private The Artifact (RP)

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

http://mlpforums.com/topic/29658-the-search-for-the-artifact/ The OOC, if the link is broken for you)

 

I made my way to the ceremony platform. The Everfree was spacious today; nothing was rampaging or angry. It was a good sign to say the least; perhaps Celestia was smiling on them. The elder was speaking;

 

"... We designate Quickly Point to be leader of the first group, paired with Starbolt. This group will search the East, including the teritories of the Gryphons, and the Alicorn Sea. Remember the code, protect each other; a death under your squad is dishonor to your name..." and then I stopped listening again. To be leader of a group to find the tablet; it was a huge honor, but I was still young. This wasn't a pairing of skill, somepony had it in for me. I had no idea who, and at the moment, I didn't care; this quest was my dream since my grandfather told me of it. After he passed, my father and I had grinded down every detail. Being sent to the east was practically a death sentance for my dream; everypony knew most of the artifacts hadn't made it out of the west. However, it was dishonor to speak against an order. Starbolt, he said. From what I knew, she was a civilian spellcaster with high skills in casting, low skills in fighting. I sighed inwardly; atleast I had some magic. We were both handed a pack filled with suplies, and then basically tossed out of the Nighthunter camp.

 

"Starbolt, I have one stop to make before we go."

Edited August 26, 2012 by Dawnpath

[Glaceon 793]

Starbolt was surprised to heard her named called out. She knew better than to question these kinds of orders. She saw Quick approach her. "Where would that be? I'm sure it won't be a problem." She replied to Quickly.

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

"Just a quick stop, nothing to worry about. Lets get a move on though; we need to move fast so that any information they gave us will still be valid," he says, striding on through the Everfree. She doesn't look acostom to long-distance travel. It'll be a problem, but I'd rather have her magic than leave her behind. By the wisdom of my elders, guide my path, He thinks, stopping infront of a tree.

[Opalicious 799]

As the elder gave out orders to the groups, Air Opal noted simply to follow the code and search the southern regions of Equestria for the artifact. He looked to Iron Bass, and back to the Elder, who was finishing the speech. Air Opal's thoughts began to wander toward supplies that they would need. Turning to Iron Bass once more, he simply uttered, "Let's go. We need supplies to survive."

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal silently looked at Iron Bass, looking to the weapon and the thoughts reflecting in his eyes. "You," he said, turning back in the direction of his hut in the forest. As he arrived with Iron Bass at his hut, he turned back to Iron Bass. "Wait outside, I'll get some supplies." He walked through the door and set his settle bag on his back, as well as placing medical supplies, food and other things like flints for fire, as well as his book of air spells. He never went on any journey without it, even though he knew every spell by heart. He headed back outside and turned back to the waiting pony. "If you're ready, let us go."

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal glanced at the pony, but he might as well tell him, this would be a hard mission and he would find out eventually anyway. "It's a spell book. My cutie mark represents talent in air spells." Air Opal looked to the far south, and as he imagined that they would have to travel that far, it seemed even further. "Let's get going, we're wasting time."

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal nodded, knowing it was good for both of them to agree on what they did. "We could take the path to the southeast then head west when we hit the ocean, unless you think that a different path would be better," he said, looking at the small path, unknown by everypony who had not traveled on it before. Quicksand and thorny vines were scattered throughout the path, but Air Opal knew how to avoid some of them, but not all.

Edited August 25, 2012 by The Opals

[Glaceon 793]

Starbolt followed Quickly through the Everfree. She wondered where was the third member of the party. As she recalled there were supposed to be three members. "Who is our third member?" She asked Quickly.

[Opalicious 799]

"We'll be fine, nothing that can kill us except quicksand." He took a step forward, before stopping again. "I you fall into the quicksand, grab a stick and try to float like it's water. Slowly wade to solid ground." Then he actually started walking.

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

"His name is Midnight; we have to pick him up in Canterlot, unless he finally decided to come out here," he said, pausing in front of a tree. He bucked it and a panle slid down. A whir of a magic spell charging hit his ears, and he murmered something inaudible. The spell powered down, and an elderly pony poked her head out. She smiled, "Ahh, Quickly. What a pleasant suprise."

 

"Hi Grandma Delah. This is Starbolt. May we come in?"

[Glaceon 793]

Starbolt stood at the entrance wondering if she should enter. The spell sealing the place looked impressive. She decided she would ask Quickly about that later. Sh turned and looked around the surrounding forest. No creatures nearby probably because of her and Quickly passing through.

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal led the way through the path, notifying quicksand in different placed along the path, carefully selecting his route and hoping Iron Bass would do the same. They eventually came upon a large tree that had fallen upon the trail. It was covering most of the trail, but there was a small route to the left, nonetheless covered in quicksand. He cursed under his breath, and told Iron Bass the news.

[Opalicious 799]

Air began to use his magic, producing a larger and larger force of wind every few seconds. The tree seemed to have rooted itself to the ground. Muttering to himself, he said, "If only Earth Opal were here." Turning back to Iron Bass, he said, "We might need to find a way to cross the quicksand."

Edited August 26, 2012 by The Opals

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

"Come on, Starbolt. Into the tree; you need suplies," Quickly called, munching on a cookie and taking a pack off a shelf. He then whistled, and a bird flew through the entrance. It chittered at him and peck his head, "Fine, fine, I get it! Enough cookies! Leave me alone!"

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal nodded as he listened to Iron Bass' plan. "Possible, but it would be easier without leaves," he continued, "much easier." He then remembered the book and what his talent was, and thinly smiled as he replied to himself, "Then again, what is magic for." He pushed the canopy from below to push the leaves off, and quite frankly it worked. Well, most of it. A few leaves were still left, but they wouldn't cause too much of a problem.

[Opalicious 799]

Air, bag, still carrying his own saddlebag on his back because it was quite light, picked up Iron Bass' bag, struggling at first at the amount of wait from the bag as well as the giant weapon. As he slowly became used to it, he passed it to Iron Bass' As he hopped to the first and second branch, he carefully balanced himself on the branch, making himself as light footed as possible. "Say, isn't it easier if I just carry your bag the whole way?"

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal followed gracefully behind him. With a featherweight spell, he could make himself light as air and hop around with falling. He did almost fall when a mistimed jump came exactly when Iron Bass seemed to stop and look at the branches, but Iron moved at the last moment to allow Air Opal to land, though messily. "Did you see something?"

[Opalicious 799]

There was no need to hear what Iron had said. He now heard it. He turned around and saw them, the giant swarm of ants. He turned around a took a giant leap to the other side of the tree, grabbing Iron Bass on the way to take him with him. As they landed, he turned around and placed a shield in front of him and tried to get rid of the ants, but they survived. Luckily they didn't get past the shield, but they were still there.

[Opalicious 799]

"I have a better idea," he shouted through the bustle of the ants. The shield emitted a loud whoosh of air as the ants seemed to fly off for no particular reason. Air Opal let out a triumphant smile but it was gone a few moments later. As suddenly as the ants had flown off, they were back. "Okay, when you say drop, I'll try to blow them off with some air, then we jump. Then we gallop as fast as we can out of this hell-hole and away from the ants!"

[Opalicious 799]

Air pushed the ants off the shield once more, and released the shield from it's position. Now they were in the open. Air Opal jumped to the bank and landed on his stomach, hooves scrabbling to get back up. He started galloping and turned his head back to Iron Bass. "Come on!"

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal galloped after Iron Bass, an idea slowly forming in his head. He grabbed his book and ran as he read, looking up every few seconds and soon he noticed they were almost at the end of his trail. He had found what he wanted in the book, and it was snugly sitting in the saddle bag. "Wait for me at the end," he shouted at Iron before turning and waiting for the whole swarm of ants to appear before him. And they did, but on the ground, it looked like a few decided to give chase, maybe a 100, taking up only a small part of the ground. He concentrated, then a tornado began to appear in front of him. Strong wind was turning into a circle right above the ants. Ants began to disappear like the small twister was a vacuum, every single one of the remaining ants being stored inside. With one final push, the tornado whizzed back the direction they came. Air turned around and huffed dramatically as he trotted toward the end of the trail.

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal nodded as his panting started to fade and his breathing returned to normal. "I won't be able to use any spells for a small while now, so let's hope we don't run into any danger. Air Opal surveyed the area and spotted the ocean in the close distance. "We're almost there."

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal noted the tree as well, and he was quite impressed with mother nature, for the grand tree stood tall and healthy, a safehouse for them if they climbed up. "We might as well set up camp here," he said, looking up at the sky," it'll be night soon and the sooner we find a sturdy structure, the better."

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal was already at it. He had packed two sleeping bags so that they could sleep relatively comfortably at all times. Not sure if Iron Bass wanted one, he took one for himself and set it up. The leaves above them would cover them from any rain, and there weren't any dangerous predators like killer ants in the tree. Then came the problem with the fire. Would they set up a fire on the ground, because that looked like the only option right now.

[Opalicious 799]

Air Opal set up his sleeping bag on a branch directly above the fire. He felt safer above the ground rather than on it. He hopped onto the ground and landed softly, before kneeling down and making space to make the fire, as well as setting some stray wood in a pile so the fire would blaze better. Remembering that Iron Bass would look for kinderling and fuel, he tried to get his attention before holding down the flints he had brought along.

 

(OOC: I have proof I brought flint, in case anypony asks ))

 

He walked through the door and set his settle bag on his back, as well as placing medical supplies, food and other things like flints for fire, as well as his book of air spells.