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| Everyone Starts at the Bottom [Open]; Some more literaly than others. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 18 2009, 10:25 PM (1,461 Views) | |
| Thanqol | Mar 18 2009, 10:25 PM Post #1 |
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Grey Seer
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Ants are fascinating to watch when you're too hurt to move. Their seemingly random movement patterns and efficient dissection of the most tiny crumbs was a source of idle fascination to Tross. He'd be lying here, looking in this same direction, regardless of if they were there or not, but them being there gave him something to observe beyond the admittedly sub-optimal decour of the ditch. It had rained recently, he'd figured out. When he had woken up, he hadn't been lying at the very bottom of the ditch, but the first time he'd tried to move had just caused him to roll to the very bottom and land in the damp mud. Fortunately, it wasn't deep enough to drown in. That would have been the most pathetic death in the world. A small pang came from his hand. An ant had bitten him. He flicked it off, arm aching as he did so. The ants all stopped. Some of them went over to the crushed ant. Then, in an enormously creepy motion, they all turned to look at him. Tross suddenly found a new source of energy. He scrambled pathetically out of the ditch, hounded by a swarm of intelligent ants, biting at his shins and hands furiously. Cursing, he rolled out across the sidewalk and into the gutter of a cobbled street. Awesome. He was moving up in the world. Fortunately, the ants seemed loathe to leave their ditch, and just sort of glared at him before slowly disappating. As he picked ants out of his flesh, Tross noted several old and malfunctioning magical items had been tossed into the ditch, evidently releasing enough magical radiation to give the ants a kind of horrid sentience. Two things occured to him - that the people in this city must be absolutely loaded with magic items to throw them out that casually, and that the people in this city must have absolutely no moral compass to throw them out that casually. And what a city! Illuminated Circle (where did that curse come from?)! The presence of bizzare and unnatural citizens and architecture didn't so much surprise him - he had no idea if that was considered weird or not - but he did get the distinct impression that to raise towers and build skyships there must be some mages with scary talent out there. Certainly someone with the potential to steal a man's memories and leave him in a gutter. He mentally scaled back his estimated-time-until-resolution dial. Fishing a fence post out of the soggy gutter, Tross used it to achingly get to his feet, leaning heavily on it. A quick glance at his chest confirmed that he was almost entirely purple with bruising and should probably see a doctor, but he likely wouldn't be able to walk to one - even if he knew where one was. So, there was only one real option at this point. He stuck his thumb out for the wagons that passed by. His body occasionally trembled dangerously, threatening to fall. He knew that some of the alien cultures he saw passing by had no conception of thumbing lifts, and it was all he could hope for that he wasn't making some kind of rude gesture that would get him murdered. |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 22 2009, 02:20 AM Post #2 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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The difficulty Tross was to find here was not so much anyone's lack of understanding of the raised thumb, but the fact that he had just emerged from a ditch and fished a stick out of a gutter before hailing the passing wagons. Unfortunate as it was, those individuals most inclined to sleep in ditches had a reputation for being fairly dangerous to give free rides to. One wagon, however, eventually did stop. This was done at the request of the passenger, the driver most likely having been more inclined to move along like everybody else. Said passenger, a silver-skinned female humanoid with a pair of wings on her back, must have been some sort of gentle-hearted soul, a saint among saints. Right? No... "What 'chu giving everybody the thumbs-up for?" she asked curiously, pushing aside a large metal container and leaning over the side of the wagon with a rather confused look on her face. "It's always nice to get the thumbs-up, I guess, but you're confusin' me. What'd I do that was so great?" An audible sigh could be heard from the driver's direction, but he apparently decided against taking it upon himself to explain the act of hitchhiking to his uninformed passenger. |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 22 2009, 04:23 AM Post #3 |
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Grey Seer
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Illuminated Circle, now there was a stroke of luck. He'd been dangerously close to passing out. Or maybe he had - how else could he explain what was, without a doubt, an angel talking to him? Okay, Tross, don't screw this up. "Hello. I need a doctor so I don't die." Great line, genius. Suave. "Nice to meet you. I'm Tross." |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 22 2009, 06:01 AM Post #4 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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"Oh, hi," chirped the woman, whose wings, as her RPer probably should have clarified earlier, were of the bat-like variety. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Tross. My name's Entropy." However, the answer Entropy had received to her question really only made her more confused. She continued to look at him for a moment, scratching her chin. "I still don't get it, though," she told him. "Doesn't a thumbs-up mean everything's all good? I wouldn't think needing a doctor so you don't die is a good thing... Unless you think going to the doctor is a good thing. Personally, I do like to play with those toys in the waiting room, so I guess I can see where you're coming from there." "Lady Entropy," the driver interjected, having grown more concerned since the stranger had revealed his peril. "I believe this man may perhaps be seeking assistance in reaching a hospital." "Oh," Entropy replied. "Well, if that's what you were looking for down in that ditch, I don't think you'll have much luck. I think you'd better hop up here and let us get you to one." With that, Entropy moved the metal container again, setting it further back, and offered her hand to Tross. |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 22 2009, 06:40 AM Post #5 |
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Grey Seer
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Tross' mental vision of being rescued by an angel backtracked a little. Circle, was I that bad a person? Still, she seemed nice enough. Maybe he'd just been a jerk sometimes? He gratefully took the proffered hand, sitting down with a sigh of relief. There were moments in life where the only proof you need of a merciful god is a convenient seat, and this was one of them. He tossed the fence pole back into the gutter and smiled wearily. "Where I think I come from, showing your thumb is a sign that you need a stranger to offer you a lift. I suppose it's sort of a preemptive 'you're great'. Thanks for stopping." |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 23 2009, 06:09 PM Post #6 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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After helping the human-looking person up into the wagon, Entropy gave a nod to his explanation of the thumbs-up sign. "Oh," was her response. "Okay. I guess that makes sense." She then looked at the driver. "I suppose I'll be a bit delayed by this, but take us to the closest hospital," she ordered. With that, the driver nodded and began moving the wagon again, and Entropy returned her attention to the new passenger. "So, what sort of place are you from?" she asked, oblivious to the man's lack of memory, but mostly thinking that she could keep him talking since he was so injured. At the same time, she seemed to be making a few unrelated gestures with one of her hands. After a moment, the palm began to glow with a faint bluish light, and she spoke up once again. "By the way, I can do a little bit of healing magic. It can help with your bruises and stuff, anyway." |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 23 2009, 07:18 PM Post #7 |
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Grey Seer
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"I would appreciate even some proper bandages right now, let alone actual magic." Tross said empathetically, re-revising his opinion about her being an angel, "Even with one eye, I can see you're a saint. I imagine I'd be blinded if I had two." Don't tell me I'm going to make a thing about being a cyclops. "Speaking of eyes and memories, I woke up in that ditch without either. I can't remember an Illuminated thing. Even my name I got off my coat label. All I remember is how to cast spells that electrocute people and a whole bunch of knowledge that doesn't relate to me personally." |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 25 2009, 04:45 AM Post #8 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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With Tross' leave, Entropy held her glowing hand out towards him, and the blue energy left it and drifted in a sphere towards the human's chest. Upon contact, assuming he didn't dodge out of the way at the last second, it would spread over him momentarily, and close up most of the superficial cuts and bruises he had suffered. Unfortunately, more severe damage like his missing eye was beyond what Entropy's magic could handle. "Saint?" she asked a moment later. She was surprised for a moment, but she smiled warmly at the sentiment a moment later. "I guess... I..." Entropy stuttered for a moment then, not sure what to say. At the account of Tross' lack of memories, though, she let out a sympathetic sigh. "Oh, uh..." she stuttered a bit more. "Sorry..." Even as casual as Tross' explanation had sounded, Entropy still worried that she had touched on a nerve by asking about the memories that didn't exist. Her wings twitched nervously behind her for a moment as she unconsciously chewed on a nail. But then she looked up at Tross again, appearing to have become resolved about something. "Well then, you can stick with me," she offered. "Until we figure out who you are and all that, I can make sure you don't starve or anything." |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 25 2009, 06:23 AM Post #9 |
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Grey Seer
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"Saint only because what remains of my mind can not conjure any more appropriate sequence of words to adequately frame your beauty and mercy," Tross said eloquently, with the vague slur that had been at the edge of his voice gone. He appreciated the magic deeply because until then he'd only been standing on ant-based adrenalin - even a tap in the right direction was infinitely better. He wondered if he was going too far, but he did really appreciate this and she was very pretty. "Thank you, again. I'll try my best not to be a burden." |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 25 2009, 10:15 PM Post #10 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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Entropy's composure was thrown off once again by the word "beauty," and this time she blushed a bit as well. Of course, there was a small part of her that set off an instinctual fear of being hit on, but something about this situation seemed oddly romantic to her, and her more adventurous side was telling her to run with it. In was nice to feel pretty, in any case. Once again, though, she found it difficult to form a coherent reply. "That's... um... sweet of you to say..." she eventually managed, voice softer now. But then she lowered her head a bit, starting to look ashamed of something. "But I'm actually... well... a demoness. A succubus, in fact..." And at that point, she braced herself. Based on past experience, this was where everything would go to pieces. But she couldn't have gone along from there without admitting it. Of course, her wings and tail had been plain to see, but there could have been any number of other races that had those. Not saying what she was would have seemed dishonest. But being honest had its price, and the succubus expected that she would be paying it now... Edited by Luxon, Mar 25 2009, 10:15 PM.
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 26 2009, 02:31 AM Post #11 |
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Grey Seer
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Quick, what's a Succubus? 'Succubus: Humanoid demon, capable of shapeshifting, enchantment, and energy drain. In order to summon, procure one bag blessed sand...' blah blah blah... 'carnal favors', I obviously read this in a textbook made of boring, 'in exchange for the spellcaster's soul'. Huh. He thought about it for a moment, but while he searched for information, the more human part of him thought about why she'd actually said it and why she looked so ashamed of it. "Well, if you don't steal my soul we shouldn't have a problem?" he said. Then the little voice took over and said, "but I think you might have already." Even he turned a little red at that, but managed to keep his composure. Good lord, sir. Are you a bard? Don't you think you should get to know someone before waxing lyrical on their beauty? Or, for that matter, find out some specifics about the shapeshifting demon you're talking to? If you get my soul stolen before I've gotten to a hospital, I'm leaving this brain. Ah, said the other side of him, but wouldn't it be grand? |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 26 2009, 03:02 PM Post #12 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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Entropy looked up again, not as shaken up now as she had been for a moment there. The reaction hadn't been as harsh as she had expected. She even ended up receiving another bit of flattery. Really, she was a sucker for that sort of thing, apparently. "I don't really do that kind of thing," she answered, poetic come-ons aside. "It doesn't really seem very classy, you know? I'd rather find other ways to get ahead in life that are... I don't know... more respectable?" |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 26 2009, 06:03 PM Post #13 |
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Grey Seer
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"Fair enough," Tross said, having to extrapolate on what the booking mental textbook had told him, "What do you do instead?" You managed to get through a sentence without running your mouth. Impressive. |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 28 2009, 02:49 PM Post #14 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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"Magical research, mainly," Entropy answered. "Right now, I'm signed up with the Arcane Academy here in Orone as a Professor of the Elemental Arts." Of course, there was one other side to her that she was going to feel nervous about revealing... "... I've had a few runs as an Overlord down in the Netherworlds over the years," she went on after a bit of hesitation. "You know... someone's got to do it... And I try to be more benevolent than most of the others." Not only a demon, but a demonic dictator. Monarch, anyway. For something the nobles of her people spent their entire lives obsessing over reaching, that position certainly sounded like a rough thing to have on a resume. |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 28 2009, 07:53 PM Post #15 |
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Grey Seer
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"Arcane Academy?" He knew the name. He knew the building. He knew the whole floorplan. That had to mean something. "I think I've been there. That or I've scrupulously studied blueprints for it." Details lingered at the edge of his memory - he could see the holes, the pictures where he'd been cut out of. It was tantalizingly close. His demonic lore wasn't particularly up to scratch, most of it coming from vague memories of the Textbook of Boring, so he didn't appreciate the rank of an Overlord. "Sounds like you've ruled in Hell and served in Heaven - which is better?" |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 29 2009, 01:40 AM Post #16 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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"Heaven's too orderly for my taste," Entropy answered. "I'm made for chaos, for never knowing what the next day will bring. It's more fun that way." On the subject of the Academy, Entropy gave it some thought. She didn't think she had run into this guy yet, but then, it was a big place. "The Academy... Maybe we should try going there," she suggested. "Might help to jog your memory." |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 29 2009, 04:25 AM Post #17 |
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Grey Seer
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"Doctor first," Tross hurriedly clarified as a fresh wave of agony rippled through his brain. As an aside, Entropy certainly wouldn't remember seeing Tross anywhere in the Academy, nor would anyone else. "Huh, so like this but all the time. I'd agree with the fun bit if there was less physical harm involved." |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 30 2009, 02:11 AM Post #18 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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Entropy nodded at Tross' reminder about the doctor. "Right... I don't think we'll be too much longer getting there," she said. "They try to always keep the ones around here ready. This is where a lot of the city's portals are, and adventurers tend to use them to get to the far-away lands they like to go to. And, of course, it's not uncommon for them to come back in a mess." Then, switching back to the other subject... "I suppose I can see how physical harm would turn people off to unpredictibility," Entropy admitted. "It can get a little bit wild, but personally, I wouldn't trade it for anything." |
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Entropy Nei | |
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| Thanqol | Mar 30 2009, 03:02 AM Post #19 |
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Grey Seer
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"Wonderful," Tross said, feeling better at the prospect. "You've got a point, and it's entirely possible that the physical harm was inflicted in a very orderly way and the good feeling that's keeping me awake right now is a symptom of enjoying the unpredictability. I can pretty much make myself up as I go along," |
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You couldn’t understand. Only… only the President of a sinking city could understand. Tross Tailor The Scrivener Sarah Kreoss | |
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| Luxon | Mar 30 2009, 08:46 PM Post #20 |
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Your Friendly Neighborhood Overlord
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Entropy gave another nod to Tross' last set of words. The mention of the injuries and how they may have been inflicted on him, though, left her just looking at him worriedly for some time. It was likely that it hadn't been an accident, especially in this tumultuous city. And if his survival hadn't been in the plan of whoever who had done it, then it was possible that they would be coming after him again. If anyone did, the succubus' protective nature led her to decide that she would be there to make sure no more harm came to Tross. "... In fact... I believe we're coming upon it right now," Entropy declared as the wagon turned a corner and a large building of white stone came into view, the architecture square and modular in comparison to the other buildings nearby. It wasn't long before the wagon had pulled up to one of the building's entrances, a large door of glass with a metal frame. To be honest, a wagon in front of such a structure may have seemed a bit out of place to some. In any case, once the wagon came to a stop, Entropy hopped out, then offered her hands up to help Tross out as well. |
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Entropy Nei | |
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3:38 AM Jul 11
