Patchwork Universe

Jones · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 12:10 pm Post subject:

Riding along beside Larkin Jane bent to murmur to the young thief:
"We seem to have collected rather a lot of people for your two man job, and some of them are very odd." She glanced from Peri to Lilac, to Rose. "Do you think we should send some of them on their way... or is there anything we can do to turn it to our advantage? If there's anything valuable in there you know we've got a bunch of willing hands to carry it away..."

Her eyes lit up at the thought of further larceny.

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin bit his lip as he thought. Looking up at the mounted woman he whispered back "Well, Peri and that Rose girl seem alright, they ain't gunna try nuffin. Besides I don't think either of them would want part of the reward for the job so we may as well keep them with us, if they want to help then they can."

Larkin then quickly glanced at the giant of a being who had recently confessed a love for dancing. Turning back to Jane he said "It on the other hand, I don't trust. But who knows what it'll do if we send it away. We don't want it going insane and rippin our heads off now do we?" Larkin thought for a second and then added "We've got another room to move onto after this one. And we're gunna have to lug some stones or somethin around with us so we could get it over there," Larkin gestured to Lilac "to carry them for us."

"I don't think there's gunna be much worth lootin anyways. But if there is then we may as well. She ain't gunna miss it is she?"

By now the group had found themselves approaching one of the large buildings, upon which was clearly shown the number 8.

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 3:21 pm Post subject:

The scarabs could smell fresh meat, but their master's will was strong. Soon, they would be fed. But not now.

With an almost inaudible rustling of wings, they withdrew further from the edge of the roof, ensuring that they could not be seen from the streets below.

OOC: The scarabs enter from the 'Storm of Wings' thread.

liason · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 4:23 pm Post subject:

From another nearby rooftop, the proceeding were being watched by something that looked a bit like a stone lunchbox with a telescope.

It was making plans.

Or rather, it in combination with those of its friends that made up the remaining portions of its mind were making plans.

But before it did anything else, it was going to spend a bit longer watching.

Karl Groever · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 1:53 am Post subject:

As the group edged closer to the building, Karl was suddenly struck by a sense of deja vu. It was momentarily so strong that he let out an audible gasp. And then, as quick as it had emerged, the feeling was gone, like a momentary glitch that had pulsed through the network of his mind.

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin glanced at Karl as the group arrived at the room. He was also struck by a feeling, except his was that of being watched. Glaring suspiciously around himself he put it down to his wariness of the demented giant behind him.

Quickly he went into his pack and searched through before pulling out a key with the number 8 printed upon it, matching that of the door. This he quickly pushed into the lock and turned it with an audible click.

Now he turned back to the group and pushed open the door, revealing the area within.

The Janitor · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 5:21 pm Post subject:

The room was cramped, and the only feature was a curious set of eight shelves. Each shelf was only a few inches high but several feet deep.

On seven of the shelves sat large square slabs. Attached to each shelf was a colourful label. On closer inspection, each label could be seen to be an elaborate picture.

The top label depicted a complicated mass of machinery. The next was an island blasted by storms and topped with a mighty castle. Below this was the empty shelf which had a label of a city surrounded by a desert. The next slab had a label that gave the impression of a sophisticated laboratory. This was followed by a picture of a Medici chapel. Looking down further was a label showing a town swarming with cats. The next gave the forbidding image of two dark towers surrounded by moats of blue fire. The final slab's label was that of a vast red fortress.

Although it was hard to see while they were on the shelves, each slab itself had an image on the top similar to the label on the shelf.

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin strolled in and looked briefly round the room. He had half been hoping for some sort of loot but unfortunately there was nothing but these slabs. He glared at all of the shelves and made a point of memorising the differant pictures. Shrugging to himself he decided to see what the next room had in store.

He then went into his pack once again and pulled out a sheet of paper from the Gods. Pointing at the Laboratory and the Towers he said "Them, they're the ones we want."

Filing the sheet away he then turned to Lilac and said "Hey, big guy, if yer gonna come with us can yer be some help? Give us a hand and grab them will yer."

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject:

Slowly, the giant figure turned towards Larkin. Its voice had acquired a strange undertone which hinted at some strong emotion, though it was unclear what that might be.

"I can give you... many hands...", it rumbled.

With an abrupt tearing sound, the leather covering its sides split in several places. Giant tentacles leapt out and seized all seven of the slabs, lifting them off the shelves with apparent ease.

OOC: I'm a little uncertain as to where recent events have left the rest of the characters. Can I reasonably assume that everyone is now inside the building (including Buccaneer and Karkadann)? Or are some people still outside?

Jones · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:38 pm Post subject:

Jane turned to stare at the creature in horror. But the rose maiden was regarding her companion with an expression akin to pride.

"You see, Lilac, I told you your mother had given you your tentacles for a reason," she said cheerfully. "It's so you can always lend a hand to a friend."

She beamed at the others.

[ooc: Karkadann and Buccaneer remain outside the door.]

Guest · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

Karl was stunned by the giant's sudden transformation. But coming so soon after his last encounter with a monstrous beast, he held his composure. The pepperbox was still held, clammily, in his hand. But it only held a pair of shots, and were they even likely to do much good against a creature of such might as this giant appeared to be? He could only hope that the situation would simmer down, and that they might be able to regain the slabs from him without the need for concerted co - ercion. But, somehow, he doubted it.
Beyond even this, though, yet deeper fears were at play. For, before the beast had grabbed the slabs, Karl's eyes had picked out what they represented with an archaeologist's attention to detail. And he had been unnerved again. For the City in the desert looked forbiddingly familiar...

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 194 Location: The Slums

Larkin didn't seem overly surprised at the sudden appearance of tentacles. If anything he had seemed to be expecting it just a little as he nodded slightly at their appearance. He was however incredibly worried and more than a little frightened. On the other hand he didn't really want to show this and in fact that monster reminded Larkin of his old friend Davvo when they first met. It also seemed as if Lilac had been a little confused about himself so Larkin quickly thought of something that might actually work.

Raising his voice he yelled "Look yer big lug, we only need them two." Larkin pointed at the slabs he had indicated before. "So yer can just put them other lot down, yer stupid great lump."

He arranged his face into what he hoped was mild annoyance and pointed at the shelves with the tip of his knife (which had once again been drawn at something approaching the speed of sound). He held this pose and hoped that it would respond.

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 12:28 am Post subject:

Lord Doomshadow had known from the start that this world was different. Certainly, if it belonged to a story, that story must be an extraordinarily boring one. Endless rows of identical, featureless buildings, and a few annoying stone daemons? This was no fairy tale.

But it was only once he had met the others that he began to understand. A motley group of individuals, lacking in any sense of aesthetic consistency or moral purpose - they could not be characters in any story of which he could conceive. Clearly, they did not originate in this world. But they said they had a "job" to do...

It was obvious. They were the minions of the gods who had plagued him ever since his arrival in this patchwork multiverse, forcing him into one humiliating situation after another... The gods who, he was now almost certain, had long ago seized the land of stories for themselves, and intended simply to toy with him for a while before plucking off his wings and smashing him beneath their booted feet.

But they had underestimated him. Gods had never understood the Doomshadows. Here, at last, was a chance to strike back, to interrupt their plans and seize the power for himself... He could not let it slip.

Besides, he was tired of pretending to be "Lilac Warble", tired of being patronised by these pathetic creatures. He had made a list. All insults would be revenged. In time.

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 12:31 am Post subject:

Turning away from Larkin, the monster pointed at the door with one of its unencumbered arms.

"Look!", it bellowed. "A swarm of death beetles!"

The doorway was black with a cloud of angry scarabs. They ground their mandibles with rage as they fought their way through the narrow gap, desperate to reach the living bodies they could smell within...

OOC: The scarabs will concentrate on attacking Karl. Any which pass Jane or Peri may try to grab a bite en route, but they will make no attempt to harm Rose Briar, Larkin or Doomshadow. I'm assuming that Peri is inside the room with everyone else.

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 12:33 am Post subject:

Larkin felt a sudden pain in his chest, as if something was trying to eat its way into his flesh.

Glancing down, he could see his jacket writhing and bulging around one of the pockets.

The one where he had stowed the monster's gift.

The hideous thing that it had insisted on calling a 'buttercup'...