"This place is super creepy," Ultra said as she trotted after Facia, stepping carefully over rubbish and bones. "But it's so mysterious.. It's like everything was just frozen in time after.. whatever happened.In fact, this room reminds me of a classroom!" She peered about, watching the bent and broken forms worriedly, trying to judge the age of the dead ponies.
Facia frowned. This was nothing like a classroom...classrooms were cheery and busy, or at worst they were dreary and dull. This place...it felt evil. That was not an adjective the amaciable pony used often, but that was the only way to describe it. Death, dark...literally. "I don't think this is a classroom... It feels more like a prison to me." Her voice tremored slightly as she spoke. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver trotted along in the direction Firebolt was leading them. He hoped they would make it to town soon; the wilderness wasn't his favorite place to be. Point in case, what had happened to them in that cave. He may have been curious, but that had been an exception. The only part of him curious about mosquitoes, for instance, was the part that was curious how many of them he could keep off of him with repellant. Yick.
Grey Mane surveyed the room a bit. The massive emty space reminded her of several places. "Any of you been to a party? A very important, rich, style party? Like a Canterlot one."
"Nope..." mumbled Facia, continuing to explore while making sure she didn't come into contact with any of the bodies on the floor or anywhere else.
Arc appeared to be playing 'The Floor is Lava' the whole time. As the group wonders after Firebolt, the yellow colt that clearly ignores the distinction between ponies and monkeys bound from branch to branch, popping his head out of the canopy every so often in order to keep a good eye on both Firebolt and the surrounding geography. The plan was to figure out where exactly they were supposed to go before they arrived to give Firebolt a chance to rest and get far less grouchy. Although, the plan hinged on Firebolt making it and leading them all close enough for Arc, at least, to get his bearings and lead them the rest of the way. But the drooping eyelids on Firebolt told him they might have to carry their guide pretty soon. Throw ought to be able to handle that. Pegasi are pretty light, after all. Probably... "You feeling all right up there, Hotshot?" Arc calls as his head pops out of the canopy again.
Ultra nodded happily, her eyes lighting up with the memory. "Yes, once, when I was a foal. My parents brought me, and dressed me up in frills." She pressed a hoof to her mouth to snuff out her giggles. She looked back up at the walls, searching it for the story of wars she'd seen before.
Group Two "Yeah... just a bit farther, Arc." Firebolt only droops a little from the air before pausing and pointing out past the end of the tree lines. In the distance, a small village with stone walls was visible for Arc and the others as she said. "There's our destination, boys." She dropped down to the ground and looked at the others. "So, I'll meet you there. It shouldn't be more than an hour on hoof. Just don't try and run it all and get worn out or anything. Just wake me up when you get there, I guess." With that, she turned and took off into the sky again. The trip wasn't too bad. With everyone traveling together, it would take about an hour and a half to get to the city itself, with such a misleading horizon. However, without the trees, the chill of the air is much more obvious. The group has been going up-hill most of the way, and has finally made it to Andalusian Heights. It's set in a valley that's split open near the base of the mountain. The grey stone walls are adorned at the very top with a small amount of still un-melted snow. The ponies in this village are far more prone to wearing clothing with the weather, and most of the buildings are made of red brick for the insulation. Looking upwards, one can see the tall thin mountain stretching upwards into the sky, and the thought of needing to go up there is almost dizzying. The Headless Goat is a quaint inn located not far from the rear walled entrance, and the owner is a lovely mare with a long rose-colored mane named Rosemary. She greets the group with a smile. "Yes, your companion came by earlier and gave me your card. She has taken room four, and as I promised, room five is also available for you gentlecolts. Please, dears, stay as long as you need, and feel free to ask for anything you need." She gives a coy wink. "I always take care of my favorite patrons." Group Four Entering into the large room, there is a strange wind going around. Skeletal corpses laying on the floor and at the tables shift just a little as the breeze comes from deeper within. "We have guests..." The whisper floats on the wind like a devious song, reaching everyponies ears. Two openings (other than the one you came from) lead out of this massive room, one to the left, and one to the right. Spattered wax patterns are marked all over the floor, spelling words in a language none of you quite understand. The lack of much light is unnerving, as the small light spell Violet knows still can't give off much. A creaking noise is heard in the darkness, something from beyond the left opening. It sounds like a door on rusted hinges opening or closing ever so slowly...
Group Two "Thank you ever so much, ma'am!" said Silver to Rosemary. He gave her a tired smile and walked down to room five, where he dropped onto a bed and took a good nap. He'd just slept before they'd come here, but rocks and grass didn't feel quite the same as a nice soft bed... Group Four Facia looked around nervously. "U-u-ummm, I think...I think I'll stay back here and...uh, make sure the door doesn't close..." she said, her voice jumping and squeaking. She began to back slowly towards the door they had come in, jumping at every little noise.
Throw sighed. He could certainly use some rest in a fancier place then a few caves and grass. He was certainly weary of letting his guard down in a place he had never been to, but he needed the rest even more, so he lay down; Not quite asleep, but not quite awake.
Group Two Spoiler: Perception Checks Throw = 36 Arc = 73 Silver = 22 Well that makes sense to me. Arc, being the last to the room, notices a gruff-looking unicorn following to the rooms after him, dragging a heavy-looking sack along the floor behind him. As he noticed Arc headed for room #5 he speaks up. "Hey! You with that group that ordered this armor? I was told to deliver this to room four or five."
Ultra felt her flank tremble as the hoarse whisper floated through the room. The purple unicorn squeaked, clapping her hooves tightly against her mouth, and backed against a wall. As she scrambled backwards, the filly stumbled over the leg bone of some unfortunate pony. She sqeaked louder, her hooves muffling the scream, and she ran hurriedly to stand beside SweetTreat. She shivered, but gestured towards the openings. "S-s-so which one should we take, girls?" she asked hesitatingly.
Facia didn't give any answer, except to whimper and continue backing towards their original entry point, head whipping from side to side.
Group 1 (Hey, lookit that!) Emerald couldn't make heads or tails of the etchings on the wall. She decided to examine the lines and dots to see if she could come up with anything more.
Arc looks at the Unicorn, eyeing him up as thought he might be attempting something vicious. Like a knife or something hidden but it was hard to place anything dangerous on the Unicorn other than in the package floating before him. "I don't remember ordering anything. Did anyone else order armour?" Arc asks over everyone else as they file away into the rooms.
Silver's head poked out of the doorway back into the hall. "Me, neither. What the hay would we need armor for? Are one of you, like, the Royal Guard in secret or something?" He grinned.
Group One Emerald's limited knowledge with music doesn't give her much to go off of, except what she remembers from when she was still in school. When a word and a note lined up, kinda like the notes on the paper and wall, the word would be sung at the key of the note. Ah, youth chorus memories... Group Two The unicorn grimaces at Arc. "One heavy, two light, and one ultra light armor sets? It is already paid for, if nopony wants them, but there were some specific details on 'em, and I put a lot of work into 'em." He sighs and pauses, looking down with a grumble.
Emerald tapped her chin for a few moments. She had a theory, but she wasn't sure that she would be able to pull it off. "Hey, Melody? Could you try singing the words? Like, in the same tone or whatever as the notes that are close to it?"
Throw thought a moment, then came to a conclusion. "It must have been sent to help with our mis-" He threw a glance at the deliverer. "Ah, yes, thank you kindly." He accepted the box and moved it away from the stranger. "If anything, I'll bet the armor was sent to help. Let's try it on to see if it fits."
