Arc nods approvingly at the delivery pony before hovering around Throw. As the package is placed on a bed, Arc tears the top open. He rummages inside and pulls out the ultra light armour. The soft sleeves of material stretch and flex to his tugging. It shimmers in the lamp light of the room but doesn't seem to be made from anything terrestrial. It's a material he couldn't name, no matter how long you gave him to guess. These were made for running and protecting that which keeps you running. On this sleeve is a shiny pad that looked like it could take the rough time it's new owner could put it through. Hard but yielded just enough to withstand impact. It was also in black. The helmet was a cross between a Royal Guard's and a bicycle helmet. There was no plume on the top, only a white streak down the centre of the ebony, glossy surface. It covers the sides of his face, fitting snugly as he tries it on in the mirror. "I look like an idiot in this." He said.
Throw looked Arc over as he finished putting the final piece of his new armor on. "Better to look a fool than die one." he said. Rummaging through the pile of armor, he pulled out the heavy set, being the only set that would fit him. He fit the bracers on, then the leggings, body armor, and following with the helmet over his head. As he fit the helmet on, he grunted at how heavy it was. He was strong enough to lug it around, but it would certainly hinder his movements. "Hopefully, the the protection this will give me shall make up for the speed loss." Throw said. Seeing no reason to continue to wear the armor, he ripped it all off and placed it in the corner, away from the other armors. "We shall fare better with this. I suggest wearing it at all times once we reach any volatile areas."
Silver stuck his nose into the package and pulled out some light armor. It was light, so he should be able to wear it fairly easily, right? Wrong. Armor was armor was armor, and he could hardly even lift his hooves up to place the helmet on his head without falling over from the weight of the darned stuff. Plus, once he'd finally gotten all of it on, he tried walking around to find a mirror. Except it felt like he was giving his cousing a ride on his back, and wearing lead weights on each foot at the same time. "This...isn't working," he said, and began to pull the armor off. He wan't going on any long journeys with THAT stuff on!
Group One Spoiler: Singing Base Roll 72 = Success Perfect Melody lives up to her namesake and sings at the perfect pitch. As the last word is sung, the crystals all light up at once, filling the room with white. After fading out, Pickpear is found tapping on the wall where the notes were. The rotating section of wall now looks like a red hawk with swords for its wing feathers. A rumbling is heard in the wall, as a series of rolling thumps is heard in the direction of the T-section hallway. Spoiler: Rewards 25 XP for Perfect Melody. 22 XP for Emerald Whirl. Group Two Spoiler: Armor Get! Heavy Set = 18 Weight Units. Seems to be fitted for Throw. +42 Defense to physical attacks. Lightweight Set = 4 Weight Units. A sort of cured leather. Made for ease of limb articulation. +8 Defense to physical attacks. Ultra Lightweight Set = 1 WU (helmet,) no penalties. +2 Defense, +8 for the Head. (Technically I had the ultra light for the mage, but this works too.) After the ten minutes of trying armor on and off, Firebolt comes into the door and rubs her eyes with a hoof. "Good to see you made it. What's up, and when should we head for the peak?"
Melody smiled at her sucess. "I am interested in seeing what is going on. Come on!" She began to smile. This was fun.
"Wahoo!" Emerald flipped in mid air as the puzzle disappeared, but she raised an eyebrow at the rumbling noise coming from the intersection. "What do ya think that was?" she said, addressing anypony who was listening. She then cautiously made her way back to the intersection.
Group One Arriving back at the middle area, they see a depression in the wall that runs along the wall connecting the central pathway and the hall with the singing crystals. The depression is lit up with a white glow. Pickpear looks at it in amazement. "Wow... That's amazing~! Ancient unicorn magic lasts forever, huh?" She looks down for a moment. "Only one side is lit though... maybe we need to complete the other task to get in." Group Two Firebolt rolled her eyes and pulled out the other lightweight armor, (the one that had wing-straps,) and commented. "Leaving after just arriving? I'm not complaining, there's a bed, but... it is still day-time. We could at least see if there's anything useful in town. You know, other than the armor place. S'up to you guys though, I ain't spending my bits."
Emerald glanced at the light with her own sense of wonderment, then started moving to the other hallway. "The next one's a speed challenge, right? Let's get going!"
Arc mulls it over. He tap one of his teeth on the one below while he thoughtfully stares at a patch of floor. "That makes sense to me. After the blobs, I'd want something more than my own hooves and armour to fight with. Maybe grab a bite to eat or try the local watering hole. Yeah..." He nods as the thought of ale and other drinks dance in his mind, still staring off at the floor. "Hotshot can stay put, get rest. Me and Boy Scout can pick up supplies. How about that, eh?" He looks from face to face of his comrades for approval.
Silver frowned, but if there was one thing he was good at, it was taking orders. "Sure thing! I'd like to maybe find some spellbooks. If they have a library, maybe I can even find something for free!"
Throw raised an eyebrow at the two. "Oh, and am I just supposed to stand here or something?" he asked. "Unless there's something else we need to get, I think I'll just come with you two. I need a bit of exercise, anyways."
"Hold yeh horses, Boy Scout. I'm commin'" Arc grumbles at Silver before wondering out to the room. Arc walks out into the street, the remains of the moved snow clotting in piles along the pathway. The air is fresh but it's coolness is sharp on the lungs and the light is dominated by the peak above. Ponies wrapped up against the cold with all manner of winter woollies trot past on their errands. Arc looks up and down the red brick street. "Maybe there's somewhere near-by with something we can use? Maybe a sword or something."
"Or a book," Silver adds helpfully, following Arc. He looked at Throw out of the corner of his eye; not that he expected him to suddenly attack him or something ridiculous like that, but there was still some dislike lingering around from the first impression he'd made. He didn't yet fully trust him. "So," he said, taking his eye off of Throw to actually look around at the buildings. "Library, library, library... or Blacksmith or something, of course. Hmmm..."
Throw attempted to make himself look as large as possible, but at the same time he wanted to take a path that wasn't so filled with natives. Being near them made him feel different, and he didn't like it. Silver mentioned something about a book, which annoyed Throw. Why would they need books at a time like this? He threw a look at Silver, which he imagined must have looked more threatening than he was originally intending on. More locals passed by, and Throw finally became too unnerved. "I feel naked." Throw said. "I can persist through the cold fine, but it's not the snow I'm troubled by. These natives are so different, I feel like I don't belong or something. I don't know, I just have the off feeling that we don't belong here." He kicked some snow with his hoof and averted his gaze from the ponies to stare at the buildings and signs that covered them. Billiard's Billiard Hall Mystique's Orbs of Mystery Flowers and Fragrances Prints and Spellers Food Prints and Spellers? That sounded like books, and by Silver's mutterings, he was probably looking for books. "Hold up, that shop looks like it might have books in it." Throw said, gesturing a hoof towards the large black and blue sign.
Group One Down the other hallway separation, Perfecy Melody and Emerald Swirl find a short room that ends in a metal wall. At the top of the wall is a hole that's big enough for somepony to fly through. Pickpear goes over to a device that looks like a lock for a key. "You see, uhm... I pick this lock here, and the walls slide open. It reveals a long hallway, but before I can get past the last wall, they close on me. The only way back is through the opening at the top. There are little climbing holes on the other sides of each wall... but the very last wall doesn't have an opening in the top." She sighs wearily. "I'm just not fast enough..." Group Two Firebolt agreed and went back to her room to try on her armor a little before getting back to resting. While walking the streets of Andalusian Heights, the three could see that the locals would often turn and give them the look of "who the heck are they?" It was a very unusual place for visitors, so it was obvious they were unaware of the situation they were actually in. Aside from the usual minagerie of shops, it was only a few moments after Throw suggested the shop that they noticed a colorful varda down the road, easily contrasting the rest of the city. Outside was a crimson pony dressed up in a long blue cloak. He was hanging out in front of the varda with an open array of objects before him. He had a small crowd of customers, but most of them looked... better off, by the quality of their furs.
Emerald lands near Pickpear and examines the wall. "How much time do you think it takes before the wall closes on you?" She stretches her wings and shifts her weight from side to side. "Like I said, I'm not the fastest, but I can surely try..."
