Jack Baker

@Illiad Easle @Starforce Glimmer Finally, some confirmation on us getting out of here. At the mention of the tic-tac-toe game, I let out a small chuckle. "...Don't worry about it," I said, walking away without bothering to wipe away the dirt grid, wondering if somepony would find it and ask who was dumb enough to end a tic-tac-toe game on a draw. I had all my stuff on my person already, so I decided to take a small breather and find someplace comfy to rest while waiting for the ship. I found a large rock formation and sat down, leaning back against it. ...It wasn't comfy, at all. But it'll do.

@Illiad Easle @Starforce Glimmer X in middle square. As Thanatos said that, I took out a small pocket knife and drew an X in the middle of the dirt grid in front of me , before drawing an O in the top right. After a minute of silence, he spoke again. X in bottom right. I drew another X in the bottom right, then another O in the top left to block him. X in top middle. I responded with an O in the bottom middle. X in bottom left. I answered with an O in the middle left. I could already see where this was going, then filled in the last X in the middle right square. Another draw. How many is that now? I asked Thanatos. Twelve. A very peculiar game indeed. I grumbled a bit, then stood up, leaning against a crate of Minostralium. It would be a while before the aircraft came to pick up the last of the stuff, and needless to say, I was bored out of my mind. I lightly bumped the back of my head against the crate a couple of times before looking up at the sky. Hard to believe it was only a month since we got here; if anything, it felt way longer. Since the encounter with Maud and that small loyalist group, we hadn't really come across any other enemies, so I mostly ended up working a guard position, like what I was doing right now. Don't get me wrong, I was glad that we didn't have to fight off the spawn every single day, but that also meant there really wasn't much to do outside of just... well, waiting. Or playing tic-tac-toe with a guardian spirit. At least the others in the guard seemed to take a liking to me. I overheard rumors one night that they were planning to haze me as a form of "initiation" into their ranks, but since Maud and I dealt with the loyalist group in the mines, they changed their minds. As if I'd let them even if they didn't. I'd probably summon Than just to freak them out and put a stop to it before it even began. Though they'd probably avoid me afterwards if that was the case. Maybe they'd even report me too. Either way, I guess I lose in that situation... Now that I think about it... besides Maud, I haven't really gotten to know anypony else on the Project this past month. That ain't good. I'm not a social butterfly or anything, but I didn't want to feel completely alienated either. I made a mental note to try and get to know others on the Project once I get back. Might make some good connections out of it too. Now... when, oh when is that ship gonna come and pick the rest of us up?

@Illiad Easle Raze's skills would definitely be more suited to an expeditionary role, though he'd really be fine doing either. During the month, he'd hop jobs between being a guard inside the Project, as well as heading out to drive off enemies threatening the outside. Also, eventually some would see Raze with Thanatos out and about, but probably only for a split second or so before he'd get caught; but be spotted enough so that rumors might spread around the Project about an earth pony guard seen with a mysterious creature surrounding him. He doesn't trust them enough yet to fully have Thanatos out in the open.

@Monotonality I looked at Maud with a sort of weirded out expression on my face. "...Okay..." I said. A little unexpected coming from somepony like her, but whatever. I continued to observe the healing process, the dizziness continuing to increase. Despite eating a rather large meal not too long ago, my stomach began to feel empty again, and it growled slightly. Guess I'm gonna need to eat way more when we get back...

@Monotonality @Illiad Easle As I approached Maud I found her digging out one of the loyalists. They looked to be unconscious, pretty beaten up from the looks of it. I whistled again, and Thanatos manifested himself once more, his ten foot tall figure looming behind me and over the loyalist. I turned to him. "Heal him enough so that he'll able to speak," I said to him. Thanatos nodded. "Of course." He extended his hand over the loyalist, and a pale green light began to shine from it, slowly undoing some of the damage from the collapse. At the same time, I could feel myself beginning to go a little dizzy from the healing. Just having Thanatos out requires quite a bit of physical energy, even more when he's casting magic. I took a seat on the ground, waiting for the healing to finish.

@Illiad Easle @Monotonality ((Very sorry about the wait, been very busy irl.)) Before I was able to commit to my plan, Maud had already put her distraction into play, launching a boulder at one of the loyalists. After she threw me back unexpectedly, I managed to land a bit of a ways off from the exit. I felt something shift above me, Looking up, a large chunk of rock from the cave ceiling had gotten loose and was rapidly approaching me. I didn't have enough time to dodge it, so I did the only thing I could do... I put my left hoof to my mouth and whistled. As I did, Thanatos manifested himself right in front of me in a flash of blue light. With one quick motion, he simultaneously drew his sword and sliced the rock clean in two. With his other hand, he reached out. I jumped and grabbed it, and he flung me lightly across the distance to the exit before anymore rocks or debris could come falling on me. He then disappeared in another flash. I landed on my hooves, and began to slowly make my way towards where Maud had gone.

@Monotonality I nodded at her idea. "Now you're speaking my language," I said, while continuing to sneak ahead. They hadn't noticed me yet. Good... I slowly picked up a small rock, and threw it a short distance away from me, hoping the sound would send someone to investigate. I slinked back even more into the dark shadows of the cave, and began to wait.

@Illiad Easle @Califorum Leave? I shook my head at the thought. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" I asked her while slightly peeking my head through the door. I saw five of them, though the setup of their camp seemed like there were more, with a few sleeping spawn off to the side. Nothing I hadn't dealt with before. I looked back at Maud. "Go back if you want. I'll deal with 'em." I slowly crept past the door, trying to stick to the shadows so as to not be spotted. Figured I'd try and thin the herd a bit first through more stealthy means, and if I got caught, send Thanatos out to quickly deal with them. Before, I probably would've backed out against these odds, but with Than at my side, I had a fair, fighting chance. For the short while after we made our pact, we've taken out huge groups of enemies together: spawn, loyalists, you name it. Not entire armies, mind you, but definitely more than five loyalists and a dozen spawn. This was child's play. I kept slowly sneaking my way around the camp, observing their movements, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

@Califorum @Illiad Easle As soon as I heard the voices, I immediately went on high alert. I moved slowly towards a part of the doorway where I figured I wouldn't be seen, an ear towards the voices on the other side. It sounded like they were the ones that brought the spawn in. Clever for a bunch of raiders, if true. They were also talking about riches. Could they also be after the Minostralium? Or something else entirely? I kept listening. Maybe I could get something a little extra out of this trip.

@Illiad Easle @Califorum I observed the carnage in the room, taking note of the destroyed golems. Not only were the spawn in here, they seemed to be pretty tough considering how many golems they took with them. I narrowed my eyes at the remaining two blocking the doorway. As sturdy as my blade was, I wasn't sure it would fare well against their sturdy armor. Alright Than... on my signal. If they move, take 'em out. As you wish.

@Illiad Easle @Califorum I nodded silently at Maud's statement while I continued to look around. The workshop itself looked pretty impressive, and I was thinking about how the smith who created my sword would love this place. All the while, I was on the lookout for anything that might be a threat. I knew minotaurs loved their golems, and those things were built to last, as with anything built by them. I slowly ran a hoof over one of the workshop tables as I kept walking.

Sorry, I meant to post yesterday but I got my second covid vaccine and the side effects kicked in like crazy. I'll try to make a post later on in the day.

@Califorum Ok, no. We're not doing this. Ignoring what she said, I decided to keep walking slightly faster than her to keep my distance, but not too far that I couldn't see her. I wasn't trying to leave her alone, but I definitely did not want to deal with her shenanigans.

@Califorum At her response, I grumbled, rubbing my head again in frustration. "Uuuuggghhhh... I can only be so patient..." I grumbled under my breath. I started to walk slightly forward trying to keep a bit of distance. I could tolerate a lot of things, but her? I didn't really know at this point. It had something to do with the fact that I couldn't read her. If anything it was starting to get on my nerves...

@Califorum "D-uh... but I... hey, wait!" I tried to get her to stop, but she still went off, expecting me to follow. I rubbed my head in frustration, then sighed, ultimately giving in and running toward her to catch up. As I looked around, I observed the ancient structures making up the labyrinth, as well as how the paths seem to keep twisting and turning. Thank Celestia we had these threads on us, otherwise I'm not sure what we could do. As powerful as Than is, he couldn't travel very far from my location. 'Bout twenty feet, to be exact. Speaking of which... You sense anything yet? I asked him. No, nothing yet. But I will remain vigilant. He responded. I looked at Maud, who was standing pretty close to me. I frowned, and walked slightly away from her. "You just picked me to mess with me again, didn't you?" I asked.

@Califorum I continued to look ahead. "I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing. I mean, I survived this long in the wastes, so I'd like to think I'd know..." I said to her. "Besides... the moment something's off, Than'll sense it. I'm more prepared than you think." I was still a bit annoyed from the exchange on the airship, so I didn't say much.

@Califorum @Illiad Easle After leaving the aircraft and helping out with whatever I could, I saw Maud motion for us to come near a certain spot, which she cracked open with her pickaxe. After the hole had opened up, she looked at me and said "you first". Because of course it had to be me. I looked at her, then at the hole, then back at her. I shook my head, adjusting the sword at my waist. "Hmph," was all I said to her before I slowly walked in.

@Califorum All I could do was stand there, mouth slightly agape, which turned into a slightly angry and embarrassed look afterwards. My face turned red and I looked away in silence. It appears she as not as emotionless as she seems. Thanatos chimed in. Shut up. I continued to look away, unable to face her.

@Califorum I was at a disbelief for what I had just heard. No way she just said something like that to me. "...What did you say...? Did I just hear you mock me...?" I said, slight irriation in my voice.

@Califorum I care not for such primal endeavors. I only wish to serve the one I am contracted to, nothing more, Thanatos responded. I sighed. "Anyway... the voice you're speaking to, his name is Thanatos, and he's... well... he's a guardian spirit of sorts. We work together; I tell him what to do, he watches my back while I watch his, shit like that. I didn't to come him, mind you. He came to me, while I was bleeding out fighting off the spawn. Helped me up, drove off the rest of the spawn about to kill, then made a pact... that apparently doesn't break until I die, at which point he goes too..."

@Califorum Hmmm... a strange creature indeed... like stone, given life. Thanatos said before going silent. I shook my head. What did you have to do that for...? I asked him. I could see she was disturbing you, so I made it known to her. Yeah, but... why??? Because I sense you grow weary of such awkward interactions. I sighed before turning my attention back to Maud. "Alright, look. I can explain, but you do NOT say anything about this... yet. Got it?"

@Califorum My only response to hers was me blinking twice in disbelief. Did she just... make a joke? "Uhhh... oh," I said after a few seconds of awkward silence. "...Right. Well, don't mind me, I'm just gonna... take a break right here. That's about it..." Suddenly, without any warning whatsoever, Thanatos decided to join in the conversation. He didn't make a physical appearance, rather he projected his voice inside Maud's head, the same way he did to me. Since we were connected, I could hear everything he was saying. ...I believe you are making my master uncomfortable, unflinching one, he said to her. My eyes widened in shock. Damn it, Than, what the hell are you doing?!

@Califorum She noticed. Of course she fucking noticed. I slowly turned my head towards her and found her directly staring at me, again with the same blank expression that only a statue could rival. I made a slight embarrassing grin. "Wh...wh-what's up?" I said, not sure what else to say. When it came to this pony I found myself always at a loss for words.

@Illiad Easle If there's one thing I didn't see myself doing in my life, it was pedaling a giant metal box towards the continent of Minostralia. You'd think with all the technology back on the project-- not to mention the ACTUAL PROJECT ITSELF-- we'd have a more advanced means of transportion; something a bit more... autonomous in terms of power supply? Instead we were riding-slash-powering what was essentially a multi passenger bicycle with wings... I believe you had told me that technology was supposed to have been advanced, Thanatos said. ...Well, I guess in some areas the people of the Aether Project are a bit, uh... lacking. Though now that I think about it, it's probably not because they don't want to. With all the shit going on down below, I can't imagine there being enough magic power supplies of any sort left to use. Not to mention the resources needed to make them; they probably have to use them sparingly or only on what's necessary, like the main ship itself. For the record, it's not like I had trouble or really hated the idea of pedaling. Being in the Royal Guard as well as a mercenary, of course I was fit. I could probably do this in my sleep. If anything it just... looked really awkward, is all. Suddenly, the green light turned yellow, and I decided to get up and take a break. I found one of the few vacant spots open... @Califorum ...and it just so happened to be right where Maud was standing, FUCK. I slowly made my way over and kept a reasonable distance. Just don't look at her, Raze, and maybe she won't notice...

@Illiad Easle I saw the candidates for the guard team signal me to join them, and as I walked over toward them, a rather large griffon began to bombard me with questions straight out the gate. He seemed pretty... eager to know me. "Whoa there, one question at a time," I told him, as I shook his claw. "Yes, I was a guard for Princess Celestia. And yes, I've seen quite a bit since then. Maybe I'll tell you about it later, but for now let's just get going." After helping them load up the necessary supplies, I followed the group into the transport aircraft. I decided to sit away from Maud, mainly just to air out the... tension from the last conversation. Didn't need it to be any more awkward than it already was. As I took my seat, I looked down at the pedaling mechanism that was to supposed to power the ship. I immediately raised a brow. "...What is this, a group workout session?" I said under my breath.