Nomi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 64
Age: 24
Appearance: A young, diminutive human with pale white hair and soft yellow eyes, donning simple robes befitting the life of a nomad. The robe's left sleeve has been ripped off completely, exposing runic tattoos along the length of their arm, and a fresh gash made by the claws of a monster. Though much of the rest of their skin is covered by their robes, the ends of more tattoos can be seen creeping along their neck and wrists.
Equipment: Their possessions are few in number - A gnarled wooden staff, a dagger, a leather pouch containing divining equipment, and the clothes on their back.
Skills and Abilities: Nomi is a Seer of their people before arriving in the Mists, and has limited capabilities in ways of divination. However, these talents are known by them to be unreliable at best - they prefer to rely on their wits in order to get by in the new world.
Registered: Jun 11, 2021 0:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by Nomi on Oct 21, 2022 15:53:49 GMT -5
Ok. Now, much more color was returning to Nomi's face. For... reasons.
Khepri punctuated her evaluation with a playful flick of their nose, causing Nomi to flinch in surprise. The Duralam rounded on them, taking her place at Nomi's side - giving the nomad a welcome opportunity to hide their deepening blush and embarrassed smile in the shadow of Khepri's wing. They had begun to wonder if Khepri actually understood the effect she had on them. Ignoring for the moment that Khepri had just likened them to a literal angel, Nomi found themself giggling at the implication that they could ever be mistaken for one in reality. One of these... Seraphim.
"As undeniably sweet as that is to say... no." Nomi laughed. "I should think that I would remember having wings. I'm just... me. At least, as far as I'm aware."
Nomi found themself impressed, as they often did, with how Khepri's movements seemed every bit as fluid as flowing water. It made Nomi feel even more clumsy than usual (which they begrudgingly admitted to be an impressive feat). Was it a part of her upbringing, or simply genetic? They had been told once by a Dunespeaker Elder that the bones of birds were hollow - perhaps the same was true for the Duralai.
"Oh, you can be as curious as you like." Nomi smirked, allowing themself to nuzzle deeper into Khepri's shoulder. "But for the time being, perhaps we should keep moving. We've spent well enough time hiding away in this cave. And I'm certain you're looking forward to reacquaint yourself with the chill morning air," They teased with a playful nudge.
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Khepri Goldenfeather
Committed
Roleplay posts: 96
Appearance: Smattered in golden feathers, Khepri glimmers from dawn to dusk. Vast, dark wings, lightening to ivory toward her spine, spread outward above her broad hips, supporting an otherwise petite frame. Black hair, straight as a waterfall, surrounds a round face. She has sharp, dangerous eyes that mimic the time of day, plump lips that tell you what you want to hear, and honey-sweet skin to ease her features. The only interruption to an otherwise heavenly visage is a pair of feet with toes and a heel ending in talons.
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Registered: Mar 23, 2021 19:54:50 GMT -5
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Post by Khepri Goldenfeather on Oct 25, 2022 22:28:48 GMT -5
Khepri couldn't help but pout as Nomi mentioned leaving the cave. Though it wasn't at all warm where they were sitting, it was so much worse outside! Her wings retreated from the nomad's side and folded close to the duralam, anticipating the frigid wind outside. "I suppose. The faster we get out of here, the faster we get off of this blasted snowy underworld."
As she rose to her feet, Khepri held her hands out to the nomad to pull them up. She then began to pick up what they had scattered around, including their blankets. How strange it was, she mused, sleeping under one of those. Once they were packed and ready, Khepri stood at the entrance, arms wrapped around herself. "What do you see for us, just ahead? Or is it not so simple?"
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Nomi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 64
Age: 24
Appearance: A young, diminutive human with pale white hair and soft yellow eyes, donning simple robes befitting the life of a nomad. The robe's left sleeve has been ripped off completely, exposing runic tattoos along the length of their arm, and a fresh gash made by the claws of a monster. Though much of the rest of their skin is covered by their robes, the ends of more tattoos can be seen creeping along their neck and wrists.
Equipment: Their possessions are few in number - A gnarled wooden staff, a dagger, a leather pouch containing divining equipment, and the clothes on their back.
Skills and Abilities: Nomi is a Seer of their people before arriving in the Mists, and has limited capabilities in ways of divination. However, these talents are known by them to be unreliable at best - they prefer to rely on their wits in order to get by in the new world.
Registered: Jun 11, 2021 0:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by Nomi on Oct 28, 2022 21:28:48 GMT -5
Nomi took her hands, allowing Khepri to hoist them to their feet. They shuddered, flickers of their nightmare still dancing in the back of their mind. As if their abilities could ever be described by the word 'simple.' There was scarce little Nomi could speak about regarding their vision the night before. At least, not without somehow making themself out to be even more unhinged than Khepri likely already thought them to be.
"For now, just... lets steer clear of anything that looks like a chain."
---
Navigating the mountain pass had proven to be slow work, and this particular morning was proving to be no different. A light snowfall had begun to powder the already snow-capped monuments upon which they trod. A few hours of drudgery later, and the two found themselves rewarded - a clearing, just against the perilous edge of the mountain, overlooking the valley and bay to the east. And further beyond to the south, Nomi and Khepri could see for miles across the island. It was funny - Nomi had never actually stopped to consider the actual scope of this new world.
It was... beautiful. Sure, it had tried to murder them a few times over, but that was hardly different than Komali now wasn't it? What's a new continent without the threat of mortal peril to give it some character?
It was difficult to say for certain, but if they kept at this pace, Nomi estimated that they were well into the second half of this expedition. And that much closer to somewhere warm! It was amusing enough to give Khepri a difficult time for it, of course - but the truth was that Nomi themself wasn't fond of their current climate either. They had grown accustomed to deserts, plains, beaches, and even swamps - but this? Blech. It was a true testament to their wanderlust that they managed to stay with the Ironwolves in their frigid home for as long as they did.
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Vailas Steelhand
Committed
Roleplay posts: 67
Age: Somewhere between his mid 30s and mid 40s
Appearance: At first glance, not much about him would stand out to most people. Average height, average weight and build, black hair with a growing goatee, brown eyes, tan colored skin, generally nothing much to draw attention to his own physical form, except for the striking silver and bronze of his left hand, make completely of metal, with blue energy flowing throughout lines in the construction. His clothing is mostly fairly simple as well, with brown pants and a long leather overcoat, under which he wears a gray top. However, on his chest he also wears a brooch made of the same materials as his hand, a large blue gem set in the center.
Equipment: -An assortment of tools for building his magic-powered automatons, known as Magikróm
-5 Variation 1 Magikróm, which are shaped like spheres with a 1.5 foot diameter and eight extendable limbs, with no weaponry. Used only for sorting, transport, and limited help around a house or lab setting. Only two are operational. The other three are functionally scrap metal
-3 Variation 2 Magikróm, of which none are operational. Originally, they were defensive machines with limited movement, having two wheels on their lower half, one spear/horn like appendage, and two magic-energy firing devices on pivots.
-a simple knife.
Skills and Abilities: While he's unable to harness it himself in any meaningful way(except creating his Magikróm), Vailas is highly knowledgeable in the properties and abilities of magic energy and most things tangentially related to it. He is skilled at basic robotics and more or less knows how to work metal into the shapes he needs. Other than that, his only true skill comes from being a well-read individual.
Biography: Hailing from the relatively barren land of Sezæria, survival was often a struggle for Vailas. As such, he had to find a way to make himself useful quick. Having some magical aptitude, as well as quite the intellect, he took to learning the ways of magic. However, he could never learn enough to cast the more complex spells. To get around this, he learned how to impart his magic into robotic entities, to power them. While some thought of this as being genius, many also feared him for it, and one attempted to be rid of him in his sleep. He got away, but he lost his hand in the process, eventually replacing it with the same sort of magical technology he used in his machines. He soon became much more reclusive, after that happened, and rumors around the town said he turned to less morally sound ways of practicing his craft, though it was never specified how bad it got. Near the time of the flood, he had found his way to the shore where he acquired a decent sized vessel, manning it with himself and a number of his machinations, many of which did not survive the voyage once the waters hit.
Registered: Apr 24, 2021 23:04:49 GMT -5
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Post by Vailas Steelhand on Nov 6, 2022 18:25:48 GMT -5
“It is the first sunrise since my departure from the Írnvulf lands, in an attempt to head southwards past the mountains. They have been harder to traverse than I initially anticipated.”
After waiting for the ink to dry enough, Vailas closed and latched the journal, storing it next to the vial of blood in the pouch inside his duster. As his hand brushed against the vial, he took it out to inspect it. He swished the blood around inside the brass-capped glass tube, silently pondering what secrets it might hold. How he might be able to convert the Nords’ Draugr bloodcurse into his own path towards immortality.
A frigid wind tore into Vailas’ face, chilling him to the bone. Before he’d left the Nords warned him of the cold, but he hadn’t taken them as seriously as he should have. He figured he would be fine with just his normal clothes and a hooded scarf, but he could feel now just how wrong he was. His duster was great against the winds and cold of the desert night, but there was only so much it could do against this mountain air. He pulled the dark blue fabric of the Nords’ scarf up over his face in an attempt to fend off the wind as he began packing away his supplies. When he reached his ink pot he stopped a moment to glance at it. It was starting to get low. He would have to conserve it until he found something else to write with.
As he finished putting things back into the bag he carried, he leaned back, clearing some of the “snow” off of the rock he sat on before setting his hand there. This was the first time he’d seen snow. He wasn’t a fan. Just a few more moments, he thought to himself, exhausted and shivering. Just a few more moments, then I can continue on.
Traveling through the night may not have been his smartest plan, but he felt safer the more distance he put between himself and the Nord camp. Even with the trust of their leader, he could tell that many were starting to grow suspicious of him and 3-2. He couldn’t afford to deal with them if they grew too curious.
After another moment of sitting, Vailas rose to his feet and grabbed his bag of scrap material and thaumatological equipment, hauling it over to where 3-2 stood watch around a corner at the edge of the clearing. He dropped it by the automaton’s own bag, one carrying the pieces of living armor the Nords were able to find up north. They had entrusted the pieces to Vailas since he was heading south already, hoping he could find the rest of the pieces. He figured it was a good opportunity to study them.
“Two figures are approaching,” droned the monotonous voice of Variant 3-2. “Appearances match the individuals that left Írnvulf yesterday; the white haired one and the avian woman.”
Vailas peered around 3-2 to confirm, silently cursing once he too saw them in the distance. He remembered them leaving earlier than he had, and he’d assumed he would pass them in the night, but he had hoped to put enough distance in that they wouldn’t catch up to him. Not that it mattered much now. With where they were on the path they would see Vailas as he left the alcove along the cliff face that he was resting in, no doubt, and it wasn’t deep enough for him to be able to hide until after they passed. No, he thought, he would have to meet with them. He brought his hand up to his brooch, and the gemstone within began to glow faintly. “Carry both bags and follow me to where I was sitting.” He commanded his automaton companion. “Wait there with me until I begin to move further along the path.” He sat back down, waiting until he saw the two entering the clearing, too distracted by the view to even notice him sitting there. What a dangerous way to travel, he thought. If not for the bird lady’s wings, any number of creatures could knock them off the mountain if they were always this inattentive.
He gave them another moment, letting them soak in the sight before he coughed, trying to get their attention. “It seems we meet again. I assume the southwards journey has been…tolerable?”
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Khepri Goldenfeather
Committed
Roleplay posts: 96
Appearance: Smattered in golden feathers, Khepri glimmers from dawn to dusk. Vast, dark wings, lightening to ivory toward her spine, spread outward above her broad hips, supporting an otherwise petite frame. Black hair, straight as a waterfall, surrounds a round face. She has sharp, dangerous eyes that mimic the time of day, plump lips that tell you what you want to hear, and honey-sweet skin to ease her features. The only interruption to an otherwise heavenly visage is a pair of feet with toes and a heel ending in talons.
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Registered: Mar 23, 2021 19:54:50 GMT -5
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Post by Khepri Goldenfeather on Nov 11, 2022 16:03:06 GMT -5
A gasp escaped Khepri's lips as they came in clear sight of the vast landscape below them. If not for Nomi and the unpredictable winds surrounding the mountain, she would have spread her wings and abandoned the icy cold for the warmth that waited for them ahead. The dream was short lived, snapped apart by a half-familiar voice that she'd only heard around the Ironwolf camp a few times before.
Khepri stepped back in surprise toward the edge of the clearing, making herself small behind Nomi. She grabbed onto the back of their coat, narrowing her eyes. Before them was-
"Vailas, correct?" she asked, her memory never failing her when it came to names. "It has been a frigid and difficult climb, but less than completely miserable, if only for the company." Khepri raised a brow. "I did not know you were departing the settlement as well. Where is your golem?" Her hand tightened around Nomi's. She did not think this man a threat, but she didn't know how friendly he really was.
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Nomi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 64
Age: 24
Appearance: A young, diminutive human with pale white hair and soft yellow eyes, donning simple robes befitting the life of a nomad. The robe's left sleeve has been ripped off completely, exposing runic tattoos along the length of their arm, and a fresh gash made by the claws of a monster. Though much of the rest of their skin is covered by their robes, the ends of more tattoos can be seen creeping along their neck and wrists.
Equipment: Their possessions are few in number - A gnarled wooden staff, a dagger, a leather pouch containing divining equipment, and the clothes on their back.
Skills and Abilities: Nomi is a Seer of their people before arriving in the Mists, and has limited capabilities in ways of divination. However, these talents are known by them to be unreliable at best - they prefer to rely on their wits in order to get by in the new world.
Registered: Jun 11, 2021 0:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by Nomi on Nov 13, 2022 13:36:45 GMT -5
Nomi jumped a bit at the unfamiliar voice, teetering haphazardly over the edge of the cliff without a great deal of worry for their own safety. They regained their footing, casting a quick glance back at Khepri before meeting the eyes of the newcomer. Nomi found infinite amusement in the fact that, by default, they were the brave one between the two of them. It was all relative, they supposed.
In any event, Nomi had no real fear of Vailas - even if they didn't particularly enjoy him. They had not spoken more than a few times during their stay with Freyr's people, and when they did, they found they had scarce little to talk about. The man was usually off in his makeshift laboratory, conducting his experiments hidden away from the eyes of others. He never hurt anyone. Just seemed curious - and that, Nomi supposed, they could understand.
They were actually much more fond of his automaton, strangely enough. Not that Vailas ever let it get a word in edgewise. Where was it hiding?
They smiled, swaggering forward with one hand in their pocket, the other leading Khepri forward. "It is good to see a familiar face. I imagine you are headed south as well? Or perhaps these mountains are something of a vacation spot for you."
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Vailas Steelhand
Committed
Roleplay posts: 67
Age: Somewhere between his mid 30s and mid 40s
Appearance: At first glance, not much about him would stand out to most people. Average height, average weight and build, black hair with a growing goatee, brown eyes, tan colored skin, generally nothing much to draw attention to his own physical form, except for the striking silver and bronze of his left hand, make completely of metal, with blue energy flowing throughout lines in the construction. His clothing is mostly fairly simple as well, with brown pants and a long leather overcoat, under which he wears a gray top. However, on his chest he also wears a brooch made of the same materials as his hand, a large blue gem set in the center.
Equipment: -An assortment of tools for building his magic-powered automatons, known as Magikróm
-5 Variation 1 Magikróm, which are shaped like spheres with a 1.5 foot diameter and eight extendable limbs, with no weaponry. Used only for sorting, transport, and limited help around a house or lab setting. Only two are operational. The other three are functionally scrap metal
-3 Variation 2 Magikróm, of which none are operational. Originally, they were defensive machines with limited movement, having two wheels on their lower half, one spear/horn like appendage, and two magic-energy firing devices on pivots.
-a simple knife.
Skills and Abilities: While he's unable to harness it himself in any meaningful way(except creating his Magikróm), Vailas is highly knowledgeable in the properties and abilities of magic energy and most things tangentially related to it. He is skilled at basic robotics and more or less knows how to work metal into the shapes he needs. Other than that, his only true skill comes from being a well-read individual.
Biography: Hailing from the relatively barren land of Sezæria, survival was often a struggle for Vailas. As such, he had to find a way to make himself useful quick. Having some magical aptitude, as well as quite the intellect, he took to learning the ways of magic. However, he could never learn enough to cast the more complex spells. To get around this, he learned how to impart his magic into robotic entities, to power them. While some thought of this as being genius, many also feared him for it, and one attempted to be rid of him in his sleep. He got away, but he lost his hand in the process, eventually replacing it with the same sort of magical technology he used in his machines. He soon became much more reclusive, after that happened, and rumors around the town said he turned to less morally sound ways of practicing his craft, though it was never specified how bad it got. Near the time of the flood, he had found his way to the shore where he acquired a decent sized vessel, manning it with himself and a number of his machinations, many of which did not survive the voyage once the waters hit.
Registered: Apr 24, 2021 23:04:49 GMT -5
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Post by Vailas Steelhand on Nov 13, 2022 20:07:14 GMT -5
Vailas glanced between the two as they finally realized he was there, analyzing their reactions. The tightened grip, the glance shared, the urge of her to hide behind them. He raised an eyebrow. “Indeed, I can see you two quite enjoy each other's company.”
The Steelhand stood, dusting off his pants before commanding 3-2 to stand as well, revealing it had been sitting cross-leg on the ground behind him. “Right here, guarding my supplies.” He responded. “I am heading south for more research opportunities. The peninsula the Írnvulf sit upon is bountiful but there is much more around here as well that needs catalogued.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. There was much on these isles, he’d already seen such up north, and he was sure he could find something that may fit his needs, may help him stabilize his project. All he did was leave out why he chose now of all times to leave. The Nords were unnerved by 3-2, he could tell, and he didn’t want to see what would happen if they tried to tear it apart.
“No, these mountains are a horrid place.” He said, glancing around. “Much like I assume you do…Kepré, is it? I find the cold is unbearable and this…” He took a small handful of snow in his left hand, before letting it cascade back down to the ground. “Is especially awful. The sooner I can leave them, the better.”
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Khepri Goldenfeather
Committed
Roleplay posts: 96
Appearance: Smattered in golden feathers, Khepri glimmers from dawn to dusk. Vast, dark wings, lightening to ivory toward her spine, spread outward above her broad hips, supporting an otherwise petite frame. Black hair, straight as a waterfall, surrounds a round face. She has sharp, dangerous eyes that mimic the time of day, plump lips that tell you what you want to hear, and honey-sweet skin to ease her features. The only interruption to an otherwise heavenly visage is a pair of feet with toes and a heel ending in talons.
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Registered: Mar 23, 2021 19:54:50 GMT -5
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Post by Khepri Goldenfeather on Dec 1, 2022 16:45:41 GMT -5
Khepri peered at the golem curiously. In her travels she'd met less than a handful, one belonging to an artificer to help set up her shop. They were made of mud and left a mess on the floor, but politely picked themselves up as they returned to the garden outside. Another was a suit of armor, which was the closest thing she could liken to 3-2, but its design still baffled her. The name also made her curious: why numbers? Most mages named their creations something grand or grimy, a name that called attention to their make and their usage, so what could 3-2 mean?
Valias spoke a handful of words that were new to the duralam: Research. Catalogue. Context could only help her so much in figuring it out. Artificers always boggled her, and so Khepri decided for now to shelve her curiosities to exchange pleasantries. She gave the man a nod. "I am used to jungles and sand dunes with weather that could scorch skin should you leave the shade. These mountains are a far cry from home." Then again, she'd been far from home for a long time now. "My feathers do not have a down as the Io'dura do, but they're even more barbaric and war-hungry than the Ironwulf. I have no envy."
Slowly, she took Nomi's hand and pulled them toward Valias, her claws leaving deep imprints in the snow. "Shall we travel together? If you do not mind. We haven't seen any threats yet, but the wilds here have proven to be dangerous. I have talons, but I am no fighter, and I cannot fly away in these winds."
False. It was Nomi keeping her here, the winds just made it treacherous. If she were in danger any other time, without a companion, she would brave jumping from the mountain, but she couldn't give away all her cards at once.
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Nomi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 64
Age: 24
Appearance: A young, diminutive human with pale white hair and soft yellow eyes, donning simple robes befitting the life of a nomad. The robe's left sleeve has been ripped off completely, exposing runic tattoos along the length of their arm, and a fresh gash made by the claws of a monster. Though much of the rest of their skin is covered by their robes, the ends of more tattoos can be seen creeping along their neck and wrists.
Equipment: Their possessions are few in number - A gnarled wooden staff, a dagger, a leather pouch containing divining equipment, and the clothes on their back.
Skills and Abilities: Nomi is a Seer of their people before arriving in the Mists, and has limited capabilities in ways of divination. However, these talents are known by them to be unreliable at best - they prefer to rely on their wits in order to get by in the new world.
Registered: Jun 11, 2021 0:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by Nomi on Dec 3, 2022 0:50:24 GMT -5
“Indeed, I can see you two quite enjoy each other's company.” Nomi squinted, opening their mouth to contest the jab, but Valias was quick to sweep the statement under the rug with the introduction of 3-2. They instead settled for a snide hmph, thankful that Khepri seemed not to take note of the insinuation. She had a gift for obliviousness, at times such as these. The wanderer allowed their face to soften at the sight of 3-2. They waved at it, searching its glassy eyes for a flicker of recognition. Nomi nodded in support of Khepri's suggestion. "The last stretch of these mountains will be dangerous. It would serve us well to look out for one another, no?" Their eyes scanned the horizon, idly taking note of a looming cascade of dark clouds. If a storm was approaching, the last place they wanted to be was in the center of a mountain range. Nomi didn't need divination to predict weather patterns - they had lived in the open wilds all their life, and were no stranger to reading warnings of nature. By the looks of it, the group would need to make good time to beat it at the rate it was moving - easier and more quickly done with spotters for the climb down.
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Vailas Steelhand
Committed
Roleplay posts: 67
Age: Somewhere between his mid 30s and mid 40s
Appearance: At first glance, not much about him would stand out to most people. Average height, average weight and build, black hair with a growing goatee, brown eyes, tan colored skin, generally nothing much to draw attention to his own physical form, except for the striking silver and bronze of his left hand, make completely of metal, with blue energy flowing throughout lines in the construction. His clothing is mostly fairly simple as well, with brown pants and a long leather overcoat, under which he wears a gray top. However, on his chest he also wears a brooch made of the same materials as his hand, a large blue gem set in the center.
Equipment: -An assortment of tools for building his magic-powered automatons, known as Magikróm
-5 Variation 1 Magikróm, which are shaped like spheres with a 1.5 foot diameter and eight extendable limbs, with no weaponry. Used only for sorting, transport, and limited help around a house or lab setting. Only two are operational. The other three are functionally scrap metal
-3 Variation 2 Magikróm, of which none are operational. Originally, they were defensive machines with limited movement, having two wheels on their lower half, one spear/horn like appendage, and two magic-energy firing devices on pivots.
-a simple knife.
Skills and Abilities: While he's unable to harness it himself in any meaningful way(except creating his Magikróm), Vailas is highly knowledgeable in the properties and abilities of magic energy and most things tangentially related to it. He is skilled at basic robotics and more or less knows how to work metal into the shapes he needs. Other than that, his only true skill comes from being a well-read individual.
Biography: Hailing from the relatively barren land of Sezæria, survival was often a struggle for Vailas. As such, he had to find a way to make himself useful quick. Having some magical aptitude, as well as quite the intellect, he took to learning the ways of magic. However, he could never learn enough to cast the more complex spells. To get around this, he learned how to impart his magic into robotic entities, to power them. While some thought of this as being genius, many also feared him for it, and one attempted to be rid of him in his sleep. He got away, but he lost his hand in the process, eventually replacing it with the same sort of magical technology he used in his machines. He soon became much more reclusive, after that happened, and rumors around the town said he turned to less morally sound ways of practicing his craft, though it was never specified how bad it got. Near the time of the flood, he had found his way to the shore where he acquired a decent sized vessel, manning it with himself and a number of his machinations, many of which did not survive the voyage once the waters hit.
Registered: Apr 24, 2021 23:04:49 GMT -5
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Post by Vailas Steelhand on Dec 9, 2022 22:12:37 GMT -5
“I’m much the same.” Vailas nodded in agreement to Khepri. “I’ve spent most of my life in deserts and badlands, and even the nights were nothing compared to this cold.” Something she said had caught his attention. ‘Io’dura.’ He’d never heard that term before. Perhaps another people of her homeland? It may warrant some more questions later.
Right now, however, other things demanded his focus. Things like Khepri’s offer. He stayed silent for a moment after it, as to give the impression of mulling the idea over. In truth, he’d decided it was the only real option when he saw them approaching, but they didn’t need to know that. “I see no reason not to.” He eventually responded. “In fact it seems it would be more difficult not to, at this point. Ways down these mountains seem precious few, safe ways even fewer. We would likely end up going the same way anyhow.”
He began to appraise the two travelers after Khepri’s mention of talons. Truly, neither her nor Nomi seemed well suited for combat. Other than her talons, the only other weapon he could see between the two of them was Nomi’s stick, and he’d seen how ineffective it was when the Draugr had attacked Ironwolf. “I am not much of a fighter myself, either.” He said. “3-2 will be able to take care of anything we may come across, that’s something it excels at. I’ve made sure of it.”
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Variant 3-2
Established
Roleplay posts: 24
Age: Less than 2 years of operation
Appearance: A very sleek, humanoid design, primarily silver in color with bronze accents at the joints as well as along the torso and head areas. Roughly 5'6" tall with a slim body. Blue energy seems to trace lines along the body, though they have slowed and dulled since arriving at the island, with the lines seeming to run outwards from the torso area and towards the extremities.
Equipment: A fully armored body, resulting in limited range of motion, yet high resilience to physical attacks. Two short, thin limbs that can come out of the back. Two tube-like attachments on the underside of its upper arms, with holes in them near the elbows.
Skills and Abilities: The ability to harness magical energy for weaponry, including two short magic blades coming out of the arms and forming above the hands, similar to kama, two quarter-sphere shaped shields that appear out of the limbs attached to the back, or the ability to shoot weak magic missiles from either arm-cannon. The only catch is that only one of these can be active at a time due to the deficiency of magic on the isles due to the mist. It is powered by magic, so any senses or physical traits it would have that might have been considered superior to those of humans are rendered moot, other than an ability to sense magical energy and its use in an area around it. It has an ability to synthesize human speech and can understand a wide variety of human languages.
Biography: The second model of Variation 3 Magikróm produced by Vailas Steelhand, creator of magic-powered robotic automatons. This is the only Variation 3 known to have survived the flood. A general purpose model able to adapt to most commands given. Variation 3 models are the first humanoid model to be crafted by Vailas. Despite its entirely metallic appearance, its movements are...surprisingly fluid and humanoid.
Allegiances: Vailas Steelhand
Registered: Apr 24, 2021 23:02:49 GMT -5
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Post by Variant 3-2 on Dec 9, 2022 22:14:33 GMT -5
3-2 stood there silently, awaiting further orders from Vailas. As she waited, she saw the white haired individual wave to her. She gave an ever-so-slight nod back, almost imperceptible were one not paying attention. Nomi, she believed, is what they were called. It was odd the way they acted towards her, she thought. Most would tend to ignore her, and those who didn’t seemed put off by her. And yet here this person was, waving to her. Acting kindly towards her. It felt strange.
And yet, strangely familiar. As if others had once acted the same to her. Yet, she couldn't recall that happening. When had it happened before? She couldn’t remember. Her head started to hurt…
Error detected.
3-2 corrected the error, and then returned to standby.
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Khepri Goldenfeather
Committed
Roleplay posts: 96
Appearance: Smattered in golden feathers, Khepri glimmers from dawn to dusk. Vast, dark wings, lightening to ivory toward her spine, spread outward above her broad hips, supporting an otherwise petite frame. Black hair, straight as a waterfall, surrounds a round face. She has sharp, dangerous eyes that mimic the time of day, plump lips that tell you what you want to hear, and honey-sweet skin to ease her features. The only interruption to an otherwise heavenly visage is a pair of feet with toes and a heel ending in talons.
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Registered: Mar 23, 2021 19:54:50 GMT -5
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Post by Khepri Goldenfeather on Dec 22, 2022 23:34:24 GMT -5
"It's decided then."
Khepri stayed close to Nomi, though she took her time to look over Valias and his golem. She stood in the center, where she could take in all parties at once. From there, she spurred on conversation, determined to pass the time on that dreary mountain. She, too, had caught eye of the storm and it did not thrill her in the slightest. "I am glad to know we have a protector. Nomi and I... we've had our trials traveling through these lands." She looked back at them, recalling the finger deer and the birds falling from the sky, the mountain of bugs, the hungry hands reaching at them through the mist-
"Simply put, this place is awful." The duralam raised a hand and attempted a pat on 3-2's shoulder. "Take good care of us, yes? Yes."
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Nomi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 64
Age: 24
Appearance: A young, diminutive human with pale white hair and soft yellow eyes, donning simple robes befitting the life of a nomad. The robe's left sleeve has been ripped off completely, exposing runic tattoos along the length of their arm, and a fresh gash made by the claws of a monster. Though much of the rest of their skin is covered by their robes, the ends of more tattoos can be seen creeping along their neck and wrists.
Equipment: Their possessions are few in number - A gnarled wooden staff, a dagger, a leather pouch containing divining equipment, and the clothes on their back.
Skills and Abilities: Nomi is a Seer of their people before arriving in the Mists, and has limited capabilities in ways of divination. However, these talents are known by them to be unreliable at best - they prefer to rely on their wits in order to get by in the new world.
Registered: Jun 11, 2021 0:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by Nomi on Dec 23, 2022 3:23:09 GMT -5
And so they traveled on.
The following leg of the southbound journey proceeded without ill consequence. A misstep here, a slip there - the kind of thing that provides a source of raw terror in the moment in which it is experienced, but fades from memory almost immediately after the danger has passed. How quickly the mind is to dismiss that which it cannot see.
But, like any stroke of luck, theirs would soon run dry. The storm the nomad had spotted earlier was moving fast - faster than a storm like that should move.
Nomi was very close to removing the word ‘should’ from their personal lexicon.
It came upon them like a wave crashing upon the shore, suddenly and without warning. Fierce, frigid winds buffeted them against the side of the mountain and chilled them to their core. Even 3-2, with her carapace of plated steel, found her metallic joints creaking under the oppressive weight of the cold air.
Nomi scanned the narrow mountain ridge for somewhere, anywhere that the four could find shelter in. But it was of no use. Even if there was a suitable hideaway somewhere nearby, Nomi could barely glimpse a thing past the billowing sea of white snow. They could scarcely make out even Khepri, shivering just a few feet in front of them. They made a vain attempt to connect with their Sight, inviting their gift into their mind’s eye long enough to guide them through the storm. Again, their plea fell upon deaf ears - they could barely hear themself think through the madness swirling around them, let alone divine the future.
Wait… no. That wasn’t it. That wasn’t it at all. They blinked, the bizarre sensation strong enough to render them stunned even through the chaos of the storm.
Why...
Why did they feel so hollow?
…
“It’s my go next.”
Gentle waves lapping against the coast. The soft din of a conversation, half observed. The playful clink of steel against steel.
Pride. Laughter. Contentment.
Pain.
It was gone before it was ever truly there. A ripple in a pond, a neuron firing synapses that no longer existed. It should have been gone. Forgotten. And yet, here it was. Remembered.
3-2... She remembered. She remembered, at the precise moment that Nomi collapsed into the cold snow.
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Variant 3-2
Established
Roleplay posts: 24
Age: Less than 2 years of operation
Appearance: A very sleek, humanoid design, primarily silver in color with bronze accents at the joints as well as along the torso and head areas. Roughly 5'6" tall with a slim body. Blue energy seems to trace lines along the body, though they have slowed and dulled since arriving at the island, with the lines seeming to run outwards from the torso area and towards the extremities.
Equipment: A fully armored body, resulting in limited range of motion, yet high resilience to physical attacks. Two short, thin limbs that can come out of the back. Two tube-like attachments on the underside of its upper arms, with holes in them near the elbows.
Skills and Abilities: The ability to harness magical energy for weaponry, including two short magic blades coming out of the arms and forming above the hands, similar to kama, two quarter-sphere shaped shields that appear out of the limbs attached to the back, or the ability to shoot weak magic missiles from either arm-cannon. The only catch is that only one of these can be active at a time due to the deficiency of magic on the isles due to the mist. It is powered by magic, so any senses or physical traits it would have that might have been considered superior to those of humans are rendered moot, other than an ability to sense magical energy and its use in an area around it. It has an ability to synthesize human speech and can understand a wide variety of human languages.
Biography: The second model of Variation 3 Magikróm produced by Vailas Steelhand, creator of magic-powered robotic automatons. This is the only Variation 3 known to have survived the flood. A general purpose model able to adapt to most commands given. Variation 3 models are the first humanoid model to be crafted by Vailas. Despite its entirely metallic appearance, its movements are...surprisingly fluid and humanoid.
Allegiances: Vailas Steelhand
Registered: Apr 24, 2021 23:02:49 GMT -5
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Post by Variant 3-2 on Jan 3, 2023 14:48:59 GMT -5
The onset of the storm came quickly, too quick to truly prepare for. 3-2 tried to continue onwards unhampered, but the hammering winds and oppressive cold made sure that wasn’t possible. Many times she was forced to stop as a way of steadying herself, making sure she didn’t tumble down the side of the cliff. After not too long, she could even see frost forming at her metallic extremities, trying to creep further in.
The rushing of snow and wind in the air made it almost impossible for her to hear anything. And yet, in her mind, she could hear one thing clearly. “Look for shelter!” She heard the voice of Vailas scream, trying to be heard over the winds. The automaton searched as best she could, the white cloud surrounding them making it impossible to see anywhere that could be sufficient in shielding them from the storm. But she didn’t stop looking. Any direction she looked, she could only see the icy storm, perhaps a traveling companion not far ahead. If she were lucky, she might see the ground below her feet.
Sand. She saw white sand below her feet. She looked back up to see what was going on, but the sun blinded her. The scent of saltwater burned in her nose. She could have sworn she heard some muffled words from far off. “Oh screw you, Z.”
Laughter. These people…they were close to her. They were.
Screeching filled her ears as she blinked the sun out of her eyes. The sand beneath her feet had changed from a pale white to a shimmering gold. The heat was unbearable. And there, at her feet, was someone laying in the sand. Battered. “No, no no no.” Words came from her mouth that were not her own.
Were they?
“Get up, come on. You have to get up!” Out of options, she bent down and picked up this person off of the sand.
Off of the snowy ground.
She blinked, back in the present. No words were spoken. What she saw was merely…well, something. But it wasn’t now. Now in her arms was not the person in the vision. It was Nomi. She continued on as quickly as she could. They needed to find shelter. There was no time to waste.
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Vailas Steelhand
Committed
Roleplay posts: 67
Age: Somewhere between his mid 30s and mid 40s
Appearance: At first glance, not much about him would stand out to most people. Average height, average weight and build, black hair with a growing goatee, brown eyes, tan colored skin, generally nothing much to draw attention to his own physical form, except for the striking silver and bronze of his left hand, make completely of metal, with blue energy flowing throughout lines in the construction. His clothing is mostly fairly simple as well, with brown pants and a long leather overcoat, under which he wears a gray top. However, on his chest he also wears a brooch made of the same materials as his hand, a large blue gem set in the center.
Equipment: -An assortment of tools for building his magic-powered automatons, known as Magikróm
-5 Variation 1 Magikróm, which are shaped like spheres with a 1.5 foot diameter and eight extendable limbs, with no weaponry. Used only for sorting, transport, and limited help around a house or lab setting. Only two are operational. The other three are functionally scrap metal
-3 Variation 2 Magikróm, of which none are operational. Originally, they were defensive machines with limited movement, having two wheels on their lower half, one spear/horn like appendage, and two magic-energy firing devices on pivots.
-a simple knife.
Skills and Abilities: While he's unable to harness it himself in any meaningful way(except creating his Magikróm), Vailas is highly knowledgeable in the properties and abilities of magic energy and most things tangentially related to it. He is skilled at basic robotics and more or less knows how to work metal into the shapes he needs. Other than that, his only true skill comes from being a well-read individual.
Biography: Hailing from the relatively barren land of Sezæria, survival was often a struggle for Vailas. As such, he had to find a way to make himself useful quick. Having some magical aptitude, as well as quite the intellect, he took to learning the ways of magic. However, he could never learn enough to cast the more complex spells. To get around this, he learned how to impart his magic into robotic entities, to power them. While some thought of this as being genius, many also feared him for it, and one attempted to be rid of him in his sleep. He got away, but he lost his hand in the process, eventually replacing it with the same sort of magical technology he used in his machines. He soon became much more reclusive, after that happened, and rumors around the town said he turned to less morally sound ways of practicing his craft, though it was never specified how bad it got. Near the time of the flood, he had found his way to the shore where he acquired a decent sized vessel, manning it with himself and a number of his machinations, many of which did not survive the voyage once the waters hit.
Registered: Apr 24, 2021 23:04:49 GMT -5
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Post by Vailas Steelhand on Jan 3, 2023 14:50:00 GMT -5
“Look for shelter!” Vailas screamed as loud as he could, barely able to hear himself over the yelling winds. Even the blue glow of his brooch was almost unseeable under the onslaught of snow. The cold bit into him worse than a wild animal, and he couldn’t see anything past the sheet of white in every direction. He cursed that, of all things to challenge them on this journey, it was the sky. His machine was well suited in protecting him against people and beasts, and in transporting supplies. It could not protect him from the weather.
Walking onwards, he could barely see the other travelers ahead. He could, however, see them just well enough to see Nomi fall to the ground. Unfortunate, they were not well equipped enough for the cold. Vailas would continue on in his search for somewhere to hole up while the storm raged. That Khepri they traveled with could take care of them.
Vailas’ blood ran colder than the air when he saw it. 3-2 bent down to pick up the nomad, taking care to hold them close so as to protect them best it could from the snow and wind.
He had not ordered that. It did that on its own.
That was a bad sign.
“Keep searching!” He yelled out, commanding 3-2 again. He wasn’t sure if it was listening. “We’ll end up frozen to the cliff if we don’t find something soon!”
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