Post by wulfie13 on Nov 4, 2013 23:22:43 GMT
Nabarl awoke in his cell, much as he did every day.
However, unlike any other day, there was a QA official at the other end of the small room.
"Let me guess, you have another assignment?" Nabarl said as his eyes adjusted to the low light.
"Yes, and I think you'll be pleased with this one." the official said, polishing his glasses as a smile slowly spreading across his face.
"I've heard that before. What makes you think that this time'll be any different than those?" Nabarl said, as he began to pull on his tunic.
"Three very simple reasons. From what little information we have on your home world, our preliminary reports suggest this world to be remarkably similar, if somewhat more technologically advanced. This means you'd be free to roam around... unbound in any way."
"Alright, I'll admit that's still more interesting than normal. But there are other worlds out there close to mine, that's not really enough. What's next?"
"Your cover would be in a combat school, so you'd get to be away from us for a very long time. You get to fight, work out a few... issues, and all while advancing. Perhaps you could even find ways to come back unharmed from time to time. I'm sure you're aware of the name some of the newer questers have attached to you..."
"I'd just like to point out you're in a locked room with me. My file probably warned you that bringing that up was a bad idea..."
Nabarl spun around to face the official for the first time since the conversation began. The official calmly replaced his glasses.
"I assure you, I was made well aware of all those points. Take that for what you will." The official slid the glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "As for the third reason, it's all very simple. This worlds magic doesn't rely on an innate talent or unfathomable texts. It is quite simply your soul made manifest. We believe even you would be able to perform it, given access to the... necessary reagents."
Nabarl studied the face of the strange man. Grey suit He thought, as his mind scanned over the official. Blue handkerchief, Black socks... Plain, but matching. Decent. Clean. Nothing from the suit. As usual. That smile - Confident. Not cocky. If I had snapped, he has a plan. Probably plans. Always with the hiding their eyes. Not sure if I want to know why... Damn, why don't they ever give me anything easy to read...
Nabarl closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll go willingly."
"There is one condition, and I'm afraid it's non-negotiable..."
"Which is?"
The official's smile widened into a smirk. "Follow me."
***
Nabarl followed the official to the forge. It was strange being here - Nabarl had never needed any help maintaining his scythe, and it was the only weapon he had ever needed.
"The Forgemaster has something for you. It's for use on this world, and this world alone. We'll be monitoring it closely." The official said as they approached one of the myriad workbenches.
"What? Why can't I take my scythe? It's always been good enough before." Nabarl asked. He was only trained with a scythe, and he wasn't sure that the QA could make something that so outclassed his as to make it obsolete.
"To put it simply, the world you're going to has people who could dull it's blade before you touched them. And their weapons easily rival your own in power."
Nabarl raised an eyebrow in disbelief, before he saw what was on the workbench.
"This took longer than it should have, but these blueprints..." Said the Forgemaster, rising from his chair. "Let alone handling the original, it was complicated to say the least..."
He picked Nabarl's Scythe from the workbench. "I hope you don't mind, but I needed to make sure I got the proportions right." He said to Nabarl as he handed the pieces back.
"Make what?" He asked, as he assembled his weapon. It wasn't any heavier or lighter. The balance and reach seemed right too...
The Forgemaster took the cover off what was stood to the side of the bench. And Nabarl immediately recognised it. His scythe, but blown up to nearly double the size. It now had a dual blade, made of a black metal Nabarl couldn't hope to recognise. As he lifted it, the light caught it, and the blade shone a pale violet colour.
"I would suggest you spend some time learning how to use this in the training room. And I hope you'll approve of the name."
"You named it?" Nabarl said, puzzled.
The official coughed politely to interrupt "It seems to be convention on this world to name your weapon. It would be strange if you were not to do this. We did use the information you provided..."
"So, what did you name it?" Nabarl asked, hoping it didn't sound too ridiculous.
"Ashunera's Shadow."
Shadow of the creator, huh? Nabarl thought as he held the new weapon under the light once more. Let's hope I can live up to that...
"I'll need to supervise your training, just to show you some of it's tricks. And I'll hold your original weapon for safe keeping." The Forgemaster said as Nabarl came back to his senses.
Nabarl looked over at his old scythe, leant against the workbench. He idly ran his hand over the blade's etchings, before stepping away again. "Alright, let's get this started."
***
Nabarl stood looking at the destruction, and the smoking barrel of the gun he was holding. He was almost in shock.
Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that...
"I would say you're ready to leave now. Just make sure you don't go anywhere from the portal location until your partner arrives." said the Forgemaster.
"Your quest and world information." said the offical, handing Nabarl a now-familiar looking journal-like book. "I look forward to the results of this one..."
Why do I always hate it when they say that? Nabarl said, before heading for the portal room.
(OOC: I'll be posting the basic information on Ashunera's Shadow to Nabarl's character page shortly.)
However, unlike any other day, there was a QA official at the other end of the small room.
"Let me guess, you have another assignment?" Nabarl said as his eyes adjusted to the low light.
"Yes, and I think you'll be pleased with this one." the official said, polishing his glasses as a smile slowly spreading across his face.
"I've heard that before. What makes you think that this time'll be any different than those?" Nabarl said, as he began to pull on his tunic.
"Three very simple reasons. From what little information we have on your home world, our preliminary reports suggest this world to be remarkably similar, if somewhat more technologically advanced. This means you'd be free to roam around... unbound in any way."
"Alright, I'll admit that's still more interesting than normal. But there are other worlds out there close to mine, that's not really enough. What's next?"
"Your cover would be in a combat school, so you'd get to be away from us for a very long time. You get to fight, work out a few... issues, and all while advancing. Perhaps you could even find ways to come back unharmed from time to time. I'm sure you're aware of the name some of the newer questers have attached to you..."
"I'd just like to point out you're in a locked room with me. My file probably warned you that bringing that up was a bad idea..."
Nabarl spun around to face the official for the first time since the conversation began. The official calmly replaced his glasses.
"I assure you, I was made well aware of all those points. Take that for what you will." The official slid the glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "As for the third reason, it's all very simple. This worlds magic doesn't rely on an innate talent or unfathomable texts. It is quite simply your soul made manifest. We believe even you would be able to perform it, given access to the... necessary reagents."
Nabarl studied the face of the strange man. Grey suit He thought, as his mind scanned over the official. Blue handkerchief, Black socks... Plain, but matching. Decent. Clean. Nothing from the suit. As usual. That smile - Confident. Not cocky. If I had snapped, he has a plan. Probably plans. Always with the hiding their eyes. Not sure if I want to know why... Damn, why don't they ever give me anything easy to read...
Nabarl closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll go willingly."
"There is one condition, and I'm afraid it's non-negotiable..."
"Which is?"
The official's smile widened into a smirk. "Follow me."
***
Nabarl followed the official to the forge. It was strange being here - Nabarl had never needed any help maintaining his scythe, and it was the only weapon he had ever needed.
"The Forgemaster has something for you. It's for use on this world, and this world alone. We'll be monitoring it closely." The official said as they approached one of the myriad workbenches.
"What? Why can't I take my scythe? It's always been good enough before." Nabarl asked. He was only trained with a scythe, and he wasn't sure that the QA could make something that so outclassed his as to make it obsolete.
"To put it simply, the world you're going to has people who could dull it's blade before you touched them. And their weapons easily rival your own in power."
Nabarl raised an eyebrow in disbelief, before he saw what was on the workbench.
"This took longer than it should have, but these blueprints..." Said the Forgemaster, rising from his chair. "Let alone handling the original, it was complicated to say the least..."
He picked Nabarl's Scythe from the workbench. "I hope you don't mind, but I needed to make sure I got the proportions right." He said to Nabarl as he handed the pieces back.
"Make what?" He asked, as he assembled his weapon. It wasn't any heavier or lighter. The balance and reach seemed right too...
The Forgemaster took the cover off what was stood to the side of the bench. And Nabarl immediately recognised it. His scythe, but blown up to nearly double the size. It now had a dual blade, made of a black metal Nabarl couldn't hope to recognise. As he lifted it, the light caught it, and the blade shone a pale violet colour.
"I would suggest you spend some time learning how to use this in the training room. And I hope you'll approve of the name."
"You named it?" Nabarl said, puzzled.
The official coughed politely to interrupt "It seems to be convention on this world to name your weapon. It would be strange if you were not to do this. We did use the information you provided..."
"So, what did you name it?" Nabarl asked, hoping it didn't sound too ridiculous.
"Ashunera's Shadow."
Shadow of the creator, huh? Nabarl thought as he held the new weapon under the light once more. Let's hope I can live up to that...
"I'll need to supervise your training, just to show you some of it's tricks. And I'll hold your original weapon for safe keeping." The Forgemaster said as Nabarl came back to his senses.
Nabarl looked over at his old scythe, leant against the workbench. He idly ran his hand over the blade's etchings, before stepping away again. "Alright, let's get this started."
***
Nabarl stood looking at the destruction, and the smoking barrel of the gun he was holding. He was almost in shock.
Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that...
"I would say you're ready to leave now. Just make sure you don't go anywhere from the portal location until your partner arrives." said the Forgemaster.
"Your quest and world information." said the offical, handing Nabarl a now-familiar looking journal-like book. "I look forward to the results of this one..."
Why do I always hate it when they say that? Nabarl said, before heading for the portal room.
(OOC: I'll be posting the basic information on Ashunera's Shadow to Nabarl's character page shortly.)