open Occult in the Swamps

[EcstaticWind 572]

Poppy Seed

@, 

@, 

@@SilverHeart,

@,  

@,

 

It was a little…No that’s not right. It was VERY infuriating to be left out, considering the circumstances. Poppy was essentially on her own here. She didn’t know any of these ponies or Gryphons and honestly just wanted to go home. Which she wasn’t going to achieve by sitting on her flanks. So with little hesitation she got up and started walking towards a door. Not that she didn't care about what the others were doing or the fact that they were hurt, but fear and confusion aren't the greatest things in the world for a cheery demeanour, even if Poppy was good at pretending by now.

 

“If you’re all ok with it, I’m gonna see what’s behind one of these doors. Anypony got a better idea? Now’s your only chance to stop me.” She said. She thought of a friend who would’ve beaten her to it and already had the door wrenched open by now. ‘I haven’t seen Aegis in a while, though… I wonder what that wierdo is up to these days.’

[Mickey Taker 347]

@@Windbreaker, @, @, @@SilverHeart, @

 

Golbez Grandolfo

 

With Wish's persistent protesting and Sabel nearly knocking the stuffing out of Golbez and shouting in his face, it was all turning out to be to just too much for the magician to take, he snapped, and retaliated by half-shouting/half-roaring at the pair of them, "ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! IT WAS A BLOODY STUPID IDEA OK!? ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!? YOU PAIR OF UNGRATEFUL SODS!!",Golbez paused for a moment, heavily breathing through the nostrils on his beak, his teeth gritting as he leered at both Wish and Sabel, as if they were prey.

He was that angry, after going all night not just fearing for his own life, but the lives of his friends as well as he did everything in his power to keep them safe, and they had the GALL to treat him like that? He wanted to grab them both by throat and choke the life out of them. How could they do this? After all he'd done how could his friends do this to him?....."My friends?"...

 

Golbez simply stood there, motionless, realizing what he had nearly tried to do...to his own friends no less, his anger melted away dramatically but was quickly replaced by shame and regret as he slowly back away from  Sabel and Wish, "I...I....WIsh could you take of this, I need a moment," quickly gesturing to Sabel's wound Golbez turned his back on the pair and limped away as quickly as he could.

 

The magician stood by himself next one of the other doors in the room, away from the others, he needed to clear his head after what he just tried to do, he reached a talon over and leant it against a door post, whilst covering his face with the other,"What...What have I done? How could I do that to my friends?....friends, huh....some friend I turned out to be?...curse this place...how much longer before I ...before..I.", The magician had had enough, ashamed of himself of what he did, he quietly wept.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Sparx

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Wish Scribe.

 

Wish glared back at the griffon as he bellowed: utterly terrified but defiantly standing as tall as her somewhat modest stature would allow. Granted, the griffon was much more dangerous that the last bully was - and she probably wouldn't stand a chance when he did decide to attack her - but somewhere inside her mind was an unstable mixture of adrenaline and pride stopping her doing what made sense.

 

Besides, Scribe wouldn't have run away.

 

So she stood - legs trembling and eyes narrowed until he calmed down. It was easier than she expected: she just tried to stare forwards and pretend that it wasn't happening.

 

"I... I... " The mare stammered as she was left to tend to Sabel on her own. "We... uh... I... "

 

Her heartbeat reverberated against the knife hanging around her neck. She had almost reached for it - probably would have, if she hadn't been so scared. Her brother would have: he'd have done what he had to, she was sure.

 

"A... Are you o... okay?" Wish asked, moving her first step since the outburst - tentatively reaching out a hoof towards the singed feathers around the wound.

[Mickey Taker 347]

@@Windbreaker, @, @, @@SilverHeart, @

 

((OOC:I wanted to put the following in my previous post but I was pressed for time, hence why these two are separate like this))

 

Cherry Bomb

 

Before Mirror had a chance to answer any of Cherry's numerous questions, the red Pegasus leaned her head to one side and peered behind the cloaked pony after hearing somepony else calling out behind her, "Hey wait!", without warning Cherry abruptly zoomed past Mirror.

 

Hovering just behind Poppy, Cherry swooped in and wrapped her fore-hooves around her and pulled Poppy back away from the door, "You can't go in there yet! It's too dangerous to go on your own! What if there was a big pony monster in there and it just ate you up in one go? Or what if it's a trap and some...ancient...tribe...capture you and decide to serve you as a sacrifice to a demon that no-ponies never even heard of?!...or a giant spider...OHMYGOSHWHATIFIT'SAGIANTSPI-," Cherry was cut off from her rant by Golbez's own angrier rant, still clutching Poppy in her hooves Cherry turns both of them around to see what the commotion was about

 

Cherry gasped and watched in shock as her griffon friend ranted at Sabel and Wish, cherry had known Golbez for some time since working with him as his assistant but regardless, it was a side of him she had never seen before...and it scared her, which was clearly shown as the red mare tried her best to hide behind Poppy whilst hugging her against her will.

 

When Golbez had finally finished Cherry dared herself to look up again and observed Golbez walking to one side of the room, finally she released Poppy from her hooves,"I...I've never seen him like that before, w-w-what should I do?..Should I talk to him or..?" Cherry looked visibly shaken, her knee's trembling and her eye's on the verge of tearing.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Sparx

[EcstaticWind 572]

Poppy Seed

@, 

 

Poppy had no idea what was going on, though she knew better than to try and get everypony’s attention next time. She tried to respond, but before she knew it, there were shouts flying everywhere and angry outbursts finally ending with Cherry asking what she should do. “Uh…Let me handle it, hon. Half my Cutie Mark comes from consoling ponies. The other half from being a damn good bartender. It’s not guaranteed to work, but I’ll do what I can for him. But come along anyway.” She said, grabbing the red Pegasus and dragging her along as payback.

 

Poppy approached the Gryphon standing by himself. “Are you ok, hon? What’s got you down?”

[Mickey Taker 347]

@@Windbreaker

 

Golbez Grandolfo

 

Upon hearing the Earth pony addressing him, Golbez takes a deep, shaky breath, he doesn't turn around to face them, "I'm sorry ma'am...really..I am but..it's just been a really...long...day and it's taken quite it's tole on me...no...on us," the magician turns his head and glances over his shoulder not just seeing Poppy but his assistant as well, the look of his red eyes likely showed he was either extremely tired or, he had been crying.

 

"Neither of you would have known this but, the rest of us have been pretty much been running for our lives all night...not everypony made it," Golbez turns his head away again looking down at the floor in front of him, "Now please, I just need a moment to myself."

Edited March 4, 2014 by Sparx

[EcstaticWind 572]

Poppy Seed

@, 

 

“Hon, things like this happen. Stress makes us do silly things. Like opening a random door with no thought put into it. It’s ok to be strong, but you gotta vent, too. And I’m here to listen if you want.” Poppy said, staying exactly where she was. “Why not start with introductions? My name’s Poppy Seed. What are your names?"

[Umbreon 569]

Sabellah

 

@,

 

Sabel slumped down where she was sitting, her uninjured wing drooping to the floor.  Golbez's outburst had hurt, though she didn't want to show it.  She had tried to restrain herself - she hadn't actually hit him, after all - the shout had been a reaction to the pain combined with the lack of sleep, and she hadn't been able to stop herself.

 

She turns to look at Wish when the little mare speaks up, forcing a faint smile back to the griffoness' beak.  "Y...  Yeah, I'm fine...  He really was trying to help, I'm a stubborn idiot though..."  She glances towards where Golbez was talking with the mare that had fell out of the portal, wincing slightly as she turns her head.

 

"He knows I'm an idiot though, so things should be fine once he cools off...  This little adventure's tough on all of us, huh?"  Turning to look down at the medical supplies Wish had gotten out earlier, Sabel picks up one of the roll of bandages.  "Here, can you help me get this thing wrapped?  It'll be kinda tough to do myself...  Then we'll try and find a way outta here."  The griffoness smiles at Wish again as she hands over the bandages.  "Oh, and...  Thanks for having my back all this time."  Not that Wish really needed to stand up to Golbez for her sake, but the gesture had still been there...  Not to mention earlier, back at the hotel.

 

 

----------

 

@,@@Windbreaker,

 

From the other side of the doorway that Golbez had walked to a quiet trickling sound could be heard, like the barest hint of water pouring over rocks.  There was also a distinct scent associated with the doorway - Poppy and Cherry likely wouldn't know what the smell represented, but Golbez would likely remember the bittersweet smell that accompanied the water the fish creatures had risen from before.  It was a very unique smell, after all. 

[Stormbringer 346]

 

 

From the other side of the doorway that Golbez had walked to a quiet trickling sound could be heard, like the barest hint of water pouring over rocks.  There was also a distinct scent associated with the doorway - Poppy and Cherry likely wouldn't know what the smell represented, but Golbez would likely remember the bittersweet smell that accompanied the water the fish creatures had risen from before.  It was a very unique smell, after all. 

 

IT'S A SEX DUNGEON.

 

@Windbreaker, @Cinderscribe, @Lhee, @SilverHeart, @Stormwing

 

Storm still sat quietly. He really didn't know anyone here besides Golbez, the magician. He didn't even really know him. The only pony he had acquainted himself with, and even that was a very small bit, was Swiggly. He didn't know where the purplepone had gone off to. He really couldn't be bothered with things like that at this moment, anyway. He finally got up from his seat on the cold stone floor. He decided to check each of the doors that were situated around the area. He avoided the one Golbez was at with the other pony, not wanting to intrude on them. He looked down the long hallways and tunnels when he saw them. Softly clearing his throat, he said, "Does anyone want to make a move down these hallways, or are we just gonna wait for this mask guy to come around and treat us like caged animals? We should at least do something. What if... What if we knocked over that fancy cauldron Maskie has there?" He trotted over to it, but did not get too close. He didn't want to receive the blunt end of a trap. Maybe Maskie had something 'cray 'a brewin' in the big cauldron. He gently placed a hoof on the side. "What do you guys think is in this thing?"

[SilverHeart 741]

@@Windbreaker, @, @, @@SilverHeart, @

 

Cherry Bomb

 

Still smiling keenly the eccentric red mare tilted her head in curiosity as Mirror turned her back to her, her curiosity growing even more as a brief flash emitted from her cloak,"Hey, are you o-", as Mirror turned back around abruptly Cherry gasped in surprise as she fell back on her haunches and stared wide-eyed and open mouthed, for before her now stood...Cherry?

 

"Wha...bu...ho...YOUR ME!!...But I'm me!...But if your me too then...then...YOUR ME!!," Cherry was truly amazed at mirror's magic trick to the point where she actually failed to grasp it was only a magic trick, the perplexed mare continued to stare, dumb-founded before mirror changed back to her original form before her very eye's,"That...was...AMAZING!! Howdidyoudothat?Wellyouusedmagicobviouslybuthowdidoyumanagetoturnintome?Doesn'tsomethinglikethattakeagestodo?Didachangelingteachyoutodothat?Canyoucahngeintoanyponyyouwanted?CanyouchangeintoGolbez?CanyouchangeintothatpervertIpromiseIwon'thitIjustwannaseeifyoucandoit!Doyouhaveafavouriteform?Isithard?" Cherry abruptly ceased with her bombardment of questions as she merely looked at her friend with keen interest.

(OOC: Oh man Cherry is excitable.)

 

Mirror nervously waited for Cherry's reaction...it probably wasn't a good sign that she was just staring at her. Maybe she should have asked for permission first? Or maybe she shouldn't have even tried it in the first place. Had she gotten something wrong? Maybe that was why she was silent...

 

The moment that Cherry called it "awesome!" All doubt and worry fled from Mirror's mind. It had worked! Not perfectly mind you, but enough to impress her new friend. Cherry's reaction was more than she could have ever hoped for. Her body was shaking from the excitement. Was that something she should hide? Probably. Mirror pulled the cloak tight, hiding as much of her as she could. All the while she tried, and failed, to suppress a smile. She would try to calmly answer as many of Cherry's questions that she could,

 

"I'msosososohappyyoulikedit! I'vebeenpracticingthatspellforalmostsixyears!" Mirror paused, almost out of breath. That was too fast. How did Cherry do that? After taking a deep breath she looked back at Cherry. Or would have if she were still in front of her. Cherry had zipped past her to get to the other mare that had fallen before her. Unsure of what she should do Mirror sat down and listened to everyone else. Or she tried to. Golbez's yelling startled her and interrupted everyone else. Instead of cowering in plain sight, Mirror quietly crept off towards the cauldron. There was one thing Golbez hadn't interrupted and that was that whisper. Mirror looked around but there was hoping else in sight. After several seconds and a third repeat of its order. mirror finally determined that the voice was finally going from the voice itself. Mirror approached the cauldron, stood on her hind legs and peered over the edge.

 

(OOC: Sorry if it isn't too great of a post. Fixing it to work with the others was more difficult than I had thought. And time consuming.)

[Umbreon 569]

The Cauldron?

 

@,

 

As Storm touched the cauldron, the whisper that Mirror had been hearing began to echo inside his head as well.  "Look...  Into...  The water..."

 

@@SilverHeart,

 

When Mirror looked over the edge, at first the water would appear to just be a bubbling and boiling mass, the same as would be expected.  However, the longer she stares, the bubbles slowly start to die down until coming to a complete stop.  Something dark passes underneath the surface, something much larger than what should be able to fit within that small cauldron.  Eventually the waters clear again, as though whatever had passed underneath had made it across...  Before going dark again as a large eye fills the water, gazing up at the mare from the depths of the water.

 

"Your essence...  Not the zebra's...  Different.  He never...  Brought other essences...  Here before..."  

[Stormbringer 346]

@,

 

Storm peeked up at Mirror, then looked down into the cauldron with her. He saw and heard the same thing that she did; at this, he perked his ears. "Essences?" he said, softly and in a low tone. "What are essences? Like spirits?" Stormy cocked his head and continued to watch the now-calm water. He eventually saw whatever that thing was. He was sort of entranced, though. He felt scared, but at the same time, he didn't. He put his face a little closer, his snout level to about the lip of the cauldron. 

[Mickey Taker 347]

@@Windbreaker, @, @, @@SilverHeart, @

 

Golbez Grandolfo and Cherry Bomb

 

Golbez eventually persuaded himself to turn around and face the two mares, he looked a real sorry sight with his tattered tuxedo and the exhausted look on his face,"My name is-" "Oh Golbez..", Cherry couldn't bare to see her friend in such a state, she abruptly  stood up on her hind legs and threw her hooves around the griffons neck and hugged him, the magician blinked and glanced at his assistant, he began to smile just a little and returned the gesture by enveloping Cherry with one of his wings, "*ahem*..and this is my Assistant, Cherry Bomb."

 

Golbez was already beginning to perk up by now as he looked back at Poppy Seed, "erm...Golbez...when was the last time you took a bath?", the magician , as if on cue, sighed and hung his head before glancing down at his assistant again, "Way to kill the mood Cherry, I don't stink I had one yesterday morning," "Then what's that smell?" "What Smell? *sniff-sniff*"...it took but a moment for Golbez to pick up the faint aroma, it was faint but it was enough to make the feathers on the back of his neck stand up, he smelt it before, "oh no...not now...not here..."

 

Gently removing his assistant from around his neck, Golbez raised his beak up in the air and began to sniff it, he assumed the smell was definitely emitting from one of the doors, as he turned back around again and sniffed the door next to him he did notice the smell was a little stronger, he opened the door by only a "smidge" and took a great whiff, the smell was indefinitely coming from within, "Miss Seed, would you kindly take Cherry with you and tell Sabel we "might" be expecting unwanted company,", "What?..b-but why?" "Cherry, please..just do as I ask..it's important," Golbez looked at this assistant knowingly, she looked back with a slight pout but eventually nodded before turning to Poppy Seed.

 

Golbez took a deep breath and looked at the door sternly, he had his "little moment" but he needed to look out for his friends again, and he was ready, Golbez placed a talon against the door and gently pushed it, only opening it as far as half-way..and peered inside.

Edited March 5, 2014 by Sparx

[EcstaticWind 572]

Poppy Seed

@, 

 

Poppy nodded at Golbez before he went through the door, then put a hoof around Cherry. “Hey, don’t worry. Come on, Let’s go and warn the others, then…Is there a place we can get a drink when we get outta here?” Poppy asked. Looking at everypony, she believed they’d need something strong. Well, except for Wish. She didn’t look old enough to drink.

 

@,

@,

@@SilverHeart,

@,

 

“Hey, everypony! Golbez says we might be expecting company, so get ready in case he’s right!” Poppy said, trying to get their attention long enough to pass on the warning.

[Umbreon 569]

Sabel

 

@@Windbreaker,

 

Sabel glances up at the mare, grimacing slightly at the warning.  She raises up her working wing in acknowledgment before asking "Don't suppose he said anything a little more specific, did he..?"  She wasn't in much of a shape to be running again, at least not until her wound was bandaged over. 

 

 

The Cauldron

 

@,

@@SilverHeart, 

 

The eye turned ever so slightly towards Storm as the pegasus asked his questions, though the faint whisper replied to both of them still.  "Essence...  Yours are...  Individual.  Not like...  The zebra's..."  The large eye flicks its gaze from one pony to the other, as though confused by their presence and trying to make sense of what it was looking at.

 

"This one...  Thinks...  It understands...  Individual...  Is dangerous."  The eye suddenly slows its glancing between the two, coming to rest where it can see them both.  "You should...  Not be...  Here.  The zebra...  Will be...  The end of...  Individual."  It was quiet, and it was vague, but it seemingly made perfect sense to...  Whatever was communicating with them.

 

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

 

@, 

 

The first thing to reach Golbez would be the stench - sweet one moment, bitter the next, and much stronger now that the door was ajar.  At first the room would appear dark, but that was just because the light in here wasn't as bright as it was in the larger circular chamber.  

 

After the griffon's eyes would adjust to the dim glow, Golbez would be able to see large glass vats of the fetid water that had filled the basement of the hotel.  More eye-catching though would be the creatures floating in the vats - the same creatures that had hunted them previously.  Only these specimens were very noticeably deceased - evidenced by each one having a different body part carefully sliced open to show the organs inside, as though they had been dissected and studied.

 

In the back corner the trickling sound can be heard more clearly, the result of a steady trickle of the water pouring into one tank as though to keep the water flowing.  Upon hearing the door open the creature inside this vat would move, lifting its head to gaze at the door.  It didn't seem able to leave the tank, just sluggishly looking at who was entering the room.

[Stormbringer 346]

@,

 

(Last post for tonight, feeling sick, a nice short and sweet reply since I'm here.)

 

Stormwing perked his ears, looking down to look the eye, well, in the eye. "So, you're saying that ol' maskie in there is going to kill us, even though he told us that he would let us live?" Still seeming a bit skeptical, but sort of liking the eye for its obscurity and kindness towards them, he kept his hoof on the cauldron but lifted his head away, not wanting to invade the eye's space. "Do you know of any way to get out of here, or are we trapped for good until maskie comes out here and kills us?" he asked with a slight sense of urgency, but still staying calm. 

[Mickey Taker 347]

@@Windbreaker, @, @, @@SilverHeart, @

 

Golbez Grandolfo 

 

"Ugh, good heavens above...," Golbez instinctively covered his nostrils with a tattered sleeve as the familiar aroma attacked his sense of smell, peering further into the dark room Golbez dared himself to venture further inside.

 

His senses were on high alert, he half-expected for on of those walking piranha's to come crashing out of one of the jars, as the wary magician looked from one jar to the next he couldn't decide what was more off-putting, the smell, or the jars gruesome contents, "Our masked friend really needs to get a proper hobby, " deciding there was nothing of more important Golbez turned to leave the room, only to catch the faint sound of water trickling somewhere, "It'll be a cracked jar somewhere, I just know it."

 

Golbez timidly venture to the back of the room, examining nearly every jar he passed, the sound had to be coming from somewhere, and then found it, "what in the...", noticing the creature inside the jar was actually looking at him, possible since he entered the room Golbez's first instinct was to quickly leave before it had the chance to come after him, yet it didn't move, in fact it nearly seemed content at just staring at the griffon.

Golbez tilted his head curiously before carefully approaching the creature further, he reached out and, quite possibly foolishly, placed a talon on the surface on the jar.

 

 Cherry Bomb

 

Cherry was very confused, one moment everypony was patching things up with each other after Golbez's outburst..the next they all looked nervous after Poppy said Golbez may have found some nameless horror, seriously, what had she missed?

 

The red mare sat beside Poppy, as she and the griffoness conversed with each other, Cherry glanced over at the small blue mare sitting beside the griffon.

The pegasi's heart nearly sank as she saw how low the poor mare looked and, unsurprisingly after her ordeal with Golbez, utterly scared out of her wits.

"Poor thing, she could really do with some cheering up," The red mare quietly trotted around the group and behind the small mare... and with a swift movement Scooped up Wish in her hooves and hugged her close to her chest, she beamed down at the small mare "Hey there, My name's Cherry..what's yours?"

 

To anypony else, it would seem as if Cherry was somewhat oblivious to what was really happening around them all. 

Edited March 6, 2014 by Sparx

[EcstaticWind 572]

Poppy Seed

@, 

 

Poppy shook her head. “Nope. But it didn’t sound good. Now, would somepony tell me exactly what’s going on here? Because I don’t know who any of you are or why the hay I’m here, or even what the hay is going on.” She said in a frustrated tone. At this point, the only thing stopping her from taking a large blunt object and using it on a random pony in the room was the fact that most of these ponies and Sabel were injured.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Wish Scribe.

 

@,

 

Wish... Wish panicked.

 

Just for a moment - but it was enough. First she panicked - then she felt embarrassed. The embarrassment only multiplied when she realised that she was almost being carried!

 

"Ahhagh!" She blurted out - twisting sharply like her cousin had once shown her. Well, sort of. It didn't quite work and just left her feeling more awkward and pathetic than before. "Gerroffmeyoubastar..."

 

He eyes registered her 'captor' for the first time. She cut herself off just in time, she thought. Okay, it was still somewhat humiliating: but she wasn't being attacked. At least, she didn't think so.

 

"I mean... I'm not some little filly! Uhm, sorry... It's been a really long day and... I'm, uh... I'm Wish. Wish Scribe."

[Mickey Taker 347]

@

Cherry flinched from Wish's struggles and released her as abruptly as she had picked her up, it just happened so fast, as Cherry found herself sitting on her flank and poking her hooves together, "I...I'm sorry I didn't know you didn't like being hugged...you just looked a little depressed so I thought...I ...could......cheer you up."
The red mares voice gradually grows quiter as she finishes her sentence as she merely sits there, circling a hoof on the ground timidly.

She was stumped, it was the very first time any pony reacted so to one of her hugs, she truely didn't mean any harm yet this is how ponies acted here? She didn't like it, she didn't like this place, she didn't like the scary atmosphere and she certainly didn't like the way she was being treated.

Cherry hugged her own shoulders as she slowly looked up at Wish, " *Sniff Sniff* I...I just wanna go home...please..."

Edited March 6, 2014 by Sparx

[SilverHeart 741]

(OOC: Sorry it took me so long to post a response. My internet cut out earlier. Though this might be the last post for tonight.)

 

@,

 

Mirror turned her head to the side slightly the moment that the other pony looked into the cauldron. This thing was creepy. Whatever it was saying didn't really make sense to her. Individuals? Essences? The only thing she thought she caught from all of that was that no-one but the zebra should be here. Thinking in silence for several seconds Mirror decided to work from the bottom up. "What are you?"

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Wish Scribe.

 

@,

 

Wish's face fell - she felt terrible. Literally terrible: worse than when she had stabbed the... thing - she had needed to do that, but upsetting Cherry had been...

 

"Uhm, hey! I'm really, really sorry!" The young mare said - pitch of her voice raising back to its usual tone from the serious, older tone she had seemed to assume. "Please don't cry! I didn't mean to shout, I just... I've had... a really bad time recently. Can we start again? Please?."

[Umbreon 569]

Sabellah

 

@@Windbreaker,

 

Sabel smiles slightly at the mare, reaching up to rub at the back of her neck before wincing and realizing raising a talon that high was a bad idea.  "I'll try and fill ya in, honestly we don't know what the hell is happening either though..."  Seeing that Wish had become distracted by Cherry, Sabel holds out the roll of bandages to Poppy.

 

"Sorry to ask, but you think you could help me wrap this as I talk?  If we need to run, I'd like to be able to keep up."  After handing over the roll, Sabel lowers herself a little to make the job easier.  "Suppose I should start with introductions - name's Sabel."

 

Wincing a little as she stretches out her wings and quickly retracting her hurt one, Sabel sighs as she continues.  "This all started out as a vacation...  Some pony named Silver opened up a hotel out here in the swamps on the border of Equestria.  Was supposed to be some kind of exotic getaway, 'cuz they haven't been explored or something...  Point is the hotel was doing some kinda 'stay free for the opening week' campaign to get their name out there."

 

Sighing and shaking her head again, Sabel shrugs.  "Started out normal enough, but...  I don't know, things got really weird.  Some employees went missing, and then that freak in the mask shows up.  Claimed something about trespassing on his swamp, and then he let loose a pack of walking fish to hunt us all night.  As...  As far as I know, those of us here are the only ones who made it..."

 

 

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

 

@,

 

The creature on the other side of the glass continued to stare at Golbez.  The stare appeared blank, but that could have been associated with the fact that the creature had no eyelids or even pupils to its eyes - the orbs were all the same shade of grey.  Close inspection as it stared at the griffon would show a few differences between this specimen and the ones who had hunted them before.  There were folds around its eyes, making them appear sunken into its head rather than bulging out, and there were two long tufts of bristles falling from its upper lip down to almost its chest.  It would almost appear...  Well, old, compared to the ones they'd encountered before.

 

After staring at the griffon for a long while, it slowly turns and walks towards the back of its tank, becoming little more than a shrouded outline in the murky water.  It quickly comes back though, now holding something in its hands (claws?) that it had picked up off of the floor of the vat.  It would appear to be some kind of circle made out of a foreign coral.  The creature would slowly raise up the coral to rest the circle atop its head, around the fin that emerged nearly vertically from its head.  Almost like it was putting on a crown...  The creature opens its mouth a couple times as though trying to speak, but the only things that come out are a few large bubbles.  It then raises up one of its claws to rest on its side of the glass, at the same place where Golbez's claw rested on the other side.

 

 

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

 

@@SilverHeart, @,

 

The eye flicked towards Storm first, responding with its quiet and whispy voice.  "Not kill...  End."  It didn't answer the question of how to escape - either it didn't know, or it didn't grasp what was being asked.  Instead the eye turns just a little, to focus its gaze on Mirror when she speaks.

 

"This one...  Is...  Messenger."  The waters swirled briefly before a shape passed just below the surface of the water - it would appear to be a tentacle of some kind?  It doesn't actually break the surface of the water though, stopping just short of passing through to the dry air.  The thin tendril points towards Mirror.  "This is...  Introduction?  This one...  Has never...  Introduced.  Zebra does...  Not converse...  Only command.  But...  Your Essences...  Are of interest."  The tentacle slowly lowers again, and the eye glances off to the side of the cauldron as though in deep thought.  "New...  Variable.  Perhaps...  Your Essences...  May be...  Helpful?"

[EcstaticWind 572]

Poppy Seed

@, 

 

Poppy sat beside Sabel as she took the roll of bandages and started wrapping the injury. “I’m not good at this so don’t yell at me if it's a horrible job. Anyway, good to meet you, Sabel. I'm Poppy Seed. Next time you're in Manehatten, stop by my place and I'll buy you a drink.”

 

She contemplated the Gryphon’s story for a moment. “Well, that sounds like a cheery vacation… I’ll bet that freak wasn’t on the attractions list.” She deadpanned, pulling the bandage a little tighter to make sure it wouldn't slip.

[SilverHeart 741]

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

 

@@SilverHeart, @,

 

The eye flicked towards Storm first, responding with its quiet and whispy voice. "Not kill... End." It didn't answer the question of how to escape - either it didn't know, or it didn't grasp what was being asked. Instead the eye turns just a little, to focus its gaze on Mirror when she speaks.

 

"This one... Is... Messenger." The waters swirled briefly before a shape passed just below the surface of the water - it would appear to be a tentacle of some kind? It doesn't actually break the surface of the water though, stopping just short of passing through to the dry air. The thin tendril points towards Mirror. "This is... Introduction? This one... Has never... Introduced. Zebra does... Not converse... Only command. But... Your Essences... Are of interest." The tentacle slowly lowers again, and the eye glances off to the side of the cauldron as though in deep thought. "New... Variable. Perhaps... Your Essences... May be... Helpful?"

(OOC: Short post before work.)

 

Mirror sat in silence for several seconds, making sense of what the eye-thing said. The part about their essences being helpful sounded kind of ominous to Mirror. "Um....how can we be helpful...?" Mirror asked with a little trepidation.