Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Crystal and I follow Ihra, and Crystal definitely feels something up with the heat, as he's looking over his body.

 

The heat seems to soften his body, his steps awkward.
Once they get inside the city, everything's a pleasant temperature.
"Welcome, welcome... I hope you can pardon what little we have. Nobody was expecting the Brisin fallout, but we've been running on dry reserves for a while. No trade routes, no way to farm... Many citizens are simply waiting for an easier death than the Hive Master would bring." The guard says, downtrodden.

The other guard glares at him.
"If what little we have is of interest for you and your party, I'm sure many people are willing to trade. The shops are below us, and town square is... well... in the center of town. I hope you enjoy your stay."

 

"Thank you."
I say, nodding, and waiting up for the rest of the party.
Crystal waits with me.

 

The group gets off of Rineth, Abigail seeming to enjoy the heat, looking for lava to dive into, while Katie surrounds herself in ice constantly to try and battle the high temperatures.

"Hm. A city to explore, sounds nice." I say, pulling up my hood and pulling my cloak around me; as does Stephanie. Myria keeps her scythe drawn.

 

The guards stop Myria.
"Ma'am, if you wouldn't mind laying down your arms?" They ask, careful not to be in scythe range.

There's lava everywhere for Abigail to dive into, but it's questionable if she could get back up.

Katie finds it pleasant once she enters, and Sgavrinn is right behind Artemis, not at all a fan of the heat.


The entry is a small, comfortably warm room with low light and plenty of seating. Shelves with wooden carvings decorate the room, and the exit to the rest of the city shows a quiet marketplace that's clearly seen better days, a few starving draconians laying under a market stand.

 

"I know I am." Helianthus says, "Well, if everything is good, let's get going."

I nod and float off of Rineth, summoning a small orb of water in one hand.

 

"And why would that be? I'm sure you couldn't stop the one coming to kill not only I, but those I travel with, so it's most likely a better choice for me to keep myself armed to prevent major casualties within your city." Myria says.

Abigail dives into one of the lava pools, laughing.

"Hey, this place isn't so bad!" Katie says happily, dumping some cool water over Sgavrinn.

Stephanie passes what food she has to the starving draconians, while I see what I can buy.

 

"Yeah, I guess we can get moving. Where are your targets, anyways?"


The guards seem to be quick to let you in.

"I'm sure y-you could conceal... that scythe... rrrgh..."
They kneel, pale.
"T-the hell are you..." Their partner stammers, pulling the other guard out of Myria's way.

The entirety of Brisingr is one giant lava pool. It seems she can swim to the core, but she can sense odd titanic golems moving about deeper in the lava.

This startles him, but he shakes it off and nuzzles Katie.

There's draconians selling robes, carvings, tools, and odd gadgets that attach to model weapons.

The draconian seems to be asleep, but still breathing. At least it'll be something when they wake up...

 

"A death guardian, capable of ending your life within seconds." Myria says, smiling gently.

Abigail swims toward one of the golems.

"I don't like the heat either, Sgavrinn." Katie says sympathetically.

"I think only Abigail likes it; the rest of us just have to bear it." Artemis says bluntly.

Feeling empathetic, I just hand over bags of coin, "Spend that on what you need." I say.

Stephanie checks over the draconian, to see if they're wounded or hurt in any way.

 

"Ma'am... We're stretched thin already. If you wouldn't drain the little life we have, that'd be great..."

They don't notice her, but there seems to be three.

Sgavrinn nods in agreement.
"Artemis, at least we're not outside anymore... right?"

They look at the coin awkwardly.
"All due respect, sir, but this coin doesn't help us much. There simply isn't much to go around, and our trade routes have been cut. Truly, thank you sincerely for the gesture, though."

Their scales are brittle and they're skinnier than Ihra; clearly malnourished. Their horns are broken and there's no signs of the draconian being able to use magic.

 

"I only kill those I see fit for death. It is not your time, and I shall not bring harm to your people." Myria says.

Abigail inspects them, curious.

"Yeah. I don't like the idea of falling into one of those lava pits." Artemis says, petting Sgavrinn.

"Ah, of course, no economy means no use for money. I'll see if I can get you anything useful." I say.

Stephanie looks around nervously, "Artemis!" She calls. Eventually, Artemis walks over.

"We need to do something, we can't just let this draconian die!" Stephanie says worriedly.

 

"Please, just... put away the scythe as not to scare anyone..."

Closer inspection reveals them to be deactivated and idle.

Sgavrinn shivers at the thought before following Artemis.

"There's no need, sir, but thank you. I'm one of few who aren't desperate in these times."

The draconian stirs, but never opens their eyes.

 

Myria puts the scythe on her back; still visible, but not drawn.

"Better?" She asks.


Abigail looks for what they were guarding, if anything.

"Looks like my friends are working on the desperate ones." I say, chuckling.

Artemis wraps the draconian in vines.

"This'll take a while, considering how bad they are, but it should hopefully keep them off death's doorstep." Artemis says.

"How could this happen?" Stephanie says, getting up and looking for information on what caused the draconian's to go starving.

 

"Not much, but I suppose. Enter."

Swimming around, she can't find anything other than more deactivated golems.

"I used my wages to buy preserved foods. People thought I was crazy with my stockpile; now I'm one of the few healthy ones left."

Stephanie sees Aj talking to a shopkeeper, but there's a couple draconians walking by that may also have answers.

 

Myria heads into the city.

Abigail nervously swims up to a golem and pokes it.

"Why don't you share it with the others? I mean, I guess it's every man...draconian, for himself, but surely you'd want to help a few people out?" I ask.

Stephanie walks over to me, "Got any info on what happened here?" Stephanie asks.

"Apparently their trade routes got cut off and their economy has gone to nothing. Take this COIN BAG, it might help." I say, smirking and passing Stephanie a bag of coins.

"I don't have space in my inventory for a COIN BAG, Aj." Stephanie says, smiling back, before walking over to the draconians.

"Hey, do you know why your city is in such a terrible state?" Stephanie asks.

 

@Exvhius
After seeing that everyone has caught up, Crystal and Thirteen look around to see what's what.

 

Myria sees pretty much everyone except Katie head out to the marketplace just outside.

Touching them does nothing.
...a lava plume pushes Abigail back to the surface.

"I know, and I do want to help, but... If I help them, I become them. Call me selfish, but I have my own family to look after!"


"No trade routes, no farming, no city." The citizen mutters.
"It's only a matter of time before the chronobarrier fails and we all melt into the rest of Brisingr."

________________________________

The city's pretty quiet; Aj and co. are in the marketplace, Katie's inside the entry room with Myria, and Ihra and Iruk disappear around a corner.

Ruby brings up the rear.

 

Myria heads into the marketplace as not to seem alien.

This only doubles Abigail's curiosity as she fights to get back to where she was.

"Well, that's kind of what I meant. As long as you're looking after someone that isn't just you, you're doing good." I say, smiling.

"What happened to your trade routes and farming? Why is Brisingr melting?" Stephanie asks, curious.

 

As I look around, I ask Crystal,

"Where are you going to go?"
"I dunno. Market doesn't seem very interesting. I'll probably go where Ihra went."
"Alright. Well, I'll accompany AJ and his friends in the market. Be safe."

I start walking towards the market.

"You too!"
Crystal trails after Ihra and Iruk, jogging.

 

Myria sees everyone else there.

The plume was natural. There's no abnormal cause.

"Thanks, I guess."

"Reflet, the goddess of Brisingr, died. When she did, so did her lands. This all but cut us off from the rest of this world."

Crystal finds Ihra and Iruk in a small park, Ihra tending to a wilted garden and Iruk resting on a park bench.

Thirteen finds most everyone else in the marketplace, inquiring about the bad situation here.