Backdated to before the Knight's Message

[in_over_his_head]

1) [One Thread only please.]

[Calvin is standing before the Stone door with a very wary look. He probably shouldn't have brought along a particular stone with him... but it was better to have it on hand in case they found something inside. He feels his stomach churning in a horrific way that Asagi would be familiar with on bad days. With this he carefully looks back to the others accompanying him.]

On a scale of one to ten, how much of a bad feeling are you getting from whatever might be behind here?

2)



[After everything that has happened Calvin has retired back to his quarters. As soon as the bag holding the Stone is put away... he crashes to the floor, curling up into the fetal position and shaking badly with a wide eyed expression. Clearly the day's excitement along with discovering the fact that Project Pedantic Blue not only existed... but there had been actual living physical proof of it on the same base as he was currently occupying freaked him the hell out.]

[Bother him?]

Comments

[star_of_sad]

The Ebon Court... that's how they called themselves, right? They said they have good reasons for doing what they do.

[keep_your_dignity]

SO SAY HALF THE CRAZIES WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THE LAST YEAR, OHARA. I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT. [The massive shape of Kagura comes in, flanked by a couple of her Executors. She raises a hand and makes a curt gesture at them]

SPREAD OUT, CONTAINMENT PROTOCOLS TWELVE TO FIFTEEN. IF ANYTHING COMES OUT OF THERE I WANT IT SUBDUED OR DEAD BEFORE IT HAS TIME TO SNEEZE. UNDERSTOOD?

"Yes'm!"

[Well, Calvin, you got your backup. On the other hand, said reinforcements are apparently Graveyard thugs and some kind of heavily armed, huge robot also bearing the Graveyard insignia. So, be careful what you wish for, is what we've learned today.]

SO, EDWARDS, DID YOU ACTUALLLY LEARN HOW TO OPEN THIS THING OR ARE YOU GOING TO TRY OPEN SESAME?

[cloningblues]

Can't we just force it open? The pressure is killing me...

[Fortunately Blue One doesn't suffer from stomach ulcers, unlike its pilot, so it can stand there and aim its gun while Asagi is busy being in pain.]

[in_over_his_head]

Considering we only found out about this thing today?

[He gives the heavily armed robot a shaky glare.]

Sarcasm despite a monotone. For all I know you're that mistletoe's best friend.

And for all we know forcing this thing open might make it worse and-

[As if whatever was behind the door heard them...]

"You are not of the Court."

[A symbol seemed to burn to life on the stone. Calvin let out a startled yelp before swinging around to regard it.]

I'm not the only person who heard that right?

[star_of_sad]

Who's that?!

[Setsuko's reaction shows she too can hear it.]

[keep_your_dignity]

PROBABLY SOME SORT OF AUTOMATED SYSTEM OR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BOUND TO THE DOOR. STAY SHARP.

[Kagura herself is positioned so as to be able to counterattack in an instant or dive people out of the way. Her SOL capacitor is already humming audibly in the silence]

[in_over_his_head]

"You are not aligned with those who had brought the madness upon the Ancients. You bear not the mark of the court. What is your purpose here? Those who had dwelled here over the ages were so willing to ignore this place."

[Calvin was going to sidestep a little to make it easier to throw himself out of the way if things get shooty. He was NOT having all that Graveyard etched firepower pointed too close to where he was thank YOU very much.]



This is seriously... what do you guys think we should say?

[star_of_sad]

Umm.

Who are you? Who are we speaking to?

[in_over_his_head]

"I am the keeper of the old knowledge that lies behind this door. I am the Archivist."

[The shimmering sigil on the door wavers for a moment.]

"It has been countless years since I have spoken to another living being, let alone several. Even through the gateway I had placed. Though you have not answered my own question. What is it that you seek here?"

[keep_your_dignity]

WE SEEK THAT WHICH YOU KEEP. KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COURT, AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE ANCIENTS, FOR THE NATURE AND REASON OF BOTH HAS BEEN LOST TO THE AGES, AND CONFLICT SEEMS TO SPARK ANEW.

[Yeah, Kagura can keep up with Minogame, she can do the whole mystic talk if necessary. In her experience most weird pseudo-sentient guardian creations are more cooperative if you speak like an idiot. And the fact that she has experience enough to think that sentence probably tells you a lot about Kagura's job.]

[in_over_his_head]

[There was silence. Absolute silence. Then the sigil on the door vanished. Did Kagura say something wrong? Probably not because within a few moments the stone door opened with a groan. The path within was straightforward, dug out cave that upon a certain threshold transformed into an intricately carved hallway that seemed to be lit by fire that simply hung in the air.]

That would probably count as an invitation in then.

[Calvin glances at the GRAVEYARD machine after taking a few steps towards the door. Pondering more on its nature before putting it off for later. Right now there was a larger matter at hand. Those that venture forth would find that upon crossing the threshold the path had dropped in temperature. That the firelight refracted almost everywhere for some reason and... were those bubbles?]

What the-

[Yeah those were bubbles. Somehow the divide between the cavernous path and the more refined area was also separated by a barrier of water. Water that mysteriously allowed people to breath.]

...Okay. Getting really weird now.

[cloningblues]

What kind of tech even makes this possible? Some kind of force field?

...This whole thing looks really suspicious. You sure it's not a trap?

[keep_your_dignity]

COULD BE, BUT I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT WATCH YOUR MOUTH. WHEN DEALING WITH THIS KIND OF SHIT, BEING VERY CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU SAY OFTEN SAVES YOU FROM HAVING TO BLOW EVERYTHING UP.

[star_of_sad]

What lies behind? Do you think we should call for backup?

[in_over_his_head]

As much as that would probably make me feel better, having more people dropped off here might bring all the wrong kinds of attention.

Either way... Let's watch our step.

[Moving forward, the hallway seems to become more populated. One or two skeletal fish of unknown species swimming past, to and fro as if they were still alive. Some had books clutched in their mouths, some had rolled up papers, others with scribing equipment.]

[At the end of the path was a massive library that extended vertically. Looking down one would see vast shelves of books with more of those skeletal assistants bearing lamps, looking upwards was even more shelves and a gleaming ceiling with a multitude of shifting patterns. One of the gleaming lanterns from below begins to move upwards. It was no fish holding them it was a person! Admittedly something about her was off. That feeling you felt from outside the door was all but radiating off of her.]

"...."

[She says nothing, merely regarding everyone intently as she observes one person to the next.]

[star_of_sad]

Skeletons... doing paperwork.

[Other than her comment, Setsuko remains quiet. At least, until she sees the girl... woman. Who knows how old she must be?]

Umm. Hello?

[in_over_his_head]

"I am the Archivist... I am she who maintains this place. I shall grant you the knowledge you seek, but only in exchange for something of equal measure. Knowledge for Knowledge. I know little of the world beyond the Archive's doors. Does this offer please you?"

Knowledge for knowledge... damn... should've brought a few more things.