soul_logs | PART I

Entry tags:

PART I

Characters: Anyone going on the Excalibur Quest!
Location: Excalibur's Cave
Rating: G/PG
Time: February 22nd
Description: A bunch of guests set out to find the legendary sword, not knowing what's in store.

[ The terrain is rocky and uneven and the trek is no easy task. Even when the goal's in sight, it's still far away because according to the book -- just up this cliff is Excalibur's cave. Looks like some teamwork might be needed to get up there. Not everyone can have a cool, floaty skateboard like Death the Kid. ]

(OOC: This log will be divided into two parts. The exploration, which is this log, and the actual encounter with Excalibur. I'll be making some subthreads for chambers to explore, but feel free to make your own threads and mingle! If you can dream it and it's annoying enough, Excalibur probably has it in his cave.)

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All signs seem to point to that being the case, though he's certainly something more than human to live so long.

[her wandering gaze doesn't go unnoticed -- it's the sort of look he'd see sometimes on young eliatropes long ago, back on his world. many of them had trouble appreciating his library too.

after regarding her and her suggestion quietly, he offers a wry smile.] Perhaps you're right -- you're eager to move on, aren't you? Especially since there's a powerful weapon to be won?

Well, there are some people who came from other planets who aren't exactly human, right? [She's one of them, and there's a frog in the group, too.] I mean, we have elves that live for thousands of years, so why can't there be people like that here, too?

[She actually likes libraries, since they are so quiet and she can think there. This one, however, was a little off-putting with its single-mindedness; although she would admit it piqued her interest to find the books these were based on. Maybe he can help her sometime. But first...]

To be honest, it's more a question of time. I don't think anyone wants to spend the night this far into a cave if they can avoid it. [No matter how much protection it gives from the environments--or how well-equipped.]

There are worse places we could be forced to stay. [though he doesn't sound a hundred percent convinced. it just occurred to him that certain among their company would enjoy a slumber party far too much, and he's not sure he can deal with that right now.

so he tugs on the end of his beard abashedly before admitting] --aah, though, point taken. I suppose there'll be time enough for exploration after the sword's found, and the war won.

[not that he's particularly pumped about looking at the rest of these books -- not if they're all like what he's already seen. something the girl mentioned, however, does grab his attention (as the mention of other worlds is almost always wont to do.)] ...Especially if everyone can be as long-lived as the beings on your world. [le smile.] It's a rare species I've found that has the sort of longevity I myself get to enjoy.

Outside with that drooling sun is one of them. [She chuckles, knowing that's the last place she'd want to be. Just inside the mouth of the cave at that time will be all right with her.

Since he's calmed down, she really doesn't want to spoil his musing about exploring by pointing that when the war is over they all get to go home and set him off again.]

It's just elves and half-elves that can live a long time. It's a good chance I have elven blood, but I don't know how much or if I even do, and won't find out until I live longer than others. [Tilts her head in interest.] Are you an elf, too?

[anger, indignation, doesn't seem natural on him anyway. his placid looks and pleasant smiles seem far more intuitive -- or more practiced. he just must not be a person accustomed to negative feelings... right?

qilby shakes his head no, smiling. if he had neither a giant hat nor a thick mane of hair to cover them, his pointed ears might give one (incorrect) answer to that question, but--] I'm afraid I've not been acquainted with any before now. No, I'm an Eliatrope, king of an ancient race from quite a distant world. [a considerate pause.] Aah, though-- I suppose we're all from distant worlds, here.

[a gracious nod. introduction time.] My name is Qilby.

[Sheena laughs appreciatively.] It's possible our worlds are closer to each other than they are to this one, since my sun and moon don't look like the ones we have here. [She pauses briefly.] Do yours?

[She can't see his ears, but elves are the longest-living race she knows, so it's the first thing she asks.] But, you're a king of an ancient race? [Does that mean the race is old, or they can live a long time, or both?

Taking his cue, she smiles.]

I'm Sheena Fujibayashi. Nice to meet you, Qilby.

It's my pleasure, Sheena.

And to answer your questions, no, they don't-- and yes, I am. [a small shrug, a toss of his head.] In my travels, I've seen many suns and moons and... None look quite like the ones outside do. [he purses his lips; he'll leave it at that.]

That's what I thought. I wonder what made them that way. [She's been checking the books, looking for those symbols, but hasn't found them. She turns to him with a small smile and a blush darkening her cheeks.]

If you don't mind me saying so, Qilby, you're not like other nobles I've met. [She pauses.] It's nice.

[a short, surprised silence, before he cracks a warm smile that makes him look twenty years younger. or, well, in his case-- a few thousand years younger.]

My, that's not something I get to hear too often. Thank you -- you flatter me.

[he doesn't miss the way she's been scoping the shelves, so he tilts his head slightly and adds:] Was there... Something in particular that you came here to find?

[Her own smile widens at his response. She hadn't been sure how he'd take the compliment.] You're welcome, and it's the truth. [Most nobles she knows wouldn't have made the climb he had--at all.]

Hmmm? Oh, I was wondering if there was anything about the Sun and Moon here. I mean, if Excalibur is that old, he would have written about it, wouldn't he?

[it's amazing how much the lure of ultimate power and knowledge can do to get an old, one-armed man up a mountain. probably explains why he was so disappointed at what he found.

one corner of his mouth curls distastefully, and he murmurs something about "not finding what you're looking for here." more eagerly, however, he replies--] It's not a topic I've been researching myself, but I'm sure you'd find something on the subject in Shibusen's rather considerable library.

[somewhat sheepishly, he runs his hand through his long hair.] I've grown... Quite familiar with the place in the past few weeks. I'm hardly its librarian, but I should be glad to help you find whatever you're looking for.

[Even the promise of something like that wouldn't get some people off their butts. They'd send someone else.]

Shibusen? [Her cheeks redden and she smiles sheepishly] I figured they would just have books about the witches and souls and things like that. I guess I could give it a try.

Thanks, I appreciate that. I've been...doing other things to acquaint myself with everything in other ways. So, I haven't been in the library at all.

"A sound soul dwells within a sound mind, and a sound body," as they've been telling us repeatedly. [his smile crinkles the corners of his eyes.] But unfortunately, I think that many people -- myself among them -- find it easiest to concentrate on one area at a time.

[he holds his only arm out at his side, palm out, gesturing at himself -- tall, thin, and scholarly.]It's surely no secret where my strengths lie... So I choose to acclimate myself to this world along those lines. [a nod.] There's time enough to acquaint yourself with everything here, so do what makes you comfortable.

[gee, for someone who just said he wasn't a librarian, he's sure sounding like one.] But should you decide to do what I do best, you'll find that there's far more to learn from the school's library than what you initially thought.

Yeah, my grandpa used to say almost the same thing. [They had to be sound in order to be able to fight well.] Oh, well, I'm okay with soul and body, I guess. [She looks away.] I'm just not good with "mind". I tend to act first, think later.

[She turns to look at him, small smile on her lips as she shakes her head.] How you look really doesn't mean anything, Qilby. It's what you do that tells me. [And even with his apparent love of books, he could be one of the best fighters around. She won't know unless he does something.] I suppose you're right...considering the job I have.

[She nods once, her smile in place.] Thanks, Qilby. And if you ever need my help, you just let me know, okay? [A sincere offer to help him train if he wanted, but she realized he might take it as an oblique reference to helping him on the climb down, which it wasn't. However, she wouldn't turn him down if asked.]

Wise words-- from both your grandfather and you. [sadly for her, he's excellent at both looking and acting like someone he's not, if he does say so himself. always a way to beat the system!]

And no, thank you. Someone like me benefits from having many different people to learn from; I'm sure you'd have much to teach me. [what he really needs to do is figure out his meister ability. it's been killing him ever since the day that brat, yugo, demonstrated his. how many early morning training sessions has it been since then...?

too many. qilby mentally shakes himself of his darker thoughts.] --Well! Like you said, no one wants to spend the night here if they can avoid it... Perhaps it's best we move on. [he turns and busies himself putting the awful books back on their awful shelves where they belong.

but not before shooting sheena a last, pleasant look.] Until we meet again.

Th-Thanks. [Oh, she was pretty good at pretending she was something she wasn't, too. But that was more of a "not wanting to be a burden" type of thing...]

You're welcome. I'm sure I can learn something from you, too. [She's got to work on her Weapon ability, too. She can change, she just doesn't know what she's supposed to do--other than tie around an obi.]

I think I'm going to stick around here for a while, Qilby. [There was something about the Library--other than the books--that intrigued her. The sheer silence in a room carved out of rock and stone was pretty interesting, and she just wanted to soak some of it up before going back out into the echoing caverns.

She nodded to him before taking a seat and echoing his words.] Until we meet again. Don't forget, if you need anything, just let me know.

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PART I

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