OOM: Arkngthand, 8 First Seed, 3E 428

[moonandstar]

They emerge from the bar onto an ancient bridge, made of a metal that Ibani won't be able to identify - but clearly the work of an advanced and accomplished civilization. It bridges the foyada, high and deep on each side.

They won't have time to admire it, however. Because there's a bald Imperial in an iron cuirass standing at the other side of the bridge. He conjures a skeleton warrior, who charges toward them as its master launches bolts of lightning at them.

Comments

[moonandstar]

"They surely didn't build with that in mind," Garyn says. "But they certainly built them to last."

[last_kallig]

"And yet they themselves have vanished. Ironic."

"We just need to haul some of these pieces back, yes? We've got the puzzle box already."

[moonandstar]

"Yes, this head should do."

He tosses it into his pack.

"Oh, and by the way...I grabbed this from the same shelf the cube was on."

He tosses her an immaculately cut ruby.

[last_kallig]

She catches it on reflex, then grins. "And my knight brings me pretty gems as proof of his devotion and his valor." She's only teasing a little.

[moonandstar]

Garyn chuckles."I'm told I'll be a knight for real when I return with this. A perk of my new command."

[last_kallig]

Ibani blinks. "New command? When did that happen?"

[moonandstar]

A frustrated sigh escapes Garyn's lips before he can think to stop himself.

"Well...call it a poisoned chalice, from the hands of one Caius Cosades. Apparently serving the Emperor in Gnisis was too much to hope for, so he pulled strings. I'm transferred to the fort near Balmora, where a friend of his in the garrison casually reminded me that Caius wanted to see me. Who was I to refuse?"

[last_kallig]

"Not the worst way he could have tightened the leash, but I don't like it," Ibani growls. Is she idly plotting a murder? Maybe. Okay, definitely. It's not like she's going to ACTUALLY do it without asking Garyn first.

[moonandstar]

"Nor I," Garyn says. "Though at the moment, all I'm having to do is fetch this cube for a friend of his in exchange for information...with the convenient cover story of finding our fort a trophy for a contest with the Buoyant Armigers."

[last_kallig]

"Seems relatively safe. I wonder where the catch is." Paranoid, Ibani? Probably.

[moonandstar]

"I don't know, but the information I'm getting is about a cult," Garyn says. "So I'm sure there are nothing but good times ahead."

Dry as the Alik'r.

[last_kallig]

"I have some experience with regards to cults." She has one of her very own! "If you should somehow wind up dealing with them." Her tone is also desert dry.

"Though I don't really have time to manage ANOTHER one."

[moonandstar]

Garyn sighs. "I hope I don't have to call you in for anything too troubling."

[last_kallig]

"So do I, but better to err on the side of caution."

"If you even THINK you might need help..." The thought of something happening to him is terrifying.

[moonandstar]

"I know, love," Garyn says. "I wouldn't dream of trying to stop you from helping."

Garyn hauls his pack over his shoulder.

"In the meantime, I'd best head back to the fort and claim my status as a gentleman."

He smirks.

[last_kallig]

Ibani chuckles.

"Should I shadow you, in case of any nasty surprises?"

[moonandstar]

"I wouldn't object to the company," Garyn says.

"Nor would you to my new uniform, I would think."

[last_kallig]

"New uniform?"

"Is anyone liable to object to you bringing some outsider with you into the Fort?"

[moonandstar]

"Not overmuch. There's an Imperial Cult shrine there, after all."

[last_kallig]

"Useful."

She smiles. "The locals use it then, it's not just for the soldiers?" She's up to the walk, however long it winds up being.

[moonandstar]

"Indeed. It's not too far from here, either."

[last_kallig]

Ibani nods, walking along with him and keeping her senses open for trouble. Just an ordinary mage, folks, pay no mind to the sword hilts at her waist that don't appear to have any blades to go with them.

Ibani is expecting the fort to be rather more...metallic than what she actually gets. No one would try to build a fort out of stone in her universe, they'd be laughed at.

[moonandstar]

Indeed, it's a far cry from the ruins they just left. The gate is opened for them, and Garyn salutes and is saluted in turn as he passes through into the courtyard.

[last_kallig]

Ibani settles on nodding in greeting at the guard. She's automatically assessing the place for weaknesses, gaps she could slip through, exploitable aspects of the layout.

"I was expecting something closer to what I'm used to," she admits to Garyn.

[moonandstar]

"We can't all build like the Dwarves could."

The interior is a bit more welcoming, if no less stone-y.