He smiled a bit and nodded to her as she accented. He followed and climbed up the ladder with her.
"Thanks." He spoke softly, realizing the words he spoke echoed in the thin tube of a hall and decided to keep his personal ideal words out of way. As they made it up top he smiled a bit less when the machinery of the clock was everywhere. He cared not the size of the cogs, but the fact that things were scattered and somethings were shoved into sockets made him upset.
He gasped a bit as he saw the monstrosity that rested in this room. He paced closer to the machine and picked up the cogs, "you poor baby." He nearly shouted as he started to pick up the pieces to fix almost immediately.
He smiled a bit to Miriela and out a spare hand out to the fallen pieces. "Please, could you help me, I will need to collect these and I can only make so many extra limbs." He nearly pleaded to her as he held the bits and pieces close to his chest.
"Thanks." He spoke softly, realizing the words he spoke echoed in the thin tube of a hall and decided to keep his personal ideal words out of way. As they made it up top he smiled a bit less when the machinery of the clock was everywhere. He cared not the size of the cogs, but the fact that things were scattered and somethings were shoved into sockets made him upset.
He gasped a bit as he saw the monstrosity that rested in this room. He paced closer to the machine and picked up the cogs, "you poor baby." He nearly shouted as he started to pick up the pieces to fix almost immediately.
He smiled a bit to Miriela and out a spare hand out to the fallen pieces. "Please, could you help me, I will need to collect these and I can only make so many extra limbs." He nearly pleaded to her as he held the bits and pieces close to his chest.
"We should stay here to watch the creatures", Pluvio called out towards Kiari. He was not sure if she would stay or not.
Next he turned to the outline of Sasuki. "You go ahead", he asked of him. His voice was confident. It would take a lot of bravery to stay alone with these golems, especially with his magic capacity dwindling. It would take just as much bravery to keep climbing and subject oneself to a higher level of the tower's madness and threats.
Pluvio took up a defensive posture and scanned the room. In the dim moonlight, the mage could see the small, active clockwork scurrying about. Something was in its tiny hand. It was a miniscule tool. The little one paid no attention to the intruders as it climbed amongst its larger siblings.
Sharp creaking noises reverberated against the walls from the sound of the tiny screwdriver twisting rusty metal. Sparking caused brief flickers of light to dance in the darkness..
Next he turned to the outline of Sasuki. "You go ahead", he asked of him. His voice was confident. It would take a lot of bravery to stay alone with these golems, especially with his magic capacity dwindling. It would take just as much bravery to keep climbing and subject oneself to a higher level of the tower's madness and threats.
Pluvio took up a defensive posture and scanned the room. In the dim moonlight, the mage could see the small, active clockwork scurrying about. Something was in its tiny hand. It was a miniscule tool. The little one paid no attention to the intruders as it climbed amongst its larger siblings.
Sharp creaking noises reverberated against the walls from the sound of the tiny screwdriver twisting rusty metal. Sparking caused brief flickers of light to dance in the darkness..
Miriela was a bit surprised to see how emotional Sasuki was about fixing the machine, but she willingly picked up some of the parts in her arms and carried them and started sorting them by shape and size, collecting more and laying them out neatly so they could see them all. "This is a mess." She muttered as she stared at the parts of the clock.
Her knowledge of machines was limited, so she simply collected the pieces for him and waited for him to tell her what to do.
Her knowledge of machines was limited, so she simply collected the pieces for him and waited for him to tell her what to do.
Shadow limbs formed as they assisted him with hastily removing cogs and placing them in the correct spots. He looked to the bottom piece and saw that there was a small point that was longer that the rest of the cog. His curiosity got to him as he walked over to it.
He saw that there was two switches that were lined up to pass and meet, but one was a lever while the other was a stick. He looked at it for a second and saw its placing, now knowing what it was meant for. He smiled a bit as he started to work more on the machine, placing the down and picking up the cogs at a faster pace. He pushed up one of the larger cogs with the raise of his hand to his chin, the hand flat and open upwards. The cog was shot up into the air as the ground underneath it jutted out.
From underneath, one of the large machine creatures shook violently and then launched itself to the roof, breaking through the ceiling a bit and holding its place there.
Sasuki smiled a bit more as he quickly pushed the cog into place with a gust of wind, the sound of the crushing and mashing was killed and the large echoing of the clocks ticking was made. He patted the closest cog near him and looked to the face of the clock.
"I gotcha, sweetheart, don't worry." He spoke softly and smiled. He pulled out his watch to check the time.
His watch was a small golden watch with black metal bat wings on both sides of it and a closing case over the top of it, graving a design of a six pointed star and a horned helmet with foreign symbols inside each point, much like the one on his custom wingtips. He opened it and checked the time, 9:57 it read, it was still early in the night, but it was too dark for the sun to be up.
He looked to the clock and sighed a bit, looking a bit worried.
"Tell our elven friends to cover their ears." He spoke to Miriela as he put his watch away, the black metal chain it was attached to was barbed and thick, it was obvious that this doubled as a weapon. "You might want to do it too, luv." He spoke with a soft smile.
He saw that there was two switches that were lined up to pass and meet, but one was a lever while the other was a stick. He looked at it for a second and saw its placing, now knowing what it was meant for. He smiled a bit as he started to work more on the machine, placing the down and picking up the cogs at a faster pace. He pushed up one of the larger cogs with the raise of his hand to his chin, the hand flat and open upwards. The cog was shot up into the air as the ground underneath it jutted out.
From underneath, one of the large machine creatures shook violently and then launched itself to the roof, breaking through the ceiling a bit and holding its place there.
Sasuki smiled a bit more as he quickly pushed the cog into place with a gust of wind, the sound of the crushing and mashing was killed and the large echoing of the clocks ticking was made. He patted the closest cog near him and looked to the face of the clock.
"I gotcha, sweetheart, don't worry." He spoke softly and smiled. He pulled out his watch to check the time.
His watch was a small golden watch with black metal bat wings on both sides of it and a closing case over the top of it, graving a design of a six pointed star and a horned helmet with foreign symbols inside each point, much like the one on his custom wingtips. He opened it and checked the time, 9:57 it read, it was still early in the night, but it was too dark for the sun to be up.
He looked to the clock and sighed a bit, looking a bit worried.
"Tell our elven friends to cover their ears." He spoke to Miriela as he put his watch away, the black metal chain it was attached to was barbed and thick, it was obvious that this doubled as a weapon. "You might want to do it too, luv." He spoke with a soft smile.
Miriela watched him quietly, a little baffled by his ability to comprehend the complex parts of the machine.
It was fascinating to her to watch him piece together the parts of the clock and get it back into a functional set up.
When he told her what to do she walked to the ladder and called down to Kiari and Pluvio. "YOU MIGHT WANT TO COVER YOUR EARS!" Then, she put her hands over her own ears and looked to Sasuki, uncertain what to expect next.
It was fascinating to her to watch him piece together the parts of the clock and get it back into a functional set up.
When he told her what to do she walked to the ladder and called down to Kiari and Pluvio. "YOU MIGHT WANT TO COVER YOUR EARS!" Then, she put her hands over her own ears and looked to Sasuki, uncertain what to expect next.
As the golem sprang into action, Pluvio wrapped his arms around Kiari and pushed her against the wall. He was careful not smash her up against it. His body formed a shield between her and the erupting machination.
Before Pluvio could sound the alarm, the creature was gone and there was a hole in the ceiling. "Maybe we should go." He spoke in a quiet whisper as he released his nervous grip on the girl. A slight blue drow blush warmed his cheeks.
It was partly because of the embarrassment of overreacting. He called out, "Are you two still okay?" The worst thoughts ran through his mind. His thoughts focused on escaping while he still could.
Just a few more minutes, he thought.
Finally, a female voice called down telling the elves to cover their ears. Pluvio knelt down and motioned for Kiari to do the same. He jammed two of his gloved fingers as far down his ear canal as he could.
There were a few moments of silence. Then it hit. A voracious clang, one that shook each wizard to the very core of their bodies, deeper even than the whirring of the gears, called out through the night. The noise stopped suddenly, but would repeat, just as intense.
The repetition was enough to bring Pluvio to the floor. His heart was now beating so fast he was losing control of his meditation. Hopefully this noise would stop soon.
And after ten repetitions, the clanging stopped. It was the clock's bell sounding ten o'clock. The clanging would be heard even as far south as the drow village. It's sound waves carried news of the teams success to the village.
"Now we just have to get out of here", Pluvio said to himself in the dark.
Before Pluvio could sound the alarm, the creature was gone and there was a hole in the ceiling. "Maybe we should go." He spoke in a quiet whisper as he released his nervous grip on the girl. A slight blue drow blush warmed his cheeks.
It was partly because of the embarrassment of overreacting. He called out, "Are you two still okay?" The worst thoughts ran through his mind. His thoughts focused on escaping while he still could.
Just a few more minutes, he thought.
Finally, a female voice called down telling the elves to cover their ears. Pluvio knelt down and motioned for Kiari to do the same. He jammed two of his gloved fingers as far down his ear canal as he could.
There were a few moments of silence. Then it hit. A voracious clang, one that shook each wizard to the very core of their bodies, deeper even than the whirring of the gears, called out through the night. The noise stopped suddenly, but would repeat, just as intense.
The repetition was enough to bring Pluvio to the floor. His heart was now beating so fast he was losing control of his meditation. Hopefully this noise would stop soon.
And after ten repetitions, the clanging stopped. It was the clock's bell sounding ten o'clock. The clanging would be heard even as far south as the drow village. It's sound waves carried news of the teams success to the village.
"Now we just have to get out of here", Pluvio said to himself in the dark.
"Y-YOU ARE MAKING--"
The first peal of the great bells had begun. The manic voice from before shrieked between the thunderous gongs.
"--TOO--"
Something came tumbling down through the machinery like a ragdoll, haphazardly catching itself upon metal or stone as it fell to break its speed. The next word came out strangled.
"--M-MUCH--"
The thing finally landed in a heap beneath the churning mechanism, and lay motionless for the remnant of the clock's grim announcement. It might have seemed that it had perished from the sheer height of the fall.
But then, when all had fallen silent again, it shivered, tentatively unfolded, and whispered, "noise."
It was a man that climbed to his feet, a man with a beaky nose and dark circles beneath two striking, bloodshot eyes. He wore round and cracked glasses that glittered in the fragile beams of moonlight that lanced through the glass of the clock's faces, and his bony body was swathed in deep purple robes that might have once been very regal, if not for the dust and tatters they had since accrued.
He looked at Sasuki with a pained furrow at his brow. A trickle of something black carved a line from the corner of his shivering lip to the point of his narrow chin. One of the stranger's thin hands gripped the fabric at his own chest, white-knuckled.
"I-it is--it is done," he whispered. "Y-you--have--k-killed me."
The first peal of the great bells had begun. The manic voice from before shrieked between the thunderous gongs.
"--TOO--"
Something came tumbling down through the machinery like a ragdoll, haphazardly catching itself upon metal or stone as it fell to break its speed. The next word came out strangled.
"--M-MUCH--"
The thing finally landed in a heap beneath the churning mechanism, and lay motionless for the remnant of the clock's grim announcement. It might have seemed that it had perished from the sheer height of the fall.
But then, when all had fallen silent again, it shivered, tentatively unfolded, and whispered, "noise."
It was a man that climbed to his feet, a man with a beaky nose and dark circles beneath two striking, bloodshot eyes. He wore round and cracked glasses that glittered in the fragile beams of moonlight that lanced through the glass of the clock's faces, and his bony body was swathed in deep purple robes that might have once been very regal, if not for the dust and tatters they had since accrued.
He looked at Sasuki with a pained furrow at his brow. A trickle of something black carved a line from the corner of his shivering lip to the point of his narrow chin. One of the stranger's thin hands gripped the fabric at his own chest, white-knuckled.
"I-it is--it is done," he whispered. "Y-you--have--k-killed me."
Sasuki saw the man fall and looked to him as he got back up, he seemed like an interesting man and dressed with a unique and nice kind of style, to him. He smiled a bit and looked him up and down. "You must be the-..."
killed him? he thought with slight surprise. He walked ofer and smiled a bit and looked him up and down again, noticing the black liquid from his lip and jaw. He walked closer with a reassuring smile. "You must not be strong enough to hold off the power. I'm sorry your life ended like this." He spoke softly and chuckled. "But I'm sure you will be fine. If you're the man they speak of here, then I would give it a second or two before you jump back up again." He smiles as he looks to the clock and back to him. The ticking making a beautiful sound, despite the sound of hour coming to him and breaking his ears for a second.
killed him? he thought with slight surprise. He walked ofer and smiled a bit and looked him up and down again, noticing the black liquid from his lip and jaw. He walked closer with a reassuring smile. "You must not be strong enough to hold off the power. I'm sorry your life ended like this." He spoke softly and chuckled. "But I'm sure you will be fine. If you're the man they speak of here, then I would give it a second or two before you jump back up again." He smiles as he looks to the clock and back to him. The ticking making a beautiful sound, despite the sound of hour coming to him and breaking his ears for a second.
Miriela uncovered her ears when the ringing stopped, only to see the man fall. She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep herself from making a noise of shock.
Curiously, she observed him, listening to the strange things he said. Who was he? What was he? She narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious but also interested.
Quietly, she folded her arms and observed. Making no move to either help or harm him. Sasuki could fend for himself, she figured. Her eyes wandered the now functioning clock and then back to the odd man.
Curiously, she observed him, listening to the strange things he said. Who was he? What was he? She narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious but also interested.
Quietly, she folded her arms and observed. Making no move to either help or harm him. Sasuki could fend for himself, she figured. Her eyes wandered the now functioning clock and then back to the odd man.
It would be a lie to say she was surprised that the man still protested despite their honest concern for him. Miriela suggested that they needed to leave and Kiari was more than grateful someone shared her thoughts but Sasuki's persistence was enough to make her want to stick it out.
Her arms folded across her chest as her gaze surveyed the room once more. The next thing she knew, Pluvio had pushed her against the wall and protected her from the creature. Even if he had not thought to save her, the golem had not been a huge danger and she would have been just fine. It was the fact that he was willing to do something so sacrificial for her that moved Kiari. The closeness of him swept everything else away and quickened her heartbeat and shortened her breath. The breath of his whisper hit her cheeks and she just stared in silence.
For once, she found it impossible to make a coherent thought as her eyes chanced a glance up at his face as he let his protective embrace fall and stepped back. The blush on his face made her frown in confusion. Had she done something wrong?
Miriela's voice rang louder than her wandering thoughts, and she quickly heeded her warning. With the palms of her hands pressed firmly against her ears, she could still hear the obnoxious noise.
After it had faded, she dropped her hands and nodded at Pluvio's words. She longed to get out of here. Hurriedly, she met up with Miriela and Sasuki. The man clenching at his chest proclaimed Sasuki's murderous actions when his intentions had been righteous. Kiari stood in uncertainty with a frown. If the man died, it would be on his own hands. They had sought to help him but he had given them nothing to go on, just feeble threats and endless pleads. Then again, she couldn't help but think of how he had not seemed completely sane and she wondered if he had been capable of communicating properly.
Maybe, this had been their mission after all. Was it possible someone had known what it would do to this man and wanted him dead so much, that they would hire some random people to do their dirty work for them?
Kiari didn't like how it looked.
Her arms folded across her chest as her gaze surveyed the room once more. The next thing she knew, Pluvio had pushed her against the wall and protected her from the creature. Even if he had not thought to save her, the golem had not been a huge danger and she would have been just fine. It was the fact that he was willing to do something so sacrificial for her that moved Kiari. The closeness of him swept everything else away and quickened her heartbeat and shortened her breath. The breath of his whisper hit her cheeks and she just stared in silence.
For once, she found it impossible to make a coherent thought as her eyes chanced a glance up at his face as he let his protective embrace fall and stepped back. The blush on his face made her frown in confusion. Had she done something wrong?
Miriela's voice rang louder than her wandering thoughts, and she quickly heeded her warning. With the palms of her hands pressed firmly against her ears, she could still hear the obnoxious noise.
After it had faded, she dropped her hands and nodded at Pluvio's words. She longed to get out of here. Hurriedly, she met up with Miriela and Sasuki. The man clenching at his chest proclaimed Sasuki's murderous actions when his intentions had been righteous. Kiari stood in uncertainty with a frown. If the man died, it would be on his own hands. They had sought to help him but he had given them nothing to go on, just feeble threats and endless pleads. Then again, she couldn't help but think of how he had not seemed completely sane and she wondered if he had been capable of communicating properly.
Maybe, this had been their mission after all. Was it possible someone had known what it would do to this man and wanted him dead so much, that they would hire some random people to do their dirty work for them?
Kiari didn't like how it looked.
The pair had made their way to the ladder and had joined Sasuki and Miriela soon after the new wizard had landed. The team watched as the ruddy haired man began to speak.
Despite the maddening scene around him, Pluvio couldn't help but be filled with an admiration for the band of strangers he'd been through this experience with. If they made it back alive, they would need to have many pheasant duck dinners to celebrate.
The storm mage had a rosy-colored view of the world. He trusted most with open arms. The thought of Lord Bulwark's ill-intentions did not cross his mind. Then again, who was this frenetic newcomer. The drow inched closer to the fallen wizard.
His ears perked up, waiting to see the reaction to his presence.
Sasuki spoke again. Pluvio had to admit, the man was a natural leader. He watched the daft way he talked to the new arrival and was filled with a new sense of bravery. "You'll be alright, good sir", he told the stranger reassuringly.
The mage turned to Kiari. His voice crooned to her in a soft tone. "Are you okay?"
It was a little late to ask her, but he wanted to see how she was dealing with the stress.. He could hardly see her, but he swore there was a look of worry on her face.
He had hoped his nervous tension had not begun to rub off on her. This was the first time Pluvio had ever taken on an apprentice. For he had up his mind that even if the elders would not allow it, he would help Kiari become a successful mage. Hopefully this new strange group would help teach her skills and grow her magical repertoire.
Despite the maddening scene around him, Pluvio couldn't help but be filled with an admiration for the band of strangers he'd been through this experience with. If they made it back alive, they would need to have many pheasant duck dinners to celebrate.
The storm mage had a rosy-colored view of the world. He trusted most with open arms. The thought of Lord Bulwark's ill-intentions did not cross his mind. Then again, who was this frenetic newcomer. The drow inched closer to the fallen wizard.
His ears perked up, waiting to see the reaction to his presence.
Sasuki spoke again. Pluvio had to admit, the man was a natural leader. He watched the daft way he talked to the new arrival and was filled with a new sense of bravery. "You'll be alright, good sir", he told the stranger reassuringly.
The mage turned to Kiari. His voice crooned to her in a soft tone. "Are you okay?"
It was a little late to ask her, but he wanted to see how she was dealing with the stress.. He could hardly see her, but he swore there was a look of worry on her face.
He had hoped his nervous tension had not begun to rub off on her. This was the first time Pluvio had ever taken on an apprentice. For he had up his mind that even if the elders would not allow it, he would help Kiari become a successful mage. Hopefully this new strange group would help teach her skills and grow her magical repertoire.
The wiry magician backed away, a step for every one that Sasuki took towards him, drawing his robes tighter around himself. His shoulders shook, and his chapped lips separated to numbly permit another line of black to trickle out of them. His eyes, his eyes--they were bright with the sickly gleam of a man caught in the grips of fatal disease. He was so thin. He was too thin. What feeble power kept him alive? What frail spell had they broken?
Every movement they made seemed to startle him. Here was a man brimming with some strange power, yet he jumped at every sound like a rabbit, and there was a haunted terror in those ill eyes. Another black line began to trickle down from one of them, like some mockery of a tear, but he was not weeping.
He looked at each of the four mages in turn, and something about his gaze nonetheless managed to be severe and piercing. It was the sort of look a father might give a child. His lips moved as though he was reading a tale out of each of their faces, but all that came from him was more droplets of the oily substance.
"Y-you killed me," he told them again, in a soft, forlorn voice, and turned away to toddle awkwardly towards the glass of one of the clock faces. The meaning of these words was not yet apparent, but the mad chronomancer seemed quite sure of the tragic conviction with which he said them.
Every movement they made seemed to startle him. Here was a man brimming with some strange power, yet he jumped at every sound like a rabbit, and there was a haunted terror in those ill eyes. Another black line began to trickle down from one of them, like some mockery of a tear, but he was not weeping.
He looked at each of the four mages in turn, and something about his gaze nonetheless managed to be severe and piercing. It was the sort of look a father might give a child. His lips moved as though he was reading a tale out of each of their faces, but all that came from him was more droplets of the oily substance.
"Y-you killed me," he told them again, in a soft, forlorn voice, and turned away to toddle awkwardly towards the glass of one of the clock faces. The meaning of these words was not yet apparent, but the mad chronomancer seemed quite sure of the tragic conviction with which he said them.
Sasuki saw that this man was certain his death was something he was sure of. Though he found it to be a slight annoyance that he was so dramatic with this death, surely his powers have made sure that he did not die once.
He thought for a moment and smiled a bit, walking passed everyone and dropping down to the floor below, using wind magic to push himself to a safe landing. He walked over to the hourglass and picked it up, carefully walking over to the ladder again and launching himself back up with the same power, feeling slightly weakened for using white magic. He walked over to the Chronomancer with a soft smile.
"Your power?" He questioned to the man with a smile as he looked up, the smile was attentive and calm, as if he wanted to be hospitable to him. "Is it in here?" He asked softly and smiled a bit, he was interested in finding out what it did in the first place. Maybe this was what is was made for.
He thought for a moment and smiled a bit, walking passed everyone and dropping down to the floor below, using wind magic to push himself to a safe landing. He walked over to the hourglass and picked it up, carefully walking over to the ladder again and launching himself back up with the same power, feeling slightly weakened for using white magic. He walked over to the Chronomancer with a soft smile.
"Your power?" He questioned to the man with a smile as he looked up, the smile was attentive and calm, as if he wanted to be hospitable to him. "Is it in here?" He asked softly and smiled a bit, he was interested in finding out what it did in the first place. Maybe this was what is was made for.
Her frantic thoughts stopped short at the sound of Pluvio's question. Kiari shook her head, ridding herself of the irrational fear that they had been chosen to take an innocent life. A cocoon of calmness engulfed her as she focused through her deceiving emotions.
"I'm fine." She smiled without really feeling it.
The apprenticeship would be interesting to watch as it played out. A foolish part of her had thought his concern for her before had not just been because he was soon going to nurse her powers and give her a vast knowledge on the life of mages. It was silly to think such a thing.
"How are you holding up? "she asked in return.
The man was incredibly insistent that they had killed him when he was still very much alive. Kiari glanced at Sasuki as he spoke to the man. The idea that it might be his power never crossed her mind. As black began to stain the men's cheeks, she looked back to him and waited to witness his reaction to Akane's words.
Kiari toyed with a thread that stuck out of her sleeve idly. It had been a long night but aside from the fear, it had not turned out so bad. She wondered what the group would do after this.
"I'm fine." She smiled without really feeling it.
The apprenticeship would be interesting to watch as it played out. A foolish part of her had thought his concern for her before had not just been because he was soon going to nurse her powers and give her a vast knowledge on the life of mages. It was silly to think such a thing.
"How are you holding up? "she asked in return.
The man was incredibly insistent that they had killed him when he was still very much alive. Kiari glanced at Sasuki as he spoke to the man. The idea that it might be his power never crossed her mind. As black began to stain the men's cheeks, she looked back to him and waited to witness his reaction to Akane's words.
Kiari toyed with a thread that stuck out of her sleeve idly. It had been a long night but aside from the fear, it had not turned out so bad. She wondered what the group would do after this.
When she asked how he was doing, Pluvio remained silent. The dark wizard and the chronomancer's conversation had taken center stage.
The storm mage answered her question by slowly bumping his hand into hers in the dark. He retracted his hand quickly, as if he had touched fire. Then he cautiously brought it back, this time with silken fingers extended.
His pearly white teeth reflected the moonlight as he turned to Kiari and flashed her a smile. I'm fine too, he thought. He hoped she would embrace his hand. Even if just for a moment.
Pluvio knew he was walking a fine line. But he did not care. If the village elders knew the kinds of thoughts he had already had about this girl, they would surely not allow her to become his apprentice. They would never say such a thing in public, but any relationship between any drow and a high elf would be frowned upon.
The storm mage snapped out of his selfish thoughts. "Maybe we should go somewhere more... Quiet!" He withdrew his hand as he spoke. "I saw an inn about halfway back towards town. We could hide you there, Chronomancer."
The storm mage answered her question by slowly bumping his hand into hers in the dark. He retracted his hand quickly, as if he had touched fire. Then he cautiously brought it back, this time with silken fingers extended.
His pearly white teeth reflected the moonlight as he turned to Kiari and flashed her a smile. I'm fine too, he thought. He hoped she would embrace his hand. Even if just for a moment.
Pluvio knew he was walking a fine line. But he did not care. If the village elders knew the kinds of thoughts he had already had about this girl, they would surely not allow her to become his apprentice. They would never say such a thing in public, but any relationship between any drow and a high elf would be frowned upon.
The storm mage snapped out of his selfish thoughts. "Maybe we should go somewhere more... Quiet!" He withdrew his hand as he spoke. "I saw an inn about halfway back towards town. We could hide you there, Chronomancer."
Miriela watched in silence. She wasn't certain what this man was, nor if he was truly dying or not. Though the sickness in his eyes made her concerned. If he was ill and dying, shouldn't they do something? But because he continually avoided Sasuki, there was no way they could help him.
If he didn't want them to touch him or come close to him, there was little they could do.
When Kiari and Pluvio came up to join them, she hardly noticed, her gaze fixed on the man. She was intently pondering his strangeness and his seeming illness. What could they do? Was he ill by his own methods? Or had someone else done this? Was his life force tied to the clocks somehow? A time mage perhaps?
She furrowed her brow, baffled by it all.
Miriela observed the men speaking to the man and silently, her expression largely blank, she was trying to sort it all out.
Sasuki's move to bring the hourglass up struck her as an interesting choice. It was possible... it wasn't a bad idea... but was the hourglass corrupted? Or the man? Which one would need to be purified? Did any of them actually know how to purify an object or person?
She waited for the man's reply.
If he didn't want them to touch him or come close to him, there was little they could do.
When Kiari and Pluvio came up to join them, she hardly noticed, her gaze fixed on the man. She was intently pondering his strangeness and his seeming illness. What could they do? Was he ill by his own methods? Or had someone else done this? Was his life force tied to the clocks somehow? A time mage perhaps?
She furrowed her brow, baffled by it all.
Miriela observed the men speaking to the man and silently, her expression largely blank, she was trying to sort it all out.
Sasuki's move to bring the hourglass up struck her as an interesting choice. It was possible... it wasn't a bad idea... but was the hourglass corrupted? Or the man? Which one would need to be purified? Did any of them actually know how to purify an object or person?
She waited for the man's reply.
"Wh-what are you--" The purple-clad magician turned feebly back towards Sasuki, and his strange, strange eyes clapped upon the displaced hourglass, where they lingered for too long. And then, he shouted, "No!"
His hands began to shine with the gathering of some magic, and the tower's strange hum returned. For a few moments, he looked at them with hungry, hollow resentment. "Y-you do not understand." But just as soon, the look vanished again. His expression became aggrieved, and the power died out of his fingers as he brought them to cover his face as though in shame for nearly losing his temper. "S-s-s-sweet souls, you do not understand, because I, I, I do not answer you s-s-straight. I c-cannot answer you--s-straight. Do you, do you, d-do you know how many of you there are that I see?"
He turned his head to peer up at them with a gaze that was unfocused and distant, and went on, "T-t-ten. Twennnnt-t-t-ty. Thirty. F-fifty. One h-hun--one hundred. Two... two hundred. Half of them are ghosts. H-half of you are ghosts, in Timelines that will never c-c-come to pass. I-I cannot answer you straight because I do not know which of you I am speaking to. Wh-what is Now? When is Now? I only know that I am dead, because you have d-d-disturbed my ritual, and removed one of my foci. Sweet souls, kindly souls, you did not know, b-because I could not tell you. I could only beg f-for you to leave. And why, wh-why, why, why would you e-ever listen to me, being sent here by your lord?"
The chronomancer made a wretched noise that sounded like a strangled bark of laughter, but he wasn't smiling. Those sharp eyes then snapped to Pluvio when the storm mage addressed him so specifically. "They told you," he suddenly said, still speaking behind the guard of his fingers. "Th-they told you I was here. They told you what I was. Pluvio; th-that is your name. K-k-kindhearted rain-keeper. No inn will accept me, n-not with blood upon my face."
He could only have been referring to the black substance that flowed out of his eyes and mouth, which admittedly did not look much like blood.
His hands began to shine with the gathering of some magic, and the tower's strange hum returned. For a few moments, he looked at them with hungry, hollow resentment. "Y-you do not understand." But just as soon, the look vanished again. His expression became aggrieved, and the power died out of his fingers as he brought them to cover his face as though in shame for nearly losing his temper. "S-s-s-sweet souls, you do not understand, because I, I, I do not answer you s-s-straight. I c-cannot answer you--s-straight. Do you, do you, d-do you know how many of you there are that I see?"
He turned his head to peer up at them with a gaze that was unfocused and distant, and went on, "T-t-ten. Twennnnt-t-t-ty. Thirty. F-fifty. One h-hun--one hundred. Two... two hundred. Half of them are ghosts. H-half of you are ghosts, in Timelines that will never c-c-come to pass. I-I cannot answer you straight because I do not know which of you I am speaking to. Wh-what is Now? When is Now? I only know that I am dead, because you have d-d-disturbed my ritual, and removed one of my foci. Sweet souls, kindly souls, you did not know, b-because I could not tell you. I could only beg f-for you to leave. And why, wh-why, why, why would you e-ever listen to me, being sent here by your lord?"
The chronomancer made a wretched noise that sounded like a strangled bark of laughter, but he wasn't smiling. Those sharp eyes then snapped to Pluvio when the storm mage addressed him so specifically. "They told you," he suddenly said, still speaking behind the guard of his fingers. "Th-they told you I was here. They told you what I was. Pluvio; th-that is your name. K-k-kindhearted rain-keeper. No inn will accept me, n-not with blood upon my face."
He could only have been referring to the black substance that flowed out of his eyes and mouth, which admittedly did not look much like blood.
Sasuki was a bit confused at the fact that he switched subjects. But cared not as he handed the man his hourglass, assuming it is the source of wealth or power. He smiled a bit and patted his shoulder, which he had to reach up to do.
"Just relax, friend." He spoke calmly as he smiled to him, "there is nothing to worry about, if you have your power, you should be invincible. I know I used to be when I had mine." He chocked on the last words he spoke with a hard swallow, he continued his words.
"I won't force to leave this place if you wish to die, but I assume with you being so powerful, I would doubt you will. Just relax and take your time to breath and relax, we don't want any uncomfortable situations with death." He chuckled and smiled a bit more.
He stepped back a bit and looked to the clock and back to him. "Now I know that you are the panicked and frightened, so please, don't jump on your actions." He smiled and leaned back, his shadow pressing his back to a wall only the shadow is tangible to do, making him look as though he was floating.
"Now, we will leave if you want us, but don't go and freak because we were told to do." He chuckled a bit and looked to the three, "we just came here for the reward." He smiled a bit with a darkened smirk.
"Just relax, friend." He spoke calmly as he smiled to him, "there is nothing to worry about, if you have your power, you should be invincible. I know I used to be when I had mine." He chocked on the last words he spoke with a hard swallow, he continued his words.
"I won't force to leave this place if you wish to die, but I assume with you being so powerful, I would doubt you will. Just relax and take your time to breath and relax, we don't want any uncomfortable situations with death." He chuckled and smiled a bit more.
He stepped back a bit and looked to the clock and back to him. "Now I know that you are the panicked and frightened, so please, don't jump on your actions." He smiled and leaned back, his shadow pressing his back to a wall only the shadow is tangible to do, making him look as though he was floating.
"Now, we will leave if you want us, but don't go and freak because we were told to do." He chuckled a bit and looked to the three, "we just came here for the reward." He smiled a bit with a darkened smirk.
The drow was starting to adjust to the sounds and dizzying environment of the tower. His mind had begun to focus on Lord Bulwark. They really had not been told much about why they were sent. Yet they all volunteered.
And here they were, with a man rambling about death. Pluvio was old in his ways. He knew an ambush when he smelt one. Maybe it was just the paranoia that had been bred into his species. But if it was the fact that someone wanted him dead, they could already be surrounded by now.
The two men continued their debate until the time wizard turned to Pluvio with frantic accusations. "We are all simple travelers", he added to Sasuki's last statement. "But that big baby upstairs just let everyone who is looking for you know to come get you. And inns, they only care about coin."
Pluvio knelt besides the fallen wizard and grabbed his hand. He offered to help him up.
"I propose we hike to the inn and set up a temporary hideout, while we get to the bottom of this mystery." Of course there was the second alternative. It was obvious that the chronomancer had done something controversial and was probably hiding, especially with the way he had addressed Pluvio.
His eyes studied the silent warriors made of spare clock parts and magic. If there was to be a battle, Pluvio wanted to face it with everyone on their feet.
"Or we can stay here and fight? That is if someone 'might' be looking for you."
And here they were, with a man rambling about death. Pluvio was old in his ways. He knew an ambush when he smelt one. Maybe it was just the paranoia that had been bred into his species. But if it was the fact that someone wanted him dead, they could already be surrounded by now.
The two men continued their debate until the time wizard turned to Pluvio with frantic accusations. "We are all simple travelers", he added to Sasuki's last statement. "But that big baby upstairs just let everyone who is looking for you know to come get you. And inns, they only care about coin."
Pluvio knelt besides the fallen wizard and grabbed his hand. He offered to help him up.
"I propose we hike to the inn and set up a temporary hideout, while we get to the bottom of this mystery." Of course there was the second alternative. It was obvious that the chronomancer had done something controversial and was probably hiding, especially with the way he had addressed Pluvio.
His eyes studied the silent warriors made of spare clock parts and magic. If there was to be a battle, Pluvio wanted to face it with everyone on their feet.
"Or we can stay here and fight? That is if someone 'might' be looking for you."
Suddenly, it had clicked. Pluvio had only been experiencing a second reality. One from the many alternate timelines the timekeeper had mentioned. Embarrassed, he blushed a deeper shade of drow blue. One could not blame him though.
He shifted his weight on his knee and spoke again to the wizard. "I-I understand... Not fully. But nobody wants to harm you in this realm. I'm sorry for the confusion everyone", he said as he turned his head back towards the group. "I think there had been a rip in time."
Finally the mage felt a sense of peace and calm come over him. It had been a long night and he felt drained. A rip in time would explain the distorted effect that he had felt when he first entered the tower. For a moment, he had lost grasp of reality and that scared him.
He shifted his weight on his knee and spoke again to the wizard. "I-I understand... Not fully. But nobody wants to harm you in this realm. I'm sorry for the confusion everyone", he said as he turned his head back towards the group. "I think there had been a rip in time."
Finally the mage felt a sense of peace and calm come over him. It had been a long night and he felt drained. A rip in time would explain the distorted effect that he had felt when he first entered the tower. For a moment, he had lost grasp of reality and that scared him.
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