[Quest] What Lies Beneath... (Evalin, Rayage)

by **Paragon** on March 25th, 2012, 7:15 pm

What Lies Beneath...

Location: The Wildlands, Just Outside Zeltiva

Who: Evalin & Rayage

Timestamp: 74th Day of Summer, 401 AV

The valterrian had shaken the world, rent it open, and changed it forever. It was inevitable in that great divide and cataclysm that things would be lost. But not everything was outright destroyed. Some things were just buried beneath the soil that people walked.

Beneath Zeltiva was a network of caverns and tunnels, once used by mages and alchemists for their experiments and discoveries. Though many believed them to just exist beneath the university complex, they stretched out like reaching fingers, the tunnels connecting to further caverns outside of the city, and into the wildlands beyond.

A pair of nuits, ancient beings in their own right, arrived at the place they had discovered through the memosites. An assuming mound of earth, now overgrown with grass and nettles. But to keener eyes, the earth was softer than the ground beneath, and there was something resonant about it. Magical, even. Their curiosity carried them, for beneath the ground they walked, who knew what wonders and knowledge might exist.

This mound was an entrance of sorts. But there was no door. And digging at the grass and soil would yield no results either. This was sealed by ancient magic, and curiosity alone would not get the nuits beneath the ground.

by **Rayage** on March 25th, 2012, 8:22 pm

Everything has pointed here. Everything has lead up to this moment, this point in time. Here is where the mystery had to be. Here is where the site had to be. They had not done all this research and preparation for vain. No, it would pay off and that was for certain. They couldn’t be wrong, could they? No, they had done their research, they had prepared for such an event. No… The nuit shook his head this had to be the place. This had to be. But then why? Why only a mound in the distance?

As they walked closer he got more and more curious, and eventually reaching the mound the nuit would walk around it looking for some way in, perhaps a weak spot in the soil, and even digging a little. Nothing. Though he could feel the slight tingle of magic in the air. Yes, that confirmed his suspicions. This had to be the place. It had to be. They couldn’t be wrong, no, not with so many things pointing to this particular mound. This couldn’t be, it was beyond coincidence. Then why was nothing there?

”It seems we have arrived at the point of entry.” he stated the obvious looking to his nuit companion, ”Though there is no obvious way in. This looks like it will be our first challenge.” he smiled, their first challenge now that they had arrived. Finding this place was hard enough and took enough exchanging of memories with the memosites. Helpful but cursed things.

Rayage was sure to keep his distance when it came to the Diverse. Although they had been summoned and contracted to aid them they still had minds of their own, something he didn’t like. At any time this summoner could pull one over on him. Sic her Diverse on him. This was quite the situation. Though he had learned over time to never put anything past anyone even Evalin, especially Evalin, for he wondered if she still harbored some brutality against him. Annoying thing emotions were. Shaking his head, ”This is as far as we will get if we don’t figure something out. So, lets start trying to get in.” he said observing the mound more. He wasn’t going to let his suspicions surface and be known to the other. No, that would create quit the disturbance.

With that he took a couple steps away from the mound before turning around to face it again. A slight wind blew making his cloak billow and wrap around him as he stared at the mound as if trying to make it explode with his mind. What was really happening however was the mage was trying to focus on the aura of the hillock, and the magic that inhabited it. If he could get a glimpse of it, if he could even get a slight clue on what was happening then maybe they could either dispel it or even find a way to slip through it.

Slowly as he concentrated the aura started to come into place. The aura was bright, swirling of color, but there was something off about it. The colors were colliding into one another becoming something else, there was something odd, something old… A feeling of something ancient… It sent a shiver up the mages spine as he concentrated, grinning as his magically enhanced sight brought new information to him. Though he continued to look at it, seeing the patterns and noting the intricacies of the magic which surrounded and was a part of the mound, ”What is this place?” he half whispered.

Closing his eyes he released the Djed from his eyes. The process was tiring, not physically tiring, but mentally. Stumbling forward with the first couple of steps he placed a hand on the mound before digging into it again, ”I need a closer look.” he said. Though Auristics was not his magic of choice he was going to find out as much about the mound as possible. He was, after all, the better of the two of them about gathering magical and unseen information. With the touch he pulsed the Djed through his hand, using the sense of touch now instead of sight to further examine the aura. He had to find something useful about this place. They had not traveled this far only to be stopped by a pile of earth.

OOCI left what he really finds up to you Paragon. Didnt want to take too much liberty.

by **Evalin** on March 26th, 2012, 5:36 am

Evalin's Preparations :

Evalin's Glyphs :

OOCI am open to any and all notes from you Paragon on my system, and if you wish for a greater explanation I will provide one

And so it was... after so much time, so much planning... This was what they had come to?

Evalin stepped closer behind Rayage's form, looking over his shoulder at the mound of dirt, leaning heavily on her staff. Reaching up with one hand she pulled back the hood of her robe, gazing upon the dirt, this promise of her future, with her own eyes, "If this be the entrance, then perhaps what we seek would be better left to the worms who can pass through this vortex..."

With a sigh Evalin turned, waving a hand to the two large bodies a short distance away. They were the Diverse, two men at arms whom Evalin had contracted to aid them in their quest. Yes... it had been Eva, and Eva alone who had hired them. The deliberations had taken some time, and it was not without a sense of satisfaction that Evalin now watched as they moved at her word.

They seem quite obedient when there is promise of reward... I shall have to remember this.

A glance to the man beside her revealed Rayage's own mixed feelings for Eva's newest hands. Within his eyes she could she his uncertainty... no, no this man never felt such. Perhaps it was wariness... or even quiet contemplation... but since her time of creation, Evalin had never known this creature to show any uncertainty, nor any doubt of his own success.

Shall I never catch him unawares...?

Her eyes came up to meet the man's, "Very well. What have you in mind?" Evalin watched curiously as Rayage gazed at this mound. His eyes, she knew, could see the subtle flow of djed, the very aura of life itself. Certainly this was a talent that she would need to perfect herself. For a moment the girl turned her own eyes upon the mound, and with the greatest of her might she tried to will the sight to come, but to no avail...

Though I would rather I must not, surly there is still much I have yet to learn from this man...

As Rayage moved for a closer look, Evalin waved a hand, summoning forth the Diverse to hear her voice. She looked up into their eyes, a startling shade of scarlet, and spoke in a slow and steady fashion, "Take up your positions on either side of this entrance. I know not what shall happen once we begin our attempts to unlock its seal, but it be better to prepare for any eventuality."

The Diverse to her right scratched his chin through a short, grizzly beard, "Bah, what good is a mage if she cannot open a single door?" He nudged his companion, "Jorgan, you see? I told you it would be a waste. Better to brawl in the pits for the attention of the women than to spend our days here with these two."

Jorgan laughed deep in his chest, "Aye, they don't see as smart as they were saying before do they?"

Both then laughed, banking their fists on their chest in merriment. Evalin sighed and brushed a hand over her eyes, speaking in a voice filled with boredom, "Be you of any sense you would see the attempts we now make, but those whose minds are clouded with thoughts of gold and bloodshed would never understand things such as this..." Opening her eyes Evalin looked to each in turn, "Your reward shall come soon, but only if you have earned it. Lead us safely to the end of our journey and you may take home any riches you wish. So it says in our contract."

Jorgan looked the other Diverse, "D'you catch a word of what the woman just said Gordo?"

Gordo shrugged, scratching his beard once again, "Ain't our place to get what she be sayin, but if following the quick tongue witch will lead to loot, then be damned what she say Ha ha!"

It was for the first, and certainly not the last, time Evalin began to question her pact with these people.

With brains of rock and manners of wild boar, what hope have we in this place? No... This day may very will signify the end of our journey all together...

However, the Diverse moved as they were instructed, still talking and laughing in overly loud voices. Shaking her head Evalin moved to stand close to Rayage, leaning down to examine his work, "What say you my dearest Immortal? Have you any witty solutions to our delima?"

by **Paragon** on March 30th, 2012, 11:32 am

The brutish Diverse assembled a fair distance from each other, ready to catch whatever be unleashed upon the breaking of the seal. They were fickle people, led by an unsated bloodlust, and a magpie like pull towards shiny objects, but perhaps they would pay their dues later in the nuit's exploration.

As Rayage focused his auristic sight on the grassy mound, he would see the swirls of djed, ever moving, and when he got closer, he would find the djed pooling in one point. Here it was thicker, stronger, more resonant, and to his djed laden eyes it would seem almost like a door.

This was what Evalin had spoken of - a seal that they must breach to enter into the network of tunnels beneath. The promise of knowledge called to them, like a chorus of whispers, all speaking of temptation and ambition.

Now Rayage had seen the entrance, he would relay the information to Evalin. A seal of solid djed faced them, and perhaps it could only be broken with the same sort of magical energy...

by **Rayage** on April 1st, 2012, 8:07 pm

Ray saw it, but what was it? A door, that is what it resembled, but it was blocked by an untold amount of Djed radiating a menacing and powerful aura. Stepping back the nuit examined the hill some more. On the outside it seemed nothing more than a regular less than average mound, but to the wizard it tingled with excitement and bubbled with ancient and untold energy. This was going to be even more interesting than he had hoped.

"Evalin." he said ignoring the bumbling creatures which she had summoned, "This hill is defiantly the site we have been looking for." he nodded watching as the two barbarians took up posts at respective ends, waiting, but it seemed they were going to have to wait a little longer until they could open this seal. Rubbing his hands together he thought, releasing his aura magic, he didnt want to use too much magic the adventure was just beginning. Who knows what lies beneath?

Even they didnt, but they had several good hints and clues based on their research. Then again their researching and findings could be all wrong and they would be again taken by surprise. Only time will tell. Though sitting around thinking about what all might be in there was getting them nowhere. Yes, they needed action and the sooner they do that the sooner they will be able to enter these ruins for themselves and see what is down there.

"Evalin" he started again, he called her name to make sure he had her attention as he talked, [b["there is a powerful mass of Djed blocking our way, keeping this place sealed to us."[/b] he said placing a hand on his chin and letting himself go to a thinking position. He would stand there for a couple minutes perfectly still, a statue in time, thinking, brooding, considering all the options that they had and what they could do to break the seal. He stood there before his hand moved from his chin back down to his side.

"I think I got it." he said turning to the mage who was a just a little bit behind him, "What if we disrupt the flow of the seal using glyphs of our own?" he asked, "We could use paths to draw away the magic and make it weak enough for a period of time that we can slip through unhindered by this magical force." he suggested. It wasnt the best idea he had, but it was idea to get them though with only a few trivial hours of work, "What do you think about all of this?" he asked silently worrying about the restlessness of the barbarians who they took along with them.

by **Evalin** on April 5th, 2012, 9:30 pm

While Rayage stood his watch, still as stone, Evalin stood to her feet, using her staff to hold her weight. She walked a short distance away, bending down to touch her fingers to the bare dirt.

Something would stand between I and what I must accomplish... Straightening once more she rubbed the dirt between her thumb and forefinger, It will be a minor set back. Be it minutes, hours, days or centuries from now, so shall what I see come to the light of the world.

When the man's voice rung through the short distance to her cold hears, Evalin turned to look upon Rayage with eyes clouded with death. For a moment she stood there, taking in his words as she gazed upward, the hand on her staff tightening slight. There she stayed, seconds stretching to minutes as she paid no heed to the barbarions. When she finally spoke, it was with soft words that only just reached the ears, "Be this ancient magic, such a method could work... but to syphon off the magic and slip through? No... it would take far too much time to widen an opening for all of us, and it would be difficult to hold it open for any length of time afterwards."

Her form grew still once more, allowing whatever words Rayage might speak to wash over her as she continued her line of thinking. Blinking slowly, she spoke without looking up, "We should destroy it completely... if there is no barrior then there is nothing to keep us from moving freely, for as long as we wish." She looked up at Rayage, "Also, it would cost much less time and energy to simply shatter the barrier with its own power."

She paused, unsure of where the idea had come from, It is quite... ineloquent, but certainly it shall do what we wish... Nodding slowly, Evalin returned her attention to Rayage, "Have you qualms with this my creator?" The last word was spoken with just a hint of sarcasm.

by **Rayage** on April 6th, 2012, 10:05 pm

The nuit listened to the words of the younger one. She had quite the good point. Now, it was times like these that reminded him why he even bothered to socialize, if it could be called that, with this nuit. To destroy it with its own power, what an interesting prospect… At first he stared at her blankly before laughing a dry gaudy laugh. He wasn’t dismissing her idea, no, quite the opposite. Her words got the nuit thinking. Yes, thinking of the ways, the possibilities.

”There is nothing quite like a good idea.” he finally responded ignoring the sarcasm in the last word. She could call him anything she wanted as far as he was concerned. His attention once again was drawn to the mound. He looked at it remember what he had saw and felt under the influence of auristics. He shivered with joy thinking about completely destroying this seal, ”This will be interesting” he thought aloud pondering different ways in which they could destroy this seal with its own power.

”In Alchemy,” he started to explain, ”we use streams of fast moving Djed to illicit change in the source material. The high speeds of the djed aid in the conversion of properties from one object to another. Hence why more experienced users get more use out of the item before it starts to decay. They are able to run the streams faster.” he stopped as he began to think some more…

”We could apply this property of speed to the djed currents we are going to be using. Perhaps a setup where we use the power taken from the seal, accelerate it, mix it with our own energy, for ease of control, and then blast it back at the said seal.” he pointed at the mound before falling quiet.

”With the speed as a factor it should take less Djed to dispel this magic, but just in case we should draw as much as possible with runes and glyphs as we can to further ensure our success…” He wondered how this all will turn out and what exactly will happen when the seal is broken.

by **Evalin** on April 16th, 2012, 6:24 am

The woman's eyes slipped over the mound of dirt as she listened to what Rayage said. Her mind wandered back over the decades of study and research, piecing together random thoughts and pondering to form a pattern of sorts. Her hands gripped the staff as she chewed on her lip in thought.

"I see... with an increased rate of flow the amount of power needed to destroy the barrier could be greatly reduced. So then, the question is how might we go about this?" Evalin tapped her staff twice on the ground, watching absently as the loose dirt fell in random patterns around the point of impact. Then, slowly, she was struck by a sudden notion. With the tip of her staff Eva began to draw a rough diagram consisting of several circles interconnected by lines of various sizes and lengths. "What if... we could use glyphs to syphon out the djed, but after the power is pulled we must have a way to control and release it at will." The diagram began to take on a more defined shape, the ideas flowing from Evalin's mind to guide her staff to motion. "When one wishes to control the flow of djed and open a portal into another plane of existence, one uses circles of power. This is because circles are a symbol of infinity. They have neither a beginning nor an end, and the steady, curved shape gives the mage greater control over what is being coursed through it." Rapping her staff once more for emphasis, Evalin waved a hand for Rayage to come view the drawing.

Evalin's Drawing :

Crouching down, steadying herself with her staff, Evalin began pointing at the structures in the diagram, "The center circle would be the source of it all. The six lines lead from the focus, in this case the source of our djed, and follow a curved path to the outer ring. Six lined circles are used not for their reliability but for the sheer amount of control they give the caster, however, the time in which they can be used is short." Evalin's finger trailed to indicate the two circles on either side of the 6-line circle. Within them there was a drawing of a pentagram, "These here are the focal points, the source of the control for our rings of power. It is here that the triggers will be placed. They are, of course, 5-lined circles as these types of circles are best used in conjunction with glyphing triggers." Her hand then moved to another pair of circles connected to the 5-lined circle. Within these there was drawn a triangle, "These circles here are to be tasked with a single purpose. The storage and redirection of the djed as we collect it. This stored djed will be released all at once, to be propelled back toward the control circles. It is important that before we release the stored djed that we first activate these circles here," She indicated the 2 smaller circles, "These will act as control valves for the flow of djed, ensuring that no djed shall be taken up and stored once more."

Evalin straightened and looked to Rayage, "Your words of speed have intrigued me, and thus I have altered the circles original design to incorporate 6 curved lines leading to the focus. The curve in these lines will promote a steady uptake of djed at the start, while forcing the flow of djed current to flow at a faster rate than it normally would if traveling a straight path. However, there is a single drawback to this design." She waved a hand at the main circle, "A 6-lined circle is not known for being long lived, and thus we shall have but once chance at success."

The woman mumbled under her breath for a moment, eyeing the diagram for a moment longer, "This should give ups our desired affect, however, let us hope the enchantments are not too much for us to control."

by **Rayage** on April 20th, 2012, 6:59 am

The nuit waited and listened and watched the drawing in the dirt below. He grinned this was perfect, maybe a little too perfect. ”Yes,” he nodded, ”This can work.” he said, ”Or it is at least worth a try.” Turning from the drawing to the mound he envisioned it, taking a moment to draw the picture and displace it, expand it with his mind, overlaying reality with his imagined picture.

Using a hand placed in the air and twirled the hand drawing the lines into the air. It was important that he got everything right. Glancing back at the drawing in the dirt, he needed another glance at it before he finished his mental rendition of the plan. In his mind it was all so clear, but in reality it hasn’t yet manifested yet. This can be easily solved though, all too easily.

Turning to the other nuit, having the pattern all mapped out in his head he clapped his hands, a small grin spreading across his face. ”Shall we get working then?” he asked the excitement growing inside him. This was the first obstacle that they would face, and he could only wonder what wonders are available to behold within the ancient depths. This excitement is something that he hadn’t felt in a long time, no, it has been far too long. This kind of energy building inside him made him want to shiver, it made him feel alive again and he couldn’t wait to get inside.

With that he climbed the mound and started the exhausting work that would hours to complete. The lines were drawn and the undead hunched over the hill, hand drawing the lines and runes into earth. This was the very beginning of something grand, he could feel it. He was confident in the design, and was determined to make it work. This plan had to work, for it was all he had so far. Slowly the design in his head began to match reality as he drew. The process was painstakingly slow, and if it were not for Evalins help with parts of it the process would have taken much longer.

The sun reached its peak and was starting to set by the time Ray was working on the last circle, but when his finger finished he looked up at his hand work. This had taken a long time, but would it be worth it? ”You finished Evalin?” he asked, yelling over the distance. He was ready to test this thing out.

by **Evalin** on April 23rd, 2012, 6:20 am

Evalin nodded and stepped back, "So we shall." Pushing back the hood of her cloak, the girl looked to the man, "Let us begin."

And so it had begun. Once more the passage of time had begun to stir the soul of this long dead immortal. This girl, this figure frozen in time began to move, following close to the path set out by the man cloaked in mystery. His adept movements, his way of flowing from one motion to the next. The girl watched him for a moment, a brief spark of a past thought spinning absently through her consciousness, but this she quickly crushed with spite and resent.

This man of smiles and pretty words... How his tongue has caused many a downfall. Would that I could sever that which is his power, and cut from him those words that sough naught but evil.

However, these thoughts and contemplations of the blackest nature did little to shade the girls eyes from the man's actions. She watched, took in and absorbed the unspoken lesson given from the man as he drew numerous figures and designs in the dirt. The girl, then, took her own hand and began to mirror his motions, scraping designs and patterns to suit the needs of her situation.

It was a slow process, an agonizing and tedious of tasks that required the girl to crouch and bend to alter the form of earth into glyphs of power. She followed a circular path, allowing line to flow into line until, at last, she had completed her vision, replacing the simple lines with drawings of power that would pull from the mound its very essence. Standing slowly, the girl dusted from her hands the evidence of her work, and a glance of bitterness brought to mind the annoyance of having taken far longer than the man to complete her task.

"It is done."

Evalin moved to her position beside the five lined circle, awaiting the man to do the same. For just a moment they paused, immortals who stood beyond the flow of time and looked across the span of the circles to the other. Their eyes would meet for just the briefest of time, and with a single nod from their own forms they would release a single drop of black ichor, allowing it to fall onto the very center of the five lined circle.

Thus do I set forth my plan, and from the ashes of the destruction so shall I forge a new vision of the future. The five lined circle glowed brightly, flaring up in a fantastic display of power that slowly began to courses down the line of glyphs to, the figures alighting one by one until, finally they reached the source of the pairs greatest conquest. Begone thou petty obstruction. Never shall I allow such a pathetic obstacle stand between I and my vision.

Power! The strength of the seal coursed with such might that it manifested as a visual glow. From the focal point the glyphs of power drawn by the hand of the mages pulled from it the strength, the essence of its very existence and sent it coursing out along the curved path. The shining glow wavered and pulsed, coursing down the set path and shifting colors as it ranged from one extreme to another. Tendrils of power at times reached out to grasp as the cloaks of the pair as it passed into the four lined circle and coursed out to the storage circles on either side.

Evalin watched this course, this flow of power with eyes dead to the world, yet gaze still did she with life and passion born of a goal nearing completion, All goes well, just as one could have hoped. Perhaps this shall be a fruitful venture after all. The course of power continued on, stretching into an almost endless amount of time. The girl bothered not to keep track of such nuisances as the passage of chimes, for what did it matter to one such as her? However, it was inevitable that this would change, and so Evalin looked to the man before her, "The time is upon us. Speak the our words and trigger the other circles."

Rapping her staff upon the ground, the girl drew in a breath to speak, "Shift Seal."

The four lined circle shimmered, and the glyphs igniting into existence, forcing the flow of djed to halt in its path and return to circling the primary circle, an endless flow that continued on and on. The girl extended one arm, spreading her fingers wide as if she would grasp from the air that which she sought, "Release!"

An explosion, a sudden rush and coursing of djed flew from either side of the girl, flowing down to return once more to the center circle, joining with the stagnant residual and flowing down the curved path once more. The magnitude of the release forced the power to speeds near double of what it had been at its uptake, and the curved path of the circles accelerated it further.

Evalin's eyes narrowed as she watched the six lines of power scorch their way down, slamming together at the focal point, into the source of the seals power.

Let it be... Grant me my desire, and crumble beneath my power.

OOCI leave what happens next to you Paragon