(no subject)

[damn_yourself_early]

There is a stone pylon standing in the Nexus, a waist-high obelisk with an iron ring set in its tip. To the ring is tied a rope, blackened with weather and age, that rises ramrod-straight into the uncertain distance above. Etched into the faces of the pylon are cryptic glyphs--utter nonsense, right-side-up, but upside-down, these runes read, "Here, above Ymir's cloven brow, do I set my anchor. Let him who cuts the rope have vipers in place of blood."

Normally, the rope is still, but today it sways faintly, twisting slowly this way and that, emitting the occasional creak. In time, the reason becomes clear, as a young boy in green and black and gold is climbing down it. Or up it, perhaps. He is upside-down, and closer to the pylon and the ground with every length he climbs, yet he seems to be straining against some strange gravity that would pull him away from the ground he seeks.

Hand over hand he descends, grasping at last the ring and flipping lightly to stand on the ground and crow in triumph. "I knew there was something up here!" Digging out a Starkphone, he holds it at arm's length. "Selfie!"

Having recorded his triumph, he turns his attention outward, balancing on one foot with his arms out to his sides, turning slowly around. "Advisers, counselors, sages, and oracles! What more could a soul in want of answers wish? But that isn't my question, don't count it. Do we have a set limit? Don't count that either."

"Sages! If you needed to learn, and learn quickly... what would you try to learn first?"

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity's no good at stories, but she'd thought she'd had the general gist of this place down. If there was a place more likely to help her find her missing friend, she couldn't think of one. He's magic and stories and would naturally be drawn to a place in-between everywhere.

Maybe she should have thought this through a little more.

Because oh boy. She's not much good at schooling her expressions, but maybe he'll miss the look of dawning horror as she realizes who he is.

Unfortunately, after that comes her resting face, which isn't exactly welcoming. "Who to trust. You have to learn who to trust."

[thesmashingthunder]

The boy asked for wisdom, for beings of immense knowledge and intellect to answer his call.

What he got instead was a curious mouse.

Learn? What would he learn? Pikachu trotted up to him, pondering on the question. Normally he learned through battle - his own weaknesses and strengths came clear as he fought new opponents and old, adapting to new tactics and battlefields as their battles always evolved. It meant his skill set was focused and extremely developed but somewhat limited. Reaching up, he tugged at the fabric on Loki's leg.

"Chuuuu. Pi, pika pi." He pointed at his open mouth. It'd be nice to learn how to communicate with other Smashers better. Sometimes they treated him more like a pet than a colleague.