Mortal, immortal, none. Only Vestigals. For all i know they could be the only ones damned capable of it. We could die the second we step out of this ship..."
As Corinthius would likely know, Jowan was not known for cowardice. One would have thought an individual of his curious nature would jump at the chance to be the first to explore somewhere, its dangerous nature only encouraging him. A brief touch of the scar on his forehead hinted at the true cause of his tension. "I haven't seen him you know....not since he left....can't explain it, just feels odd meeting aga-"
He paused in mid sentence, staying completely still for a moment with his head tilted away slightly as though listening to a faint sound. A few seconds past before he turned to face Corinthius once more. "He's coming now."
The small section of the ship in which they stood suddenly became bathed in a deep blue light, seemingly coming from behind them. Should they turn, the pair would be faced with the tall skeletal bird, crouched to allow it to fit within the airlock, whose head crest would show him to be Nai'Koth. For a moment his black slitted eyes bore into the back of Jowan's head until the man sighed, slowly turning to face them. He nodded to the glowing figure, as though conversation had been made though neither had spoke, then Nai'Koth turned to Corinthius. Though he did not speak, Corinthius would hear echoing words.
"So you came then. We wondered if you would. None have before. What is it you seek here, Shadowwalker?"
|
|
|
Post by corinthius on Aug 30, 2011 21:20:20 GMT -1
"Oh, this and that. Probably just window shopping, though there'll probably be something that'll take my fancy. I'm on a...well, some people would call it a quest, though I like to call it a crusade, against the Daemons. You know of them, yes? Hell, of course you do. Spent enough time around Dragos Midnight to know all about Daemons and such. They're a damned menace that needs exterminating, and I'm here to see if the Vestigals can offer any aid, be it technology or bird power."
Corinthius met Nai'koth's "gaze" with a blank expression on his face, not feeling any need to lie to the Vestigal. He thought it better to be up front with the creature, knowing that it would be better for him simply to deny him the aid he sought than be accused of lying and betraying his trust, giving the Vestigal reason to turn on him. He didn't quite fancy his chances fighting in an unfamiliar environment that could potentially kill him against an oponent who called it his home. He rested his hands on the hilts of his daggers as he usually did when in conversation.
|
|
|
Post by jowan on Aug 30, 2011 22:36:37 GMT -1
Nai'Koth stared at him for a long moment, the tops of his wings twitching slightly, then inclined his head. "As you wish. I think our ways may be too different to provide you with technology, but sure that we can find something of use. You will be able to walk and breath outside and your eyes will be shielded. You could not see our city for the light otherwise."
Moving between the pair, his body passing through them where there was not enough room, he placed a taloned hand on the air lock hatch. It opened with the hiss of escaping air though the pair would have no issue breathing, and revealed a flat surface the colour of dried blood, though it glittered with sparks of indigo; a reflection of the sky. Nai'Koth stretched to his full height upon leaving the craft, easily ten feet tall, and spread his wings which seemed more vibrant than before.
Clutching his staff so hard his knuckles were white, Jowan slowly stepped out of the craft to follow him, staring up at the sky. "Its all magic..." he murmured before kneeling to touch the diamond ground.
"Dal'Tharon is not far. We should go now, not sure how prolonged exposure to the Afterlight may affect physical creatures. Others will watch you, some have never been to your universe." With that the Vestigal set off ahead, the others likely struggling to keep up with his stride.
|
|
|
Post by corinthius on Sept 2, 2011 22:23:34 GMT -1
Corinthius remained uncharacteristicly silent as the trio traversed the Afterlight. He examined his surroundings with care, making sure nobody would be able to sneak up and ambush them. He assumed that by now Dragos Midnight would be following him, but wether they would actually risk chasing him into the Afterlight was unknown to him - he just didn't like taking any chances. He fidgeted constantly with his daggers - unsheathing and resheathing them, inspecting their edges. This was a nervous habbit of his, which Jowan had likely picked up on from their time spent traversing the universe.
It was all just a ruse. A clever ploy to make the Vestigals think that he was on tilt, that he would not attempt anything too irrational (by normal standards). He knew that they were beings accutely sensitive to emotions, so fooling them would be hard, but if he could fool all but the strongest of Immortals as to how he truly felt, he was sure he could trick them. In his mind, he was cold and calculating, always thinking ahead, and fully confident in his plan.
When he first spoke, it was on the outskirts of Dal'Tharon. "Impressive..."
|
|
|
Post by jowan on Sept 2, 2011 22:55:56 GMT -1
The Vestigal city first became visible as a blur glow on the "horizon" (if such a word could be used to describe a place set apart from normal dimensions). While it would likely seem as though they had been walking for at least a few hours before it was close enough to make out clearly, time seemed to have little sway in the unnatural realm and the two visitors would feel no wearyness from travel.
Nai'Koth did not pause when they reached the city, though Jowan did, stopping in his tracks for several moments to stare at the entrance. The entire construction seemed to be made of blue opalescent crystal which glowed softly, giving the place an ethereal appearance. The city itself seemed to be built not of individual buildings, but rather as a single giant castle-like construct, with winding corridors branching off in many directions, several seeming to ignore the laws of physics. The non-euclidean layout meant that even Corinthius would soon become lost without a guide. Along the way countless other Vestigals watched their progress, varying slightly in size, colour and brightness and all bearing subtly different crests upon their brows. Some were difficult to spot, hidden in alcloves or perched on ledges like gargoyles, but all were clearly interested in these two bizarre creatures wandering their halls.
Eventually Nai'Koth came to a halt inside a massive hexagonal vault with shelves and what appeared to be crates of some sort stacked on all surfaces, including the walls and ceiling (apparently the Vestigals could also defy gravity with their magic) Turning to the pair, Nai'Koth said; "I am unsure exactly what it is you seek but i think you may find it here. We do not make or craft as much as your kind but keep what we do here. Many things of interest to you i think, yes. Energy crystals, tablets of magic and history written in our tongue, armour and weapons, engines that provide limitless power...." he paused for a moment, glancing at something at the other end of the room "Things like that we make now we can travel between dimensions. Other creatures like to trade with us, artwork and puzzles of your kind we find fascinating. Those things here too, not sure if you would want them....Take what you want. Jowan is a friend of us and Shadowwalker gives a noble cause." By this point, Jowan was already exploring the room and had several crystal tablets and a glowing dagger piled in his arms.
|
|
|
Post by corinthius on Sept 7, 2011 18:28:13 GMT -1
Corinthius inclined his head in Nai'koth's direction and mumbled a thankyou to the Vestigal, not usually one for being polite. Corinthius wandered around the room for some time, examining several objects closely, others he simply passed by.
A while past before he at last came to find something that caught his interest: a large crystal, clear as water. "This will do. Come on, Jowan. We're getting out of here."
Corinthius placed a small disc onto the crystal. The disc emitted an energy field around the crystal, and moments later it was teleported to the Voidclaw.
"I must thank you again, Nai'koth. You've been a great help to me, and to the Multiverse."
Without saying anything else, Corinthius departed and headed for the Voidclaw. A cold, determined look was strewn across his face. Now was the time for his years of planning to finally yield some results.
|
|
|
Post by jowan on Sept 9, 2011 22:35:08 GMT -1
Nai'Koth bowed his head to Corinthius as he left then turned to face Jowan, whose arms were now heaped with assorted magical and downright strange items. some where of obvious interest while others, like a wooden puzzle box and a runed leather hat had no obvious purpose. Noticing that the Vestigal was looking at him he muttered "Well you did say we could take anything." then quickly disapeared back to his quarters aboard the Voidwalker, eager to be away from the being who had once possessed him.
|
|