Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"I appreciate your zeal." Pierre says with a concerned look, before turning to the fire guardian who spoke up earlier.
"Anyhow... if you all are ready, I can take you to your living quarters for the next few days."

 

"We are." The fire guardian confirms, nodding.

 

"Please, follow me." Pierre says, turning away and walking towards what looks to be the grand entryway.

 

The groups follow, air guardians, bat demons and other flight-capable beings taking to the air in the process.

 

As they enter, the appearance of the palace shifts from a rather simple looking castle to a well-ornamented canvas of prisms. It appears rather plain to the blind, but they notice patterns of engravings going down each hallway - as if the designers accounted for something to help echolocators navigate.

Pierre takes the group down a long hall to the right, turning around and walking backwards after a minute.
“Just a reminder, you’ll only be spending three days here. Don’t get too comfortable, unless you’re able enough to work for The Silver King.” He says. “You’ll be able to build your own houses when going elsewhere, anyways. If you want, The Silver King has offered one guard per individual for security. It won’t be necessary, especially if you refrain from making enemies, but the option is there should you wish.”

 

"I-I'd like a guard." A timid air guardian says.

"Will we be given proper resources, or access to proper resources to build our abodes?" A death guardian asks.

 

“You can pick out a guard to accompany you after initiation.” Pierre says, looking at the air guardian briefly before turning to the death guardian.
“You’ll have access to the needed resources, but whether you are given them or asked to work for them depends on the location.”

 

The death guardian nods, while the air guardian seems to stick close to a water guardian; presumably a friend.

 

After a while, Pierre takes a left into a large commons area. The castle around it seems to just consist of living quarters, split among two stories with several stairways up. Those capable of flight are more than easily able to bypass said stairs entirely, though.

Pierre takes a quick head count as he stops in the middle of the open-sky commons.
"Don't be excessively rowdy. If you break something, you get to replace it. Some things have a hefty price attached to them, so try not to wind up two years' wage in debt before you even get out of here."

 

There seems to be a few guardians and demons missing from the original group.

"Where should we go if we require food?" An earth guardian asks.

 

Pierre clicks his pen twice, a nearly invisible pulse of light rippling through the palace in attempt to track the stragglers.

“Go back a bit the way we came. The doors were concealed, but the guard office and mess hall are the nearest two doors. If you can’t find them, they’re being maintained or closed.”

 

A bat demon seems to have got lost, though appears to be making her way back to the group through echolocation and newly-adjusted sight. A pair of earth and air guardians seems to have taken a wrong turn, while a group of four guardians seems to be back where they were dropped off; still playing their card game unaware of the group moving on. One succubus seems to have taken respite in the living quarters, seeming to be tired both in physical exhaustion and of the tour.

The earth guardian seems to steady herself on the floor, closing her eyes for a moment as she faces in the direction she came from. A soft vibration reverberates around her feet, before she stands normally again and opens her eyes; seeming satisfied.

 

Guards promptly reveal themselves near the stragglers, offering to help guide them to the group.
The guard overwatching the card game waits until the end of the round, seeming in no hurry.

“A map of this wing of the castle is in each room, if you forget or want more specific directions.”

 

The bat demon seems rather appreciative of the guard, rubbing her eyes; as is the pair of lost guardians.

The card game seems quite intense, a few dice coming into play to determine the outcomes of randomised attacks as alliances are tested between the two pairs. Defences lay battered in a graveyard pile as the summoned creatures that were once protected by them begin to lose health, leaving their overseers open to attack as desperation sets in. A wave of shock is sent through the group as the forest guardian rolls a high number, seeming to destroy the strongest monster of the water guardian; it's tentacled defence disappearing from the battlefield. They swiftly capitalise on the hole in the water guardian's defence, her card-based troops forced to stand aside or be crushed under the weight of the forest guardian's attack force as they march on the humanoid overseer; knocking them out of the game. Yet, as swiftly as the water guardian was defeated, so does a smirk flash across their fire guardian compatriot's face. He swipes his hand over the set of cards closest to him - seeming to be the cards used to add creatures or use spells - before proudly yet gently placing down a card with the image of an erupting volcano. The forest guardian disdainfully removes all of their cards, the fire guardian happily handing over pictures of ash for his foe to use as magic cards. The death guardian - fourth member of the game - also seemed to be affected, though removes far less cards and swears vengeance for his best friend. They place down a shiny card n front of them, before swiping one of the fire guardian's dragons before they have time to react. The shiny card in question appears to be unique to the death guardian, a picture of a brain with a fungus sprouting from it present.

Meanwhile, the succubus lazily opens a tired eye to her guard, "Sorry, but I can't please you right now. Come back a little later though, 'kay?" she says with a seductive smile, before going back to resting.


A few fire and air guardians look for the map in the room they're in, studying it closely upon finding it in an attempt to memorise the layout.

 

The guards escort the lost to the commons area, though they keep silent beyond initially making their presence known. The guard watching the card game keeps silent, amused by the scene.

"I assumed that if you were claiming this room, you'd potentially want the key?" The guard asks rhetorically, tossing the room key onto the bed. "I'll note that we'll need to do a second round to let you get some shut-eye." She says, closing the door.

The map only shows the immediate area, labeled "Surface - East Wing" - the doorways flanking the commons area seem to lead into the guest mess hall and an East Wing guard office. Further down the hall is the East Spire, which is noted to connect to "Radiant Bulwark" and "Mirage Palace - Outer Ring." The map doesn't display anything else terribly useful, simply pointing off its edges with the note "Surface - Grand Entryway" to the north and "Surface - Ballroom."

 

The card game is eventually won in a close match by the death guardian. The forest guardian is quickly eliminated without defence, but with control of the fire guardian's dragon, the death guardian is able to bypass a lot of the fire guardian's defences. Even so, the fire guardian pulls out all the stops to try and stop the offense, but with few units able to attack a flying creature and the death guardian's necrotic realm cards untouched by the effects of the volcano, the death guardian is able to snatch the victory.

Swiftly after the game ends, it's participants shake hands out of respect of a good game played well; before looking around and realising everyone left.

"Where did everyone go?" The water guardian - first to be eliminated - asks the guard.


The succubus blows a kiss to the guard, grabbing the key from her bed and holding on to it as she rests.


Noticing their proximity to one another, a few fire guardians spark up a conversation with the others examining the board.

"So what do you think that radiant bulwark is?" A fire guardian asks, smiling.

"I'm not quite sure. Perhaps we could meet up and investigate it once we've been given the freedom to roam?" The air guardian offers.

"I doubt there's many mysteries afoot in regards to it, though that mirage palace looks interesting." Another fire guardian pipes up.

"These things sound like they're both related to light. Do you think light creatures are there?" An air guardian inquires, floating over the trio; seeming to weigh little more than a feather.

"Possibly. Let's meet in the mess hall later and check it out." The first air guardian says.

"Sounds like a plan." The first fire guardian says confidently, the two others seeming to be in agreement.

 

"They were escorted to the guest chambers twenty minutes ago. Don't worry about it." The guard says with a gentle smile.


Pierre clears his throat.
"The Radiant Bulwark is where our guard trains, rests, and recruits. Should you feel like a sparring match, you may be able to convince some of the rowdier guards. As for the Mirage Palace, that is The Silver King's proper palace. This castle serves as one of seven that make up most of the mortal presence of his kingdom." He says, seeming appreciative of the guardians' curiosity.

 

"Where's that?" The fire guardian - last to be eliminated - asks. The three others seem to begin packing up their cards, putting them in small wallets.


"There's more of a palace than just this?" The second air guardian asks.

"How is the silver king wealthy enough to afford seven palaces?" The second fire guardian asks.

 

“When you’re packed up, follow me.” The guard says, sounding in no hurry.


“He’s a god. His followers first built idols in seven different places, and over time he ordered castles built around each before connecting all of them to his palace.” Pierre explains.

 

The guardians pack up their cards and dice and follow the guard.


"Seems like a pretty demanding guy if you ask me." An imp intrudes, seeming laid back.

"Can we visit these castles? Or is there not enough time?" A slime demon asks.