In the Veins of Old Sleeping Giants

[Franny Stein]

Londonium.

Gazing out the heavy door of the Cathedral where she had vagrantly squatted, the girl had the appearance of an adult venturing out for the 6am newspaper.

Franny squinted through the tree’d canopy of the well-kept courtyard. Was the sun rising up or setting down…?

“I have no idea.”

Franny yawned, she felt as though she might have slept for days, an unhealthy habit  imposed by a helplessly insomnicatic disposition. The girl felt awful. She yawned a gargling kind of groan.

“….”

Shivering at the draft, the tiny necromancer leaned backward with the force of her entire body to shut again the heavy door. Like a wet dog, she shook the last remaining cold from her bones. While it wasn’t particularly warm where Franny was, her situation was a venerable Eden compared to the outside. Stretching like a contented cat, Franny reclined onto one of the yonder pious benches. The wood was hard.

“Good for the back, I suppose. Posture is important when you get older…”

Sighing Franny while poking at her U.I. thinking all the while that it might be her destiny to never fully learn the thing. She did manage to find the clock confirming a quiet morning. The calendar, she no longer cared to bother with. Dates had kind of lost their significance.

“Another symptom of the grind…”

Franny held her right leg up in a stretch while briefly regarding it. Slowly lowering it, she mirrored with the left before childishly alternating between the two, bouncing her heels off the arm rest where her tiny form only just reached.

It’s cold outside feet,
But my legs feel awfully
Restless what to do?

Liking her poem, Franny transcribed it onto the floor using mystic script, she wrote in small long letters as her left arm dangled and moved to the sound of her self-made beat.

“It’ll warm up around noon.”

Heavy, Franny’s delicate eyelashes fell like blankets on her childlike eyes. She hummed her own lullaby.

Noon.

By the grace of the mosaic window, the sun beamed encouragement on Franny’s disposition. The day was starting to warm itself, she finally decided to rise.

Washing her face in a pool of the chapel’s holy water, she quickly wiped the cold from her face. The tiny necromancer slapped both her cheeks, chasing out the last of her lethargic hibernation.

“Okay….!”

“Okay what…though?”

She had no idea what she wanted to do today.

“…..”

Humming, Franny bummed around the streets of Londonium enjoying her day off, which in retrospect, was every day that she didn’t have the inclination to force herself into some awful situation. Seeing she was more or less alone in the alleys and short cuts that accompanied the streets of her not so fairly enjoyed city, she indulged herself privately:

“I’ve got~ the tired city~ blues~
“I cannot choose~ what to peruse~ But my~”
“Tired~ city blues~ so choose~ my muse~”
“Where this ol’ sleepy dog~ “
“Can lie, forever”
“Choose~ ”
“My muse~ ”
“My blues~ ”
“Walk a doggy~ ”
“On her lonely leash~ “
“Out or in some bad situation… “

Franny had already more or less decided her day’s plan. She had been making strides in her forced labor style of crafting and knew that she would soon need to procure more worthy materials. What this meant was simple enough for her; summoning a skeleton, she inscribed a sign for him to hold.

 “SEEKING ONE SAGE FOR DAY EXPEDITION SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY - Franny Stein.”

Franny had been making good use of the library to read up on various aspects of the game, she had learned in her research that Sages made for the loveliest of little dowsers. Yes, if one were able to venture deep enough, Sarum Caverns was rumored to have the quite the choice selection of unique and rare ore. Through slime and muck.

“Slimes…”

Franny gritted her teeth in frustration.

“A well-deserved revenge on those wretched tunnels.”

The tiny necromancer’s features spread like the stroke of a paint brush into a wicked grin.

“Oh yes, today is going to be lovely. You hear that you slime bastards? I’m coming for you.”

She had almost forgotten the ore.

Almost.

Leaving her minion holding the sign like some odd scarecrow in the popular recruitment area of the city square and turned on her heels and entered yonder inn to wait. She waited for any private messages in relative comfort with nothing to accompany her but the memories of her very first days of Elder Tale.

NOTES- Starting in Londonium, Franny is waiting for a private message through the interface to make contact.


WORDS- 750


TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

Noctis still wasn't used to the streets of London. Everything wound together, the distances between things were so dense that he felt like he was nothing but pac-man running around in his little maze, not even the ghosts around for company. 

Albeit it, it was the afternoon. Most adventurers were out on quests, running about doing their own business to bother someone like him. He still felt sore to be honest, his recent training session proved to be on the tough side. Sure he didn't die but jeez, some of her methods were really crazy.

He stretched out his neck, cracking it in an attempt to relieve some of the pressure that had been building up in his head. It didn't do much, but it would calm him down for a while. Placebo effect and whatnot.

It was his slumming about the sidestreets that led him to run into the jolly little skeleton with it's peculiar sign. Something about it just perked his curiosity, and he made his way over. As he neared, the scraggly figure began a little dance and jig, probably in an attempt to attract some attention to itself from the hustle and bustle of the busy adventurers all just hurrying by him. 

Noctis watched for a while, and eventually began humming to himself 'spooky scary skeletons' in sync with the summon's movements. He gave off a light chuckle before getting a good look at the board.

Sage, huh? He guessed he could use the work, and decided after his last little escapade, nothing could possibly be much worse.

He thumbed up the interface, summoning up the private messaging system before looking up the person's name. 

Franny Stein

He laughed to himself a little bit internally as he thought of the irony, a patchwork man calling up one F. Stein for work. He keyed the button on the menu to begin the telepathy call, waiting for the answer. Upon connecting, Noctis would greet Ms. Stein, "Hello Ms. Stein, My name is Noctis Corvo. I saw your skeleton with the ad for a Sage and would like to offer my services. I'm not the highest level, but I would definitely love the work, if you would have me."


Words: 370      Tags: Franny Stein          

[Franny Stein]

“Well, that was fast.” Franny grinned, she wanted to make a cool entrance. Paying her small tab, the tiny necromancer used ‘Castling’.

With a poof the skeleton and the petite girl switched places. Franny’s landing was a little uneven, catching herself with her staff she was left to gaze upward at the taller man before her. Smoothing out the wrinkles in her robes from where she had been sitting, she snapped her fingers desummoning the skeleton which was now likely sitting in yonder inn.

“Well then, Nocits Corvo I take it? Well, aren’t you just the ray of sunshine?” She laughed good naturedly.

Closing one eye into an extended wink she extended a single index finger toward her face.

“Well we’re a pair in that case aren’t we? Franny, necromancer, at your service. We haloweenies gotta stick together.”

Franny looked to her left and her right with a slight breath of consternation.

“I should have just invited him to the inn…. It would have been more comfortable for conversing… well whatever…”

“Hey, wanna take this to the inn?”

Franny frowned.

“The Tavern section I mean, with the tables, not the beds…ya know, take a load off and maybe discuss this whole thing in a bit more detail.”

***
Taking the exact same seat she had been in before, the girl extended a hand offering the seat across the table from herself. With a wave she ordered another cider for herself offering the same for her new contractee.

“Basically, I would like to use your wonderful Sage abilities to detect rare and valuable ore way way way down deep in Sarum Caverns. Dangerwise, our primary concern will be twofold lighting and getting lost. The population of slimes are, well, disgusting, but not of any immediate danger. I don’t foresee any issues in my escort of your person.”

Franny waved her hand in a rolling motion implying that there was more but didn't elaborate.

“That’s basically the short of it. Your turn, any questions? Concerns? I’m fine with curiosities as well. I have quite a few of the variety for you, yourself but we can put those aside for now.”

Folding her hands in her lap, Franny corrected her posture by crossing one leg over the other. Her figure was one of perfect feminine attention, if only, in miniature.

NOTES- We've moved to a tavern table so we have a nice setting for conversation.


WORDS- 386


TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

He was a little startled when the goofy skeleton was replaced by the small, cloaked figure. She seemed to hold herself well though, and was definitely assertive enough to be an employer. Her level wasn't too much higher than his though, unlike his past compatriot, so he didn't necessarily feel as intimidated. If anything, he found her rather entertaining, her little quirks and mannerisms as she spoke reminding him of a tiny anime character. Anyone bigger it probably would have come off as laughable, but she managed to pull it off and came across actually rather cute from it.

~

He didn't say too much on their way over to the inn, it's not like he had much to talk about anyway, business matters would be discussed there as she said, and he wasn't big on talking about work in public anyhow. He followed he in and took a seat opposite of the tiny necromancer. It was a little strange, him being so huge and her being so small, they got a couple of stares on their way in. She didn't seem too bothered by them, but Noctis laughed them off and tried to ignore them. Guess it's not everyday people see a necromancer and a heretic walk into a pub. Heh, that sounds like the opening to a bad joke.

As Franny orders them the cider Noctis speaks up to the waitress, making a point that he'd prefer his without alcohol, and waits as she explains everything. She was definitely laid-back, even if her posture and appearance would state otherwise. He got his drink and took a few small sips before she asked him if he had any questions.

"Not too many really. Besides, I'd like to have something to talk about while we go spelunking." He was honest enough. He felt a little used and thought that she saw him as little more than a human dowsing rod, but he would live. He needed the experience, and at this point, that was about all that his class was good for anyway. He didn't really know too much to talk about right now anyhow.

Tags: Franny Stein

[355]

[Franny Stein]

“Just as well, just as well, I certainly don’t mind that business side of you. Well then shall we get started immediately?”


Downing the remaining cider quickly, Franny closed out her tab. Returning, she looked expectantly Noctis to follow and motioning with her head she began walking through Londonium.


“I feel like I’ve been very restless about this mission, what, with all this moving around. Maybe I’m just eager? Weird…”


“So Nightbird, I won’t assume you’re aware but we’ve got a bit of a day trip to get to our destination, for the sake of convenience, I’ll probably go negotiate a cart. I mean, you can’t ride skeletons you’re far too tall. If you want any special provisions or snacks, now’s your chance I’ll meet you round here in, say, an hour and a half? That good for you? Feel free to message if you get lose or lonesome.”


Turning over her shoulder Franny smiled, she was enjoying the setting of the pace. Her cautious nature, however, quickly checked any excitement with a lingering brooding negativity.
 Waving over her shoulder she headed toward the edge of town,


“A cheap cart should be pretty cheap…without a horse.”


Franny grinned, she wondered what the stall would say to her odd request.


***

Through negotiation, she did in fact get a spare cart on the cheap. The company had specialized mostly in the horse drawn variety so Franny’s utility donkey cart was something of a steal, especially, without the donkey. As the shopkeeper was about to ask how the little girl intended to move the thing, Franny snapped her fingers and summoning her becloacked labor man of a skeleton set him to work pulling the thing slowly. Crossing her arms in satisfaction Franny turned to the keeper with a grin.


“So what do I owe you~?”



Dragging the rental wagon just outside of town, Franny summoned a second servitor for optimal speed and satisfied at her experiment’s success messaged Corvo.


“Heya Nightbird, we’re good to go on my end. I’m just outside the town gate’s exit. Pretty hard to miss in a way. I’m waiting, whenever you’re ready. If you get lost just follow your map or whatever, it works that way for party mates. Pretty convenient, no?”

NOTES- Sorry I keep moving us around haha.





WORDS- 373





TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

Music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5IEt63qOSI

He finished his drink and followed her out, again drawing some stares as they made their way to the exit.

After they made their way out, she began listing off the plan. So it would appear that she would acquire transportation, and his main concern would just be to see if there was anything he could nab with his rather small amount of pocket money before they headed out. As she hurried off, waving over her shoulder, he found his own hand raising in a small wave. Why, he had no idea. He new full well she couldn't see it, but it just seemed to happen on its own. He slowly and rather awkwardly brought it back down before thinking to himself, An hour and a half. I suppose I could go look around. I do have some things I need to go pick up soon from the post anyhow.

~

After receiving the necromancer's message, he began to make his way towards the edge of town, His new Grimoire tucked under his arm, armored in something other than his beginner set, and equipped with his new vanity set; an immaculate black pinstripe suit with matching shoes, fedora, and a red tie/pocket-hankie combo. His black-and-dark-violet hair, having been super messy and unkempt, more of a styled bedhead now under the hat, and his violet-and-gold-speckled eyes piercing through his bangs. He looked much less like some raggedy street trash now, and much more like a 20's era mafioso.

He whistled as he saw the cart with its skeletal crew pulling it. It wasn't much, but it definitely would do the job. He had to admit, he wasn't sure that they would have even been able to acquire this much for transportation. He took off his hat with his open hand as he approached and took a step up into the back of the cart, taking a seat opposite that of the girl. He looked and gave a nod of being ready. He wasn't too sure what to talk about yet, but he figured that he would let his employer start off the conversation.

Words: [352]
Tags: Franny Stein

Notes: I made a few assumptions. because of liquid time (and some current things pending/halfway approved) I went ahead
and said that my vanity item shopping, and weapon shopping was done in the time that was here. I also assumed that by now
I would have leveled up (Cough* half-approved *cough) and got some slightly higher gear. I also assume that by the time we
actually make it, they all will have gone through and gotten approved. Ill link the posts as I have them.
LINKS: 
log-horizon.proboards.com/user/5184/recent
log-horizon.proboards.com/thread/6490/weapon-armor-purchase

[Franny Stein]

Franny’s charge, so she might claim if she were feeling paternalistic, had seemingly gotten a whole new set of feathers. The tiny necromancer was fairly impressed at the change.


“When you want to be taken seriously, dress the part, well done friend. Color me impressed.”


Franny grinned mischievously, a hand in front of her mouth in place of some noblewoman’s fan:


“Ba baa-booey, Blackbird~”


She giggled.


“Let’s get going, less a gumshoe’s got ya stuck, yeah? The bucket’s waitin~”


Franny motioned with a sweepingly royal arm toward the back of the cart. Surprisingly she got in the back too, almost as though it were a pathetically cheap medieval limo.


“I’d hate to get your pretty duds dirty but well, we aren’t royalty. It’ll at least protect you from the dusty road.”


To the sound of yawning wood the two minions of Franny got the entire tub in motion at her lazy direction. Deciding to end her silent pause after they had been on the motion for a few minutes, Franny spoke from the left side of the cart where she was sitting pretty:


“So what is it you do, Nightbird? Before this whole mess I mean, ya know, with the whole game situation. What do those other noisy adventurers call it? The Ragnarok…?”


Knees to her chest, she was rocking her tiny body against the rolling sway of the bumpy road, being oh so very careful not to fall or bounce out of the wagon. A funny little jumping bean dressed in flowing robes, ribbons, and skulls; the girl did her best to appear comfortable and composed while all the while, every so often, eyeing her forward becloacked skeletons with perhaps a hint of ire as they went together down the uneven road.

NOTES- Just a baby post to get us rolling and maybe chatting. Nice song by the way.


WORDS- 293



TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

Noctis gave a slight chuckle, "Its a vanity set I had someone working on for me. I just always liked the look."

He sat messing with his hat in the brief silence at the start, just slowly spinning it in his hand. The question about the old world came as a little bit of a surprise. He had assumed at this point that everyone was set in enjoying this new world, being new people. His response was a little shaky, but it came none-the-less.

"I, uh, wasn't much. I was a student. Like second or third year of college. Had a couple side jobs. Nothing much." He paused for another second, staring at his hat seemingly lost in thought. "I...I alwways enjoyed games though. I've been playing them longer than most people, Uh, percentage wise. I kinda got raised on 'em. Eventually I found MMOs, kinda around the same time i started to develop a small, faint seed of a love for writing. started playing them when I discovered I could make characters, define who they are and watch them grow...."

He seemed to trail off at this. He seemed passionate about the memories, but their seemed to be a slight pain in his eyes. He just stared into the blank space of the old wood. 

It took a couple of seconds, but he snapped himself out of it and looked over at his companion. Her small form bouncing around in her long robes, it held a bit of practical humor to it.

"Enough about me though, what about you?" He said it in a kind manner, obviously trying to get back to his rather chipper mood he had previous. He did it outwardly pretty well at least, he had always been good at that. And he would have been lying if he said he wasn't interested in his newfound partner. He figured there must be an interesting story behind her attitude and story.

NOTES: Just giving a small part of his story, no one opens up fully immediately.
Also thank you! expect more to come ;P


Tags: Franny Stein

[Franny Stein]

“ah hm…”

Franny nodded.

“Everyone gets so damaged when I ask that…. Was everyone on death row or something…? I mean we’re –all- bitter but so what, yeah?”

Franny shook her head only half voluntarily as the paddy wagon went over another bump.

“Mother f-“

Franny smiled a twitchy smile at her skeletons before readdressing her new friend.

“We’re peas in a pod then, well, in more metaphorical ways than one. I don’t know if I should say it, but maybe I will for laughs. You asked after all. I was a Professor of English well on my way to the top before….well….”

Franny offered a large shrug showing their surroundings; dusty road, gradually spacing out forest, hills, fields, all a grayish green,

“This….”

Franny placed her hand to her chin.

“Games though, huh, In that case you might be the teacher, not me. I’m honestly something of a total novice, I joined up to sight-see if you’ll believe it.”

Franny laughed somewhat bitterly with a wince.

“Oh well, right? Lots of time to see whatever the heck it is that I wanted to.”

"On that note..." Franny motioned her arms like Darth Vader waving around a mock lightsaber made of air and imagination across the cart at her sole living companion on this humble adventure.

“If anything occurs to you speak up, I would love to mine your experience.”

Franny lowered her voice.

“The Circle is now complete, now youhhhh are the mastarrhhhhh~”

Going over yet another rock, Franny nearly bit her tongue.

NOTES- www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRkKbdIFZGM  Darth Franny, someday.




WORDS- 230



TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

He chuckled a bit at the coming full circle, appreciating the irony that lay in it, however subtle. He had loosened up a bit, leaning back a bit against the wooden wall of the cart. 

He found his companion's rather quickly deteriorating demeanor towards their bumpy ride rather funny. He didn't think too much of it personally, probably latent genes or something like that. He figured that she would either get used to it quick, or end up sore by the time they arrived at their next town. He figured first off though, seeing as how formalities seemed to be getting out of the way, that he should at least properly reintroduce himself.

"I suppose I should get this out of the way, bringing up the 'other world' and all." He extended his arm across the wagon, his stitched, scarred, and rune-tattooed hand reaching out rather friendly to the necromancer, his face softer and smiling underneath the stitching. "Kane. Kane Nolson. Noctis is, well..." a disturbance? A head-mate lodged in the back somewhere of his mind? "...The character I made up for this game." He gave a light but rather strange chuckle as he finished, as there seemed to be a bit more than he was letting on.

"Interestingly enough, the uh, 'original' personality and mind seem to be still lodged in him due to my class choice. Hopefully, you won't have to meet him, as I don't have any reason to really go that high into corruption. But if it happens...I guess I'd rather you be aware of the.....consequences."

It seemed appropriate enough. He didn't consider it too big a concern honestly, especially at his current level. He had no reason to venture into the higher levels of corruption other than experimentation. But Kane figured it would be best to warn the small girl...woman...person. 

His final conclusion was that adjectives were going to start being a problem. He just figured in the end to respond with a similar joke to her own, raising his own mock-invisible sword. "Strike me down, and I will become more powerful than you can imagine."

Tags: Franny Stein
Notes: Sorry for the wait D: been busy!
Hope this makes up for it, a longer post than i usually do!

[Franny Stein]

Franny took the large hand and shook it heartily with two of her own before releasing it like a wild river fish. Franny nodded from time to time absorbing her companion’s subtle warnings.

“Another werido… well what was I expecting? That’s my lot, now and apparently forever.”

Franny carried an objection to that thought in light of her own self designation as necromancer but quickly dismissed it. “Well so long as it isn’t a problem, right?”

The corruption bit and the idea of any kind of game mechanic that she had not yet come across in the game manual simply flew above her head without a bit of her notice. She did laugh at the continued Star Wars reference. She liked a clever mind that could play along, that much, was enough to play her mood more toward the positive. She laughed.

“I guess this –is- a world isn’t it? You know, I’m hesitant to accept something like that so easily.”

Franny frowned.

“Feels like that is like letting this –world- as you call it win. Call it my willful ignorance, either way,”

Franny changed the subject.,

“That was then and this is now. What do you do now? What do you want to do? Any future goals?”

NOTES- It's fine, i'm far more reliable on the weekends for posting. I'll keep these posts shorter so conversation is easier and more smoothly transitioned between.
Let me know when you're ready to move on, not to imply i'm not enjoying this. I just don't know how much prodding from Franny your character is willing to take, haha.

WORDS- 208


TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

Kane just ended up leaning back against the cart as he let out a breath. "I suppose I don't know. I'd love to get back home, but the more time I spend in here, the more I get accostomed to it. I have to admit, Going back would be a struggle, and I don't really have any plans here either. I guess for the moment my only plan is to see how far down this road takes me."

He gave a light chuckle. His laid back nature came off to some as just laziness or procrastination, but in many a sense, it was much more a feeling of ease with himself and his position. Sometimes you get dealt a good hand, sometimes a bad hand, and sometimes just a wierd hand. No matter what though, he figured the best he could do would be to just go with it and see where they took him.

Tags: Franny Stein
Notes: I figure now would be a good time to transition. I would've but you know more about the destination at this point than I

[Franny Stein]

“Well at least," Franny laughed stopping to squint down the road. "It will take you to our current destination. Look. There it is. Welcome to Sarum Frontier.”

Franny pointed ahead where a strange arcane bubble blanketed a town. She frowned.

“Well, I don’t remember that, but I was under some strange circumstances when I first ended up over here, and well, it was dark. The cave is accessible though. No worries there.”

As the cart veered Franny nodded as if confirming a memory. She pointed, grabbing onto the frame of the wagon with her other arm. She leaned forward.

“There. These are our infamous caves, The Sarum Old Cavern system.”

Ahead of them lied a number of holes that seemed to be cut into the wall of a rock face. They dotted about like a honeycomb. Rudimentary quarry-like, the surrounding face was cut into to allow the passage of a decent-sized mining operation, though now, the entire production seemed to have long since stopped.

“The caves connect but it is very easy to get lost. I should also warn you about the echoes, they can be disturbing, mind your sound and stay near me. It’s very important to not get disoriented, or things… will get…weird.”

Franny frowned.

“Nothing to fear, but due caution is due, kay? We’re shooting for pretty low down there, I have a feeling there might be some rare goodies yet untapped by the general, not immortal, populace. Mind the slimes but I’ll have us covered in a column formation. Don’t worry you’re a bit, I just need you to focus those neat little elemental senses of yours on some strange and interesting combinations down there amongst all the normal, boring, iron noise. Who knows, maybe we’ll discover something new, yes?”

Franny wasn't sure how low she had gotten in her first nightmare scenario, but she was rather curious to find out. As far as she knew, these cave systems were massive. A mining operation that linked to something that had been apparently natural and quite a bit older. Franny grew quiet listening for anything Nocits might say. At the same time, she began to develop in her mind the best practice for handling this operation.

NOTES-  I'm shooting for us to find some kind of special creepy cool ore down there along the lines of world of warcraft's saronite or any other kind of spooky metal as we go deeper. I'll let you come up with exactly what this strange metal will be like. When we're done, I'll be crafting you an accessory among other things so feel free to flavor whatever it is you would like to end up with. My reference for the caves - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barabar_Caves

WORDS- 369




TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

Kane nodded, listening to her as they approached. He was definitely glad that she at least had a plan, but he had to admit, he wasn't sure how it would turn out. Slimes were usually harmless enough in games, usually dealing only minor damage or, at their worse, taking more out on the durability of an item more than actual damage to a player. None-the-less it would be best that they take it with a bit of caution. He wasn't too sure himself the layout of the caves, and even if he were to try and sense light mana, it would more than likely just point him straight up rather than point him in a direction out. 

As they neared the caves the cart came to a slow halt. Kane jumped out of the back and put back on his hat before turning around and offering a hand to help the necromancer out. Manners first after all. 

He made his way up to the mouth of the cave, rather laid back and hands in his pockets. It was definitely something. Old mining equipment lay strewn about, some things forgotten, others left on purpose. He found some minecarts and tracks and called back to the necromancer in a half joking matter; "Watch out Short-Round, Might find some Thugee Cultists down here." He made his way back over to the necromancer who, he believed was summoning her minions to help escort them. He snuck up on her and in a joking, light carefull method placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her a little bit. 

"KALI-MA. KALI-MAAAAAAAAAA!"

Tags: Franny Stein
Notes: Couldn't resist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiE5mE0ZorA

[Franny Stein]

“Why does everyone try and sneak up on me…?”

Franny laughed.

“With my luck, that could probably certainly happen. Even so if I survive that will I have gone the full monty into a lich?”

Franny titled her head pondering.

“That’s double immortality, more than most can claim. Now I’m almost welcoming it.”

Franny gave an exaggerated shrug with both hands to the heavens allowing herself to stretch her back.

“So tell me dapper doppler man, are you sensing any disturbances in the force that I should be worried about or should we begin the hell dive?”

Franny looked between her companion and the many mouths of the caves.

“I wonder what’s behind lucky door number three?”

Walking slowly toward the opening of the middle top most cave, Franny settled on her formation:

1 spear skeleton on point, one shorter ranged sword skeleton to cover the rear. She could add and subtract as they went.

Peeking in, the tiny necromancer saw only darkness.

“HelloOOOOoOoooOooooOOOo~”

Franny demonstrated the cave’s echo for Noctis to see.

“We’ll obviously have to speak in a whisper as we go, just not to get disoriented. Anyhow, I don’t know how the heck I managed this in pitch darkness the last time, but right now, I’m really happy to have access to some spells to help us see.”

Franny walked away from the mouth of the cave and turned back to Noctis.

“Well, are our affairs in order? Should anything happen, there’s no next of kin to inform on my side of things.”

Franny laughed.

“Though really, I don’t foresee any issues we can’t handle.”

NOTES- kind of a weak post on my end but I wanted to be sure you were ready to enter before I throw us in.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkysjcs5vFU


WORDS- 267


TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

Kane nodded as the tiny Necromancer regarded him.

"I think I'm all good to go, and I don't think there's anything around that we should be worried about. That being said, Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"

As he said the last little bit, he clapped his hands together, and activated his Mana Sense. At first he recoiled a bit. The earth mana itself began to throw in a lot of interference. He began to try and concentrate on reducing the overpowering mana sources. First, just the rocks. they wouldn't need them and they were supplying the majority of the interference. Then came the iron and basic ore metals. It took a bit longer but soon enough, they were just light white fuzz on the back of his mind. All that was left was a few nodes of strange ore, deep within the system.

"Alright, I'm getting something. We got a few nodes deep within that I don't recognize as basic metals or mana sources. Should be interesting. Lets get going."

He assumed his position in the formation and proceeded to guide the group down into the bowels of Gaia.

Tags: Franny Stein
Notes: All aboard the HYPE TRAIN!

[Franny Stein]

And what was there to say?

They walked. And they walked. And they walked. Time felt for them far more fluid here than even the slug like slime and mildew left upon the walls by their continuously felled quarry. The two beings traveled by the light of Franny’s Will-o-Wisps, her mage’s light. They tested the limitations of the two minutes before taking brief ten second breaks in pure darkness to mind the cooldown. The effect was maddening, like a rave’s stroblelight in painful slow motion. Franny never wavered. Stop go. Stop go.

“Just one foot in front of the other” She whispered, more for herself than her companion.

“Easy does it.”

And one more alight she waved her hand over her shoulder signaling that it was time again to move. Two minutes was a preciously small amount of time to orient oneself in this system of tunnels. At precise points that Franny measured within her own mind, she utilized Mystic Script to mark their progress. They would have to make it back out after all, the cart awaiting at what was the entrance and is now sure to be their future exit would not be able to hitch a ride on the ‘call home’ after them. They progressed like so and in a fluttering spurt, the light was once again out. Franny soon after heard the awful sound of her lead skeleton miss for the first time the under leveled target of the enemy slime. The point of the weapon rang like hell on the wall’s skin echoing awful ringing noise like laughter. It radiated like an overloud alarm down the tunnel in both directions, a sonar of confusion for the senses. Franny gritted her teeth as the sound sprinted away from them far far and deep down toward where they hoped to make progress.

Furrowing her brows against sounding pain as the sound faded to a peeling ring and then nothing she shuddered shaking the last of the noise out of where it had lodged in her spine. The echo finally died, a haughty laugh cut short. So it was that Franny saw it in her poetic mind, the world was a single angry organism to be conquered. They were walking upon the back of an evil god who held them prisoner. Franny needed something, anything, to give her an upper hand. She would evolve beyond the biome and burst it. She needed to. To be secure.

So what else can be said? They walked.

For hours.
Deeper.
Further down than she had ever fallen before.

The world would part for them. So the two pressed their case. Where else, could one find some lost advantage? Where else but in the sleeping body of an old haunting dead god.

“and so it goes…” Franny muttered to no one in particular.

NOTES- Forgive me waxing poetic but I had my fun after a long week. Feel free to turn on the sage and dictate vaguely what is coming next. We've gone deep into the abyss. I think we'll soon be at a kind of bottom before long.

WORDS- 471


TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

Music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGQn_mD30W0

Kane found it hard to describe accurately the absolute blackness of the caves.

For a while, it held the markings of a worked mine. The rails still ran along the ground, the wooden braces with their old, rusted lamps, the signs of digging and geometrical architecture. As the party descended however, was when things slowly began to almost unravel. The Caves became an ever twisting maze, the lights casting only ever just enough light to see, just enough to keep the darkness at bay. The occasional slime didn't help, as they began to become more devoid of pigment and less understandable as they ventured deeper into the belly of Gaia.

The skeletal entourage didn't help the situation a whole lot either. Sure it was nice to have company, but it just heightened the feeling of a funeral procession marching along the banks of Styx, winding ever deeper into the realm of something old, something long forgotten, something buried for good reason. It was difficult really, the sense of unease you get from the musty, dead air from deep within the bowels of the earth, it having followed the same twists and turns that you have, crawling through all the tiny cracks and bottomless caverns that were entombed within the stone.

But he needed to focus on his job. 

He was here to sense for the ore, and the ore lay deeper within the eldritch pit around them. He had to work in spurts, his sense ability only lasting about two minutes at a time. And those two minutes required almost complete concentration. It would be easier if he had a sample to channel with, at least then he might be able to hold a conversation with his acquaintance, but trying to sense something he didn't fully know what he was looking for? It was like trying to tune a radio to a very specific frequency so you could hear the music, but the knob was extremely loose, so once you let go it would begin swinging to whichever direction it was closest to. That and you're trying to do it with a pair of tweezers on a radio you have to see through a microscope.

There's a point where when you're in your mind that you enjoy it. A faint, introspective, meditative state, where you can feel at one with yourself, understand where you are and who you are and be comfortable with it. It is there after all, where it became easiest to be at one with everything around you, for if you can't be accepting of your own energy, how would you accept the energy of everything around you. The marching of the skeletons, the sounds of their bones faintly but rhythmically tapping their armor, the dripping of the slimes, the gonging of the spears against the rock as they stabbed the slimes, the echoes that carried off into the abyss of the caverns. After a while it was all very much relaxing. 

It was purpose without question. 

It was work without thought.

It was his Anteroom.

It was his Great Hall.

Kane felt almost sleepy as he drifted off into the darkness of his own mind.
~
Noctis had to give the boy some credit. He managed to open up enough to the energy to let him take over without being in high enough corruption levels. He chuckled softly in his head. Perhaps one day, they may even find a way to commune without the interference of the miasma. The kid had some skill.

As they got nearer to the lode, Noctis spoke up, his dark but regal voice different from the light and kind voice of Kane.

"We're getting close now. The mana is getting rather strong. As we near it I should be able to pinpoint it, but for now, we play it a bit slower."

He turned around to face her, His eyes now seeming to flicker with an almost miasma like energy flowing across the irises, obscuring their original coloring of purple and gold. A wide, charming, but somehow slightly daemonic smile was stretching across his face under his raggedy hair.

"Don't loose me now, my little Santa Muerte."

Words: [696]
Tags: Franny Stein
Notes: What is this? A change of text color?!? 

[Franny Stein]

“Don’t get lost yourself boyo~”


Franny chuckled. She did not like the look in his eyes. Everyone around her had a tendency for losing their minds.

“Annoying….if he goes up the whole project is lost….”


Franny grimaced.


“We’re getting closer to –something- now. Even I can feel it. Look at the walls. Aren’t they almost…organic?”


Organic was a good way to describe it. The walls indeed had a semblance of life to them and not only because there was a tendency for them to be crawling with slimes; in thicker numbers now as they got deeper. If Franny were forced to articulate she would point towards the semblance of a cocoon or spider webs of dark tissues that had begun to line the walls; almost like a thin film. Overall, the tunnel itself had ceased to curve and turn with the randomness of a nature originally programmed. Franny came to realize that they had essentially been walking down a long, long hall for the past ten minutes in between the stops needed to await the short cooldown of the mage light.


“The origin of the slimes…?”


The slimes had certainly changed colors, probably slowly, the tiny necromancer realized; it was something which was hard to originally identify in the low-light setting.


“From green….to black….”


She sighed.


“Eerie, no?”


Mouthing the words quietly she continued down the hall keeping the procession in order. They were nearly there. Wherever there would become when they finished traversing the unreasonably long hall. It seemed to extend for at least a quarter mile. Franny really couldn’t be sure. The light died out before the distance could be determined. The tiny necromancer transcribed mystic script as they went.

NOTES- I'll have us arrive at the end of this hall and describe whatever it is i come up with for what we see next when it comes back to me. Nice job giving me influences to lean toward. Going with what i've been given it'll likely be something based on miasma mixed in with some other things I've had in mind.


WORDS- 277




TAGS- Noctis Corvo

[Noctis Corvo]

A smile came to Noctis' face. "Indeed it is, my little Santa Muerte."

He ran his hands across them, and could almost feel the latent energy that had warped them. It was...intriguing...to say the least. The walls had indeed become a sort of twisted organic structure, but they still gave off the aura of earth. Which means whatever this ore node was he had been sensing, was far from ordinary. He couldn't pinpoint the words in his mind to describe it. To call it twisted would be an understatement. It was a perversion of nature.

It reeked of the taint of wanton destruction, of needless chaos and a twisted vision that only madness could have spawned it. It was by no means meant to exist, but to be locked up, sealed, the key thrown away and the entirety of it forgotten.

He supposed though, that the problem with sealing it up and forgetting about it, is the fact that it then almost begs the universe to cause some fool to unknowingly re-release it upon an unsuspecting world. The walls not only began to seem organic as they ventured forth, but he would even dare to say that they seemed almost insubstantial, seeming to change form and morph before their eyes. The whole place gave off a strange feeling of vertigo, and seemed to become almost non-euclidean in its design. The blackness seemed to stretch on, almost seemed to be living.

Only time would tell what lay before them.

[248]

Tags: Franny Stein