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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Nov 14, 2012 16:27:21 GMT -5
Shade flcked his eyes into the other direction. It was not nonsense in his eyes, if anything he sincerely soubted a Griffon could use magic much like he did. He failed to understand how the Griffon King denied the much more likely possibilities that way. In fact he was rather appalled by the reaction of Whitefeather above anything else, but kept his comments locked in his head.
With a hefty, cold sigh, "Hm~", he kept to himself, following up until that door. He much didn't like the sound of this job, and the coughs of a very strenge Griffon didn't help his train of thought. He was beggining to question how much of a help he would be, or just plainly if he should have listened to Shoel at all. Not to say he would give up, he was in too deep for him to suddenly refuse.
Down through the tunnels, and whatnot until they reached... That place. If King Whitefeather wanted a solution, he might as well have gotten one, but only now Shade would not "Spout Nonsense" any further until he was absolutely sure it was going to upset anypony. At the sight of all the blood he very well tensed up in surprise. This he did not expect, "Just a mask and a metal claw?... There were no survivors? No witnesses?", the questions would suit his taste well.
He looked over his shoulder to the threat of a swift execution, which put him off a little, focusing on the task at hand however, he forced himself to remain moving stopping shortly before Whitefeather finished, "Well... I can try what I will.", with a nod.
He didn't much like the look of the blood, the smell which caught his eye, and the fact that well... he was no warrior, or blacksmith but it did not look like blood spilled by a sword, or a spear, it was far too messy and sloppy, not sly or quick, "Four nights?", he asked, moving passed King Whitefeather, looking over to make sure it was not out of line, "I may or may not find hints of magic but~... It all really depends on the power this mystery bird exerted...", or so his books told him. He was one to verse them, and he generally believed what he read, as they usually were not fantasy tales.
Shadestride looked about, "Let me have some light.", his horn charged up, a bright, hot dark purple aura encompasing a white orb flared off a rather clean radius of light. He wanted to see the area as a whole, how much blood~ What he was getting into, "Witnesses?", he asked once again. Though he was unsure of his acting, he wanted to at least appear somewhat proffessional, keeping calm, and not acting like a shrimp...
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Nov 14, 2012 20:04:54 GMT -5
As Shade asked once more for witnesses, Whitefeather pointed a single talon to the spots of spilled blood caked to the walls and floor. “There are your witnesses. Only few who survived were myself, my Queen, Stygg – my daughter, and Loci. Oh there may be a few more up top, I can have the whatever wasn’t burned away by the Rust Phoenix’s flame brought down if you like? Pony or Griffon first?” The King spoke sharp and agitated, unable to hide his frustration with the situation as a whole. He surrounded himself with advisers and not a single one was coming up with answers. “Let me make it clear, once more, I know what I saw and he had a magic far beyond any I have ever seen – from beast or pony. This was no relic or wand, and even if it were, Griffons cannot use them. It is beyond our capabilities.” Though this was not entirely true, some trinkets and lesser artifacts could be wielded by griffons, but this was well beyond their mortal power.
The area, for the griffons, tingled with the residue of magic. They were sensitive to it – perhaps why all the birds around Shade appeared unsettled and agitated. Never mind the fact that the splattering of blood painted a most macabre scene. Yet, between the splotches of blood, Shades light would help reveal more intricate details. “There, he was standing right there.” The King fluttered his hand at a spot several meters ahead. “Maybe start there or something, you ponies are smart. You figure it out.”
“If I may, lord?” Shoal asked, stepping beside his pony friend. Two sets of eyes may be better than one.” Whitefeather waved him on through. Shoal stepped forward, patting the pony in his ribs. He pointed to the spot the usurper had appeared while Shoal slipped over to the pools of old blood. He clearly wasn’t comfortable with it but he didn’t want Shade to overlook something and griffons were about the keenest around.
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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Nov 15, 2012 16:33:44 GMT -5
Shade listened to each ounce of Whitefeather's words, frowning gently as he strode about the area, looking amongst the blood, peering hard at where Shoel had guided him. Indeed something terrible had occured here, that was purely undeniable as much as it was an oddity in it's own right. This was something he'd never dealt with before.
"And... absolutely sure it was a Griffon?", it was rhetorical, for he positively knew a definate reply would be frustration, and perhaps anger, or appallment. These weren't the first he'd ever met who happened to be the most caught up in their own set-in-stone beliefs. With a hefty Sigh, he scanned over the red zone, where supposedly this Griffon appeared. It was the smell of the acid~ and once he shined his light on places was what set him off. Made him wince a bit as he kept listening, most because of the blood, not the story itself.
"Ehhh~", he thought of it for a moment, "Both sets, but keep Pony seperate from Griffon please~", even if he wouldnt find much, it was better to look from every angle.
It was far more important that where he stood had that flux of recently used energy. He could see it in their eyes, floating his orb alongside him. He would go a little indepth... his horn flaring up, and shutting his eyes, opening them to detect this particular residue. Besides... detecting magic wasn't anything difficult to pull off. Not for him at least.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Nov 16, 2012 22:00:00 GMT -5
Several snide snickers slipped from the King and his guards – there was nothing left but ash and bone from the dead. Those unfortunate souls struck down by the Rust Phoenix fire were even beyond recognition. Their fate would be unmarked graves and that magic was familiar enough to them they didn’t need to have a pony tell them that a Rust Phoenix burned like the sun. ”Shade – psst.” Shoal whispered, ”They were being facetious about that, we know about those Phoenixes already, just keep looking.” The griffon went back to his analysis, scrapping a claw at the dried blood – then cringing and wiping it back on the stone. He was way over his head – mind thinking to that little restaurant and how he could be there now instead of claw deep in dried griffon entrails.
What Shade would notice first was the power behind the magic, it was truly well beyond that of your everyday pony or even many magical creatures. Something about it too was unusual, the mark it left behind. For a griffon it would have been muddled with everything else, but for a unicorn of magical aptitude there was something different which could be differentiated from other magics he would know. It was most certainly old, that was very clear and – pony based. It wouldn’t feel like it belonged to a pony but it was clearly derived from one. There was also something else which, despite their keen eyes, the griffons had overlooked. Indentations in the stone, cracks in the shape of two feline paws and two talons were depressed into the stone. Whoever assaulted the King was exceptionally weighted.
The King was growing impatient. “Well?”
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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Nov 17, 2012 11:26:19 GMT -5
"I don't much like griffons~", Shade replied regarding all that nastiness becoming of the King and his subjects, "Where you all know the 'basics'-I do not...", he grumbled, and then clacked a hoof at Shoel's side, "Good thing I suddenly realize I have you.". While before Shade was rather passive he didn't much like being insulted in the slightest. He kept a level head about it however.
He looked over all that was before him, exhaling deeply, feeling the magic, but also noticing the indents in the stone, "Hmm~", he overlooked the size of the prints, and considered the power of the magic. IT was not easy determining whatever this was. Apparently~ It had been a Griffon, but at the same time it felt like a very powerful Unicorn to him! It felt very ancient to him, like the art worked into the magic that had been used was long before this date in time. It just... didn't feel like it could have been a Griffon.
With a very unsure shift of his weight, he rolled his shoulders, and stood tall, "When you looked into the mask... did It seem natural, as if there was a real Griffon behind that mask? Because to me I'm rather concerned.", he faced King Whitefeather, "I will be honest~ I know there was no trinkets, or foul play in Staff-magic here... I believe that now.", he nodded, and then cleared his throat, "But there is far more to this than meets the eye...", he quietly encircled the prints, "For starters... this Griffon was very very heavy to have left marks these deep in Stone~", he cocked a brow to the king, "The magic is nothing I've seen... maybe I have read of it before but... This art form is very old."
"I hope I'm not repeating anything you've heard before... But I want to let you know.", he lowered his head, tilting his hat down over his eyes, "This was either something that looked very much like a Griffon, or was not a Griffon at all.", he tilted his head down... this was what he believed of course. There was no possibly way this could have been what THEY described, in fact his own believe sounded less crazy the more he though about it.
Nopony knows! If anything, it could have been a machine! Or some form of disguise that gave the user the appearence of a Griffon! Using magic was one thing, but powerful magic was different~ It just did not add up to what he'd been told.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Nov 24, 2012 0:17:57 GMT -5
“Not a griffon at all…?” The king asked curiously, pondering the significance. “Would rightly explain the emptiness behind the mask. Alright, pony. Take the ambassador and see what else you can churn up. I have important business to attend to.” The King waved them off as he turned and left, his guards following.
Shoal waited till the King was out of earshot, “Finally – I don’t think I took a full breath while he was here.” He breathed in deep a few times, clutching his chest. “Wooh. Alright, he didn’t launch you out of a cannon so you’re good to go. Let’s get to the library, check a few books – see if there’s something more we can learn. Check the references, I dunno, something. Then, we can go get something to eat!” He brushed up against Shade, “And you can check out books, so no excuse not to accompany me.” He glanced back to the blood stains, “So yea… let’s get out of here. Place is making me feel uneasy.”
They transitioned to great library within the center of the palace. Grand towers of books on carved stone shelves stretching wide and deep – there were few floors in fact. The grand isles stretched high and low, stuffed with books, tomes and all assortment of knowledge that the kingdom had acquired. It was also mostly inaccessible to any non-flying creature. A few landings were situated at varying levels throughout the cavern – it was on the largest that Shade was lead too. There were few griffons there, most appeared to be the librarians and a few cloistered scholarly types absorbed in whatever it is they were reading. Off to the side was one of the librarians riffling through similar tomes which appeared to be a catalog.
“So… where do we begin?”
((Sorry if its a little rushed))
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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Nov 24, 2012 0:30:49 GMT -5
(Fine by me dude.) ---
Shade looked back at the bodies, and whence the king had gone. He was still very unsure of himself, taking in his last bit of detail, mostly where the epicenter of the incident occured, he sighed, "Right.", and hurried after Shoel. King Whitefeather was an interesting Griffon, surely not the kind of Griffon Shadestride had expected, but at least it was a surprise none-the-less. He felt like there was more to it, but he much rather placed his mind at ease.
Now the library on the other hand was a much more relaxing place for him to be, normally he didn't keep company, but at the same time he had no issues with it either. Shoel was moreover just someone to help him look around when it came to the particular situation, but so far he'd proven to be an acceptional ally... maybe a friend, but that was pushing it for now. He strolled down the aisle closest to the bottom floor in relation to all else, looking about.
"Surely there must be a librarian in these parts, yes?", he looked over his shoulder, back at Shoel, and then around the area, trying to spot one, all the while shifting his eyes across the scrolls, books, and tomes for something of use, or... more causally~ Catch his eye. He was a sucker for places like these, and even though he was Devoted to MAgic, the thought of a place like this boasted plenty more new knowledges than he'd anticipated.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Nov 26, 2012 19:13:22 GMT -5
Shoal pointed a claw to the griffon behind the stack of tomes, who was currently thumbing through their pages. “Maybe them?”
The librarian looked up, their large, bird-like eye peering from the out the crease of the old book. “Yes yes? What you want?” He asked, forceful and demanding. “We’re not in the business of pony, but speak and maybe we’ll find something to fit your preference. What is it you seek?” He asked, curiously, peering down at the unicorn with an inquisitive eye. He cared not for banter, just the desire. Best ask him quick before you are ignored.
Shoal jabbed an elbow into Shade’s side, “Pst… golems or something. Ask about that. And pony shields.”
The librarian cocked an ear hole to the two. “What was that?”
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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Nov 26, 2012 19:32:01 GMT -5
Shade looked over his shoulder, idle thought about why the shielding. He made the swiftest turn of his head for the fastest, and one of the most paced demands in his life. Afterall he was normally so easy-going and reclusive at times.
"Sorry to bother~", no he wasn't, "But I am going to need all documentation works en the fields of Magical contructs, and enchantments.", though he cleared his throat, "And apparently a tome in regards to Magical shieldings.", he tilted his low hat up, getting a good look up at the bird.
When he was all said and done, turning around, he added, "Aaand most en case... If ya'ave anything on Necromancy, an Soul Bindin~"
That must have sounded very far fetch, "If not, than the latter would do.", his request turned very lightweight, he felt like he asked for too much, but in reality, this would come quite in handy... he'd laid out so many possibilities in his head... he figured it for a machine, a golemn, perhaps even a corpse? Or... combinations of the three~ It went on, but he would require all he could to satisfy him. Maybe learn a useful spell or two.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Nov 26, 2012 22:33:35 GMT -5
"Constructs... Erfson!" Squawked the librarian, calling for another. Another griffon swooped down and landed beside the the two looking ever so earnest. "Yes, yes?" He asked. "Books on constructs, soul bindings, enchantments, necromancy and shielding." "Right away." The griffon flew off again, slipping into the distance. It would take him a few moments to return. "Just a moment..."
A long, silent moment passed before the griffon Erfson returned with an assortment of books in his possession. He let them fall onto a table beside the two. Seven tomes, all large and old, at their disposal. "Here." He said before departing.
"Name?" The Librarian asked, taking up a quill. Shoal stepped forward, "Ambassador Shoal, please." The griffon scribbled the name down in a ledger. "You have two weeks with them, enjoy." He slammed the ledger shut and went about his business.
"Well, guess its a start." Shoal said glancing to the stack of books.
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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Nov 26, 2012 22:42:45 GMT -5
Just before the stamp had been punched down, and just after, those seven tomes were quickly floated off the table, and before Shade, his face went from very easy going, and kind... to a sort of knowledge-hungry determination, "Come~...", he mumbled to Shoel, "We have things to be done~"
He got like this when he faced a challenge, all serious, and less swayed by words. IT didn't make him an entirely new stallion, but it sure had a noticeable tone.
Shade would have to start with the most sensible of the selection, either relating to the contruct, or perhaps the possibility of the Necro-magic behind it. And he knew he was in for a good'ol lesson... knowing it would not be easy he'd more likely be up all night than getting his good sleep.
"Weeelll~", mid walk, he opened up the Necro-magic Tome, the rest slipping tight into his saddlebag, or floated them very close to him to keep concentration~
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Nov 28, 2012 21:16:37 GMT -5
The tome speak once a unicorn, not entirely unlike Shade in their youth. A stallion who proved that their existed life beyond that which can be calculated and perceived, so long as the spirit was right with vigor and life. This unicorn, whose name was lost to time and legend, is reported to have created the first known living golem known in Equestria. Infused with the soul another, it bound with the artificial contraption in near perfect harmony – a most unnatural union of soul and machine. The ghost, so perfect in its union, took too their mechanical prison that flesh and blood became figments of their former weakness and completely sloughed off and forgotten. Yet that is where the lesson ends, abruptly and cold. From there it went into history of the Necro-lord, the Necropolis and the mentions of the Everfree Forest.
“Anything?” Shoal asked as he pursued through some nondescript books left laying out on a nearby table. “That restaurant I mentioned should just be opening, just saying.”
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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Nov 28, 2012 21:30:04 GMT -5
Shadestride found that an unpleasent first message, skimming through the description afterward, looking for hints of spellcraft... but he found himself thinking about it all too much. He might come back to that in due time, his interest sparked a little much. But that would have to wait, there were greater concerns at hand. He kept flipping, "Shoel... we will eat soon, promise.", he mumbled. Shade took a mental note, cracking his neck to get comfy as he walked on.
In due time he was onto the next book... the shielding technique... why Shoel picked it was beyond him, but it seemed useful, and he wouldn't have thought of it if it not had been brought up. Smart bird. He slipped the necromancy tome into his saddlebag, opening the latter tome.
Now this one in particular seemed like it would have a lot more informtation in it. It wasn't too big, which led him to believe there was little gobble-gook to fill in space, and just explain history he'd read before. He knew shielding would make his life a lot easier when it came to his own defense~ He even had special ideas of how to use them~
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Dec 4, 2012 20:04:25 GMT -5
The volume was written by none other than Starswirl the Bearded, normally these tomes would be locked away in the Royal Canterlot Library but somehow this one had made its way to Royal Rocks. Perhaps a gift, or pilfered in some old conflict as a spoil of war and left forgotten in the recesses of the library. After all no griffon would consider studying a book on pony magic – it practically made them ill to even be near it, it was useless to them just as no pony would read a book on the finer points of thumbs.
Atop basic shielding for a pony and those closest to them, it went into area and city wide shielding. Something normally reserved for ponies of the Captain of the Royal Guard, in truth it was the same type of shielding Shining Armor had used to protect Canterlot during the invasion of the Changelings. The spell was simple in theory, though the formulas scribbled on the pages were long and would take time to learn. The spell, in its essence, uses magic to generate a bubble of tightly bound energy that resists kinetic and magic energy. The trouble lay in its expanse over a large area – requiring intense concentration and energy expenditure over the long term. During that time no other spell could be cast by the pony using it, to do so would drop the shield instantly. The spell was doable, but would take time to master – time they likely didn’t have.
“How about now, please don’t tell me you’re not even the least bit hungry? Veggie salad, Shade. Veggie salad. Just say it, see how it rolls off your tongue. You could be chomping into one as we speak!” Shoal enticed the pony – his own stomach growling.
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Post by Shadestride Scythe on Dec 4, 2012 22:26:23 GMT -5
Now here was something worth digging one's mind into. He always considered looking into shielding, it was neccasary to have a spell that could either stop or deflect another, expevially a magical blast, or heavy armed weapons. Maybe falling trees and rocks, or protection from the rain. It was useful in any sense he could really think about, and on top of it all written by... Him.
Starswirl the Bearded one of the most powerful, and clever unicorns to stride Equestria's landscape. A great wizard he was by the stories Umek had been told. He hardly knew what the princesses looked like, but off the bat he knew exactly who the Mage of old was. Shade with the knowledge he had a very strong, keen book in his possession, slipped the Necro-Magic tome into his saddlebag, leaving the defensive tome before his eyes.
"Hmm~", he mumbled to himself, looking aside, opening to the first page, thinking for a moment... he was a little hungry, "So long as you don't ask me to put the book down... then fine.", a smile, "I'm going to need an empty journal by the way~", Shade looked over his shoulder as he prepped away all the books into his bag, stuffed tight all but the shield tome, "I'll tell you why anywhere but here~", and like that he soon moved out of the library with some haste. Afterall... how COULD he put down this particular book? It was something he'd likely not get the opprotunity to see again whence his two weeks were up.
Like a hound on a porkchop, he went at the first page, keeping attention to where he was going, it left his reading slow, but steady, "Lead the way.", he told Shoel.
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