Roleplay on Dolor using Facebook (Multiple Messages)

Rodrick: "I'll definitely be exploring this island before we leave..." Rodrick said, tossing aside a greasy rag and hopping down off of a ladder next to Firelord.

Thorin is also going to try and make the clockwork dragon his own.

Ruby approaches Rodrick at some point after a few days, asking to speak with you in private.

"Hey, I've been thinkin', about it for some time, but... I know you've been lookin' for a safe, peaceful place for yer family. Do you think this place would work? It's so… tranquil and well hidden."

Rodrick shoots glances in both directions as if checking for anyone nearby, then closes his eyes. Ruby feels the presence of Rodrick's mind brush against her own as he reaches out, feeling for anyone or anything nearby.

Sensing nothing, he opens his eyes and smiles broadly. "You know Miss Ruby, you are right. So right, in fact... that I've been trying to find a way to get them a letter saying I've found a place for them. Any ideas?"

"Oh, um!" She taps her fingers against her lips in thought, contemplating what could be done. "Where are they now? Is it in a city where we wouldn't rouse much suspicion?"

Rodrick cracks a smile and stands up proudly. "My son's idea, but they are actually in Lenova. He said the closer they are to danger the further they are from suspicion... since they are both able to... disguise themselves... they are hiding in plain sight, basically..."

Ruby's eyes widen and she's thoughtful. "I suppose there is a truth to that, now that you explain..." She looks like she is contemplating the situation.

"I can understand now why it's difficult sending a letter the traditional way. Perhaps a more...personal visit would suffice? Would people in Lenova know you by your...other names?"

She imagines Rolland strolling down the main streets of the high class town, twirling his cane, but then remembers he was with her when they bought that junky airship from the goblins. "I suppose word may have traveled of who they've seen already in our company... I don't know how wide this monster network may be, or those who are hunting Mr. Karu."

"Well, Ragnar is known there, but he is known more to be a merchant and arms dealer than anyone associated with me... He might be able to deliver the message..."

 

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Azandar goes back to the ship for a couple of days before exploring. He sees what repairs need to be made, and instructs the automatons what to do.

Coming in to the ship to get a warmer set of clothes from her room, Ruby spots Azandar wandering about with a few automatons in tow.

"Mr. Zander, how's it goin'? You're spendin' as much time in here as a hibernatin' hedgehog in a hole." She pauses. "Are you pretty eager to move on?"

"Not exactly," he says, "this place is idyllic. I just - force of habit, I suppose."

"Well, hopefully some fresh air, and some peace and quiet will do us all a bit of good." She smiles kindly. "Is there anything I can help with?

"Well, not really anything that I haven't already tended to, but this place...I feel rather happy here. I don't know what it is. Have you found a library or anything like that at all?"

"There is one I think, at least it has a look of a library. I've been meanin' to go see it. I was just visiting with Balgor in the...temple... He has so much anger and sadness in him."

 

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Azandar leaves the temple, and returns to the ship, wondering where Ruby and the others are at. He looks through his telescope across the island, and sees a city! Empty, seemingly, the city is on the other side. Azandar makes his way leisurely over. It is quite peaceful here, and he longs for times when it was like that in the lands below...before war...

Ruby sees you on the road ahead and jogs over. "Mr. Zander, how are ya farin'? Mind if I join ya?" She had just come from the remains of the dragon, checking on Thorin and his tinkering projects.

"I was meanin' to look for a library here, perhaps somethin' there will give us answers. If this place is as ancient as Balgor makes it out to be..." She sighs. "It sure is peaceful."

"Indeed," he replies, and together we walk toward the city. Azandar stares at the place, wondering.

"A lone floating isle in the middle of nowhere, no inhabitants...although in the temple, there were catacombs for who I might assume are the original inhabitants?"

"I think so," she replies, not liking to think much on it. "It looked... large. The catacombs. Perhaps they span the whole island underground... Who knows how many generations passed away here, or how long they lived until."

Every so often she peers inside the empty houses, touching the well-crafted masonry. "It must have been a fairly large population at one time."

Azandar pokes about, examining some of the wares and architecture.

"I would imagine so. Anyway, this place is so peaceful, it would make a great vacation destination, eh?"

She chuckles. "I suppose so. Though perhaps its nicer the fewer people know of it."

She is quiet for a time. "Honestly... That's probably best... I'm worries for what would happen to this beautiful place, should word get out of its existence." She looks over with genuine concern.

"Not to say I would spread the word, as it were," he says, "but perhaps it could remain our group's secretive location? Anyhow, I'm just glad we made it in one piece!" He chuckles nervously, and grows silent for a few moments as well.

"Say, you ought to visit that temple. It's rather beautiful inside. The inhabitants seem to have put a lot of effort into its creation, so that it's a sight to behold." He grins, an act not often seen.

"It's nice to see that smile. You're oft so dour." She teases playfully. "Let's head to the temple then, I'd love to see it."

"It's just beautiful! Come, let's hurry!" Without thinking or hesitation, a grin still on his face, he grabs her hand and starts running that way again.

Ruby laughs, following after. "You're sure excited!" As they make their way down the cobbled roads and approach the building, Ruby slows, trying to catch her breath.

Azandar lets go of her hand, and stands there a moment, catching his breath as well. "This place...it's just so peaceful and content here, also," he takes a deep breath, "we can fight dragons and beasts of all manner, get into dangerous situations, but I swear, I will never be a runner." He laughs a little.

"Come, let us go in. I haven't explored all the rooms yet." He opens the door for Ruby.

Ruby walks through the building with you. "I wonder how things used to be here, before...whatever happened."

"I can't even imagine," he replies. "There's an air of...sacredness about this place." He looks about the chamber. "The Hall of Heroes is that way," he says, pointing. "They must have done some mighty deeds indeed to have their visages woven into tapestry."

"True, true. Let's go have a look."

We head up the stairs, and into the great Hall. On every wall is a tapestry depicting different people - heroes of a bygone era.

"Look here," he says, pointing to the image of Balgor. "He was there with these heroes. He knows them."

"It is him... Would you look at that." She contemplates it, still hard to believe how old he is.

"And here," he says, pointing to the image of St. Dain. "He was a healer of sorts, or at least that's what Balgor said." He examines the image of the angel woman, Eline.

She looks at it. "It's... Interesting to see all of them."

"Here are my ancestors, according to Balgor's interpretation of my dreams...I really should ask my father about them." He turns to Ruby and grins again. "After we are done here, let's see if there's a library around. I'm interested to know more about the ancient days. Come, let's go visit the shrine!"

"Alright! That sounds fun. Thanks for exploring with me, it's nice having company. It's peaceful but...lonely here."

"It's true, but for some reason, I feel...invigorated and energized here! I'm not sure how to properly explain it, but it feels as though some weight that's been pressing upon my shoulders is lifted." He takes the lead as they two walk to the main hall, and down a set of stairs, leading to the shrine of Dragonicos.

Ruby slows to a stop, looking up at the giant statue. "Woah..."

"They had a tapestry of him in the other room, but... Golly, they sure liked him most here, it looks like."

"Indeed. What was it Balgor said?" He does his best old man impersonation. "Dragonicos, god of time and dragons saved this place, many thousands of years ago, hmmm."

"Oh wow! So that's--is that why magic is normal here, I wonder?" She looks up again, thinking. "It definitely feels different than the Wuxian forests, or even Osonor."

Glancing over, she tries to pick her words carefully. "What exactly was your dad's goal there? He wanted these same crystals, didn't he?" Ruby looks at the cord around your neck, remembering the one you wear.

He pauses a moment. "I'm...not sure. I didn't ask him about them, but I wouldn't doubt he has some purpose in mind. I think I'll need to go there again and see what he is all about."

"I see... Does... Does Balgor know yet?" She fidgets.

"I mean, if they really are his crystals, it's understandable he would expect them back. But... It's been hundreds and hundreds of years. Your dad, the king... He seems pretty confident, like he has an idea. Maybe it will help Balgor?"

He shrugs. "Who knows at this juncture? And if I'm remembering right, I have not yet told Balgor about the crystals my father possesses...I should."

"Well..." she grows quiet. "Do you think your father will understand? I just worry... Won't it be like you're turning away from what he quested you to do, as his heir?"

He pauses for several long moments. "I don't know..."

"Well...maybe pray on it." She feels funny saying it, and adds, "However you might wish to pray, or to whom."

She turns to look down the other halls. "Where to next?"

 

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Balgor is absolutely in another place spiritually altogether. This place, Dolor, is where it all started for him. This is the beginning of his tale, and he surmised, possibly the end. He could lie down and die peacefully here, if death would have him. But alas, it would not. Such was the curse of being an immortal god. It was almost, he mused, a curse of undeath, if one thought about it long enough. And had had millennia to think on it...

Yet here it was...suspended in time...Dolor. So peaceful. So plentiful. So untouched by the marrings of mortals. And yet so quiet and devoid of human life.

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Briar OctaviusLuther sits at a filing desk, nursing a healing broken arm. It had been months and months since he had heard anything from Miss Pennington, Thorin, or any of the others since that dire day in the capitol city of Alwyn. So much had changed in that time. Alwyn's government was completely ruled over by Rhen Autarchy military governors in a sort of martial law situation. No outside news was allowed, except for the propaganda that was spewed over the clockwork radio system. Chained cruelly to his desk, Luther was made to be a working investor for big military industrial companies, often slaving for coppers at inhumane hours to build interest in investments across state lines. Luther hated the work, but did his duty anyway. He was, after all, an upstanding gentleman.

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Ruby works in the kitchen on board the ship, preparing a large portion of meats fresh from the island. She seems to be handling them carefully, wondering how best to cook them. "Hmmm... Barbeque... Bonfire... This new fangled fuel we have..."

Suddenly there are heavy footfalls coming down the hallway, followed by Ruck's large frame coming into view. He is wearing a very simple lavalae (traditional islander male skirt) basic sandals, and a nice but plain linen shirt. "Want help cooking food?" He says in his gruff, somewhat illiterate voice.

Ruby looks surprised for a moment before she registers his face. "Hiya Ruck! It's been some time since we've talked. Sure, I'd love some help!" She scoots over so there's room next to the large hunks of venison.

Ruck picks up one of the quarters of venison and smells it. "Hmm... tough. Need tender. Cook slow in clay so stay moist." He reaches into a sack he brought with him and pulls out a small bag of very fine cooking clay, mixing it with water in a bowl.

"What seasonings you want use?" He asks Ruby while he mixes the clay to the proper consistency.

She blinks, never thinking to use clay before. "Um, I... Oh!" She dumps out some brown paper envelopes onto the table from a basket on the counter. "I collected these from the fields outside. Would any of them work well with this kind of meat?"

Ruck washes his hands before handling the herbs, not wanting to get clay on them. "Rosemary good for stag. Dill not. It go on fish. Mmm, garlic good." He picks up a a large bulb from his bag. "This fennel. Delicious when slow cooked with meat."

He spends probably an hour talking Ruby through all the different herbs and spices that she collected and that he has in his bag.

Ruby listens with intense interest, wishing she could take notes as fast as he is teaching. She finds his knowledge fascinating, and his friendliness infectious.

"We should bring it outside then, yes?" She glances out the window of the ship to the ground below.

"Yes. We cook in pit in ground. Big fire. Burn down to coals. Add meat and others. Cover with rocks and leaves. Then mud."

"Mud..." she scrunches her nose, trying to imagine the process. "I'm excited to see how it works! I...think?" She laughs.

"Mud seals fire pit. Makes cook slower. It no touch food. Food all wrapped in leaves or clay."

"That's facinating! I can't wait to see." She picks up as big of a plate as she can carry, ready to head outside.

Ruck grabs his large bag, filling it with all sorts of items they'll need. He grabs a quarter of the stag and the bucket of clay and heads outside.

She follows as quickly as she can after him, trying to keep up with his long strides. "Where's the best place to put it?" She pants out of breath. She looks around at the ground outside the airship. Some buildings are nearby, and the heap of dragon near enough to see.

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Thorin has been somewhat withdrawn during a lot of this time; due to who he is, and because he is a dwarf. He has been going between the clockwork dragon, the ship, and Dragonicos’ Temple (His Ancestor). Thorin has been recording every bit of information he can locate on Dragonicos; plus a couple secrets only a couple people will know about.

Thorin walks up to Rodrick and asks... “Do you think we could upgrade the ship with parts from the Dragon?” ... “Also; I was wondering if you would be willing to help me with a little project or two?”

Rodrick motions to the anvil. "I mean, we can try to use it to upgrade the airship, but it's tough stuff... I've tried hammering it, forging it, running it through a press. It doesn't like to move. I bet that the original designer had a very special way of working it."

He jumps down from his workbench, removing his gloves and tossing them over his shoulder. "What little projects do you have in mind?"

“Well I’d like to find a way to record, or copy all the information found in my Ancestor’s temple; the one dedicated to Dragonicos; so that I can take it back to my people and Clan.” ... “I also would like to figure out if we could augment my armor in such a way to appear and have a couple characteristics of my ancestor, Dragonicos; or to build a suit like FireLord. Do you think that may be possible?”
“I would prefer this stay between us at this time.”
“And in regards to using, or altering the parts from the dragon; I may have a theory. I will get back to you on that subject.”

Rodrick strokes his goatee, smearing grease all over his chin while doing so. "Well... as for the copying information, I'm afraid I won't be of much use there. I'm not too good at that sort of thing, unless it's copying a blueprint."

He walks over and grabs half a sandwich from his workbench, brushes some dirt from it and takes a bite, talking around his food. "As for the armor, I don't know how to augment it with magical properties without having a power source for them to draw on... from my research, your ancestor was quite the magic user. Let me think on that one a bit."

He walks over and sits on top of a blueprint covered a crate, taking another bite of his sandwich. "And in regards to building you something like that..." He gestures to Firelord. "It takes a long while to build, an even longer time to get working properly, and then you gotta work out all the kinks..." He swallows, looks at the sandwich, and throws it out the open window. "But... what sort of weapons did you have in mind? I know Dragonicos fought with a sword or something like that... are you wanting something similar? Also are you wanting to use traditional steam power or thermo-kinetics?"

Thorin shrugs his shoulders at you not being able to help with the information; and says “I appreciate your willingness and honesty; maybe Ms. Pennington and Armelia might be able to help in that aspect.” When Rodrick mentions about the armor; Thorin listens; and says “I would have to agree on the fact you mentioned about my ancestor; I have found the same to be true with the knowledge and research I’ve done as well.” “In regards to my suit; I was thinking the thermo-kinetics.