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Post by Queerly on Jan 3, 2019 14:31:57 GMT -6
Hello Starborn, and Welcome to Aodh Plot 709: History Unearthed Team Leaders: Absolum Participants: Sophia, Raksha, Rikke Please keep the following in mind!- Posts must be a minimum of 175 words. There is no maximum!- No strict order is enforced, but there must be at least two posts between your own character's.- No god-moding or reading characters' minds (unless your pony is a literal telepath, anyway)
- Always get consent before harming another character!- Your team is precious. Try to interact with everyone. <3- Have fun! Even if your pony isn't. 8'D Prompt: Your King has given you your first order: travel to Oriel, and locate the ruins of the Hoplite Compound, and retrieve the scrolls in her archive. Soleil is certain that the compound's proximity to the volcano's dripping maw has kept the Valorians from finding it. With luck, you will find your old stomping grounds untouched - the last remnants of a world you used to know. Location: Oriel, misty Time of Day: Morning You do not have to wait for your leader to post!
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Post by gone-astrayy on Jan 3, 2019 22:51:45 GMT -6
Absolum | Hoplite
The past few weeks had been tumultuous to say the least. After regaining his memories, Absolum spent the following time navigating his way home. Along the way, he'd found his youngest daughter, Sophia, mending a part of his heart he'd refused to acknowledge. Since Soleil had returned his memories, he was wrought over the loss of his family, of his dragon, and his home. Getting at least one family member back was a blessing, and a sign that he was meant to return to his post, along with his loyalty to the crown still embedded in his very being. Being surrounded by his kin once more, he quickly fell into a routine, which was only ever put aside when Soleil called upon him.
Today was the first time Soleil gave them an order. They were to return to Mt. Oriel, the place where he'd spent the majority of his former life. The mission was to find old documents, scrolls, dossiers, anything that remained within the ancient compound. He agreed with the simple logic his King had provided. The equines of this new Aodh were not resistant to the heat and magma of the volcano, and likely gave it a wide berth, and even more likely, not even knowing there was anything there to find. This mission was to be followed out by himself, and three other's, all faces he remembered from the past. Warriors, trained in combat, comrades. They'd finish this task with ease.
Word count: 244
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Jan 4, 2019 18:00:28 GMT -6
---------------- Sophia -----------------
Regaining her lost memories was something Sophia had been struggling with for a while now. When her King had first unlocked them, they came in an aggressive flood, refilling her mind with 17 years worth of lost information where only instinct and intuition had been residing since her reawakening. Sophia had decided early on that anything was better than the dark and empty confusion that she had been living in, but that didn't make shifting through the memories of a time that was obviously long gone any easier. She still had many questions. Why had Ignacio, her God, brought her back among so many others? And why, to her great frustration, had he bothered to do it without the blessing he had granted her so many years ago? Regardless, her King was alive and had given her a mission, and like a good soldier, she'd see completed even if it meant leaving Edna behind.
Confused and nervous as she was, Sophia's drive and purpose had been restored. She'd continue where she left off and follow her King's agenda.
---
The task force Soliel had sent to Mt Oriel was small but highly qualified, well all but Sophia. Raksha, Rikke, and Absolum were all giants even among the Dragon Hoplites. Sophia admired them greatly and even though she was overcome with pride to be put on this team with them, she couldn't shake nerves. The fact that Absolum was her dad, didn't even help given he had kicked her ass on multiple occasions during her hoplite training. (Training that she was never given the chance to finish, mind you.)
Sophia let out a shaky sigh as she trailed closely behind her father. She kept her eyes on her footing to prevent herself from ogling at Rikke and Raksha. She'd never live it down if she embarrassed herself in front of them. She concentrated on the sound of their hooves on rocks and made a note of how barren the mountain seemed.
"It's quiet here without the dragons." Sophia stated plainly.
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Post by ebbarie on Jan 5, 2019 1:22:51 GMT -6
| Raksha | Hoplite |
Hail to the king, hail to the one
Kneel to the crown, stand in the sun
The clattering of hooves on the hard ground was soothing. It had a natural sound to it, quiet different to what her steps had heard down in the dark caves of Sirith. Dull and lifeless, so far away from the sun.
Over months she had tried to escape the underground city, but only when she regained her memories it finally was successful. And while she was glad to have them back, it had also thrown her off course for a while. A lifetime of information's that comes crashing back in the blink of an eye was a rather...unpleasant experience.
After her arrival in the city that their king had created for her kin, Raksha had spent days searching for her family. Her loved one. None of them was there. Maybe they were still on the way...or...or she was the only one that had been revived. That however was a possibility she refused to even consider.
Yet she wasn’t alone. As a dragon hoplite she was trained to fight alone, their teams would only ever consist of a kirin and their dragon. They needed no one else in battle. That had made her detached over the years. Today many things were different and she had to rely on her kin. It was all she had left in the world.
For a moment she let her gaze wander over the small group she was traveling with. Absolum and his daughter Sophia were no strangers to her and Rikke had been her commander during her time in the kingsguard.
“Yes...yes it is” she sighed and turned her eyes towards the sky. It was empty without the majestic creatures.
Everyone in this group shared the same loss. They all understood what it meant to lose their dragon and that knowledge somehow comforted her. Yet it was a topic that she did not wished to explore more.
“You have been in Sirith as well, right?” she asked and slowed down her steps a little to walk beside Sophia.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 23:18:31 GMT -6
 rikke all of this can be broken Rikke had crawled out of the fiery maw of Mt. Oriel months ago, but she felt her resurrection had not been complete until her reunion with the King. In a world corrupted by unspeakable influences, Soleil had remained pristine, a preserved jewel from the past, as perfect in the flesh as she had been in Rikke's memory. Before kneeling at Her Majesty's feet once more, Rikke had been a mere revenant, a thing half-living. The King's purifying touch had cleansed her.
Rikke's body had changed, but she now knew for certain her soul had not. A grin split her scaled lips, white-hot teeth gleaming beneath. Things were looking up.
A halo of clouds choked Oriel's peak, dimming the sheen of Rikke's gold scales in the smog, but her glowing eyes remained bright. She turned her gaze (three eyes now, a strange addition to her second body) on Absolum. He looked so serious. Raksha's thoughtful silence wasn't any better, but it was Sophia's comment that drew a dragon-like rumble from the bottom of Rikke's chest.
"Mmmm... There's no need to be melancholy." Her voice was like liquid brass: deep, smooth, burning away anything that would compete with it. It was one of the things that made her most unbearable. "Oriel still stands. Ignacio still fuels her fire." She was sure they could feel it; the pulse of volcanic energy beneath their feet, a bottomless store of the fire god's power.
"We know the story of the Phoenix," she gave Sophia's shoulder a gentle shove, simply because she knew it would terrify her. "Out of the ashes." Rikke raised her eyes with the billowing mist, as if expecting a wyvern to rise with them. "Kirin and dragon are bonded. It's a matter of time before their return." She sounded so sure. She always did.
"Ignacio has never failed us, and our family grows every day." With a flash of crackling cyan teke, she grabbed Sophia's chin, turning her face to look out at the countryside below, voice jovial: "See that?? All of that will be Aodh again. The real Aodh." 346 words | post 1 my god im so sorry she literally doesnt ever shut up |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Jan 9, 2019 16:00:05 GMT -6
---------------- Sophia -----------------
Sophia's heart skipped at the sound of Raksha's voice acknowledging her earlier statement. She then mentioned Sirith. 'Sirith?' She thought, 'Is that what that arcane hellhole was?' But before she could ask aloud, a throaty grumble stopped her. Rikke, the King's right hand and Edna's very own mother, interrupted them, seemingly annoyed by the 'melancholic' atmosphere her company was giving off.
Sophia held her breath as the commander went off, animated as ever. She had a very specific kind of charisma, Rikke, one that was equal parts inspiring and absolutely terrifying. Her new form only seemed to enhance that quality of hers. Sophia wanted to ask her so badly what had happened, how she had changed, but she wouldn't dare. Maybe when they all got back she could get Edna to ask her for her. For now though, she was left to speculate and stare into that creepy third eye.
The young kirin smiled awkwardly at her senior, trying to keep her cool, but it was clear by the way she stumbled at Rikke's playful shove, she was incredibly tense. Nodding along with what she was saying, half lost in thought. Sophia wished she had her confidence. Then suddenly a grab at her chin and a jerk of her neck- Rikke forced Sophia to look at the expanse of countryside below them. 'F-FUCK!' Sophia staggered forward, hooves letting loose pebbles to fall off the cliff-side. Her stomach dropped as a spike of adrenaline pumped through her veins. It was a long way down, and it was obvious from her grip, Rikke could just as easily thrown her to her death other than simply turning her head. But despite the rush, Sophia could hear Rikke's words as clear as if they were relayed directly into her mind, "See that?? All of that will be Aodh again. The real Aodh."
Sophia let loose the breath she had been holding, a cold sweat collecting on her forehead. She was scared but she turned to meet Rikke's face with a reinvigorated toothy grin. "I see it Commander."
She was right. The phoenix will rise again. It had to.
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Post by Queerly on Jan 9, 2019 17:20:54 GMT -6
As you find yourselves wrapped up in conversation and antics, one of you nearly eats dirt as your hoof connects with something elevated and hard. Looking down, you realize you've discovered a familiar site: the black obsidian staircase that leads to your destination. You crest them gladly, and through the mist you see it at last: the Hoplite Compound, worn by time and more quiet than its ever been, but very much intact. The arena, the offices, the assembly hall, the barracks where you spent a childhood whispering and giggling after lights out... everything is still here, untouched by the insidious infestation that now plagues your home. |
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Post by gone-astrayy on Jan 15, 2019 0:04:38 GMT -6
Absolum | Hoplite
If there was one thing Absolum had forgotten, even with his returned memories, was just how Rikke, Rikke could be. Her voice demanded to be heard, no matter what she said, and boy was she touchy. An easy smirk settled over Absolum's features as he glanced at Rikke.
"There is no melancholy in my heart. We are Home." Still, her words bolstered his spirit even more. Against the odds of time, Oriel still stood, defiant and deadly to the usurpers of their lands. After a mini heart attack at seeing his daughter scrabbling to keep her footing, watching her stumble across a path they'd all taken many times before. The black obsidian staircase still cut a path up the volcano. Stepping onto the stairs, absolum started up first, letting each step welcome him back, and he nearly galloped up the steps like a kid, so giddy was he to see his old stomping grounds.
Through the mist they emerged into the Compound, the quiet and deserted calm shaking him out of his memories. Though empty, everything was the same as he remembered, if weathered by time. If they weren't on a mission, how he'd absolutely love to just wander through the whole compound and immerse himself once more in rediscovering every nook and cranny. His excitement and relief flooded his features he was sure, but he didn't care.
word count: 228
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Post by ebbarie on Jan 15, 2019 1:30:53 GMT -6
Raksha | Hoplite
You need never feel broken again
Sometimes darkness
Can show you the light
A thundering voice ended her conversation with Sophia as soon as it began. The mare shook her head, evenly annoyed and amused. Her appearance might have changed since the last time she had seen her Commander, but certainly not her character.
“Yeah the damn Vulcano stands, but the rest went to rack and ruin” she snorted. What had been build on their lands after their annihilation was more than underdeveloped. They would need to cleanse the country in order to rebuild it. There was hard work ahead. Yet Rikke was right, they would rise again, eventually. And hopefully she would prove correct with her opinion about the dragons as well.
Raksha’s attention shifted back to Sophia, as the mare basically tripped over the obsidian staircase. It was strange to see the entrance to the Hoplite Compound in the middle of nowhere, but she became excited nonetheless. Absalon’s haste passed on to her and so she raced down the steps right after him, nearly tripping once. It probably would have been more correct to let their commander go first, but she couldn’t hold back.
She couldn’t describe the relief she felt to see at least one part of their past to be untouched. It wasn’t easy to fight the urge to stroll through every corridor, just to summon images of her past. But they weren’t here to indulge in remembrances.
“Let’s see how many of the scrolls stood the test of time.”
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 18:00:31 GMT -6
rikke all of this can be broken Rikke let out a bass and startling laugh as Sophia staggered, but grabbed out her teke to hold the young kirin's withers securely regardless. Couldn't have Absolum thinking she was going to toss his tyke into the abyss. When she was sure Sophia had her balance, Rikke retracted her grasp, still grinning widely. She rumbled appreciatively when Absolum echoed her sentiments but Raksha still seemed unmoved.
Unfalteringly smug, Rikke smirked up the obsidian steps, her eyes on Raksha briefly. "The volcano's all we need." She gave her head a coltish shake and leaped after Absolum. "It can wash out the rest!" Rikke mounted the steps at a joyful canter, not minding a bit how juvenile it seemed; today's great journey into nostalgia was no place for gravitas.
The fortress that had been their home was preserved like a fossil, beautifully intact. The banners and bustle and bodies that had once softened sound were gone however, and the party's footfalls rang sharply, echoing through courtyard and corridor. "Just as we left it." Rikke projected her voice loudly from her abdomen, giving a wry smile as her words bounced back to her from the stone. It was a childish exercise, but, she reasoned, this place was the backdrop of her childhood. Seeing this piece of her past still standing made her giddy.
Raksha's discipline kept Rikke on track; she denied herself a stroll through the barracks and turned diligently for the archive. Wistfulness pulled her eyes over the familiar, time-worn surfaces, and she began to notice faults she had missed before. Sure, no one had pulled the castle down, but time had done her work. Fixtures and fabrics were chipped away, surfaces cracked and collapsing. Rikke's joy began to melt, and become something else.
When they reached the door of the archives, Rikke almost feared they would crumble at her touch. With careful teke and a suddenly grave expression, she jostled the heavy door in its frame, and opened it slowly into a room that had been sealed for centuries. post 2 | 339 words |
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Post by Chipo-H0P3 on Feb 6, 2019 0:18:27 GMT -6
---------------- Sophia -----------------
Again, Sophia lost her footing, but this time she could only blame her lack of vigilance as she tripped over the black stairway. After a long trek up the mountain, they had finally made it to the compound. Sophia hopped out of her stumble, praying to Ignacio no one had noticed. Then she noticed Raksha's eyes on her.
'Shit.'
Her embarrassment was short lived, however. The adults were far more interested in what she had tripped over and where it lead to than her stupid mishap.
Sophia watched with them as Mt Oriel revealed the structure it had been guarding so diligently. A complicated feeling filled Sophia as she followed the others through the courtyard and then inside. This had been her home. A place of work, a place of comfort and a place of pain. The familiarity of the stone told her she should be safe here but Sophia did not. Perhaps it was because she had more bad memories attached to the compound than Rikke, Raksha, or her father. Unlike them, who were probably reliving their glory days, Sophia could only dwell on the struggle she had endured here.
Sophia had been the bottom of her class, that tempered with her combative personality made her a prime target for bullies. These floors had seen a lot of her blood and tears and it left her feeling bitter towards them.
Sophia's attention was brought back to there mission as Rikke opened the door to the archives. Her eyes watered as she held in a sneeze brought on by the disturbed dust within the room.
"Great." She said to no one in particular. "How much are we bringing back?"
P3 | WC 283
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Post by ebbarie on Feb 13, 2019 0:49:02 GMT -6
Raksha | Hoplite
You need never feel broken again
Sometimes darkness
Can show you the light
For a considerable time the dull and steady sound of cloven hooves hitting the ground as well as silent breathing was the only thing to hear. Each one's thoughts lingered on their own memories of this place and there was no need for words. However at least from Rikke she had expected to disrupt the silence in her captivating but overwhelming manner.
After some moments she abandoned her own nostalgic thoughts and turned her eyes to the commander.
“It’s a shame to see this place falling apart. Yet it fulfilled it’s purpose and protected the knowledge of our kin over all this time.” the mare said softly. “Think of Hrag Ba’al. The city is just the beginning. We will rebuild these halls, the whole country.”
New memories would be made. For better or worse.
“I’d say as much as we can carry?” she replied to Sophia and looked back at Absolum and Rikke. “Are we searching for something specific, or do we just take what seems most useful?” she wanted to know and walked along the high bookshelves.
While she quickly browsed through the titles of the books, her attention was still halfway on her comrades. As she came across a cover adorned with the image of the sun, her ears slightly flickered backwards.
“Has anyone heard a word from the Smoldering Sun yet? I tried to reach out to him several times after I awoke alone in the dark tunnels of Sirith...but well, instead of him I had to face Argus.” she snorted and shook her heavy neck. “The Star seemed...troubled. He tried to turn his creations against our kin, but even after he showed them visions of the past they still didn’t tried to kill us. They feign closeness to their patron, yet they completely ignore his will. The other breeds are more degenerate than they have ever been.”
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2019 19:47:35 GMT -6
20 AP and 20 CS to Sophia and Raksha |
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