You indicate your readiness, and your escort pushes open the door. On the other side of the door is a large open room. The floor and walls are made of cement blocks, although there is enough dirt on the floor that if it wasn't brushed away in some placed you wouldn't know. The ceiling is made of solid stone, which has been chipped away at some points to allow for man-sized creatures to walk upright. The same glowing ore laced through stone lights this room as well.
The boy walks toward one of the doors on the right side of the room, but before he even gets there, the door swings open and a man walks through. He's wearing a blue hooded robe that conceals his entire body. As he enters, he shakes his head in such a way that the hood falls back to reveal his face.
To your left and right, the walls are lined with crates stacked nearly to the ceiling. An open door across the room leads to a more dimly lit area, and all you can make out from where you're standing are a few cots. To your right are two other doors, each made of wood and closed. To your left is a large vault door, one that you might expect to see in a bank, with a large lock mechanism.
There are three tables in this room. One is empty, a young couple sits at another, and two men who appear to be guards are seated at the third. The young couple is eating a meal, while the two guards are playing something similar to chess. Each guard is wearing huntsman armor, but neither appears to be carrying anything more than a pistol.
A hush suddenly falls over the room when you enter. The guards' hands fall below the table, and you presume that they have at least rested them on their sidearms. The young couple, each perhaps in their teens, are on the edge of their seats as if to sprint for cover at any second.
"Relax!" your guide calls out. "I bring friends! Where is Dukav?"
One of the guards replies, "Friends? Who are they? And where's the rat? Weren't you supposed to find the rat?" He points at the teenage boy at the other table. "Get Dukav."
The boy walks toward one of the doors on the right side of the room, but before he even gets there, the door swings open and a man walks through. He's wearing a blue hooded robe that conceals his entire body. As he enters, he shakes his head in such a way that the hood falls back to reveal his face.
"I knew you were here," he says in a monotone voice. "Have you come seeking enlightenment? Or just safety from the dangers of a corrupt world?"
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ReplyDeleteMr. Dukav...I supoose...
ReplyDeleteSee, enlightenment would be the answer to your question. More precisely we are here on behalf of the Madcap Company, whom property you all now occupying, to report the strange successes that happened here. We are not here to disturb you or your fellow companions in any manner. Could you help us? How about the corpses? Why people flee from this compound?
"Yes, I am known as Dukav," he replies. "As for the corpses, they are the bodies of those who would seek enlightenment without the strength in their hearts to claim it. Thus they failed the test."
ReplyDelete"And those who would flee? I know only of those who tried to force my people to leave and ran when they met resistance. If you have come seeking enlightenment as you say, then you are welcome here. If you have come to force my people to return to the corrupted lives they once knew, as others from your company attempted, then you should leave now and never return."
Almost sounds like a threat.
ReplyDeleteOk, so we can either play along, or start kicking in teeth. But my intuition says the guy in the blue hood isn't messing around. My intuition ALSO tells me he's not in charge. So somewhere there is someone bigger and badder than Dukav.
(wishpering to Kendrik): "we need to know what is happening here before shooting everybody down. Do you agree on trying to infiltrate in this organization by accepting his 'enlightenment'?"
ReplyDeleteMyra, picking up on the whispering between the two guys, nods in agreement and responds before Kendrick can consent. "We have, as my friend stated before, come seeking enlightenment. What steps must we take in order to achieve it?"
ReplyDeleteDukav smiles and nods. "Of course. I could sense your desire for enlightenment. You must first prepare yourself mentally. There will be a time of meditation for you. Then, you must pass the test." He gestures toward the vault door when he mentions the test. "All will be explained in due time. I will retire to my chambers. Join me there when you are ready to begin the meditation."
OOC Sorry. I thought I had responded to Quim, but apparently I didn't because it's not on here. LOL YES, infiltrate. We start kicking tail now and we'll be doing more harm than good. Let's see if we can get to the root of this operation, and get more information on these guys.
ReplyDeleteIf things get too hot, it will be easier to fight our way out than it will be to fight our way in.This place I'm assuming is fortified in the event of an outside attack. Even if our sole purpose is to attack and destroy (which I know it's not,) we could still hit them harder, deal a heavier blow, and disrupt them longer from deeper inside the compound.
Dukav nods and turns away, returning to his room.
ReplyDeleteYour guide, silent while Dukav was in the room, pipes up again. "So, you want something to eat? Dukav says you're welcome here, so we'll treat you like one of our own, right guys?"
Both of the guards nod in agreement, although they don't look incredibly happy about the statement.
I try to carouse with the people in the room to figure out what's going on in here? and what that test is about.
ReplyDeleteThe guards are visibly irritated by your company. They don't say anything rude, but their facial expressions make it quite easy to tell.
DeleteThe young couple seems quite shy and they don't speak much. Their eyes dart back and forth between you and the guards whenever you address them.
Meanwhile, the guide moves to one of the crates when nobody responds to his offer of food and begins rummaging through it. Finally, he retrieves some sort of protein or candy bar and unwraps it. "Suit yourselves, I guess," he says.
OCC. Josh, next time I see Dukav I'll See Aura him.
ReplyDeleteSure thing... just remind me if I forget.
DeleteAnd the next time I see Dukav, I'll kick him in his lady parts. LOL (Not really.) I would also like to know what this test is all about. I pose the question to the room: "Alright. Who's ready for study hall?"
ReplyDeleteKendrick gets mostly blank stares in response to his question, but the young boy is the only one to respond. "Like in grade school?" he says. One of the guards gives him an annoyed look at his question.
ReplyDeleteMyra whispers quietly, "Something tells me they won't talk in a group like this. Maybe we should get one of them alone."