Enter the Puzzler - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
18/7/476
Log
Tis unusual for so many gifted to happen on the same place at the same time outside the city, but fates, or perhaps something else, conspires to make it so, causing so many to just happen to gather in the summer afternoon. The sun beams gently through the canopy of the forest in brilliant shafts of light.
Leian sighs softly to herself, a cheerful smile on her muzzle, as she enjoys her stroll through the woods, humming softly to herself. Tail swaying slowly behind her, eyes partially closed, and ears perked atop her head. Her arms behind her back, paw holding her wrist behind herself.
Mirana comes walking along in the East Forest, her creator machines beside her to help keep the maternal vixen safe. She wonders a moment whatever could have possessed her to come out here again. She reaches up to her golden earring and thinks. Seeing Leian she gives a slight smile and a wave!
Sveta arrives in the forest perchance, having being sent out here to collect various odds and ends for the craft school's alchemical needs. Sure, the marketplace - and less reputable places - are often enough to supply most of their needs, but why spend money when one can get the journeymen to do it for free?
Rixo shuffles through the forest, plate rattling as she makes her way back towards Firmament. She slows to a halt upon seeing others, however. "Oh. Is something going on over here? I don't usually see many others out here!"
Ictus looks to have been out for a walk before he blinks as he realizes there are others around, "Ah, hello there." he might look a little different to Rixo than the last time she saw him
There is a sound of money, crowns on crowns, tinkling as if in great number being poured into a pile. From the undergrowth emerges a familiar vulpine, his hat tipped forward, "My my, so many answered my call, so many eager for a chance at riches, fortune, and ready to test their mettle against mine," speaks the Puzzler.
Leian stops and smiles at Mirana, returning the wave and blinking slightly, looking around herself as more arrive, tilting her head a bit in confusion " Where.. Did I just get myself to?" And jumps a bit, startled by the sudden appearance of the puzzler " Gah!" she looks at him confusedly " Who are you?... What call?" she seems.. Puzzled!
Mirana looks over to Rixo, Sveta, more waves, more smiles, then to Ictus and she moves to give her soon to be life bond a strong hug. Without releasing him yetshe looks to the other fox, "Riches, fortune? Tests?" she asks, a bit surprised herself.
Rixo blinks a little, glancing among those assembled from behind her helmet. Quite a few people are... Different. "Well, I'll give anything a try, once." She rolls her shoulders a little. "Nice to see you all again. It has been a while."
Sveta acknowledges the Lord and Lady Solacious' arrival with a brief and respectful dip of her head. The Puzzler...less so. Slowly, the goshawk tilts her head at him, ignoring the crowns altogether. "I don't know who you are, but a call, you say? Riches I could care less for, but you seem like a bit of a puzzle."
Ictus blinks at the sound of money and looks over at the puzzler, "Oh? What's this then?" he glares at the fox a little before he is hugged, he smiles at that and noses his love gently
"Puzzle is the game, and the name," he agrees, removing his hat to tip it then placing it back deftly, ears poking out. "I am the puzzler, and I feel it's long past due time for introductions. I am sure we've all met at least once, have we not? My daring riddles, my charming challenges, my rich rewards?"
Leian tilts her head slightly " Games? I used to play many games with my family back home to keep them entertained. As well as many of the neighboring children." she smiles softly " I always do enjoy playing games." her tail sways behind her in an excited manner
Rixo bobs her head. "I believe so, yes. You've been a pretty good source of funding for me, fox." She plants the tip of her shield on the ground and leans on it. "So, what did you call us out here, for? Seems rather unusual."
Mirana looks again and shakes her head, "I'm not sure that we have, maybe in passing." she says nussling up to Ictus a bit more. "Dear heart, please tell me more about this, ok? It wasn't wise for me to head out here. I'm going to hed back." She turns to the puzzler, "Thank you, but, I should be off to home." She waves to everyone once more, smiling mostly to Rixo, Leian, and Sveta. Another hug to Ictus, and she starts her way back to the city.
Sveta sighs. "So all those riddles were your doing? I came out here for business, good sir, but if it's a game you want, then a game you shall have. I can't say I'm being very enthusiastic about being a glorified herb-picker anyway. Well, then. I suppose we can begin when everyone's ready?"
Ictus hmms? at the puzzler and nods at that, "I see, I've never been one for puzzles though sadly..." he watches as Mira leaves and frowns, "I should at least make sure she gets back safely..." he bows a bit before departing.
"Of course. It's just as well your misses departed. I don't think she's interested in what I have to offer anyway," he says with a dismissive wave of a furry hand. The brightly dressed fox turns to his side, "Answer me these riddles three. First, what soul do we hold first, but put down almost as quickly, yet never forget?"
Rixo tilts her head. "Sounds like the parent soul, to me. Farewell, Ictus." She looks back to the Puzzler, to see the answer to her... Answer.
Leian scratches her head slightly in thought, ears twitching upon her head " The one the parent receives to give ones child when they are born?" she tilts her head softly, inquistively
Sveta nods. "I would have to agree. We first receive our parents' soulgems, yet relinquish it almost immediately in favour of another one that gives us greater opportunities for learning, yet it is not something even the Good King wishes to take even from the most vile criminal."
He snaps his fingers, which is something of a trick when one's fingers are fuzzy, "Correct, we have a sharp one," he says, approaching Leian. He reaches out to take a hand of hers, "Such a clever madame, it is a pleasure to match wits, but that is only the first of three."
Leian tilts her head slightly as she reaches out for the hand a bit nervously at the gesture at first " Whats next?" she tilts her head softly, ears perked atop her head as she watches him carefully
Rixo peers at Leian for a moment, shrugging. "Yes, give us your best and I will answer to the best of my ability. It's a refreshing change of pace from my usual work."
When his hand draws away, a handful of 1000 crown coins are left behind, lustrous and as shiny as if newly minted. "Number two," he says, "Though undeath is its garb, death is its profession, what am I?"
Leian's ears fold back slightly and she gives a bit of a frown to the question, her tail slightly slowing in her movement " Doesn't.. Sound pleasant to me.. Nor do I know how to answer that anyway.."
Sveta blinks. "Well, I would guess any of the monstrosities shambling about in Mossy Stone. They certainly are undead and have the bodies of such, yet are more than willing to kill. So, I would say either the jawless zombies or the headless soldiers to be found there."
Rixo tugs off her helmet to scratch at her ear. "Hmm. That is a very good question. I believe our feathered friend was on the right track. Perhaps not the dead themselves, but the one who raises the dead? Necromancers?"
Sierra approaches the group, having been out field testing a few things. She's riding on the back of her large armored golem. She raises an eyebrow at the arranged sorts, then taps on the golem and gestures it to the side where she pulls her cloak a bit tighter and hops down to get within earshot without shaking some teeth loose. She only catches the tail end of the question and keeps quiet for now.
He shakes his head slowly, "Afraid that's not the answer I'm looking for, but I am a generous sort. One more chance, think it through. Undeath is my garb, death is my profession," he reports, almost sad in tone.
Leian lower sher head and steps back slightly, a soft sigh escaping her " I cant answer.. I'm not familiar with everything.. But from what I know, I can guess it has to do with one of the spirits."
Sveta thinks a moment more. "A dark knight. I've seen various beings with said soulgem in action, and garb themselves in powers eerily similar to undeath while about their grim business. If that's not the answer, then I have no idea."
Rixo folds her arms. "It's a good riddle. I'm honestly not too sure." She closes her eyes in thought. "Perhaps an undertaker? Death is their business, but I'd hardly say that they're dressed with undeath." A look is given to Sveta at mention of dark knights, then at herself.
Sierra taps her foot as she thinks, leaning from side to side. "Undertaker would've been my guess, problems with it aside. Other one would be uh.. death masks? Curios, that sort of thing? Hi there by the way."
The puzzler smiles, "Oh, clever. A knight that dresses in undeath is a good answer, good... Good enough to continue the game, but not enough for a prize, I say. The answer is truth are the dragons of bone. They appear as the undead, but they are not, tis only a garb they were for disguise, to deal in the death they have in surprise."
Leian frowns slightly at the mentioning " That sounds horrible!" she shakes her head unhappily, crossing her arms in front of herself, hugging herself slightly
Rixo chuckls softly and shakes her head. "Never heard of a Dragon of Bone, before. Is it an actual creature, or the name of some kind of... Cult, or group of assassins? I'm quite curious."
Sveta looks askance to regard Sierra, then realising it's no one she knows, turns back to the Puzzler and shrugs. "Well, if your riddles are much like your puzzles, good sir, then one can hardly hope to win them all. But there is still the last riddle, is that not?" And to Leian and Rixo, "Go out to Drytongue and see them for yourself - they're crawling all over the place. I suppose I should have thought of it, but it's hard to take a really good look at them when they're bearing down on you."
"Too right," says the puzzler to Sveta, "Pyrrha's little pets are quite a bother, but let us put them aside as we move on to the next query. I am your cousin, but father never told. I came with upheaval, I greeted with blood, I met in friendship. What am I?"
Sierra raises an eyebrow and asks, "Pyrrha? Well, there's something to look up. Some kind of victory I guess" She glances over to her golem and adds, "They're kind of.. they look weird, the bone dragons. Hard to kill too."
Sveta thinks and answers confidently. "The shadows. Now we know they claim to be related to us and from the Creators, as we were, they are our cousins. Yes the Creators never told us we were related. They greeted us with blood at the outset, and yet when we properly met, some of them came over in friendship. Yes, that is my final answer. The shadows."
Leian rubs her ears slowly, with one of her paws, still slightly crossed over her chest " I don't think I'll be visiting there anytime soon, for certain.." she seems uncomfortable about even thinking to " And this next one.. Sounds familiar. But I cannot put my tongue to it."
Sveta thinks and answers confidently. "The shadows. Now we know they claim to be related to us and from the Creators, as we were, they are our cousins. Yet the Creators never told us we were related. They greeted us with blood at the outset and came amidst the upheaval of the moon's destruction, and yet when we properly met, some of them came over in friendship. Yes, that is my final answer. The shadows."
Rixo offers another shrug and gestures to Sveta. "Yes, I'd have to say the Shadows, as well. The choice seems sound. And I'll have to investigate these Bone Dragons, sometime. Sounds like they'd be a good challenge."
The puzzler removes his hat, "Ah, bested, two out of three. Any would agree, that you've bested me. But today is not one for me to mope, because you've just opened a whole new hope. You've learned of my kin, and I won't be left out, for I am a spirit, of this there is no doubt. Perhaps you would care to walk on my path, to hone the mind, it just adds up, you can do the math."
Leian shakes her head slowly " As much as I do enjoy games.. I've already got my mind on protecting families and children, and one day my own whenever I may have one to myself." she flicks her tail softly behind her again
Sveta finally allows herself a small smile. "No, thank you. Honing the mind certainly is one of my pasttimes, but I tend to be a little more serious about things. Although I do know of a certain Lion of Jolly and Unpredictable Frivolity who might be interested in hearing of your existence, at the very least." To Rixo. "Drytongue is a couple day's travel to the west, past the abandoned Kindcraft mining outpost. Don't go alone if you intend to hunt bone dragons, but bring a friend. I mean it - slaying one yourself is possible, but they have the tendency to creep up on you when you're still winded and unprepared from your last encounter."
"What, Shiela?" he asks, "Don't be a fool. Protect your loved ones with your mind, not a protruding belly and good will. When you're face to face with a zombie, what would you rather have, a sunny disposition, or a cunning plan of escape and counter attack?" he challenges haughtily, "The answer is clear for all to see. That shapely bimbo has nothing on me." Spirit rivalry, definitely a thing. "I offer cunning, and wealth." He brings his hands together, and from between them comes a trickle of single crown coins, tinkling to the ground and forming a slow pile, "What is there to deny?"
Sierra raises an eyebrow and says, "I hone my mind often enough. Find out that if you can't fix it with percussive maintenance you're just not hitting it hard enough. What do you mean walk your path though? If you're talking just learning and whatnot, I do that well enough?" She looks to the others gathered and asks, "What's he on about?"
Rixo grins at Sveta. "We shall see. I do love a good challenge." Her attention goes back to the trickyfox for a moment. "I am not so sure about tossing my lot in with any spirit, but I will hear your terms, gifts, and conditions."
Leian frowns, her ears falling atop her head as her paws slip down to her flattened belly and she looks to him " To me, children are most important.. I want to help to prevent still-births, like my brother when he was born had been!" she seems on the verge of tears " I want to protect the children from that happening to them! With whatever way I can! And I feel like being with Shiela will help me do that much better! Using what knowledge he will give me, to help those who need my help to have a healthy family!"
