The Inquisition (IC/closed)

[Psychotoxin]

You are an initiate Inquisitor. A blessed one. One of the Thirteen has smiled upon you at some point in your life, granting you powers above those of other men and women.

However - right now you don't feel them smiling on you. Having crossed the desert of Kronia, you are at the Citadel, where you have been summoned. Looking back at the endless dunes, you already see your tracks vanishing. Your steam-powered walker, or Kronian camel at your side, you wonder if you are the first, or the very last to arrive. Such thoughts, however, do not quench the mounting thirst you feel, and so you turn your attention to the Citadel door. Pulling out an ornate seal, you raise it up towards the monolithic gate, and it starts glowing. The door slowly opens, and a pair of marshals come out to greet you.

"Greetings initiate! The head Magos is already expecting you!" one of them greets you, holstering his rail-carbine. The other one respectfully nods at you and keeps watch of the dunes, as you head in the Citadel, your mount at your side.
 

The courtyard before the Citadel proper is spacious and bustling with activity. You see a pair of merchants surrounded by at least half a dozen well-armed guards, and an equal amount of marshals heatedly negotiating something. No doubt it's about  supplies delivered and their respective price.

A bit behind the caravan there is a gate, and you can hear a drawn out roar and something large thrashing around behind it. A high ranking Inquisitor, bearing the mark of Rhino proudly on his sholder, emerges from the gate and seals it behind him. You overhear him shouting "...no one... inside..." as a couple of heavily-armored men take up their position by the gate.

The marshal that greeted you, taps on your shoulder and points towards a staircase on the opposite side of all the commotion.

"I'd suggest finding the the head Magos hastily. She looked mighty sour when I last saw her." He stated, looking at you patiently.

[Spikey844]

Stiorra hated sand.

It was something she had discovered during the trek to this place. It got into the gears and mechanisms of her arm, and she had to spend far too long cleaning it out and adjusting it to make sure it would not jam or otherwise malfunction. 

She stretched as she got off her six legged steam walker, shaking out limbs stiffened and sore from riding. Thankfully she wasn't getting blisters anymore. Thirteen help her but that had been horrible. She had had to sleep on her front for over a week. She pushed back the scarlet hood of her travelling cloak, shaking out her curly hair, before trying back in a ponytail. She pulled her war axe from a clamp on the walker's side, letting the butt of the shaft hit the ground with a thud, leaving her rifle locked in place in its carrying compartment.

"Is there somewhere I can leave my walker first?" She asked, "and get a drink of water? My throat is parched, and I do not wish to go before the head Magos sounding like a frog."

[Psychotoxin]

2 minutes ago, Spikey844 said:

Stiorra hated sand.

It was something she had discovered during the trek to this place. It got into the gears and mechanisms of her arm, and she had to spend far too long cleaning it out and adjusting it to make sure it would not jam or otherwise malfunction. 

She stretched as she got off her six legged steam walker, shaking out limbs stiffened and sore from riding. Thankfully she wasn't getting blisters anymore. Thirteen help her but that had been horrible. She had had to sleep on her front for over a week. She pushed back the scarlet hood of her travelling cloak, shaking out her curly hair, before trying back in a ponytail. She pulled her war axe from a clamp on the walker's side, letting the butt of the shaft hit the ground with a thud, leaving her rifle locked in place in its carrying compartment.

"Is there somewhere I can leave my walker first?" She asked, "and get a drink of water? My throat is parched, and I do not wish to go before the head Magos sounding like a frog."

"Ah, of course! You can leave it by the stables, There's plenty of room there." The marshal pointed to the stables, that were located slightly behind and to the right of Stiorra, along the outer wall.

"You'll have to head inside and catch one of the servants for water." He then nodded towards the staircase again.

[Spikey844]

7 minutes ago, Psychotoxin said:

"Ah, of course! You can leave it by the stables, There's plenty of room there." The marshal pointed to the stables, that were located slightly behind and to the right of Stiorra, along the outer wall.

"You'll have to head inside and catch one of the servants for water." He then nodded towards the staircase again.

Stiorra nodded in thanks and led her mount into the stables. Thankfully getting through the door was not too difficult. She'd had problems occasionally as with six legs, her mount was wider than most. She ran a hand along the walker's 'head' feeling the vibrations fade and vanish as she powered it down. No sense in wasting energy needlessly. She let her finger, one of her flesh and blood ones, trail along its body, the metal hot to the touch, both from the engine and motor inside and the heat of the sun. 

She shook herself, then headed out, ignoring the bickering merchants, though she would give the high ranking Inquisitor a respectful nod should he come close, and headed in the direction pointed out by the marshall, hunting for a servant along the way. 

[vodkacrepper]

What was it? Days? Weeks? Fel'so couldn't remember anymore since he was found by an Inquisitorial recruiter on the outskirts of a Kronian village he Just... Traveled, not minding the distance, not calculating a path, he Just took the biggest Kronian Camel he could find and go.

And now he regrets his choice, he was without water, and with a god that probably decided to shine a tad too much over him, but at that same moment he saw them, the monolithic doors of The Citadel, unmoving and untested by time, so as swiftly as he could he took his seal and showed it to the door, making it move and open up to the foreign Aetherborn.

Now inside the massive Citadel, Fel'so would get down of his massive Camel, whispering something to it and making it move alone toward the stables; Meanwhile, the Marshal would tap his shoulder, indicating him were to go to find the Head Magos and also checking the Mark of Equinox in his chest.

Uncaring about both the merchants and the other Inquisitor, he would now move toward the stairs, clearly standing out due to his more "tribal" clothing.

Edited September 2, 2017 by vodkacrepper

[Arunafeltz]

"Thank you."

Standing at the foot of the stairs, a young girl with flowing silver hair that spilled over her deerskin manteau and dark blue manteau said to a kindly servant, who had handed her a jug of freshly-drawn water. Filling her own gourd from it, she tottered around idly for a few moments before turning around to the sound of approaching footsteps. She stared blankly in the direction of the man in outlandish attire, seemingly listening to something only she could hear. Then she held out the jug to him without a word, offering him the rest of the jug which was still well over half full.

[Drakeardian]

There's a good reason you don't wear shoes on sandy terrain, Mind you one chap thought shoes were overrated.

Seth Arno, a man who was familiar with the desert sands as his town of Kasaktaen, put his cloak that he wore to protect himself from the sandstorms on his camel as he reached the Citadel. A guy said there was a job there for a boy of his newly unique talents, including his recent large Licthenburg scar across his left arm and hand that glowed in the night or whenever he was close to a body of electricity .

He noted the other three that had arrived also, A cyborg looking woman with a walker, a small girl who seemed out of place on the Citadel as well as looking out to...nowhere in particular and an Aetherborn who appeared to be from some Sand tribe. Eh, at least robbery wouldn't be in question.

He made sure he still had his Vasto revolvers and his two knives just incase things got hairy. He then had his camel put in one of the stables and said to a servent "Oi! Can ya keep Karen safe and well fed! Cheers!" before he approached the girl, raising an eyebrow as he noted her eyes then says "You comin'? I think we're expected little light."

Edited September 2, 2017 by Drakeardian

[vodkacrepper]

The Aetherborn didn't question, he just removed his helmet and took the jug, drink half of the water present inside before handing the jug to the other two inquisitors with a clearly exagerated movement of his arm, when either the girl with a mechanical arm or the guy with a strange accent would take it, Fen would hastly put his helmet back on, not revealing his appearance to the two persons that could actually see him.

At last, he will bend a little forward before hushing "Thank you" with a deep voice.

"Not like we have a choice, da Chief Magoz iz waiting for uz after all"

[ShrimpOverlord]

Vulf slammed the power down button on his walker, his boots hitting hard against the floor as he dismounted his machine. The man has never been on land for that long, and with his luck, of course it was in a goddamn desert, of all places possible. He walked a safe distance from the stables then felt around his chest, hands brushing against his three flintlock pistols until he found his water canteens. He pulled it off, stared at it, then opened it and emptied the full container on himself. He waited for this for so. Damn. Long.

He flicked his wet hairs from his eyes, then walked towards the courtyard, turning only his head as the man tapped his shoulder. He nodded at the marshal and walked towards the staircase, where a group of three stood. Towering above them all, he quickly inspected them.

"I sure do hope it's colder inside." he muttered, his voice rusty and rugged. He folded his hands and cleared his throat. "This is not a place for a person like me." the captain added, tapping the Hydroid sigil on his upper chest with his fist.

[Spikey844]

3 hours ago, vodkacrepper said:

The Aetherborn didn't question, he just removed his helmet and took the jug, drink half of the water present inside before handing the jug to the other two inquisitors with a clearly exagerated movement of his arm, when either the girl with a mechanical arm or the guy with a strange accent would take it, Fen would hastly put his helmet back on, not revealing his appearance to the two persons that could actually see him.

At last, he will bend a little forward before hushing "Thank you" with a deep voice.

"Not like we have a choice, da Chief Magoz iz waiting for uz after all"

Stiorra took the jug form Fen, though raised her eyebrows at the dramatic movement of his arm, before shrugging it off. She unhooked a water skin from her belt, poured some of the water in, then drank from the water skin, the cool water refreshing her parched throat. "Thank you," she murmured, before holding the water skin out towards the loud man in tribal clothing. Her gaze rested on the young, silvery haired girl standing near by. She analysed her in the same way she might analyse a broken machine.

She drew two conclusions. One, that she was too young.

The second... she was blind.

[Drakeardian]

"Weird ain't it?" whispered Seth to Stiorria as he spotted her look then looked back to the young girl as he quickly made his way towards the stairs and up them, not wanting to waste time and perhaps get paid.

He grabbed his own water flask from his belt and drank from it as he made his way up, splashing some water on himself just to cool off.

[Arunafeltz]

With the jug now having served its purpose, it found its way back into the girl's hands. She returned it to a manservant whom had been observing the lot with great interest. Her eyes still not quite meeting any of theirs, she followed them quietly, her arms now cradling an exquisite-looking harp that she had produced from beneath her travelling cloak. She flinched a little as a few droplets from the sailor splashed on her, but otherwise - displayed no further hint of what she was thinking or feeling. She did stand a little closer to the tribal man and the only other lady in the group, however.

As they went, a large white Kubrow with bronzed hind legs sauntered in from the courtyard, and with a small wave of the girl's hands, sat obediently at the foot of the stairs they were ascending. The beast was big enough for the girl to have ridden on his back, and judging by his tameness, the tiny saddle on his back and the wide-soled sand shoes fastened to his paws, she was his master and had indeed ridden on him all this way.

Edited September 3, 2017 by Arunafeltz

[Psychotoxin]

The inside of the Citadel was substantially colder than the outside, due to the structure being made from some unknown stone. As the group made their way up, a young woman appeared at the top of the stairs. She looked annoyed, and crossed her arms, her left one covered in an in steam-powered armor. She had the mark of Ember clearly visible on her chest, thanks mainly to the prominent cleavage in her blouse. Strapped to her hip she had a pistol, that she was currently tapping on.

"Initiates! You are late! Double time it, the head Magos hasn't got all day!" She barked. Her voice seemed too smooth for someone barking orders like that, but it was clear that this wasn't her first time commanding people. She waited till the first of the group reached the stairs, and then hastily headed through the hallway on the right.

The Citadel was silent enough that her footsteps echoed through the halls, as her boots beat a steady rhythm.

[Drakeardian]

7 hours ago, Psychotoxin said:

The inside of the Citadel was substantially colder than the outside, due to the structure being made from some unknown stone. As the group made their way up, a young woman appeared at the top of the stairs. She looked annoyed, and crossed her arms, her left one covered in an in steam-powered armor. She had the mark of Ember clearly visible on her chest, thanks mainly to the prominent cleavage in her blouse. Strapped to her hip she had a pistol, that she was currently tapping on.

"Initiates! You are late! Double time it, the head Magos hasn't got all day!" She barked. Her voice seemed too smooth for someone barking orders like that, but it was clear that this wasn't her first time commanding people. She waited till the first of the group reached the stairs, and then hastily headed through the hallway on the right.

The Citadel was silent enough that her footsteps echoed through the halls, as her boots beat a steady rhythm.

"Initiates? But we just arrived!" called out Seth as he followed on to where the woman was heading, looking very confused at what the problem was!

He kept following, minding where he stepped incase of any sharp objects or trip ups that there were, he wouldn't function well with a few broken toes.

[vodkacrepper]

"Aye Aye, we will follow"

Fen'so would start walking forward, slamming his fist on his own chest too as a sign he heard the Captain's words.

"You Better follow captain, temperature iz zure colder Here"

He would then focus on where he was going, moving slightly faster to catch up with the apparent Marshal.

Edited September 3, 2017 by vodkacrepper

[Psychotoxin]

The woman kept walking at a rapid pace, turning left at another staircase and rapidly ascending. She seemed to be completely uninterested wether the group could follow her. But at the same time she kept in line of sight.

The staircase she ascended was narrower and curved around the wall of a square-shaped tower. Somehow it felt like it couldn't exactly be located where it was, because if anyone followed the distance walked, they'd realise that they were around the middle of the Citadel. Opposite of the staircase a few aetherborn were quietly chatting. Al of them wore the same style of uniform and carried a sword, although neither of them looked like they'd ever actually used them.

They observed the approaching initiates, and upon seeing the marks of the Thirteen on them, bowed and retreated backwards.

[Spikey844]

Stiorra followed after the woman quietly, eyebrows raised. But her first thought regarding the woman was not her abrupt and sharp words, nor her quick footsteps, or even how the steam armour on one arm worked.

No, her first thought was 'Does she actually need to have her shirt unbuttoned like that?' Then she caught herself. It was her jealousy rearing its head. She had never been able to catch the eye of any of the young men at home, perhaps because of her job (her father being built like an ox probably didn't help), but it hadn't helped that she had never really had the time to make herself look pretty. She constantly had dirt under her finger nails and oil on her hands, her hair was always done in a practical rather than pretty manner, and the most skin she usually showed was her bare arms when she rolled up her sleeves.

She concentrated on where she was walking, her axe haft making a solid thunk in time with her footsteps. Her metal arm hissed and whirred as it moved, steam powered pneumatics driving the small motions as it swung.

[Arunafeltz]

Whatever the girl was thinking, she certainly wasn't showing it. She did her best to keep up, but had problems of her own.

The steps were made for adults, and at the pace they were going, the girl was admittedly having a little trouble with ascending the steps, considering her inability to see. She was relieved when they reached the curving stairs, which made navigating a little easier by feeling the wall on her right. But then the tip of her sandal caught on a corner, and she stumbled in spite of herself.

[Drakeardian]

Noticing the small child having trouble getting up as he turned around to see what was happening, Seth decided to quickly rush over to the small blind girl and asked them "Hey, ah...Do you need a hand little light?"

He reached out to help the young girl up by the arm gently.

Edited September 5, 2017 by Drakeardian

[Arunafeltz]

"Sorry." mumbled she, in a voice barely audible.

She allowed him to stabilize her, for which she must have been grateful. But as soon as she regained her footing and orientation of the curving stairs, she shrunk away from his arm and continued climbing.

[ShrimpOverlord]

Quote

 

"Aye Aye, we will follow"

Fen'so would start walking forward, slamming his fist on his own chest too as a sign he heard the Captain's words.

"You Better follow captain, temperature iz zure colder Here"

He would then focus on where he was going, moving slightly faster to catch up with the apparent Marshal.

 

2

"Ah... You were right." Vulf sighed at Fen'so a few minutes after they got inside. His clothes and body were much more used to a cold and moist climate, the exact opposite of the desert outside. 

His pistols clanked against his chest with every step, his paces slightly uneven due to an old injury in the leg. This proved especially uncomfortable when climbing the stairs; the lack of symmetry as he walked up or down drove him mad, even after all these years. He usually wasn't really concerned with order and symmetry, rather, the opposite, but for some godforsaken reason, it was that specific little thing that annoyed the living hell out of him. 

As they passed near their higher-ups, he couldn't help but shake his head and grumble. He leaned in towards Fen'so.

"I bet your &#! they're all stuck up, pompous bastards," he said once they were out of range. "Didn't catch your name, by the way. Vulf."

[Spikey844]

Stiorra shot the blind girl a curious look as they climbed the stairs. She would have moved to help her, but one of the men had beaten her too it. That the girl had shrunk away almost as soon as she had regained her footing made peaked her interest, but for now she let it be. The answer to that question was likely to be private one. 

While her expression didn't change upon seeing the aetherborn at the top of the stairs, inwardly she sneered at them. They looked like parade guards. Very pretty, but completely lacking in the kind of stomach that it took to fight in battle. Not that she could claim and great experience of battle either, beyond a few fist fights back home, but they looked to shiny and well dressed to be proper soldiers.

She could, of course, be completely wrong. 

The haft of her axe continued its rymthic thumping upon the floor.

[vodkacrepper]

Aetherborns? Unmarked... Uncut, Fen was unremarkably more interested in that than the blind girl steps, sure as hell one of the others altready helped her.

"I was one of them... Vulf, im Fel'z.. Fel'So, but theze are no nomad like me, no Huzzar, no Mazk... They are Magoz, from the Zchool"

The Tribal would look past them almost enraged by their complete obedience, his long, Red dreads seemingly responding to this by moving randomly around his back.

But at last he would calm down as he now walked near Stiorra, always remaining at her side without the mechanical arm as he held grip of his weapon, A Gun-Axe  of peculiar design.

"Don't walk too near them Girl, you could poizon one of them with that zteam arm of yourz"

[Psychotoxin]

As the group reaches the top of the stairs, the woman from before can be seen waiting impatiently across the hall.

"I swear, you lot are slower than a Troxh beast on it's last legs." She sighed and headed in the door next to her, motioning the rest to follow. Through the gap, the room was visibly darkened, most likely by something covering the windows. Movement could be seen in the room, and a vibrant violet pair of arms could be seen crossing themselves on an otherwise indiscernably dark figure.

Voices could be heard, mainly that of the inquisitor of Ember. It had lost all of it's edge, now being soft and obedient. Words still were too muffled to hear however.

[Drakeardian]

On 06/09/2017 at 9:43 PM, Psychotoxin said:

As the group reaches the top of the stairs, the woman from before can be seen waiting impatiently across the hall.

"I swear, you lot are slower than a Troxh beast on it's last legs." She sighed and headed in the door next to her, motioning the rest to follow. Through the gap, the room was visibly darkened, most likely by something covering the windows. Movement could be seen in the room, and a vibrant violet pair of arms could be seen crossing themselves on an otherwise indiscernably dark figure.

Voices could be heard, mainly that of the inquisitor of Ember. It had lost all of it's edge, now being soft and obedient. Words still were too muffled to hear however.

"Jeez, calm down! I'm only helping someone here!" Seth argued as he quickly followed on to the rather darkened room, stopping to look at the dark room, he patted his trousers down to pull out a pair of matches, striking one to light up the place.

"Pretty dark here..." muttered Seth as he looked over to his fellow 'initiates' So where do you guys come from? I'm from Kasaktaen myself." he whispered.