Deep Rise : An Illustrated Xenofiction Adventure

[Nighzmarquls]

> Put Scribble Cute on top of the things Meta is carrying to be sure.

> Consider dropping some of the heavier things you are carrying.
> You should have enough limbs to be capable of climbing and carrying the bag-thing simultaneously.

> Shed that foot, but take it with you.

> Let's get going then
> Bugger off and don't bother coming back.
> Focus on getting out of imminent danger first, then make plans on how to proceed.

> Actually have some sort of secret panic room in your house/mansion that protects from royal blood

> What are you doing at the moment?

Well this is no where near as heroic, easy or expedient as you imagined it would be...

Your body is much denser then most servitors thanks to a lack of many squishy distinguished organs...

And that is making it very slow going to shimmy your bulk up this gap in the building...

It also means you have to press your limbs hard against the walls to properly prop yourself up, its almost taking EFFORT to hold your poses like this!

The thought of dumping some of the extra weight bubbles up from your straining legs and arms...

But your not really confident that doing so would be possible without losing your position on the wall, or accidentally dropping all your belongings into the searing hot blood below...

Well it could be worse...

It sounds like Ramaniculs and Cheertwit are having a lot more trouble with climbing then you are.

...Okay...
...After This Is...
...Over...
...I am going...
...To...
...Get Pruned down...
...I'm...
...Way...
...Too...
...HEAVY...

PRUNED?!
I can barely reach properly across these gaps to hold myself up!
I'm going to see about some stretching or maybe even grafts!
This is UNACCEPTABLE!
One of My FEET just fell off!

Uh... Well...
Maybe if you wore less restrictive clothes...
It would be easier to bend and stretch so that you could...
Climb...

Maybe?

And Cheertwit... I've got this big honking bag... I mean

It probably does not weigh as much with me as you do... but...

You should try to wedge yourself a little bit more firmly...

Then let your limbs settle and hold you in place...

...

...

Ah...

Good...

You are so pleased...

It looks like the young ones managed to find their way out of the flow of ROYAL BLOOD.

Just as well...

You are already having to write off a whole city of clout from your profits this trip and most of your wares too!

Ah well this is one of the advantages of having a good understanding of metals you suppose.

Heat resistant Kayaks are none too common, pity you will have to abandon the thing once you get to the end of the blood...

Not worth the effort to melt the stuff down again so its safe for servitors.

You learned that last time you had to deal with bleeding ROYALS, ruined your reputation for a few cities...

Still can't go back to most of them...

Such is life...

And you intend to keep living it...



The blood flow will abate eventually...

Or it won't...

You found a city once where the ROYAL'S blood up welled constantly...

Pumping and pumping since before anyone could remember.

The citizens dug canals that ran off to the deepest chasms to get rid of the stuff...

No figuring out ROYALS you gave up trying a long time ago...

The best anyone can do is just try and find the opportunities the ROYALS allow and take advantage till THEY change things around...

Then hope you are not in the way...



You spend a few moments to survey the devestation and attempt the impossible and futile task of gauging what the ROYAL will do next...

Wait...

That hue of flesh on the fool clinging to a side of a building is awfully familiar...

Oh You knew they were impulsive as a bloomling but this?!?

What are they doing outside the academy!?

FLESH FIELD BILE AND ROYALS WRATH YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO DOWN THERE!

[cryptidWrangler]

>Deep Noble of Breath: Do the windy thing.

[chimericWilder]

>Deep Noble of Breath: Do the windy thing.

I agree with this course of action.

[brainfree]

Royal > Walk.

[ChetBetera]

Royal > Walk.

Do you remember what happend the last time we sent a command to a Royal?
On the other hand.
Royal> Walk

[Nighzmarquls]

I'm not dead... Working on update...

Just got my brain back from loaning it to another project for a bit... It seems a bit worse for wear then I remember it being before I gave it out...

Ah Well...

Check for updates 2012/05/30

[Wessolf27]

>Cheerwit's Mom: Rush past the royal's blood and towards your daughter!

[Nighzmarquls]

Well...

I Guess if that is what you folks want...

But remember...

The ROYALS know...

> Walk
> Walk.

> Do the windy thing.

> Rush past the royal's blood and towards your OFFSPRING!

You like to think of yourself as the Heir of Breath...

But its really all pretend...

You LARP with some of the apprentices from the academy but always feel like perhaps they are treating you a little unfairly because your family did not see fit to send you to the attend as an apprentice.

But that is surely because you needed to do very important work out in the flesh fields of your family estate.

Food does not simply grow...

It needs to be tended...

Cared for...

Fed..

And most importantly of course it must be reinforced with blood or it will fail to grow quickly enough to meet the demands of the city.



You remember growing from bloomling knowing this, that you would work to serve the city, to feed and sustain them as long as you were able.

It does not require apprenticeship with any of the elders.

It was not as glamorous as Servitor research.

But without your family and the others like them who tend the flesh fields.

Everyone in the city would perish.

You always liked to think you were a bit of a hero.

You bear the palor of your service proudly.

Its what you like to play as with the other LARPERS.

With them YOU get to be the Heir of Wind!

And one of your acknowledged powers is THE WINDY THING.

You really wish you could actually do that...



Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness Does not feel like taking a walk right now.

But since IT finds prodding oh so very pleasant it will humor your other request that was presented to the poor field worker.

Is it not oh so EVER kind?

Oh wait maybe Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness actually HATES BEING REQUESTED TO DO THINGS?

There are not exactly clear distinctions between its various states of "mind" on that topic...



Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness produces THE WINDY THING since the pitiful heir of breath is just a pretend one.

Wasn't that nice of IT ?

...

...

Oh does IT detect that some of you are upset with this possible outcome?

That certainly might possibly register as something to Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness.

But it is probably best not to ask what...

Okay
Next time I see a wave of ROYAL'S BLOOD coming at me I'm just going to lie down and let it all melt me away if the options are that and climbing the side of a building...
It is not...
Worth it...

*Sqruiqle*
..I..
...do not recommend it...
...Just a foot getting melted off...
...Very...
...painful...

Well it appears that whining aside you have reached some safety to plan the next course of action...

Now what is it again?

[chimericWilder]

Recover- Then use the bridges to abscond as far away from the Royal as possible. Since you were planning on going to the surface anyway, you might aswell pick a direction that makes excellent sense.

[cryptidWrangler]

>Seek a route to the surface.

[ChetBetera]

MetaSerevaori, Ramaniculs, Cheertwit> Onwards! Time stops for no Noble!
Also, since it is now evident that the Royal is aware of us, I recommend that we no longer send any commands to any Royals. Unless circumstances say otherwise.

[brainfree]

Royal > I said walk. Move you quivering pile of - Oaky fine! Screw this and screw you you giant jerk!

Cheer > Meet your progenitor.

[Armok]

> cheer: check on squidle cute's helth!

[Wessolf27]

>Meta: Look around, survey damage done to city
>Rama: Shake pain off and examine anything that could be used to your advantage at getting out of that place
>Cheer: Look for your servitors!

[Nighzmarquls]

A WILD UPDATE APPEARS!



I don't expect to be able to manage daily ones just yet but occasionally as time permits who knows?

> I said walk. Move you quivering pile of - Oaky fine! Screw this and screw you you giant jerk!

>Look around, survey damage done to city
>Then use the bridges to abscond as far away from the Royal as possible. Since you were planning on going to the surface anyway, you might aswell pick a direction that makes excellent sense.
>Seek a route to the surface.
> Onwards! Time stops for no Noble!

>Shake pain off and examine anything that could be used to your advantage at getting out of that place


> Look for your servitors!
> Check on Scribble Cute's Health!
> Meet your progenitor.

Goodness that was a close one, you certainly hope you got up and away from the heat of ROYAL'S BLOOD fast enough.

Even the most robust servitors tend to get sickly after too close a contact with it...

And that is after its had time to settle and stop glowing.

Fresh and raw like that, you cannot remember what the toxic dose is usually...

Come on up on your feet!
We need to get moving!
The Pulse of a ROYAL waits for no being!

scribble... cute?

...I know...
...But...
...Its...
...Left me a bit out of congress...
...That almost took out some vital bits of that limb...

!But It did not!
!I mean we just escaped from certain DEATH!
...This is...

!WOW this is amazing!
...Does it not just make you want too...

...Well...

*squip*

...Its really just...

Well

Its ROYAL!

Oh no...

No...

Nonononono!

That is not a good sign!

...hey...
I
...
scribble cute?
...
...come on...
I
...I can fix this...
...don't worry I just...
...I have to remember...

...I cannot say...
that I share your peculier enthusiasm for this near sudden mortality
...it is...
...not to be rude but...

...quite...

Erratic

Come on!

Lets Go!

I feel...

Wow...

Just Lets go Take on the SURFACE!

The DANGER

The EXCITEMENT

...

I

...

help?

please?

I can't remember what to DO.

...

...

Hello?

I blame myself

If you were not my sole offspring I might even consider burning you down to ash out of mercy to spare you the pain of these ridiculous fixations.

...But...

My dear little Cao I cannot spare you this life.

But at the very least I can make it a little less dismal...

For a while.

But first we must all flee with greatest haste.

We cannot dally...

The fools can try and placate the ROYAL but if the THING so wishes they will all be nothing but ash.

So Resolve yourself my little one.

The Servitor will keep for a little while longer...

I will do what I can when we are safe from Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness

WHAT TROUBLES AWAIT THE DEPARTURE?

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Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness

...knows a very funny joke...

...to convey a paraphrase of a sliver of a fragment of the joke is a bit involved...

...too bad...

...it was very funny...

...like puppy icecream...

[Wessolf27]

>Meta, Rama: Be surprised by the sudden appearance of Cheer's parent.
Meta: Quickly agree with her and offer to lead towards the surface
Rama: Reluctantly agree once you get yourself together
Cheer: Hold tightly to your parent and cry.

[ProphetLord]

Meta: Don't forget, you're the reason everyone is in this mess
>Meta/Rama/Cheer: Calm down, Pay attention. You have others to worry about right now. This isn't just about you.

Also,
Royal: I believe we were speaking to you. So why is it that this time you won't acknowledge us? Was it because we insulted you? I didn't realize you were so sensitive.

[Soadreqm]

I'm not convinced this Elder God is even capable of meaningful communication with mere mortals.

> Protagonists: You'll have plenty of time to sleep around when you're DEAD. Run for surface.

[Nighzmarquls]

Unless Directly Related to the plot all ROYAL discourse (and I use that term very loosely) will now be kept in spoiler tags, as I expect it is going to get meta fictional and or seemingly offensive please be warned.

This is for the convenience and enjoyment of all, if your curious about what ROYALS think you can find out but if your interested in the plot you can just skip them.

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> I believe we were speaking to you. So why is it that this time you won't acknowledge us? Was it because we insulted you? I didn't realize you were so sensitive.
> I'm not convinced this Elder God is even capable of meaningful communication with mere mortals.

> Calm down, Pay attention. You have others to worry about right now. This isn't just about you.
> You'll have plenty of time to sleep around when you're DEAD. Run for surface.

> Be surprised by the sudden appearance of Cheer's parent.
> Quickly agree with THEM and offer to lead towards the surface
> Reluctantly agree once you get yourself together
> Hold tightly to your parent and cry.

You never quite expected to meet Haipieijit the Ever Becoming, Eldest of House Joviolate in these circumstances.

Actually to be fair you never expected these circumstances to happen to you ever...

People have lived to be considered ELDER and never witnessed a ROYAL taking such direct action.

Do you three have any idea how lucky you are?
If this had been anything like when I was a bloomling you would have all been crushed, pulses are the difference between survival and MORTALITY when dealing with a a ROYAL!

Um... Not to be rude elder...

But the record has shown again and again that there is almost no value in correlating any one ROYAL event with another.
The actions of any given ROYAL have if anything been consistent in only the inconsistency of THEIR actions with any other recorded events...

So it is highly unlikely that your experience is going to be predictive of...

Hush you little whelp

I have poured over more of those same records you are quoting to me then you have seen for longer then you have existed.

I find that a bit unlikely... just because you have had more time then me does not mean you have allocated it equally to...

Who do you think bequeathed their very own collection to the academy after having commited the text to memory?

...

It does not matter the specifics of this event.
Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness is on the move.
I have no intention for me or my family to be caught in anything the wrath of a ROYAL has to offer.

Th...
Then
What about the rest of House Joviolate Should you not be rallying them to escape as well?

You are looking upon the whole of my House and Clan right now little one.

Y-YOU EXILED YOURSELF?!

No I survived a ROYAL
Now what by the seething heat of the blood below us were a trio of apprentices doing all the way down here in the loop of the city?

Uh...
Well...
Elder
...

We...
Um...
Were Actually on our way to see you...

Whatever for?

...

...

IT WAS ALL MY FAULT!
WE NEEDED TO STOP BY YOU SO WE CAN GO TO THE SURFACE!
SO THAT METASEREVAORI CAN NOT DIE
BECAUSE TIMBLE TUMBLER DIED WHILE I WAS EATING IN THE CAFETERIA
AND I DON'T WANT METASEREVAORI
TO DIE BECAUSE THEN I COULD NOT STAND IT
SO WE HAVE TO GET THEM AWAY TO THE SURFACE
AND WE NEEDED TO GET SOME STUFF FROM YOU
BECAUSE ITS A REALLY LONG WAY
AND WE NEED TO TAKE THEM
THAT FAR BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE A BREEDER AND FILL THE WORLD WITH THEIR SPAWN
AND WE CAN'T LET ANYONE FIND OUT
...

oops

You suppose it won't be exactly hard to have your life ended quickly from up here.

What with all that nice searing ROYAL BLOOD down there.

It was a nice life...

Is that all?

WAIT WHAT?!

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And now its time for another installment of WHY ARE YOU POKING THE ROYAL?!

Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness

Is indeed very sensitive, ITS every cubic centimeter of structure is acutely and distinctly aware.

IT correlates and contemplates the entirety of ITS own contents at all times.

IT would love to share this experience with all living things...

Perhaps because that would mean they would all die in agony as every cell in their bodies is overwritten with the information load inherent in but a moment of ITS experience.

IT also likes puppies.

They are adorable and should be squashed into jelly so they can be fully appreciated.

[Armok]

> 24x facepalm combo.

[Wessolf27]

> 24x facepalm combo.

^Invoke it! Invoke it now!

>Haipei: Probably explain a lot more along the way?

[Soadreqm]

> What happened to Timble Tumbler, anyway? Spontaneous brain explosion? Something to ponder on the road.
> Limb: Reunite with your loving host.

[ChetBetera]

Cheertwit's arm> The GIFT! Do not forget the GIFT!

[chimericWilder]

> 24x facepalm combo.

Yeeeessss

[Nighzmarquls]

Wow, okay this update will take another day, sorry but there was a bit too much stuff that had to get drawn up and then the writing/dialogue needs to be spun up too!

However it will be fun & cool

Maybe even fool

Wait no not that .