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Post by othus on Nov 20, 2019 4:20:10 GMT
The portal soon closed after the team entered. In front of them a world of black and white Rosenda could perfectly see even though she was blind. a white object in the sky much akin to the moon but many times larger shone over the forest, the leaves of the twisted trees displayed an arrangement of tones from grey to black as a thin fog danced around on the ground. There were no sounds of nature, no rustling of leaves, no wind, no creatures to be heard. As Nerae walked through the flames into this world, she quickly realized she might have made a mistake in coming here, a chill ran down her spine and she cleared her throat just to hear at least a bit of noise. it was as if the world had become mute Garnet signaled them all to get close and she spoke. "We are here for a very specific item. red arrows, at least a set of 4. should be easy to spot them amidst all this black and white. Plus, they have the sweet sweet smell of blood, maybe you can smell that as well?"- Garnet told Rosenda. "As we move deeper into the forest, do not make any loud noises, there are things in here even worse than camazotz."Nova set her Barrett on the ground and left it there, while Nerae simply holstered her handgun. Everyone looked at Rosenda slightly worried. "We have only a couple hours, let's go"
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Post by HungryHunter on Nov 20, 2019 6:58:32 GMT
Rosenda blinked a few times when the grey fog of her vision very suddenly congealed into proper shapes. It took her a moment to process it as vision at all; the only time she had seen anything in 30 years was in her dreams. Now her eyes explored her own body, the weapons at her hip, her companions. “This… wow.” She held up her SMG, struck by the colors. What was up with this thing? Was this normal? She was pretty sure it wasn’t, but she was still processing what colors were again. It took her a second to register the people she knew, quickly pointing them out based on their smells. “Nova, Nerae, Garnet! You’re all so young!” She clapped her hands to her cheeks. “Right, right, quiet.” She nodded, drawing her silent whisper before sniffing the air. “Yeah, there’s blood about.” Her walking was not the slightest bit quiet. She seemed to go out of her way to step on every twig and the crunchiest leaves as she walked forwards into the woods.
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Post by othus on Nov 20, 2019 8:03:31 GMT
"We are not gonna get out of this alive, are we?"- Nerae told Garnet as she cringed every time the bounty hunter made a loud noise.
"At this rate, we will only be able to stay for a few minutes before she notices"- Garnet answered in a very low voice, looking around with her red eyes wide open.
*she?*
In this world with virtually no sounds, the snap of a twig echoed into the depths of the woods, and the colors of their clothing could be seen from a mile away. With every sound the group made, the white colors around them began to fade. At first, it was barely noticeable, but soon the white of the trees had taken a greyscale all over, and the darker colors were almost vantablack. Garnet signaled them all to stop. you could start hearing something...a faint sound, slowly increasing, Rosenda and Garnet would be the ones to hear it first, but soon enough it was audible to Nova and Nerae as well. The sound of a high pitched scream, heading straight towards them.
"oh no...no no no, we'll have to split, else we will never get the arrows. Rosenda, you need to stall that thing for as long as you can while I go get them"
Nerae looked at Nova and they decided to split as well. Nerae gave Nova her pistol and headed off with Garnet as they disappeared into the woods while Nova stayed by Rosenda's side.
"If she's not confident we can take this thing down that's a problem, get read-
A white blade tied to a black chain came out of the dark, aiming for Nova's head. it did no sound, it produced no wind. had it come from the back, it would have most likely killed the agent in the spot. however, luck had been on Novas side, as she saw the weapon flying straight towards her.
The agent dodged just barely, as the blade grazed her cheek. the creature screamed for a second and then, all noise died out again.
a few seconds later, a black blade with a white chain came for Rosenda, the chain rattled as it twisted and changed directions in impossible ways ultimately going for her chest.
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Post by HungryHunter on Nov 21, 2019 7:08:51 GMT
“Ah hell, that’s no good.” Rosenda cocked her head, trying to triangulate the source of the sound before she could do so, the spear came flying in. Rosenda got quiet after it was dodged, standing still. Her ears were pricked for any sound, and soon the minute clinking of chains came. She closed her eyes as it zig-zagged into view like a black bolt of lightning. Her eyes would do her no good here. Her mind had been trained to use sound for decades now. Clinks grew swiftly closer, ringing right in her ear every time the spear made one of its impossible turns.
Her gun was up and ready, but as the sound drew near, she smiled and pocketed it. “Gotcha!” She ducked under the blade and lashed out her hand at the chain the instant it passed overhead. Her reactions were slowed by age, but hopefully not too much. “Hah! I got her! You guys get the arrows, I’ll blow this thing up!” Trapping the chain under her arm, she couched her SMG under the other. It rattled off into the distance, rounds that tore through magical creatures.
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Post by othus on Nov 25, 2019 22:22:18 GMT
Rosenda would notice closing her eyes for more than 1 second did not block her sight, but rather inverted the colors from black to white. she managed to hear as the blade went after her, but as soon as the blade changed color its sound went mute, the blade also stopped moving around and changed its movement into a straight line.
A woman in a white dress came out of the woods, jaw unhinged, long black hair with no eyes. the skeletal body had been shot multiple times in the chest and shoulder by Rosenda. There was no confirmation of damage besides the holes in her dress, but maybe it managed to do something?. regardless, she kept moving. the two blades floated around her body, the white one hovering quietly while the black one spun much like a helicopter blade.
"Leave..."
The creature uttered as she threw the white mute blade straight towards Rosenda, Nova began firing at the creature from the side, but she blocked with the spinning of the black blade that actually made noise. The agent Frowned and made even more distance.
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Post by HungryHunter on Nov 30, 2019 23:37:53 GMT
“Hey, there you are! Nice of you to show your face!” Rosenda smiled at the approaching spectre. “Yeah, we’re gonna leave when we’re done. You gonna let us finish so we can go? Or will I have to leave you a parting gift?” In one smooth movement, she sheathed her current gun and drew mangled thing of wires and tubes at her other hip. It was really kind of this thing to come right out into middle range. The Machrhino was far too expensive to go shooting off into nothing. She pulled the trigger and the air filled with a dim hum and a blue light. Whips of cyan gas fled the wide barrel before erupting into flame when the beam came chasing. The force sent Rosenda sliding back more and more, but she kept the beam steady for a couple seconds before it died down. “Don’t breathe the smoke, kids. Stuff’ll make your muscles grow funny.” Rosenda blew away a cloud of blue smoke and leveled the gun for another shot if it proved necessary.
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Post by othus on Dec 18, 2019 5:49:39 GMT
Rosenda released the blast upon the woman, vaporizing her along with a section of the forest behind. The Machrhino defeaned the screams of the monster and after a few seconds all the sounds went mute again.
"...It appears you managed to deal with her through sheer force"- Nova commented somewhat perplexed. Up until today, the agent thought her Barret 50cal. was somewhat overkill, but now she witnessed the true meaning of the word.
"Anyway, it seems we only have to wait for the girls to get back, sorry I wasn't of much help back there, but you had it covered."
an ominous noise in the background made Nova turn, the ashes of the monster reconstructed the woman, and the blades flew right to her hands again in an instant. at that moment, Garnet and Nerae arrived, the little girl was holding a red crossbow with a ruby red bolt loaded on it.
"You are still in one piece? great! we got the arrow! Let's deal with this thing and then we'll get out!"
As Garnet and Nerae came out of the woods, the woman looked at small vampire and immediately fled into the dark forest.
"Tch, I wanted to try the weapon at least once against the undead monsters of xibalba, but her fleeing is also proof enough this is the right weapon"
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Post by HungryHunter on Dec 19, 2019 2:30:03 GMT
“If brute force doesn’t work, you’re not using enough of it.” Rosenda sagely nodded, spinning the empty canister off her gun to pocket it. “Only problem is that’s expensive as hell. I shoot that again and I’m lucky if I break even on this job.” She was putting it away when the ashes whirled back into shape. “Ungh… kill her again or make money…” She mused to herself as she twirled a new round into place. She didn’t have to make the choice when Garnet appeared and spooked her with the weapon in her hands. “Woah, where can I get me one of those? I could use something better against undead. Uh, no offense, kid.” She tipped her hat, not sure if Garnet was the kind of vampire who was born normally or not. There were so many types for a people that should be rare. She got ready to move, not waiting for a response. She was confident, not stupid. Even if the first monster fled, she might have bolder friends.
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Post by othus on Dec 20, 2019 6:13:46 GMT
"Oh stop it Ros, I know some immortals are...a pain, to put it simply. In any case, I'm glad that you asked about the weapon, cause you are the one who's gonna use it. now pay attention! i'm gonna tell you how"
The little vampire held the crossbow up high so that everyone could see it at eye level
"Behold, the Bow and arrow of Xbalanque!...crossbow and bolt really, but who cares about such a technicality"
Nerae looked at the weapon confused and in disapproval
"so...when you mentioned red arrows i thought they would be a key component for something, but this is it? the weapon to kill camazotz?"
"Oh it won't kill Camazotz, but rather it will let us kill camazotz. you see, you get shot with this thing, and your immortality is gone for a full day"
Nova took the weapon from Garnet's hands and examined it. the crossbow was somewhat bent, so it wouldn't give an exact shot.
"Using this old thing is going to be a lot harder than you think. the wood parts have water damage, and we only have one bolt"
"Hmm...well, there might be more lying around, deeper into the black and white forest lies the temple of Xbalanque. Nerae and I found the weapon right at the entrance. we could try our luck by going inside, or, we could just, you know...get the hell out of this place, we only need one bolt you know?!"
Nerae got somewhat nervous, but she decided to speak
"I think we should leave, I know a dangerous place when I see it. The CHWAO sent me to quite a few tombs some years back and let me tell you, this one is the scariest looking i've encountered thus far"
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Post by HungryHunter on Dec 23, 2019 1:46:49 GMT
“Hmmm, I’m using it?” She studied the weapon. “Hey, that’s more than a technicality to me. I know how to use a crossbow. Used to use one before I shot out a cyclops’ eye and he fell right on top of it. Bows I just don’t know. Can’t get a feel for them.” She felt the side, tapping out the inconsistency. “Let’s go get more. Even I can’t guarantee a good shot with a weapon I’ve never used, let alone a broken one. Besides, we’ve got an arrow now. Anything in here will run scared when it takes one look at us just like the chain lady did.” Rosenda walked ahead, waving for the others to follow.
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Post by othus on Jan 3, 2020 23:03:03 GMT
The group walked for about 10 minutes into the depths of the forest. in the distance, the temple was finally at sight. "Okay, the crossbow was right at the entrance, when I took it, the gate opened but naturally, we did not go inside. Anyone wants to do the honors?"- Garnet said as Nova and Nerae gave two steps back. -Xbalanque's TempleThe inside of the temple somehow was unaffected by the black and white veil of Xibalba. Inside, there were two giant jaguar statues made out of a dark material akin to onyx decorating the gate at the other side of the room , one with green eyes and the other with blue eyes that looked like precious stones. there was a small altar at the middle of the main room with some indentations that shone in green and blue which needed further inspection.
Nova slowly walked around the room, moving past the altar.
"It would seem the dungeon splits in 3, two open rooms and a door"- The moment Nova reached for the door, her hand was rejected violently with sparks.
"looks like it's sealed with magic"
"No, not magic...a curse"- Garnet corrected. "you attack that gate and your soul will take the damage. We should keep looking for a way to get in"
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 4, 2020 1:41:30 GMT
“Uh, great, it’s that kind of temple. The kind with all the tunnels.” Rosenda grumbled. “Guns are made for shooting people when they’re far away. Tunnels are full of sneaky bastards who get close and hide behind corners. And you throw one bomb and everything comes collapsing down.” She complained further kicking around, ears twitching as she listened for things crawling behind the walls. She heard footsteps ahead, but they were echoes from her companions. Echoes! Another reason to hate crawly dungeon places! She went for the center of the room, figuring it was defensible if anything came out of the hallways. Good cover, nice distance to use a gun at. “Hey, the altar and the jaguar eyes have the same colors, I think. Been a while since I thought about colors.” She scratched her head, eyes and ears pretty much everywhere but the altar.
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Post by othus on Jan 4, 2020 2:02:00 GMT
"color? you mean the jewels?" Nova and Nerae went on to check the altar, if rosenda touched around, she could notice the patterns and shapes, there were jewels indented on the grids, while some were leftover on the table "It seems incomplete obviously, wanna give it a go with the gems we have on the table? I'll check the jaguar statues, come Garnet"- Nerae said as she walked towards the sealed door, the jaguar on the left had two sapphires, while the Jaguar on the right had two emeralds. "do I...take them out? doesnt that usually releases a trap? you tell me, Rosenda. You kinda have more experience on this than the rest of us combined."
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Post by HungryHunter on Jan 5, 2020 7:02:34 GMT
“Kid, when I enter this kind of place, it’s cause somebody else hired me to hold a gun while they did the thinking. Normally I can’t even see the shiny stuff they want.” Rosenda sighed. “From what I know, touching anything isn’t recommended. Now let’s touch some stuff.” She tried to complete the pattern in the first two panels, using up all the gems. For the first one, green blue green in the same descending pattern, for the second, the last blue and then the last green. One hand was on her subgun at all times she was touching the panels. “Let’s see, those jaguars are only giving me four more. We’ll need at least ten.”
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Post by othus on Feb 10, 2020 0:50:17 GMT
When nova came back with the jewels, she finally saw the puzzle.
"... I think we actually have all we need, these patterns are a sequence, see?"- She told Rosenda after using the rearranging the board, each box simply adding a stone
1 emerald-sapphire
2 emerald-sapphire-emerald
3 emerald-sapphire-emerald-sapphire
4 emerald-sapphire-emerald-sapphire-emerald
The curse at the main door was broken, but there were also a couple of rooms left to explore.
"so, do we just move deeper or...check those two?- Nerae asked, still not very eager to explore.
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Post by HungryHunter on Feb 11, 2020 2:05:15 GMT
“Oh.” Rosenda blinked when Nova easily solved the puzzle. “Okay, I don’t know puzzles, but I do know how to secure a building. We’re not going deeper until I make sure there’s nobody in the side rooms waiting to block us off when we’re leaving. Left first.” She led with her nose, sniffing for any sign to lurking danger before stepping in, gun raised. It was so weird, looking for danger. How long had it been since she'd done that? Normally she just sniffed and listened for it.
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Post by othus on Feb 11, 2020 2:40:23 GMT
The left room led the group towards a large open area, the night sky above the temple could be seen in the shades of white and black. right at the middle of the room, a smaller altar could be seen.
"Hey, look at that! at this rate we might not even need to go deeper!"- Nerae said as she pointed at the red arrow. Garnet made haste towards it and grabbed it, after looking at it for a while, she handed the thing over to Rosenda.
"I think you'll be our arrow keeper, yeah, safer with you. Plus we can always blame you if anything happens to them"- She said with a deviant grin on her face.
It was at this moment that a sound could be heard back on the main room, something had moved.
"We fucked up, didn't we?"-Nerae just said as she slowly drew her pistol
"99% sure we did"- Nova replied as she heard the steps of something massive headed their way
The massive stone Jaguar that was guarding the entrance had seemingly come back to life, the golem swiped with it's onyx-like claw at Nova, who had backed away just enough to dodge, however as the creature turned a tail swipe caught garnet in the stomach, sending her crashing against the wall. The golem was unreasonably fast for its size, before Nerae could even begin to shoot back it dove for Rosenda, looking to turn the bounty hunter into paste.
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Post by HungryHunter on Feb 19, 2020 9:06:21 GMT
“Two ain’t bad!” Rosenda took the extra bolt. “Pff, just like you kids. Always blame the old people.” Her head immediately jerked up when a sound echoed in the main room. “Alright, now it’s the fun kind of ruin.” She backed up as the enormous panther slid into the room, swapping out the clip in her handgun. “Garnet! Somebody make sure the kid’s alright, I got this thing!” The beast lunged off the ground, moving with impossible grace for its multi-ton weight. Fortunately, none of that meant it could change direction midair, and Rosenda dove forwards, letting its front paws smash the ground behind her. She rolled, firing off rounds as she stood, aiming for where its front limbs joined its body. Each shot was silent as usual, but when the bullets struck, they exploded like small hand grenades. She backed off, taking a few more shots just to see their effect before she considered changing tactics.
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Post by othus on Mar 26, 2020 23:42:42 GMT
Nerae immediately went on to check on Garnet, who had been damaged quite badly, it was only due to her vampiric nature that she had survived the blow.
"Get some rest alright? we'll deal with this thing in no time!"
The damage Rosenda had inflicted on the stone creature was great, one of its hind legs collapsed, but the stone Jaguar kept attacking. the golem swiped as it trashed around the room, Nova keeping a healthy distance as she distracted it.
"It's working Ros! keep at it while it's focused on me!"
Nova said as she hopped between the wild attacks of the golem, not a single one of them landing at all. The creature thrashed around even more wildly, tail swiping at Rosenda while nova dealt with the front claws.
"Anytime!"- She said, slightly nervous now, as she began losing space to move.
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Post by HungryHunter on Mar 29, 2020 2:35:51 GMT
“I’ve got it! Just keep it for another second!” Rosenda called, refreshing her clip. The tail rushed towards her and she dropped. Her hat was buffeted clean off, making her whistle from her close call. If it wasn’t so dangerous to her companions, she would keep up the tactic, but, no, no she wouldn’t. She was lying to herself. She grinned as her body began to twist and change again. Her old joints screamed at her for doing it again on such short notice, but her heart thrilled. This plan was insane, but she knew it could work if she stuck the landing.
Her scattered shots had left many shallow pits across the creature’s surface. Her legs bent and she sprang forward, landing her body top the panther. She thrust long claws into one of the deeper pits and dug. Just as her claws had sunk into the cliff earlier, they would sink deep here. She tried to pry apart stone, ripping out chunks as fast as she could in a shoveling frenzy. The remaining hind leg was her first target, but she didn’t plan on leaving two stones together on this thing.
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