[Nexus] Outside XXIII

[Reinholdt]

This place is just as it sounds. It's outside.
Want a change of scenery? Go outside.
Always wanted to visit the beach? Come outside.
Looking to have a climatic fight on clifftops? Attempt outside.
Secret meetings being held where there's no cameras? Try outside.
Want an ambush without nasty base defenses? Yep. Outside.

Any and all are welcome here. There are no NPCs unless you bring them in. The major exception is the creepy eyed squirrel. The creepy eyed squirrel does not interfere with anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel is everywhere outside. The creepy eyed squirrel is always watching. The creepy eyed squirrel never sleeps. The creepy eyed squirrel can not be damaged, manipulated, or killed by anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel will eat anyone's very being who attempts to do so. Anyone can god-mode the creepy eyed squirrel. You may pet the creepy eyed squirrel at your own risk.

Other NPCs currently include:
The menacing crabs. These intimidating creatures are usually found by the shore.
The non-existant duck. You'll miss every time you shoot at it.

There is very little you can't do outside. However, like always, please follow the forum rules and general rules of conduct. Private conversations can be held outside. If it seems like a private (secret) conversation, please respect that. Those having such a conversation should do their best to indicate it as such. Otherwise, other characters may stumble upon you. Those desiring to spy in on private conversations should first PM those holding the private conversation, more out of courtesy than anything else.

There are many areas outside, and people can be in multiple places outside. In order to keep areas outside separated so there's no confusion, consider bolding your outside location at the start of each of your posts, like so:

The Fields

Reinholdt sets up various targets and practices his sharpshooting. All these events recently has made him a bit rusty. To his left, he notes the creepy eyed squirrel. Giving him the heebie-jeebies, Reinholdt decides to head somewhere else.

The Cliffside

Calublufiok broods over his latest scheme as he flies over the cliffs. The creepy eyed squirrel is watching him again. He finds occasionally landing and telling the creepy eyed squirrel his plans helps him find holes in his plotting.

Note Reinholdt and Calublufiok do not interact because they are in different areas outside. They could interact, if Reinholdt moves to the cliffside. Of course, various things like telepathy help bypass this. Also, please note outside has no major buildings, though minor ones crop up from time to time.

And most importantly, enjoy outside. That's what this is all about.

Outside now contains various Outside locations! Such as...

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[Dead Pine Lake]

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This lake lies in the middle of the forest. On the eastern shore, woodpeckers feast on the dead pines that give the lake its name. Sometimes one can find Lady Death here, the Aspect of Eve also known as The Grandmother, or Jedwiga.

(Please PM happyturtle if you wish to interact with Jedwiga.)

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[The Islands]

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An island cluster forms an archipelago along the coast. Some of the islands are settled, some not, but most are at least occasionally visited by the fishermen who work these waters.

[Gersemi's Island]

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Gersemi the seighkona lives on a small island in the archipelago with a single hut and a few sheep. Inside the hut, there is a single room, and a fireplace. A loom rests in one corner.

(Please PM happyturtle if you wish to interact with Gersemi.)

[Redbrick Falls]

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A mountainous, cliffy region with a prominent waterfall. A large quarry once was worked in these cliffs. Now, only a few scattered villages and solitary dwellings remain.

[Norosa, Great City of the Elves]

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A Lawful Evil city with an incredibly strong military and a very charismatic leader (Archmage Tyrion Lannister). It has a few CG resisters, but, otherwise, it is a city of peace and law, despite its evil nature.

[Brillian's Baneful Bestiary]

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A secret series of caves where a mad scientist lives. A mad scientist who creates mutant attack creatures. These can be purchased for the right price.

[Auxiliary MagCave]

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A relic from the days of the Age of Apocalypse, this abandoned cavern was once used by the infamous cyborg Magtok as a back-up laboratory and underground fortress, should Calublufiok have ever stormed the primary MagCave.

[The Katz Motel]

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Located in the middle of Nowhere, our roadside motel is the only decent place for miles near the Taverna that has a bed. Run by a suave anthropomorphic cat, there is a strict No Dogs policy.


A bellhop by the name of Bates is always ready to assist in carrying your luggage. Please ignore his constant mutterings about his mother. Other more unsavory employees can occasionally be found. Please try to avoid eye contact with them.

We at the Katz Motel wish to ensure you have a splendid stay. Any inconvenience due to randomly locking doors, giant spiders, secret passages, vampires, creepy paintings, and the occasional possession and subsequent exorcism are incredibly rare. Just look at our complaint cards! Not a single one mentions dying horribly in their sleep or becoming food for the monster in the basement.

And if you get bored, the owner will always be up for a game of sport, old boy.

((The Katz Motel is a horror filled place with the highest casualty rate of any motel in the Nexus area. Checking in is usually pretty easy and pleasant. Checking out is rare. Anyone can play the Motel and the NPCs within, free to invent their own horror. The NPCs within that can die usually only suffer death temporarily, the supernatural force causing the disturbances bringing them back to life for its own nefarious purposes. PCs get no benefit from this.))

[The Troll Cave]

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A cave in a craggy hill. The undergrowth outside is trampled completely flat, and there's not much wildlife. There's a burned patch where a fire is sometimes there. Inside are a few large caves, linked by surprisingly smooth tunnels that look like something big has been regularly pushing through them.

[Blind Cat's Bluff]

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A sheer cliff dropoff that travels straight down into the water, this is a favored point of people who commit suicide, romantics wanting to watch the sunset and anyone looking to get rid of evidence. The drop is pretty far and there are rocks at the bottom that spell almost certain doom, so watch your step.

PM Whoever's posted the current Outside thread if you wish to add locations to Outside.

[Shadowcaller]

Rebecca continues casting as Esther reads the book out to her.

She finishes her spell part-way through, and grants herself the ability to see magic as light. She starts looking over the doorway and the pool with it, unless she's suddenly blinded or something like that.

[Strange Room 2.0]

Ordo listens apprehensively to the information provided before diving. Upon spotting these new things, he returns to the surface, hissing raucously at Esther and Rebecca. Gesturing at the keyhole, then down under the water with his head. Keyhole, down. Key down.

[Strange Room 2.0]

Eshter suddenly gains god-like charades ability to save us another round of posting. She could probably ascend right now if she felt like it.

Using her amazing charades powers, she correctly guesses what Ordo means and reaches out with her magic to grab at one of the fish. If one happens to be older than the rest and have a broken fin, she'll grab that one. Then proceed to berate SC for being unoriginal.

[Strange Room 2.0]

The fish all look different actually. They are keys with scales and gills. Even some sort of mouth which opens and closes from time to time. One is black, one is white, one is red, one is green, one is purple and one yellow.

Rebecca will feel magic coming from the seal and the keys as well. But there appears to be coming light from the bottom of the lake as well for some reason.

[billtodamax]

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.

[Rae Artemi]

Lots. Rae can probably feel the hope.

"Well then, Char, how would you like to see the future?" Rae asks.

[lord pringle]

that would be awesome.

[Rae Artemi]

[Villa]

"Alright, Char, just close your eyes and hope. Hope for the future." Rae says, and then he takes his ring off, whispers into it, and tries to place it on Char's finger. If he's successful, she should see two visions of the future, one where she chose to keep on unable to see magic, and one where she got fixed. They aren't clear, but she should get a vague impression of how she likes each life. "Right now, there are two paths your life could take. You're going to have to choose one. I won't hold either of the choices against you, and neither will anyone else. It's all what you want, Char, so it's all your choice."

[Gullara]

[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.

[The Bushranger]

Outside Trog's

Actually, the thunderbolt was moving much, much faster than the elemental, around three thousand seven hundred miles per second, so if Patty waited till the last second to dodge the fire elemental, she would probably get struck by the lightning. Especially as, due to to the fog, how fast the bolt is traveling, and the thunder being slower then the actual lightning, chances are she won't even spot the lightning bolt until it hits.

Yes, but that's assuming the lightning bolt and the elemental were 'launched' at the same time.

Either way, Patty, behing the High Priestess of a Goddess, dodges the lightning bolt. Might make her hair stand on end.

[lord pringle]

[Villa]

"Alright, Char, just close your eyes and hope. Hope for the future." Rae says, and then he takes his ring off, whispers into it, and tries to place it on Char's finger. If he's successful, she should see two visions of the future, one where she chose to keep on unable to see magic, and one where she got fixed. They aren't clear, but she should get a vague impression of how she likes each life. "Right now, there are two paths your life could take. You're going to have to choose one. I won't hold either of the choices against you, and neither will anyone else. It's all what you want, Char, so it's all your choice."

I-I want to be Fixed.

[Rae Artemi]

[Villa]

And Rae smiles, slowly taking his ring back. "Alright then, Char, that's the first step. Now, we should probably get you to GLoG, shouldn't we?" Rae stands, and offers Char his hand to help her up. "Now, how do you wanna get there, Char?"

[lord pringle]

Car- NO! I want to teleport.

[iElf]

Outside the hermitage of Dalachrech

in a flash of green light, Din teleports near the premises of the Hermitage, wearing clothing to help her bland in with the forest . she slowly approaches the place slowly.

[Rae Artemi]

Car- NO! I want to teleport.

"I can't teleport, but I know someone who can." And then he turns to the Emily clone thingy that he came here with and asks her to teleport all of them, that is, him, Char, Crae and herself, to GLoG. As real Rae goes off to poke Lix!

[Lix Lorn]

"I can't teleport, but I know someone who can." And then he turns to the Emily clone thingy that he came here with and asks her to teleport all of them, that is, him, Char, Crae and herself, to GLoG. As real Rae goes off to poke Lix!

Poke successful! Emily casts Greater Teleport on them all!

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

With one last thump of a book hitting the pile, the Encyclopede starts climbing down. Something worrying about the book on top; it's bound in humanoid skin, with the stitched up eyelids, nostrils and mouth on the front cover.

Hermitage of Dalachrech

The Hermitage and surrounding forest are warded against teleportation, except in a single summoning room in the basement where the wards can be temporarily lifted easily. So, Din winds up outside the forest, looking at a thick, formidable-looking woodland with very little gaps between the trees; this makes it rather dark inside, especially with the spider webs in the trees.

[iElf]

Hermitage of Dalachrech

The Hermitage and surrounding forest are warded against teleportation, except in a single summoning room in the basement where the wards can be temporarily lifted easily. So, Din winds up outside the forest, looking at a thick, formidable-looking woodland with very little gaps between the trees; this makes it rather dark inside, especially with the spider webs in the trees.

Din sighs, and uses her survival sill to silently run through the forest, trying to get to the hermittage

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

With one last thump of a book hitting the pile, the Encyclopede starts climbing down. Something worrying about the book on top; it's bound in humanoid skin, with the stitched up eyelids, nostrils and mouth on the front cover.

Reinholdt eyes the book.
"Do you get a lot of these living books? What's this one do?"

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

"That one's not alive, just bound in human skin. Why the face was chosen we do not know; it's nonmagical as far as we can determine so it was presumably an aesthetic choice." So, it's just disturbing.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Surrounding Forest

If Din is not careful, she may run into a web spun the trees; the web is very large, and quite strong. The spider which spun it is the size of a small horse, and the web is scaled appropriately.

[iElf]

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Surrounding Forest


Din however has experience in spider filled forests (as every 3d zelda game has at least one...) and will avoid the webs like the plague

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"That one's not alive, just bound in human skin. Why the face was chosen we do not know; it's nonmagical as far as we can determine so it was presumably an aesthetic choice." So, it's just disturbing.

"... Right. Well... that's... umm... good. I guess."
Reinholdt is disturbed! But glad it doesn't wheeze at least.

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

"How fast can you read?" The Encyclopedes can read very fast; the Wikipede link enables lots of computing power to go behind interpreting the words.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Aranea Village

In a forest clearing is a small collection of simple wooden huts; the people in the village wear crude, woodcutter clothes. They all appear to be human, and when Din appears, they hail and look cheeful. They probably don't get many visitors this deep in a spider-infested forest.

[iElf]

Din frowns. she's not fond of wood cutters and stays clear of them, heading towards the hermitage

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"Ummm... slowly. A page every five to ten minutes?" Reading isn't a particular hobby of his, nor skill he had to truly work on.

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

"Please, stand back." The Encyclopede will direct the robot to hold a book up in front of her and she will flick through the pages very quickly; despite seeming to only skim, she is actually reading it.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Aranea Village

The villagers, when it is clear that Din isn't stopping, shift. They physically alter their form, becoming spider-like creatures that start to throw their webs at her. They look frail; they might not be able to stand up well in a fight.

[iElf]

Din smiply breaks into a run, trying to out run the spider creatures, flinging a few spells at them

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"Umm... sure, ok." Reinholdt stands back a bit, wondering what the Encyclopede is looking for.

[Earl of Purple]

Bronze Pyramid

Reinholdt may also note that a lower pair of arms is scribbling madly, writing down some of what it reads. When that book is finished, another will be picked up and notes will be made from it too.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Aranea Village

When Din starts slinging spells, the Aranea respond in kind, flinging balls of force in her direction, with the occasional weak ray of cold or ball of acid. Plus more of the webs, thrown like nets. They also chase after her; they're really quite fast in the open terrain.

[iElf]

Din will avoid all she can, but eventually she will be caught in a web, trip, and struggle to get up

[Reinholdt]

Bronze Pyramid

"That's, errr... very efficient."
Stop talking you stupid cat. You'll only cause distraction!

[Earl of Purple]

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.

Hermitage of Dalachrech- Aranea Village

The aranea will swarm to Din and unless she escapes in time, they'll try to wrap her up in the web and add more webs to cocoon her properly. If she manages to draw a knife she might be able to cut her way out, though spider silk strands are ten times stronger than steel wire of the same thickness and these are thick strands of silk.