open Into Limbo: Worlds Collide

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Starforce @Kujamih

Blu sighed and shook his head at the bear's non-answer, it was unclear to Blu whether the bear even understood the question. "Forget it, I can make more shell casings anyway, let's just get to the castle ruins then."

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle @Starforce

As Dusk lead's the way, the group got deeper into the everfree forest.

It got a bit humid and damp, dark and shady.

The bear a little bit worried.

But it seems the path they're taking is less damp and into a path. Slowly but surely, the remnants of the ruin shows.  The pathway is made of rock tiles. A stone bridge crossing the gorge, and up a head a beaten down gate that seems to lead to the ruined castle. Even though there's less foliage in the area, the place still remains dark and damp for unknown reason. It also doesn't help that a thick purple fog envelopes the area.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @Starforce

Blu was a bit hesitant at the purple fog, "Hmm, that fog is either magical in some way, or contains a strong amount of volcanic aerosols. Is this castle built over a hot spring or active volcano or something? Better question, why was the castle abandoned in the first place?"

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Starforce @Illiad Easle

Since Blu was learning about magic and was getting used to it, he could feel that the fog has a weird feel to it.

It has energy, a weird sensation to it.

Dusk on the other hoof has felt it was no ordinary fog. But it isn't ominous as well..

Actually, absorbing the mist somewhat replenishes ones magical energy. But of course, first timers such as Blu would cough a bit if he inhales it. He might think that this fog might be questionable at best.

As they cross the broken down stone bridge. They'd notice that the bridge seems to be made earlier than the rest of the ruins... Seems like it was built after, like just a year or so, but wasn't maintained well.

But the gate  ahead was surely the same date as the ruins, since half of the structure was already gone.

Further ahead, they'd see the old ruin, dark and cloudy with a side of thunderstorm on the background.

Mr. Bear would try to get comfort from Dusk by carrying her and hugging her as he bite his nails with anxiety.

Edited April 25, 2022 by Kujamih

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @Starforce

Blu would adjust his coat in an attempt to limit the amount of fog he'd be breathing in, as he had no reason to trust it. "Let's try and get somewhere high, that should give us a good vantage to overlook the forest with as well as stay above the fog, maybe then we'll be able to see where it's coming from."

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

 @Illiad Easle @Starforce

Looking for a place to climb, the group could either pick the ruined gate which is high enough to avoid the fog; They could go for the trees that surround the ruins, but then they wouldn't be able to see much and would end up farther away from the ruins; or they could run for the Ruins and hide inside, hoping that the fog dosnt extend inside, but lose the chance of knowing what's causing the fog.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @Starforce

Blu of course fully intended to go inside the ruins, castles were known for having ways to get up to the battlements after all. Although, he idly pondered as he went to enter the structure, in a world where magic or wings could get one over or through walls, perhaps battlements weren't all that necessary, or even useful as a defensive measure. At the very least, it wouldn't need as many access points if the guards could fly or teleport up.

Still, if there were access points they'd no doubt be stairs, not ladders, as he doubted many ponies could effectively climb ladders unencumbered, much less in full armor and carrying weapons.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Starforce @Illiad Easle

As they got near the ruins they would easily find a large castle door. At first glance it seems to be impossible for a single pony to open the door but there's large enough cracks  that a pony could fit in, but now their problem is Mr. Bear.

It seems that mister bear isn't affected by the mist, but was visibly affected by the ambiance of the place, since he was shacking non stop.

Choices needs to be made though.

Leave the bear or find another way in.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Starforce @Kujamih

Blu couldn't care less about the bear. After all, the bear hadn't done anything for him, and hadn't been useful in any capacity up until this point, so he had no qualms leaving the bear behind, taking advantage of his own small size to slip through a hole in the door to start looking for anything useful, like a way up.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle @Starforce

The bear would give them a sad expression as they left him behind.

 

Inside the ruins...luckily has lesser purple mist inside but as expected inside, is a castle design in ruins. Moss, vines, debris, puddles and broken stuff everywhere. Mostly anything valuable must've been taken by the recent expedition made by Starlight Glimmer.

They can explore more in this floor or they could either head to the stairs leading either up or down.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @Starforce

Blu hardly expected there to be anything of value in such an easily accessed area, but he had no knowledge of any recent expedition, nor reason to believe that it had been recently visited, especially considering how the door blocked the convenient entrance. If the bear could not get in, nothing large had likely been removed, as otherwise it would be far more efficient to simply open or remove the door first.

Still, he was undeterred in his efforts to go up and try and get a vantage point of the surrounding area.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle @Starforce

( the librarian already told the group that starlight and the princess of friendship have already  made an expedition to collect valuables in the ruins. For some reasons Blu and Dusk had forgotten or simply didn't hear that part.)

As they head above the ruined castle. They'd enter a ruined throne room, set with damaged tapestries and displayed armor.

At the center seems to be a large ornament that seems to be holding 5 items on it, but it seems that the items was already stolen or missing. And at the end of the hall, the throne itself. But it seems some hooded figure is siting there waiting for you.

Edited April 29, 2022 by Kujamih

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @Starforce

Blu was of course wary of the hooded figure sitting on the throne, but figured, given everything else, it was likely no more than a skeleton. Maybe the old king who had been murdered on their throne and as such left to rot along with the castle?

He would check the displayed armor, depending on the craftsmanship he might be able to repurpose the metal for slugs and casings, maybe even a rudimentary barrel if he needed to invent the musket before he could make new bullets for his pistol. He'd speak quietly to Dusk, "Can you see if that hooded figure there is a threat? You're the most equipped to deal with it if it is."

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle @Starforce

Dusk has spoken ,yet with no reply. Seems like she has spoken to air?

As she is near the hooded figure. It seems a pony with flesh is covered upon it, but yet it dosn't reply to you? Perhaps the pony is rude or just didn't hear you?

But soon enough you would hear the hooded pony snoring ever so gently.

Upon further investigation, the clothing rapped around her are torn and tattered.

It seems the pony had a rough time.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @Starforce

Blu was confident in Dusk's ability to handle the situation, and he hadn't heard any screams or indication that Dusk was not handling it, so he continued his efforts to reclaim the armor.

Any leather or cloth in the armor was no doubt decayed by that point, and he didn't have use for it any way, but he'd gather up whatever metal he could, no matter the form it was in.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

The mare has a black coat and a white long mane. It's hard to tell but her body is bruised and dirty. It seems she has no weapon on her, she has no horns and it seems that there's no bulge on her back, so no wings.

It seems your first light nudge didn't wake her up. She must be in a really deep sleep.

 Would you still proceed on waking her up?

(Drawing her right now.)

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

Mare on the broken throne..... ........................................................................................

.........................................................................

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle

The metal of the display was more for display than for wearing, as it was apparent that the metal was quite thick and impractical.

Even the sheet of the blade is made of metal. The rust though has only formed from the outside surface and a few polishes could remove it easily. A proper forge is needed or a spell involving metallurgy.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Starforce@Illiad Easle

As Dusk tried to shake the pony to wake. A heavy mass hit Her out of no where flinging her away from the black furred pony.

As she collects herself and Blu notices the commotion.

They'd see that the mare they disturbed has a shark's tail attached to it. It seems it used it to swipe off Dusk away from her.

Her eyes opened slowly showing her glowing red eyes. But it seems as the half shark pony was shocked as she sees you both.

" Shit it's the SMILE!" She yelled as she tries to run away from both of you.

The creature was moving quite agile but a noticable limp can be spotted as she tries to escape through the window, slowing her quite a bit.

She seem desperate to run away from you as to jump through the window from what seems to be a high place.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Kujamih

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @Starforce

Blu was satisfied with the state of the armor, at the very least it was a good amount of raw material that he'd be able to melt down and reshape. In a castle like this, he'd be surprised if they didn't have a forge on site, at least a small one in or near the armory for repairs. They'd have to look for that next. The scabbard would also be rather easy to reshape into a barrel. He'd just need to cut the end off and widen the interior, round it out with magic.

If the armor still had it's sword he'd take that, otherwise he would just take the scabbard and as much of the armor plates as he could carry.

Turning his attention to the now active creature, the shark tail making it less likely to be a normal pony, and given their reaction to the possibility of them being Smile agents, either from the school of 'friendship' or an outsider like himself. Still, Dusk seemed to have a good handle on the situation, so he'd stay back, but he'd be ready to assist if need be.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle@StarlightMirage

" don't touch me Smile scum!" She yelled as her eyes glows bright red menacingly and black dust starts to breaks down from her body to the point that she became one with the Dust. Because of that, she was able to break off of Dusk telekinesis.

The shadow tries to slip pass through both of you, to the stairs leading down.

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

The shadow that Dusk captured in a bubble starts to violently react upon her capture and releases more energy.

Soon after it would explode and reveal back the hooded shark pony laying down on the throne room floor fainted.

 

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Kujamih @StarlightMirage

Blu rolled his eyes at the display before turning his attention back to disassembling the armor. He'd strap as much as he could easily carry to his back, "You really need to work on your diplomacy skills, though why she didn't just go out the window when she transformed I've no idea. Maybe she wanted to get caught? Or maybe she knows of a safe place inside the castle?" He shrugged, "We're not going to convince her that we're not dangerous by trying to capture her. I think if we just leave her alone, provided she sticks around, she'll come to realize that we aren't interested in doing her any harm."

He'd try to use his magic to at least move the strange mare into a more comfortable position before turning his attention elsewhere, "Given the armor pieces here, there's a good amount of raw material we can use. I'm hoping they'll have a forge of sorts somewhere nearby, maybe in an armory? Let's look around."

[Evil Pink One 13,506]

@Illiad Easle @StarlightMirage

The explosion didn't seem to have injured or fazed the two ponies and would just continue to explore and leave the shark pony alone instead.

It seems Blu is fully focused on making use of all these metals around him and become the very first gun smith in this Equestria.

As they've explored quite a bit In the throne room and not much has cought their attention, going down would be their probable option.

A couple of rooms would be seen on the  ground floor. A large dinning room, a large kitchen, a large indoor garden area, some areas that looks like a locker room of some sort, an empty library and a large hall way.

What's notable is that the kitchen area has a large oven. With some adjustments and ingenuity they can use that room as a forge if need be, or they can continue exploring to the basement.

Edited May 4, 2022 by Kujamih

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Starforce @Kujamih

On 2022-05-03 at 10:48 PM, Kujamih said:

It seems Blu is fully focused on making use of all these metals around him and become the very first gun smith in this Equestria.

Blu felt vulnerable in this strange new world, and was wholly unused to relying on others for support, having received very little in the way of parental guidance or love even before his parents disappeared, then his adoptive father disappearing only a few years later. Stuck as he was, he was focused on trying to mitigate his vulnerability, which is why he learned shields from Dusk, and was trying to learn runes and make new bullets for his gun: So that he would no longer be defenseless. Once he had a reliable and sustainable way to defend himself, he'd be able to devote more attention to the ponies and events going on around him.

On 2022-05-03 at 10:48 PM, Kujamih said:

A couple of rooms would be seen on the  ground floor. A large dinning room, a large kitchen, a large indoor garden area, some areas that looks like a locker room of some sort, an empty library and a large hall way.

Blu would note down the relative positions of the rooms they found in his notebook, along with a brief description of whatever they found useful in the room. Given they hadn't encountered much in the way of danger thusfar in their exploration, he felt comfortable getting a first look at all the rooms prior to looking deeper into the rooms they had already discovered. No point in modifying an oven into a forge if there was a perfectly suitable armory hiding downstairs. 

Unless Dusk found something interesting, and asked him to take a look, he'd continue into the basement.