private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with Randimaxis

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad looked nonplussed, this would certainly be a difficult task. "Yes I can understand him, with Selena's help. Knee Slapper is a name, not an action, and I think he will be invaluable to us." He turned to go back to the mines. "The treasure, at the very least, was or contained this Lord's coffin, and he'd like it back. Let's go wake up some people and hopefully get this resolved before the sun comes up." 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle

 

 

Dax gave Oglevy/Arcus a sidelong look... but he agreed with Illiad.

 

"Yeah... we should go wake a few ponies up - this isn't something that can or should wait."

 

Dax gathered himself, slung a slightly used satchel over a shoulder, and began the trek back to the Blackwater Quarry.  Looking back at Illiad, he gave a worried glance towards the colt.

 

"So, uhm... let's see... Knee would have been on schedule today, as would Redd - today was a week-ender, so everypony available would have been in today to make sure their hours were correct before receiving their pay.  Chuck's ALWAYS on.  Silver mostly keeps to her shed."

 

Dax rolled his eyes and groaned.  "This will take FOREVER..."

 

Arcus looked over at the young stallion.  ".pets elgnis a htiw snigeb syawla ,raf woh rettam on ,yenruoj yreve - eno gnuoy ,ecneitaP"

 

Dax looked at Illiad for answers to that one.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

"Patience and journeys," he yawned, "Let's get chuck first, since he was on all day he should know who was in and out, or at the very least who knew about the cave and was also in the mines today. Outside of the time he was with me this afternoon, so he can account for all but about an hour of the day today."

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle 

 

The trek back to the quarry was punctuated with Dax looking at Arcus again and again, but not much else.  Reaching the gates, Dax got them entry, then the three of them made their way towards the barracks.

 

The miners at the Blackwater Quarry have always known to be hard workers... and in order to capitalize on this fact, the baracks were constructed to give workers a place to sleep onsite so as not to disturb the flow of work.  Only miners stayed in the barracks; other family was expressly forbidden, by Luther's word.  It was two stories tall, and large enough to fit at least twenty ponies comfortably.  Next to it were four more, all exactly like the first.

 

Dax made his way up to the first one and opened the door gently.  Luckily, it didn't creak.

 

"I'll go get Chuck from his room; wait here."

 

With that, he slipped inside the building and out of their sight.  Within five minutes, Chuck was at the door - bleary-eyed and grumpy-looking, but he was there.  Dax stood behind him as he looked with nearly-closed eyes right at Illiad.

 

"Whadiyahwahnt?"  Chuck muttered almost unintelligibly.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad flashed a smile that betrayed that he too was quite tired (I can see where you might think I'm Being sarcastic but I assure you I am not.) "The mine has been robbed, angering a really old alien ghost who has decided to posses Oglevy until what was stolen is returned. You were on almost all day and would know who knew the cloud diamond shaft was being sealed. That's who we need to investigate to get the treasure back."

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle

 

"Hah?  Awwww... gedowdahearwitdatstuff..."

 

Chuck yawned long and hard.

 

"Iztuerliinnamorninfrdis."

 

Dax stepped up to the bleary-eyed miner and looked him in the eye.

 

"Chuck... who... was on... the roster... for today?"

 

Chuck gave Dax an irritated glance at first, then looked thoughtful for a moment.

 

"... Slappah... Redd... Silvah... da Ons... an' Taps.  Izzafulcroo."

 

Arcus looked over at Illiad.  ".dnatsrednu ot tluciffid ma I mialc uoy dnA"

 

Dax nodded, and gave Chuck a pat on the shoulder.  "Go on back to bed, Chuck; we've got this in hoof."

 

Chuck gave Dax a sour look, which rolled across all three of them... though, by the lack of emotion other than a mild irritation, Illiad got the feeling that Chuck wouldn't even remember this conversation tomorrow.  His ire shared with the three of them, he turned and went back inside, closing the door with a rough thump.

 

Dax looked at Illiad.  "Okay, Slapper and Redd stay in barrack five... Silver stays in her shed... the Ons are in the manor...  and Taps stays at the Pony Express Station.  Where should we try first?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad sighed, "Well I'll certainly put a bit more effort into waking them up. Let's go to Slapper as he knows about this whole tunnel. I am suspicious of Redd though so we should go after him soon. Slapper also knew the tunnel was meant to be sealed so he might know who else knew about what the tunnel contained." 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle 

 

 

Barrack five was a short walk away, so they began to head over to it.

 

"Okay, Knee will probably know what we need to know about who knows about this... wow.  That sounded difficult to keep straight in my head; I hope you got all of that."

 

They looked on towards the building, nearing its steps, when Illiad caught a flash of movement from behind the Gem Refinery.

 

A flash of movement... and a streak of red.

 

Dax got up to the door of the barracks, and looked back at his friend and his possessed brother.

 

"Right, this should be easy enough... I think..."

 

Dax hesitated, trying to gather the words he would use in his mind.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

"Hold up Dax," Illiad drew some of the gem into a rectangular frame in front of him similar in size to a tower shield. "I just saw something Red moving behind the Refinery. I think I'll go check it out." He began to make his way towards the Refinery at a decent clip. "Watch the building in case it tries to go around the other side." 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle 

 

 

 

Dax nodded, and Arcus' eyes narrowed.  As Illiad went around the side, Dax went around the other.  Slowly, as he came around the side, he heard a voice muttering to itself, punctuated by the sounds of something heavy being dragged...

 

"... RRGH... MMRGH... stupid carts have to be locked up at night... RRRGH..."

 

Rounding the corner slowly, Illiad saw what looked to be a stallion dragging a large sack across the back of the Refinery, headed towards the gates.  With the crimson coat and the yellow mane, it was completely obvious that Redd Handid had just been caught-... well, YOU know.

 

He didn't even notice Illiad as he hauled on the obviously heavy burlap sack.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

"Evening Redd, lovely night for a stroll is it not? Now that I think of it, it's awfully odd for a day-walker like you to be moving about this late at night, someone might think you were... up to something. It's a good thing I found you, the mine's been robbed and we've been looking for all the foreponies that were on duty to see who had access to the tunnel that got robbed. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"

 

Illiad was fairly certain that Redd was in fact the thief, but  he decided to act like he didn't.

 

Illiad's shield worked on a magical principal of varying distribution of density, the shield would become more dense around points that tried to penetrate the frame by shifting mass from unaffected areas, especially good at blocking projectiles, though melee attacks were a bit more difficult.

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle 

 

 

Redd jumped when Illiad first spoke.

 

"GAAAAH!"

 

Dropping the end of the sack he'd been dragging along, Redd wheeled around, seething.

 

"YOU!?  What are YOU doing here?"

 

He listened as Illiad spoke, his brow furrowing as each world tumbled out - and anger rising faster and faster.  The Trojan had barely finished talking when Redd spoke up.

 

"Oh, so it's like THAT is it?  Don't play dumb with ME, you sand-head!  I know sarcasm when I hear it - you suspect ME, I suppose?  Well, the joke is on YOU!  What I have here has NOTHING to do with the quarry's gems OR equipment, so technically speaking, as forepony, I can lie claim to whatever falls outside of the Blackwater Quarry's spectrum; hence, this goodie... which I am CERTAIN you are here to take away from me, no doubt."

 

Redd stepped back from the sack, motioning to it.  His emotions were unexpectedly slipping from anger into sorrow... how strange.

 

"FINE then!  You want it, I'm certain - well you can HAVE it!  I don't need it for anything IMPORTANT, now do I?  Noooooo, Redd is ALWAYS up to no good; take HIS find away from him, as he doesn't have a NEED for money or anything of the sort, now does he?  Oh, it shall be FINE - no need to see to any sort of compensation or such, and NOT that I'd get any in the first place!"

 

He stalked up to Illiad, a roiling cauldron of rage and pain, and screamed at him.

 

"TAKE THAT DREAM FROM ME!  GO ON!  TAKE IT!"

 

Redd began to storm off, back towards the barracks... his fury deflating almost as fast as his sadness rose.  

 

(Still a chance to stop him, should you feel so inclined; your call.)

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad shook his head and sighed. "I didn't say the quarry had been robbed, the mine had. There was a reason that tunnel was being sealed, and because you stole this Ogelvy had his body stolen from him. And it is Your Fault. Your so called find was already claimed by the entity that caused the tunnel to be sealed anyway. You put everyone here at risk for your own greed, much like Mr. Blackwater did." Illiad retrieved the bag and began walking towards where he left the others, Maybe Redd heard him, maybe not. He was unstable now and Illiad was too tired to care much. He kept his shield up in case Redd went violent, regardless of Redd's feelings on the matter the treasure had to be returned to Lord Arcus. "Is this what you were looking for?" he asked as he passed the bag to the others. "I certainly hope so, it looks like I have a bunch of paperwork to do in the morning." 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle

 

 

The colt's eyes grew brighter as he saw the bag.

 

"...efas eb ,esaelp ...erusaert yM"

 

The colt pulled the bag down, revealing a very strange looking chest.  Arcus ran Oglevy's hoof over it, then bowed his head.

 

"...hcum os uoy knaht ...uoy knaht ...egduJ ,uoy knahT  .reh fo tfel evah I lla si ti ...ynapmoc em peek ot dniheb ydob reh tfel tey ,no devom ehs ;itsillaK ,rethguad ym fo ecalp gnitser lanif eht si ...sihT"

 

Tears began to roll out of Oglevy's eyes, and he hugged the chest tightly.

 

Dax, who had been watching from the shadows, stepped up next to Illiad and put on a confused face.

 

"Is he... hugging that box of treasure?" he asked quietly.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

"You're quite welcome," Illiad said with a nod. "Let's get these things back where they belong now shall we?" Illiad turned towards Dax, "He's hugging the memory, and all he has left, of someone he cared deeply for." Illiad took a few steps towards the mines before turning back towards the group. "I'll seal the tunnel tonight myself, so no one can bother you again before the mine seals the tunnel their own way. You won't be disturbed by us any longer." 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle 

 

 

Arcus turned to face Illiad.  ".no evom ot emit si ti ;regnol yna ereh ecaep evah ton llahs I  .ereh sgniht dne ot eno eht eb llahs I dna ...llams YREV ...pihs llams a tfarc ot em rof enotS atayK hguone si ereht - thginot dne llahs sihT  .thginot gnivael eb llahs I ;deen on si ereht ...egduJ ,oN"

 

Arcus/Oglevy stepped back from the chest, and the glow in his eyes changed intensity.  The chest lifted from the ground without hesitation, and began to float along behind him as he walked toward the mines.

 

Dax watched this happening, and was somewhat impressed when the chest simply floated along behind his possessed brother.  He shrugged at Illiad and with a worried look on his muzzle, he began to follow along behind the colt and the chest.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad nodded as he followed after Arcus, "I'm sorry that you will not have peace here anymore. Let me help you with your ship, it's the least I can do." Illiad pondered on what this new development would mean, With Arcus gone the tunnel will be safe to mine once more, meaning they can extract whatever cloud diamond Arcus doesn't use in the construction of his ship, and they don't have to worry about breaking in to the sealed tunnel later on. A great turn of events actually.

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle

 

 

Arcus sighed deeply.

 

".yrenecs fo egnahc a evah ot doog fo dlrow a od yam ti ;tnecalpmoc emoceb evah yam I ,gnol os rof ereh neeb evah I - em rof erutnevda gnitseretni na eb lliw siht spahreP  .oga gnol yrev os dnik rieht fo eno eb ot desaec I ...gnivil eht fo mlaer eht nihtiw si hcihw ,ssergorp si tI  .dah ecno ti ytiliuqnart eht wonk reve ot em rof ereh ytivitca hcum oot raf si ereht ...egduJ ,tseb eht rof si ti spahreP"

 

Entering the tunnels, they made their way down to the same open chamber that Illiad had seen before.  Arcus stepped into the center of the room, and extended his hooves upward.

 

".MIEHSALAG"

 

With this single uttered word, the remaining Cloud Diamond on the ceiling began to reform right before their eyes.  Slowly, what appeared to be a pointy eggplant formed from the Diamond deposit, and Arcus' chest hovered up and slid right into the side, as if it were intangible.  This done, he turned back to face Illiad and Dax.

 

"...emit eht eb dluow won ,os fI  ?yas ot erom gnihtyna eb ereht dluow ;noitasrevnoc tsal ruo eb llahs sihT"

 

Arcus/Oglevy stood there, awaiting a response.  Dax looked to Illiad and raised an eyebrow in question.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad turned to Dax, "He's asking if you have any final questions before he leaves." Turning back to Lord Arcus, "So long as you return Oglevy to us I wish you nothing but the best of luck in your future endeavors." Illiad, though tempted to ask a question, knew it would likely be best to learn what he would in his own time, without the interference of the Extra-equistrial. (Like Extra-terrestrial but Equis instead of Terra)

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle 

 

 

Dax looked at the being who was controlling his brother's body, and said, "I hope your journeys are safe, and your travels never end."

 

Arcus seemed a bit surprised by such, yet smiled in return.

 

"... thaaaaannnnnk... yooooouuuu..."

 

Arcus had to struggle to use Oglevy's voice, but he found the way to speak to Dax.  For the effort, Dax gave a small start... then grinned back.

 

This done, the ghostly lord turned his smile at Illiad, then turned back around to face his ship.  There was a quick flash of bright blue light, the Oglevy simply fell over with a groan.  The ship itself was silent, yet slowly rose off the ground, hovering in place for a moment before moving forward slowly.  As the two of them watched, the ship itself bent around corners and stretched and squashed as it carefully hovered out of the now Cloud-Diamond-barren cavern and towards the surface.

 

Once arriving there, it pointed itself skyward.  It began to glow the same color as Arcus' eyes, and Illiad felt a tingle in the back of his mind.

 

>The stars, they ever shine upon you; someday, you shall shine upon them, Judge Illiad.  Farewell.<

 

Suddenly, in a flash, the ship darted straight up... and was gone in only a few seconds.  A final flash of light appeared when it reached space... then, nothing but stars.

 

Dax looked after the ship for a moment, as if he could actually see it fly off... then he yawned, long and hard.  That done, he looked down at the sleeping form of Oglevy; the colt really did look adorable, now that he was sleeping.  Dax looked at Illiad.

 

"Okay, get him on my back, and we can go back to the manor; I'll put him in his bed, then I guess I'll go to mine - I dunno if I can make the walk back to the tent without falling asleep on my hooves..."

 

He grinned as he worked the colt onto his back with Illiad's assistance.  As they began walking, it was a touching sight: the older brother carrying his sleeping sibling home to bed.  In that moment, it looked as if there would be some hope at the sight of this - Dax loved his family, no matter how they acted or treated him.  And, in their own way, they loved him, too.

 

If Illiad had just been passing through the quarry, he would have never known this family was as deep or complex as it truly was... and he would have never met so many fascinating ponies, either.  This Cultural Exchange had turned out to be far, far more than expected.

 

They crept into the manor, quiet as mute mice, and made their way to the rooms.  At Oglevy's door (complete with a sign that read, 'Your presence here is forbidden!' in bold letters), Dax opened it softly and turned back to his friend.

 

"I've got it from here... go on to your room and get some sleep - we have a picnic to go to tomorrow.  Good night, Illiad."

 

With that, Dax crept into Oglevy's room and quietly shut the door.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad didn't really know how to react to the whole situation, and he was far too tired at the moment to particularly care. Especially since he had quite a bit of writing to do in the morning about the whole indecent. He returned to his room and collapsed on the tub cover without disrobing, it having occurred to him then that he hadn't disrobed at the tent either. It wasn't long before he was asleep.

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle

 

[DAY 4]

 

 

Illiad awoke to the sound of careful knocking at his door.

 

The room was cool and still.  Apparently, nopony had come inside here while he was sleeping this time; except for the knocking, he was alone.  The previous night's happenings almost felt like a dream... but only almost.  There were far too many strangenesses that happened to EVER believe they were real; so, naturally, they were.

 

From the other side of the door came another soft knock.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad pulled his diamond from his head where it had been sitting as and earpiece since the previous night. He formed it back to a diamond and left it drift where it may as he moved to the door, painfully aware of his bedraggled and utterly disheveled appearance.

 

He opened the door enough to see who it could be as he wondered what time it was. "Who is it?" 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Illiad Easle

 

"Ah, good - THERE you are, Mr. Easel!"

 

It was Vylia Blackwater... unaccompanied by her two servants, for once.

 

"I was hoping I would catch you before you took off with Daxter today - excellent!"

 

She smiled broadly at him.

 

"I would absolutely adore for you to accompany me today, as I have a number of different errands to see to, and would very much appreciate some company; the conversation we had the first day was fabulous... but hardly enough for my tastes!  Come now, Mr. Easel - would you please be so kind as to accompany me?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@Randimaxis,

 

Illiad stared at her bleary eyed, not quite sure if she was serious. He blinked as he thought about it, "Um... Sure I guess, just give me some time to get ready, I just woke up." He was already prepping a light cleansing spell, just in case she was insistent about his immediate departure and he didn't have time to change robes or bathe beforehoof.