open Beyond these Walls: An adventure through Equestria. (Applications open!)

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

From now on, my @Mentions will be to whoever the characters are directly speaking to: if you aren't mentioned, don't think in ignoring you or that my characters are trying to exude them - i'll make it perfectly clear if they don't want to be overheard.

 

 

Why does this all feel like one big villain origin story for Zintiik now?

 

 

Kricket

 

@,

@,

@@Windbreaker,

 

Freeing itself from the warmth of its charges mane, the aspect hovered along in a state of concern - if the changing creature was bad, then this new pony was worse - and the shiny thing it had been carrying didn't look particularly tasty either. Kricket had its orders though: follow the mare, keep her safe... Bring her back if possible.

 

"Rghhh... Raa-aakh...!" it crackled under its breath as they went.

 

Hovering alongside the changing creature, it didn't take its eyes off of the pony up ahead: growling quietly.

 

Better the monster it knew than the monster it didn't.

 

---------------

 

Kingfisher.

 

@@Windbreaker,

 

"I know what you mean though. It's... crushing. Like everything is bearing down on you - closing it and your trapped. Even if you tried to run, there's nowhere to go. I just want to feel that freedom again..." She briefly bore an expression somewhere between serenity and terror - an impossible combination by any account - before shaking her head with a shiver.

 

"Well nothing's attacked us recently so if I had to guess, I'd say we're getting close. Thats how it goes in the stories, right Aegis? The calm before the storm?"

 

---------------

 

Orion Starsinger.

 

@@Midnight Scribbler,

 

"I'm fine, it's just... Like a backlash or something. Remind me not to try and cast spells unless I really have to." Orion reassured him companion, doing his best to keep his voice even. The pain, combined with the fear of losing Willow - and now Mirror as well - was all starting to add up. He couldn't let it show: he had put on a brave face and be a leader.

 

"I don't know: right now, they outnumber us. Even if I can't trust him, maybe I can use him." The not- alicorn said with a slight shrug - without the knowledge of a thousand generations of ponies at his command, making plans seemed much more difficult.

 

"If the stone contains some kind of tracking spell... I don't know much about enchantments and the like, but he doesn't need to know that. Let him think we can reverse it - maybe we can, once I get my powers back..."

Edited November 19, 2013 by Cinderscribe

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@Lhee, 

 

Eclipse

Eclipse trotted upwards with Blast. He began walking next to Pavisa again, continuing their conversation from earlier.

"Well, if we aren't going to use it, there's only one thing we can do with it; destroy it. If it can cause an alicorn like Orion to go crazy like this, it can't be good for anypony."

 

@,

@ Everypony concerned

Blast laid back on the ground with his front legs behind his head and his back legs crossed. The floor felt really cold and hard. All he really wanted to do was stare up at the ceiling, at the glowing crystals grown onto it. They were a marvelous sight to him, and they gave him a little comfort in this temple. 

[SilverHeart 741]

((OOC: sorry for the typo, but it's fixed now))

 

Sunshine Rays

 

"Huh, well this must be quite the detour for you then. And I think my brother would probably be insulted if he learned he had been confused as a bandit." Sunshine said with a laugh. The very idea of her brother as a bandit was simply hilarious. He would never admit it, but Sunshine knew her brother actually enjoyed playing the prince, contrary to what he let's on. "As for where were from, my brother and I came from a country far to the west called Neighland. The journey to come here took about a year, so that should give you an idea of how far away it is. To be honest we didn't even know Equestria even existed until we got here, and seeing as we lived in the royal palace and had free access to all the archives, I'd say that means something." Sunshine said. She knew her brother would be mad if he found out she was saying all this so freely, but she highly doubted that their enemies even knew that Equestria existed so it was safe to assume that they didn't need to be so cautious here. Besides, Sunshine could bet that the opposite was also true, she certainly hadn't seen any evidence that anypony in Equestria knew about Neighland.

(OOC: it's fine, the typo itself just made me confused. Posting from phone.)

 

"Yes, I guess it is quite the detour." Mirror said as she came to a stop. The hallway had ended, meaning her only choice was to turn back look for another passageway. Stifling a sigh she glanced at Sunshine. If she and her brother had lived in the royal palace they were either servants or members of the royal family. The fact that they had free access to all of the Royal archives hinted at the latter. Her brothers armor also hinted at that...unless he had stolen it. It's possible it was all a lie though. After all, she had never heard of Neighland before. And there was no way to see if she was telling the truth. Well it didn't really matter whether or not she was telling the truth...she didn't seem to harbour any ill-will towards Mirror...other than to delay her.

 

"So Sunshine...do you make it a habit to accompany strangers and tell them about your family?" She asked, with no small amount of worry. "Some ponies aren't very nice and may try to hurt you and your brother if you told them what you've told me. It's not very safe..."

[EcstaticWind 572]

Noble Persona

@, @, @,

 

"Yes, his desire to protect you is strong. Almost unshakeable. And I can understand the sentiment. I have two brothers whom I love dearly, though they are old enough to fight their own battles now. Well, actually, one is only 17 and finishing high school." Noble said. "Your pet Aspect...Cricket, was it?...he does realise that I gave my only means of defending myself to you until we reach Orion, correct? That sword was forged for me by my brother Sable, so I would not part with it permanently nor lightly."

 

Noble began thinking about his brothers. Were they ok? Was Pierrot still going to school like he promised? 'Why am I thinking about that when I should be focused on the task at hand? I'll make it up to them. Pierrot... Sable...'

 

 

Aegis Dare

@, @Everyone else

 

Aegis thought for a moment, trying to shake off his apprehension. "Pretty much. There's always a calm before the storm, then the great challenge, and either death or victory. Sometimes the heroes don't get the treasure, but they come out alive and wiser for their troubles, so I'd say that's a victory."

 

He checked his saddlebags and brought out a packed travelling meal and a flask that he'd forgotten about. "I haven't got much to eat, but you're welcome to share." He offered to anypony listening.

[Mephisto 56]

Blake caught his breathe and began to head down the long flight of stairs. "I'm exhausted." He said as he stepped down the stairs the almost collapsed a few times, but he pushed on. As he made it to the bottom, he looked around. Things looked different, like they'd shifted. "Where is everybody?" He thought aloud.

[Icy Void 19]

Sunshine Rays

 

"Well, not usually. But if I'm with some pony who I don't know I try to get to know them, and the easiest way to do that is to tell them about myself. And normally my brother isn't very far, so I can get help if some pony tries something  mean. Neither of us like fighting, but we both learned that sometimes it can't be always avoided during our journey away from Neighland, but we still use fighting as a last resort. Mainly because we were taught hoof to hoof combat by our father, who was a powerful general and is a powerful king, and my brother already has a reputation as the most powerful unicorn from all of Neighland. And seeing as Neighland only got out of a civil war about thirty years ago, combat training is pretty rough." Sunshine replied to Mirror as they turned back, probably to find another way. So far this pony still didn't seem very threatening, and Sunshine was getting the feeling that Mirror really did just stumble into things here. And while she made conversation with Mirror, Sunshine wondered how her brother and the others were doing and if they were all right.

[Ihei 713]

@@Windbreaker,@, @,

 

Willow Starsinger

 

"Kricket doesn't seem to trust you very much. It got sent orders from Orion to protect me, and.. well, I guess it's sticking to it." She nuzzled the Aspect comfortably and noticed that Zintiik had said something. "Zintiik, did you say something?" Willow asked, concerned. "Are you okay?"

 

@,

 

 Aphrodite

 

"What're you doing now?" Aphrodite asked in a stern, yet calm tone sitting next to Blast. She definitely needed a break: they've been walking for hours and still have no clue where they are.

[Umbreon 569]

((Maybe it is, Cinder...  XD))

 

 

Pavisa

 

@,

 

Pavisa slumped to the ground as they decided to rest, struggling with the straps holding the thick armour to her forelegs.  After taking the beating from the living shadows, and walking for so long, her legs felt like they were made of lead.  She turns to Eclipse as he walks up to her, giving a small shrug.

 

"That's just the thing - if this Litany is so ancient and powerful, how in Equestria are we supposed to destroy it?  That may not even be an option.  We'll just have to do what we can to keep it out of the wrong hooves...  If nothing else we can take it back to Princess Celestia.  She'll know what to do with it if we can't figure it out."

 

Right about then she managed to free one of her legs, pulling it from the layers of armour to inspect the damage.  She inhales through her teeth as the cool air hits the limb.  Those bruises are really going to hurt once I start getting feeling back in these legs...

 

 

Zintiik

 

@,@@Windbreaker,@,

 

Zintiik blinks and looks at Willow, quickly trying to put on his usual cocky smile.  "Wha?  Me?  No, nothing, I'm fine..."  He was planning to keep his thoughts to himself, but having her showing concern for him broke what little resistance the changeling had mustered.

 

"I just...  Thought you should know that Orion didn't send me this time...  I went looking on my own once I realized you were missing.  I mean, I'm sure he would have, but I didn't sit around waiting for him to order me to find you..."  With a small, nervous laugh he pulls his gaze away from her to focus on the path ahead of them.

[Midnight Scribbler 1,705]

@,

 

Scribbler continues to watch over his shoulder as Crimson stalks them. "Good thinking, hopefully we won't have any more troubles here.. Just a moment" With that, Scribbler spun around, and discharged everything he had stored up into a barrier spell. The same magic that built his bridge, now filled the corridor, blocking the path off completely. He used the remaining little to charge it, so it would stay up for a short while. It wouldn't last nearly as long as the bridge had under the assault of the aura, but it would serve to buy them some distance between them and Crimson. He turned around, and panted from the exertion of the spell, trotting to get back up to pace with Orion. "I don't imagine I have a whole lot left in me to give as long as I'm in this dungeon.. The aura of the Litany is depressing my abilities too much. We should have some time now to get ahead though.. Our.. friend.. is held back for now." He said with slight sarcasm. "With any luck, we shouldn't need to use magic for the time being.. Hopefully nothing else comes between us and the book."

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,

 

Blast

Blast looked up to Aphrodite and shrugged.

"Oh, nothing, really. We've stopped, so I decided I'd stop too, for once in my life." He joked, returning his eyes to the ceiling. "Sometimes I just like to look around at my surroundings and admire the world that's been placed before me. It really is marvelous if you just stop to take a good look at it, y'know?"

 

@, 

Eclipse

Eclipse nodded at Pavisa's statement.

"Well, I sort of need it for myself. If it's capable of so much, I want to use it to find the answers of what happened." He stated, knowing that he was sounding a bit selfish. "Though, I do agree. All Blast wants to do is take it somewhere nopony will ever find it. I think you want to do something around those lines."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.

@@Windbreaker,

Kingfisher dumped her saddlebags on the ground and started to rummage through them - something she hadn't done yet for a number of reasons... there hadn't been time, she hadn't thought of it, there was no reason to...
 
"I'm good, thanks. Ive got..." She said with a disappointed tone. "... some dry... cracker... biscuit things?"
 
Taking an experimental bite of the hardtack, she promptly placed it aside in favor of finding out what else she had been carrying: some rope, some papers and letters that she made a mental note to read once they were in better light...
 
"Huh?" ... A bottle of brandy? She didn't drink...
 
A small pile of rags and oils that she assumed was for caring for the sword, a piece of string and a single bit with a hole though the center.
 
She held a hoof to her head for a moment, before closing the pack and picking up the hardtack - proceeding to force down a few more of the biscuits.

---------------

Orion Starsinger.

@@Midnight Scribbler,

"I own you once again Midnight." Orion said, squinting down the halls in the fain light of the glowing crystals. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying desperately to hear the voice of Legion once again... to hear some kind of guidance...

 

There was no voice - but a feeling of urgency started to creep up on him as he listened - from his left. Was it Willow? The Litany? Or something else? He didn't know: but it was the only indicator that he had.

"I know that you might have... doubted me." He said, motioning in the direction he felt was correct. "Thank you for standing by my cause when I needed you to."

[Mephisto 56]

Blake trotted through the old ruins. He'd stopped looking for traps a loooong time ago, knowing that it was unlikely that there were any traps out this far from the litany chamber. He wandered about the ruin, and through a small pathway. There was a door on each wall, and as he turned around, the path was gone. 4 doors, none of which had knobs or handles, nor could he push them open. He looked around. "Crap. Hmm." He walked toward one, walked back and ran directly at it, and kicked it directly open.

[EcstaticWind 572]

Noble Persona

@, @, @,

 

"Is there something wrong with acting of your own accord? Orion should be happy that you care about Willow that much. A friend that devoted is worth more than any magic book." Noble felt the pulse of his tracking crystal. They were getting closer, but with the magic dampening field surrounding the temple, pinpointing an exact location was impossible. "We should be with Orion shortly."

 

'Soon... I'll have my hooves on the Litany before long...'

 

Aegis Dare

@, 

 

"Those don't look good." Aegis said, opening the packed meal. Inside was some of the same dry crackers, magically sealed packets containing lettuce, bell peppers, and something Aegis couldn't identify. But the spell that kept the perishable foods fresh was starting to give out. He ripped open one of the packets and offered Kingfisher some lettuce. "It's gotta be eaten now before the seal fades. And I'd rather not have spoiled food next time we get the chance."

[Ihei 713]

@@Windbreaker,@, @,  

 

Willow Starsinger

 

"Orion didn't send you?" Willow asked, all too surprised. "That's really.. that's really sweet of you to do, Zintiik. Th-thanks," she smiled, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I thought for sure Orion sent you.. how can I repay you?" Willow asked gratefully, stopping for a moment, glancing over at Kricket to see that it was glaring at Noble.

 

 

@, 

 

Aphrodite

 

"Why're you saying that now? You're just staring at a bunch of crystals: what do they mean to you?"

Edited November 20, 2013 by Shaymin

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,

 

Blast

"They mean that they are part of a magnificent world, Aphrodite." Blast said, not taking his eyes off of the ceiling. "I go fast. Sometimes, I think I go a little too fast, so fast that I feel as if the world is just slipping away before me. If I just slow down and take a look, I could get a good insight on what Celestia has put in front of me."

Edited November 20, 2013 by StevenEarthPony

[Ihei 713]

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

"Sounds cheesy to me. What did Celestia 'put in front of you' on this expedition we've gone on? Doubt there's anything, but what?" Aphrodite questioned, finding her hooves more amusing than the conversation itself, playing with her mane all the while. It HAS gotten a bit.. well, it looks horrid at the moment. She usually always combs her mane, and cares for it a lot. But of course, she didn't want anypony to know. 

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@,

Blast turned his head to see Aphrodite playing around with her mane.

"What Celestia put in front of me, Aphrodite, is a land of endless opportunity." Blast said, sounding very intellectual. "True, there isn't much to be seen on this adventure, but mostly it's because it's all just stuff I've seen already. Now, I'm finally seeing something new. I might as well take the time to let it sink in."

[Ihei 713]

@,

 

Aphrodite

 

"I've seen many things on adventures myself: stallions following me around, annoying ponies. You know what I mean. My luck is pretty.. well, terrible, if you ask me. You're probably my closest stallion friend I've ever had.. which is.. well, different." She smiled at the stallion. 

[Mephisto 56]

After, door room, upon door room. He finally lost his temper he began to kick down several doors. "Raaaaagh. MAKE!!!!! IT!!!!!! STOP!!!!!!!" He lost track of time smashing through door after door, enjoying smashing wood with his hooves. He ran out of energy, and lied down in the center of the room and looks at the ceiling, panting. He wasn't entirely surprised to see a door on the ceiling. ".....damn..." he said standing up slowly, pushing it open, and crawling through. He saw one door, this time with a handle. He opened it and stepped through to see the rest of his group.

 

Kingfisher.@@Windbreaker,

Kingfisher dumped her saddlebags on the ground and started to rummage through them - something she hadn't done yet for a number of reasons... there hadn't been time, she hadn't thought of it, there was no reason to...

 "I'm good, thanks. Ive got..." She said with a disappointed tone. "... some dry... cracker... biscuit things?"

 

Taking an experimental bite of the hardtack, she promptly placed it aside in favor of finding out what else she had been carrying: some rope, some papers and letters that she made a mental note to read once they were in better light...

 "Huh?" ... A bottle of brandy? She didn't drink...

 

A small pile of rags and oils that she assumed was for caring for the sword, a piece of string and a single bit with a hole though the center.

 

She held a hoof to her head for a moment, before closing the pack and picking up the hardtack - proceeding to force down a few more of the biscuits.

"Guess what I found." He said patting his bag.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.
 
@,

Kingfisher jumped up from rummaging through her own pack and peered into the colts bag instead: fully expecting the Litany, or at least some indicator of its location...
 
"You found... a... bit of stone?" She said slowly: unsure why the stallion seemed so impressed with himself at his 'discovery'. "Are you okay? Your eyes look a little unfocused... do you want some water?"

[Mephisto 56]

Blake, a little confused, peered into his bag. He did feel a little bit dizzy, he shook his head slightly, trying to refocus. He saw paper, paper with writing, magical writing. He looked at it for a moment, reading it and could feel a burn. He blinked it away, and flipped his hoof through pages. 'What is happening?' he thought.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Kingfisher.
 
@,

@,

@,

@@Windbreaker,

@,

"Hold on a second... don't move!" She half turned, trying to keep the pony in her field of vision in case he hurt himself. "Aegis... do you have any water? I think one of us has hit his head or something... He's trying to... to read a rock, or something."

 

Of course - assume that they were past all of the traps for one moment and everything comes crashing down...

 

"Anyone? Not quite sure what to do here... do I tie him up or...? I don't want him to fall down the stairs and break something..."

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

@, 

 

Blast

Blast couldn't help but smile back at the unicorn. He assumed that being her closest stallion friend meant a lot to her. With her looks and hard personality, she must've had them going all over her before this adventure.

"I never even think of you to be the adventuring type." He said. "But, when you said annoying stallions, I'm not one, right? You don't think that... I'm obnoxious, correct? I know my personality can make ponies think that

[Mephisto 56]

Kingfisher.

 @,

@,

@,

@@Windbreaker,

@,"Hold on a second... don't move!" She half turned, trying to keep the pony in her field of vision in case he hurt himself. "Aegis... do you have any water? I think one of us has hit his head or something... He's trying to... to read a rock, or something."

 

Of course - assume that they were past all of the traps for one moment and everything comes crashing down...

 

"Anyone? Not quite sure what to do here... do I tie him up or...? I don't want him to fall down the stairs and break something..."

Blake gasped as his eyes focused. She was right, it wasn't paper at all, but there was something about it that made him sense great power. "Wait, I'm not crazy, just a bit slow." He noticed something about the rock. "Look here!! Don't you see the markings? This rock isn't just a rock, but something more. I don't know, but what I do know is that it's meant for something."

[EcstaticWind 572]

Aegis Dare

@, @,  

 

Aegis tentatively opened the flask he found in his saddlebags and found...water. 'Jackpot!'

 

"Yes, I've got water right here." He handed the flask to Kingfisher, then addressed the other pony, "Ok, umm... I'm sure I heard your name, but I can't remember what it was... anyway, tell us everything you saw, then maybe we can figure out why this rock is so special."