Author Topic: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels  (Read 42246 times)

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #80 on: April 28, 2014, 08:45:27 PM »
"All I can see from back here are your smelly asses." Nevus snorts.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #81 on: April 28, 2014, 09:02:34 PM »
The ghost glared coldly back at the posturing corpses, hefting her ethereal fan and tapping it gently against the floating skull for emphasis. Not hard enough to hit, but enough to noticeably make it start bobbing: this thing could hit you.

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Offline Risada

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #82 on: April 29, 2014, 09:43:28 PM »
Even though the incorporeal members of the group could go and see what's going on... The skeleton abandons such thoughts and camly states "I will take a look. You lot stay here."

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Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #83 on: April 29, 2014, 09:54:55 PM »
As the mostly one-eyed skeleton slips forward through the darkness of the tunnel, more details begin to resolve themselves.

The reason it appears to be a large cavern is because it is one, with one slight alteration - there's no floor. Instead, there is a giant crack in the earth, one that runs off into the distance to both the left and right. On the other hand, there appears to be a continuation of the tunnel that they are currently in on the far side.

And whatever those floating dots are, they're certainly alive and quite chatty. They're happily bouncing and spinning around one another, with a constant stream of noise coming from various ones in turn. The movement is so fast it's hard to tell which one is talking at a given time.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2014, 05:39:02 PM by Stratovarius »

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #84 on: April 30, 2014, 08:34:35 PM »
The ghost, concluding that she had a better chance of understanding if she got within earshot, sunk into the ground and... rotated, lying effectively just underneath it except for the one ear. And then she moved forward, as close as she could get without either revealing herself for being dragged back to her body.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #85 on: April 30, 2014, 09:39:08 PM »
As the ghost closes in on the three balls of light, what they're saying becomes clear.

"Did you see that giant ugly critter? Completely unsuitable to use as a host. We need to find something much nicer. I don't want my children having any of that smelly stuff on them."

"Well, if you didn't want to have a big smelly brute as a host, why did we come down here? The only thing down here is big smelly brutes!"

"Because it's much easier to find big creatures down here, and we need that for sex. You know that."

"I know that, but I don't want it to be a stinky hulk."

They continue on in the same inane fashion as long as she listens.

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #86 on: April 30, 2014, 09:44:44 PM »
Having heard enough, the ghost retreats back the way she came, and rises once more out of the ground. Then, for the first time for everyone except her loyal skull, Glenlairwen actually opened her mouth and spoke: "The orbs seek hosts: fatty beasts to use to form new broods."

It was at least clear why she hadn't said anything thus far; it was a voice that would sound right at home, say, persuading hundreds of men to head off to their doom 'because the beautiful princess had asked'. Persuasive, yes, but in a fairy-tale manner that was just as likely to cause trouble as solve it.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #87 on: May 01, 2014, 08:18:09 AM »
"Well, I guess Tarkus doesn't have anything to worry about, but Bruto might want to steer clear of them." Nevus chuckles lowly.

"So what's the plan? Doesn't look like we can go around. Are those things flying?" Nevus squints.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #88 on: May 01, 2014, 09:33:57 AM »
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Offline Gazzien

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #89 on: May 01, 2014, 10:56:07 AM »
"Yes, Nevus. They're flying." He frowned, and looked at the newly-converted Choker. "All in favor of using the Choker as bait or a test subject for what happens?"

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #90 on: May 01, 2014, 10:57:05 AM »
"Aye."

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #91 on: May 01, 2014, 11:00:12 AM »
Nevus says "Or I could just go throw a javelin at them..."

Then thoughtfully he adds "Or maybe just try to scare them away."
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Gazzien

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #92 on: May 01, 2014, 03:05:02 PM »
"May as well see how hostile they are, first." Phaeros said softly, and shooed the Choker forwards.

The choker stepped up to the lip of the cliff, looking out at the light-things.

Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #93 on: May 01, 2014, 03:30:57 PM »
The glowing spheres pause in their rampant conversation, all of their attention clearly focused on the undead creature.

Finally, one of them speaks.

"Please tell me you weren't planning on mating in that!"

"Are you seeing anything else around here that's the right size?"

The first speaker scooted forward a bit. "Stupid thing's too small. And look at it! It's got less brains than you do! We're never going to find the right kind of creature down here. Why did I listen to you two idiots?" His light pulsed angrily.

Having determined the zombie isn't capable of harming them, they go back to arguing with themselves.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #94 on: May 01, 2014, 07:31:08 PM »
Nevus says "Well that didn't work... What now? Ignore them and hope they leave us alone? Or start chucking spears at them?

Or does one of you want to... talk to them?"
Nevus says the last like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline ketaro

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #95 on: May 01, 2014, 08:47:24 PM »
Arcus flies forward to the edge of the chasm and bobs about with curious, if regrettable, intentions. "Greetings! Don't mind me, just looking for a path that leads upwards. Happen to know of any?"

He then lowers to the ground and nudges the edge of the chasm forward, of which it promptly complies.

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Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #96 on: May 01, 2014, 09:03:58 PM »
It takes the glowing orbs a moment to notice Arcus and his activities.

"Ewww! What is that thing? It's hideous!"

"And it's too bloody small. Is everything down here as tiny as we are?"

"What's that silly language it's talking? It sounds like an orc gargling a slime mold! Can't anything learn how to talk properly?"

"Dear, that's Undercommon. It's what the miserable creatures down here sound like. Didn't you know where you were?"

One of the orbs manage to give the impression of looking down its nose at Arcus. Impressive, given it's a featureless sphere.

"In that case, I suppose we should dignify it with a response. Since it's not being rude, just ugly."

"And smelly."

"Yes. And smelly."

The next words to float across the chasm are directed towards Arcus.

"Hello, despicable wretched entity! We... might have been down here a bit too long to know the way out."

One of the others immediately yells at the speaker.

"Quiet, you! We must have the appearance of competence. How else will we be allowed to make with large creatures?"

The squabbling, of course, was instant.

Offline ketaro

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #97 on: May 01, 2014, 09:08:51 PM »
Arcus pauses part way across his new bridge and glances up at whichever one spoke to him. "Yes, yes, well, it appears many seem to suffer that ill fortune; myself included." he answers back jovially, attempting to loosen their guard by making their predicament seem less embarrassing.

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Offline Stratovarius

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #98 on: May 01, 2014, 09:18:14 PM »
The largest of the spheres eyes up Arcus, then mutters something to his companions. They spread out across the chasm.

"We would be highly appreciative if you do not come any closer while you are conversing with us. Your miasma is really rather remarkable. Especially as you appear to have nothing to offer us. You're quite tiny, and completely unsuitable for mating, and you cannot direct us to the surface. And you wouldn't like it on this side of the chasm. The company is quite unpleasant."

Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Part #1: Marleath and the Tunnels
« Reply #99 on: May 01, 2014, 09:27:43 PM »
Glenlairwen also headed forwards, not wanting the skull to get too far out of her sight--and, of course, because she could understand what they were saying if they were trying to keep it to themselves.

She also didn't have terribly much to fear from being, you know, mated with. They'd have to find her body, which was firmly inside a coffin that didn't respect the normal rules of space. And she very much doubted their ability to work that out.

"Orbs! Doth thou know where the passange hence leads?"

At least she was trying her best to speak nicely, and in the language she'd first heard them speak.

Arcus, however, wasn't so fortunate, and got barked at in Common--or what had been Common when she'd last seen the damn sky.

"Arcus, if you run off again, we'll be comparing my fan with your skull."

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« Last Edit: May 01, 2014, 09:50:55 PM by Raineh Daze »