|
Post by Leda on Aug 9, 2008 13:50:07 GMT -5
"Nicole's data on the subject isn't very complete," Sally replied, in what was very obviously a loaded statement. Her cunning aptitude for strategy was not limited purely to battle.
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Aug 11, 2008 17:05:01 GMT -5
"So I heard," Zachary sighed. "Well, is there anything specific you want me to explain?" Seeing as it seemed he was going to be stuck on this subject anyway...
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Aug 13, 2008 11:46:32 GMT -5
Sally smiled to herself as she continued to study the hologram, quite pleased that her tactics seemed to be working. "Well, since you happened to ask..." The princess pointed at the broken chains dangling from each of the figure's wrists. "Is there any significance to this?"
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Sept 18, 2008 0:25:44 GMT -5
"Symbolism, mostly... The chains represent his triumph over evil, his humility, responsibility..." Zachary frowned. He knew before he had even said it he was going to end up explaining the whole thing.
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 18, 2008 17:42:11 GMT -5
Geeking out apparently lowering her inhibitions, Sally turned closer to the echidna, as though it would help her absorb even more information. "What was the evil he defeated?" she asked while closing the computer.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Sept 18, 2008 17:51:38 GMT -5
And, at this point, a certain was-just-talked-about individual strolled up, looking a bit bothered. "Pardon me, Princess..." Apparently, he had something to ask...
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Sept 18, 2008 18:07:34 GMT -5
"A demon named Ger--" Zachary paused mid-sentence as the supposedly reincarnated echidna approached, nostrils flaring. Squinting his eyes into a glare he repositioned himself to sit the opposite way on the log, facing away from Knuckles. "A demon named Gerado. He was said to have imprisoned Astal and sought to reshape the world in his own image."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 18, 2008 18:30:35 GMT -5
A rare thing happened in that moment: Sally actually suffered a small amount of information overload. The princess found herself torn between persuing Zack's story and having to attend to the Guardian. Furthermore, it was becoming increasingly evident that the doctor did not want to socialize with Knuckles. Glancing back and forth between them for several seconds, she finally said to Zachary, "I'm sorry, but, excuse me for just a second." I hope he'll still talk about this later, the princess thought, rising from the log and dusting off. Sally's eye then fell on the white semicircle across the younger echidna's chest, and she clenched her jaw to keep from squealing. ...Then again, I can probably get just as much information, if not more, from him! Clearing her throat, the ground squirrel asked, "Is everything alright, Knuckles?"
|
|
|
Post by DB on Sept 18, 2008 20:06:58 GMT -5
The younger echidna was seemingly distracted by Zachary's little display, and it took him a moment to pull himself away. "I was wondering if you've seen Amy around." ... then slowly but surely, his gaze shifted back to the white echidna. What was his problem?
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 18, 2008 20:15:29 GMT -5
"No, not for a couple of hours. Did you check with the other kids? They might all be playing together." Sally also glanced over at Zachary, then back to Knuckles. The tension was obvious, but also appeared to be one-sided. What was the white echidna's problem, she wondered?
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Sept 22, 2008 0:59:50 GMT -5
Zachary ignored both of them, seeming to have found great interest in his robotic hand at that moment. Applying resistance to various joints and checking the smoothness of their movements, a faint "Hm," drifted up from him - apparently his ring finger wasn't responding quite to his liking.
|
|
|
Post by DB on Sept 22, 2008 22:47:00 GMT -5
@knuckles@ A frown crossed the red echidna's face as his gaze fell more onto the other's mechanical limbs.
"I... I suppose I'll go do that. Thank you, princess."
And with that, he turned and began to walk off.
He may not have the best social skills, but he could tell when he wasn't wanted.
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 23, 2008 13:11:31 GMT -5
"No problem..." Sally frowned as she watched the crested echidna shuffle off. Well that definitely could've gone better, she realized, wrinkling her nose. She'd have to make a mental note to approach him and smooth things out later. For now, she still had Zachary to attend to. Resuming her seat on the log, but without turning to face the doctor's new direction, the princess tenderly stated, "So... I take it you're not fond of Knuckles."
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Sept 23, 2008 14:03:07 GMT -5
"Hmm," Zachary hummed again. However, whether or not it was in response to Sally's question or because of the mechanical hand he was still inspecting was unclear. Finally he glanced back up. "So I assume you'll want to hear the tale of Astal?"
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 24, 2008 11:11:03 GMT -5
Veto'd again, it seemed. Dissatisfied with leaving the question of Zack's opinion of Knuckles where it stood, but unwilling to turn down the offer of more legend information, Sally spun around to the echidna's side of the log and leaned against her knees. "I'd appreciate it, if you didn't mind."
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Sept 25, 2008 12:57:40 GMT -5
Adjusting his monocle slightly and placing both hands into his lap, the echidna drew in a breath. "Long ago it's believed that the goddess, Antowas, created our world from precious gemstones. Fragments of her power are said to still remain in what we know as power stones and crystals... From two of these gemstones, one red and one green, she created the first echidnas... Lidah and Astal. Lidah, a gentle and compassionate soul, was given the power to create life; it was her duty to populate Mobius, while Astal, gifted with enormous strength, was to serve as her protector. But Astal was hotheaded and overprotective. He brought much shame and sorrow to Lidah with his reckless behavior, but in spite of this, loved him dearly."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 25, 2008 13:07:58 GMT -5
Sally's nose wrinkled slightly in thought. It was an interesting cultural perspective, she had to admit; not many religions seemed to favor demi-gods over gods. Although, assigning a protector seems a little odd if Lidah's the one responsible for what life exists, the princess couldn't help but ponder. I wouldn't EXPECT her to create something that would turn around and attack her...Suddenly recalling what Zack had mentioned before Knuckles' interruption, Sally prodded, "Was he to protect her from Gerado?"
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Sept 25, 2008 13:24:41 GMT -5
Zachary nodded and rocked back a bit, thinking. It had been awhile since he had actually told the story. "There were threats that lay beyond the world Antowas created. Once having created her world Antowas fell into a deep sleep, leaving it in the care of Lidah and Astal. All had been peaceful for a long time, but then Gerado came. Deciding to take Mobius for himself and remodel it in his own image, he created his own servant, Geist, and sent him to capture Lidah and exploit her power. Astal pursued Geist fiercely..."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 25, 2008 20:00:55 GMT -5
The princess's chin rested atop her fist, and she leaned close to her storyteller, gazing at him with wide, captivated eyes. "Then what happened?"
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Sept 29, 2008 20:04:21 GMT -5
In spite of himself, a smile managed to creep across the snowy echidna's face. Whether or not he enjoyed the subject, the look of child-like fascination in her eyes was... charming, to say the least. "Well..." he said, "Astal's journey took him across the world. In those times there weren't islands or continents; The land was all one solid mass. As Astal chased after Geist he tore it asunder, ruining Antowas' canvas and splitting the earth beyond repair. Finally he found them, and in his desperation hurled a large mass of land into the sky where it would later become known as the Miracle Planet..." Zachary rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "He had freed Lidah, but his commotion awoke Antowas. When she saw the mess Astal had made of her beautiful world she punished him, banishing him to the moon for all time. But before that Lidah had taken pity on him, giving him the green jewel that contained her soul. Having done that Antowas turned her wrath to Gerado..."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Sept 30, 2008 14:37:28 GMT -5
Sally, though totally engrossed in the tale, paused at that moment to grab her computer from her boot. "Nicole, are you getting all this??" "Yes, Sally." With a pleased smile, the princess turned back to Zachary, not bothering to replace the computer. "Did Antowas defeat Gerado? Was Astal ever freed from his imprisonment? What became of Lidah? And Geist?"
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Oct 9, 2008 2:07:45 GMT -5
"Antowas defeated Gerado," Zachary nodded. "Once reducing him to little more than scattered energy she fell back into her sleep. She had missed Geist however, and once Antowas and Astal's threats were gone he once again sought to take Lidah to exploit... Witnessing her abduction, Astal, consumed with his burning need to protect her, broke his chains and fell back to the planet... But he came to a world transformed. No longer were Mobius' inhabitants friendly toward him... they attacked, and Astal defended himself. The only creature who didn't seem hostile toward him was a colorful bird he had freed in his travels... This bird became his traveling companion, aiding him and providing him company. Astal protested at first, detesting this bird and feeling as though it were in his way. Lidah had been the only thing Astal had never felt love for, but as time went on, he found himself more and more beginning to love this strange bird as well. Astal began to realize all of the terrible things he had done, how he had hurt Lidah, and he cried in sorrow. But in his sorrow compassion rose; he was determined he would find Lidah and make everything right. Together he and the bird followed Geist's trail - through valleys, across rivers, over mountains, battling the changed inhabitants and strange demonic beasts. Finally they caught up Geist, and he and Astal battled each other fiercely..."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Oct 9, 2008 15:39:55 GMT -5
Personal Space Invasion: 88% Complete"Wait wait wait," Sally interrupted, "where's Lidah during all of this? No villain keeps his hostage in easy access, and no hero will fight with the damsel-in-distress right there on the battlefield. Did Geist hide her somewhere? Like the center of Mobius, or--..." Suddenly Sally remembered a detail about Quartalism lore she was already privy to, and her brows furrowed anxiously. "... Geist didn't kill her, did he?"
|
|
|
Post by Lans on Oct 23, 2008 22:54:38 GMT -5
There was a roar in the distance as Sonic suddenly sped through nearby, then he doubled back as he spotted Sally with Zach and rushed over. Skidding to a stop he flashed one of his grins before speaking. "Hey Sal, Griff was just-"
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Oct 23, 2008 23:11:10 GMT -5
"SHHHHHHHH!!!"Apparently, Sally wasn't in the mood for an interruption at that moment.
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Nov 2, 2008 2:13:26 GMT -5
Zack glanced at the blue hedgehog, then snerked softly at the princess. "Now, now, I'm getting to that." he said, gesturing with his hand to settle down. "Now where was I... Astal and Geist battled each other fiercely, and for awhile it seemed as though Geist may win their struggle. Eventually he succumbed to Astal's might, but before Astal could lay the final blow Geist revealed something terrible... All of those demons Astal has fought through his journey were each a piece of Gerado's shattered remains, and in destroying them allowed Geist to gather and resurrect the great demon himself. And resurrect he did."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Nov 2, 2008 2:17:50 GMT -5
Sally made no verbal reply; rather, her response was pure body language, because her mouth was suddenly hanging open. For as enthralled as she'd clearly become by the tale, one would almost think she believed the lore itself.
|
|
|
Post by Lans on Nov 7, 2008 16:00:41 GMT -5
Sonic, after the uber-shushing, was, for once, wisely making no noise and pretending he didn't exist.
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Lee on Nov 9, 2008 3:00:02 GMT -5
"Gerado rose into the air as only a behemoth could," the echidna continued. "And while Geist lay helpless at Astal's feet Gerado took hold of his jewel, shattering it in his palm and destroying his loyal servant for his incompetence. Gerado then turned to Astal, snatching away his bird companion and proclaiming that he would destroy Mobius and begin building anew... He attempted to stomp Astal once and for all, but Astal, filled with the need to protect his friend, defied Gerado and found the strength to combat him. Falling to Astal's hands the once mighty demon sank into the planet, defeated once and for all... It was then that the bird, who had served as his companion throughout his journey, rose into the air... The spell over it broken, Lidah was transformed back into herself, and the two were finally reunited. Antowas came to them then, praising Astal for having finally found the compassion he needed to find strength and overcome Gerado. Giving him the power of creation as Lidah held, Antowas then left Mobius in their care with her final command to make the world happy..." Zachary leaned back again at that point, frowning slightly as he gazed out toward the forest. "Lidah and Astal worked to restore the damage to Mobius after that, then chose to take what became known as the Miracle Planet as their home where they could watch over everyone. Lidah's soul is said to continue to live on in what is commonly known outside of Quartalistic tribes as the Chaos or Master Emerald, bringing giving life and energy to our planet..."
|
|
|
Post by Leda on Nov 9, 2008 18:56:56 GMT -5
As the story wrapped up, Zack's very intent audience shifted through several expressions, and she seemed to have migrated to the very edge of her seat on the log. It was almost a wonder how she managed to keep herself from slipping off onto the ground. Actually, it looked like she was about ready to climb right into his lap.Upon the tale's end, the Sally looked both sad and satisfied. What a story. It reads like a fairy tale more than religious history. But I suppose it at least explains why its followers worship the two echidnas over the goddess. The princess looked down at her handheld computer. "Nicole, did you get the entire story?" "Every word saved, Sally." "Good!" she replied. The squirrelmunk ((JUST FOR YOU, JAMIE)) replaced her rear on the log where it'd originally started and gazed up at the treetops. "What an interesting story... I wonder if there's any way I could find information on this in my father's old private library..." All of a sudden, Sally seemed to remember that the hedgehog had joined them, and snapped her head over in his direction. "Oh, Sonic!! I forgot you were here!"
|
|