[Celestial Arms Quest]The Brave Shall Answer The Call

[viso]

Just... perfect...



Viso would stare out at the streets outside of the inn. It was normal for there to be a fair amount of people traveling the streets of Londinium, but usually, it was a rather unorganized chaos of energetic runners, out-for-a-stroll meanderers, and idle busybodies. The werecat stood on the stairs leading down to the ground, his half-lidded yellow eyes taking in the scene below. This was not like other day. The conflicting whirlpools of normality were being overtaken by a stronger riptide, pulling the 'swimmers' in. There were more of them than on other days, and they were clumping together, packs of people moving with purpose to some unknown destination. It was going to be a pain getting anywhere if all the streets were like this.



He'd give a small sigh of defeat, short ears flicking backward. As much as he would like to return to his room and just give up on this day, the werecat had spent too many days like that recently. It was time to get something done. Viso would adjust the easel under his arm, holding it vertically to make it easier to press through the crowd, before slowly plodding down the steps to meld with the people.



It was impossible not to overhear things. Since he'd arrived, he could hear so much more than usual, and everyone was chirping away too each other.



“What's going on?”



“I heard that there's an event about to start.”

“... a Messier Sage.”



“... going to be amazing, I hope that...”



Viso managed to collect bits and pieces as he moved, slowly forming a more complete picture. Apparently, one of these sages were going to be making an appearance here in the city, something about uncovering some sort of historic artifact. The shaman's direction would slowly shift. He didn't have anything in particular to paint at the moment, no requests. He'd probably end up just staring at the blank canvas for a few hours anyway, before eventually giving up. Might as well see what this Lander had to stay. His ears flicked about as people talked, eyes cast downward, staring at the other Adventurers' feet. He didn't catch anything new though, except that there seemed to be a new type of shoe making its way into circulation.



The current would eventually reach its destination, pooling in an open garden area. The natural greenery of the area was drowned out by the myriad of adventurers of all types that packed up against one another. Viso soon would find himself trapped within the mass of curiosity, not able to see much He was nearer to the outside of the group, and there were plenty of taller people ahead of him that blocked his view. He could see a raised platform though, which he was hoping the Sage would use. If nothing at all, maybe the sage would provide some artistic inspiration.

Word Count: 487

[viso]

Viso was considering using his Return to Home spell, just to escape this mess, when he noticed a change in the crowd. It started closer to the pedestal, a silence falling over the crowd as they shifted to look to see what was happening. The werecat would stand on the tips of his paws, trying to peer over to get a view, a curiosity welling in him to see what would be happening next. A strange sense of excitement was welling up in him. This was going to be different, instead of merely hearing of other's journeys, perhaps it was time for him to actually have one of his own...

The werecat caught a glimpse of someone rising up on the stand, each step bringing a little more into view. It was... disappointing. No trace of the sage could be seen beneath that robe. They were well kept, but a dull black that hid the folds created by it. The only way one could get a sense of depth of the other were the pinpricks of light that reflected off gems embedded in the cloth. Like someone had cut out a piece of the night sky and draped it over the character like a handkerchief. Viso would give a small sigh in his disappointment, glancing downward before his gaze returned upward at the tapping of the Sage's staff against the platform. A gloved hand would reach up to touch the robed figure's throat, before.

”The world, at a time of crisis, shall welcome the brave to the land.”

The voice sounded weak, wavering a little. It had a slight deepness to it, making the werecat think the other was a male. But it carried, drifting even over to him in a perfect clarity. The sentence was odd for something to say straight away, but he didn't have much time to think about it before the sage continued.

”Welcome, Adventurers, and many thanks for answering the call. I am a Sage of the Messier Order, and I have come here in the hopes that you will lend yourselves to a great purpose. One that might not change history, but will certainly scour away our perception of it, and leave behind the truth.” There is a small pause, as the figure catches his breath before returning to his dictation.

”We have uncovered a valuable piece of history along the Thames coastline, a stone tablet. It's value is what it gives us, a view into the past. For it is older than your history, it is older than our history, and it is older than the Alvs.” It took but a moment before Viso could catch the buzzing of the gathered people whispering among themselves. Even he was a little baffled. He had done extensive research on the previous Elder Tales game, particularly fascinated by the stories behind the game. The Alvs were supposedly the oldest civilization to have existed, long since dead or thinned in blood. A shiver went along Viso's spine at what the other was suggesting. This world was so much beyond the game that the others had played. It was a mere shadow to this reality that they'd found themselves in.

”However...” The sage waited for the crowd to quiet before continuing. “...this tablet is badly damaged. Time itself is the enemy of historians, as it seeks to erase all. While we can tell that something is carved upon the surface, the tablet has been fractured and broken, and we are unable to ascertain what is on the surface. So I am asking, no, I implore you.” The voice began rising in enthusiasm as he continued, “Help us find the missing fragments, and we will not only piece together this astounding artifact, but we will piece together our history!”

The silence was fleeting as voices began to rise in a tsunami of sound, fists pounding the air, metal clanging together as approval was roared to the heavens. The air shook in echo of their excitement, as Viso tried his best to collapse in on himself. A speck of generalized discontent in the sea, trying not to get swept away in its grasp. The sage would raise his staff after a while, before pounding it against the surface, the sharp crack cutting through the enthusiasm.

”Now, I know even with everyone here, it would be futile to search such an area without any sort of guidance, so we have devised these for you to use.” Two more robed figures would join the first, though robed differently. Each carried a bundle of objects in their arms, which the Messier Sage would extract one. It was a plain length, of something black that the werecat could not discern the material of from this distance. ”We have found that the tablet emits a particular energy, and we have crafted these rods to resonate with it. When you are close to anything giving off this energy, the wand will glow, brighter as you get closer. We'll be distributing them once we get down. We will remain close by should you find anything.” The figures would slowly descend the stairs, which would leave them to talk among themselves as they waited to get one.

The werecat stayed quiet, adjusting the easel to his other arm. He didn't know any of the other's here, so he simply withdrew into himself, ears flattening to stem the sounds of rampant speculation. The crowd pressed forward as space was made by others forcing their way out with their tool. Eventually, he would arrive before the sage, staring upward at the other. The other would hand him one of the rods, but after clasping it, Viso would pause for a few moment, unformed questions floating in his mind. He could almost imagine the kind smile inside the other's hood as the Sage spoke, ”Is there something else you need?” The question startled him back to his senses. ”Ah,.... no-” He was jostled a little bit by an impatient Half-Alv, and Viso would take that as an opportunity to flee through the thinning crowd.

As his restrictions were lifted, he felt a little better, staring down at the wand in his hand.... This was going to be a long day, he might as well put his easel away. The werecat would head back to the inn, before he would begin this new quest.[/b]

Exit Garden Area
Word Count: 1063