Dominic Deegan Fansite

Subject: Re: The Crystal Skeleton's Quarry Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:50 pm

"It will be up to me either way, elf. And I say he can serve his sentence here. Provided I stay to keep an eye on him."

Maktael scowled at the thought of an elf, an elf!, trying to order him around. Besides, he couldn't really go back. Refusing to return for the investigation made him something of a criminal himself. This way he could convince them he couldn't go back.
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Subject: Re: The Crystal Skeleton's Quarry Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:36 pm

Delven's smile widened and he turned to Redro.
"Sir, if you don't mind, please tell the elf vigilante over here that I haven't received any material payment since he probably won't believe the big bad criminal."
After Maktael speaks he shrugs and continues smirking
"Heh, why the hell not. It'd still be better than the cage. Besides maybe you can help out with security, my experience as a mercenary didn't involve as much guard duty as it did attacking Erossus noblemen. I guess I ain't doin a very good job since a bunch of school kids managed to get past me."
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"I eat the talking bees because I'm George Washington Christ."-Junkie [Bob the Ball]
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Pretty Pony Princess Joined : 26 Mar 2007 Posts : 8836

Facing the entire group, Redro gestured to crystals on the podiums and said “I do not think that this experiment is dangerous to anyone more than a few feet from the nexus, but,” he shrugged indifferently, “there is always the possibility of cascade failure, and when you have this much magic concentrated in this small a space… well, it wouldn’t be pretty if something went terribly wrong.”

Then talking to Lloyd he told in a bored drawl, “I somehow doubt that any governmental institution will give me funding for my research. Prejudice against Necromancy runs deep, too deep for any school board to risk it’s reputation.”

“Now, about the Changeling. No, I am not paying him for his services, but you can scarcely blame me for taking him on; he wandered in here on his own a few days ago and saw what I was doing. Now, I couldn’t let him go for the fear that he would lead others to this place, and I obviously couldn’t kill him, so I had to find some way keep him under my thumb. ‘Hiring’ him to guard my home seemed the most appropriate thing to do.

“He has, however, outlived his usefulness. Do what you will with him, it no longer matters to me. Now, if you’ll excuse me - ah!” he glanced back at the central podium and struggled to keep up the calm veneer, “it looks like the experiment was a success!”

There, suspended in the air above the podium amid a haze of deep violet light, was a tiny black speck. A tiny, magically and physically stable black speck.
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Spoiler:

Last edited by on Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:28 pm; edited 1 time in total

Honor and Virtue Joined : 31 Mar 2007 Posts : 4232

Eliane glanced over. "I don't trust him, but I do think we should leave. He's giving me the creeps."

Subject: Re: The Crystal Skeleton's Quarry Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:57 am

Stacie sighed and moved away from the wall. "That, Eliane, is the best idea I've heard all night." She glared at all the students. "I only let you explore these caves because I didn't think they were dangerous. As soon as you encountered the phony bear, you all should have turned right around. Well, you didn't, you're young and I suppose I understand that. But we're going to rectify it right now, once for all. And no arguments. Now march!"

Stacie pointed back down the direction the group had come from and glared around her, ready for a fight, an argument, or at least some whining.

Subject: Re: The Crystal Skeleton's Quarry Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:14 pm

A combination of fear and frustration washed over Delven's face.

God dammit! I fail my first night of guard duty and now my 'legitimate employer' ditches me! To top it off, with all the energy from the crystals I gave this guy, one of those 'cascade failure's could blow us all to hell and back!

He cautiously steps towards Redro. A huge shell similar to a cockroach's slowly protrudes from his shoulders and down his back until it reaches the back of his knees. He begins nervously looking around, thinking that it may not be long before he has to run as well. The usual sound of bones and flesh contorting is heard inside the shell as he speaks.

"Sir, I think I could still be very useful to you, but if you disagree I won't press the matter. Still, our arrangement was that I'd get to stay ALIVE in exchange for my services. Please, sir, at least tell me what I should do to survive one of these 'cascade failures'...um...*smile* not that I think your experiment is gonna fail or anything. I'd just like to be prepared."
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"I eat the talking bees because I'm George Washington Christ."-Junkie [Bob the Ball]
Caption Contest Winner: #2 and #16

Joined : 21 Apr 2007 Posts : 129

"That, Stacie, is the best idea I've heard all day!" Lloyd said.

And with that, he began directing all students towards the exit, dragging them if need be.

But only the most perceptive of individuals would catch the whispered: "Stupid unimposing Ayr'Dal (half-elf) frame"

Honor and Virtue Joined : 31 Mar 2007 Posts : 4232

Eliane, though not happy about being escorted like a child, was glad for the excuse to leave. Unfortunately, not everyone was, it seemed.

Pretty Pony Princess Joined : 26 Mar 2007 Posts : 8836

(Soooo.... is it my turn, then?)
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Spoiler:

Honor and Virtue Joined : 31 Mar 2007 Posts : 4232

(I guess. No one else is posting, and I can't really do anything else with Eliane.)

Pretty Pony Princess Joined : 26 Mar 2007 Posts : 8836

Redro wasn’t listening to either of them, as all of his attention was focused on the tiny crystal hovering in midair. True, it was small, but that meant little; if it turned out as planned he could simply use that as a seed crystal and grow more of them.

He stood before the pedestal, marveling at his creation. He could sense the immaculate order within it, working in perfect tandem with the necrotic aspects he had incorporated in it’s crystalline structure. Indeed, they were no longer separate magics; he could no longer tell where one left off and the other began. With a trembling hand he reached into the violet haze and grasped the tiny stone, more precious to him than all the diamonds in the world.

He could no longer contain himself. With a whoop of joy, he let out a cry that could be heard all throughout the cave “It’s done! My work, it is finally done!”

In his jubilation, however, he failed to notice the change that was rapidly spreading up his arm. It was… crystallizing. He could sense a growing awareness within it, as well; a mind that was pure order and completely necrotic, sloughing away the useless flesh and making the basic framework of his body it’s own. But he didn’t struggle against it. No; it was too beautiful. The bones underneath had become angular and smooth, shimmering darkly as they became perfect in physical and magical form. ‘This is the answer,’ he thought excitedly. ‘This is the end of death and decay. This is age of pure, immaculate order…’

He watched in fascination as the crystal spread up his chest, neck, and finally started assimilating his head. It was suddenly becoming very difficult to concentrate. Or, indeed, remain conscious. But still, he struggled on, trying to watch the changes as they consumed the rest of his body and perfected it. It was beautiful… so beautiful… soooo…

***

Beautiful. It felt wonderful, too; his mind had never been so focused, never so sharp as it was now. But… hadn’t he been feeling tired, not a moment ago? Yes, he had… he remembered that clearly. But at the same time it felt like he was waking up from a deep sleep. How could that be?

Then he felt it; a spirit, leaving the flesh and bone when the crystal had nearly consumed it. ‘What? How did that get there?’ he thought perplexedly. He snared it with his own awareness and found… himself. At least, it felt like him. But, that was impossible… memories could be replicated and passed on to other people, but every spirit was unique… how could that be him, Redro Kraad-

With a start, he realized that the spirit was indeed Redro Kraad’s… but he wasn’t Redro Kraad. He had Redro’s memories, his thoughts, his values… but Redro was dead. The duality of memory suddenly became clear; his own experience of ‘waking up’ was him becoming conscious, and Redro’s memory of ‘falling asleep’ had become his own. It was an unsettling sensation, realizing he (‘him,’ he reminded himself) had died, and that all of his memories were not really his.

‘Does it matter?’ he thought, dismissing the feeling as insignificant and counterproductive. ‘I am what I am; the old Redro is dead, and I am in his place.’ He flexed a skeletal hand, and was satisfied with how responsive and flexible it had become. Indeed, it wasn’t even limited to that shape… he concentrated on the individual crystals, making them shift and form into one long shard. Smiling (inasmuch as a skull can smile), he made them revert back to their original form. ‘Well, this is going to be interesting…’
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Spoiler:

Subject: Re: The Crystal Skeleton's Quarry Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:29 pm

Delven's eyes grew wider and his jaw slowly dropped as the transformation occured. The contorting sounds in his shell stop.

...You have GOT to be shitting me!! Did he just get MORE powerful?! Ok, that's it, time to get the hell outta here.

He barely manages to make a weak, nervous smile.
"Heh, congrats sir! I always figured you'd pull it off."
He starts taking backwards steps away from the chamber.
"Anyways, it was...interesting doing business with you. If you happen to want my services again I'm sure you'll have no problem finding me."
He turns to the students walking down the tunnel. Suddenly his insect shell slowly cracks into pieces which fall to the cave floor. What's left on his back are a giant set of dragonfly wings. A loud buzzing sound fills the tunnels as Delven goes flying over the students. As he does he smiles and shouts.
"In spite of the stubborn meddling it was still nice meeting you guys! We'll have to do this again sometime!"
He darts down the tunnel away from the chamber.
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"I eat the talking bees because I'm George Washington Christ."-Junkie [Bob the Ball]
Caption Contest Winner: #2 and #16