IC: Sanctuary REVAMPED

[Tewi_Inaba]

Pine Grove

Zena felt much more confident in their chances of stopping the undead monstrosity now that they had formed a well calculated plan. The elf paladin was ready to give her life for the sake of the people, but with the help of her new friends she might not have too. Zena commanded her house and the beast slowed it's march forward and came to a steady stop. If they needed to buy materials from the merchant then it only made since to stop and do so BEFORE such items were actually needed. "Lucky for us they showed up. But why is a wagon in this neck of the woods? there aren't any cities or villages in this direction and surely they aren't going after the dragon. Could it be they are simply lost?" Zena asked, not expecting an answer from anyone. Zena had already spent most of her money at the festival helping saru remember why it was he came to the city and buying food. Hopefully the fox yaju had enough coin on her to help pay for the rope they needed.

Interior | Chronomancer's Tower

"Why indeed" said Seki in response to the boy's question. "where it me i would use the power to go back in time and alter the past. But all he ever talks about is the future. But what he does with the book isn't any concern of mine. So long as i get what i want i couldn't' care less what he uses it for." The girl grew a bit more suspicious the deeper the dove into the underground. She didn't say anything for now as it made perfect sense for such an artifact to be kept hidden so deep within the tower but she stayed alert and didnt' let down her guard.

[Zekai]

Pine Grove

Zero followed Zena's lead and stopped running. Zero is panting hard but slowly, due to not only running but using Aeromancy at the same time during the entire period, it's obvious to say that it worn him out. "I can so go for once of Bayuu's apples right now." He said to himself as he bends forward with his hands on his knees to catch his breath. Zero heard Zena talk about the cart. "Most likely merchants that saw us running after the dragon and maybe thought it was a chance for some profit." He said catching his breath.

[Tewi_Inaba]

Sanctuary | Aftermath

The rubble had settled and the smoke had cleared, but for the court mage and his assistant there was still much to do. Bayuu had managed to get Molack's heart to start beating again thus saving his life, but he was sill unconscious on the ground. Bayuu hd made a few extra apple to help recharge the court mage's energy and allow him to keep preforming magic well after he had reached his limits. The dragon oil left behind by Zero was a big help as well. The court maged used his magic on some of the buildings to slowly turn back the hands of time thus fixing a few of the areas that took the most damage. this magic however would not be able to turn back the hands of time for any injured people but atleast he was clearing most of the rubble.

Eventually the duo came across a girl with black hair and two male bodies. One of the men was already dead but it didn't seem as though the rubble had killed him. The gash mark on his neck showed his death likely wasn't' caused by the falling buildings or the blast of the dragon itself. But finding out what happened here was a job for the advocates not for a time wizard. Luckily for the girl the fall had caused the knife to fall out of her hand and it was now hiding away under some rubble It would take them a bit of time to find the weapon and longer to figure out who exactly had used it.

"Are you alright?" said a soft feminine voice to the black haired girl. Bayuu the plant girl had freed the girl from the fallen debris and was already hard at work fixing up her wounds. She already looked exhausted but she didnt' stop or slow down for even a moment as she raced to save the poor girl's life.

[Alayosho]

Sanctuary | Aftermath

Mateveivh was dangerously still. relaxed. The world was fuzzy. Something was touching her? She felt okay, maybe? Her senses and thoughts were disjointed.

"Are you alright?"

Who are you? Mateveivh's mind questioned, but her lips wouldn't move. Her mouth opened as she gazed at the plant girl. She could feel the mixture of pain and soothing as her wounds warped and healed from the girl's magic. The poor plant looked wilted and ragged. Mateveivh was crossed between worry for the creature and disdain. She couldn't quite process the girl was healing her, but she knew the girl was worried. Mateveivh didn't have anything against the Yun. They were sweet people, generally, and none of them were men. They weren't poisoned by the thoughts "civilized" men and women were. They had no greed, little desire for the things of others. Such a sweet little girl. Mateveivh reached her arm upward to touch the plant girl's cheek. What an adorable creature....

Mateveivh slipped out of consciousness again. Her wounds were healing, but her vigor was still sapped from having a building half-fall on her. She seemed to be getting better, though. Her instinct was to cling to the plant girl, seeking comfort. This was the first time she'd been so horribly interrupted, so she wasn't paying attention to her knife, or what she had just done with it. She forgot about the men she'd led to the alley.

A minute or two later Mateveivh came to again, able to barely form the word "What?--" to the plant girl in a slight gasp, unable to finish the rest of her sentence.

[WriggleRid3r]

Automaton Workshop | Chronomancer's Tower - Outskirts of Pine Grove | Time: 4:08 PM

---

Lavender was treated to the coolest thing she has ever seen. Various automated machines scurried around what looked like a giant factory, busy creating replicas of themselves or repairing themselves. Gears were turning; furnaces were being fueled to belch fire and melt ores to be turned into ingots which would then be used to create the same brass material that formed the automatons... this automated, self-sufficient system, encapsulated deep in this tower... it amazed Lavender to no end.

One of the automatons scurried by Lavender. It was such a cute little thing, carrying what looked like a gear to the destination only it knows at the moment... it still made Lavender flinch and take a step back. Her anxiety grew further when the said spider automaton paused as if it noticed something, and turned around to face Lavender.

"H- hello." Lavender sheepishly greeted the spider, bending down a little bit to maintain eye contact with the spider's rotating gyros with a red gem that sparkled like an eye of sorts.

---

River | Near Tenma's Court

---

Soon after turning around, Takeshi heard the rustle of clothes being taken off, a splash, and a satisfied sigh from Kazeane. It seems she have finally relieved herself of her arousal by the torrent of cold water from the river.

"Aaaaaah, that feels so much better!" Kazeane cheered. "You can turn around now, Takeshi!"

[Kristia]

Pine Grove


"A traveling merchant has the eye of adventure, always going where someone can obtain an useful tool for the journey" Nera spoke while checking the details of her ice hook "As Zero just said, they surely saw the undead beast and us" she said opening her pocket and taking the gold coins she had left from her payment with Eatos "Might as well be equipped with what we need". The fox yaju took one of the coins and moved it to see its shine with the light they had from the sun "Although using these as projectiles can be good too"

[S121]

Interior | Chronomancer's Tower

Azeruk quietly thought about what the girl had said about her employer. This employer gave off a rather ominous feel for Azeruk as the girl spoke about him, about how he was always talking about the future. Sure, altering time was what a chronomage did, but the thought of a man obsessed with changing something for the future felt a little odd to him. He wasn't going to say anything about the man just yet, but he did want to at least know more about this man.

"So who is your employer? What is he like?", Azeruk asked the girl.





Automaton Workshop | Chronomancer's Tower - Outskirts of Pine Grove | Time: 4:08 PM

For the span of about five seconds, the mechanical spider stared up at her and was completely motionless, but when it identified Lavender as the girl they were ordered to protect, it turned back around and skittered off to its previous destination, a guardian much like the one leading lavender that was waiting by one of the workbenches. it seemed this particular guardian was waiting for a gear for one of its elbow joints.





River | Near Tenma's Court

Now that Takeshi was given the okay to do so, he removed his gaze from the sky and turned around to face Kazeane, who was looking much less distressed than before. Takeshi simply sat on a large rock near the water's edge before crossing his legs and relaxing.

"Feeling a little less hot and bothered?", Takeshi asked Kazeane.

[WriggleRid3r]

Automaton Workshop | Chronomancer's Tower - Outskirts of Pine Grove | Time: 4:08 PM

---

After staring at her for a bit, the spider automaton just... left her, scurrying towards its' original destination. Lavender chased after it to find another of the statuesque metal man awaiting repair. Multiple of the similar looking spider automatons crawled around the giant, performing repairs so that it can continue performing its' work.

"Uh- um..." Lavender fidgeted, taking careful, curious steps around. "I- I don't know what to do... everything looks so busy and complicated... do I... what do I do..."

---

River | Near Tenma's Court

---

"Thank god... I thought I was going to just pounce at you at any moment." Kazeane, returning to her jovial self, joked around. The continuous downstream shrouded her body, although not enough to let Takeshi know how slender and yet curvaceous Kazeane was as she gracefully swam in the river. "Damn, who would've thought... a herb that makes your body heat up. So much strange things are in this world... kinda still mad that father won't let me go out on an adventure though."

[Tewi_Inaba]

Interior | Chronomancer's Tower

As the two traveled the boy had more and more questions for her. For the most part she seemed to openly answer any question that was asked. However his last question was met with the waving of her finger. "Curiousty killed the cat. I wouldn't be much of a mersinari if i told you that. But you've been a good sport so i'll give you a hint. He's one of only three chronomancers in the world who know the books location. One of which was your late master."

Azeruk may or may not have known the other two chronomancers in question depending on how much information his master had given him. The other two chronomancers were Odion the court mage of Sanctuary and Seki's employer. But even if he was clueless his necklace might have been able to tell him. "We've been walking for some time. How much further is the book?"

Sanctuary | Aftermath

The city had taken a hit but thing had finally calmed down for the most part. The panic ceased and all that was left was too clean up. Thankfully Odion and Bayuu weren't workiing alone any longer. Eatos had sent plenty of healers and workers to restore the city and her people back to a fit state. Poor Bayuu had passed out from all the stress she put her body under. Odion wasn't in a much better state himself. Both of them had overused their powers to near fetal extents and the both desperately needed a rest.

Mateveivh's body had been restored and her life spared. She would wake up eventually and feel just fine, but the whole ordeal was bound to have left her drained of energy. Several high ranking advocates had been sent to the area which the dragon had attacked both to investigate and to prevent any further attacks were the dragon to suddenly return. Luckily for Mateveivh, the murder of the man whom had been following her was considered low priority for the time being and thus it's investigation was postponed, at least for a few hours. The girl was swiftly taken to a nearby temple along with several other wounded people to rest and recover.

[Alayosho]

Sanctuary | Temple

Mateveivh opened her eyes to a familiar sensation. Being weak and battered. Thus was the life of a slave. This felt different however. She heard people around her groaning in pain. Caretakers ushering the displaced and broken to their areas. She picked her body up with some effort and looked about. She was greeted by a Care taker who assured her that she was going to be just fine. Mateveivh inquired what had happened and the caretaker explained a building had fallen on or near her during the dragon attack. Dragon attack?

Mateveivh began to panic. Something like this was bound to bring some high-ranking advocates and other sort's she'd rather not run into. Mateveivh assured the caretaker she was fine and got to her feet. She'd lived her life in a similar state for much longer than she'd actually been free. She commended the nurse on a job well done and hobbled out of the temple in a hurry. She had to escape. But why?

Mateveivh began to make her way back to her alley. She had to find the evidence and get rid of it. While she was out of sight of other people she took the form of a common man she'd spent a degree of time attempting to corrupt. He was a good person though. He never tried to hurt Mateveivh or tell her how to live her life. She let him live and spent time near him, learning to steal his appearance for when she was in such a situation. As that man, she made her way toward her alley in hopes of finding or disposing of the evidance.

[Cucoo5]

Pine Grove

Aion simply watched, still bemused that there were people here that had followed the dragon and were in need of supplies. As the group spoke among themselves, Aion made another quip towards Achlys who was arranging things in the cart for her customers to browse. "Seems your little scheme is going to work after all. I still think you're crazy on doing this, though."

"Oh shush! It's only crazy if it doesn't work, and I recall that being words you love to live by."

"Tch. Anyway, here comes one, looks like a Yaju." Achlys shrugged and then addressed the woman. "Hello adventure! Is there anything you might need?"

[Kristia]

Pine Grove


Nera was already taking her bag of coins and handed it to the merchant "I need most, if not all the rope you got and two empty vials with their corks" she said showing one of her own as an example "Also a supply of throwing knives would be great if it is in your stock" the Yaju asked not minding of the cost of the materials she needed. The fox was used to the monetary system that their culture had, yet she usually survived by hunting and scouting.

Although the yaju handed quite the quantity of gold coins, she had stashes hidden around the different terrains and bank accounts in the case of needing money, living for almost 20,000 years had given the black and white vixen enough time to amass her now present savings.

[Cucoo5]

Pine Grove

Aion intercepted the bag before Achlys could open it and gave her a look that told her to continue with business. "Well... I have many different grades of rope and I do recall there being quite the collection of weapons thanks to my mercenary friend here." Aion shot her yet another glance as he continued inspecting the coins. "Let's see... we have Firebrand rope, quite effective as a weapon... Twi'ni rope, Julirha, Muliv..." As she dug through the wares, Aion slowly pulled out an extremely fine chain of silvery metal and a bundle of knives from the pile and handed to the fox Yaju.

"Mithril rope. Technically a chain but it's so fine it behaves as rope. These knives are of my own take on Altean traditional smithing. Just the right weight distribution for easy handling." He then tossed Achlys the satchel and leaned back again. "By the way, how some rope and throwing knives are going to help against a Bone Dragon?"

[Kristia]

Pine Grove


The black and white yaju inspected each of the ropes and looked at the mithril rope ("This will hold our collective weight") she thought and then inspected the knives, taking one of the white weapons, the vixen hurled it around her fingers and juggled it on her paw, testing its weight ("Fast and silent, then adding their durability and we got at the least a couple of dozen bodies per knife").

Hearing about how to deal with the dragon, Nera gave the merchant a smirk "These things won´t destroy that behemoth, but rather they will be useful to get up there" she spoke gesturing to the bone dragon. "The mithril rope will be able to hold the weight of our group and the knives can be used either to deal with guards or as climbing spots" she explained

[S121]

Interior | Chronomancer's Tower

To be honest, Azeruk did not really know who the other Chronomancers were, but as he tried to guess their names, he heard his mentor once again.

(All will be revealed soon... Keep wondering... and wandering...)

"It might take a while. It's a secret after all.", Azeruk said to the girl as they came across an area where the hall split off into five other hallways.

In truth, Azeruk had no idea where the book was located. All he knew was that they were in one of the older parts of the tower. One could see where the metal plating on the floor and walls looked a little more aged than the rest of the tower, though it still looked like it would stand for many more years to come. After they had reached the center junction of the hallways, he turned around and decided to ask a more personal question. After all, he knew absolutely nothing about this girl.

"This is rather abrupt, but what did he promise you when you took this job?", Azeruk asked the girl.





Automaton Workshop | Chronomancer's Tower - Outskirts of Pine Grove | Time: 4:08 PM

As Lavender stood there confused about what to do next, the metal man that had been guiding her so far walked over to a nearby group of spider guardians and suddenly it let a low, mechanical groan. Surprisingly it seemed that he mechanical creatures understood the creature, as they had all scurried off to the room's exit. After that, the mechanical humanoid walked back over to Lavender and patiently waited beside her. Meanwhile, the mechanical guardian that was being repaired simply glanced over to Lavender and gave a low, gravely hum before turning its attention back to the mechanical spiders repairing it.





River | Near Tenma's Court

"One could only be so lucky.", Takeshi jokingly said to Kazeane before considering what she had said.

Takeshi remained rather silent as he considered what she had said, both her request as well as what he had contemplated earlier. After a short while, Takeshi finally spoke again, this time seeming a little less happy-go-lucky and a little more calm.

"Kaze... You know that can't happen. It's a dangerous world out there, and as today has shown us, even I would not be able to protect you from everything. Even if you were to go out with your father's blessing, there would be a good chance that you could be hurt or killed, and I would not be able to stop it. Your father forbids you from going out because of the fact that there are creatures, bandits, and much worse out there.", Takeshi said to Kazeane.