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Post by Ayen on Feb 20, 2013 3:48:54 GMT -6
Snowflakes fell from the sky and onto the palm of the young Padawan. Emerald green eyes observed her surroundings, no longer was she surrounded by grassland, rivers and lakes; mountains and open fields covered in snow was all that stood around her now. Tori looked behind her and saw that the path there had also changed. The young Padawan didn't understand what happened and how it could have happened. One moment she was in one spot and the next she transferred to another and the presence of the Force around her was barely a whisper save for the Force that dwell inside her and her equipment.
Tori began walking to see if she could find anybody near that could help put together the pieces of the puzzle. Trusting that what remained of the Force would guide her on her journey and that faith rewarded her in the form of two people out in the distance coming her way. Upon getting a closer look, Tori saw that they were dressed in armor unlike anything she has ever seen before. Ancient compared to the armor she's seen back home but looked as good as new with spears in their right hands and their faces covered by their helmets. The two stopped in front of her and pointed their spears at her prompting the Padawan to stop herself as the two addressed her,
“Halt!” said the first armored soldier.
“Identify yourself!” commanded the second.
Tori looked at the two complex. Normally she could sense some kind of emotion from the people she was around but with these two nothing, nothing at all. It disturbed the young Padawan more than she would have cared to admit.
“I mean you no harm. My name is Tori. I am a member of the Jedi Order and I was just on my way to meet my new master when I ended up here.”
“Jedi?” asked the first soldier.
“Master?” asked the second.
Tori confusion only grew at the reveal neither man knew anything about the Jedi, though it made sense upon further examination. She was in a strange new place where the presence of the Force was fleeting, men in armor that didn't match any known equipment back home and finally no knowledge of the Jedi. Something told her wherever she was, she was a long way away from the Outer Rim and even the galaxy itself.
“My apologies, I feel it may be difficult to explain. You see, I am not from here and if you are not aware of the Jedi then it's clear they are not from here either.”
“Amuse us,” said the first soldier.
“I will do my best to explain. The Jedi are guardians of peace and justice of the galaxy where I am from – we work with the Force, an energy field created by all living things where I am from, to accomplish our task. The Jedi Order is the organization in which we learn and grow in our ability to use the Force. It is ran by a council of seven Jedi masters who guide us and send us where we are needed. I am but one of many apprentices in the Order. I was stationed on my homeworld of Dantooine before I arrived here. May I ask where 'here' is?”
“You're just outside of Elysios ruled by the god of light Lord Phalis,” explained the first soldier. “Do yourself a favor and turn around.”
“Elysios is under a terrible plague,” said the second soldier, “everyday more and more of our people are killed and brought back to life as ghouls. We've even had to fight our own soldiers who have also fallen to the plague.”
“What is the cause of this plague?”
“The god of death Azrail,” answered the first. “He led his armies outside of the city where we confronted him but that was only a front to allow for barrels flown in by a group of gargoyles to spread his plague of death into the city. Once that was done Azrail left and his remaining forces were eliminated by us with the assistance of a task force from Jherra led by a man named Constantine Harker.”
“This winter is also the result of Azrail's manipulation,” said the second. “It's becoming more and more difficult to start a fire and keep it going without the cold winds putting it out. Those who aren't infected may likely freeze to death.”
“Perhaps I could be of some assistance?”
“Unless you want to join the fight against Azrail there's nothing you can do,” explained the first. “The infected are all quarantined but it's only a matter of time before they die and rise again as ghouls.”
“Plus there's no guarantee Lord Phalis will have you,” said the second.
“Take me to Lord Phalis, I wish to speak with him. I feel my coming here was not by chance.”
“If you insist,” replied the first, “better than having you running out here unchecked I suppose. Come with us.”
The two guards turned around and began leading Tori back to Elysios. |
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Post by Khralse on Feb 26, 2013 18:33:02 GMT -6
There were about three of them. Two in archaic armour and one in a simple robe. The machine spirits whispered in his head and cast images behind his eyes, displaying targeting reticles over the heads of each and highlighting them with glowing outlines, similar with the mountain range against the open sky. He could not hear what they were saying, but he could see they talked before walking. We are lost, Sokhar. I will make us found then. Ashmantle felt the pistons in his legs start working, his steps somewhat cumbersome,
and herky-jerky but it moved him forwards.
Bray'arth Ashmantle's engines would be heard before he would be seen, as would his heavy footsteps. He was a heavy machine, and his movements reflected that. Ashmantle was still a ways off from Tori and the guards but was now in full view, with no sign of slowing down as the dreadnought marched implacably towards the Jedi and archaic soldiers. They were humans, at least. Their adherence to the Imperial Creed would be unlikely but he was but one man, lost and seeking aid...
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Post by Ayen on Feb 27, 2013 15:29:27 GMT -6
The young Jedi Padawan heard the sound of heavy footsteps some distance behind her and turned her head around to see the machine that was now approaching the three over her shoulder. The soldiers accompanying her were all too quick to hold up their spears in defense against the stranger expecting an attack. Tori remained unarmed for now, but ready nonetheless in case she too needed to defend herself. For all she knew, this machine needed aid as she had before, and that was no reason to raise a weapon against it. Like the others she had met here so far, this machine appeared to be outside of the Force, so if a conflict did arise she feared there may be little she can do.
“Stop right there!” demanded the first soldier.
“Don't come any closer!” said the second.
“Must you aim your weapons towards everything that approaches? This machine has done nothing to us so far.”
“Mind your business, Jedi,” said the first soldier.
“Very well. I will lead the talks in your capable hands.” |
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Post by Khralse on Feb 27, 2013 15:48:49 GMT -6
"LOWER YOUR ARMS."
The voice came through like a lion's roar, the loudspeakers incapable of anything other than a booming declaration. The great beast continued its approach unhindered, but made no aggressive movements as it stamped forwards, the pistons hiss and the joint's creaks becoming audible.
"NOW. IN THE EMPEROR'S NAME"
Ashmantle wasn't being too diplomatic, then again it was hard to be diplomatic when you were a ten foot tall metal chassis with a metal coffin built into you. The dreadnought stopped some eight-odd paces from the guards and Tori, staring the group down from. Its head tilted and turned slightly, completely encased in a metal helm half-protruding from the Adamantium Sarcophagus. The dreadnought regarded the three of them and took in their visages, then spoke again.
"I MEAN YOU NO HARM, NOW LOWER YOUR WEAPONS. THEY WILL BE NAUGHT BUT NUISANCES AGAINST MY ARMOUR."
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Post by Ayen on Mar 4, 2013 4:08:20 GMT -6
"LOWER YOUR ARMS. NOW. IN THE EMPEROR'S NAME"
“We do not answer to any emperor!” said the first guard. “Only Lord Phalis!”
"I MEAN YOU NO HARM, NOW LOWER YOUR WEAPONS. THEY WILL BE NAUGHT BUT NUISANCES AGAINST MY ARMOUR."
The young Jedi Padawan only watched as the two guards seemed to be at a lost of what to do. The two looking to each other and then back to the unknown enemy as they refused to put down their arms. Tori feared that at this rate a battle would commence and an unnecessary one at that. Was this how the god and soldiers of Elysios solved their disputes?
“Perhaps if you revealed your face they would be more eager to trust you,” Tori suggested to the stranger. |
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Post by Khralse on Mar 4, 2013 15:13:12 GMT -6
The heavy metal frame shifted, turning away from the guards, the full bulk turning to face Tori. "I CANNOT, THIS IS MY FACE." The heavy body moved, the piston driven legs taking slower steps as he seemed to ignore the guards now. "THIS METAL BODY IS ME NOW." The body leaned in slightly, the heat from his engines palpable, Tori could probably feel it on her face as the dreadnought leaned in. His helm protruding from the sarcophagus arching up slightly. It was possible to see the lack of a seam, there was no skin visible, a mesh and some pistons and actuators connecting the helmet to his body. The eyes on the helm, red glass with a faint glow, stared into Tori's.
"THIS IS MY FACE." The loudspeaker voice rang out again. The Dreadnought leaned back again, standing at his full height before Tori and disregarding the guards entirely. "ARE YOU NATIVE TO THIS WORLD?" The voice came out again. There was no hint of malice despite the volume, though his backs were to the guards. The smell of hot air and motor oil was thick around Bray'Arth as he stood before Tori.
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Post by Ayen on Mar 9, 2013 5:29:08 GMT -6
"I CANNOT, THIS IS MY FACE."
“Your face?”
"THIS METAL BODY IS ME NOW. THIS IS MY FACE."
“What happened to you?”
"ARE YOU NATIVE TO THIS WORLD?"
“No but these men are. They were just in the middle of escorting me back to their home before you arrived.” |
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Post by Khralse on Mar 9, 2013 17:22:07 GMT -6
The dreadnought turned to look at the guards, then turned its head back to Tori and spoke again. "I WILL ACCOMPANY YOU THEN AS WELL." He dodged questions relating to his internment, turning himself and stepping until his entire form had shifted to face the guards again. "ESCORT ME TO YOUR 'GOD', AS YOU WERE DOING WITH THIS ONE." The heavy frame turned back to Tori, addressing her once more. His voice was kept steady and peaceful, or at least as peaceful as the deep booming of the speakers could be.
"WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS WORLD, CHILD?" The heavy frame shifted slightly, the machine spirits sharing his robotic body adjusting his systems and double checking his actuators, power supply, subsystems... they kept everything running and whispered their reports and suggestions in Ashmantle's ear, always sneaking images into his vision or putting information in his brain. At first it was shocking and invasive, the process of adjustment almost killing ashmantle, but now it was a mere annoyance at worst.
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Post by Ayen on Mar 12, 2013 8:17:24 GMT -6
"I WILL ACCOMPANY YOU THEN AS WELL. ESCORT ME TO YOUR 'GOD', AS YOU WERE DOING WITH THIS ONE."
The two guards were hesitant but eventually agreed to resume leading Tori back to Elysios with the newcomer by their side.
"WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THIS WORLD, CHILD?"
“I do not know. I was on my way to see my master for Jedi training, then all of a sudden I ended up here. How did you come to arrive at this place?” |
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Post by Khralse on Mar 15, 2013 19:19:37 GMT -6
"WE HAD FINISHED IN BADAB..." The thing's voice was contemplative, Bray'arth reminisced and remembered. He hadn't met the tyrant of badab, Lugft Huron, but he had remained until the Tyrant had fallen... He last remembered the warp travel. "WE WERE LEAVING, THE NAVIGATOR OPENED THE WARP AND WE WERE ABOUT TO RETURN TO NOCTURNE..." Ashmantle remembered the drugs, the techmarines and apothacaries, servitors and servo-arms. His armour was being deactivated and his Sarcophagus being prepared for separation from the mighty chassis. He was to be sedated and put into a coma, left to dream and slumber until needed again and reawakened. Then everyone felt it. Through the Geller field, through the hull, through their very souls.
"THE WARP... IT 'OPENED', IT WAS LIKE A HOLE APPEARED AND... THEY HAD JUST RETURNED ME TO MY SLUMBER WHEN I AWOKE ON THIS WORLD." The heavy frame kept walking but the helmet turned, the soft hiss of the hydraulics almost lost in the din of the dreadnought walking. "I WAS SURE I WAS STILL DREAMING AT FIRST. I EXPECTED THIS TO MELT AWAY AND TO RETURN TO THE FAMILIARITY OF WAR." Ashmantle's heavy clawed hands started to move, the weapons shifting uneasily. "I AM SEPARATED FROM MY BROTHERS, BUT I AM ASTARTES, I AM STRONG." Ashmantle regarded Tori carefully, his curiosity getting the better of him. "WHAT OF YOU, CHILD? WHAT IS A 'JEDI', FOR YOU ARE CLEARLY NOT OF THE IMPERIUM."
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