Re: The Phenomenal Fracas! (GBS2G6): [Round One: Afterparty]
08-26-2010, 02:43 AM
Originally posted on MSPA by granolaman.
The explosion was close, too close. As soon as the blast hit him, Tamerlane went sprawling. The sand slipped from his grasp as he attempted to regain his footing. Nothing was in focus, his ears were ringing and his vision kept blacking out. He reached out to balance himself when suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him stumbling into an alley. The mysterious person pushed him to the wall and hushed him. As Tamerlane’s vision returned, he saw Thatix drift off on some unknown venture. In front of him, though, was a frightened-looking young man. When the fireflies were out of sight, the man relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Dude, I’ve never seen someone explode an Equalizer before, who was that?”
“A madwoman, who’s clearly more powerful than I anticipated.” Tamerlane sized up his aide. He was barely older than a boy, and looked like he’d been surviving on the bare essentials. Strapped to his back was an old harpoon gun, but he was otherwise unarmed. The adolescent was looking up at Tamerlane and grinning. “What.”
“Dude, I’m just so stoked I found another human being! The rest of the Brigada’s gonna go crazy over you!”
“The what?”
“Well, I guess we’re not all Brigada, but we just call ourselves that since the real Brigada got, like, totally wiped out.”
“You’re trying my patience, boy.”
“Sorry, dude, the Brigada are our group of survivors. I was on my way back to them when I saw the explosion. Aw man, that totally reminds me. Check out what I found!”
The survivor scampered down the alley and rummaged through a pile. Tamerlane rolled his eyes and started walking back out into the clearing. This kid is just wasting my time. I need to hurry up and kill one of the others already. His train of thought was interrupted when his foot connected with something sharp and metal. At his feet, a magnificent cutlass rested on the cobblestone. The pirate’s sword, he thought, picking up the weapon, he’s weak, unarmed. If I find him now, he’ll be an easy tar-
“Hey, dude! Come over here and check it out!”
Tamerlane twitched. The kid was becoming increasingly irritating. He turned to see the kid standing proudly in the middle of the alley next to a large paper lantern.
“Congratulations, you found the world’s biggest lamp.”
“No dude! This is an observation lantern! You ask it to show you something and it does! This one totally works too! This is what’s gonna turn the tide against those Lock monsters!”
Tamerlane paused, “Are you sure it works?”
“Definitely dude. All ya gotta do stick your head in and ask it!”
He strode back into the alley, and up to the beaming lad. “Give it a try, man. It’s the real deal!” The kid handed Tamerlane the lantern. He glared at the boy suspiciously, but the boy simply gave him a thumbs up. Without further ado, he lowered his head into the lantern.
“Where is the way out of here?”
Colors and shapes swirled around the paper walls. Pieces of an image started fitting together until finally completing. Inside the lantern was an image of the Endorphic Core. He pulled his head back out. The pirate’s trinket? That’s the key to escaping this city? Very well, so be it. He lowered his head back down to the lantern.
“Where is it? Where’s the location of the Endorphic Core?”
Once again an image began to form. The Core again took center stage, but this time Tamerlane could see dark hands holding it. The shadow serpent. Once again you impede my progress. The image slowly zoomed out to show Syvex as well as another contestant, Eureka. She seemed to be yelling at Syvex, but the lantern itself was silent. He pulled his head out of the lantern.
“Dude, how’d you like it? It’s trippy right?” The boy had leaned in much too close while he was occupied.
“Does anyone else know about this lamp?”
“No way dude, it’s totally gonna blow away the others when they see that I found it!”
-SCHLICK-
The boy found himself staring at the cutlass that had just been stabbed through his chest.
“Dude-“
Tamerlane pulled the cutlass out of the boy and watched him crumple to the ground. He then turned to the lantern and slashed across its side. This could be a dangerous tool if it fell into the hands of one of the others. He wiped the blade off on his sleeve and tucked it into his belt. He turned to exit the alley, but paused for a moment.
Strange, I could’ve sworn that trash can back there was smiling. Nevermind, he decided as he resumed his exit. The bar was still burning strong, but it looked like the coast was clear. I know what I must do. I find the snake and the cloth witch, I find the Core. I get the Core, and I can find my way out of here. He made his way back towards the aqueduct. Then he felt the sand, and the familiar footprints embedded in them.
The explosion was close, too close. As soon as the blast hit him, Tamerlane went sprawling. The sand slipped from his grasp as he attempted to regain his footing. Nothing was in focus, his ears were ringing and his vision kept blacking out. He reached out to balance himself when suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him stumbling into an alley. The mysterious person pushed him to the wall and hushed him. As Tamerlane’s vision returned, he saw Thatix drift off on some unknown venture. In front of him, though, was a frightened-looking young man. When the fireflies were out of sight, the man relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Dude, I’ve never seen someone explode an Equalizer before, who was that?”
“A madwoman, who’s clearly more powerful than I anticipated.” Tamerlane sized up his aide. He was barely older than a boy, and looked like he’d been surviving on the bare essentials. Strapped to his back was an old harpoon gun, but he was otherwise unarmed. The adolescent was looking up at Tamerlane and grinning. “What.”
“Dude, I’m just so stoked I found another human being! The rest of the Brigada’s gonna go crazy over you!”
“The what?”
“Well, I guess we’re not all Brigada, but we just call ourselves that since the real Brigada got, like, totally wiped out.”
“You’re trying my patience, boy.”
“Sorry, dude, the Brigada are our group of survivors. I was on my way back to them when I saw the explosion. Aw man, that totally reminds me. Check out what I found!”
The survivor scampered down the alley and rummaged through a pile. Tamerlane rolled his eyes and started walking back out into the clearing. This kid is just wasting my time. I need to hurry up and kill one of the others already. His train of thought was interrupted when his foot connected with something sharp and metal. At his feet, a magnificent cutlass rested on the cobblestone. The pirate’s sword, he thought, picking up the weapon, he’s weak, unarmed. If I find him now, he’ll be an easy tar-
“Hey, dude! Come over here and check it out!”
Tamerlane twitched. The kid was becoming increasingly irritating. He turned to see the kid standing proudly in the middle of the alley next to a large paper lantern.
“Congratulations, you found the world’s biggest lamp.”
“No dude! This is an observation lantern! You ask it to show you something and it does! This one totally works too! This is what’s gonna turn the tide against those Lock monsters!”
Tamerlane paused, “Are you sure it works?”
“Definitely dude. All ya gotta do stick your head in and ask it!”
He strode back into the alley, and up to the beaming lad. “Give it a try, man. It’s the real deal!” The kid handed Tamerlane the lantern. He glared at the boy suspiciously, but the boy simply gave him a thumbs up. Without further ado, he lowered his head into the lantern.
“Where is the way out of here?”
Colors and shapes swirled around the paper walls. Pieces of an image started fitting together until finally completing. Inside the lantern was an image of the Endorphic Core. He pulled his head back out. The pirate’s trinket? That’s the key to escaping this city? Very well, so be it. He lowered his head back down to the lantern.
“Where is it? Where’s the location of the Endorphic Core?”
Once again an image began to form. The Core again took center stage, but this time Tamerlane could see dark hands holding it. The shadow serpent. Once again you impede my progress. The image slowly zoomed out to show Syvex as well as another contestant, Eureka. She seemed to be yelling at Syvex, but the lantern itself was silent. He pulled his head out of the lantern.
“Dude, how’d you like it? It’s trippy right?” The boy had leaned in much too close while he was occupied.
“Does anyone else know about this lamp?”
“No way dude, it’s totally gonna blow away the others when they see that I found it!”
-SCHLICK-
The boy found himself staring at the cutlass that had just been stabbed through his chest.
“Dude-“
Tamerlane pulled the cutlass out of the boy and watched him crumple to the ground. He then turned to the lantern and slashed across its side. This could be a dangerous tool if it fell into the hands of one of the others. He wiped the blade off on his sleeve and tucked it into his belt. He turned to exit the alley, but paused for a moment.
Strange, I could’ve sworn that trash can back there was smiling. Nevermind, he decided as he resumed his exit. The bar was still burning strong, but it looked like the coast was clear. I know what I must do. I find the snake and the cloth witch, I find the Core. I get the Core, and I can find my way out of here. He made his way back towards the aqueduct. Then he felt the sand, and the familiar footprints embedded in them.