there is nothing but now
The island is writhing beneath their hooves like a wild and feral thing, like it’s trying to shake them off. The sand roils like a wave, peaks flashing in the sunlight as it races towards them. Bits of gold and leaves hang, suspended, in the air; as if all they have to do is reach out and pluck them from their suspension.
Perhaps one of those fighting for the Relic pauses to do precisely that; perhaps they stop and admire how something so calm, so tranquil, can rest in the midst of all this turmoil. Perhaps it is the last thing that horse does.
Path One
For the rest of them, there is no time to stop or daydream, for those blood-red petals are twisting themselves into something new. When the first horse touches them, sweat-slick skin on silk-soft petals, they come crashing down. For a moment all they see is red, like a river of blood is washing over them. And then it clears, and those few who braved it are gone. Only one if them is spared.
And in the background that bear us roaring - or is it the horses, who seem more bear than equine now that they’ve looked into the eyes of their reflections? One by one they go through that almost-mirror, and behind them it shatters. Each bit of glass thens into a butterfly with flame-tongued wings as they fall. They fly away quickly as the roars fade, away from the island, away from the mother and her Relic.
Both paths were a trick - and those who fell for them will blink once as the world begins to change. And when they open their eyes they are back in Novus, scattered like a handful of dust on the wind.
Path Two
Broken magic is all that remains between those who waited and the Relic. Magic and the sand, that has risen up again like a snake rearing back her head to strike. Just behind her the Relic sits, bright and unprotected in the clearing.
The island shudders, and trees all around them begin to collapse. The sand bucks again, one last attempt to toss them back into the sea. The ground leaps so violently that a great rift opens up, then another, and another - bottomless pits that sand pours like water into. Overhead it’s as if the sky is falling, bits of cloud and smoke and strange blue gemstones descending upon them all. The bridge connecting the island to Novus is breaking up, large black stones sloughing off like scales into the waiting ocean.
The sand-snake shudders, and turns to face her remaining contenders.
It is time.
Your character has a choice.
This is the fourth and final round for the relic hunt. The paths leading to the relic were a trap; only those who waited have remained. The relic is there, so close yet so far, with only its mother-snake left to defend it. The island is beginning to fall away piece by piece, and they are running out of time. Now that magic is failing, the snake cannot possibly stop them all - but is it too late?
There is only one choice this round: try to grab the relic. At the end of the deadline, each character will have a dice rolled for a number between 1-100; the character who rolls the highest number WINS!
If your character has an unused mollusk shell, golden leaf, horseshoe, or iridescent feather from a previous round, this is your last chance to use it to proceed. This is the last round, and the dice will decide who gets the relic. For those who do not use their special items in this round, there will be no more chances to - however, you will have a chance to redeem your item for one last prize in the closing replies (details to come!)
Each reply to this thread gives you +1 post in an SWP.
The deadline for this round is October 14th.
Perhaps one of those fighting for the Relic pauses to do precisely that; perhaps they stop and admire how something so calm, so tranquil, can rest in the midst of all this turmoil. Perhaps it is the last thing that horse does.
Path One
For the rest of them, there is no time to stop or daydream, for those blood-red petals are twisting themselves into something new. When the first horse touches them, sweat-slick skin on silk-soft petals, they come crashing down. For a moment all they see is red, like a river of blood is washing over them. And then it clears, and those few who braved it are gone. Only one if them is spared.
And in the background that bear us roaring - or is it the horses, who seem more bear than equine now that they’ve looked into the eyes of their reflections? One by one they go through that almost-mirror, and behind them it shatters. Each bit of glass thens into a butterfly with flame-tongued wings as they fall. They fly away quickly as the roars fade, away from the island, away from the mother and her Relic.
Both paths were a trick - and those who fell for them will blink once as the world begins to change. And when they open their eyes they are back in Novus, scattered like a handful of dust on the wind.
Path Two
Broken magic is all that remains between those who waited and the Relic. Magic and the sand, that has risen up again like a snake rearing back her head to strike. Just behind her the Relic sits, bright and unprotected in the clearing.
The island shudders, and trees all around them begin to collapse. The sand bucks again, one last attempt to toss them back into the sea. The ground leaps so violently that a great rift opens up, then another, and another - bottomless pits that sand pours like water into. Overhead it’s as if the sky is falling, bits of cloud and smoke and strange blue gemstones descending upon them all. The bridge connecting the island to Novus is breaking up, large black stones sloughing off like scales into the waiting ocean.
The sand-snake shudders, and turns to face her remaining contenders.
It is time.
Your character has a choice.
This is the fourth and final round for the relic hunt. The paths leading to the relic were a trap; only those who waited have remained. The relic is there, so close yet so far, with only its mother-snake left to defend it. The island is beginning to fall away piece by piece, and they are running out of time. Now that magic is failing, the snake cannot possibly stop them all - but is it too late?
There is only one choice this round: try to grab the relic. At the end of the deadline, each character will have a dice rolled for a number between 1-100; the character who rolls the highest number WINS!
If your character has an unused mollusk shell, golden leaf, horseshoe, or iridescent feather from a previous round, this is your last chance to use it to proceed. This is the last round, and the dice will decide who gets the relic. For those who do not use their special items in this round, there will be no more chances to - however, you will have a chance to redeem your item for one last prize in the closing replies (details to come!)
Each reply to this thread gives you +1 post in an SWP.
The deadline for this round is October 14th.
Please be advised, tagging the Random Event account does not guarantee a response!
