Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"I feel bad for him then. I wasn't born into royalty; royal blood isn't exactly 'a thing' here. I earned my place," I say, "The strong prevail over the weak. It only makes sense you'd want the strongest as your royalty, instead of following some watered-down bloodline of a weak family."

 

"Hi!"
Crystal smiles.


"My mistake."
I say aloud.
"I might need to work on this for a bit."
I hit the dent again, and again, and again.

 

“All due respect, as you far exceed us both, he is much better in combat than I. Our family isn’t known for being terribly strong, at that, but most demons don’t follow the code of strength rites because of Atavul’s atrocities. I have only the utmost respect for you and your kin, but we wish not to be associated with someone who starts mortal wars on a whim.”

Avis blinks, seeming a bit annoyed. She shuffles backwards a bit before jumping down to a lower level and sitting near the edge.
“You might need to give her more time before she lets you close. There’s only so much I can do.” Linoa whispers.


“You’re going to make the basement cave in at this rate.” They comment, slightly muffled as the shelf tips onto them.
You have made a small gap between the panel and one of the other ends, though. A very small gap.

 

"Oh... okay."
Crystal sits down on the floor.


"Then I'll switch it up."
I try to see if any part of my hand can stick in the gap.

 

"I wouldn't call them wars, more like...conquering a species." I idly comment, the city now fairly close.

 

“If it still is a work in progress, it’s a war. Regardless, I think you underestimate him a touch too sorely.”

Avis seems a bit more calm, jumping down to an even lower level.


No, but the edge of your sword might.

 

Crystal starts melting into the floor.


I jam my sword perfectly in the gap, hoping to make it bigger.

 

"Oh?" I ask, doubtful.

 

“Just a touch.” Arkclal sighs. “Just the slightest touch. I assure you he’s about as dull as he seemed to be. He used to fight as a gladiator for a living, but he quit when he found out Atavul had an eye on him.”

Avis hesitates, glancing around nervously.


You can just barely get it into the gap, but you can’t leverage it to make any progress towards prying the hatch open.

 

"I can respect that," I say, nodding, "Hopefully this Atavul problem won't be a problem for much longer though."

 

Crystal tries to look at whatever Avis is looking at.


I try slamming my sword into the gap to try and make the gap bigger.

 

"I would like to warn you, though... Atavul has, or at least used to, four advisers. Real pain to negotiate anything with. None of them are laughing stocks in a fight, either. He's probably changed them since the start of the war, but there was Rose, Chroma, Amber, and Silas."

This seems to freak Avis out, and she retreats out of sight again.
"I have no idea what that was about, but this is pretty much the norm with her." Linoa mumbles.


You succeed in getting your blade stuck in the gap, though it might be the slightest bit bigger if you manage to pull it out.

 

"Take out the advisors to weaken him. Got it." I say, understanding.

 

“Again, that list is from before the war started. I do not know who’s left as diplomatic ties were cut, but you clearly understood the message.”

 

I give a thumbs up as I approach the outskirts of the city, a few rougher-looking Shadows giving Arie and Arkclal the stinkeye.

 

"I'll wait, then..."


I try pulling it out, then jamming it in again.

 

Arkclal avoids eye contact, whereas Arie doesn’t seem to be taking any hints and lets out a yawn.

After about five minutes of silently sitting around, Arie pokes her snout back over the edge of the walkway.


You can’t get your blade out. It’s wedged in extremely tight.

 

I stand a little taller than before as I head through the outskirts, thugs and women of the night seeming commonplace in the rougher areas. A guarded wall seems to reside at the end of the outskirts, likely to separate the lower-classed members of society from the normal civilian population. A poor looking, scruffy and rough thug steps out of an alley once he sees Arkclal and Arie - wielding a makeshift shank - though fades back into it once he sees me at the front.

 

Crystal greets her with a smile.


I try to see if it can get any leverage with the hatch.

 

Arie curiously looks back towards the thug despite continuing on, Arkclal keeping the pace.

Crystal can hear her tail swishing back and forth, though she doesn’t otherwise move.


You can’t, though your sword seems more eager to bend than the hatch seems eager to move.