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Post by tunnelnexus on Jan 21, 2012 8:46:53 GMT -5
Nexus had just finished strapping on one of the pieces of copper barding when a familiar male voice startled her with a cry. She looked up in alarm, worried that something had happened while her guard was down. When she saw everything was alright, she sighed and went back to strapping on the armor. There would be plenty of time for seeing what all the fuss was about after she was ready.
The others started talking about some kind of sword that Horizon had found, Hind Sight going into a good amount of detail about its history and value and stuff. Nexus listened absently, more focused on the task at hoof. Finally finished putting on the barding, she went over to the others grouped around the sword. It was weird moving around in the armor, the added weight almost like being underwater.
Finally getting to look at the source of the commotion, Nexus was surprised, and pleasantly so. Even with her less-than-proficient magical skills, she could feel a powerful magic radiating from the scorpion sword, or rather the stuff that coated the blade. Poison, Hind Sight had said. Hm.
Rapidly losing interest, the gray mare trotted away, only to be approached by Cloudy, who was bemoaning her so-called pitiful sword. The comment reminded her of Cloudy's earlier involvement in the conversation; it had seemed a little off, although Tunnel couldn't place what it was. Jealous, perhaps? It certainly fit with what Nexus had observed.
"Oh, don't worry about your sword too much, Cloudy," cajoled the spelunker, levitating her crowbar as a gesture. "I'm sure you'll find something else that's just as cool. Besides, your sword looks pretty good compared to mine."
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Post by Mortar Retort on Jan 22, 2012 17:01:01 GMT -5
An artifact! Those words caught Retort’s attention immediately and he rushed over to Horizon. Then, his excitement was doubled at the explanation of poison coating the blade. He had to have one of the samples from the blade. He couldn’t keep his hooves still as he trotted in place in front of Horizon, levitating a corked glass vial. He had to know what that poison was, where did it come from, and could he recreate it or even make a cheap knock-off. Ideas danced though his head about what it could be used for: Paraspritecide, Manticore tranquilizer, fez starch!
”Please please please please please!? May I have a sample of that poison - no I need a sample! Please, let me touch your sword!” He then zipped over to Hind Sight, ”The Royal Labs are a bunch of stuffy buffoon ponies who just write papers all day and call it science. Its value will be lost if you just hoof it over to them. They’ll take it, pay you a hoof full of bits and throw it in an archive to analyze in a decade or so. Let me go over it first, just for a day, and you can do with it what you want after that. Pleaseeee!?”
Retort looked between Hind Sight and Horizon, fluttering his eyebrows as he his head sung left and right between the two. His face wearing a nervous, anxious smile. He caught his fez as it began sliding off his head, readjusted it, then continued with his begging.
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Post by stardust on Jan 23, 2012 9:44:35 GMT -5
After finishing her notes and sketches of the weapons, the dark mare glanced around. Everpony had gotten their eye on a piece of weaponry. She didn't care too much about function of the weapon as much as their design and she was content with her own old dagger. It may not date back as far as these, but it was reliable and well crafted.
Stardust jumped when Horizon cried, dropping her pencil onto the floor. Frowning slightly, she turned around to the source of the cry and spotted the sword that levitated in Hind Sight's horn's glow. It certainly was a sight, the silver blade that gleamed with the poisonous substance and the frightening scorpion that had guarded the blue hilt. The sword was in such good condition as well. Once the unicorn had come up to her she picked up her dropped pencil and sketched out the ancient artifact. To think she'd be able to see something like this! Nodding at Hind Sight once the sketch and notes on the poison were jotted down, she smiled at Horizon who had found the sword. Definitely a worthy find, and a trophy to the one who kept it no doubt. And even though she was not a unicorn, she could sense some sort of mystifying magic that radiated from it. It may have had to do with its previous owner, but that would be a mystery for later.
Tucking the notepad back under her wing she sidestepped once the fez wearing pony had excitedly bounded to the group. He really never ceased to amuse as he rambled and begged on for a touch of the sword. She couldn't blame him though, because she would love to analyze some of the poison and see what it could be used for. It may not be something to help her plants but there were still things she'd like to know about this outpost and stories that had told of the Scorpion. This could piece together everything she had known about the mysterious Equitarians.
With that in mind, she glanced away from the sword that had interested most of the group. She wanted to go further into the outpost now, even to the raising room. The finding of the sword had sparked that ever-growing curiosity in her that she had when exploring the Everfree Forest for the first time. She shivered with anticipation, smiling to herself as she took a few steps back from the group.
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Post by Red Charge on Jan 23, 2012 10:07:21 GMT -5
"Umm, not now, let's get out of here first." Said Horizon, holstering the sword and placing it firmly on his saddle, not liking how much attention his new (or well, old) sword was getting. He liked it being unique and didn't want these people making cheap knock offs of it and spreading it around. Selfish, true, but the Pegasus rarely had the chance to be unique, what with being in the army and losing his individuality for years before finally reaching the Stars, and even after then. This sword used to belong to the Equiterian Elite, from elite, to elite. It was all fair game.
At that he quickly moved away from Retort and began pretending to exam tthe other weapons, so he would be left alone. While Hind Sight was pointing out that the only thing about the sword that was magical was the poison itself, since it supposedly belonged to a Celestial Being. Horizon would love a peek at this Scorpio creature. He only ever heard of an Ursa Minor rampaging around Ponyville, but it sounded awesome.
After that, the professor want-to-be pointed the ponies over to the forge on the other side of the room, where all the proper equipment was for a proper smith, minus the actual materials. Near the forge were two unimpressive horseshoes, probably used by the blacksmith who worked there.
At that, Hind Sight turned to leave the armory, waiting for the ponies outside in the hall, seeming slightly tired. All of this excitement, living a dream, it really took a lot out of him. He needed a few moments to collect himself.
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Post by clouddreamer on Jan 23, 2012 21:34:37 GMT -5
Was Nexus catching onto her? Her responce seemed as if she did, so Cloudy tried to play it off. She wrinkled her brow in confusion and said, "I'm not worrying about my sword Nexus, it was just another way to say that it's a really neat artifact. You're reading too far into my words."
The unicorn paused to look over at a unicorn wearing a fez, who was begging for the sword. The corners of her mouth turned up a little bit. He acted how she had felt. "But you're right Nexus, my sword is cooler than your non-exsistant one," she added with a joking smile.
Cloudy suddenly thought of her pet chameleon. Where was she? The unicorn hoped the Tricky hadn't gotten lost. There was one place she was most likely to be. Cloudy reached up a hoof to her mane, soon feeling scales. "Tricky, come down from my mane already." A purple chameleon, who looked as if it had become the unicorn's hair, quickly climbed down the pony's head and neck, crawling into the pack that held the armor.
After looking the forge over from where she was to make sure there was nothing worth taking now to show Red Charge, she followed Hind Sight out the door. "So where are we going next? Weren't you saying there was some sort of commander's office around here?" Cloudy thought she remembered him saying something like that, though she wasn't that sure. The unicorn hadn't been paying the best attention when Hind Sight discussed the location of everything.
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Post by tunnelnexus on Jan 27, 2012 22:07:55 GMT -5
The other ponies in the group were all doing their own thing, and the spectacle was rather amusing. The whole thing sapped some of her attention, so that she only vaguely registered what Cloudy's response was. Nexus shot back quickly with a comeback and a grin; "Don't go getting a swelled head now, or else I might have to knock you down peg with my blunt-trauma-weapon-sword-thing."
The spelunker started waving her crowbar about like a fencing foil, beating back hordes of invisible attackers. "Have at thee, chap, I say!" she joked, a horrible mockery of an accent marring her speech. Tunnel continued forward, advancing out of the weapon and armor-filled room after Hind Sight.
She quit the charade soon after, deciding to make sure she didn't waste any energy that might be needed down the line. The armor certainly made things more exhaustive, as she still had yet to fully adjust to the added weight. Cloudy's question was soon echoed by her own. "Yeah, so where to next?"
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Post by Mortar Retort on Jan 30, 2012 0:07:22 GMT -5
Retort frowned, disappointed, but not defeated. He’d try to get a sample in once they were one they’re way back. He wasn’t going to let that poisoned blade slip through his hooves so easily, not in the least. He begun concocting ways to get close to the blade if Horizon refused, just needed a little peek at the blade, swab and done. Yes, it would work, once their head was turned – horn magic time. Have to wait for the perfect opportunity, for now, he’ll bide his time.
Once he finished his plotting, Retort made one last sweep of the room, and sticking uncomfortably close to the sword owning Pegasus. Occasionally shooting him unnerving grinning smiles – like a hungry dog. Soon though, Retort moved on, glancing over the cold forge. He telekineticly picked up the two horse-shoes and inspected them for any unusual properties. Maybe a unusual metal alloy or some innate magical proprieties. They were, however, quite plain otherwise. He tapped them against the forge, gave them an inquisitive eye, tapped them again, then put them in his saddlebags for later and more in depth scrutiny.
He stepped out with the others, looking as bright eyed as ever, the delighted thoughts of the prospects this place held swimming their way through thoughts. ”The commander’s chambers was next on the tour, I believe.”
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Post by Selenia on Jan 31, 2012 9:18:09 GMT -5
Selenia pulled the spear she had procured from the armory out of the crack in the floor. She brushed her hooves absent-mindedly over the small fissure before levitating the weapon to her side and carrying on with the rest of the group. She quietly listened to the conversations taking place, but she decided not to contribute. Either way, she was busy mapping out their path in her head, remembering each turn they took, unique rooms they passed, and every other detail. Given what the ruins looked like and had provided so far, there was much more to be found farther within the structure. She had to stifle a laugh at Nexus' terrible accent, though. A little light-hearted fun was never frowned upon while exploring a creepy underground labyrinth.
Her smile faded when she noticed Retort pocket the horseshoes on the forge. She was starting to get an idea of why so few Equiterian artifacts were found outside of the ruins and temples and whatnot. She wasn't superstitious of any curses for taking things or disturbing the spirits, but something just felt very wrong about taking even the smallest item from the ruins. She wanted to object but she kept her mouth shut, curiosity overtaking her grim assumptions.
"That is correct." Selenia quickly spoke out loud as she caught the group's banter about their direction. "The Commander's quarters are up next." She looked to Hind Sight for confirmation.
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Post by stardust on Feb 3, 2012 15:14:16 GMT -5
Glancing over at the forge she quickly made note of the tools and other ancient things used to make the weapons and armor they had just seen. The dark mare made sure that all of it was in fairly good detail for Hind Sight, she wanted to prove she was a good choice to have brought along and not just another starry-eyed storyteller.
Laughing quietly at the other's antics, she sat down to put the notepad and pencil away. Feeling a sharp prick as she did she squeaked and jumped back up, turning to see what she had sat on. A nail, perfect. Actually, there were several old nails scattered near the side of the entrance to the forge. They were old iron that had rusted a bit with the age of the post. Turning around on herself, she tried to see if the nail had pricked her deeply. Handling the dirt and dust was one thing, but she didn't want to take the chance of being poisoned by the iron or anything else. That's something a bath couldn't really wash away.
After turning around like a dog chasing her tail, she scooted away from the nails and nearer to the group. Hearing the other dark mare, Selenia, she glanced at her and then to Hind Sight. "Are there any known documents or clues of who the Commander was for this particular post?" She shuffled a bit, asking her question quietly.
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Post by Red Charge on Feb 3, 2012 20:18:55 GMT -5
"No, there's nothing even on this post except a few directions." Hind Sight explained, "It's odd but, it appears they wanted to keep this place under the lid, or someone made sure it was kept under the lid." the unicorn speculated.
"Umm, sorry Stardust, but you have some blood on your uhhh..." Horizon said, pointing at Stardust's rear. He would have put in a joke, but he was actually trying to score points with this mare.
They then proceeded to move on, reaching another larger door on the left, Hind Sight stopped again, "This should be it." he said, looking to see the others' reactions.
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Post by clouddreamer on Feb 4, 2012 19:06:52 GMT -5
Cloudy watched as the other ponies joined Nexus, Hind Sight, and her in the hall. One black unicorn talked like she knew the whole ruins, though the fact that she looked to Hind Sight afterwards gave Cloudy the feeling she wasn't absolutely sure. Though everyone in the group seemed confident that was where they were going next before Hind Sight stated they were correct, so Cloudy figured the black unicorn had just been listening more carefully so she knew it for sure.
Seeing a blue pegasus coming out to join them, the blue unicorn immediately noticed blood. Hind Sight pointed it out, and Cloudy trotted over to see if it was serious. "You alright? I don't really have a first aid kit, but a strip from the blanket I brought could probably work." It was on her flank, meaning wrapping fabric to just cover the cut might be problematic, but Cloudy was sure the pegasus would want something to cover it. The blanket the blue unicorn had brought was old anyway, she wouldn't mind ripping it.
Once Hind Sight was on the move Cloudy followed, soon seeing a large door. She looked it up and down a few times, then trotted towards the front of the group. If there was anything valuable in the room the blue unicorn wanted to be the first to see it so she could claim it. "So are we going to have to blast down this door as well?" It wouldn't have surprised her if they would have to.
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Post by tunnelnexus on Feb 6, 2012 19:58:00 GMT -5
Tunnel paced in restless lines until the group finally coalesced in the hall and began moving once more. As soon as she settled into a watchful position at the rear of the group, she noticed Stardust had some fresh injuries on her rump; they looked rather painful.
"Woah, Stardust, you've got some bleeding there. We should make sure it doesn't get infected or anything." She began rummaging around in her pack, looking for some first aid supplies. "Shucks, I don't have the kit. Selenia, do you have the first aid kit?" asked the gray pony.
While she waited for Selenia's response, Nexus continued on with the group towards the Commander's chambers. They reached a large door, and Cloudy asked if they'd need to blow down this door. The prospect lit up the spelunker's enthusiasm; maybe she'd get a chance to learn the spell sooner than she thought.
"Hey, if we need to blow through this one too, maybe I could give it a try? I'd love to learn a spell like that," Tunnel gushed, her pent up energy oozing out through her voice.
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Post by Mortar Retort on Feb 8, 2012 4:28:36 GMT -5
Retort didn’t know what the big deal was, Stardust’s scratch was barely a flesh wound. He’d seen worse stubbed hooves in his day than this slice. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he trotted by the hurt pony while rummaging through his saddlebags. ”Take this-“ Retort offered Stardust a passing gesture with a little red potion in a vial trapped in his telekinesis. ”Free of charge. Just be sure to tell your friends.”
A simple healing potion that would immediately clot the wound, prevent infection and reduce scaring – in larger doses it could even treat shock and severe trauma. One of Retort’s more basic alchemical recipes, it employed basic herbs found in rather common places plus a very special little treat Retort infused in it to give it a pleasant, strawberry taste. And lucky for Stardust this wasn’t expired so it lacked that subtle ‘strawberries on fire’ tang that befalls the potions past their prime.
Now with that injury treated, Retort continued to the impressively large door. He looked it up and down, then turned to look at Hind Sight and Tunnel. “I got these I’ve been wanting to try too-“ Retort presented a few paper-wrapped orbs with tiny little fuses from his saddlebags. Hoofmade powder explosives. ”If we need them, might work on the door – or it might bring this whole place down on our heads. Either way, it’ll be a good time.”
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Post by Selenia on Feb 13, 2012 6:40:38 GMT -5
"No, I don't have a first-aid kit." Selenia said as she looked back at Nexus. "I didn't bring anything with me, actually," gesturing to her lack of saddlebags, or anything else for that matter.
She followed the rest of the group closely and quietly until they reached their second large door. Everypony in the group seemed more than willing to try their hoof at that breaching spell Hind Sight had demonstrated earlier. When Selenia noticed the small bombs that Mortar Retort produced out of his pack, she took a few steps away. "I'm not entirely sure it's safe to use those in here. And if they're powerful enough to bust this door down, they might be of more value to us later on." She offered her two cents, justifying her lack of enthusiasm. "Have we even thought of the possibility that this door might be unlocked and we can just open it normally?" She wanted to tap her hoof on the door and try to open it in a calm, quiet manner, but she wasn't about to try anything unless Hind Sight said so.
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Post by stardust on Feb 13, 2012 8:53:29 GMT -5
The dark mare backed away from the others, letting out an appreciative but awkward laugh. "It's just a scratch, nothing too bad. Thank you for the concern though." She assured, smiling at each of the ponies and nodding at Mortar. "Thank you forthe potion." Taking some of the red liquid she trusted it did its job, moving her hind leg to check before stowing the bottle into her bag. Never knew when she'd need it next.
Trotting in effort to catch up with the group, she paused by Horizon to examine the door. "I agree with her." She glanced at Selenia after spotting Mortar with his bomb. "I don't think any of us want the place to come down on our heads." She raised an amused brow.
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