What, you can't look for all of it? There's for of you. Dig it all out son!

But maybe prioritize food and books. You guys need to get your strength up, and maybe read up. What good is a sword compared to your POWER!

And who needs clothes? If we have to, we can go buff, who cares! We're escaping!

>>600316
If you're gonna be training underground for a while, you need food. On the other hand, you've already got some from the kitchen...
1. Weapons
2. Food
3. Books
4. Clothing

find what you can but I think food is the most useful right now. Since you guys are planning to learn how to use your powers more anyways weapons aren't as needed, still useful but I'm not sure how well any of you know how to use them should you find them.

Books would be second on the list since they might have something useful

Clothes aren't needed but the might boast moral if you guys have something other then rags... or in Alrauna's case no clothes at all.

Weapons should be along the same point as clothes. They're more useful and probably would make you guys feel more comfortable if nothing else but I don't know if any of you actually know how to use them and when facing people who have powers I don't know how useful they'll be.

>What a strange reaction..
It's a sentimental one. She wasn't expecting that object to be here, and it affected here.

Geeze, we're going to have to work on rebuilding trust with her later. This is exactly why I didn't want to push the issue of her past yet.

>what search for
Prioritize things we can't reproduce. You can make weapons with elemental powers, with training and time (applied earth magic, maybe in conjunction with fire if we start forging metal alloys). You can secure food sources with probably less work than that (tunnel through rock to the waterline, use water powers to collect fish?). Books are knowledge though, you'd be hard pressed to reproduce that in short time.

So priorities go:

1) Books
2) Food
3) Weapons

1. Books (if journals or books about elyms)
2. Food
3. Weapons
4. Clothes

>Music box in junk room
Perhaps she has lived here longer than the brainwashers.

Kawaii 2014/11/04(Tue)19:41 No. 600405 ID: 0eaf76
File 141515891801.png - (40.09KB , 1100x900 , 43.png )

>Food and Books.

You decide your time will be best spent scrounging for food or any sort of book, whether it be a journal or a novel. You order Becca and Erwin to look for clothing, while Walt and Oliver can search for weapons. Alrauna volunteered to search for food items. Finding something useful in this giant heap will prove to be a challenge. Everyone began to dig around at once, throwing away useless items. "There's so much junk in here...!" Becca commented, tossing a plastic bowl behind her shoulder. "None of it is stuff we can use..." Erwin pulled out a long feather boa, frowning. "Where do they even get all this...?" You persist on trying to look for the things you need. Locating a small bookshelf, you move in to browse through the selection. You find several dictionaries, romance novels, even manuals for various objects, but nothing really worth reading. Suddenly, a large, leatherbound book catches your eye. On the front, the old-looking text reads: "The Elymem People". This could definitely come in handy. Despite the fact that it's heavy, you store it in your bag anyways. Along with that, you find several journals written by anonymous people, but just by flipping through the book you can tell it has useful information relating to your current situation.

Alrauna got up from the far corner, holding cans of food in her arms. "We should try and find more bags to carry stuff in as well. I'm sure we'll most likely be safe if we spend the night here...but we just need to find little areas in the room to hide out in, just in case someone pops in real fast." She suggested, clambering down to meet up with you. "I found some stuff...made a little pile in the corner over there. Did you find anything?" You show Alrauna the books that you scavenged, and she gets a suspicious look on her face. "Mmm, I wonder what those journals are about. I'm not much of a reader so you can take care of that." Deciding to take your time, you hunker down in a sort of isolated spot behind a large dresser, leaning up against the backside. Which book should you read first?

>"The Elymem People"

>Journal titled, "Altius"

>Journal titled, "My Message to Future Prisoners"

>>600405
"My Message to Future Prisoners" sounds pretty seriously important.

>Journal titled, "My Message to Future Prisoners"
...ok this sounds just a little bit to convenient. Also if I had to guess most of this junk is probably the prisoners personal items they had on them when they were grabbed. I mean I bet you didn't come to this island with those rags on.

Just remember that all books, especially journals, have authors. And those authors have agendas and motives and perspectives. There may be useful information in these books, but you can't trust it implicitly.

The "Message to future prisoners" is the most suspect. Yes, it might help, but whoever wrote it is obviously trying to influence you. Read it with a grain of salt. (And if you discuss it with the others, report what the book claims, don't present it as fact).

I'd start with either the message or the elymen book.

Orion 2014/11/05(Wed)23:01 No. 600553 ID: 0eaf76
File 141525729124.png - (41.64KB , 1100x900 , 44.png )

>"A Message to Future Prisoners"

This journal catches your eye in particular. It seems too good to be true, but it's your best bet at finding something informative. Cracking open the cover, you notice a barrage of various stains on all of the pages. They were a deep, brown color...coffee? No, coffee wasn't this thick...this was...blood. You flip to the first page, brashly titled "1".

"I'm writing this journal in hopes that one day...someone will find it. Maybe it'll get tossed, maybe it'll get burned, but hope is the last thing I can rely on at this point. My name is Harliman. I have been captured by the Order to serve under their command. Currently, I am being stored in a huge jail cell...I only have this journal and a makeshift pencil to communicate with the future. If you have been taken by the Order, do not fear..."

You skim past the information that isn't necessarily urgent to read. Something about 'escape is possible' and 'they're an evil organization set to take over the world'.

"...It's important to note the crystals used to enslave your mind. They come from the fifth district...Altius. The district of the Other World. A world comprised of the souls and spiritual magic of living things. They can be used to enhance your own spirit, but...they're being used to steal people's spirit instead. The only way to break someone free, is if you recite a special chant that releases their spirit, or by sacrificing someone else's essence instead..."

Was that the chant that Alrauna used earlier? Is she linked with this fifth district somehow? You look over to the middle of the storage chamber. Oliver, Becca and Erwin were gathered around a small lamp, eating canned beans and chatting with each other. This was nice...to find the fragments of peace. To be able to sit around and talk casually...of course, you're most likely unable to find peace again after all of this. Alas, you continue reading.

"...find Ringu. While he does work with them, he does not believe in their values or beliefs. With a bit of persuading...he could be used against them. He is a native from Altius, a spiritual being that can locate Altering Gems, the gems used to steal souls. If you can find Ringu you can find the leader...take out the leader, and everything will fall into place..."

Closing the journal, you let out a quiet sigh and lean back against the dresser. You wanted to go back home...see your family again. You wonder if they even missed you.

"...Abel?" You hear Becca's voice call out from beside you. She stared down at you, a worried look on her face. "Do you want anything to eat?"

"I'm not real hungry, Becca..." You mutter, straightening yourself out a bit. She sat down next to you, wings folded in. "Hey, don't worry, ok? We'll get through this. We're pretty strong, heh. Even those dogs weren't a match for us!" With an enthusiastic smile, she flexed her arms jokingly. "Hey, wanna try on some clothes? I picked out a few outfits for everyone."

>Try on clothes.

>Eat food.

>Read more books.

>>600553
>Try on clothes.

Is it paperdoll time maybe? Ask Becca about herself. Does she have any family at home? She seems like she's been fighting with Alrauna a bit- does she remind her of someone she doesn't like? (or maybe it's a competition thing?)

>Read more books
we can try some clothes on when we find a new hide out, but whatever information is in these books we found could help us greatly and the sooner we know the sooner we can use that information.

Eat some food you dork, I bet you're high on adrenaline and can't feel the weakness in your body. Who knows what using magic does to your body, get some food in you before you collapse.

You can eat and do the other things man, learn to multitask. Read a book, take a bite every once in a while.

She made the effort to pick things out for you, you might as well try them on.

Don't lose the reaming books, though. If we don't get the chance to read them now, we'll want to later.

Orion 2014/11/08(Sat)20:47 No. 600839 ID: 0eaf76
File 141550847538.png - (45.88KB , 1100x900 , 45.png )

You decide that trying on Becca’s outfit wouldn’t do that much harm. You could continue reading once she was finished showing off her new collection of clothes. “Alright, change into these, okay?” The bat tosses you a set of clothes. They definitely felt...cleaner. They weren’t torn up and ratty like your current clothes. Finding a quiet hiding spot, you quickly change into whatever she gave you. It was a spiffy outfit, wasn’t it? Mostly tan with red accents to it. Slender, yet loose pants that went down to your feet, as well as a stylish, long-sleeved top with a dark, red jacket to go with it. Very nice!

“Thanks, Becca. It feels a lot better than what I was wearing before.” You comment, stepping out to show off for her. She clapped her hands together, a huge smile on her face. “Wow! That’s great! I can’t wait to show everyone else their outfits...hey, take this as my token of gratitude for breaking me out of my cell, okay Abel?” Becca stood up on her feet, walking off in the other direction. “Erwin! Get over here!”

You pick up your books again and flip back to whatever you were reading. Ringu, huh? He was the one who brought the soul-stealing crystals here in the first place. If he didn’t believe in the Order’s beliefs then why does he cooperate? Why not revolt? It just didn’t make sense.

”...I hear that the Order has recently captured a Dragon halfling. I can hear it screaming at night. Whatever’s happening to it must not be very good. Dragons are noble creatures...the worst thing you can do is lock them up in an isolated place. I thought Dragons were extinct...but I saw it with my own eyes. A real Dragon. The only explanation is if it were a Halfling. Halflings can change their form at will, according to legends. I wonder how the Order managed to capture one…”

This was obviously referring to Alrauna. How old was this book? How long has she been here? So many questions...so little time. You try and find another informational section in the journal, but your reading was halted when you heard the door to the Storage Room swing open, a scream resounding just a few moments later.

Orion 2014/11/08(Sat)20:48 No. 600840 ID: 0eaf76
File 141550849463.png - (56.66KB , 1100x900 , 46.png )

“I FOUND THEM. THEY’RE IN HERE!” You then hear a string of curse words come from Becca, Oliver and Alrauna. They all ran towards you, grabbing your arm to lift you up. Turning to the doorway, you see Spit, the rat from before, pointing at you. A handful of guards spilled forth before too long.

“So you thought you could get away, eh? HAHAHA! We’ll always find you, no matter what...I see you smuggled a bit of our food, too! That’s a DOUBLE DEATH PENALTY.” He waved his hands and two massive guards rushed at you full speed. Were they at the only entrance? You couldn't tell. With a quick scan of the room you see no other doors that you could escape with. Walt shot a stone shield up from the ground, the guards slamming into it head-on. "Abel we need to do something!" Becca shouted. Spit just laughed maniacally. "You have no where to hide! But you know what? I have a proposition to make..." He eyed you over before pointing to Alrauna, who was standing at your left side. "If you give me the halfling...I'll release you! You'll be free to go back home as you wish~ 5 Elymems are easily worth the price of a dragon. Besides, I doubt you’d be much use to us anyways, given you have no idea how to even USE your powers, tch. So what do you say?" Alrauna stared up at you cautiously, narrowing her eyes.

>>600840
Wait. No idea how to use your powers? Is he ignorant of your previous destructive displays, or is there more to you than you know?

Scoff, and show him what you've learned. Slam pillars of rock into the guards to knock them away/out. Then erect a wall to keep them away. As for Spit, I think you'd better restrain him then ask him if he's changed his mind about you now. If he still acts like you don't know how to use your "powers" then... break a limb and ask him for more details. Ask if Alrauna wants this one dead, too.

To escape, enact Alrauna's plan of hiding underground. However, nobody can witness it, so be sure you at least block the sight of Spit and the guards before you go under, and reform the ground after yourself so that they can't tell you went down. Optimally we want them to think you just went through a wall and are somewhere else in the fort.

>>600840
Laugh in his face.
"Wow, no. You are really bad at negotiating, buddy. She's the only person making this escape possible, and you don't exactly give us a lot of reason to buy into your manure salesmanship."
Then proceed to hit him with rocks, fire, and whatever else goofy-ass Avatar shit we can toss his way.

We got superpowers, dammit, let's get CREATIVE with the things!

>>600840
Agree to his terms.

Then when his face lights up, send a rock flying towards it at top speed.

Betray an ally for a slaver's promise? Rat man tells a tasteless joke.

Its time to rumble, by which I mean literally shake and contort the ground beneath their feet to knock them over.

If you can seal up the tunnel behind them do so now.

Blocking reinforcements is your priority. After that can deal with the guards.

No negotiations.
No insults.
No showing off.

Abel, start running, or fight. No powers - you want to keep as many enemies in the dark about yourselves as possible.

You should probably run, one of your squad might not realize that using powers this early in the escape is a good way to get analyzed to death by the overseers.

>>600843
Actually... bluffing him for the tactical advantage isn't such a bad idea.

Although it's only worth it if you can make sure Alrauna knows what you're doing. Like if you stand in front of your allies and make a point of crossing your fingers behind your back. Or if you're in a position to wink at her and he can't see (depends on how and where you're standing). Otherwise, the long term penalty of alienating her isn't worth the short term advantage of surprise.

Either way, though, you need to take these guys down, hard and fast. ...spear sharp earth strait up through their feet, and then immediately have the spears spread out and turn to bonds.

If the exit to the room is open, we take it. If not, you collapse it, and then we make ourselves a new one elsewhere.

>>600849
no point in ace-sleeving here, man. Regardless of how it goes down eventually we'll need to make a wall or something to get away and they'll know anyhow.
Best to take them by surprise and just demolish them so they can't spread the word.
Hesitant to kill, of course, but we can probably immobilize them.

>>600849
I like this no-nonsense approach. No banter, that's the villain's job.

Begin forming stalactites above them as you talk. Nobody ever looks up.

Sink all three of them into the floor.
Let's not even bother anymore with these shits.

Orion 2014/11/09(Sun)09:06 No. 600900 ID: 0eaf76
File 141555278989.png - (54.05KB , 1100x900 , 47.png )

You slam your palms onto the ground, concentrating hard to block the three of them off from the entrance. A stone wall erupted from the ground behind them, causing the two guards to get nervous looks on their faces. Spit just scowled at you. “So we’re going to do this? Hmm…” As he stood there, pondering his next course of action, you try and form spears of stalactites above the guards and the rat man. Then, clenching your fists, you force the daggers on the ceiling to plummet down onto them. Spit dove out of the way, the two guards getting impaled by the other stones. They fell to the ground, killed instantly from a stalactite to the head. You could hear Becca gagging beside you, turning away to cover her mouth. The others didn’t look too hot either…
Alrauna, on the other hand, just stood there, watching. “Don’t be careless, Abel…” She whispered, watching Spit as he rose to his feet.

“Ah, well that’s unfortunate. They’re merely cattle, anyways, not like they’re going to be missed by anyone.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and straightened the scarf around his neck. “Abel, there’s a significant difference to having powers, and using powers. You’ve only just recently discovered you have powers...but do you know how to keep them in check?”

What did that mean? You didn’t care. You just wanted him dead. No bullshit, just fight it out until one of you can’t go on anymore. Keeping your palms planted against the ground, you try and shoot the ground up to either stab or wrap his feet up, so he can’t move. However, with the amount of clutter in the room, you couldn’t quite get the Earth to move up as fast as you’d like. The ground merely wobbled a bit, before a large lump of dirt rose up underneath the rat, simply making Spit rise higher. “Mmm, how sad. Didn’t quite take into account the amount of shit this room has, eh?” The rat jumped from his platform, twisting his body around as if he were making some sort of gesture. You suddenly feel yourself fly backwards, slamming into the wall at an alarming speed. The breath fled from your lungs and you fell to the ground, sputtering and curling into a ball. You don’t think you broke your spine...but that definitely did not feel good.

“Do you really think they’d employ MORTALS to work for the Order?! HAHAHAHA!” Wind spun around him like a tornado, causing a gust to form inside of the room. A Wind Elymem? You needed to get the others to fight, but how?! None of them knew how to use their powers quite to your degree, and they didn’t really look up for fighting...they mostly just looked like they wanted to run. So be it. Using what energy you could, you erect a huge wall in front of Spit, one large enough that he couldn’t get around it. The menagerie of crap that was in the way either got pushed to the side, or was crushed against the ceiling.

Orion 2014/11/09(Sun)09:06 No. 600901 ID: 0eaf76
File 141555280656.png - (51.69KB , 1100x900 , 48.png )

“Alrauna, wh-where’s the, ack...u-underwater cave…” You gasp out, holding onto your back as you try to rise to your feet. The halfling ran towards the back of the room, pushing aside a large dresser to reveal a small door that went into the ground. “This is it. I’m surprised no one has tried to really seal it off...but I used this to escape once before.” She pulled open the door, motioning for people to go inside. There was a deep, dimly lit staircase that led down into some sort of chasm. You felt uneasy, but this was really your only chance.

>Run.

>Fight.

Ask the group.

I know what just happened was messy and most of you have little grasp on your powers. When I woke up today I was not expecting to be killing people with shards of rock before dinner time.

But if we falter here the mind controlled shells of our bodies will be doing much worse soon enough. With us stuck inside them watching as it happens.

So do we run and hope they do not find us for a few hours? Or do you help me fight Spit? This could be our best chance to take him down. Right now he is alone and locked in a stone room. Next time he will not be so careless.

I do not even like the idea of killing him honestly. While he could just be a horrible person who knows if he has been twisted this way by whoever runs this place. But if we could at least knock him out maybe Alrauna could help us figure out a non lethal solution.

I'd like to kill the smug fuck. And I have no objections to it.
Between you and Alruna, you SHOULD be able to catch him off guard. Something tells me the leader will also be like you and Spits and not easy.

I'm worried about taking that tunnel, if they haven't removed it, they have guards at the other end.

Think you can pull another double kill or even triple? You only have to fight Spits once and win. Who knows what's down that tunnel now?

>>600901
Run. Close the doorway behind you with a wall of stone.

As for keeping your powers in check, can't you just, like... wear shoes, and not touch any of the stone?

>Spit dove out of the way
...next time we try to drop the roof on someone, it's not going to be stone daggers. We're going to crush them with a giant slab of stone too large to dodge out from under.

>but do you know how to keep them in check?
Does he mean how to keep your own powers in check, or those of another? (Since you need to touch rock, you could be kept in check by knocking you away with wind. Which is what he did). Either way, something to look up in the Elymem book, later (assuming we kept the books with us).

>Run or fight
You might be able to win a fight by virtue of superior numbers, but he's got a lot more skill. If we choose to fight here, I don't see us getting through without taking casualties.

Tactical retreat. You need to get your allies trained up, and prepared. Not through them into a slaughter.

Or... if we did fight, we'd need to coordinate. Becca closes her eyes and focuses on interference- trying to counter or stop what he does with wind, while the others try to occupy him from enough directions that you can take him out.

The big problem is, if we run, can we be followed? If this is the only passage out of the room, they'll look, and find it. Even if you use earth magic to seal it off. Which might mean our choice is fighting one person now, or fighting several a little later.

I am tempted to try and simply compress the stone box he is currently in, but my other instincts tell me you just can't rely on a slow moving death trap to kill an unseen target, and once he gets out of there we are not likely to be able to take him.

Does the tunnel curve or have bends in it? If there is we should consider waiting around a bend listening for pursuit while the others check the tunnel exit (if it isn't too long). If we can get the drop on him in a tunnel that narrow he won't have anywhere to dodge to if we squeeze the walls on him.

If not, we should just retreat down the tunnel and seal its entrance off. An ambush at the other end is a significant worry, but it is a risk we will need to take.

...Next chance we get we need to read the Elym book. As well as knowing whether we will have power control issues, we need to know whether we can expect the others to reach our power level on a workable time frame or whether they will stay fairly low power like the guards.

Orion 2014/11/10(Mon)20:13 No. 601386 ID: 0eaf76
File 141567919074.png - (51.51KB , 1100x900 , 49.png )

>Tactical retreat.

As much as you'd like to kill him right now, you seriously doubted you'd get out of the fight without any casualties. You're willing to risk the possibility of a more difficult fight later, than lose a few of your men right now. "Let's just get out. I can't fight him! There's nothing for me to manipulate at all! I don't want to use my drinking water for it, either..." Erwin whined out, clutching onto his shirt. You rubbed your eyes, finally speaking up. "Fine, we'll leave through the tunnel, then. We'll train up and try to fight them later. I'd like to take the rat out right now but...I see how shaken up you all are." They all agreed with you nervously. Oliver raised a hand to speak. "Yeah, I'm not real sure how to use my powers either..."

You ushered the others into the doorway, making sure they're all in before grabbing a torch and closing off the entryway with the dresser to cover up the tunnel and ejecting a stone wall to add protection. Alrauna nodded at you politely before running off down the tunnel, as if she respected your decision.

>Any twists and turns in the tunnel?

It was mostly just a straight shot down. From the looks of things it seemed pretty deep...you really couldn't see the bottom. As you descended into the underground, all you could hear were the footsteps that padded against the cold staircase. The air was especially muggy and humid. You tugged at your jacket, feeling a bit warm. You were positioned in the front of the group, Alrauna trailing behind you. From the top, a loud banging could be heard, but it was a pretty dull sound. You hoped that your wall hid you well enough to let you get to safety.

At the very bottom of the staircase, you encounter a body of deep water. "How deep is that?" Oliver questions. "It looks pretty deep...", replies Erwin. You ponder to yourself. Everything in your bag needed to stay dry, books, food and whatnot. "Oliver, Erwin, can you possibly manipulate the water?" You suggest. Oliver just looks at you with a startled expression. "I mean...I don’t know if I can...you mean like push it to the sides?”

Alrauna stepped forward, splashing her hand in the water. "I'm pretty sure it's shallow enough so that we can hold our bags over our heads." She set her own pouch on the ground and stepped into the water. It reached up to about her stomach, stopping there. "See? It's fine. We can just-- agh!" Instantly, the halfling was dragged under the water. She flailed her arm and screamed out before disappearing underneath the surface. “Alrauna!” Erwin screamed out, peering over the edge of the platform. “A-Abel what do we do?!”

>Dive in.

>Stay on ground and wait.

>>601386
Drop your bag and get in there. You can still manipulate earth underwater if you stay near the floor or walls to touch them.

Once you get Alrauna out, you can make a bridge over the water so nobody has to risk getting caught by whatever is in there.

Don't go into the water hoping to reach the bottom; make the bottom come to you.
Tell the others to grab your bag and hold onto to you (in case the water tries to grab you) and then reach down through the ledge you are on to lift the portion of the floor under her upwards until it is above the water level.

>Alrauna nodded at you politely before running off down the tunnel, as if she respected your decision.
Anyone can kill. It's harder to put your anger aside and make good decisions about what you can do when you have to.

>Wait do
Tear off you bag (we can always tie or repair the strap later) and dive in with a moment's regret that you're making a mess of your new clothes so soon. (Sorry, Becca).

Dive down next to her, get a hold of her (and/or get her getting a hold of you) and make your way back up. If you can touch the stone wall underwater, you can make handholds to climb your way back up. Probably faster than trying to pull her up by swimming, and she might be able to help climb.

That, and you can hope the others do something clever either with water or air to help while you're down there.

>Also
We should have used earth powers to extrude a walkway from the wall.

>>601386
Make a platform from the wall to Alrauna's feet. Or something to hold on to.

To clarify, I say we should not jump in because this has every sign of being an attack by a water elym hiding underwater or further down the tunnel, so entering the water would give the attacker plenty of opportunity to keep us away from walls. (If this isn't an elym attack the situation is not quite as urgent so preparing for an attack will not be overly costly.)

Now that I think about it our first goal should be to make a barrier between where Alrauna is and the deeper waters further down the tunnel. This would cut the attacker's direct connection* with the water she is currently in while also preventing them from whisking her away.

* Since we can only control stone connected by stone to stones we touch, a similar principle most likely applies to water control.

Drop your bag and torch, yell for those behind you to grab you, then throw your legs into the water next to Alrauna (so everyone is holding your arms over land). It relies on her being able to grab onto you, but it means you actually have a chance of pulling her out, rather than just ending up with two people stuck in the water.

Orion 2014/11/11(Tue)14:21 No. 601569 ID: 0eaf76
File 141574447191.png - (54.73KB , 1100x900 , 50.png )

You throw your bag off to the side, placing your palms against the wall. You block off the rest of the water with a stone wall, sealing in whatever was grabbing Alrauna. Then, you summon an elevated walkway to lift the halfling from the ground by raising up the bed of the tiny river.. As the water level rose, the others walked back up the staircase to avoid touching the water. Eventually, the water drained out, leaving only Alrauna and some sort of shark person. Was she an Elymem, too?

Alrauna sat up, coughing and sputtering into her hand. The shark girl was clinging onto the halfling's leg, rubbing her face on it. "Dragon girl! It has been too long!" Alrauna looked bewildered. "Jira?! What are you *cough* doing down here?"

"Jira's home is down here now! They moved Jira. How have you been, Dragon girl?"

You're kind of...confused. Are they friends? Why was this girl living in the basement? "Are these Dragon girl's friends? Jira is name, Jira knows Dragon from before."

"Oh! W-Well that's a relief that...you aren't going to kill us..." Erwin whimpered. Everyone began to relax once they realized there was really no threat. You pushed the wall back into the ground as well. "What are Dragon's friends doing down here?"

"We're trying to find a hiding place, so the Order doesn't capture us." Alrauna explained, climbing out of the water. She began to shake her wings, drying herself off in the process.

"Order? Are they still alive? I thought Order was no more."

"No...they came back."

Becca interrupted they conversation. "Wait, you mean this is the SECOND time they've tried doing this?"

"Yes, the Order has been around for decades. But they were stopped the first time. Anyways, Jira can you take us to your cave? We need to use it for a while."

"Yes, Jira can do that." She then turned to look at you, narrowing her eyes as she did so. "Can Jira trust you?"

>>601569
Tell her you've seen what the Order does to those it captures. You are dedicating yourself to stopping them now. She can trust you.

A question though. Who moved her down here, if not the Order?

>>601569

We need to go back and get everyone some clothes.

You can trust us not to harm you, and if where you're leading us is secret, you can trust us to keep it that way. We're no friends or the order, and we bear you no ill will.

...please be careful with the underwater hugs, though. Some of us need to breathe.

Orion 2014/11/11(Tue)23:00 No. 601732 ID: 0eaf76
File 141577560037.png - (59.45KB , 1100x900 , 51.png )

You kneel down to get closer to eye-level, holding out a palm for the shark. “I know of the Order and what they have done. I want to stop them, just as much as you do, most likely. They captured me and brought me here against my will, me and the others are trying to escape. You have no reason to suspect me of any ill will.”

“He’s telling the truth.” Alrauna interjected. “He saved me...from the Order.” Jira let out a gasp, grabbing your hand to pull you close, her wide eyes boring into your very soul. “Is this truth, fox-man?! You saved Dragon girl? Jira is very happy!” She gave you a tight hug, her skin slippery and wet. Despite the fact that you were practically hugging a fish...it felt nice. Throughout this entire experience, you forgot what normal things felt like .Something as simple as a hug...it felt so good. You reciprocate the hug, a slow smile spreading on your face. While it may be cheesy, it reminded you of home. Your Mother was fond of hugging as well, as you distinctly remember.

Orion 2014/11/11(Tue)23:00 No. 601733 ID: 0eaf76
File 141577561103.png - (50.10KB , 1100x900 , 52.png )

“Jira can help you all get through underground, to the caves! It is safe in caves! Order does not know about caves.” She hopped back into the water, waving her hands. “Follow!” You gather up your belongings again, handing Erwin the torch to hold onto. He seemed a bit grateful that he was being useful. As you trodded along in the water, you made sure to hold your bag full of valuables above the water line. Jira doggy paddled up ahead, tail splashing back and forth. Alrauna stood in front, peeking back at you from time to time.

“Are you doing okay? Don’t need to stop for a break or anything?”

>>601733
You're fine. Maybe you should eat though.

>Are you doing okay? Don’t need to stop for a break or anything?
I... think so? We should get to safety while we can, right?

Unless you're suggesting using my abilities as much as I have recently should be tiring me out? (Is there a cost to elymem power use? We haven't really been active long enough to know).

While we are walking, can we ask some questions?
Firstly, is Jira familiar with elyms or an elym herself? We just found out we are elyms today, and know very little about it.
Also, who took down the Order last time, and would we be able to get their help this time?

Orion 2014/11/13(Thu)15:18 No. 602097 ID: 0eaf76
File 141592072009.png - (43.67KB , 1100x900 , 53.png )

You shake your head. “I’m not tired, maybe a little hungry but it can wait until we reach safety.” Alrauna nods at you confidently before turning back around. “Hey, Jira, a few questions…” The shark rose her head a bit as she continued to swim ahead. “Yes? What is it, fox-man?”

“So, you know about Elymems, right? We just discovered our powers today...so…”

“Yes, Jira knows of the Elymems. Jira is not one, but Jira knows plenty.”

“Why are you down here, by the way? Are you involved in the Order at all?”

“Of course not! Jira was on island first! Order came here after Jira! Brought Elymems with them. Jira helped Elymems escape.” Jira scoffed, matter-of-factly. She seemed pretty proud of herself.

“How did you even stop the Order the last time?”

“Jira did not stop Order. Grallus stopped Order.”

“Grallus? Who’s that?” You noticed Alrauna began to hunch over a bit, wings tightening up on her backside.

“Grallus is dragon’s father.”

“Y-Your father?”

“Yes, Grallus died saving dragon from Order. Order did not stand chance, but Grallus died to destroy them for good. But Order is back now...Jira does not know how.”

You hear a few noises come from behind you, it was the rest of the group. They all seemed touched by the story, even Becca. “Alrauna...how long ago was that?” Erwin muttered. The halfling flinched a bit when her name was called,

“That was about 60 years ago…”

“Sixty?!” Becca blurted out, quickly clamping her hand over her mouth. “Wait, Jira how old are you?”

“30. Jira is special shark, though. Jira does not age as fast. Jira heard story from dragon girl.”

>>602097
So, Alrauna is at least 60 years old. Dragons must age very slowly.

Ask Jira what makes her special. She said she knows Elymems, does that mean they are the ones that moved her down here?

>So, Alrauna is at least 60 years old.
Not... necessarily. Maybe she got the story about her father from her mother, and she was stuck as an egg for a while?

But yeah, extended lifespan for dragons or even halfbreeds makes sense.

Not sure we should keep prying, though. Jira seems willing to chat, but I'm not sure this is her story to tell.

Orion 2014/11/17(Mon)14:21 No. 603237 ID: 0eaf76
File 141626286940.png - (44.82KB , 1100x900 , 54.png )

"What do you mean by 'special' shark? What makes you special?"

Jira turned her head to look at you, a mischeivous smile on her face. "Sharks live long time. Jira is old shark, shark from long ago." You think she meant her species, rather than herself, but the point still got across. Sharks were a prehistoric breed weren't they? You had no idea what their life span was...but given all the events of today, you really were in no position to doubt her. You noticed that the air around the caverns became colder and colder...

"Jira, were the Elymems the ones who moved you down here?" You wonder how she even got to know them in the first place... "No! Jira came down on her own! Jira was on island before Order! Jira met Dragon years ago. Jira helped Dragon escape first time. Dragon fought against Order and stopped them for a while again, after Grallus died, but Order is very persistant." No kidding. This is the third time they've showed up? How are you going to be able to stop something that resilient? You at least have to try.

"It's getting kinda chilly...even with the fire here..." Erwin mumbled. "I think it's fine." Oliver admitted, shrugging. "That's easy for you to say! You guys are warm-blooded..." You all share a quiet chuckle. Having a bit of light-hearted humor eased up the tension a bit. Perhaps it wouldn't be too long before everyone was comfortable and confident enough to seige down the Order. "Hey, Erwin. Mind passing the torch back here! We're so cold!" Becca teased, shaking the lizard's shoulder. "N-No way...! I'm not gonna let you have it...you have enough fur on you to keep you warm...!"

Out of the corner of your eyes, you notice something off about Alrauna. She was shivering, though very little. Her body was tense as she walked forward through the water. You assumed the cold was getting to her a bit as well...should you do something to warm her up? You don't want to come off as too touchy...

>>603237
Give her your jacket.

When someone stops shivering in the cold it can be a sign of hypothermia setting in.

Check her quick before you go farther.

Orion 2014/11/18(Tue)19:38 No. 603606 ID: 0eaf76
File 141636831975.png - (34.34KB , 1100x900 , 55.png )

"Hey, Alrauna? Are you cold?" The halfling raised her head in response to your question, before lowering it back down. "No...I'm fine." Trying to act tough, is she? Shivering is the first sign of hypothermia, it's best to take care of this if you can. You peel off your jacket and wrap it around her body. Alrauna froze up instantly, as if your very touch turned her to stone. "What are you doing?" You snuff out a weak laugh. "Oh be quiet, I'm just putting on my jacket. You need it more than I do." At first it felt as if she was going to yell at you, but she just simply wrapped it tight around her shoulders. "Thanks..."

"Ugh, we've been walking for a while. How far away is the cavern, Jira?" Erwin calls out. The shark swiveled her tail enthusiastically, giggling. "It will be a while still! Cavern is very far down! We are going downstream! Deeper underground! Order will not find us! Scent is lost in water!" The shark seemed pretty proud of herself for managing to express this clever plan of hiding away. The others behind you simply groaned out, obviously tired from the long day. You weren't so happy about walking for even longer but it would have to do.

Orion 2014/11/18(Tue)19:38 No. 603607 ID: 0eaf76
File 141636833947.png - (37.46KB , 1100x900 , 56.png )

Almost half an hour later, you finally came to a seemingly dead end. However, on the wall there was a huge, wooden doorway blocking some sort of tunnel. "This is entrance! You will have to crawl! So watch heads!" You tug open the door and peer inside. There's a faint light at the end of the tunnel and a distinct warmth radiating out as well. You allow everyone to crawl in before you follow in from behind, closing the door behind you.

Orion 2014/11/18(Tue)19:39 No. 603608 ID: 0eaf76
File 141636834706.png - (35.00KB , 1100x900 , 57.png )

The tunnel wasn't very long and before you knew it you were safely nestled in a spacious cavern, with a tiny bonfire, simple furniture and torches scattered around the room. "Jira lives here! There are many caves like this, but this is Jira's!"

>>603608
Ah, good, a fire. First thing's first, everyone gather around the fire to dry off. Then I think everyone deserves a rest. Abel, eat something already.

Hmm, we have access to all the elements here. The torches can be used for fire training, there's a good amount of room for air training, there's all the water back behind us for water training, and of course, all this stone.

That fucker said something worrying though. Apparently it can be difficult to keep Elymem powers under control. Training should be done under observation and with some method to separate the trainee from their element. This could be especially dangerous with fire or earth, powers most likely to injure others.

You should ask about setting this cave, or one of the other caves, up as a home base. That way you can venture back into that fortress, do a bit of guerrilla warfare, save some more people, then run back to your hideout and rest up.

>Jira lives here! There are many caves like this, but this is Jira's
Thank you for inviting us into your home, Jira.

Then see about unpacking and drying out your stuff and people. Obviously looking after people is our first priority, supplies, second.

After that I think people need to rest. Reading and training and planning will have to wait.

There were splits in the path rather than just a straight tunnel, right? If not, the Order can probably find it pretty soon after finding the secret door, and if so, we should make sure that we can find our way back here.

>That fucker said something worrying though. Apparently it can be difficult to keep Elymem powers under control.
Jira knows about elyms, so lets try asking her whether there are harmful effects of using elym powers a lot like exhaustion or powers getting hard to control. It is important to know whether using our powers whenever possible is valuable practice or dangerous overuse.

A thing we should try while practicing is to see if we can sense through our element, like us sensing the thickness of a stone wall or Becca using air powers like echolocation. Another thing we should try during training is trying to control an object already being controlled by another elym in preparation for countering or redirecting enemy elym attacks.

Orion 2014/11/18(Tue)22:43 No. 603668 ID: 0eaf76
File 141637940797.png - (38.06KB , 1100x900 , 58.png )

"Wow...! It's so big...bigger than I expected." Becca exclaimed. She ran over to the bonfire and plopped down, holding her hands out to warm up. "Thanks so much, Jira, for letting us stay here...I know it might be a bit inconvenient..." Jira shook her head earnestly, a huge grin on her face. "Jira is happy to have visitors! It's lonely in the cave..." The others followed quickly to rest up by Becca, trying to dry off their soaked clothes as best they can without getting stark naked. Alrauna, however, stayed fairly close to your side. It was odd...was she fond of you? Or was she just cautious of you? Based on how she was reacting you would assume she liked you in some form or another, but were a dragon's affections really that easy to kindle? Your thoughts were briefly interrupted by the twisting pain in your stomach, letting you know that food was the priority right now. You lay down your bag and pull out the canned foods and breads that you shoved inside. The Elymems turned to you, sparkling looks in their eyes.

"Oh! I forgot you had food, Abel..." Erwin licked his lips, desperately trying to control himself. "We need to ration ourselves...otherwise we'll run out of food before we even get a chance to do anything," commented Oliver. Alrauna grabs a few cans and took them to the cauldron near the fire. "I'll cook up a meal, you worry about warming up." She stated plainly, her eyes zoning in on you in particular. Jira bounced next to the halfling's side. "Jira will help!"

"Well, you guys enjoy your meal...I'm going to sleep." Walt stood up from his spot and found a cozy area in the corner. He laid down on the stone floor and closed his eyes. Probably wasn't the most comfortable bed, but everyone was tired enough to sleep on a bed of nails at this point. The group had a hearty meal of beans and cooked mystery meat. No one even tried to complain, they were simply happy they had a place to relax and eat. Erwin, Becca and Oliver all gathered up in Walt's corner to take a long nap, piling on each other like small puppies. It was endearing. Jira announced she was going to go "fishing", though you doubted anything was living in these underground passageways. Choosing to stay up a bit longer, you unpack supplies and take note of everything in your inventory. Food, books, a few articles of clothing, and a cloth blanket that you managed to nab. Alrauna held a bag as well with the same general contents. There were plenty of things to do...train, research and prepare, but that can all wait until everyone can rest up and regain their strength. A good night's sleep does a body and mind good.

Orion 2014/11/18(Tue)22:43 No. 603669 ID: 0eaf76
File 141637942034.png - (44.13KB , 1100x900 , 59.png )

"Abel, if you want to sleep, I'll stay up. I know we don't really need a watchman or anything...but I'm not particularly tired, so don't worry about me." She placed her hand on your shoulder, squeezed, and then nestled down by the bonfire.

Check the walls for any giant signs Alrauna may have painted reading "Something is seriously wrong, please talk to me!".

>>603669
Sit down next to her. Something's bothering her, does she want to talk about it? If not... maybe she'd like to hear you talk about your normal life?

Nah it's fine.
She want to talk? The other's are asleep. It might be good to get some stuff off her chest. She looks like she's been having a hard time.

>Jira announced she was going to go "fishing", though you doubted anything was living in these underground passageways.
Hey, she's survived this long. There's something to eat, somewhere.

>>603669
Just sit with her, you doof. (If she wants to talk, she will. Otherwise, the two of you will just end up falling asleep by the fire).

Orion 2014/11/19(Wed)19:42 No. 603824 ID: 0eaf76
File 141645495120.png - (39.01KB , 1100x900 , 60.png )

"..." There was clearly something on her mind. You had no idea if it was even your business to pry, but might as well offer a shoulder for her to lean on if need be. You plop yourself down next to her, which catches her off guard. "Abel? Just go to sleep...I'm sure you're exhausted." You shake your head. "And I'm sure you're exhausted, too." Alrauna stares at you, looking a tad offended for a moment. "...Just don't expect me to jump into your arms like a damsel in distress." She poked at the flames with her feet, eyes a bit glossy. "So...is there anything you'd like to get off your chest? All the others are asleep..." The halfling didn't respond for a while and then finally spoke up. "Why are you being nice to me?" You blink at her. "What?"

"I said, why are you being nice to me?" She was completely serious.

"Why wouldn't I? You've done nothing wrong to me...and as far as I can tell, you're on our side, I have no reason to be anything but nice to you."

"...But it feels like..." Alrauna trailed off. "...Nevermind. Maybe it's just my imagination."

You both watched the fire project shadows around the room, the warmth giving you a sense of comfort, relaxation, a feeling you haven't felt since you woke up today. You had no idea if it was even night or day. Alrauna shifted beside you, her hand clutching at her chest. You noticed her face was extremely red. Was she overheating? No...she was a dragon. How would that even work?

"I have a tendency to be...loose with my feelings." She huffed, pulling the jacket tight around her torso. "Dragons are a noble race...but they've been on the verge of extinction. It's my responsibility to trust no one, yet..." Alrauna turned her head to you, golden eyes glittering with something resembling respect. "...Maybe it's the fact that you managed to get us this far...or maybe it's just the fact that I'm desperate...but you've earned my admiration. I didn't think a normal boy would be able to survive so long."

>>603824
I have magic earth powers, pretty sure that isn't normal.
That said, let's wait until we are out of this whole situation to get into anything serious. Relationships formed in stressful circumstances don't usually pan out.

That said, we are totally interested and not-at-all so oblivious that we mistake signs of infatuation like blushing for heatstroke on a goddamn dragon oh my god how are we so dense

Admit you're far from normal. Maybe normal to her, but then normal to her would be super powered to you since she's a dragon, and if normal is disappointing to her, she must be wanting a person as unique as a god then. So is that REALLY normal for her?

She should really describe normal.

...well, I doubt normal is the word for whatever I am, but I'd hate to think someone would have to be desperate to think well of me.

>>603824
She has a point... you've been carrying the team for the most part. Nobody else seems to have your raw talent. Tell her you won't let it go to your head.

You know what... you should probably tell her that you have a great admiration for the power of dragons, and... well, she IS very cute to boot, so you do have some personal motivation to treat her nicely. That, and you think she deserves kindness after what she's been through. You uh... found a letter from a previous prisoner. Does she know of a "Ringu"? The letter said he does not share in the Order's beliefs.

>>603863
I'd like to vote against pumping her for information, right now, actually. We're having a moment. Building her trust is important- focus on that for now. We can ask follow up questions on our reading later.

ask her if she wants to cuddle

...I doubt that we're a boy, anymore.

After what we've seen, after what we've done? We've killed people today. There've been things that we've seen today which no man should ever have to see, and yet we still saw them. A boy would never be subjected to that, only aware of it.

And then there's the team. They have no clue what's going on, much like ourselves. Within all of this confusion, it's only natural to seek out a guiding light, for something to show the way out or to show what to do. It could've been anyone, but in the end, we were chosen.

...All of it was circumstantial. Everything we've done was done because no one else would do it. We needed to take action, we needed to show how it was done... but that doesn't mean all the choices were right. There's no telling if they were or not, and there's no going back to fix them either.

...The point is, we've experienced a lot since our awakening, far more than any person should in a single day. We're teaching, we're learning, we're making mistakes... just like any other person would in our shoes. We have a team that cares for our wellbeing as we care for theirs and as they care for eachother's...

We do not deserve your admiration.
Everyone deserves eachother's.

While we alone may have gone through a lot, who's to say that the others didn't? They could be struggling just as much as we are and we'd never know it, only suspect it. You, yourself, are an example of that. We know not what you've seen, what you've done, but we suspect that it is a vast amount. That, is something that should be respected.

Because of today, we are a "boy" no longer.
We are more than that.
And so is everyone else.

Orion 2014/11/20(Thu)19:52 No. 604034 ID: 0eaf76
File 141654197709.png - (45.45KB , 1100x900 , 61.png )

"...I don't think I should be considered normal anymore." You grumble, running a hand over your face. Alrauna tilts her head at you, confused. "What do you mean?" You just shrug your shoulders, eyes boring into the dancing fire. "...I've grown up today. I've killed people, Alrauna. I can control the very Earth that sits under our feet..." You have been torn away from your family, your home, your entire way of life. Instead of living out a peaceful life, you've been forced to brutally murder and traumatize people in order to take back whatever freedom you can. A 'normal boy' would not go through something like that. Everyone is shaken up from the day's events... "I'm not the only one. Everyone here has been pushed into some twisted world." You clench your hands into tight fists, a sharp pain shooting through your chest. You missed your family. Your Mom. Your Dad. Your little brothers and sisters. Even your memories of them are clouded. Only remnants of what once was an everyday occurrence still lingered in your head. The soft touch of your Mother’s embrace, the raw power of your Father’s handshakes. Even the irritating whines from your siblings.

Orion 2014/11/20(Thu)19:53 No. 604035 ID: 0eaf76
File 141654199330.png - (44.41KB , 1100x900 , 62.png )

“Abel, please stop crying.” You snap your head up with tears strolling down your cheeks. “S-Sorry…” You tremble, shaky hands scrubbing at your face. Alrauna didn’t make any sudden movements towards you and simply removed her jacket, folding it up in her lap. You feel her wing reach over, resting against your backside. “You’re strong, Abel. I believe that you can help us get out of this mess.” You both rested in that spot for several minutes, sitting in complete silence. The Halfling suddenly stood up and began walking towards the other side of the room. “Get some sleep. The worst thing you can do right now is become restless.”

Get some sleep then. But make sure to reinforce the exit if you can before you go to bed.

>>604035
...yeah. Go flop on the pile. Leave the exit un-reinforced, because only the earth Elymems would be able to open it then and you two might not be the first ones awake.

I would support reinforcing the exit, but Jira is still outside, and we wouldn't want to lock her out.

Yeah, time to sleep.

No sealing the cave in, I think.

Orion 2014/11/29(Sat)21:27 No. 606804 ID: 0eaf76
File 141732523922.png - (29.77KB , 1100x900 , 63.png )

You stand up from your seat, wiping your eyes off one last time. Leaving the door open for Jira, you then pad over to the others to lay down beside the pile. Alrauna watches you carefully, a genuine look of worry on her face. She stares at you for a few more moments before turning back to face the fire. As soon as you close your eyes you fall into a deep unconsciousness. You didn't really have any sort of dream. It was all gray fuzz. You're able to hear faint voices and moving figures from time to time.

"Don't you dare! If you do that...the entire balance of the world will be put at risk...!"

"This is a step I must take to enact my vengeance on this world. I will use my power to destroy all that's left of Altius..."

"NO...STOP...!"

You wake up with eyes snapping open, breath short. What was that? Those voices...you feel like you know them, but when you try and place a finger on them...the feeling vanishes. Sitting up, you see that Jira and Alrauna are sitting by the fire, a few cooked fish hanging off of long sticks. Everyone else is still sleeping. Your eyelids are still heavy, but going back to sleep is difficult...what time was it now? How long has it been since you last saw sunlight? Your perception of time was completely askew.

If you're gonna train down here, you're not going to see the sun for a while. Guess you'll have to tell time by the tides?

Join the girls for breakfast. Don't bring up any of the moody stuff from last night. (At least, what you assume was night).

That does make the Altius journal more tempting, but I still think the Elym book should be next in reading order since we need to know how power growth works and whether there is danger of overuse (though we might be able to just ask Jira about those).
Anyway, breakfast time.

I think you need to read the Altius book immediately.

Orion 2014/12/03(Wed)20:30 No. 608557 ID: 0eaf76
File 141766743085.png - (53.31KB , 1100x900 , 64.png )

You get up from your spot and approach Jira and Alrauna. The shark girl waved at you cheerfully, a cooked fish in her hands. "Morning Abel! Jira hopes you had good rest!" Taking a spot beside the halfling, you grab a cooked fish and take a large bite. Immediately you feel a sense of comfort wash through you. The drowsiness and nightmare-ish paranoia shedded like a snake skin. Alrauna turned to you, eyes glowing with firelight. "You were uneasy in your sleep...I could hear you tossing around over there..." Swallowing your food, you scratch your neck with a pang of embarrassment. "Sorry...I had a uh, strange dream." You reach over for your bag and pull out the small stack of books you smuggled from the storage area.

You first pick up the Altius book. Reading a few passages will help alleviate your curiosity, at least. Turning over the cover, you skip over the introductory notices. In the light of the fire, you begin to read the book.

In addition to the districts of Terran, Coelum, Aquaria, and Fiora, there is a fifth district that stretches beyond the mortal realm. Altius. The district of spirits. Not much is known about this mysterious sect. It is infamous for radiating strong magic. Some even believe that beings belonging to Altius are immortal, their souls never passing away...

How strange. You've never even heard of this district before now. Altius? The name seemed familiar, but you had no concrete knowledge pertaining to it.

...Some scholars believe that the reason for death in the mortal world can be traced to the district of Altius, theorizing that the magic in Altius stems from the power of gathered souls. This is, however, unconfirmed and only proves to be a strange belief. The only proof that we have of their existence lies in ancient markings and inscriptions found in ancient tombs and temples. Illustrations depicting great and powerful beings that connected themselves to mortals through their inner essence, perhaps even capturing and controlling souls to a certain extent.

Capturing souls? That sounded an awful lot like the powers that those strange crystals had on Elymems. Could they be used on people who weren't Elymems? You take another bite of fish and continue to flip through the book, picking out tidbits. From behind yourself you hear a loud yawn coming from the pile of sleeping Elymems. Erwin rose up from his spot, rubbing his eyes. "Unhg...what time is it?"

>>608557
No idea, buddy. We're underground. Hmm, ask Jira how she keeps track of time.

...I have a feeling Abel has some connection to Altius. Maybe a reincarnation of someone? Ask Alrauna if she knows anything about the district.

>Unhg...what time is it?
Morning? I'm not sure how you tell time down here. Tides maybe? Assuming the water in the tunnels is connected to the outside.

Breakfast time, be careful not to wake the others yet.

Orion 2014/12/11(Thu)16:55 No. 610772 ID: 0eaf76
File 141834570793.png - (45.88KB , 1100x900 , 65.png )

“I have no idea. We’re underground right now.” You reply, tearing off a piece of fish meat with your teeth. The lizard, half-awake, hobbled over to your other side and eyed the spread of cooked fish with hungry eyes. “Do you mind if I…take one?” Erwin inquired, his voice crackled and quiet. Jira waved her arms about, a huge grin of pride displayed on her face. “Jira caught plenty fish! Eat! Eat!” She beckoned for Erwin to take as much as he needed, which he did graciously. “Mmph…th-this tastes really nice…I think it’s...the nicest thing we’ve eaten since we got here. By the way, Abel, just so I’m clear, erm, what’s the plan now that we’re down here?” You lifted your gaze from the book in your hand. “I was planning on polishing our fighting skills down here, while also gathering up enough supplies to take back here in the meantime.” Erwin swallowed his mouthful, pondering this over.
“By the way, Alrauna, do you know anything about the district Altius?” The Halfling froze up, shooting a curious glance your way. “Why do you ask, Abel?” You held up the book in your hands, calmly pointing to the text scrawled out on the parchment. “I’m reading about it here in this book…I…think it may be connected to what’s going on here, connected to how The Order operates.” Alrauna sort of lowered her head, ear frills quivering slightly. “I know of it, yes. In fact…I’ve…been there before. It is connected to The Order but…I’m not sure to what degree. Rumor has it that one of the higher ups in The Order is actually a native of Altius…which is unheard of.”

>>610772
Ask her what it's like!

Has anyone asked Oliver what district he comes from? If not, someone should ask once he gets up.

I didn't see any mention of his element or district in any way so far.

It sounds like dragons (or at least Alrauna's family) might be from Altius, though I am not sure how we could bring that up without further upsetting her.

>I was planning on polishing our fighting skills down here, while also gathering up enough supplies to take back here in the meantime
Yeah. Stay alive and fed, people work on figuring out how to use their powers (so they can fight or defend themselves when it comes it that, and for whatever other utility purposes we can come up with).

>In fact…I’ve…been there before
Well, she's been off the island, then. Here I was afraid she'd been stuck here since the last time.

Orion 2014/12/21(Sun)22:50 No. 613849 ID: 0eaf76
File 141923104518.png - (42.17KB , 1100x900 , 66.png )

"What's the place like?" You lean forward, your interest caught in the prospect of someone who's been to Altius before. Alrauna rubbed her chin, pondering to herself. "How shall I describe it? It's...enchanted. Very surreal." What a vague description. You're a bit disappointed with it. "It's very similar to our own societies...just with er, more magic, I suppose." Magic? Like the kind that Elymems have? "I haven't spent very long in Altius, not enough to know their infrastructure thoroughly..." You wave your hands, dismissing her apology. "It's fine, any information is good, whatever we can find. You said an admin of The Order is a native from Altius?" The halfling confirmed this with a curt nod. "His name is Ringu. He's very powerful...but...very neutral as well. I'm not sure why he works for The Order, all I know is that he's not overly passionate about the cause."

"I assume we're talking strategy?" Erwin interjected, a bit of fish hanging off his mouth. "And did you mention Altius? I used to do research on Altian culture. There's not much information out there...but it's interesting...what has it got to do with all of this?" You explain the entire situation, how Altius may be the very source of magic that The Order uses to brainwash Elymems. "W-Wow...really? I had no idea...that Altius was that powerful..." Jira slapped down another batch of fish, her tail flopping about happily.

You should probably decide how you want to train today.Not sure if the cave is big enough for everyone to start randomly practice their power.

>W-Wow...really? I had no idea...that Altius was that powerful...
Well, maybe. It's just a guess, based off hints in a book.

It's not direct power though. It's about setup and approach- the mind magic stuff is only so powerful because they have a whole setup for capturing and securing people and then working on them one by one. And because they found a useful group of people to do it to.

>>613849
When we go back to the fort, we should try to find Ringu alone and convince him to abandon the Order.