open Artifacts of Harmony

[Steel Accord 6,660]

"Called it!" Steel said in the darkness before Faceless lit a match. Steel was annoyed at himself that he didn't have the foresight to actually tell his companions of his hunch. 

 

 

  On 2013-01-22 at 4:45 PM, Faceless said:

"Hmm... for this to happen now means two things. One, that somepony put this trap in after my visit, which seems a bit silly. And two's that somepony knew we were going to be here..."

 

 

"If that's the case, then whoever set the trap may still be here." Steel said. "Hey! Wiseguy!" Steel cried out to the darkness beyond the match's light. "If you be so fearsome, then face your foes like a man! Or are you content to let shadows and traps protect you from our wrath?" Steel demanded, unsure if he was even calling to anypony.

Edited January 23, 2013 by Steel Accord

[N8C8 56]

Swish picked up the torch on the other wall, putting away his shield to carry it. He struck his own match to light the torch. Slowly, he walked across the rocks blocking the exit. He could see nothing to escape through.

"I guess we'll have to get out through the other side... if there is another side..." Swish walked to Faceless. "So Faceless, you were here before? Any other idea on how to get out of here?"

Edited January 23, 2013 by N8C8

[Faceless 101]

"Well, as I recall, these ruins used to be an old fort used back in the days when the land was still infested with Windigos. It's a good piece of history, but we only came this far because we didn't expect to find anything. It's fairly large for a fort, but should be easy to manuover through.

"The thing that worries me is what caused the boulder to fall. I would advise everypony to watch their step..."

[Addem Up 246]

Addem gulps, nervously tapping the ground in front of him before getting up and gathering his things. He stuffs them back into his bag, then nods. "Well, unless you plan on living down here, we need to find a way out." He pauses, looking around the fort. "Any ideas?"

[Faceless 101]

Faceless smiled. "We play the game of whoever is trapping us and hope that we don't get in the way of some other trap."

 

Flyer glanced at where everypony was standing, unable to see who triggered the trap. "Next trap we find might actually be helpful to see how it is triggered..." He sighed and started to walk into the next room. "Let's get moving!"

[Addem Up 246]

Addem hurries after him, not wanting to be left alone. He fiddles with his glasses nervously before piping up. "You've been here before, right? Are all the rooms as large as this one, or do they get smaller? And do you know about any traps that were already here?"

[Faceless 101]

"I haven't ventured in for a few reasons. For one, there probably won't be anything interesting down here apart from a few rusty swords or armor and the second is that, during the time of the Windigos, forts like there were CRAWLING with booby traps... just to put your mind at rest!"

 

"The rooms? They will vary. There will most likely be wide corridors..."

Edited January 23, 2013 by Faceless

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

Wide corridors was an accurate statement. There appeared to be several dozen nozzles in the wall- decoration, or a means to spear them through? But whatever the purpose, there are obvious signs that someone was here recently. For one, a torch is lit down the hall, illuminating a room full of traps... and, whether they saw him or not, a masked figure on the other end.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

Harmonic was amazed when he saw the corridors.

"Where do you think they'd keep valuables in a place like this? These ruins are not styled like any I have seen before." He says, in amazement. This wasn't the type of architecture he was used to seeing around these parts. Harmonic assumed a place like this would probably be full of traps but at the same time worth it.

[Addem Up 246]

Addem looks around the corridors, tracing a hoof against the walls. "There's something here, definitely. I'm not sure what it is, but it's enchanted. It might be a trap, but it might be a relic of some sort." He grins, his breathing quickening. "This is exciting, isn't it?"

[Faceless 101]

"This is a strange decor for a military fort..." Faceless mused, rubbing his chin. "Somepony has been here, but who?" Faceless took off his glasses and clipped them to the bangles on his hind-leg, looking at the room ahead, skeptically.

 

"As much as I would love to dive in, something feels amiss... I'm sure it's nothing!" Flyer suddenly said, joining the others to venture deeper.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Steel kept his eyes scanning his surroundings. Looking for anything that resembled a shape moving in the shadows, or the glint of a blade in the dim light. His instincts told him that they weren't alone. "Hey guys, keep your wits about you. Something tells me there's more in here than relics." He said to his companions.

 

Suddenly, Steel thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye. Sweeping with his right blade, he scrapped his weapon against the rock wall. Sparks flew, illuminating the wall for a moment. "I'm sorry." Steel gasped. "I could've sworn there was something there."

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

  On 2013-01-23 at 9:31 PM, Addem Up said:

Addem looks around the corridors, tracing a hoof against the walls. "There's something here, definitely. I'm not sure what it is, but it's enchanted. It might be a trap, but it might be a relic of some sort." He grins, his breathing quickening. "This is exciting, isn't it?"

"This is exciting. I'm not sure what I'm more excited about, the new architecture or the possibility of an enchanted relic being here."

Harmonic says, to no one in particular, but implying he was talking to Addem.

 

Suddenly he sees steel swing his sword across the wall, making a loud noise and making some sparks fly, Steel quickly apoligized. However, Harmonic knew something didn't feel right.

 

"It's quite alright...something...doesn't...feel right..about this place." Harmonic says, as a chill travels up his hooves and through his back. He feels like something is watching.

[N8C8 56]

  On 2013-01-26 at 6:38 PM, ~Chaotic Aeternae Salvtis~ said:

"This is exciting. I'm not sure what I'm more excited about, the new architecture or the possibility of an enchanted relic being here."

Harmonic says, to no one in particular, but implying he was talking to Addem.

 

Suddenly he sees steel swing his sword across the wall, making a loud noise and making some sparks fly, Steel quickly apoligized. However, Harmonic knew something didn't feel right.

 

"It's quite alright...something...doesn't...feel right..about this place." Harmonic says, as a chill travels up his hooves and through his back. He feels like something is watching.

 

"You got that right... This place is eerie." Swish admitted. "Try to ignore it. Paranoia is the last thing that'll help us at this point."

Of course, not taking his own advice, he looked behind him when a slight breeze fell upon his back. It could have been wind made from someone running, although it could have been natural... However, the only exit that they know of behind them was sealed. How could it be natural?

[Addem Up 246]

Addem sighs, looking around. "So what do we do now? Go on ahead, or what?" He looks towards the holes in the wall. "Those don't look too promising..." He sighs, shrugging. "I really have no experience here. Whatever you think is best, I'll go with that. You're probably my best chance of getting out alive."

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

  On 2013-01-26 at 9:23 PM, Addem Up said:

Addem sighs, looking around. "So what do we do now? Go on ahead, or what?" He looks towards the holes in the wall. "Those don't look too promising..." He sighs, shrugging. "I really have no experience here. Whatever you think is best, I'll go with that. You're probably my best chance of getting out alive."

"From my experience, holes in the wall are usually dug by animals or caused by corrosion. Either it'll lead us to another corridor or it'll lead us to a nest of feral animals capable of digging through stone. Want to take your chances?" Harmonic asks in an almost mocking tone.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

  On 2013-01-26 at 9:23 PM, Addem Up said:

Addem sighs, looking around. "So what do we do now? Go on ahead, or what?" He looks towards the holes in the wall. "Those don't look too promising..." He sighs, shrugging. "I really have no experience here. Whatever you think is best, I'll go with that. You're probably my best chance of getting out alive."

 

 

  On 2013-01-26 at 10:01 PM, ~Chaotic Aeternae Salvtis~ said:

"From my experience, holes in the wall are usually dug by animals or caused by corrosion. Either it'll lead us to another corridor or it'll lead us to a nest of feral animals capable of digging through stone. Want to take your chances?" Harmonic asks in an almost mocking tone.

 

                   "Well, while I'm no dungeon diver or scientist, but I think I have an idea from my own area of expertise." Steel said. "Feel free to dismiss my thoughts, but stories have a power and magic all their own. We all fulfill certain roles and parts in our own and each other's lives, consciously or not. And just as the weather can be melded and bent to suit our desires the rest of reality can, to a small degree, be similarly affected." Steel took the torch in one hoof and began to trace the wall with the other while flying. "All that requires is it be consistent with what we've already established . . ." He put his ear to the side and knocked a few times. " . . . and it be dramatically appropriate. "And since we know this used to be a military fort and possibly magical." His hoof caught a holder for a torch, high enough that it must've been of pegasus make. "We know that they could have had . . ." He stuck the torch in the holder.

 

            With the groaning of ancient mechanisms, a slab of stone turned sideways. Revealing a passage behind it. " . . . . secret rooms." Steel said with a grin as he touched down.

Edited January 26, 2013 by Steel Accord

[Faceless 101]

"I need you in some of my expeditions, Steel!" Faceless grinned as he poked his head into the secret room. "Looks dangerous. Then again, the room in front doesn't look great either. Lets have a look at what we have here!" Without a thought to what the secret room might contain, Flyer walked straight towards the middle, his eyes darting back and forth as if expecting something to happen.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

"Flyer wait!" Steel dove in after him but it was too late, the door swung close behind them. Leaving both pegasi in darkness. "I don't mean to be cruel and if anypony would understand enthusiasm effecting one's judgement, it would be me." Steel calmly explained. "But what possessed you to just trot through a dark foreboding passageway in a dungeon!? We were stuck, so what I did 'advanced the plot'." Steel air quoted with his feathers, heedless that Flyer couldn't see it. "What you did, was reminiscent of the infamous Killroy Jenkins.Running head long into danger ahead of one's companions is practically begging the Universe for reprisal."

 

"Don't worry. I have an idea though." Steel reassured. "But YOU have to do it!" Steel poked Flyer in the chest. "Sorry. Anyway, I've done too much already. Getting trapped here was even partially my fault in the first place. My opportunities to effect the story are practically spent." There was a pause in the darkness. "Don't look at me like that. This is magic! Addem would back me up on this if he could hear me." Steel pounded the wall with a hoof in quick succession. 

 

" . . . ."

 

"Flyer, you have got to do something to get us out of here!" Steel stressed. "Be dramatic. Be funny! But overall, be YOURSELF! What would you normally do in this situation? Some kind of obscure knowledge of dungeon doors or clever technique. Right now, your the star!" Steel paused. "Take it away . . . make it your own." 

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

  On 2013-01-26 at 11:43 PM, Steel Accord said:

"Flyer wait!" Steel dove in after him but it was too late, the door swung close behind them. Leaving both pegasi in darkness. "I don't mean to be cruel and if anypony would understand enthusiasm effecting one's judgement, it would be me." Steel calmly explained. "But what possessed you to just trot through a dark foreboding passageway in a dungeon!? We were stuck, so what I did 'advanced the plot'." Steel air quoted with his feathers, heedless that Flyer couldn't see it. "What you did, was reminiscent of the infamous Killroy Jenkins.Running head long into danger ahead of one's companions is practically begging the Universe for reprisal."

 

"Don't worry. I have an idea though." Steel reassured. "But YOU have to do it!" Steel poked Flyer in the chest. "Sorry. Anyway, I've done too much already. Getting trapped here was even partially my fault in the first place. My opportunities to effect the story are practically spent." There was a pause in the darkness. "Don't look at me like that. This is magic! Addem would back me up on this if he could hear me." Steel pounded the wall with a hoof in quick succession. 

 

" . . . ."

 

"Flyer, you have got to do something to get us out of here!" Steel stressed. "Be dramatic. Be funny! But overall, be YOURSELF! What would you normally do in this situation? Some kind of obscure knowledge of dungeon doors or clever technique. Right now, your the star!" Steel paused. "Take it away . . . make it your own." 

 

Harmonic noticed the two of them trotting down the passage, and he quickly follows. He finally catches up with Steel and Flyer.

 

"Guys, hold on, let me get out a torch." Harmonic says, he levitates a torch out, and lights it magically. The passage is illuminated and bones of various creatures litter the ground.

 

"I don't like the looks of this.." Harmonic said, looking down at the bones.

 

"They're from ponies alright, somepony was down here before us, they look pretty recent." He added.

[Addem Up 246]

Addem jerks backwards as the door slams shut. "Guys? Can you hear me?" He knocks on the hard stone, the sound echoing through the corridor. He knocks harder, then growls, stepping back and preparing himself. He charges, smashing into the heavy stone and dropping like a load of bricks. Groaning, he reaches for his glasses, then freezes as a spear shoots through the air directly above his head. He gulps, saying, "G-guys? I found a trap..."

[Faceless 101]

"What would I do at this moment?" Faceless repeated, rubbing a hoof against his chin. "Probably take a look at what I got ourselves into... let's see here..." Faceless looked around the room, seeing quite a few corridors leading off in different directions. Suddenly, he heard something.

 

 

  On 2013-01-27 at 4:40 AM, Addem Up said:

"G-guys? I found a trap..."

 

"Addem!" Faceless spun round "Addem, if you can hear me, keep down! Traps are usually aiming for the torso from the sides as that gives them the more likely chance of hitting. Watch out for small holes in the floor and odd looking slabs which stick out." Flyer then spun round to Steel. "We got to find those two. Should we split up or keep together?"

[Steel Accord 6,660]

  On 2013-01-27 at 1:03 PM, Faceless said:

"What would I do at this moment?" Faceless repeated, rubbing a hoof against his chin. "Probably take a look at what I got ourselves into... let's see here..." Faceless looked around the room, seeing quite a few corridors leading off in different directions. Suddenly, he heard something.

 

 

 

"Addem!" Faceless spun round "Addem, if you can hear me, keep down! Traps are usually aiming for the torso from the sides as that gives them the more likely chance of hitting. Watch out for small holes in the floor and odd looking slabs which stick out." Flyer then spun round to Steel. "We got to find those two. Should we split up or keep together?"

 

"Keep together!" Steel answered without hesitation. "Splitting the party is ALWAYS a bad idea! When you split up. The bad guy takes you out one at a time. OR, on the off chance that we aren't being stalked, everyone of us will seemingly survive and only then do we find somepony didn't make it! Besides, if we can hear them, they aren't that far off." Steel reasoned. "Addem! Harmonic! Swish even! If you've got some kind of light trick that we can all follow back together ... NOW'S the time!"

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

  On 2013-01-27 at 3:03 PM, Steel Accord said:

"Keep together!" Steel answered without hesitation. "Splitting the party is ALWAYS a bad idea! When you split up. The bad guy takes you out one at a time. OR, on the off chance that we aren't being stalked, everyone of us will seemingly survive and only then do we find somepony didn't make it! Besides, if we can hear them, they aren't that far off." Steel reasoned. "Addem! Harmonic! Swish even! If you've got some kind of light trick that we can all follow back together ... NOW'S the time!"

"Well, looks like Steel, Flyer and I got seperated from you Addem , don't panic, I'll find a way around this stone wall if it kills me. Heh, maybe a poor choice of words? Still, do not panic, Steel, Faceless and I will definately find a way to get around this. We cannot afford to split up." Harmonic says, clearly agitated by the events that transpired.

 

"And don't trigger any more traps before we get to you, okay?" Harmonic added.

 

  On 2013-01-27 at 4:40 AM, Addem Up said:

Addem jerks backwards as the door slams shut. "Guys? Can you hear me?" He knocks on the hard stone, the sound echoing through the corridor. He knocks harder, then growls, stepping back and preparing himself. He charges, smashing into the heavy stone and dropping like a load of bricks. Groaning, he reaches for his glasses, then freezes as a spear shoots through the air directly above his head. He gulps, saying, "G-guys? I found a trap..."

Edited January 27, 2013 by Harmonic Revelations

[Addem Up 246]

  On 2013-01-27 at 3:19 PM, Harmonic Revelations said:

"And don't trigger any more trips before we get to you, okay?"

 

Addem chuckles dryly, inching away from the place the spear had shot out of. "I'm not exactly trying to trigger them." Making his way back to the stone wall, he asks, "You can hear me, right? Can you open this door?" He pounds again, adding, "It's not much good on my side."