LU 64 - Nautilus 4 / Shadow 3

Nat stumbles out of the purply, water like wall that covered the stone at the ghast billboard building, complaining about the clunky, stiff armor that helped him breath. Strapping it off, Nat turns to a man walking towards him... in a suit.

*"Heyyy-"*

The man was shorter than others, and appeared to have triangular ears, with a hidden tail, which was hidden quite well. Sooner or later this Vulpine would introduce himself as Frez. The chemistry between the two seemed to grow into a more friendly interaction, later Frez inviting Nat, and the offer available to his friends of course, to join his clan. Nat wasn't too interested in the fact that he could be in a clan, rather he just wanted something to do. Frez... has just the thing in mind.

After a short walk out of town, the not-so-tall man pulls out an item that hasn't quite been seen the daylight for some time. Four poles on a platform containing a depression towards the middle, which also contained a dark spiral pattern that continued to spin. Another item was of the same color scheme, except it had four stringy seaweed-like leaves that moved about when sound was made. Frez looks around, and prompts Nat.

*"So... how much of a tattle-tail are you?"*

*"Honestly I'll probably just forget anyway, ask away"*

*"Not a question, but let me show you."*

Frez carefully digs down a hole, a deep one at that, and places the two mysterious items Nat has never seen before. Leaps out of the hole, and lands on the ground, and suddenly a loud screech was heard. Digging noises, at very rapid speeds come from the ground, a small quake is felt underneath the two gentlemen. A large, fungal, disgusting hand rips from the ground. Then the next. The hands grip the ground and pull up an eyeless giant. Luckily it was in the hole, but its horns still peaked out of the top of the hole. What they were looking at wasn't their average hostile enemy. They were looking at the Warden.

The Warden cocks back its limp, skeleton-shown yet muscular body back, cocks it head back, and with a forward leaning stands with its arms thrown back, it releases a roar, that temporarily deafens the two spectators. Its roar may have even been heard in the city, but at least they were far enough away where it wasn't a danger. Keeping still, the two peered over the hole to get the full view of the abomination. it wasn't a pretty sight. Nat just so happened to have the ~~stupidity~~ guts to speak up.

*"That's SO CO-"*

Frez immediately puts his finger to his mouth to indicate silence, as soon as the Warden snaps its neck to their direction. Frez draws his sword, and points at Nat to do the same. Nat didn't have a sword specifically, so he suck his hand out and voila- his 3 pronged bladed pole of oceanic wonders popped into existence... probably not a good idea to ask where it came from. Continuing to do simple sign language, Frez puts three fingers in the air... two... one... and then he leaps.

Frez leaps high into the air, readying his sword high above his head, for a downwards slice from the back. Meanwhile, Nat jumps to the side, the Warden facing his direction and slightly raises its arms to prepare a strike. Frez comes down, coming into contact with its head from the back with his blade first, and slicing all the way down with ease, urging the beast to rotate the full 180, missing its strike and hitting the wall of the hole. Nat thrusts himself in, and jams his trident into the back of the Warden, once again turning the fiend around for another strike. Frez going for the legs to take advantage of his height, dances with his blade until he reaches the small of the Wardens back for a final blow: good ol' fashion stab. Sinking the blade in, the Warden turns to dust on impact, and Frez quickly picks up the summoning items, and stores them away for safe keeping. Nat stood there with a grin on his face.

*"Lets do it again!"*

Of course, knowing it's very dangerous, the idiocy had to be turned down for another day. Their conversations lead into the topic of magic, which seemed to spark both of their interests, especially since Nat had his own story to tell, which only involved him blinking and trying to figure out why his own friends freaked out when he did his unintentional disappear for 500 years trick. All in which... dumb Nat wanted to go on another adventure to: the one and only ancient Empire. A sparkle of curiosity shined in Frez's eye, and it was what lead him to ask to go there, and Nat being bored with no... rule enforcing armors or bossy women in sight... he just had to go!

In a way traveling to the castle was a bit of a race. Frez had his talent for his skilled jumps and amazing speed on land, and Nat gracefully surpassed him in speed and his own bursts of speed in the water. Frez leaps up the hill in desperation to beat the fish in the race, whilst Nat leaps from the river and lands with a thud, just in time to tie with the man-fox. Once again at the grand sight, the Empire Castle stood tall in its not-so-everlasting glory. Stones still lay in the ground from the withering wall, vines and leaves grew from place to place, all due to the colossal tree that made a home right next to it. Stepping inside, just told a whole other history of the place, one to be reminisced in memory.

Reaching the throne, Nat begins to glow... for the second time in the era. Frez takes notice, and studies the fish boy for a bit with the same curiosity that lead him into the castle. After not being able to figure it out, their next destination was to the neighboring gigantic sight: Notion. Frez takes the lead, gaping at the colossal, while Nat slows down. Slower... and slower... fading away... into nothingness. Frez looks up and touches the magic wall... as Notion slowly floats down, sword in hand.

*"You dare step into the lands of old?"*

Notion hovers above Frez, the symbol of the sword glows dim, as if to show no energy. Also known as the Nat special: *boredom* Frez making sure he's protected, attempts to explain that he was there because of a friend, turning around realizing that Nat wasn't even there. In embarrassment, Frez faces the armor with confidence combined with uncertainty, and hopes to make peace with the guardian. Notion lightly smacks Frez away from the unseen wall, not doing much damage, but making a mark in his armor. Frez was taken back by this, unsure what to make of the situation. Notion did not like to mess around, but she was stubborn at heart. She barely gave any information when asked... But it seemed the topic of Nat struck a nerve.

*"I want nothing to do with that traitor. Leave with the fool and let us rest without your presence, mortal."*

During the whole prying process of getting wanted information, Frez managed to get numerous things from "peace" talking with Notion: One: Nat seemed... to have worked with the trees at one point? Two: Nat has some relation to the sisters. Three: there are other trees similar to Notion, and one of them was just East of her. Four: for every body... it sped up some "process," or energy the trees seemed to be collecting.

Frez also tried his Warden summoning items on the guardian. Apparently, Notion didn't even know what the items were, even being older than 500 years! Seeing the Warden suddenly popping out of the ground... Notions symbol grew bright with alertness. She readied her sword, then smashed, slashed, and hacked the Warden. The Warden turned to dust, and to Frezs amazement, the guardians scratches on its armor healed, and it stood as if un-phased. Notion being stingy as ever, made Frez leave despite all his offers to help, and knowing that the pitiful "mortal" wasn't going to get past the barrier any time soon.

Frez reunites with the missing fish boy, of course Nat is confused. Frez picked up on this, and decides not to comment further on his... amnesiac like situation, and how he seems so confused after being called a traitor over and over. Abusing Nat's boredom, the two continue Eastward, in search of the other mentioned sister, hopefully this time not as stubborn as the last. The race continues, Nat winning by a landslide due to the oceans that roared in their way. When they arrived... a magnificent blue, oddly colored for the background scenery, flower that sprouted... from the ground? This flower wasn't ordinary, it was enormous, likely the width and length of Notion.

Of course turning around once more, Nat is... gone. Again. Somewhat of a tedious trend. Frez carefully steps onto the large flower, looking around with his small hands, hoping not to walk into an invisible wall. There was a hole in the center of the flower, and out popped a set of armor, its symbol being a swirl, rather than the sword Notion possessed. This one was surprisingly not stubborn or hostile, for a while at least. Rather... they seemed drunk, or just a little weird.

*"So* hic, *what're ya doin' o'er here mister?"*

Naturally surprised, Frez didn't expect the odd language from the nameless guardian, much less even a non-stubborn conversation. After a bit of detouring the conversation in drinks and paying visits, Frez got down to "business." The fact is, Frez cannot do anything to kill this guardian, or so he thought, so he attempted to put himself at the same level as them, but a step lower, to work with them. Frez already knew about how feeding bodies did some good for the trees, so he made the the deal of coming back with more people, after the guardian asked if they could let the tree eat Frez...

All in all, good conversation for the most part. Frez walks back to spawn with Nat, with new plans in mind. And so, the rumor spreading about a large castle and a tree begins.

*"Heh...* hic *the mortal doesn't even know what he's getting into. Earthborn these days... thinkin' they're the shi' aye? I suppose the others* hic *would like to know abou' this boy here... Nautilus you better not be star'in up crap, ya hear? Failure."*