realmofstories | ( open ) most intriguing

Entry tags:

( open ) most intriguing

Characters: Cyrus Albright [Sherlock Holmes] & you!
Campaign: Break
Format: [ brackets! ]
Open
Summary: January sidestory shenanigans and some general open prompts!

🖋️ i. journal

Salutations,

I find myself curious as to how other Aspects have found themselves changed by their Essences in the time they've been here. No doubt we all found ourselves altered in some respects, marked by both losses and gains, but as time has gone on, how have you acclimated to whatever gifts the Storyteller has bestowed upon you? Have your new abilities perhaps developed further since your initial arrival, or have you discovered new and unexpected talents? Any related discussion would be more than welcome, not only for curiosity's sake, but in a continued effort to learn more about this world we've pledged our aid to and its inner workings.

Sincerely,
Professor Cyrus Albright (Sherlock Holmes)

📖 ii. library

[It wouldn't be entirely inaccurate to say that Cyrus has spent more time in the Index's library than he has in his own home since his arrival. How could he possibly stay away from such a collection, with so many volumes offering windows into both this and other worlds? He's become a regular there, with a favored table that the library staff have learned to leave unoccupied for him, where he's made a habit of spending countless hours reading, researching and taking scribbled notes that likely mean very little to anyone but him at first glance. He's come to feel quite at home there— perhaps too much so.

This particular evening finds him at his usual table, though not necessarily working— he's been at it so long that he's fallen quite asleep atop his work, face-down in an open book with tomes of various sizes stacked haphazardly across the table and towering over him. His quill has fallen from his hand mid-sentence, with a cup of tea that's positioned precariously close to the table's edge and in very real danger of being knocked over if he so much as shifts.

The situation is a disaster waiting to happen, really.]

🛏️ iii. a towering puzzle

[Cyrus never could resist a puzzle or mystery, long before becoming an Aspect, and so when it comes time to restore this particular tale, it's no surprise where his unparalleled focus is drawn. He stands before the revolving tower of beds, his finger crooked just beneath his chin as he regards the tower as a whole, thoughtful.]

The matching should be simple enough, but there must be more to this.

[He has yet to see an Eraser, but he has no doubt they'll make themselves known before long.]

Indeed, some of these seem to be trapped— a hazard for anyone aiming to climb. We must be on our guard so that our Princess may reach their goal!

[Hey, you— yes, you. You've just been conscripted to help him solve this, whether you like it or not. Maybe you're interested in the puzzle itself, or you can offer your services by keeping the Erasers at bay while Cyrus works? Either way, Professor ~~Layton~~ Albright welcomes your assistance.]

🍭 iv. rotten forest

[Whatever has brought you to the forest of decaying sweets, you're in good company. Cyrus' Essence makes him an excellent partner when it comes to scouting for those white pebbles, and he also seems to have a knack for spotting Erasers that might be hiding among the candy cane trees and gumdrop bushes. He's actually looking forward to confrontation here— he may not have his magic in its purest form, but he's worked out a few new tricks with his pipe that he's eager to put into practice.

For the time being, however, he's quite interested in the forest itself, and he approaches a tree that looks like it was meant to be a lollipop in order to examine it more closely.]

These truly are remarkable, even crumbling as they are— do you think they grow naturally?

[Or did the witch who owns the cottage further in put them here?]

I have to wonder what one would plant to grow such a tree. Given this world's magic, I imagine anything is possible. There's no scientific law here that would prevent a planted lollipop from growing into something far greater. Truly, this world's possibilities are endless.

[He's gushing. Apologies to whoever has wound up working with him— unfortunately, he's just like this.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Alfyn stares at the shifting and changing beds with no small amount of utter bafflement on his face. He has his satchel at his side, his more proper axe balanced across his shoulders (thank the gods it showed up! The hatchet was fine and reminded him of home but pretty close-range of a. . .), and a whistle of defeat upon his lips.]

This's already way out of my reach, Professor. I don't mind a good riddle now and again, but all this here's definitely more your speed than mine.

[Glancing between Cyrus's eager face and the beds, he grimaces.]

You just let me know what you need me to do and I'll do it best I can. You're not seriously thinking of climbing that, though, are you?

[Cyrus smiles easily, not deterred in the least by the challenge.]

Not to worry; you keep the way clear, and I'll see what I can do about this tower of ours.

[He proceeds to roll up the sleeves of his jacket and straighten his hat— both of which suit his role in this world a bit more readily than his position back home, but he's come to feel quite comfortable with the Holmes aesthetic, both with regards to clothing and his living space.]

As for climbing, I'm not entirely sure I'm 'Princess' material, but there's a certain amount of climbing required to stabilize things, I would imagine. Still, if there are no other volunteers...

[He could be their Princess, he supposes.]

H-Hey now! I'm not volunteering for "princess" duty in that contraption!

[The whole thing is precarious enough without any extra moving parts. Anyway, Alfyn is even less of a princess than Cyrus, by considerable amounts.]

We'll just have to borrow somebody else when it's all done. [He fishes an apple from his satchel and holds it out to Cyrus.] Hang onto that. You never know if you're gonna need something handy to throw or to eat.

We'll find someone suitable, not to worry.

[He's not wrong about their respective princess qualities. Cyrus certainly has the hair and delicate bone structure for it.

He looks only mildly surprised when Alfyn passes him an apple— really, he should be used to this by now, and he offers his friend a truly appreciative smile.]

My thanks— I would hate to be caught with no way to refuel midway through. I can't imagine using it as a weapon, however— it seems an awful waste.

[Probably not what he should be worried about right now, but Alfyn worked hard on pulling that apple out of his bag. As if he would toss away such a gift so easily!]

[He's still not all that sure of the extent of what apples will do for him.]

I can jam it with ice, too, if you need me to. Sort of. But you've got your own ice, I figure, so...I guess it's time to get to work!

[And the axe comes cleanly off his shoulder; he holds it out a moment, testing its familiar weight, then lets it rest on the ground. He remembers when half their party insisted he get something bigger and better than the little hatchet he was using; had to carry that 'round for collecting bark and some more stubborn plants. Not most herbs, though, but some of even those have spines on 'em, which meant he'd have to grab all carefully with his glove on and take a good whack with his hatchet.

Cyrus is absolutely the best person to tackle this problem. He's the most well-read human being Alfyn knows. Shucks, he's the most well-read anything Alfyn knows.]

[There's a scrabble of footsteps somewhere behind them, and Cyrus lets out a soft hm along with a knowing smile.]

Ah, right on cue— I hear the Erasers on their way to interfere. Keep them occupied!

[As though Alfyn needed further instruction, though Cyrus knows full well he does not. He proceeds to circle around the tower's lowest level, eyes narrowed as he seeks out any peculiar markings— locking the beds into place should offer some stability, but some of them are so ill-fitting that it's difficult to know where to start.]

— here! Let's see...

[Matching the symbols is easy enough, which makes identifying the beds to be moved a bit simpler, though the situation is still quite precarious. He grabs one of the beds by its footboard, giving it a good shove, and it slots into place.]

One down!

[Nineteen levels to go.]

[So Alfyn turns around, axe and grin ready. Cyrus can handle everything on his side, he just knows it.

He has a puzzle and a professor to protect.

The Erasers coming for them scrabble along the ground more than walk; they've taken the form of something that reminds him of treants, but without so much bark and leafiness and a lot more of thorny branches. The treants he knows are pretty defenseless against an axe, but these sure make him wish he had a fire spell or two.

But Cyrus is busy and anyway he can handle a couple of these things! The Erasers shriek and converge on him and most thoughts of bed puzzles vanish while he fights to cut them down.]

[While Alfyn busies himself with the Erasers, Cyrus narrows his focus and gets to work. Once he's started, the rest of it comes to him quite easily, his essence-given abilities assisting him in locating the various marks and shapes that need to be matched in order to lock the beds into place. It would take a great deal more scrambling and legwork to find them if he weren't able to spot them from a distance or through obstructions, and so he begins to progress at a steady clip.

The bottom half of the tower has been stabilized by the time he catches a glimpse of something amiss— an Eraser approaching Alfyn from an odd angle, exploiting his blindspot while he's occupied with keeping others at bay, and Cyrus frowns deeply as he reaches for the apple his friend had given him only a few short minutes before.]

Alfyn, behind you!

[Even as he calls his warning, he hurls that apple at the Eraser's head with a reasonable amount of precision for a mage.]

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do the apples explode, let's find out

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i

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letter 2

this is beautiful