RP:Scouting a Dead City
This RP is part of the arc Arc:The Bones of a Dead City
Sky Pier
The sky pier is tremendously long and hints at the advancement and the ancient majesty of the elder races; with it’s rolling arches and carved murals. It is sheer architectural perfection, stone placed next to stone so close the lines are invisible without physically getting down and placing your face on the perfectly smooth stone. As you traverse it you get closer and closer to the island proper can you can make out the zigzag of pathways that seem to float all around the island allowing transportation anywhere easily. However Armantium is not pristine. As you get closer, you can see thousands of years worth of overgrowth. Thick green trees probably once part of beautiful arboretums has overgrown with gossamer vines and thick luscious green ivy are beginning their slow encroach on civilization. The sky pier continues north leading into a city.
Ranok had entered the city. There was little to-do about it. For an ancient civilization scarcely seen for some arbitrary length of time, their door was surprisingly open. He hadn't expected that, really. Stories of crazed automatons, defenders with yellow eyes and gray skin, the works, had reached him. He didn't dismiss anything out of hand. As a result, he was fully armed and ready to rock, totally and utterly. Once through the vortex, Mirabelle, that contraption of his, held at the ready. Sweeps, left, right, and then advancement. Gray eyes were alert, Mirabelle pointing at anything that might erupt out. It seemed that the area immediately at the pier was overgrown. Abandoned. No dangers lurking. None apparent, at the least. Still, his guard doesn't drop. Back on the move. Deeper into the city, now, boots treading lightly, Draeta flared and ready to intervene on behalf of its wearer, and instincts keyed high.
Deserted Street
This street hints at what once must have been the single most advanced civilization in Hollow's history, however that greatness and glamour are now gone… Empty vendor stands along the street have since filled with undergrowth but the usual rot and decay are not present, only natural growth seems to have crept. It is almost as if nature itself is seeking to reclaim this land once artificially placed here high above the clouds. The street leads off to a few areas. To the west appears to be the ancient spiral lighthouse whereas to the east appears to be a gigantic temple of some variety. To the north the street opens up into a boulevard.
Ranok emerges onto the deserted street. Mirabelle, still held at the utmost ready. He was moving in a sort of hunched over motion, legs ready to spring. Again, another sweep. He had to be sure it was all clear. Duster swirls around his legs, the breeze heavy up in the clouds. Ranok seemed to be far more on edge then usual, even for entering a potentially hostile place. Could it be that he was actually nervous? He stops, lowering Mirabelle slightly. Exhales, long and slow. Eyes flick over the place devoid of life where it once held so much. "No matter how mhenny times Hy see dis sort uf tink, it never fails...never fails to disqviet me. Vat heppened here?" What caused such an evacuation, that the streets weren't wartorn but nonetheless rendered lifeless? The sheer age of it all, the natural growth, told a story that this place was empty for a long, long time. The man's jaw sets, and he raises Mirabelle again, preparing to move in towards the crossection of the street. He sticks to the walls, rather then boldy marching down the street, though he does his best to avoid empty doorways and windows.
Ranok steps up to the crossroads. He looks down each path, scoping them out. Still no sign of anyone. Nothing but birds. That was, at least, a small relief. The living creatures showed that it wasn't all horrible up here. He selects north on a whim, and due to there being more life up that way. Spending so much time in this empty city was making him jumpy, and jumpy soldiers made mistakes. He moves north.
Abandoned Boulevard
Perhaps once upon a time this place served as a commercial centre, for the open space is gigantic and although thick green foliage is slowly separating the marble cobbles it is clear this place was well built and built to last for millennia to come. If you close your eyes you could imagine this great place bursting with activity street vendors and scrupulous merchants plying their wares while all gathering around the large marble monolith that serves as a beautiful sun dial, encrusted with beautiful jewels for the wealth of this land is so great nobody would steal them. Empty fountains now slowly filling with weeds, but the fact they have held out so long shows how great the ancient Avians grasp of hydrological engineering truly was. The fountains are almost the size of the sundial and each has been created to show brilliant animal, dolphins, bears even a great eagle that must have been the inspiration for their lofty cloud society. To the north the boulevard continues to the east is a large arched entranceway, to the west is a large manor and to the south the boulevard narrows into a street.
Ranok steps carefully, now, onto the boulevard. Head and eyes flick over the expanse. Yet another empty gathering place, only choked with more vegetation then the streets before. Cautiously, up to the fountain he goes. Mirabelle was designated to one hand, while he draws his knife with the other, and pokes it into the fountain that had weeds sprouting out of it. A bird explodes out of the fountain, and his entire body tenses, nearly firing Mirabelle. Luckily he catches himself in time, and stops it. His mouth set in an annoyed and grim line, he forces himself to take a minute to calm down. The feeling of being watched was hard to throw off. There was nothing else in the fountain but stagnant rainwater and more weeds. The hydrosystem bore additional investigation, but now wasn't the time, and it'd require being taken apart to really understand. Once his heart settles back to its steady rate, he prepares to move again.
Dicilyia - One of those birds seemed out of place, somehow. It was flying with any of the others, and it circled back near Ranok a second time before flying off ahead, out of sight. Moments later someone can be seen making their way down the boulevard, the only other humanoid here with Ranok. As she got closer it was clear she female and that she was one of the people native to this city. Her wings were folded against her back at the moment and that bird, a falcon as it turns out, was resting on her arm. She stops in her tracks as she spots Ranok and she glares at the man. "What business do you have in my city?" Due to the lack of any other voices, hers seemed so loud though she by no means yelled. She looked to be in her early thirties or so, but that physical age seemed nothing compared to her true age. She had a bow at the ready, should the man try anything funny.
Ranok snaps towards the voice, Mirabelle was aimed at the avian that had come down. "Hy vas not avare dat dis kity vas onder de ownership uf hennyone." He didn't fear the bow, not really. Feet spread slightly, prepared to throw him to the side. Finger moves onto the trigger proper of his own weapon, too, instead of resting parallel to the guard. "Hy'm chust movink trough, mindink my business. Iz hall. Dat a krime?" Gray eyes flicker. Trio of electric blue lights flares gently. Nothing else but the birds and the winds chirping.
Dicilyia lowered the bow to rest at her side, the falcon circling around her a moment before resting on her shoulder. She shakes her head after a moment of consideration. "I do not own it, but it is still my city. And I suppose not so much anymore, considering the lack of my people." She moves closer towards him, staring at the emptiness surrounding them. "And do lower that contraption of yours."
Ranok lowers Mirabelle, but only slightly. "Hy'm not here to chat, Hy'm afraeed. Like Hy saeed, movink trough. If hyu kould be so kind as to point me towards de varf district, Hy'll be out uf you heir." His expression was still grim, feet and body still tense. The whole place...he didn't like it. Not one bit. The atmosphere should have been relaxing, but it wasn't. Even as he meets a guardian apparent, he can't shake the feeling of being watched by worse things. He wished to get moving again, get out of the open, keep pushing forward.
Dicilyia thought it over, wondering idly if she should tell the man or simply banish him from her city. He didn't seem to be causing any harm. Still..."What purpose do you have there?"
Ranok probably wouldn't take an banishing well. It was just as good that Dici didn't try, likely. "Hy'm investigatink de kity. Dere iz liddle information on it. Hy vas hopink Hy kould locate a map, or failink dat, zum sort uf directory. Dis place iz more abundoned den Hy'd originally tought." The city would never be restored to the way it once was. It was too late. Moss and plant growing over the old bones. The glory couldn't be returned, not so easily.
Dicilyia studied the man closer, frowning. "What interest do you have in the city?" Depsite her frown she seemed intrigued, excited even.
Ranok takes a half step backwards. Another glance around him. A muttered word, too low to hear. The lights over his shoulder swirl gently, but do nothing beyond that. Words on the wind, too, begin to whisper. He answers the avian inspecting him, "Dis society iz far dead. But its schtory iz yet ontold, pieces scattered. Dere are vords in dese valls, und Hy intend to pull dem free to schow to de vorld below. Und vat are HYU doink here, gurl? De bones uf a society older den hennyddink else in dis lund, und hyu liff among dem, und krazed automatons? Vat business do hyu possess here?"
Dicilyia took offense to being called girl. She stands straight, her face set, her stand regal somehow. "I am Senator here. I have always lived in these cities. Far longer than you could even imagine -boy-." She glances around now, frowning. "I want to bring life back into my home."
Ranok wasn't all that impressed, really. He was a hard man to please. He'd seen it all. Faced down dragons. Killed one by sawing out of its neck as it ate him, as a matter of fact. Flicked off a demigod, too. And he snaps right back, forcefully, "Check youself before hyu best youself. Senator uf a dead kity. Not a high title to vield. It's too late for dis place. De bones are rotten. Kan hyu not see?" He spoke with authority, weight behind his words that outstripped his apparent age, a regularity for him. A hand points at the very cobbles, uneven and thrown out of alignment as the plant life was reclaiming what it wanted to. Such was nature's tendency, and it couldn't be stopped. The city had fallen to seed for longer then some societies had existed.
Dicilyia didn't seem to be able to see the dire state her city was in, either that or she refused to see. She shakes her head, turning her attention to the falcon perched on her shoulder. "I must ask you to leave now."
Ranok smirks. "As hyu vish." He wasn't going to leave the city until he was good and ready. He departs to the north, duster billowing out behind himself. The falcon was noted, too, presumably the 'little birdie' that gave him away. He'd be looking for it now.