< To The City Below The Ice | Ex Pulplogs | Splitting The Party >
ST Considering the vast size of the city and the probability of ambush it was decided a compromise was needed. Obviously splitting up individually would be foolish. But staying as a single group would waste valuable time finding Sun. So, the Circle split up two ways. Myrrh, Carmine and Oteki were in one group while Xar and Corve formed the other. This way both groups would be well-protected and able to escape should danger come at them unexpe
ST unexpectedly.
ST Or at least, that was the plan. But at the last minute, Oteki decided to go off with Xar instead of Corve.
ST The streets that Corve, Carmine and Myrrh walk are treacherous avenues of ice and permafrost layered for centuries over close-fit dark stones the size of a man's chest. Curiously instead of having buildings on each side of the streets, there are walls. In fact, no buildings are even visible except for the great temple at the center of the city. Instead the city is like a vast, frozen maze.
ST Into the walls are set doors and occasionally windows and sometimes there are variations in height, but nothing separates one building from the next. They are all shelled within the black walls, defying anyone to tell where a house starts and the butcher's shop ends. Many of the doors the half-Circle passes are frozen shut with ice
Carmine frowns around her at the cityscape. The place bothered her.
Corve isn't exactly very comfortable either. Essence reserves limited, dead all around, his daughter in undead peril. Yeah, this isn't exactly a place that gets on his nice side easily. He wraps his hand around Carmine's as they walk.
Myrrh is seemingly enjoying it more than Corve or Carmine, examining the architecture and designs. "My! Pre-golden age...before the rebellion of the gods even!"
ST Carmine is the only one who doesn't feel her Essence cut off. It comes more slowly, like snowmelt ripping from the glacier around them. And it's cold, nasty Essence. But she is not well trained enough in matters of the occult to know that her friends sense no such thing and their reserves are completely cut off.
Myrrh "I wonder if it has a library..."
Carmine shivers alittle as she feels the essence pouring into her, almost wishing she could shut it off. "Perhaps after we have Sun."
Corve nods, looking at Myrrh. "If it's all right with you, I'd rather just get out of here as soon as we have her... I don't weant to be vulnerable more time than necessary."
ST At the next crossroads they come to, the Circle is mildly surprised to find themselves facing a clutch of furry eggs about two feet long.
Carmine frowns at them "I wonder if those are the ice wyrm eggs our guide mentioned..."
Myrrh "Well I get the feeling we shouldn't go poking them" Says a much wiser these days Myrrh.
Corve nods. "Good call. Let's keep going."
Carmine nods
Myrrh "Ahhh they are Ice Wyrm eggs."
Myrrh "Odd that they would be out in the middle of the road unprotect-" Doesn't finish his scentence, immediately starts looking around for any hidden giant wyrms.
Carmine "The city looks pretty deserted ... I don't think anyone ever comes here... Lets just find Sun and then go."
Corve seconds that with a sharp nod, looking at Myrrh. "Come on, Myrrh, let's go..."
ST Myrrh does, in fact, see an Ice Wurm. The thing's vast head is resting on top of a nearby wall, its eyes closed and its "face" totally motionless. It seems in deep hibernation.
Myrrh freezes for a moment, hold up a hand for IMMEDIATE halting of movement!
Carmine stops, and looks around for what has bothered Myrrh
Corve stops, tilting his head at Myrrh and then following his gaze. "...oh."
ST The wurm is unmoving. It's head is larger then most four-horse wagons. The rest of it is invisible, hidden by the walls.
Corve tugs on Carmine's hand. "How about we get going," he whispers, "instead of waiting for it to wake up?"
Myrrh directs them silently to move AWAY from the giant mile long furry monster.
Carmine seems to be sizing the thing up. She seems fairly certain she could take it. But she does move off with Corve. It would delay them rescueing Sun.
ST The three Solars continue walking, very quietly, and keeping their eyes peeled for any more giant ice wurms that might be lurking about. As much as giant ice wurms can lurk. The maze-inspired design of the city keeps their progress to a crawl, forcing them to backtrack and double around several times when they find unexpected dead ends. How did anyone ever LIVE in this place?
Helix waves from his perch on the labyrinth wall, a dopey grin on his face and a surly-looking peg-legged ghost scowling at his side, with Caliburn pointed rather obviously at his head. "Hoy thar, lads an' ladiy! I brought ye a present!"
Captain Oteki waves from his perch on the labyrinth wall, a dopey grin on his face and a surly-looking peg-legged ghost scowling at his side, with Caliburn pointed rather obviously at his head. "Hoy thar, lads an' ladiy! I brought ye a present!"
Myrrh "...I thought he was with Xar."
Greenbeard glowers at Oteki from under the brim of his tattered Old Realm Navy cap. The rest of his uniform is in shreds, some bits have been replaced with more modern and more intact fabric but the uniform remains recognizable even though the insignia have been stripped off. The stocky Water aspect's ghostly nature is revealed in the three neat bullet holes shot through his belly and the bleeding wound in his back.
Captain Oteki continues smiling. "Yer draconican companion be standin' guard over th' Lost Soul, that ship that be takin' yer young daughter from ye. I took th'opportunity to commandeer it for meself, should I ever decide t'visit th'Underworld. This unpleasant fellow, however, says that he be knowin' where the girl be kept!"
Corve raises a brow, and then unholsters his own gun. "Does he, now?"
Greenbeard looks down at the Solars and grunts. "I do."
Myrrh "I don't think shooting a ghost is going to fix things...he looks a bit shot up already."
Carmine "Well, perhaps he can tell us"
Captain Oteki takes a look around from atop the labyrinth wall. "Also, it may not have occurred to ye lot, but this place be far easier to navigate from up here."
Corve nods. "Yes, perhaps he'd be nice enough to inform us." Corve doesn't look like he cares much whether shooting the guy'll kill him. But he knows it'll hurt, and that's enough.
Greenbeard "She'll be in the first dungeon, with her escort." The grizzled Dragon-Blooded looks at Corve, clearly unimpressed.
Myrrh "Who's her escort?"
Myrrh "The mummy? That sorceress?"
Captain Oteki pulls back the hammer on Caliburn with a loud click. "I'm sure ye be capable o'more detail than that, an' certainly more respect."
Greenbeard "Several nasty ghosts and the Deathknight."
Myrrh "Hm. Where's the woman? I know she was with him..."
Greenbeard "Only woman I've seen here is your own scantily-clad lady and the little miss herself."
Captain Oteki grins. "See? That weren't difficult. Ye take orders well enough." he praises. "So, how do ye feel about a change o'employer? Me new ship be in need o'crew."
Greenbeard gives Oteki a rather nasty look. "She's been our ship since before your daddy's granddaddy was a wink in his own grandaddy's eye."
Corve sighs. "Yeah, but you're the one with the gun to your head." He looks up and bites his lower lip. "Let's get going."
Greenbeard points the way to the dungeon.
Captain Oteki uncocks the revolver's hammer with a grin. "Loyalty to yer ship be a noble sentiment. If ye'll consider workin' for me instead o'the child-stealin' bastard we be on our way to have words with, I'd be happy to return ye to yer ship as well as return yer ship to ye."
Corve eyes the ghost pirate, and then smiles. "Thank you." And he almost seems sincere, as if the pirate weren't informing them 'cuz of the gun to his head.
Carmine walks after him with Corve, towards the dungeon
Myrrh follows his friend, rifle unslung. It was time to let them know they were here!
Greenbeard follows the three and is himself followed by Oteki. He seems remarkably undisturbed by the guns pointed at him. He simply marches along, giving directions as needed.
Captain Oteki whistles as he walks.
Myrrh "Oteki you might want to quiet down some, there are frost wyrms around."
Greenbeard hops off the wall at one point and indicates a door in the wall. It looks like essentially every other door they've passed in the city. True, it's only a few hundred yards from the Temple..but it still looks like every other door in the city. Though it has no windows at all. "There's your dungeon."
Myrrh "Doesn't look very Doomy."
Corve eyes the Captain, and smiles, scratching his beard a little. He walks over to oteki, and leans over, whispering a question. "...are you sure he's tellin' the truth?"
Captain Oteki shrugs. "Not entirely. Ye're welcome to ask 'im yerself. But I be inclined to trust 'im, meself."
Corve raises a brow. "Why?"
Greenbeard "I have an honest face." The pirate smiles at Corve, showing a mouthful of white teeth with only a few chipped or missing.
Captain Oteki raises one in return. "'e fought well for 'is ship an 'is crew. 'e agreed t'aid us, however unpleasantly, in order t' spare them further pain. I be inclined to trust that sort."
Corve pauses for a minute, and then finally nods. "Fine. Let's go." And his rifle flips out from its holster, locked and loaded.
Greenbeard quite clearly intends to remain outside of the dungeon.
Captain Oteki points the gun at Greenbeard one last time. "Can ye be trusted to return to yer ship, direct our draconic friend here to aid us, an' then take yer ship an' crew somewhere safe where they won't be caught in th'potential fallout o'what we be about t'do?"
Greenbeard takes a minute to consider. "Suppose so."
Captain Oteki holsters the revoler with a superfluous and yet kind of cool twirling motion. "Then go. An' tell yer crew that should they return once the fightin' be done, I can promise ye'll be paid handsomely fer flyin' under me colors an' representin' me this side o'the pale. Savvy?"
Greenbeard grunts and starts limping his one-legged way back to the frozen harbor.
ST Now all that remains is the door.
Corve "Everyone ready?"
Myrrh "As ever."
Myrrh "Although I really wish they had directions to a library..."
Carmine nods
Corve steps up between Carmine and Myrrh, with Oteki behind them. "Yeah, well, maybe we can shoot it out of them." He grins at Myrrh. "Do the honors?" he asks, glancing at Myrrh's gigantic gun.
Myrrh "Don't mind if I do!" Backs away from the door before taking careful aim and blowing it into a ball of flaming wreckage.
ST The door explodes very nicely and everyone is showered by hot water as the years of accumulated ice on and around the door are flash-melted by the explosion. Once the steam and smoke clear, the inside of the dungeon is surprisingly well-lit. They can see an empty, long-disused foyer and a hallway that ends in a downward spiraling staircase
Corve blinks, and then wipes his face a little. "All right. My bad. Let's go." And he starts walking.
Myrrh follows, thinking that they should have heard us coming in by now...
ST First down the staircase means that Corve is the first to see what lays on the underground floor. The real dungeon. Here blocks of cells are arranged in neat succession off the four main hallways. Every 20 feet there is a barred door into the cells. The bars are made of some unfamiliar black metal covered in faintly glowing green runes. Behind most of them are remains.
ST A skeleton scattered in pieces across the floor. One twisted beyond recognition in a huddle under the slab of stone that serves as a "bed". A pair of skeletons grappling in an eternal fight beyond death. A skeleton blown in half by some unknown means. A skeleton comprised only of a spine and a skull. Sometimes there are just rags and bits of bone.
Captain Oteki "Well, ain't this charming."
ST Then, Corve's sharp ears make out the sound of hungry snarling and growling and the soft, horrible cries of someone reduced to a level of terror far beyond screams.
Corve "Yes, very nice. Let's go.f"
Carmine scowls. Apparently she doesn't agree.
Corve perks his head, and then sprints towards the sound.
Captain Oteki follows immediately behind.
Carmine sprints along beside corve, focusing on her combat magic as she runs
ST Corve's headlong rush towards the sounds is at least cautious enough that he avoids the obvious traps. A pitfall full of spikes. A zombie in the cell that tries to grab him. He comes to the cell from which the noises emerge and looks inside.
ST Just as Meliya's bubble of water showed, Sun is inside, huddled and terrified behind a circle of salt that keeps back upwards of a dozen vicious looking ghosts. Angry, horrible looking men twisted by their deaths and the ages of torment since then circle her wards, looking for the slightest gap. Some of them are snarling, others retain enough intelligence to taunt Sun with threats of what they'll do if they get to her.
Corve clears his throat. "Now, see, kidnapping her is one thing," he says with unearthly calm. "But using that kind of language around my little girl? Bad idea." Then he shoots one of them. In the head.
ST The bullet takes the ghost unaware, blasting its head and shoulders into pulp. It's body collapses, then disappears. The ghost won't be giving anyone any problems for a good long while.
ST The other ghosts take note and turn to face the four Exalted at their door. They stare, shocked. They are, after all, trapped inside the cell just like Sun is. And the door is still closed.
Captain Oteki waves. "Ahoy thar!"
Corve "Now, I can pick you all off one by one here, or you can open the door and run like the dead little shits you are before I decide I'd rather capture you and let my friend here," he nods to Myrrh, "forge your souuls into music boxes, or something equally distasteful."
Captain Oteki quirks an eyebrow. "Ye do be realisin' that it be unlikely that they can exit, due to the fact that jail cells aren't usually prone to be openin' from th'inside, right?"
Myrrh "I was looking for a good ashtray..."
Corve "Yeah, well... ah, screw it. Let's just shoot'em. Myrrh?" He hangs his rifle, and then pulls out his six-shooters.
ST There is a small, contained and rather ugly stampede inside the cell as the ghosts try to avoid getting shot. It is, at the same time, funny and rather tragic.
Captain Oteki looks around. "Ye lot take care o'the tormentor ghosts. I'll busy meself lookin' fer some method o'openin' th'cell." he says, and begins exploring. Maybe there'll be a convenient keyring hanging on a hook or something.
Carmine settles for a much easier and quicker way of opening the cell. Sunlight flashes in her hands, and then she simply cuts the door from it's hinges and yanks it back into the corridoor in one fluid motion.
Corve smiles a little and cocks the hammers of his guns. "Sunshine? Honey? Cover your ears." And then he proceeds to massacre the ghosts, bullets flying through the cell bars, splattering the ghostly essences all over the cell before they fade into nothingness.
Myrrh "That'll sting them for awhile."
Captain Oteki returns. "Well, there weren't no key. Luckily we came equipped with a lovely lady an' a giant sword, which be just as good, really." he notes. "Also, for reference, this ain't the only occupied cell in here."
Sun is still huddled on the floor, sobbing. She looks around at the dead ghosts and sobs some more. She doesn't seem to realize she's been rescued quite yet.
Myrrh "Sun, honey, it's Uncle Myrrh everything is ok! We can to rescue you!"
Captain Oteki shrugs, and wanders back to visit with the old woman he found in another cell. "Hoy there, ma'am."
Corve steps inside the cell once the ghosts are all taken care of and walks to his daughter, crouching next to her, hands sliding around her. "Honey? It's me, honey."
Sun looks up slowly and sees her father and uncle. She clings tightly to Corve, burying her head in his shoulder. She starts sobbing even MORE uncontrollably, unable to speak.
Carmine runs over to Corve and Sun, hugging the girl, reaching round towards Corve.
Sun "They....were...so....mean!"
Sun crying!
Corve closes his eyes and wraps his arms around his little girl, squeezing her tight. "It's okay, baby, it's okay. I'm here, now." He wraps his arms tight around her and then stands up, lifting her with one arm easily, and smiling at Carmine. "See? Carmine's here, too."
Sun "You...you have to save Granny too!"
Corve "Granny..?"
Sun Several loud gunshots come from the other hallway.
Corve blinks, rifle in one hand, daughter in the other. "...OTEKI?" He starts out of the cell. "Hang on, honey," he tells Sun.
Captain Oteki appears moments later. "I be under the impression that this be who yer daughter be lookin' for." he explains, pointing to the old lady he just freed from her cell.
Sun brightens, somewhat, as the old, creeky lady comes into view. "Granny! You're alright!"
Sun "Daddy saved us, Granny, just like I said he would!"
ST The creeky old woman smiles at the little girl, showing several missing teeth. Her red-white hair is all nasty but despite that, Sun runs over and hugs the old woman who hugs her kindly back.
ST The old, creeky woman looks up at her rescuers and smiles again. "I suppose I should thank you all."
Corve eyes the old lady, looking at her. "...Hello," he greets her, suspicious. "Quite all right," he says, reaching for Sun's hand and pulling her back over to him. He doesn't trust the old lady yet, oh no.
Captain Oteki cracks open his revolver, empty cartridges falling to the ground, and begins replacing the empty chambers. "The next step be gettin' Sun somewhere safe. If ye want to continue explorin', or seekin' out yer mummy-nemesis-guy, I have enough supplies t'get meself an' these two back through th'tunnel. I'll feel much better bein' out o'here and back on me ship."
ST Sun looks up at her father, confused. "Daddy, it's alright. Granny is the one who took care of me."
Corve blinks and then recognizes the old woman. He pulls Sun's hand a little firmer, putting her behind him. "...Poppy," he says after a moment, gun rising to aim it at her.
ST "Daddy! Don't hurt Granny!"
ST The old woman, now revealed as the Scarlet Poppy of Devestation, smiles. "I'm sure your Daddy is just doing what he thinks is right, sweetie."
Captain Oteki scowls. "Did ye lie to me, ma'am?" he asks, though he doesn't raise his gun quite yet. "'cause I did mention bein' cross with ye if somethin' such as this came up."
ST "All I said was that I was an old woman. Does it look like a lie to you, young man?"
ST Sun pulls on Corve's arm, looking confused and scarred. "Daddy! What's wrong? It's just Granny! I told you, she's nice!"
Corve narrows his eyes at Poppy. "... what's your game, Poppy? Because if you don't speak up and justify yourself I'm going to..." He pauses, remembering his daughter's here. "...do something bad." He squeezes Sun's hand softly. Sun, honey? I'll explain in a minute."
Captain Oteki continues scowling. "Ye also said that ye weren't a trap. An' me exact words were "If savin' ye turns out t'be a foolish idea, I'll be very cross with ye." So please, explain t'me that I shouldn't be angry, an' that ye are really just here t'help."
ST "Why, I was just taking care of the girl. Someone had to, didn't they?"
Myrrh "Your boss has a pretty funny way of taking care of someone, what with the hungry ghosts..."
ST "That wasn't my idea at all."
Corve turns to Carmine, putting Sun's hand in hers. "Can you watch her for a minute, love?"
Carmine takes careful grip of Sun's hand "Of course."
Captain Oteki holsters Caliburn. "Well, ye ain't done nothin' t'me that I can remember, an I be in th'habit o'trustin' th'intuitions o'the young, so I ain't gonna kill ye. I ain't however gonna stand here any more, as we have just demolished two jail cells in someone's dungeon, an' the noise o'doin' so be sure to attract negative attention."
Corve steps over towards Scarlet Poppy, his voice dropping below what Sun can hear, and asks her, very succintly: "...are you going to make trouble for us?" 'Course, her answer might considerably affected by the gun that he's pointing into her gut.
ST "You're being very impolite to an old lady. One who's been keeping your little girl fed and watered all this time. Else you might have been rescuing a ghost."
Corve "I'm also being impolite to an old lady that works for a the man that kidnapped her, put her here in the first place, and is trying to destroy Creation." Pause, then a smile. "It's a balance thing."
ST "I don't work for anyone but myself...though I may or may not be trying to destroy what you so generously call "Creation"."
Corve "Point being, I'm probably much better off shooting you now, rightd?
ST "Possibly. But what would your poor daughter think? She and I are quite good friends you know. Being imprisoned here together."
Corve "And why were you imprisoned, Poppy?"
ST gives Corve a bright smile. "I was a naughty old lady."
Myrrh "Yeah I bet..."
Corve is getting pretty tired of the getting the runaround. "Carmine? Why don't you go on ahead with Sun, I'll see if I can wrap this issue up quick, all right?"
Scarlet Poppy "If you want to know what'
Scarlet Poppy s happening to your lady friend, you'd best visit the Temple."
Scarlet Poppy "Just leave me here, sonny. I'll be fine. But you better hurry. It's almost midnight."
Carmine nods, and starts to lead sun out.
Corve growls, looking over at Myrrh and Oteki. "...Fine. But Poppy?" Corve says, rifle raised to point at her head as he starts walking away. "I really, really don't want to have to regret this." He raises a brow. "... and trust me. Neither do you."
Scarlet Poppy waves farewell to the Solars as they leave her dungeon.
Scarlet Poppy "Oh, do be a dear and give this to the girl, will you? A present from Granny, no strings attached." The old woman holds out a small carved bone in the shape of a flying whale.
Corve takes it, and then hands it to Myrrh. "Pocket that, would you? Now let's go."
Myrrh examines it for a moment before putting it away.
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