(Daedalus)

OOC: Ingrayv doesn't actually have a smart tablet. He shuns such modern conveniences.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Mangaia Temple)

The tunnel is growing increasingly dark. Despite my claims to the contrary, I have taken to reading the mad ramblings with in the diary as we walk. I can't make heads or tails of what was written, except for some boring and unhelpful early entries. It doesn't help that the light is growing dimmer.

Finally, I give up and pull my pack around in front of me to put it in my backpack. As I'm doing that, my hand brushes the pocket in which I deposited the odd rounds. The pocket is vibrating, and now that my attention is focused on it, I can hear a low hum. I put my hand in the pocket and scoop the rounds out.

One of the rounds is vibrating and glowing. It is warm to the touch. I bring my hand closer to get a better view of the object, and in doing so, I realize that it is not a round. I don't know what it is.

I pick that thing out and dump the rounds back in the pocket. As I swing my pack around to my back, I hold my hand out, palm up, the object resting in plain sight.

"An'one know wha' dis t'ing maht be?" I ask.

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

Daedalus gasped for breath. It wasn't catching. He was dimly aware of another attack heading his way, but he was too focused on breathing.

Breathe.

Breathe.

He inhaled shallowly for the tenth time, and this time, frigid air struck his lungs. If enough air had come in, he'd have groaned from the sharp pain. As it was, he was grateful.

He hadn't started breathing properly just yet, but Zel'Sai and someone else had just hit the Tarakava with water, and now it was turning on Zel'Sai. Daedalus was too far away to use his whipsword and he didn't want to try his mas again (yet, anyway). That left his element.

Except he didn't get a chance to use it, because a shockwave rippled through the ground, violently jostling Daedalus as he lay on the snow.

"Who... d-did... th-uh-a-uh-at?!"

OOC: Daedalus trying to fight Frost Tarakava while being jostled by Zakaro.

IC: Von Worten

A white blank page...

...and a swelling rage.*

The words came to me as I lay on the bed, recollections from a transcription in my book (which, upon thinking of it, I began to look for desperately, quickly relieved to find it on a table next to my bed). Having been lost in my woods, I was slow to understand the reason for the appearance of those lyrics, but, after a few moments, it came. It was something out there on the edge of my consciousness, that powerful touch I had experienced before. It was distant and not directed at me, and ordinarily I doubt I would have been able to feel it, but the sheer power within that telepathy told me two things: one, the Queen was speaking; and two, she was very, very angry.

I do not confess to knowing why she was angry; I only know that such power was the result of a dangerous fury, and I was quite glad I was not an object of the Queen's wrath.

With my mind firmly dwelling on Her Highness (I feel the need to clarify that that address was not sarcastic), I remembered her requesting my assistance in a certain matter. She had mentioned something about contacting me again. I was not particularly enthusiastic about her speaking to me after such a recent expression of anger. I sincerely hoped that when the time came in which she saw fit to contact me again, her mood would have improved.

OOC: From "White Blank Page" by Mumford & Sons.

IC: Miras

 

Time to strike.

 

As the axe sinks deep into the Toa's chest, its new weight from my powers keeping it firmly on the floor as the body is transported away, I teleport myself via shadows to the space just behind my fellow Makuta, activate my Felnas, and go to place a hand firmly on his back, with the gravity field around the axe still in effect.

 

OOC: Miras fighting Tanzah. Also, before anyone says anything about the shadow teleporting, BS01 says that Shadow users can transport themselves via shadows and it was brought up by someone else in the Skype chat when I was asking about Shadow's effects.

Just so you are aware, Miras, Kopeyku (Petewa's character) is currently attacking Tanzah from behind, too.

IC: Daedalus Drachoren and NPC Ice Bats

Daedalus was grateful for his element, as it allowed him to roughly track the Tarakava's position. Unfortunately, there was no way for him to predict where the Tarakava would emerge, so when it erupted from the snow behind him, he was only slightly prepared.

He slid his finger across the switch on his sword, detaching the segments and turning it into a whip. He half-spun, swinging the whip backward. Unfortunately, he never quite got to see whether or not he hit it; one of the Tarakava's forelimbs struck him in the side. The air left his body and he was knocked backward onto the snow.

The Ice Bats hadn't been able to keep up with the Tarakava under the snow. Two had flown over to harass Zel'Sai, while another one had flown over to the other being. The remaining nine, which had been circling above, flew toward the recently reappeared Tarakava, one taking a downward detour to flap in Daedalus' face.

IC: Von Worten

I am, at this point, grateful that my "death" within the arena was caused by so great a weapon as wielded by one of so much strength. This saved me from the displeasure of a painful death. Still, I find it odd that I can remember the event with such detachedness. After all, despite being assured that our death within the arena would not be permanent (and not, really, a death at all), I had had no reason at that point to take our strange hosts at their words. As it was, I remembered no feelings of fear or regret, though neither did I feel the relief of release, or any semblance of peace. My feelings could have best been described as impatient; I simply wanted the whole matter to be over with, and to reiterate my earlier statement, it was mercifully swift and painless. (I should point at that, despite my attacker's intentions, through some (perhaps outside) means, his attack did not strike my neck as anticipated, but rather my chest. The effects were the same, it was merely the execution (if you'll pardon the pun) that differed).

I awoke an indeterminate amount of time later, lying on my back on a bed that I could only assume was in the medical bay. I had only the slightest hints of pain within my chest (a miracle of facility's strange technology, no doubt). I lay still for a moment, unwilling to get up, desirous only to bask in the tranquility of the pseudo-techno forest.

OOC: Daedalus fighting Frost Tarakava; NPC Ice Bats harassing Zel'Sai (two bats), Xira (I think; one bat), Daedalus (one bat), and Frost Tarakava (eight bats). I figured since the Zatth cannot control the Rahi it summons, it wouldn't make sense for them to solely focus on the Tarakava, seeing as they (the bats) are mainly pests.

Von Worten K'dO by Tanzah (with some assistance by Miras; not sure if he gets credit). And to Alijar: I didn't know that about the Shadow Hand, so I apologize for interpreting the attack incorrectly.

Dark Souls.

 

Blighttown is a huge pain. Wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the bottomless pits, and enemies that knock you back even if your poise is high. Or if the framerate didn't lag horribly because of how many polygons are on screen.

The framerate problems were what annoyed me the most, and if those were absent, I probably wouldn't mind Blighttown too much. I also hate the placement of the first bonfire.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Mangaia Temple)

I toss the cigarettes aside--"Anyone wan' dese?"--but I tuck the map into my own pack. I don't see how it can be of much use, but I don't want to discard it on the off chance it does prove useful. The gun occupies most of my interest. It's smaller than my greypowder hand pistol, and it has a revolving cylinder in the middle that has six circular slots for--I'm guessing at this point--the objects on the ground next to the pack. They remind me of tank shells, except much smaller. I instantly wonder why these types of weapons aren't more widespread. I bet this thing could be reloaded in the same or less time than my greypowder weapon could be reloaded with a single shot.

I scoop up the rounds--what else would they be called?--and dump them in one of the smaller pockets on my pack. I tuck the gun in there with them.

The last item, the diary, I hold up. "I don' feel like tryna ma'e head or tails o' dis. Some'ne else, feel free."

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

Daedalus chuckled, surprised by Zel'Sai's humor. "Ah, no. I'm not that cold. I'd rather not--"

He didn't have time to finish, because his ears picked up something rumbling toward them. It wasn't a cacophonous rumbling, but a low, steady rumbling, the kind that would be difficult to hear for anyone other than a De-Toa.

Daedalus jerked his head to his right just in time to see a Frost Tarakava's head rise from the snow. It was charging him and Zel'Sai, and it was close.

Well.

"Watch out!" he shouted needlessly, jumping to his right. He hit the thick snow and rolled as well as he could, activating his Zatth.

Daedalus' ears picked up the furious batting of a dozen pairs of wings before his eyes saw them. From a nearby cave, a small swarm of Ice Bats fluttered madly in his direction. Being the largest and most fearsome presence nearby, the Ice Bats congregated on the Tarakava. They couldn't do much damage, but they were certainly annoying.

IC: Von Worten

At that point, I had gone well beyond the point of caring what was occurring. I saw the Makuta stagger sideways, but I was in no position to react. The axe head was buried deep within the snow and my body, robbed of the strength to hold itself up, dropped to its knees. I barely registered something whizzing just over my head. I suppose it could have been some creature intending to attack me, but again, I was too weary to take much notice.

What I most assuredly noticed--for, indeed, I would have to be blind to have missed it--was the massive, shadowy fist surging toward my person. My mind, which was working just a tad more quickly than my body, told my body to leap sideways to avoid the attack, but if you are paying any attention, you can probably guess what happened, which is to say, nothing happened, at least in regards to any action on my part.

The shadow fist struck my torso, enveloping me in a pain that I would be hard-pressed to describe. I do not even remember the magnitude of my suffering (which, perhaps, may not have been too great, but certainly felt so at the time). What I do remember is being lifted of my knees and thrown a short distance backward, landing on my back in the snow.

I was still conscious at that point, gasping from pain and fatigue. I noticed, lying on my back, that my forest had reappeared, though I had not the mental wherewithal to project it as an illusion. It was, I suppose, for my own comfort (though now, in thinking about it, I am sure it was for my comfort, as one of those adorable creatures I mentioned several times previously had set up an unseen vigil near my prone body.

I lay unmoving, academically curious if another attack would be forthcoming.

OOC: Daedalus and NPC Ice Bats fighting Frost Tarakava, Von Worten fighting Tanzah and Miras (By the way, I apologize for misspelling Tanzah my last few post, Alijar; I could have sworn I was reading a k in place of the z.)

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

"Your guess is as good as mine," Daedalus said. "How much you want to bet that thing is in a cave?" He rubbed his arms. "I'll freeze first."

IC: Von Worten

I heard a crunch that was heavier than before, and when I looked back, I noticed that, to my surprise, the Makuta had fallen, and his eyes were just sliding closed. I stopped running (if that could really be called running) and kept my eyes focused on the Makuta. As I maintained my concentration on the attack, I tried to think what to do next. The farther away I got, the harder it would be for me to maintain the attack. Once he got back on his feet, he could come after me again, and I knew for a fact (having engaged in similar battles before) that my mental  endurance would wear out before his physical endurance. I could keep this up only for so long.

My best option would be to make sure he did not rise to fight again, but since I had no weapons of my own, this would require my using his axe. The only problem with that was that, knowing my own strength, I knew I could not lift the weapon simply through the use of my arms. I would need to employ a combination of my arms and telekinesis, a process that would be difficult and would necessitate my stopping the mental attack. In other words, I would need to time my attack correctly and be efficient.

I maintained the attack as I covered the short distance between us. When I was close to him, I was shaking from exertion both physical and mental. It had been far too long since my last battle (as I have mentioned several times), and I needed to re-adapt to it. I bent down slowly and grabbed the hilt of the axe with my hands. This, I knew, was where things would get dangerous. As I mentioned, I would need to do this quickly and efficiently. With that in mind, I spent a moment (a long moment, since much of my mental concentration was devoted to my attack) contemplating the best approach. I quickly (relatively speaking, of course) decided that it would be easiest to let gravity play a role.

I took a deep breath.

I broke off the mental attack and immediately shifted my focus to the axe head, which I surmised was easily the heaviest part of the weapon. I extended my mental fist and grabbed hold of it, lifting my arms in tandem with it. The process was slow and strenuous. I raised the weapon straight up, shaking badly. I guided the weapon over the Makuta's torso, and with one last effort, mentally gave the axe head a forward nudge. I let gravity do the rest.

OOC: Von Worten fighting Tankah. I realize Von Worten has done a lot in this post, and her actions in the last paragraph are predicated on the assumption that Tankah will require a few moments to recover from the attack. However, since you now him better than I do, Alijar, if at any point after Von Worten ceased her mental attack you feel that Tankah could have recovered and prevented Von Worten's attack, feel free to RP him doing so. I listed out those events in case he couldn't recover in time (in which case the axe would make short work of him).

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

"My thoughts exactly," he said.

Daedalus crossed his arms and tucked his hands underneath his armpits, hoping to preserve some of his warmth.

"Of course, if I stand around too long, I'll end up freezing to death..."

IC: Von Worten

An outside observer (one being you, the reader) might be impressed with the Makuta's persistence. He had twice been knocked on his back and had once had his eyeballs assaulted with frozen tears. I, on the other hand, was both distraught and annoyed at his doggedness, feelings exacerbated by my inability to move with any semblance of speed. I could hear his steady, hefty crunching behind me, and I knew he held a distinct advantage in this terrain.

I realized how ill-equipped I was to fight in this terrain. My telekinesis was not very useful because I couldn't just grab snow and throw it at him. Even if I could, I cannot imagine it doing much good. Rocks are the best ammunition, but they are too hard to locate under a blanket of snow. I realized I would have to employ more indirect means, though I could have no guarantee they would work, or if they did, how effective they would be.

As I stumbled along, I projected what I can only describe as a mental scream. It was a piercing series of rapidly spinning images and sounds. I suppose it could be compared to an illusion, though it was far more condensed and its purpose was pain, not deceit. I only hoped my concentration was apt enough to push this projection into my adversary's mind.

OOC: Daedalus talking to Zel'Sai, Von Worten fighting Tankah.

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

Daedalus shifted in the snow. It was cold out here. He needed to keep moving to keep himself warm, but he didn't want to move aimlessly. Too much chance of bumping into someone who wanted nothing more than to bash his head in.

"Yeah, with all the shouting I've been doing, I'm lucky I haven't been attacked."

He caught her cautious survey. He didn't blame her. Visibility was much lower than he liked; it would be far too easy for someone to appear rather suddenly.

"I suppose we're supposed to be fighting," he said, tuning into the sounds of battle around him. "But unless we're forced into battle, I'd just as soon keep a low profile. It's not like I volunteered for this, after all."

IC: Von Worten

I was beginning to more acutely remember my despisement for battle. It tends to be either mind-numbingly quick and violent or excruciatingly (and violently) drawn out. I had the distinct impression that my current martial engagement would fall under the latter category. This Makuta seemed both brutish and deliberate, qualities that I found simultaneously congruous and disparate. In a direct fight, I had little chance of surviving much longer, and though I would just as soon be pulled from this insufferable arena, I did not fancy the idea of essentially submitting myself to death to achieve extraction.

So it was that, as my adversary retrieved his axe (poorly thrown via telekinesis by yours truly), I once again activated my Crast in the Makuta's direction, and then I turned and began to run (a sorry affair of low-speed leg-pumping in the snow).

OOC: Daedalus talking to Zel'Sai, Von Worten fighting Tankah.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Mangaia Temple)

I take a moment to digest this sight. The body looks like it's been there a while; I leave Oblitus to check it out.

At his suggestion, I take a look at the pack. I don't know much about leather work, so I have no means of discerning whether or not it is fairly new or old. I can see that it's rather dry and dark, though.

I bend down and grab the flap, flipping it open. The dried leather feels like it's about to fall apart, but what do I know? I pull the opening wider so I can look inside.

I shift my head just in time for a bit of smoldering ash from my cigarette to drop to the ground instead of the pack.

IC: Von Worten

I am sure, dear reader, that you are probably as surprised as I was upon discovering the success of my attack. It had been more an act of desperate impulse than adroitness, but it paid off. The Makuta appeared to be temporarily distracted by his new wounds. I could not help but notice his dropped axe. I focused on it, using telekinesis (again) to pull it back a short distance (if I had left it where it had dropped, I wouldn't have been able to throw it with force sufficient enough to cause much damage) and then throw it straight toward the Makuta's torso. I am sad to say that I was not able to throw it with as much velocity as I would have liked; a large Makuta required a large weapon, and it was heavier than the objects I am accustomed to lifting. Still, I was confident it would hurt the Makuta, provided, of course, it hit him.

OOC: Von Worten fighting Tankah.

IC: Von Worten

I was still in the process of contemplating my frozen tears when the Makuta charged at me. He seemed to grow larger as he approached (obviously due to perception, but it was nonetheless disconcerting). I registered his swinging his rather large axe at my head. I am still unsure if I actually yelped, but I certainly wanted to.

I ducked under the blow, feeling a whoosh of air. My mind kicked into gear (a low gear, but at least it kicked in). I decided to deal with my frozen tears at that moment, focusing my mind on the streaks of salty ice. I mentally ripped the ice away from my face (a painful move, for those curious) and hurled the strips of ice up toward the Makuta's face (his eyes, in particular), shattering them in the process. I also took the opportunity to backpedal (a probably ineffective move, considering his greater size and stride, but it was worth a try). I suppose my "attack" was a rough equivalent to throwing sand in his eyes, though whether or not it would be successful was still to be seen.

OOC: Von Worten fighting Tankah (by the way, Von Worten is female).

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

He heard Zel'Sai's call. She was close and somewhere to his left. He twisted in that direction. He could barely maker her out a short distance down-mountain from him. At least, he hoped that was her.

He started walking down toward her. As he got closer, he realized that it was her.

He flashed a genuine smile. "Hello there, beautiful." He held his arms out wide, indicating the area around him. "How do you like the tournament so far? Sucks, doesn't it?"

IC: Von Worten

My mask had the desired effect--the Makuta was knocked down, a sight that would have, under other circumstances, been humorous--but he was quick to get back on his feet. I ran through a mental list of possible attacks, but whether it was fear or unfamiliarity due to a long time without being in battle, I was hard-pressed to think of something effective. I could have easily retreated to my illusion again, but I couldn't see how it would do any good.

Even more pressing, however, was my sudden affliction of facial brittleness. It did not take long for me to discover the cause. The cold weather here on the mountain had frozen my tears, something that, for a normal person, would not be much of a problem. Unfortunately, I had the distinct displeasure of being unable to contain my tears, and if this continued I was rather afraid of my tear ducts freezing. I imagined then and I imagine now that that would be an altogether unpleasant experience.

Needless to say, I was not at all focused on the potential battle at hand.

OOC: Daedalus talking to Zel'Sai, Von Worten "battling" Tankah.

I guess what I said doesn't really make sense, but in essence, I agree with you, L'Etranger. For the Kakama to be viable, it must increase reflexes. Or something. I don't know. This is why I usually don't (and shouldn't) get involved with these discussions.

While I do believe there are clearly some mysterious Bionicle-y forces at work, and that there is undoubtedly some enhanced reflexes involved, the Kakama is not what I would call a precision tool. One occasion when Pohatu used his Nuva'd up version ended with Onua creating a ramp underneath him and sending him flying. If he's got reflexes that perfectly match his new speed, why didn't he just stop? Or change direction?

 

And Hound has it worse. He can't try to avoid the snow. Its everywhere. He's a car on ice with no snow tires thats just boosted itself with nitro. I'm not saying he couldn't pull off his moves, I'm just saying the terrain is going to make it really difficult for him

 

I don't really have much to contribute to this argument, but I just want to point out something about the part I bolded: Pohatu's not stopping, I think, would have far more to do with momentum than reflexes. No matter excellent his reflexes, he couldn't simply stop; he might be able to slow down, but he couldn't stop. Inertia simply wouldn't let him.

That said... I believe that the Kakama improves the reflexes just enough that the user can move at high speeds without tripping over or bumping into every little thing. It would really be possible to use otherwise. I don't think it is the equivalent to Max Payne's bullet time. Basically, when running really fast, he's not more likely to trip and fall (though it is still possible; we humans can trip while walking slowly), but he's also not going to be pulling any Calix feats simply because he can move faster than normal.

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

Daedalus picked up Zel'Sai's voice, though it was faint and her words were almost unintelligible. "Down" was the only word he could make out. But where was that? He couldn't pinpoint the direction the sound came from due to the fighting all around, and the limited visibility prevented him from seeing anything that could be "down."

Maybe it would be easier for her to come to him.

"Zel'Sai!"

IC: Von Worten

I must admit to a certain feeling of discomfiture at my adversary's (for, judging by his or her not announcing his or her presence and his or her continued approach, I had reclassified him or her from "potential opponent" to "opponent") lack of reaction to my illusion. However, I quickly realized that hesitance would only bring about my swift defeat, and while I, as I mentioned, dislike conflict, I had no intentions of, to borrow the colloquialism, rolling over and dying. I turned to face my adversary, a large, hulking Makuta wearing a Crast.

I felt suddenly timorous. He appeared to be approaching for melee combat, a skill that is most definitely beyond my own. Even as I noticed Kopeyku's arrival, I activated my own Kanohi Crast, seeking to repel this approaching Makuta.

IC: Von Worten

My first clue to a nearby presence was a slight pressure against my mind. Someone had entered into my little illusion, and though it probably would have been better to turn to face my possible opponent, I found that I lacked the nerve. I probably have not yet said so, but while I was once a very capable fighter (and I suppose, to some extent, I still was and am), I had grown to dislike battle. It was messy and uncomfortable, and more often than not, it was decidedly Pyrrhic (another story located within my book; for those confused, I should note that the types of tales within this most excellent volume are great in number and eclectic in style and subject matter). I didn't want to fight; I usually only did if absolutely necessary.

So it was, in this case, that I did not turn to face my potential opponent. Instead, I stopped (primarily, as you will see, so I could devote as much of my concentration as possible to my mind). I created in front of me and to my left a creature not unlike that adorable, lumbering beast I had seen earlier (I have also described it already, so I will spare you a repeat). However, what set this beast apart was that it was most assuredly not adorable. It was hunkered forward, and its white fur was matted and stained. It had harsh eyes and bore a wide grin, those this grin was not pleasant and served only to show the beast's massive, sharp teeth.

I guided this abominable slowly toward the area behind me. My only hope was to cause fear; once the being behind me was out of the range of my illusion, the beast would serve no purpose. Hopefully, he or she would be too afraid to look back and notice.

OOC: Since you did not specify from which direction Tanzah was approaching, I have assumed that it was from behind Von Worten.

IC: Einefus Ingrayv (Mangaia Temple)

"Dat cap'n shuhly didn' min' sennin' us tuh 'is trash 'eap," I say, creating a flame in my hand to help light the room. "Olliously he jus' don' know how homely dis is fuh me."

I give the area an unconcerned scan, and then watch as Oblitus gives a root a yank.

When nothing happens, I blandly say, "Guess i's good dat wahn' no trap or som'in', eh?"

I follow him into the tunnel. I can't see very far down. I can see the vine tracing a path downward.

"Follow da vine, den?" Without waiting for a response, I begin trudging downward, lighting my half-smoked cigarette with the fire in my hand.

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

Blast it!

Having been through this before, Daedalus should have been somewhat accustomed to the teleportation. Apparently, he wasn't. He appeared on his knees in a very, very cold place. Mt. Ihu, to be specific. And it was a free for all. Which probably meant...

He pushed himself to his feet and slowly turned around, trying to find his recently-acquired ally. Zel'Sai was nowhere in sight, just as he had expected.

Daedalus stood for a few moments, using his heightened sense of hearing to track the location of anyone nearby. He could hear several fights. For the moment, he would try to steer clear of those. His first goal was to find Zel'Sai. On this cold mountain. Where it was hard to see.

Simple.

Using his powers to amplify his voice, he yelled, "Zel'Sai!" Hopefully he wouldn't cause an avalanche. Could he do that? Because that would be bad.

IC: Von Worten

I had been in the process of formulating a reply to Kopeyku's odd statement when I felt a feeling startlingly similar to that experienced by Ronwe in "I Belong to You" when he leaped so dramatically after his lover (another fine tale from my book, if you were curious). Everything went black, and when sight returned, it brought with it a howling wind and a biting chill. The wind was interminable and the cold was insufferable, but I knew it would be rather pointless to sit and dwell on my discomfort.

I began trudging through the snow, with no particular destination in mind. As a means of off-setting the cold, I immersed myself in the world of my book, choosing a particular favorite (which, if you have been reading, you have already glimpsed). The snow became a beautiful white grass that was dry and crunched underfoot. The wind warmed to some extent, and it created a charming scene by blowing through the white leaves of the newly-formed trees. Many of these leaves drifted off their trees, though they had no end.

Cleverly, I began to project this slightly altered world using my Psionics. The projection did not go far, of course, because I needed to maintain my strength, but unless one were particularly steel-willed, he or she would (hopefully) be somewhat startled upon coming within a yard or two of my person.

OOC: Daedalus and Von Worten open to interaction.

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

Daedalus shrugged. "I don't know if insane is the right word. I think he's just seriously lacking in empathy."

IC: Daedalus Drachoren

Daedalus rubbed his chin as the Host disappeared. "Excited? That would make me mad if it weren't for the fact that he just seems so... unaware."

IC: Von Worten

I was pulled from my internal reverie at Kopeyku's words, and I take the moment to speak.

"I can't imagine the justification for a desire to kill upon first sight. That seems both irrational and idiotic. Reminds me of a story in my book. A Skakdi, hardly bearing a good reputation as he was, was exposed to some mysterious substance--the tale, interesting as it is, is frustratingly vague as to what the substance actually is, but I digress. After being exposed, he was morphed into a strange creature. My truncated version hardly does the tale justice--it is much deeper than I could possibly give it credit--but in its most basic form, events occur similar to what you have implied. He was so hideous that he was attacked on sight. Unfortunately, that did not end well for the attackers."

I paused long enough to shift my gaze to Kopeyku. "I imagine that is probably the case with you."

IC: Von Worten

"Ah."

That monosyllabic response was, as I'm sure you've discovered, abnormal for me, but under the circumstances, I could think of nothing else to say (though to refer to the utterance of "Ah" as saying or speaking is something of a stretch, simple as it is to articulate). I could have responded with the typical "Nice to meet you," but that would be an insincere statement on my part and I try not to go out of my way to be dishonest. Besides, I was still keeping my mind attuned to the Queen, on the off chance that she would deign (as it no doubt appeared to her) to "speak" to me again ("speak" being enclosed within quotations marks for the obvious reason that communication on the mental level is not, in the literal sense, "speaking," but rather a rough equivalent).

Besides, I was enjoying my time in the forest. I certainly found it preferable to remaining in the rather mundane facility in which my physical body resided at the time.

IC: Von Worten

While I did not have much interest in gaining extra lives (helpful though they might be), I must admit to being intrigued by this proposition. I surmised that it would be entirely possible that I would be able to learn something about this facility and those who ran it, and I could not, in good conscience, pass up this chance.

I am interested in your offer, and I would very much like to meet with you once the conditions you have put forth are met, I projected to the Queen (another surge of pride, however small, formed within me for having correctly guessed the identity of the mental presence).

I still kept some of my attention focused on the being in front of me, as I did not want to miss his name, should he offer it.