Something that would be appreciated, for the purpose of keeping things organized, would be that you clearly list what era/turn the mortals in question exist in.
Additionally, remember that PP cannot be spent in this thread. If a PP expenditure is posted here, it will be ignored as if it never happened. You must post the expenditure in the main IC thread.
If anybody has suggestions for other guidlines and suggestions for this first post, let me know.
The storm-driven waves crashed against the sides of the hive as the unearthly howls of the storm flowing through the tunnels filled the air. The storm was particularly bad today, and the Trilobites cowered inside the large caverns of the superstructure, praying that the storm would abate soon.
At one of the entrances to the Hive, Trilobite sentries waited, carrying crude spears. They were sentries, guarding the rest of the island against skimmer incursions, but it seemed that even the voracious predators were taking the day off.
So it came as some surprise when only a handful of yards away from the Hive a sudden burst of water shot into the air and a wave washed over the Trilobites. As they staggered to their feet once more, they beheld an awesome sight: a city of terraced steps made entirely of fungus. It floated there, allowing the waves to wash over if for a time, then, from the side of one of the pyramids several smaller shapes appeared and jumped into the ocean, swimming towards the Hive. Behind them, the great City sank beneath the waves once more.
Curious yet cautious, the Trilobites waited for the smaller shapes to arrive, and soon they did, mottled-green arms pulling the Bryofita up and out of the water. The two races stared at one another for a while before one of the Bryofites stepped forward.
"Hello." it said, drawing out the word to a rather ridiculous length. "We are Bryofita, of The City. We greet you, Trilobites."
As it spoke, its words grew faster, as if the Bryofite was rapidly learning how to speak properly. The Bryofite waited for a reaction from the lords of the Hive.
Cuthlet, the Hive: BW (Before Warp) Era
The Trilobites, unfortunately, were creatures of unrelenting unchange. Even though they were attacked by the skimmers, and attacked by the mind flayers, they could not erect more suitable defenses than their crude weapons and great psiconics, because evolving to defeat a foe was simply not in their nature. They were creatures of tradition, and found a life with no surprises a very fine life indeed.
So when the trilobite sentries saw the giant fungus city rise up from the depths, it would be an understatement to say they were thrown for a loop! But as long as these things greeted them in a friendly manner...
While the rest of the trilobites leveled kharash (arm blades) on the enemy, while several others began to levitate their kherim (throwing balls), one trilobite strode forward to great the creatures... you could hardly blame them for being cautious when every living thing they'd found so far wanted to eat them!
"We welcome you, Bryofita," the trilobite greeted them telepathically, antennae twitching as they directed the flow of the trilobites psiconic will. "I am Shimmering Eyes, and it seems you somehow know a bit of our kind already... though I admit you have the advantage over me. What is this odd collection of plants that you have come in?"
The Bryofite's lumpy form twisted an arm in a manner that conveyed confusion among their kind. "The City? I am It and It is I."
"You have been watched for some time," the Bryofite continued after a moment. "It was necessary to determine whether or not you would be a danger to The City before you were approached more directly. But now you are so approached. Please, lower the weapons."
The other Bryofites had backed towards the water, ready to jump in at a moment's notice, but the 'leader' instead took a step forward.
"Shimmering Eyes. This is a name, yes? Such things have been heard of, although their purpose is unknown."
The Bryofite moved its head so that its shallow eyeless eye-sockets were looking at Shimmering Eyes' eyes. Although the Bryofite had alternate means of sensing beyond normal 'vision', it had learned that this sort of action conveyed 'seriousness' among other races. Or at least it had among the Naga. The Bryofita hoped that it would work the same for a trilobite.
"Shimmering Eyes, your help is asked for against the beasts you call Skimmers. The City has determined that this being is the greatest threat to both of our survival at this time. Will your help be rendered in return for the help of the Bryofita?"
Cuthlet, the Hive, BW.
The Trilobite twitched its antennae in confusion. "You are it, and it is you? I am not overly fond of riddles... but you are right, it is hardly fitting that we level out weapons at you while accepting you as guests." A few short private telepathic thoughts later, and the trilobites lowered their Kharash and returned their Kheresh to their rightful places.
"A name is a name," the Trilobite replied with a small shrug of its carapace. "It is so we know who we are talking to, and to who we are talking about. It serves its purpose well." It was... discerning how they leaned in like that. Especially since their eyes were just... well, not there.
The Skimmers? This was what all this was about? If they had said so from the beginning, they would have been welcomed much more warmly! "But of course! The Skimmers have been a plague upon us since the First broke apart His egg in the glorious gaze of the Mother. If there is a chance to make our kind safe from their unnatural attacks, then we will offer all we have to make it so."
The Bryofite's skin moved slightly as the entire being grew taller and thinner. Behind him, several of the others did the same, while the rest retained their more... brutish forms.
"It is thenfor agreed. You may call this one..." the Bryofite's face scrunched up for a moment while it tried to pronounce the new name "Speaker-to-Trilobites"
With a wave of a hand, Speaker-to-Trilobites signaled to one of the other changed Bryofites and several of the unchanged ones. Immediately, they turned around and jumped into the ocean, making their way back down to the City.
"With peace between us, there need not be so many Bryofita away from The City. It grows lonely. May the Bryofita enter your dwelling? The thought of dryness is appealing."
Cuthlet
These new friends were... discerning. They grew, and changed, and shifted before their eyes. Their shells were not fixed as the Trilobites own, rather they seemed to have no shell at all! Except the shell that separated mind from flesh of course, but all things that spoke and thought had those.
"By all means, Speaker-to-Trilobites," Shimmering Eyes replied. "Whatever makes you most comfortable." The idea of having so many outsiders in their domain was... not really comforting for the Trilobites, but if it helped get read of the plague that was the Skimmers, so be it.
The eight remaining Bryofita followed the Trilobites into the cave, the two of the newly-minted Directors caste making idle conversation with their hosts as they went, remarking on the strange feel of dry air on their skins, the constricting nature of the tunnels, and the distant howls of the wind passing through the specially designed courseways. Eventually they came to a small chamber where the two groups could meet and talk in peace.
"Thank you." Speaker-to-Trilobites said, placing a hand on the mossy wall of the chamber while he studied the trilobites.
"Perhaps it would be best if the Bryofita and you shared our knowledge of the beasts. The City has, thankfully, had few skirmishes with large numbers of the things. The Bryofita have seen what happens to those of myself who succumb to the skimmers. Their deaths throw all of The City into chaos, and the infernal beasts grow bolder with each passing moment. The Bryofita have found them to be suceptable to a variety of stimuli, from brute force to more delicate measures. What have the Trilobites learned of the menace?"
Cuthlet
The Trilobites remained cordial, though such strange creatures were somewhat frightening to them... much better would be a life simply swimming freely, spawning children, and living your full 1000 years than one with such Hive shattering moments!
"We know little of the skimmers ourselves, save of how they kill," Shimmering Eyes admitted. "They are equally at home in sea or sky, though while in the latter we have a slight edge... they have claws that can pierce even out hard shells. We have found them resistant to our psiconic attacks, though our Kheresh can crush them with enough force and with repeated blows. They are less at home in wind tunnels than we are, being less stockily designed and more for aerodynamics, but our Kheresh or a lot harder to wield in these tunnels, making them more dangerous despite that advantage. And I believe that their primary use of our flesh is to create more of their kind through some foul means we have not been able to determine, except for brief glances at a skimmer nest... which is hard enough to spy without dieing I must say without sticking around for a longer look."
The Bryofite leaned forward, a new eagerness entering his voice.
"You have seen one of their nests? How exciting. The City has never dared approach a source of the beasts for fear of the destruction of our being. Tell me, have you noticed any place in this Hive which they consistently avoid?"
Cuthlet
"We do not seek these nests," Shimmering Eyes replied. "We merely stumble upon them on occasion... usually with horrible results. As for places they avoid..." The Trilobite though for a moment. "Well, they tend to stay away from monsoon tunnels, but that may simply be because EVERYTHING avoids them, and so they have no prey there. Oh, there is another things... for some strange reason, they tend to avoid some strange brown creatures that have taken up dwelling in our Hive. At least, I believe they do, what little we have seen there has seldom been a living skimmer near one of these creatures."
The Bryofites were slightly disappointed that the trilobites did not actually hunt the skimmers, which would have been a very quick solution to their problems, but speaker-to-Trilobites did his best to hide his sadness.
"Oh, but of course you do not seek them out. That would be suicide, as would making your/our homes in these monsoon tunnels. Perhaps The Bryofita and you could capture one of these brown creatures? The Bryofita have a way to test whether or not your hypothesis is true."
Cuthlet
Shimmering Eyes twitched his antennae thoughtfully. "Hm, well if you must see this with your own eyes, we'd be happy to help you... we have some measure of psiconic ability that is useful against living creatures, most notably the power to stun and paralyze prey. If we could find one and get it within range despite out slow gait on land, it would be a simple matter to subdue one. Though I must warn you they also dissolve stone in addition to metal, so who knows what other powers they have..."
((Moved))
A few of the elementals decided to investigate the hive. A few elementals approached the Stormbirds, but the stormbirds ferociously tried to attack the elementals, but to no avail. The elementals just simply dodged the Stormbirds' attacks. A few elementals decided to fly towards the hive. They noticed that upon leaving the safety of the colosseum, that they continued floating along the blackness, and then they eventually reached the sides of the hive. They effortlessly made their way to the top, where they found several towering spires leading down towards a vast array of tunnels. The elementals looked at each other and decided to go investigate the strange tunnels. The atmosphere of this new place was very different from their own.
Upon entering this new domain, the elementals saw many insectoid and fungal creatures roaming around the deeper expanses of this hive. The insectoids made unusual sounds and it was nt clear what the beings were communicating to each other. One of the elementals stepped back towards the opening of the tunnel. "Let's get out of here before they eat us up!"
"Nonsense, Draekan! They can't harm us! We look like poofy clouds to them." another one said. "How can anything hurt us if we don't have a purely physical body?"
"I'm just saying. Maybe we should get back to the colosseum. I'm sure our master is back about now..."
Just then, a loud shriek came from behind. A stormbird flew right next to the entrance to the tunnel with two elementals on its back. "HOO-AHH!!" The stormbird landed, and the elementals climbed off. The stormbird sat still with no hint of malice, despite there being food nearby.
"Well, look who flew over the cuckoo's nest this time. What took you so long, Dorith?"
"Hehe..." She looked at Samson briefly. "Had to see why you weren't back so soon. I was getting a little worried." She noticed the creatures within the tunnels. "Eek! What are those things?"
Zero Zone, the Hive, DW (During Warp) ((Okay, technically it's the mixed world and not the Zero Zone, but Zero Zone just sounds so much cooler. Also, see Xeadins LOC post for more details on this one))
Large Antennae was on guard duty. He was not the only one, of course. With him was One Eye, Short Arm, Red-belly, Streak, and much to his pleasure Shapely Shell. He'd had a crush on Shapely Shell for some time... and as soon as they were allowed to swim again except for merely feeding, he would attempt to court her with an aquatic dance. He hoped she'd reply in turn, he wanted to have larvae with her! And wander of with her during the night to share a quick rubbing of the antennae before morning... mmmm....
But Large Antennae could not distract himself with such crass thoughts! He was in charge of this unit for the day, and it was his job to... oh by the Mother, what were those! Their Hive was being invaded by strange... cloud looking things? Were these those monsters that Quick-legs had warned them all about? He had made it seem more... physical. But he had also said that it was beyond description. Maybe this was a different kind of monster? Or... what if they could change shapes!
Normally he would not be so bold, but with all that had happened, their entire race was on edge. Shoot first, ask questions later he always said! "These must be those creatures from before!" Large Antennae thought to his fellows. "Quickly, before they attack! Quick-legs said they were vulnerable to psionics, so blast them all with your paralyzation waves!"
A little less sure than their leader, but not wanting to take any chances, the trilobites all lowered their antennae at the air elementals, before blasting at them with waves of painful and debilitating psionics.
As though from a nightmare, a hoarde of the insectoids came scrambling before the elementals. What was unusual about their actions was that they did not fully charge the elementals, but instead they stopped and lowered their heads. A strange, alien force shot upon them, minutely distoring the puffs of cloud-- however it did nothing to the elementals. The blast of psion energy blew right through the elementals like a knife cutting through still water.
The elementals looked at each other, utterly confused. "Umm... what are you doing?"
Zero Zone, the Hive, DW
This was strange. These things seemed to be hit not at all by their psionic attacks! Despite them being completely incorporeal and affecting anything with a mind! The only logical conclusion was that these things weren't alive... any other living thing would at least feel SOMETHING from the attack. Even the Skimmers, brainless creatures of metal, felt something at a psionic attack. Heck, even most plants did, the minute amount of intelligence that said 'must drink water' making them vulnerable to the strikes. ((/hint))
The five trilobites were needless to say perturbed by this... then panicked. If these things were there to attack them, there was no possible way they could deal damage if both phisical and magical attacks were completely ineffective against them! Hell, no thing could stand against such power! ((Okay, official apology if coming across harsh here, but I've had a bad night. But seriously??))
The trilobites were even more stunned when the things spoke... without any mind to effect with their psionics, for that was the only way their blast could miss them so, communicating with them telepathically was not an option. Indeed, communicating with them at all would pose a difficulty, it was a wonder they could even speak!
"Wee arsh protechting arsh homeschichi, invadersecki," Large Antennae chittered out as well as he was able... with their biology, not communicating telepathically was difficult indeed!
Speaker-to-Trilobites followed the Trilobites down into the depths of the Hive and soon the group came upon a vineaza. Speaker-to-Trilobites gestured, and two of the other Bryofites came forward bearing a cage of metal. The Bryofites waited until everyone could ready their spears, then opened the cage.
A skimmer burst forth, racing straight for the nearest source of food, the vineaza before it. It lept towards the vineaza, who turned and with instinctive grace, froze the skimmer in place, where it twitched a few times and then fell to the ground and ceased to move.
Speaker-to-Trilobites turned to Shimmering Eyes.
"The Bryofita feel that this thing is of great value to both Bryofita and Trilobita. The Bryofita do hope there are more of these, for they would make excellent sentries. I shall return to the-"
The ground shook and a strange noise filled the Hive, and then with a massive jolt that threw the parties against the walls, the hive Warped.
In the aftermath, the Bryofites stumbled into the darkness, lost and confused.
The strange creatures spoke out loud, but it was as if they were a mix of several languages, or if it was all gibberish that made almost no sense.
Dorith listened to the creatures, and noticed something peculiar about the words in the what-would-be-the-leader's mouth... or was it their mouth?
"This is your home? Yeah, we figured that much," she said, in an almost invigorating way. "The way you came after us and shooting us with who-knows-what... Now, could you please be kind enough to stop what you're doing? We can't seem to move all that well..."
It was true-- the elementals could not move... at all. It was as if the psionic waves immobilized them on the spot.
"Master! You finally came! I'm so glad to see you again!" Dorith fell to her knees and 'kissed' Schi'vya's feet. ((If elementals could kiss... :/))
The psionic waves were redirected upwards into the cavern ceiling, as Schi'vya defended her children. "You need to go back to the colosseum! Now! Something big is happening!"
"Yes, master!" Without hesitation, the elementals hightailed it out of the cave, and got on the Stormbird. They held each other tight, as the stormbird furiously carried the four elementals back to the Colosseum, which was just feet away from touching the hive itself.
Schi'vya flew out of the cavern faster than the waves could hit her.
---
"You should be ashamed of yourselves for going out there without my presence! All four of you should know better than to run off to some place that you don't even have a clue where it came from!" Schi'vya made a low grunting noise. She pointed out the fighting beasts.
The two elementals looked on in partial terror. "What in wind's name is happening?"
"I haven't a clue..." She motioned them to follow her up the colosseum wall. She pointed out the large city floating on the water next to the hive.
"What? I didn't see that when we were travelling to that mound... Where did that come from?"
"I haven't a clue, either. All I heard was a splash, and there it was." She had a confused gaze. "Whatever is happening, it may be linked to what sucked me and this colosseum here."
"Whoa!" Kalasa shouted as her pickaxe broke through the rock and a damp smell issued from the newly opened hole. "I... I think I found something!" She cried out to the other Naga nearby as he carefully used her tool to widen the gap. Beneath was a large, open cavern, black but smelling strongly of salt water, which excited the nagas.
"A pristine fragment of home!" one of them whispered, crowding forward for a look.
"Out of the way! You're blocking all of the light!" hissed Kalasa, urging the others back as she fixed a rope to an outcropping and wrapped her tail around it. Grasping the rope with her hands, she began to make her way down as the other Naga moved out of the way, allowing the first beam of sunlight to pierce the blackness and reveal the Sixth Cavern. Gone was Kalasa's worry over the screaming beast above them, replaced with curiousity for the cavern below. It was when she was most of the way down that she realized that a) she was going to 'land' in the dark waters and b) she was not alone. Twisting her torso towards the quiet sounds, she watched as a large ship cut through the waves towards her.
"Hello!" She called out. "Could you lend me a hand?"
~The Hive~
After some time, Shimmering Eyes heard a voice in his head, deeper and more resonant than other Trilobites.
"Friend Shimmering Eyes, could you come to me? I wish to speak with you, and feel it would be better if we spoke in person."
A quick map appeared in the trilobite's head, showing the cavern of choice, deep in the Twisted Hive.
The Hive, DW ((Figuring DW period would last until everything was settled down))
Shimmering Eyes received the message some time after the encounter with the air elementals ((Xeadin, if you want to continue say so, but doesn't seem like much will be accomplished... could be wrong though)), and after the warp main... though the Hive was still surrounded by blackness. And they could hear the Zero Zone Beasts beyond their field of reality... hissing, waiting, trying to get through...
The voice though, he recognized... at least, he thought he did. It was the same voice as the Byrofites, was it not? But where they were asking him to go... "Friend, I would gladly go down to speak to you, but... the Dark Hive is a labyrinth, constantly shifting, never the same... are you certain that if I go down to you, I will be able to return?" The Dark Hive was feared among their people... many trilobites had gone in, only to never return...
"I will guide you. Look for me." The voice whispered in his mind and Shimmering Eyes felt a subtle tug to look at the top-right corner of the tunnel. There, a thin strand of moving Bryofita matter moved like a living rivulet over the rocks. Sensing his motion, some of the matter began glowing softly, leading the Trilobite down into the Twisted Hive
The Hive, DW
Trilobites were never comfortable with traveling on foot... they much preferred to navigate the seas than the land. Unfortunately, the path through the Hive was bound to be mostly by land... Shimmering Eyes was occasionally lead through the odd water tunnel, but for the most part it was merely slowly crawling along on his many legs.
The trip was not without incident... though most incidents involved Shimmering Eyes hiding as the dangers of the Hive lurked around him. Skimmers flying past, hunting for flesh to make steel with. The battlefield between the massive Warrior Ants and Warrior Centipedes, whos war had raged on for all of time for little reason the trilobites could discern, and often damaged other creatures in the crossfire. The giant centipedes that made their homes in the Twisted Hive and the Hive above to boot, who's stingers though not suited for piercing a trilobites shell could do so if they grew to a large enough size. And most frightening of all... the occasional scuttling of a Zero Zone Beast on the outside of the Hive. Most of these dangers Shimmering Eyes managed to avoid... some he was forced to bring out his Kheresh for, stunning and killing his enemies with the psionic throwing stone before he could continue.
Eventually, he got to the Twisted Hive... which compared to the Hive above, was barren of life. Indeed, what life could live in a place that was always shifting? Never still? And the walls... they were cold, gray stone, that seemed to be unusual harsh, perhaps even reflective. Some above referred to it as 'living steel', though with such unusual an item any name would be as accurate as any other name. What could possibly grow in such a thing? Indeed, the only reason the centipedes could live here was that they dined on their fellows, and they hatches slightly more than they ate...
Shimmering Eyes was scared every step he took into that Twisted Hive, constantly afraid his precious trail would stop... indeed, what if a tunnel changed course, an the Byrofites didn't notice? What if there was a collapse in a tunnel (or 'collapse' in any case) that cut off the trail and made it impossible to proceed? This was not the path a trilobite usually walked... but mercifully, thankfully, the trail eventually reached its destination.
A terrible shrill of sounds could be heard resounding through the tunnels, as massive birds flew onto the rocks that hovered alongside the colosseum. Their wings kicked up dust, and these birds threw sparks of lightning at the stormbirds. The stormbirds tried to retaliate, but it would result in more electrical shocks from these gargantuan birds of prey.
And so it was-- a new species of avians has taken a foothold on the colosseum; but just as it seemed that they would be anything but loyal pets, a few elementals walked up to a couple of the thunderhawks that were in plain view on one of the large rocks. The thunderhawk closest to the elementals stood up, extended its gigantic wings, and trumpeted straight at the intruders. At first, the elementals seemed a little intimidated, but then they stepped one more time, before something unexpected happened. The bird flapped its strong wings at the elementals, and a blast of sound came hurtling right at them, producing a monstrous sonic wave that shifted the rock back and forth. This caused some of the nearby birds to fly to other distant rocks on the other side of the colosseum. The elementals appeared as two little fog clouds, but then they returned to their humanoid forms as quickly as they were torn apart by the clap of sound. The thunderhawk cocked its head to the side, and it was time to go on the offensive. The bird stiffened up its neck and right before the elementals could do anything, a powerful jet of searing hot bolts came crashing down upon the helpless elementals. Unbeknownst to the thunderhawk, the elementals split themselves apart to avoid direct contact with the lightning bolt. The bird stopped and stepped back to the one behind it. The elementals proceeded to move forward. The thunderhawk snapped its head forward and bit at one of the elementals; no luck. The hawk only bit through air, as the elemental split itself apart yet again. It quickly reformed itself, and stepped closer to the hawks, who were in desperate need of a plan B.
One of the elementals jumped up and grabbed the hawk by the neck and forced it down to the ground; the other jumped onto the hawk's back and attempted to hold down its wings to prevent it from taking off from them. The plan worked. The hawk submitted, and stopped struggling. The one on its neck quickly let go, and the other shifted itself towards the lower end of the neck. The two elementals clapped each other and chanted words of victory.
The elemental that sat on the thunderhawk tied some roots around its neck and put on a crudely done harness on its back. It wasn't the most comfortable seat, but it would have to do. The elemental sat itself on the harness, and gently brushed the hawk's neck. "So, I need you to tell the others that we can tame these beasts as well. We've already got the Stormbirds figured out, now we just need to find out how to get these guys in our grasp. We shouldn't go overkill and tame them all, but rather take a few and leave the rest for their own games." The elemental on the ground nodded and stepped back.
The elemental on the hawk kicked his feet forward. "HOO-AAHHH!!!" The thunderhawk flew forward and glided out into the darkness, before making a U-turn back towards the colosseum. The hawk circled around the colosseum, and then around the Trilobite Hive. It made a nose-dive down towards the Bryofite City and made a loud, almost eagle-like sound. The elemental on top whooped down towards the city.
Shimmering Eyes stepped out into a fairly small cavern deep in the belly of the Twisted Hive. The walls glowed softly with the light of the Bryofite Larvae that had led the trilobite to the chamber. On one side of the chamber, a slow drip from one of the water pools, obviously cracked at some point and flowing down to here, formed a shallow basin filled with water, and within that water lurked a fungal mass roughly the size of five or six Trilobites. As Shimmering Eyes watched, a wave of light shimmered across its surface and then the voice spoke in his mind.
"Ah, Shimmering Eyes. Thank you for coming. I apologize for my hasty departure earlier, but I was severed from the City and was lost for a time before joining together and forming this current form. Tell me, what has happened? I feel the City again on the edges of my thoughts, but it is different somehow... I can think for myself, whereas before..." The voice paused, clearly trying to think up the right words. "Wheras before such a thought of 'thinking for myself' would not even have made sense!"
~The City~
As the thunderhawk made its approach towards The City, a sudden blast of psionic energy sent it spinning. Dazed, it and the elemental riding it crashed onto one of the fungal 'roads'. Immediately, Bryofites budded from the nearby building, picking up spears and pointing them menacingly at the elemental and his stunned beast.
"Who are you, and why do you come to the Bryofita?" One, a hulky warrior, demanded, shaking his weapon menacingly at the elemental.
The elemental found himself covered by one of the thunderhawk's enormous wings, as he felt ground. 'Oh, boy... that's not good.' He uncovered himself, and found himself in the middle of a fungal road, surrounded by what looked like fungal humanoids. They all pointed spears at him and demanded to know who he is. He raised his arms up. "I... I am not armed. I came here to survey the surrounding areas. So much has happened in the last several hours of our arrival here in this new, dark place. I am Tarranat-- ambassador of the Elementals and to the deity who sent me here. I have come to see to this new place-- this wonderful domain." He thought twice about what he was about to say. "I... I have come to visit and see this new domain, for it seems as though we could do each other some favors during our travels. We elementals must travel far and wide to see the places that we must go to and learn of new cultures and to develop a strong bond with each other."
The thunderhawk stirred from behind and attempted to get up. Tarranat walked over to calm the bird down. "Hush... no need to hurry. Rest. Regain strenght, my friend..." The hawk relaxed itself before the Bryofites. and stuck its extravagant chest out towards the creatures. It's mighty breaths creates minute gusts of wind across the road, and it seemed to give new life in its every breath.
Stormbridge Colosseum
Stormbirds and Thunderhawks flew around the colosseum, as their riders directed them out in all directions-- a few of which flew a safe distance from the Bryofite City. The riders each held out their bows and whooped to each other. They circled around the city toward the water's edge. One of them landed without harm on the side of the city, while the others continued to fly around the city. One of them got knocked out of the sky and into the water; another deflected the psionic energies by creating an instantaneous barrier of sound. The leader directed the others to get out of harm's way.
Several riders flew around the Hive and a couple landed within via from the top of the spires.
More riders flew over into the Golden Forest, where they landed in the middle of large meadows.
One Thunderhawk flew over to the top of the Pillar of Creation, where it overlooked the surrounding areas. Keeping itself a safe distance away from the table, the rider overlooked the surrounding areas.
Several riders flew up towards the Waltzing Mountains, while some flew down towards the Triskelion. In essence, the Stormbirds flew out to lessen the population that was cramping the colosseum.
The galley, plates of steel armor smashing through the still waters, crisply reversed stroke and slowed in the salt sea. The largest Titan called over the side the Naga.
"Can it be? The Dream has shown us such creatures as you, but I never thought to actually see one. I am Nebecar, captain of this war galley. We serve in the Holy Armada of Durmidor, city of the Voice of God. But enough of titles.
Seaman, drop a boarding plank to the water, that this Naga may enter this vessel."
Assuming you crawl up.
"Now then, what is your name? The Dream shows us a great many of you, were are they? Also, I suspect the Voice, our ruler, will want to meet your king if you have one. If not, he'll want to meet you anyway."
The Hive, DW
THIS was why they dragged him through so many levels of labyrinth like nightmare? To discuss news, and individuality? ...Shimmering Eyes confessed he was a little on edge from having to traverse the horrible Twisted Hive. The Byrofites had every right to know what was going on, though he still did not completely understand their 'we are all one' frame of thought...
"What has happened is... everything, and nothing," Shimmering Eyes replied. "The world as we knew it has gone... the Hive reappeared in a field of darkness with nothing to break its endless eternity but frightening creatures with strength beyond compare. We were alone for a long time... but there have been reports of other landmasses appearing too. Perhaps the City was among them? I know not, any scouts we send out run the risk of being consumed... and we don't know the extend of the invisible barrier that keeps them out until it is too late.
"As for thought of 'yourself', I admit I am confused," the trilobite continued, cocking his head segment. "We trilobites, although we live together and speak in each others minds, do not seem to share the same... bond, your people do. So I confess I cannot even comprehend how significant loosing it and thinking for ones self is..."
A group of several stormbirds and a few thunderhawks flew off one of the large rocks overlooking the distant Caverns of Davos. A couple of riders uluated on their way to the caverns.
Caverns
On their arrival, the group landed on the top, near a small opening-- most likely a way in. "Huaia!" One of the thunderhawks landed and gave a loud squack that echoed through the small entrance. It was just big enough for the elementals to fit through, but not for any of their creatures. "We need some watchers up here to watch over these creatures. If anything happens, you let us know. If we have any problems, you go back and gather a rescue party." A few elementals nodded.
The group of seven entered the cavern with caution, carrying their bows and spears with them. The weapons were tied on to their backs. Only the front two elementals had theirs out for defense. The darkness of the cavern was daunting-- even from outside, the caverns still seemed very unwelcoming. However, this was their chance to discover new worlds.
The Hive (Exterior)
A couple of thunderhawks let loose loud squacks as they circled around the outside of the hive, avoiding a direct collision course with the rocks connected to the colosseum. The closest rock seemed to be just inches away from touching the hive, and son it made contact. All that came from the impact was a tiny 'plink' of the rocky surfaces touching each other.
A few thunderhawks flew over the top to the Hive's walls and landed inside the bowl-like structure, where the entrances were; the same entrance the last party explored. The five elementals unpacked and set up a small camp zone near the entrance. It was meant to be temporary, as they were not going to stay long. Two elementals stood watch over the entrance, as the others set up the site. "Let's go. We ain't got much time."
Shimmering Eyes felt the Bryofite mass sigh in his brain, and felt a gentle touch across his brain.
"Forgive me, friend-trilobite, but I need to find words that you might understand..." The feeling stopped, and the voice continued. "This may seem... wrong, but I shall do my best. You are part of a tribe, are you not? You would say: "I am Shimmering Eyes of the Clan of this-or-that, and if you were feeling especially proud of your tribe, you might beat your chest and wave your antennae and proclaim "I am a This!"
Well, that is basically what we are... a tribe, yet... not a tribe. When I/we... forgive me, this is confusing even to me. When Speaker-To-Trilobites first met you, what you percieved as Speaker-to-Trilobites would more appropriately have been titled 'Appendage-of-the-Great-City-Named-as-Speaker-to-Trilobites,' for as much as you thought you were speaking to an individual, you were in fact speaking to all of Bryofita, for all of Bryofita... at least all of Bryofita then, was The City, and The City was all Bryofita. When this cataclysm occured, it would appear that the appendages of the City were cut off, but instead of dying, we managed to stumble downwards and combine ourselves into... me, who has of yet no name, but is not The City.
This is partially why I asked you to find me, Shimmering Eyes. I wished for you to look upon my true form and understand the nature of the Bryofita. I also ask you to ask the trilobites to protect me. I am unsure as to the motives of The City, and would not put it past it to try and take me back, something which I do not desire."
~The City~
The Bryofita quickly frisked Tarranat for weapons and finding him truthful, allowed him to stand. Several of the hulking warriors in the back kept their spears pointed at him, but the majority of the fungal beings relaxed their guard.
"We shall believe you are who you say you are." Said one of the Bryofita, stepping forward. Ripples of activity still coursed over the new Director. "You shall call this one 'Speaker-to-Elementals'. Tell the Bryofita what has happened, and where you come from, for the Bryofita have never seen one such as you before."
~6th Cavern of Davos~
While the titans seemed quite happy to see the Naga, Kalasa was... well, the best word for it would be 'absolutely-scared-out-of-her-mind'. She had never seen anything quite so large! Mustering up her courage, she clambored aboard the ship and said.
"Hello, great and mighty and powerful ones of great power! I am Kalasa, and yes, I am a naga... as are my brethren, who are nearby. What has happened? One moment we are on Ordarak-Rek, and the next, we are here on the roofs of these caverns, being chased by a terrible-looking foe!"
Kalasa ran through the checklist of questions she had been asked.
"Oh... and... I am not sure where the king is, but I am sure he would like to meet with this Voice. If you don't mind me asking an insignificant question, a tiny little question... who and what are you?"
~Caverns of Davos~
The elementals slipped through the tunnels, and the naga, already scared, did nothing to stop them.
After he was searched, the Bryofita let down some of their guard. Tarranat cleared his throat (If he had an actual throat). "Well, I'm pretty sure we're all wondering where we are, as I myself don't even know where we are. All I know is that we're somewhere in the middle of a big, black space of pure nothingness and emptiness. We came from a world, which we vaguely remember, as... Ma... Mit... Mish... Mash...?" Tarranat struggled with the word Mishway. It was on the tip of his tongue, but he could not put it to words. "Ah, yes. Mishwat... no, wait. Mishway. Yeah! That's it. Mishway. We came from a world called Mishway. I presume you came from a different world yourselves. As for why it happened... I haven't the slightest idea why the two worlds just suddenly mashed together like that. At first, I thought is was going to be the end of the world for us."
~Caverns of Davos~
Right after their trek down into the cavern, they were met with strange creatures right from the getgo. A couple of elementals held out their hands. "Hold." The others stopped. They all looked around and saw a few different creatures. One stepped out and was in partial view, but since the caves were so dark, it was hard to tell the ful features of this one, but they could understand what it was saying.
The two guards lowered their spears, as the leader of the group stepped forward and bowed towards the naga known as Kalasa. "Greetings, Kalasa. I am Dorith, an ambassador of the Elementals and to my master. We have come here from a world called Mishway, and the warping of the worlds caused us to come here into this black, empty place which has no name. It is of our humblest of deeds to meet other beings such as you." She gave a heartwarming smile.
"Ambassador Kalasa, we are Death Titans, charged to protect the Holy of Holies, the sacred artifacts of our God, Davos. God has granted the Voice visions of your people, if not this coming. These other creatures though, things of basic existence, we have not seen.
What manner of beast are you, mephit, and what business do you have in our caves?"
One of the elementals pulled out his bow and pulled an arrow back towards one of the death giants.
"Hold!" Dorith shouted at the elementals with ringing authority. The elementals obeyed without hesitation. She turned around and glared. "I already told you! We need not any calamities in here unless it is necessary! God, you guys are senseless bunches of dust..." She turned back towards the giants. "I'm very sorry... my men are not very good warriors with the sword or the bow. I am Dorith, ambassador of my people and the sole guardian of Schi'vya-- my master. We have come to settle peace with your people, for we are not familiar with this place or to the general area that have located our homes to. I do hope this will give us a chance to know each other."
"Dorith... I don't think this is a good idea..." One of the elementals quietly muttered in fear.
"Shut your mouth, Alexi!" She whiskfully turned and glared menacingly at Alexi, who was stone petrified by Dorith's sudden outburst. She faced the giants once again.
The Hive, DW
This was... interesting. If Shimmering Eyes was following the Bryofitas explanation correctly... then they were in fact all one being, one mind. So the current situation would rather be like loosing an appendage, only for it to develop its own thoughts and feelings and scuttle off! But at the same time, killing the appendage to bring it back into the main body was... just wrong, wasn't it? At least if it was truly an individual as Speaker-to-trilobites seemed to be.
"I confess this is all still strange to me.." Shimmering Eyes admitted. "But a seed, one taken root and sprouted, should not be cut down and tied onto the main tree because the seed came from the branches of its mother. If once you were one, and now you are you... then we will defend that youness, as is only right. The trilobites are friends to the Bryofites, and- no... the trilobites are friends to Speaker-to-trilobites. It is only right to protect you in such a case, and I thank you for entrusting this to me."
The mass of Bryofite matter burbled happily, the first actual sound Shimmering Eyes had ever heard one of the race make, and a voice sounded in his head.
"I knew I could trust in your friendship, friend Shimmering Eyes. Know that the part of me that is Speaker-to-Trilobites will never forget that. There is one other thing I would ask of you."
The fungal mass lurched and shifted as the surface puckered, budded and sloughed off a small figure, only about a foot in height.
"Uhh.." The mass said, clearly drained. "That is all I dare bud off at this time. Could you take this one with you as you go? I have been relying on these... I think the best word in your language would be larvae to be my eyes and ears, but... one such as this would be far superior. Could it ride with your back up to the Hive?"
The tiny bryofite waved, and in a high-pitched voice said. "You may call this one Son-of-Speaker-to-Trilobites!"
~The City, DW~
The fact that this being did not know all that much was disappointing. The City had lost contact with Speaker-to-Triobites and the other Bryofita in the hive when it vanished, and it was assumed by The City that they were dead... how else could they be when severed from their self?
"The City came from a place called Culthet, a land far stormier than this." Speaker-to-Elementals said, eying the elemental with empty sockets. "Tell the Bryofita what else was in this... Mishway you speak of."
~The Sixth Chamber, DW~
"Mishway? What is a Mishway?" Kalasa asked, feeling emboldened by the platoon of death titans behind her. "Tell me, do you have anything to do with that beast that drove my people below ground? I doubt that beings as weak looking as yourselves could have twisted one of my own in such a way, but in this strange place and strange times, I must ask."
The Hive, DW
This entire meeting was touching... and incredibly disturbing. Birthing from a slimy egg among dozens of your kin was one thing, cutting off a piece of yourself to make a smaller version of yourself was... strange. But the Bryofites were friends to the trilobites, and Shimmering Eyes was not going to let a slight bit of discernment get in the way of doing the right thing for their friends.
"Greetins, Son-of-Speaker-to-Trilobites," Shimmering Eyes thought warmly, before turning his attention back to the larger mass, picking up the smaller Bryofit and placing it on the back of his shell. "I shall take this one with me... and thank you for your kind words," Shimmering Eyes told the mass. "However, I must ask one last thing of you before I can return to my tribe... I cannot find my way back without a trail such as the one that led me here. Can you do this, or has creating Son-of-Speaker-to-Trilobites left you too drained?"
Xeadin... not talking about Concordia, but... I'll run with it
Tarranat felt the speaker's sorrow. He knew what it was like to leave a homeworld himself. "I do miss the green forests of Mishway, and the occasional cloud..."
~The Sixth Cavern~
Dorith stood and faced Kalasa with utmost sincerity. "Apparently so. There are quite a few creatures out there that would run amok and cause catastrophe, and we'd be helpless-- defenseless little ants trying to flee their home from an invading monster bent on nothing but chaos." She reached her arm out and held it on Kalasa's shoulder. "We must all be strong during these grim times. Though we may run away by fear, know that our courage stays strong with us. Courage is the only thing that is never compromised, no matter how dire the situation is. Many people die for honor-- for protection. That's what defines a hero. We are all stars that shine the path through the darkness."
One of the other elementals stood forth. "But the most important thing is that we all need each other to survive in an everchanging world. If we all are destined to live, we must make that truce by banding together and to show that we can in fact survive. Our tenacity calls for us. United, we stand like a fortress-- an impenetrable fortress."
~The Hive~
The five elementals finally had their camp site set up, and they set off into the tunnels of the Trilobite cavern. they slowly crept along, showing no signs of malice nor did they show any physical threats.
A young warrior elemental, brushed through the trees, chasing some sort of rabbit-like thing. The creature bounced and scampered its way around every tree and bush, avoiding close contact with anything that would grant its capture. Its escape was to no avail; the elemental kept on chasing the creature, and soon after, the creature got tired and somersaulted its way down a grassy hill towards an open field. The young elemental stood and watched the creature heave and look around manickly. The warrior pointed its spear at the creature, ready to strike the creature, ready to earn his place amongst the people.
From out of the corner of his eye, the young warrior spotted movement towards the left near the trees. He saw the head of some strange figure-- a humanoid. The figure had a pale face, deep blue eyes, and long ears. The long grass did not reveal the rest of the figure, so the young elemental was curious to whom it was. So he let down his spear and left the creature to live another day. The elemental walked his way towards the tuft of grass. He could see much more of the figure's face, and he saw that the being had long strands of fine, brown hair flowing down its back.
He took another quick gaze at the being, and said, "Hello. Might I ask who you are and where you came from?"
Right as he is thinking this, he notices movement in the far distance. It looks like a battle of some little creatures. Jumping into the sky to investigate, it doesn't take him long to cross the few miles between him the two groups. Seeing a small group of what looked like tall, pale humaniods, fighting what seemed to be a larger group of odd colored humanoids. Not sure what to make of it, he circles lower to get a better view. Noticing that the smaller group is looking like it is about to be wiped out. He decides to do something odd. He dived in close and flew just over everyones heads. He wasn't sure why he did it, he just knew that it was the right thing to do. Diving in to make another pass, he felt something hit his wings. He didn't see anything there, but he knew it hurt like crazy. Diving down, he barely got his wings stretched out enough to keep him from killing himself. Rolling and sliding down on the ground, he came to a stop a mighty distance from the battle.
Slowly getting up, he felt one of his wings were hurt pretty badly. Checking to make sure that not much else was hurt, he started to slowly run towards the battle.The little pale creatures were hurting badly with one down and only two more still fighting. As he came closer everyone seemed to stop. All of a sudden, the other odd creatures, started to blast him, with something he wasn't sure of, but he knew it hurt. And hurt it did, for it came in fast and strong. Using his non-injured wing to shield himself, he decided to try something that no dragon had tried to yet. He took in a deep breath, feeling a sudden chill inside of him, he realised that it was ready. As he lowered his wing, he leveled his head at the offending creatures, and let loose a massive jet of freezing air, instantly freezing the creatures in place. He looked around again. The now one lone pale creature, shivering, unknown to him if it was from fear or from the sudden drop in tempurature. With a quick swipe of his claw, the odd creature things, shattered into many pieces.
He moved back slowly from the pale looking creature, spread his one good wing, and lowered his head to eye level of the other creature. Speaking to the other creature in the dragon's native tongue, he introduces himself. "I am Alexstras of the skies. I came to help."
Speaker-to-Elementals nodded, and with him nodded the rest of the expressed Bryofita.
"And the Bryofita miss the stormy clouds of Culthet. At least the oceans and the Trilobita remain."
~The Sixth Cavern~
Kalasa stood silently through the entirety of the elemental's speech, but as it finished, she burst out laughing.
"How... how... did you... did making that keep... you up.... all night?" The naga managed to splutter between bouts of laughter.
"No." she said, laughter dying as if guillotined. "We shall not stand. We shall slither and hide and find a place of safety and there we shall live and grow. Those who show the foolish courage you propose... they all Die."
Tarranat nodded. He noticed just a sliver of the waters flowing in a calm manner.
"It seems so calm here. I must say-- this place is truly amazing. An eyesore from a distance, but just magnificent up close. It must've taken you all a long time just to get this place to where it ended up today."
~The Sixth Cavern~
Dorith was a little surprised by Kalasa's changes in mood and tone. 'She thinks I'm joking... oh, well these beings don't know the half of it.'
She stood straight up and adressed her leave to the elementals. She turned back around. "So be it. If you do not want our help, then we will fight them alone. Telling us that we're gonna die does not make the problem go away-- it only makes it worse." Her voices raises a little. "You know what? You can solve this problem your way, and we'll do it ours; just don't come crying to us when the walls fall down! It's your choice."
She turned back around. She stays for a moment longer to see if Kalasa had anything to say.
~The Triskelion~
A mob of Eladrin warriors (4 figures) stormed thrugh the bushes, chasing a Dobbit. It was a tiring chase for the Eladrin, as it was fr the Dobbit, for it had a new pursuer-- one the Dobbit nor the Eladrin had not expected. A cloudy form came running after the Dobbit with a spear in hand. The Dobbit panicked and dove thrugh the bushes as fast as it could. The pursuit ended in disaster for the poor creature, as it fell into a waterhole. The elemental jumped a great distance in the air and landed on the opposite side of the waterhole. It reached its hand towards the Dobbit and picked it up. The creature squirmed in its grip.
The Eladrin got to the waterhole and were mesmerized by the sight of the figure that had the Dobbit in hand. The elemental blankly stared at the Eladrin, and they stared back-- neither not moving an inch toward or away from each other, both locked in a seemingly endless staredown. The Dobbit only squirmed and tried to rock itself out of the elemental's hand, but to no avail.
One of the Eladrin finally stepped forth and shouted. "You! Who are you, and what do you think you are doing with that?"
The elemental only chuckled. "What do you think? Is hunting a sport to huntsmen? I call this survival of the fittest." The figure stuck its spear through the ground where it stayed straight up. "The name's Omnuros. I'm a very diligent hunter, just like you four."
And yes, this conflict between the Eladrin (Thunderwaltz) and the Elementals is a solo RP, but it may get interesting if other races (or other Virago) joined the fray
Hmmm... this could be the start of more MS interactions, so to speak