by Xewleer » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:30 pm
ah ha ha... (embarrassed headscratching)
That one isn't complete... but I'll start work on it if you're interested... I'll send to you what I have (basic introduction really...)
unpolished...
Arcadia is covered in city. For generations, people had expanded Arcadia city, building it further and higher until much of the land was covered, only the mountains and forests remain. The mountains are preserved, not because of any ecological reasons, but that they provide more use uninhabited than otherwise. The forests, however, are another matter. The people desire it untouched, all the better for looting it.
Within the forests, and mountains, are often found ancient, powerful things. Relics, ancient military bases, bones and treasure were gathered by avid treasure seekers, but the bones of treasure seekers have been found as well. Pirates scour the expanses for weapons, gems-anything of use.
One such treasure seeker, Vidai Alan quietly crept through an unfamiliar part of the southern wood. Trees prevented airships from landing, even personal craft, so they had to walk. He had found an ancient facility. It bore the mark of a Column, the most powerful beings of ancient times. His geologist, Kala, had found a great deal of diamond dust in the soil, evidence of ancient battles. In fact, this might even date back to the beginning of the Column era.
Vidai stared intently at his quarry. Pirates rarely came this far in, and the military was caught up in a Shabboltholm civil war. No one was here to steal their credit. The government would pay top price for this. Not to mention the little things, things that can fit in pockets and can be accepted by most shops without fuss. They were considered something like privateers, government dogs who sell to government first, and brothers last. Pity the money assuaged any breach of honor they may feel.
Vidai grinned. The security systems shouldn't be too bad. The castle at Lok's Find was the most dangerous find ever, was rendered harmless after someone blew up the diamond reactor. It was a sorry thing to lose, but worth the people saved. He heard the rest of his team coming close; it was time to move in. The small clearing in front was empty. They stopped to take a few soil samples, no changes. The outside was plain, gray and solid. The only real opening within reach was the main door.
Lorane and Jerome, an old husband and wife team of trap experts, took point and examined the door. It was a solid affair, some alloy of steel that no one recognized. That alone could have been worth the trip, but treasure seekers never takes the first thing they see. The main danger for something this old was gunpowder. While gunpowder was illegal, even hated, there was always a chance some madman used the horrid dust to booby trap his lab or treasure. Gunpowder had only ever been used in quantity once, and though it won a three-month battle in a single day, its users swore never again.
But the door was merely locked. They entered into a stereotypically white corridor. 'Red' Contra, former pirate and mechanical jack-of-all trades, took apart a light as soon as he was sure it wasn't connected to a trap. “Diamond lights, brudda! I've not seen this since... since...” Vidai leaned in to get a better look. Red was whistling to himself as he uncovered the prize he sought. “Oh yeah!” He made a humping motion. “This stuff is beyond Lok. Baby, Lok had this stuff, but they were out and useless. These aren't newer, but they aren't going out anytime either...” Vidai brought him to reality by gently slapping him across the back of the head.
“Do you think we're in danger? If it's like Lok, we aren't gonna stay.” Vidai put a hand on Red's shoulder. Vidai watched his team's faces. They wanted to push forward, despite the danger. He wanted to leave. They would follow him if he said they should go, but would they still respect him? He shook Red to get his mind back on track. “Red, you are the mech. expert here, what do you think?”
Red shook his head. “Lok was booby-trapped ten ways from the Mystro. We haven't even come across good'ol fashioned paint can on a rope.” He actually thought for once. “... We should leave though, soon as something comes up, though.” He put the gems back, except for one. They moved on, carefully.
Lorane and Jerome went forward, checking walls and light fixtures. The first bend brought no change in scene, but the second had what was obviously a guard kiosk. There was nothing valuable. They found, however, maps of the complex, five levels above, four below, ten in all. There were offices and apartments above and labs below. Few disagreed on their course. Vidai, of course, kept himself more alert than normal.
They moved on to the stairwell. No self-preserving treasure seeker took an elevator. Here, they decided to split up, five, led by Lorane and Red would go to the top, where the maps showed a communications array, while Vidai and Jerome would go see if there was anything worth having in the bottom floors.
The labs were color oriented and empty. Vidai was starting to feel disappointed, when he found a souvenir. It was a poster, made from a thin film of plastic. It was still flexible and colorful. It held the picture of an old man and what he supposed was his granddaughter. “We'll keep this, eh?” The military didn't care as long as they got the good stuff, so to speak.
They walked farther into the complex. There were the beginnings of dust and rust on some of the implements. They picked through a few of the desks, pocketing a knife here, or a picture here. This had once been quite a lively place. A lot of people had worked, probably even lived here. This wasn't a place to be lightly abandoned. Vidai knew that whoever had worked here had died.
“Alright, we're now three levels down. No traps, powered items, barring lights, or otherwise possibly hostile items. Set up communications with team two.” He scouted ahead a little with Iodin, a mercenary. He was paid to be competent and competent he was. They reached the bottom of the third flight of stairs and waited for the rest to catch up.
“What do you think of all this? Advanced technology, no one home and no corpses.” Iodin spoke quietly, like he was afraid to wake something up. “So something came and moved the corpses. Something not human, because it made no mistakes and got all the blood stains.”
Vidai gave him his 'confidence' grin. “They could have moved because they ran out of food.”
Iodin gave him a 'what are you talking about?' look. “Outside there are major signs that a battle took place. Diamond dust is throughout the soil. You DO think that people died here, right? I can tell, and I bet Glen does to. It's the atmosphere.”
Vidai shook his head. Iodin may be right, but nothing aggressive had shown up yet.
I apologize for putting it up there, yet having so little...
I'll show you how terrifying a true Christian can be!
Looking for a worthy opponent but the one man who can face me will not fight me anymore.
but very short (it's only about 3 pages, front only, but I add to it each time))
Good luck, guys
