The Nexus

A sound is heard from the outside, of a truck appraching. Tires rasp against the ground as the vehicle stops before the tavern, then there's sound of a door opening and someone stepping out. Heavy steps and faint chink of metal against metal precede the front doors being flung open. "God damn i...

[Steele Street] The exhausted Reaper gives a longing look at all the gemstones spilling all over. He could certainly use the money. Alas, he is not in condition to hoard them. They will all go to someone else's benefit. So, he clambers into the truck. There's a heavy *thunk* as he sits down. The ap...

[Steele Street] The Reaper's eyes narrow? Did... did this weird little man in a top hat just reference a Rick Astley song. "That horse is an evil spirit from Hell. It serves me as part of its punishment" , he says laconically. That ought to answer Gaul's questions. Well, some of them. The...

As Calm Reed lets go of the wheel, it begins slowing down and the rest of machine begins winding down as well. The expedition members can see it, with the lights dimming and the shifting of colors becoming less frequent. Mia can see the slowing down happen on another level as well: the ethereal pres...

[Steele Street] Burning red eyes glare at gaul through the eye-holes of a skull-like helmet as the Reaper leans on his hammer, only barely managing to stay upright. It should be obvious he's in no condition to ride anything. But rather than chew Gaul out for not noticing, he sarcastically points ou...

[Steele Street] The horse snorts, self-satisfied, and trots away from the serpent's fallen husk, ignoring both Gaul and the Reaper as it heads down the street. The Reaper uses his hammer as a cane to wrench himself back up. He limps closer and gives the husk a kick, as if to see of it's finally dea...

[Steele Street] The Reaper throws himself flat on the ground. He is well-protected from fire and heat, but he doesn't want to be hit by full force of the shockwave. Soot and debris falls on him. His horse fares better. While it is hit by the blastwave, there is no mortal creature of flesh and bone ...

[Steele Street] The Reaper watches the thrashing snake, but is too exhausted to move fast enough to exploit an opportunity to deliver the killing blow. So he hovers just out the serpent's reach, wondering what he should do. Then Gaul arrives. The Reaper shoots him a glance. "Shoot! Don't talk!...

With Calm Reed maintaining a steady pace, the continued operation of the machinery is firmly and literally in her hands. Geneva can calculate that if Calm Reed lets go, the wheel will begin to slow down and come to halt in at most an hour - much less if Calm Reed actively brakes it. Since no-one rep...

[Steele Street] Fate is always on the Reapers' side. After all... it's the fate of all things to die. "Oh yes. Go ahead! Eat me!" , the man croaks, having caught his breath again now that the spiritual pressure of the snake is diminishing. Clumsily, he hefts his hammer and strikes the top...

[Outside Detective Michalson's Office] "Let's hope so." The gargoyle follows on the detective's heels. After time spent in prison and then inside an empty flask of rum, getting to walk in the city unrestrained is a nice change of pace. As Michalson leads the way, the gargoyle admires the ...

[Outside Detective Michalson's Office] "Okay. Thanks for the heads up" , the gargoyle says with a nod. "Really, it's a shame they didn't make this vessel smaller. I'm just a tad too large to comfortably perch on your shoulder. So, where next?" It looks around. "Did you plan...

[Outside Detective Michalson's Office] The gargoyle follows the detective, his limp making it easy despite the difference in height. Once outside, the gargoyle starts running and hopping around, building up speed for a low glide first, then trying carefully to gain altitude by flapping its wings. W...

If the wheel was made of aluminium or other light metal, it might still weigh 20 tons or more. Luckily, it floats well off the ground, as if suspended from a construction crane, so getting it to budge is a lot easier task than its mass might suggest. Even before Calm Reed has summoned all her streng...

[Detective Michalson's Office] The gargoyle smirks, or at least tries to as far as its ugly little face allows. "Don't worry, boss man's set the bar so high, everyone can comfortably walk under it." Then it tries jumping off the table again. This time, the fall turns into a short glide th...

[Detective Michalson's Office] "I understand" , the gargoyle says solemnly, "it's a bit ironic, though. I mean, you work in law enforcement now. Be careful to not fall in a funk and become one of those self-hating coppers." Pause. "... so, you finished? Or do you need me to...

[Detective Michalson's Office] "Oh? A revolution? Did that happen here? What was it about? Was there an upper class of wizards making your life difficult? Were you on the run from magic men-in-black?" , the gargoyle muses. "No wonder you were so cross at boss man talking about erasin...

[Detective Michalson's Office] The gargoyle giggles. "Where I'm from, magic isn't something you have, it's something you do. You might lack second sight, or lack the words of origin, or a dozen other things, but you're obviously doing magic right now. So, don't sell yourself short. Be a proud ...

[Detective Michalson's Office] "Found 'em, bought 'em, got 'em as a gift... they're relics of a misspent youth." Michalson places the glyph on Bunny's back and begins to scrape it with a ritual knife of some kind, drawing complex shapes. "I'm not a wizard, though. This glyph requires...

[Detective Michalson's Office] "I need to apply it to you," Michalson says with some amusement. "There's a short ritual to do it. So stand still on the desk, please." "Okay." The little gargoyle does as asked, standing slightly hunched, so the weight of its wings won't...

[Steele Street] To avoid being crushed by the snake's tail, the rider's steed leaps up, like skipping rope. It is also still moving forward, so its momentum carries it on the roof of a nearby building. Somehow, despite roof tiles shattering under its hooves, the buildings still carry its weight wit...

While Calm Reed muses what they ought to do next, the corpse answers one last question: "By fruits of their labour, you will know them. They will take your eyes and your hands and perform horrible deeds with them. They will use you to smother light of others and then smother yours as well."

The Red Rooster Profanity warning for translated lyrics Red Rooster *) by Mokoma It rises from amidst a sea of flames From the ruins of the village it burned down Steady pace, firm gaze, its tail on fire It aims its path at me Lands and lakes, from here to there it has circled Where it has been, no...

[Detective Michalson's Office]

"Okay!" The gargoyle stands up and takes the glyph with both hands... looks at it... shakes it a little... gives it a little bite... then hands it back to Michalson. "Ummm.... how does it work?"

Horse of Hell Thunder Horse by Teräsbetoni (translation by me) Waking alone at night Wiping sweat off your brow You can be sure you heard Galloping hooves A beast wild, cruel, fearsome size of a mountain In its eyes the fires of Hell the hottest flame Chorus: (2x) That steed, it carries Men to war,...

[Detective Michalson's Office] "Should be a couple here and there..." Michalson rummages around and comes up with three pillows. They appear mostly made to ease the discomfort of someone whose leg doesn't work the way it should. "I'll put 'em on the floor. Then I'll go look for the g...

Alto [/b] Alias: monster from the sea, beast from the pyramid, Aroo Gender: Unestablished / underdeveloped Race/Species: former human, distorted during years spent lost inside the Octahedron Age: Unknown; mentally a child. Alignment: Unknown. Class/Profession: None; an orphan in the care of Good Le...

Light-bearing Mew Aliases: LB-M. All names tentative Gender: Female Race/Species: Cybernetic human/mew hybrid Age: born yesterday. Alignment: confirmed to be hungry Classes/Professions: test-subject-slash-side-project of Doctors Eun Jung-Bu and Geneva Richards Power Rating: currently about that of ...

The Octahedron (AKA Empty House of the Absent Architecht) [/size][/b] Alias: Pyramid on a volcanic island, pyramid in an ice floe, the pyramid, lewdest pyramid, add your own to the mix Gender: None / multiple / not applicable Race/Species : A building. Age: Ancient Alignment: Very clean and sharp, ...