[Nexus] Outside XXIII

[iElf]

Din tries to cut herself out with her adimatie knife, cursing those damn spider things!

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"Yes, and I have a limited ability to perform other tasks as well, though I am unable to spare my eyes." Encyclopedes have a single very large brain running down their bodies, this is linked with the Wikipede which is a mega-super-computer hosting the collected knowledge of every Encyclopede ever and utilising many different technologies and magics; its link to every Encyclopede enables it to use those for added computational power, so every Encyclopede has instantaneous access to the brainpower of every other Encyclopede.

"I see." Reinholdt says, kind of frightened of these things. At least they're only peaceful knowledge seekers.
... Right?

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

They are immoral, unethical and merciless seekers of knowledge bound by no rules, laws or codes of practice. They might dissect Reinholdt if they saw a way not to be caught and also thought he might not cause more loss than gain in the attempt to capture him. So yes, peaceful knowledge seekers. The Encyclopede, meanwhile, has moved on to the next book.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Aranea Village

With a bit of effort, Din can free herself. Coincidently whilst the aranea aren't paying too much attention to her, discussing whether they should take her to the Hermitage immediately, wait until tomorrow, eat her, trade her to the ettercaps for cave mushrooms, leave her dangling from the invertebrates of the forest or dump her in the midden. Should she creep carefully, they might not notice; should she run, they might not be able to recapture her; should she charge, she might be able to kill them.

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

When in doubt, the best defense is ensuring that you're more trouble than it's worth. >>

Reinholdt waits patiently. As patiently as a kitty can be anyways, his eyes wandering and looking around.

[iElf]

Din tries her best to sneak away from the place...

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

Another defence is that the only bit they really want to dissect is his brain. Whilst much information could be hidden in the anatomy of a talking, sentient kitty's brain, the rest of the body is probably already on file (apart from the thumbs) and therefore all a dissection is likely to do is confirm that. The Encyclopede's really fast at writing. She'll probably be finished next post. The robot is changing colours, and some of the books seem very intriguing, disturbing, interesting, curious, yellow or a mixture thereof.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Aranea Village-Back Into The Forest

Din is successful! Unless she does something stupid or obvious, anyway. She'd nearly made it, so the nearest edge of the clearing is also the closest to the Hermitage.

[iElf]

Din will try to sneak out od earshot, and then run to the hermitage if she can!

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

Another defence is that the only bit they really want to dissect is his brain. Whilst much information could be hidden in the anatomy of a talking, sentient kitty's brain, the rest of the body is probably already on file (apart from the thumbs) and therefore all a dissection is likely to do is confirm that. The Encyclopede's really fast at writing. She'll probably be finished next post. The robot is changing colours, and some of the books seem very intriguing, disturbing, interesting, curious, yellow or a mixture thereof.

"Why do you change colours?" Reinholdt asks the robot. He doesn't see the purpose of it. Yet. It's certainly not a defense mechanism.

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

"To give you something to look at whilst I copy these notes. The fact you have commented upon it proves its effectiveness." That could possibly have done with a bit more tact.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Forest Edge

There is a large area around the castle that is used for the Hermitage which has been cleared of trees and shrubs. The Hermitage itself can be seen quite easily; Din is probably just outside of bowshot from the Hermitage. The windows are thin arrow slits, and they are all very high up. There's a large gate in the south-facing wall; it is currently closed, though when open two ogres could march through with a foot's gap between them, and another gap between them and the walls. There may be other ways in, however.

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"To give you something to look at whilst I copy these notes. The fact you have commented upon it proves its effectiveness." That could possibly have done with a bit more tact.

Reinholdt stares at the Encyclopede for a while.
"....... Right."

Couldn't at least given him pictures of hawt female cats instead?
Don't answer that.

"You're done already?"

And deadtime for a while for me.

[iElf]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Forest Edge

There is a large area around the castle that is used for the Hermitage which has been cleared of trees and shrubs. The Hermitage itself can be seen quite easily; Din is probably just outside of bowshot from the Hermitage. The windows are thin arrow slits, and they are all very high up. There's a large gate in the south-facing wall; it is currently closed, though when open two ogres could march through with a foot's gap between them, and another gap between them and the walls. There may be other ways in, however.

Din decides to lay low till morning, waiting for the gate to open!

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

"One more." I won't answer that.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Lurking Outside

It takes a long time for the gates to open. Din might occasionally glimpse faces at some of the windows, though they are rather thin windows, quite high up the building and quite a distance horizontally away as well. The gates will open, just not this post.

[iElf]

Din tries to stay hidden and out of sight , waiting until the gates do open

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Lurking Outside

Eventually, about midday, the doors do open. Twenty men with spears and studded leather armour come out, and rustles from behind Din indicate that others are headed towards the Hermitage from the Aranea Village. There is no cover between where Din is and the door, and the twenty spearmen look very alert. Din might be able to dash sideways or climb a tree to avoid those approaching from behind, though.

[iElf]

Din uses an illusion spell to turn herself invisible, and tries to run into the gate, being careful to be quiet near the spear men

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Front Gate

Well, that works. Din best be careful; the spearmen and not staying as still as spearmen normally do, and one may bump into her. Inside, there's a corridor leading off both left and right, and two doors ahead; a large, ornate one and a smaller, unobtrusive one immediately to its left.

[iElf]

Din immediately takes the smaller one , keeping to one side of the passage

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech

I fear you may have misunderstood; the passageways are the same, right and left, but in front of Din, opposite the main entrance, are two doors, one of which is larger than the other.

[iElf]

Din will then still take the smaller door ahead of her, after swiftly glancing both left and right

[Earl of Purple]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Sacrifice Preparation Chamber

This chamber is quite small, with a bin containing some cut off clothes and old rope, as well as a table and a selection of knives, each blade stamped with a magical rune.

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"One more." I won't answer that.

"Alright." Reinholdt says, choosing to look at the pretty robot lights.

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

The Encyclopede puts the last book down, the one with the face, and walks towards Reinholdt, using the wavelike motion of the legs used by millipedes. "This notebook contains all that I could find in those books about transfering a soul from an object into a person. There is not much, I am afraid; most are more focussed on the other way around in an attempt to find immortality or at the least neverending death. Whether it is of use to you we do not know; if whatever you wish to do works, please come back and inform us of the results; we shall reward you greatly for that." Especially if it works. Actually, Reinholdt might be able to persuade the Encyclopedes to part with the secret of transmutation of metals.

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"Sure. I'll let you know." Reinholdt has plenty of gold! What does he need to transmute it into?

He takes the notes. "Guess that just leaves the trickster gods."

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

"That is in the Religions Wing, rather than the Magic (General) Wing. Please, follow me to the transporter." The Encyclopede heads past Reinholdt, heading along an aisle that is very narrow. The robot stops flashing and flies up somewhere else, possibly to help another Encyclopede researcher.

((Now, though, I Deadtime))

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"Bye Rainbow Bot." Reinholdt says before following the Encyclopede.

[Murkus]

[Strange Room 2.0]

Eshter can't actually see the fish. In fact, she is quite surprised when there is suddenly a fish floating in front of her.

Regardless of the strangeness of the key, Eshter tries to float it into the lock and turn.

Ordo fish hisses. And watches.

Yeah. That's about it.

[Shadowcaller]

There's something at the bottom of the lake. Ordo, can you go get a closer look at it? Rebecca asks, not willing to try and split her concentration between the bubble and magic sight.

[Strange Room 2.0]

Eshter can't actually see the fish. In fact, she is quite surprised when there is suddenly a fish floating in front of her.

Regardless of the strangeness of the key, Eshter tries to float it into the lock and turn.

Ordo fish hisses. And watches.

Yeah. That's about it.

[Strange Room 2.0]

Ordo will be able to see that the floor at the bottom of the late is covered in mud, but it's also strangely flat and Rebecca will be able to tell that it's energy pattern is similar to the one of the seal.

As Esher tries to living fish key, she will find that it doesn't fit. In fact, none of the key's seems to fit. No matter how many she tries.

[iElf]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Sacrifice Preparation Chamber

This chamber is quite small, with a bin containing some cut off clothes and old rope, as well as a table and a selection of knives, each blade stamped with a magical rune.

Din eeps, and will leave the room, heading down the left path

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

The robot beeps. Possibly because the Wikipede told it to. After a fifteen minute walk, they'll reach the transporter. The Encyclopede will stand on the left of two circles on the floor. "Please, join me in this circle. It will take us to where we go." I should make a note of which side the teleporter is going and which arriving.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Left Corridor

The passageway bends around several corners in the outside of the building and finally to some stairs upwards.

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

Reinholdt follows the instructions and stands on the circle! Lest he end up turned inside out.