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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 24, 2016 11:29:32 GMT -8
The creature seemed apathetic to the mysterious woman; it continued to clean its blade. "Not sure. All disappeared. Maybe we not good enough. Existence, pointless. Don't meet standards. I no like follow orders. I do as I please. No discipline."
The creature finished cleaning its blade and turned to Grandma. "I'm Kiraxan. My kind, rare. Humans, outcompete us. Fireknaughts, assimilate us."
The creature's slitted eyes looked up and down Grandma inquisitively. "You hunter, or prey?"
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 24, 2016 12:39:35 GMT -8
A strange tale this creature told. It said the things she had fought previously tried to assimilate it? That was odd, very odd indeed. Continuing to study the creature, Grandma responds to its query.
“Of the options you give, I’m a hunter… I’ve come here to claim this fortress for myself and am in the process of clearing it out. I just ran into some of those Fireknaughts you speak of, they were bestial and not capable of reason so I ended them. For now, I shall leave you be, but soon you’ll need to make a choice. Either serve me or leave this place, else I’ll be forced to deal with you myself.”
Turning, Grandma would leave and continue down the path unless the creature decided to attack her, which she was prepared for as she turned her back to it.
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 24, 2016 17:46:43 GMT -8
The creature stood there, calmly contemplating her offer. He would carefully follow Grandma as far as the outer corridor and then head into the court yard. There he would spot the fireknaughts' bodies. He looked back at Grandma's direction and nodded approvingly. "Mm, good hunter." He then slung his blade over his shoulder and made for the exit of the fortress. "But I don't like following orders."
Grandma would eventually make it to the armory. This room was guarded by a portcullis and an odd magical inscribed plate. Given Grandma's shapeshifting abilities this would probably not slow her down. Inside the room wad a wide variety of enchanted weapons and armor on six racks; there were three racks along the walls and three in the middle of the room parallel to each other. Most of them were garden variety weapons and armor, nothing special. Grandma might be interested in a crossbow that appeared to shoot crystals in rapid succession via a spinning chamber. There was also a gauntlet that could shoot fire in a straight beam if fire magic was channeled into it. Once again, while somewhat unique, the weapons would still be comparable to things Grandma has seen before.
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 24, 2016 18:21:47 GMT -8
Grandma wasn’t particularly impressed by the weapons. Although they certainly would be useful enough to send to the vault they weren’t of use to her. Channeling for a short time, Grandma would open a small portal to the vault, lifting the various weapons of note with telekinesis and placing them through the portal.
This task complete, Grandma would close the portal and continue searching the various rooms of the fortress, sending anything of note to the vault. All the while she would make sure the path brought her closer to the magical source she could feel deep within the castle.
She was expecting to run into more creatures in here. So far she had only met six, but surely for this place to become so feared there was a greater number than that. They had been very dangerous creatures, though. Still, she suspected something more dangerous lurked in this fortress.
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 24, 2016 19:26:33 GMT -8
In terms of Lai Ban's request, the study hall would prove to be most profitable so far. There were cupboards filled with religious texts and essays pertaining to the phoenixes and their adversarial relationship with the so called Six Faces. There were also several desiccated human bodies.
If Grandma took the time to read the essays being penned by the men who were missing most of their internal organs and muscle mass (a deficit they made up for in big ugly bite marks), they would mostly contain dissenting opinions of the religion of Amun Ra.
Before she made it into the chapel, she would sense 6 more life signs, all dangerously above average and not quite human. There was also a touch of magic in this room.
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 24, 2016 20:38:41 GMT -8
Inspecting a few of the religious text, Grandma would send them to the vault as well. When she was finished here she would most likely have them be sent to the priestess after being copied. After all, no reason not to expand Isra’s already massive library of books. Finishing up the acquisition of the religious tomes, Grandma would continue on her way into the fortress.
Then she would sense the 6 life forms. She now knew the creatures in here were quite strong and that her precautions before had been wise. Deciding to continue with this method, she cast a spell to hide her presence once more as she approached the chapel. As she entered, she would scan the room for the creatures she could sense in it, left, right, up, down, wherever she felt their signatures she would look.
She was prepared to resummon her scythe at a moment's notice. This room felt more dangerous than the others and there was a magical presence she hadn’t pinpointed yet...
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 25, 2016 11:14:43 GMT -8
As she entered into the room, she would be immediately struck by the beauty of the chapel. The Phoenicians clearly spared no expense when it came to the construction of this particular facet of the fortress.The room's decor was incredibly ornate and used a mix of gold plating, blue and white marble, brass, and even cloth to create many different patters and designs The general aesthetic was building around various emblems of important figures, such as divine beings and of course the Phoenix. There also appeared to be many candle-holders scattered about, to ensure the room had proper lighting even at night.  However, this time it was still daylight, and to the side of the room was a broken stained glass window letting in quite a bit of sunlight. This is where the six creatures were gathered. They were feral fireknaughts, and they were all holding hands and breathing deeply and peacefully, their massive lungs filling the room with the sound of moving air. Their naked bodies were bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. Grandma would sense psionic magic around their prefrontal cortexes. The longer this peculiar meditation went on, the stronger the magic seemed to be. One of them would suddenly raise his head up and look around frantically. As soon as they did this, they all started to do the same. Eventually their eyes settled on where Grandma's presence would be if she were tangible. They started to hiss and growl. |
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 25, 2016 11:44:02 GMT -8
These creatures had been preparing magic and were also in the sun… They would prove significantly more dangerous than the previous fireknaughts and an extended fight with them would prove troublesome in this form. Best to try and end them quickly even if it did cause a bit of damage to this wonderous room.
The room would have to be repaired she supposed. Removing her spell of concealment, Grandma in her human form would appear before them. With a swift motion, Grandma raised her cane and aimed it at their circle, her eyes turning pitch black as she channeled. Channeling as much as she could through the staff without destroying it, Grandma aimed to slaughter them before they could unleash spells at her.
The floor below them would instantly crack inwards as if an invisible boulder had been dropped on it and the firenaughts would feel an immense force pulling them down the floor, attempting to shatter their bones, organs, skin, and leave them nothing but a splatter on the floor. The aura coming off Grandma had great murderous intent as she channeled.
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 25, 2016 11:59:05 GMT -8
If she had failed to squish them like insects in her first volley, even Grandma would have been hard-pressed to defeat these creatures. Their speed and reflexes would have exceeded all known biological parameters and with their powers they would have been able to coordinate their attacks expertly via a telepathic link.
Luckily, her attack succeeded. Their bones wouldn't shatter quite so readily, but their dense bodies would be pinned to the floor due to the intense gravity.
They weren't quite done yet. Because of their abilities, they were able to survive the harsh gravitational pull and resist being flattened. In an odd, simultaneous fashion, the beings would start to pull and crawl their way out of the field, inch by agonizing inch. They clawed at the ground. Their bodies were evenly spaced and they used the same limbs. From an aerial point of view the scene would look like some writhing, perverse fleshy flower.
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 25, 2016 12:25:01 GMT -8
These creatures survival was the first thing that genuinely surprised Grandma in this fortress. Although mostly incapacitated, they were still movingly and would eventually escape her spell. Smiling sadistically as she witnessed the power of the creatures, she approached cautiously. She was breathing heavily as she did so, the amount of magic expended for her spell near the upper limits for her human form.
Now she simply needed to finish them off while collecting their souls. Murderous intent still as strong as ever, Grandma channeled, this spell using very little energy. A single rune would begin appearing on the forehead of each of the fireknaughts, as if being drawn by an invisible scalpel. Once the runes were finished, Grandma would speak a single, alien sounding word.
As it was spoken, the runes on the creatures heads would glow with a red light for a split second. If the spell was successful, the fireknaughts would find their lives snuffed out like a candle and their souls dragged towards Grandma to be added to the countless others. Although not a very flashy spell or one with numerous uses, it was made simply for killing, and that it did very well.
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 25, 2016 13:09:30 GMT -8
The fireknaughts fell silent.
The magic in the room dissipated, and Grandma would be free to actually take in the beauty of the chapel.
There were several hymn books and study notes scattered about in little cubbies affixed to the backs of the rows of fine wood benches; these might be of mild interest to Lai Ban. The architecture itself was probably worth a lot more. The room was a treasure in its own right.
***
There were many other rooms in the fortress, but they would be devoid of anything of interest, save for one.
A trap door somewhere in the final corridor of the fortress would lead to a long, dark tunnel. Towards the end was an alcove with a small wooden door. Behind that door were the punitive dungeons. The dungeons were suspiciously empty. One would expect the cells to be filled with the corpses of starved prisoners who were unworthy of being excised from this world. But not only were the cells empty, but they were rather clean, as if they had been swept recently.
If she continued down the rows of cells she would eventually make it to the warden's office, where she would find a gibbering mess of a creature. He looked very similar to the Kiraxian she had encountered before. but this one had an elongated neck and was covered in soiled, formerly fine, red robes. It was kneeling in front of a makeshift altar with a vague approximation of a golden phoenix sitting on top. To the side were (mostly) human bones, split apart and picked clean of any traces of flesh.
"Have... have I still not pleased you? What must I do? Why can't I come with you? Why? WHAT DID I DO?" The creature blubbered pitifully. But unlike the other life forms, this one had a very significant magical aura about it, one to even give Grandma's current form pause. "What must I do? Do you demand more sacrifices? Must I chant another thousand times? I'll do whatever it takes. ANSWER ME! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling..."
The creature would be fully capable of sensing Grandma's presence even when cloaked, but it wouldn't respond unless spoken to.
Of interest to Grandma would be the creature's golden crown, rings, necklace, and anklets. They were filled with a fiery magical aura.
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 25, 2016 18:16:35 GMT -8
Dismissing her spell of concealment, Grandma approached the creature. This would be an interesting encounter, she hadn’t fought something this strong since her encounter with the Immortal in its ruins. Cane clicking loudly, she walked towards the creature, only stopping once she was 30 feet from it.
“It seems someone has been forsaken by their ‘god’. What do you have to say for yourself, creature? Why have you and the others here fallen into so much disrepair? What happened to you all to result in such a fall from grace?”
Grandma’s voice carried accusation in it, she fully intended to antagonize the creature. Perhaps it would speak to her before it attacked, perhaps not, Grandma considered it an amusing experiment nonetheless. Gathering her magic, she would prepare for the worst. Considering the strength of the thing, it was quite possible that it would force her out of her form. Although this wasn’t really a problem for her, it did speak of the creatures potential strength...
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 25, 2016 19:03:27 GMT -8
The creature stopped blubbering, but it continued to gaze upon its crude idol. "... We accepted it willingly. It gave us great power. Armies, science, medicine, magic, all precious gifts. All we had to do was accept its will, his will. And we did..."
The creature hissed. "It's all your fault!" Its head rapidly swiveled towards the void entity and its eyes flashed. Without any other warning Grandma's position would be engulfed in white hot flames which exploded outward at the speed of sound, consuming the entire prison.
"YOUR FAULT!"
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 25, 2016 20:26:57 GMT -8
Grandma’s barrier ring would activate, but the power of the flame quickly overwhelmed it, causing it to fail within seconds of activating. Once the flames cleared, the creature would find the charred remains of Grandma’s body, lying face forward on the floor. Her staff and other amulets had survived the blast, but her body was practically turned to ash from the intense heat.
But then something strange would happen, a faint breeze would blow through the chamber. Barely audible whispers might even be heard. If the creature listened closely, he would hear them speaking to him.
“But was it really her fault… The fault lies with you… Unworthy of the Phoenix… Traitorous scum... You tarnish its name… Why do you still cling to life…”
Then, a Phoenix would appear before him, bright orange and red feathers shining and draped in fire. The creature floated in the air before him, gazing at him with a look of disgust.
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 25, 2016 20:35:28 GMT -8
"GREAT ONE!" The creature turned around and collapsed on its knees in supplication, barely phased by its own heat. "You don't understand! This world, it isn't like the others! We were saviors, bringers of peace, Gods, but these people wanted nothing to do with us! Even the girl refused to be bitten, refused to receive the blessing. The Land-Tillers, Isra... this world is dangerous. You should destroy it DESTROY IT! CLEANSE IT WITH YOUR HOLY FLAMES BEFORE IT BECOMES A THREAT TO OUR EMPIRE!"
The creature started to blubber again. It also started coughing, its reckless attack consuming much of the oxygen in on the floor.
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 25, 2016 21:30:48 GMT -8
The flames around the phoenix would grow larger, burning brightly as it continued looking with disgust at the creature before it. The phoenix appeared to have no problem with the lack of oxygen, its flames causing the oxygen to be consumed at an even faster rate. The pathetic lump of a creature before would hear a voice speaking in its mind, a voice filled with a mixture of disappointment and anger.
Do not tell me what I understand worm. You have no way of comprehending my plan in the slightest and even if you did, you no longer deserve to know of it. I command you to sacrifice yourself to me. If you have any of your honor and sense of duty left, do so immediately and rid me the trouble of killing one of my own. This is the only way some of your honor may be restored.
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 26, 2016 7:10:50 GMT -8
Surprisingly the creature responded well to the Phoenix's threat. "You... You are right. We have failed. But this world will be yours some day..."
A blue aura began encircling his body. As he prepared the self immolation spell, he contemplated outloud, "The humans of this world... They are strong willed... Defiant. They even stand up to gods." He chuckled. "They remind me... Of the first ones. The... Demi..."
There was a flash of blue light and the creature's body was replaced with a like form of ashes. His death seemed rather painless.
His artifacts fell to the ground with a clatter.
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Grandma
Widely Known
Imperial Vizier of Isra
Roleplay posts: 1,017
Age: 90
Physical Description: ---------------------------------------------------------
An elderly and frail looking woman with white wispy hair. However, despite being old, her back is not bent by age nor are her eyes clouded by it.
Clothes and Equipment: ---------------------------------------------------------
She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for telepathic communication with others in its network.
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Registered: Sept 12, 2015 8:27:42 GMT -8
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Post by Grandma on Sept 26, 2016 10:27:34 GMT -8
The last thing the creature would hear before its death was the Phoenix laughing. Its voice was now the same as the old woman who had entered and been incinerated. In its last moments, it would realize it had been tricked, the mocking laugh still ringing in its mind.
Phoenix melting away into a cloud of grayish smoke, the form Grandma now took, she approached the artifacts that had fallen to the floor. A tendril of smoke would extend, forming a crude hand that reached down and picked up each artifact, examining them and testing them to tell what powers they were imbued with.
Once this was done, the artifacts would be sent away to the vault via the method she had used to send all the other artifacts there. Grandma would then continue to search the fortress, looking for any artifacts or creatures she had overlooked. If she found none, she would leave and head back towards the Landtillers Black Tower Branch.
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Post by Land Tillers' State on Sept 26, 2016 17:42:31 GMT -8
The creature would weep bitterly when it realized it had been tricked, though its tears would vaporize instantly. "This world... is too strong..." Its last breath would utter as it accepted its fate.
The magical artifacts could catalyze mana into powerful fire spells, including the flash fire the creature used against Grandma. They are most effective on people who already understand fire magic.
The fortress was now devoid of possibly harmful entities and now ready for use by Grandma.
From this point on most of the texts she found would be bureaucratic in nature, requisition forms, health records, and the like. There were some texts relating to medicine and engineering suggesting a surprisingly advanced, well-rounded society. There were also training manuals and compilations of various military tactics. Most artifacts were rather generic, but there were some interesting gems that seemed to be designed for data storage. These Grandma might find useful.
There was gold, but not much of it.
Grandma was free to leave.
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