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1x1 with Halochief
Forum-Index → Roleplay → Private RP → 1x1 with Halochief
Posted: Fri, 20/09/2019 14:11 (5 Years ago)
Didact kept his gun raised for a moment longer than was strictly necessary. Then he looked to Glaurug, and, shaking his head, lowered his Suppressor with a sigh.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Sat, 21/09/2019 11:42 (5 Years ago)
The AI had changed her form - Copper had no idea where the inspiration had come from. Cortana retained her pale blue, circuit-ridden skin. She was no longer bare - pieces of midnight blue armour covered most of her skin, a few black accent interwoven in between.
"Shall we talk?"
Faith snorted, ignoring the glass. Instead, she walked up to the wall. Nothing seemed to respond to her touch, although she narrowed her eyes at a particular patch of wall. Sliuril didn't need to ask to know that Faith had found something. At the rink of seeming stupid, she nodded to Jack and then to the wall Faith was already inspecting.
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Posted: Sat, 21/09/2019 14:10 (5 Years ago)
Didact shrugged and nodded. "Fine. Let's talk." The Forerunner sighed.
Jack glanced quizzically back at the elf and then, frowning, walked over to Faith. He gently placed a hand on the wall and slid it around, trying to feel if it gave in any way or if his gauntlets would catch on any crack. "What, is there something... behind this?" Jack asked.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Sat, 21/09/2019 23:00 (5 Years ago)
She knocked on the metal - it stood firm, but the resonation came back hollow. "There. There is some air behind that, at the least."
Cortana tilted her head, an odd smile on her face. "The Mantle of Responsibility was abandoned by your race, Didact. After the Sundering Wars there were so very few left, and they were under pressure from a god. The few that remained fled into hiding and left the remaining races to their own means."
Her face hardened. "You enforced a policy of mandatory peace and restricted the creation of weapons. Do you know what that did to the races you claim to protect? When the wars came they were decimated by a far superior foe, one you never reached. Humanity came with a vengeance and they killed everything in their path for expansion. Your rule left them weak and open to invasion."
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Posted: Sun, 22/09/2019 02:16 (5 Years ago)
"They are flawed, just like the rest of us. Despite this, my point stands. There is no helping them. You might rein them in temporarily, you may think you have done everything for them and then they burst forth, cruel and vicious. As for the limiting of weapons production... the quickest way to get these races to destroy themselves would be to hand them weapons capable of defeating a superior foe. You tell me, do you think that, given the weapons to do so, all the races besides the humans would not have gone to war? It is easy for you to say that the Forerunners have abandoned the Mantle. Perhaps we are not as strong as we were once. Perhaps there are cowards among us who would rather take the easier route and keep to themselves. However, the Forerunners, such as remains of them, will relinquish the Mantle once we believe that there is something that can do better than we did. And, I'm afraid, that you have done nothing to instil confidence in me thus far."
"In that case, you would really expect it to open from the inside." he muttered, glancing back at the glass tube. Then he shrugged and turned back to the wall. "Blow it open?" he suggested.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Tue, 24/09/2019 02:38 (5 Years ago)
"I suppose that would have to work." Sliuril shrugged.
Copper wasn't paying much attention to the back-and-forth between Copper and Didact. Instead she'd split her mind into two parts, one a tendril of energy seeking out the other three and another seeking to establish a link with Glaurug.
(Can you take over Cortana's dialogue?)
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Posted: Tue, 24/09/2019 12:08 (5 Years ago)
Jack shrugged and followed her through.
Cortana gave a long-suffering sigh. "Don't you see? The Forerunners never had the Mantle of Responsibility."
"Tread lightly, construct." Didact growled.
"What you wrested from your creators was not the true Mantle, for the Mantle can not be obtained by force." Cortana said gently. She ignored the quiet 'hah' that Didact gave.
"While the Forerunners paraded under the banner of the Bearers of the Mantle, the true Mantle had quietly gone to the next most advanced race, as judged by the Precursors. And now, the time has come for it to change hands once more. For too long has this universe suffered and struggled, uncertain. The Precursors were unable to unite it. The Forerunners failed drastically. I, however, will not."
Had Glaurug not been in such a dangerous position, the Didact would have found his patience running quite thin. As it was, he shrugged. "Tell yourself what you like." he muttered. Cortana gazed at him thoughtfully, a thin smile on her lips, as if tolerating a child.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Tue, 24/09/2019 21:22 (5 Years ago)
Copper threw a line to Glaurug when she found her, half-dead. If the situation hadn't been so serious, she would have laughed. How many times had the opposite scene happened, him bargaining for her life? But they hadn't been in danger then. And they were all in danger now.
Sliuril caught the questing thread of Copper's conscience, and included Jack in the arrangement. Faith was automatically included in the meld.
"Where are we?" Sliuril asked Copper, sending her the lab and the hallway they were now in.
"It's been a thousand years! How would I know?"
"Copper. Sliuril's one world reply was more of a growl than anything.
"Try following the passageway and finding an interface. Or an ancillia." Copper suggested. "I really don't remember much of that place. Sister.
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Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 00:52 (5 Years ago)
"You still don't believe me. You think that I'm insane." Cortana said. Didact judged it best not to reply.
"Already, my message is spreading. And people are responding. You're cynical, I understand that. But I will make this universe a better place. I can show you. You can be there for it. All you need to do is..." she half turned and held out an arm to the Cryptum, its doors open invitingly.
"Please. I'd much rather you did this of your own free will."
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 01:14 (5 Years ago)
Sliuril decided that it was best not to comment. Copper had a point, it had indeed been a thousand years. However, they still needed a way out. They followed the path until it lead into a branching hallway. Sliuril sighed. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Why hello! I haven't had guests in quite some time!"
Faith turned, baring her teeth, and came face-to-snout with the aincillia that had spoken. It was a pleasing pale blue, although slightly rusted.
"Oh no, please don't eat me. Hello, are either of you two in charge of this beast? You, perhaps?" It said, speaking to Jack.
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Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 11:01 (5 Years ago)
Cortana turned to look at Copper, considering. Eventually, she gave a slight nod. "Of course you may." the AI said gently.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 11:38 (5 Years ago)
"Ah, my apologies. Last I checked dragons hadn't evolved into sapient creatures... although it has been a long while." The ancilla said. "Greetings, honored guests! I am 464 Arctic Heights. I'm terribly sorry to inform you that this facility has been heavily damaged, and that what you are looking for is probably not here."
"Greetings and salutations, Arctic Heights, from the Light of the Morning and her Guardian Faith, and my friend and partner Jack of the Void, of the Court of Fable." Sliuril replied smoothly. "May I inquire as to a way out of this facility?"
"Oh, your kind!" 464 chirped. "I must confess I have not met a being of the Void before - although I did meet your sister, once, Princess. She was very kind. Of course I shall endeavor to guide you out of the facility. Please follow me."
"I don't like this one." Faith grumbled in Sliuril's head.
"It's an ancilla, sweet me. It doesn't mean you harm, it can't." Copper intruded even as she walked towards Glaurug. She knelt by his side. "Give me every scrap of energy you can spare, sister, because we need it."
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Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 12:14 (5 Years ago)
Cortana watched carefully as Copper knelt over Glaurug. Didact decided to stay back, a good distance from the other two, so a sudden attack wouldn't have all of them caught in the middle. Glancing at the multitude of Knights surrounding them, as well as the looming Guardian, he had to admit that it was a bit of a wasted tactic. Perhaps it was just as well that the AI before him seemed to have no intention of doing any more harm than necessary.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 12:51 (5 Years ago)
"Won't you come with us?" Faith asked.
"I must remain."
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Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 13:19 (5 Years ago)
Didact shuffled uncomfortably. He still had the Suppressor cradled in his arms and he had to remind himself that Cortana was a projection from one of the Knights. Still, it got to him how she was seemingly able to stand there without a worry. The Cryptum hummed slightly, the background noise just about drowning out the whistle of wind. Occasionally, a Knight would click. Very rarely, there would be a few chirps in reply. Other than that, they were still.
"I do so hate to hurry you along-" Cortana began.
For some reason, Didact found her gentle tone and mildly apologetic expression provocative. He took a step forward and found himself in the middle of a ring of guns. Cortana turned to face him. Point made, the Knights lowered their weapons.
"Is he going to be okay?" Didact asked Copper, not taking his eyes off the AI.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 13:25 (5 Years ago)
She twirled a finger, and Glaurug was lifted in her magical aura.
"Thank you." Sliuril said, making no commitment to visit, although she mentally told herself it was the least she could do. The ancila would obviously never abandon its post, not even if it went rampant from the isolation. She walked towards the exit. How long had they been in the caves? It seemed so very bright outside. Was Copper alright?
They stepped into the blinding white light of the day, in the middle of a complete whiteout blizzard.
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Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 13:41 (5 Years ago)
"Hey, you... you know people in the Godsphere. Is there someone I could lodge a formal complaint with, because I... I'm just done with this absolute-"
His words were snatched away by the storm.
His shoulders slumped. After a moment, he gave a sigh and palmed one of the augmentations on the hilt of the Sword. Feeling the magic flow through him, he channelled it into warming up a small sphere around the group, largely for Faith's benefit. It was still cold, but it blocked out the worst of the blizzard.
Didact nodded.
"Very good." Cortana said. "Now, I'm afraid that I must insist..." she gestured towards the Cryptum. Didact looked hopelessly at Copper.
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 13:46 (5 Years ago)
Sliuril raised an eyebrow. She was perfectly capable of guessing what Jack was about to say, but didn't comment on it. Fact was, she sort of agreed. "I would say Zephyrus. Technically he's not a high-level administrator, but Zeus and his ilk tend to be a bit absent from the court." Sliuril replied instead.
Faith lumbered out behind them. "Huh. It's not as cold as I thought it would be. Also, what's with everything being white?"
Sliuril tilted her head, raised an eyebrow, and tapped into the Being.
"Oh. Thanks Jack." Faith muttered. "...you know. Most travel guides would recommend we wait this sort of weather out..."
"We are short on time." Sliuril muttered.
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Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 14:09 (5 Years ago)
Beowulf quickly rechecked the readouts as the Didact's signature disappeared. Perhaps, he thought wearily, the fool had finally managed to get himself killed. He locked on to another member of the group.
Jack nodded as he slipped in and out of the Soul Sight. "Yes, short on time indeed."
4. It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
-Extract from Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Posted: Wed, 25/09/2019 14:14 (5 Years ago)
Sliuril made no argument - it wasn't her idea that elves and humans only got three colour receptors to perceive light with - and got onto Faith.
Copper turned to look at Didact. "You know, she might do it." She said, mostly trying to convince herself.
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