Ensign Saeihra Vharo: A quest well crafted.
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Grace
Jun 4, 2026, 1:40:55 PM (yesterday) Jun 4
to sb118...@googlegroups.com
((Middle Realm, Back Lot 7, USP Quantum Containment Realm 1, The Tangle))
Vharo's vacation in a sunless void had given birth to yet another cliche scenario, though instead of heartbreak and drama she'd been dropped into magic and quests. Two giant so-called goddesses had granted the Orion literal magical powers and reunited her with Tam and an ensign that seemed to be having a much better time than one could've expected based on her choice of outfit. In the end it mattered not the context, what did however was with luck this episode would bring them all closer to going home but unlike the Soap Opera she'd just left, this one was clearly stepping it up and danger was a quite a real possibility.
Vharo: Just remember we have to commit to this ::she scrunched up her face:: story, my last experience confirmed at least partially that the audience isn't performing willingly and they will use the threat of their expulsion or ours to keep the story on track. Vharo finally took a beat as she looked around, there was no audience seemingly this time but she felt the odd sensation that someone was still watching or more accurately judging.
Goddess # 1: Listen to your friend. She may be the only one on your side.
The giants laughed a bitter, cruel laugh. They continued laughing until they were doubled over, giggling and gasping for breath. Vharo upturned her face at the giants but didn't deem it necessary to say anything, her wrath would remain checked.
Tam: I will commit and do what it takes to protect you both.
Vharo dipped her head at the commander and took the outstretched hand.
Talyra: Response
A quiet exhale left the Orion as the cloud beneath them finally faded completely. She kept eyes on the two giants just before she plumented towards the ground, the rushing of wind and the drop in her stomach causing her to lock her attention on the painted horizon lest she quickly become much less brave.
((Lower Realm, Back Lot 7, USP Quantum Containment Realm 1, The Tangle))
oO Goddess preser-Oo
Vharo didn't complete her request before she speared into the earth, crumpling against it as the impact forced all the air from her body. After a few moments and a not insignificant amount of wheezing she rolled onto her back, running her hands down her frame to check for injuries in addition to dull thrum that radiated across her body.
Mercifully, she was complete save her missing third dimension of course. Glancing up she was greeted by a picturesque sky complete with clouds that were a touch too fluffy for her tastes. She skipped the road leading off to nowhere, fixing her attention instead of the cluster of buildings that were usefully labeled 'Village'
Tam: That's original. Are we all okay?
Vharo huffed, climbing to her feet as she dusted off her dark blue robes. Feeling something as she rose she glanced down to see she'd somehow landed on a glowing book etched with what had to be magical nonsense and a knurled stick roughly the same height as she was.
oO How quaint. Oo
Vharo: As far as atmospheric falls go, I can't complain.
Talyra: Response
Tam: Shall we check the tavern for work and get substance?
Vharo glanced over to where the card armed PA had been, catching the barest glimpse as they vanished. She closed her eyes for a brief moment to center herself as the magic book slipped beneath the endless folds of her robe, a quiet chuckle then emanated from the woman as her hood came up allowing the Orion to become the spitting image of the most generic mage this side of the Gamma quadrant. Oh by the gods how she hated this.
Vharo: An excellent suggestion, I could use some ::she took a beat, thinking::....ale?, yes ale before we continue our mighty quest.
Talyra: Response.
Lanterns hung from the rafters inside the main room of the tavern. Long tables and benches, designed for communal meals, filled the room, with a large fireplace on one end and a bar on the other side of the room. There was a smattering of patrons in the room. They and the barkeep all stopped talking and looked up as the Heroes entered.
Vharo just managed to sit when she noticed a bald man armed exclusively with a ukulele hurry over to the table. Another trapped 'actor' presumably here to start their quote quest perhaps.
Bard: The evil knight wizard Syphax has terrorized our land for years, the King has sent countless knights and heros to bring him to justice to no avail. With the kidnapping of the Princess all was truly lost until you three arrived, please do what so many couldn't and rid us of this scourge.
Vharo spared a bemused glance at the Bard and his speech before directing her attention to her companions.She reached over to the folded handbill, unfolding it and smoothing it out on the table so they could all see it.
Vharo: Ah a knight wizard, not a night wizard. That makes more sense but that hardly seems fair.
Talyra/Tam: Response.
The Bard nodded to someone unseen and off-screen before leaning down at the trio, his voice getting low and a touch ominous.
Bard: The legends suggest that the ::the man paused, his ominous expression faltering briefly:: dark tower is filled with evil traps and the restless bones of long since defeated heros that now do Syphax's bidding. You would do best to tread lightly for he will know of your arrival. The townsfolk of the village will provide what aid they can for your mighty quest but you best not delay as evil's cold embrace grows ever tighter!
With that final ominous word of warning the Bard scurried off to take his previous position by the fireplace, the sound of ukulele music beginning to emanate not from the man but from the walls themselves. Truly they were a part of a high budget affair.
Vharo nodded or more accurately her hood nodded as she pulled out the magical book from beneath her robe letting it instead lay in her lap. Opening it up she hoped that perhaps it would house some poorly written lore or advice for this next epic episode of cosmic nonsense.
Vharo: According to my magical book and its magically poor translation, we should expect to face the aforementioned skeletons, zombies and whatever a gorgon is. They are the chief....minions of Syphax. Syphax is also mentioned to have a flaming sword and what I believe is a weakness for fire, that seems a touch counter-productive if it's true.
Talyra/Tam: Response.
Vharo shook her head, attempting to flip through the book further than the two pages but it was almost as if the front and rear half of the book were simply solid blocks of parchment to simply allude to the idea of more.
Vharo: I believe we are armed with as much knowledge as exists, unless either of you has experience in situations such as this ::she took a beat:: not this exact situation but the overall idea I suppose.
Talyra/Tam: Response.
[TBC]
Vharo's vacation in a sunless void had given birth to yet another cliche scenario, though instead of heartbreak and drama she'd been dropped into magic and quests. Two giant so-called goddesses had granted the Orion literal magical powers and reunited her with Tam and an ensign that seemed to be having a much better time than one could've expected based on her choice of outfit. In the end it mattered not the context, what did however was with luck this episode would bring them all closer to going home but unlike the Soap Opera she'd just left, this one was clearly stepping it up and danger was a quite a real possibility.
Vharo: Just remember we have to commit to this ::she scrunched up her face:: story, my last experience confirmed at least partially that the audience isn't performing willingly and they will use the threat of their expulsion or ours to keep the story on track. Vharo finally took a beat as she looked around, there was no audience seemingly this time but she felt the odd sensation that someone was still watching or more accurately judging.
Goddess # 1: Listen to your friend. She may be the only one on your side.
The giants laughed a bitter, cruel laugh. They continued laughing until they were doubled over, giggling and gasping for breath. Vharo upturned her face at the giants but didn't deem it necessary to say anything, her wrath would remain checked.
Tam: I will commit and do what it takes to protect you both.
Vharo dipped her head at the commander and took the outstretched hand.
Talyra: Response
A quiet exhale left the Orion as the cloud beneath them finally faded completely. She kept eyes on the two giants just before she plumented towards the ground, the rushing of wind and the drop in her stomach causing her to lock her attention on the painted horizon lest she quickly become much less brave.
((Lower Realm, Back Lot 7, USP Quantum Containment Realm 1, The Tangle))
oO Goddess preser-Oo
Vharo didn't complete her request before she speared into the earth, crumpling against it as the impact forced all the air from her body. After a few moments and a not insignificant amount of wheezing she rolled onto her back, running her hands down her frame to check for injuries in addition to dull thrum that radiated across her body.
Mercifully, she was complete save her missing third dimension of course. Glancing up she was greeted by a picturesque sky complete with clouds that were a touch too fluffy for her tastes. She skipped the road leading off to nowhere, fixing her attention instead of the cluster of buildings that were usefully labeled 'Village'
Tam: That's original. Are we all okay?
Vharo huffed, climbing to her feet as she dusted off her dark blue robes. Feeling something as she rose she glanced down to see she'd somehow landed on a glowing book etched with what had to be magical nonsense and a knurled stick roughly the same height as she was.
oO How quaint. Oo
Vharo: As far as atmospheric falls go, I can't complain.
Talyra: Response
Tam: Shall we check the tavern for work and get substance?
Vharo glanced over to where the card armed PA had been, catching the barest glimpse as they vanished. She closed her eyes for a brief moment to center herself as the magic book slipped beneath the endless folds of her robe, a quiet chuckle then emanated from the woman as her hood came up allowing the Orion to become the spitting image of the most generic mage this side of the Gamma quadrant. Oh by the gods how she hated this.
Vharo: An excellent suggestion, I could use some ::she took a beat, thinking::....ale?, yes ale before we continue our mighty quest.
Talyra: Response.
Lanterns hung from the rafters inside the main room of the tavern. Long tables and benches, designed for communal meals, filled the room, with a large fireplace on one end and a bar on the other side of the room. There was a smattering of patrons in the room. They and the barkeep all stopped talking and looked up as the Heroes entered.
Vharo just managed to sit when she noticed a bald man armed exclusively with a ukulele hurry over to the table. Another trapped 'actor' presumably here to start their quote quest perhaps.
Bard: Oh, thank goodness. You must be heroes. We didn't think we would get another Hero. It has been so long, and now there are three of you.
He clapped his hands together and deepened his voice.
Bard: Hear ye all. The heroes have arrived at last to save Princess Tiarra.
Tam: Ummm-
Out of the corner of her eye Vharo saw another out of place PA armed with a card she couldn't read.
Tam: Mmm, yes, the princess from whereisville?
The man stiffened and looked at Tam skeptically.
Bard: Wichalsnizalgonaldorf. In the mountains over the hill. ::narrowing his eyes:: What kind of heroes are you? What can you do?
Vharo turned her hooded visage towards the man, a hood that mercifully hid her pained expression and subsequent pause from the man and the rest of the tavern. With a wordless prayer she clicked her fingers together causing a small purple fire to spring to life between them.
oO Oh thank the goddess, it actually worked. Oo
Vharo: I am the Arch-Mage of Owdaleffed, master magician and worldly scholar.
Talyra: Response.
Bard: The evil knight wizard Syphax has terrorized our land for years, the King has sent countless knights and heros to bring him to justice to no avail. With the kidnapping of the Princess all was truly lost until you three arrived, please do what so many couldn't and rid us of this scourge.
Vharo spared a bemused glance at the Bard and his speech before directing her attention to her companions.She reached over to the folded handbill, unfolding it and smoothing it out on the table so they could all see it.
Vharo: Ah a knight wizard, not a night wizard. That makes more sense but that hardly seems fair.
Talyra/Tam: Response.
The Bard nodded to someone unseen and off-screen before leaning down at the trio, his voice getting low and a touch ominous.
Bard: The legends suggest that the ::the man paused, his ominous expression faltering briefly:: dark tower is filled with evil traps and the restless bones of long since defeated heros that now do Syphax's bidding. You would do best to tread lightly for he will know of your arrival. The townsfolk of the village will provide what aid they can for your mighty quest but you best not delay as evil's cold embrace grows ever tighter!
With that final ominous word of warning the Bard scurried off to take his previous position by the fireplace, the sound of ukulele music beginning to emanate not from the man but from the walls themselves. Truly they were a part of a high budget affair.
Vharo nodded or more accurately her hood nodded as she pulled out the magical book from beneath her robe letting it instead lay in her lap. Opening it up she hoped that perhaps it would house some poorly written lore or advice for this next epic episode of cosmic nonsense.
Vharo: According to my magical book and its magically poor translation, we should expect to face the aforementioned skeletons, zombies and whatever a gorgon is. They are the chief....minions of Syphax. Syphax is also mentioned to have a flaming sword and what I believe is a weakness for fire, that seems a touch counter-productive if it's true.
Talyra/Tam: Response.
Vharo shook her head, attempting to flip through the book further than the two pages but it was almost as if the front and rear half of the book were simply solid blocks of parchment to simply allude to the idea of more.
Vharo: I believe we are armed with as much knowledge as exists, unless either of you has experience in situations such as this ::she took a beat:: not this exact situation but the overall idea I suppose.
Talyra/Tam: Response.
[TBC]
--
Ensign Saeihra Vharo
Intelligence Officer
USS Thor
T240209SV3
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