Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 29, 2014 13:16:04 GMT -5
When Chaltah asked him where he wanted to meet, Gram replied "I'm still at the airport, so I'll meet you two at the exit. I have cars waiting." With that, Gram and his men began making a beeline for the exit, heading outside. Once they got to the cars, most of Gram's men got inside while Gram and Drew stayed outside, standing and waiting for Chaltah and Stormchaser to exit the building. Gram because he wanted to ask them about the scarab before they set out loooking for the Dead Sea and Drew because... well, because Gram was.
Once they appeared, Gram greeted them "Hello. I trust you did not run into any difficulties while retrieving the scarab?" He hadn't been attacked by Tyrus's group, but he did not know whether or not they had. He suspected their task had been as uneventful as his own, but he needed confirmation before drawing any conclusions.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 29, 2014 13:43:47 GMT -5
As they were greeted by Gram and Drew as they exited by the question of the scarab, she pulls the small jar from the bag "There's enough in here in case we need more" she replies and then puts it back "You're lucky that those people weren't very thorough with inspections. We had to go and pretty much take this out of one of the tombs. Never thought I'd be calling myself a thief" she looks to Drew and waves a greeting to him then heads for one of the cars followed by Stormchaser who throws their packs into the car before he climbs in. "Let's go get that brine and get out of here."
"I wonder what the ritual does that we are gathering these things for" Stormchaser asks once Chaltah gets into the car. "It must be important with how we've been hunted down to get it. "What if it's a curse?"
"If it is a curse I sure as heck don't want to be around when he decides to try it. But it could also be a blessing as well. We can't be sure until we have all the items and instructions" Chaltah clings to the bow during the trip, her gaze fixed out the window as they moved toward their next destination
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 29, 2014 15:29:36 GMT -5
Gram shrugged at Chaltah's comment about the thoroughness of the airport's inspections. If they'd run into problems transporting the scarabs he'd have just found another way to get them where he wanted. He got in his car and the cars drove off, headed to the Dead Sea.
As he stepped out of the car, it began raining lightly. Gram looked up at the sky, took out a jar and hurried to the shore. Once there, he waded in somewhat and knelt down, ignoring the fact that his clothes were getting wet. He would change once the task was finished and they were back in the jet on their way to Lake Victoria.
The jar, once filled with water, was replaced in the small bag Gram carried that. Afterward, he quickly hurried back to his car and got inside. The cars quickly drove back to the airport where Gram got out again. Speaking to Chaltah and Stormchaser, "Alright. That's three out of four ingredients. By now my jet should have been refueled and ready for take off." Afterward, he hurried to the jet and changed into clean, not dripping with seawater clothing. There was a tray of gourmet sandwhiches, fruit, and pastries waiting inside. When Chaltah and Stormchaser stepped aboard, Drew gestured toward them, in case they hadn't eaten recently, while Gram dressed.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 29, 2014 16:19:37 GMT -5
It had been a while since they ate. They had even skipped breakfast that morning and the sight of the food made the two quite ravenous. The both took from the bountiful spread that was set there for them and started eating while they waited for the plane.
Aside from being stuck inside a metal tube, the food made it more bearable for Stormchaser. "The way this man lives spoils the rest of us" he says with a small chuckle "Home will never be the same after this. Though I do still prefer to fly on my own. But broad daylight makes it hard." he knew that people still had an instinctual fear of creatures that they were unfamiliar with and dragons were certainly near the time on the list.
Chaltah nods in agreement and stuffs herself full of all the fruit she could get on a plate and taking a seat "We'll just have to get used to meager living styles again my friend. This won't last much longer"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 29, 2014 17:32:53 GMT -5
Once he was finished getting dressed, Gram grabbed a couple sandwiches himself and began to eat. In all the ecitement lately, he'd been missing far too many meals and he was ravenous. He ate the snadqiches quickly, washing them down with some water before grabbing an apple. The young man stared off into space while he ate the fruit, thinking.
Gram took another drink of water and turned to look at Chaltah and Stormchaser. "Lake Victoria is quite a ways south from here, but my jet should have us there in a few hours." He paused for a moment, before continuing. "Are either of you having any doubts about the ritual? I know that performing a ritual learned from an ancient scroll that we barely understand is potentially very dangerous, but to me the possible benefits outway the risks. Do you feel the same?" He looked into their eyes, studying their resolve to go through with the ritual.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 29, 2014 19:55:49 GMT -5
Chaltah looks over at Gram as he speaks about the matter of the scroll "Storm and I were talking about that on the way out to get the water. We wonder if the ritual could be a curse for anyone that tries to do it. I personally don't know if it's worth the risk but it's your mission." she takes a big bite of her sandwich before continuing "but it could just as easily be a blessing of sorts. I don't know enough about ancient lore to make that call"
Stormchaser looks over at Gram then "Just be careful. It might not be a ritual meant for human hands. It was buried for a reason. As to who hid it away, it could have been humans or supers. Perhaps a step into history might explain why it was hidden where it was." he had always been one to read up on history. It was what fueled the songs he and Chaltah sang.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 29, 2014 20:16:23 GMT -5
Gram tilted his head thoughtfully. "You have a point but all of the research I've done on the scroll points towards it's effect being something beneficial. In Alexandria, it was stored beneath their temple, hidden behind a symbol of their god of knowledge. Why go through so much effort to protect a ritual that would curse those who performed it? The idea just does not make sense to me." While he was confident that the scroll's properties were beneficial, Gram was unwilling to risk others needlessly just to perform it.
"You two do not need to participate in the ritual and I will not ask you to, if you are truly worried that performing it will be bad. My offer to arrange transportation for the two of you back to Ireland or wherever else you may desire to go still stands." It was the least Gram could do, after the considerable trouble the two of them had gone through to help him.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 29, 2014 20:56:15 GMT -5
Chaltah shakes her head at the mention of heading back home "i don't think it wise. I'm willing to bet that guy will come back just as soon as you're ready to start and crash the whole thing. You need someone to watch your back in case this whole thing ends up backfiring" she takes another big bit of fruit and smacks her lips.
Stormchaser nods in agreement and smiles "You're stuck with us til the end it seems, my friend. Chaltah is stubborn like that and won't stop til a task is finished" he sighs and sits back in the chair before speaking again "which can be so troublesome at times" and gives her a nudge, causing her to drop the rest of her sandwich on the ground. She then proceeds to give the dragon a noogie until he said uncle as he was in no position to fight back.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 29, 2014 22:24:08 GMT -5
Gram nodded his appreciation. It appeared they intended to see this quest through to the end. If Tyrus did make another appearance, he could certainly use their help. "Alright then. I appreciate what you two are doing. I couldn't have made it this far without your help. Hell, I might not have even made it out of Ireland without assistance from you two." He sat back in his chair and drank from his water.
"When this is all over, know that I consider you friends and if you need anything, you need only call." Gram never made such promises to people, but he had decided to trust these two. He meant what he said, and Gram said it because he owed them. These two had been instrumental in his obtaining the scroll and gathering the ingredients for the ritual. One day, Gram would have to repay the favor, or else forever be in their debt.
The pilot announced that they would be landing in ten minutes.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 29, 2014 23:56:43 GMT -5
Chaltah smiles and sits back in the chair, finishing up the rest of her meal and downing a bottle of water to wash it all down. With lunch out of the way she pulls one of the books out of her bag and sets it on the table. It was nice to know that Gram had come so far as to trust them. And he had certainly done his part to earn their trust. "So what is this electrum anyway I wonder. It sounds like some kind of metal" she looks over at Gram as the plane started to decend to their final destination.
Stormchaser had ended up falling asleep after he was done eating his large meal, deciding to let this trip end quicker by sleeping the rest of the way there so he could get off the plane that much sooner. His head resting against the window as he slept.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 30, 2014 0:34:23 GMT -5
"Well, electrum, from what I understand, is a sort of naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, usually containing various other trace elements. The substance is quite beautiful, really. Back in New York I have a modest collection of ancient coins made of it. The ancient Greeks referred to it as white gold, though it's color can range from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of the composite elements." Gram explained.
The jet touched down and, a few minutes later, it was ok for them to disembark. Gram stood up and stretched before exiting. There were more cars waiting for them. Gram and Drew climbed inside theirs. When Chaltah and Stormchaser entered their own, they would see a modest screen facing the back seat where they sat. Shortly after the two of them climbed inside, it would turn on and the would see an image of Gram on the screen, linked to his car so they could continue talking. "We need to discuss how we are going to retrieve the ore from the bottom of the lake once we get there."
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 30, 2014 0:40:31 GMT -5
It was odd to see the screen sitting in the back of their car as they got in. Even odder still was when Gram came on to talk to them. "Would it not have been easier to do this in one car?" Stormchaser asks after Gram mentioned the matter of how to retrieve the metal. Chaltah covers her mouth as she tried not to laugh at Storm's abruptness. "It would seem to require less equipment if we had"
Chaltah clears her throat and looks to her companion "It may have been easier but I don't think the car would hold everyone"
"well why not then let the body guards take one and us in the other. That way there would be room?" was the dragon's rebuttal to the matter. Chal gave him a nudge "Quit trying to over think everything my friend. I'm sure he has his reasons" she turns her attention back to the screen "so how to you think we should go about it?"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 30, 2014 1:16:19 GMT -5
"I'm sorry about this, but Drew follows me everywhere. It's his job and he's the best at it. I felt it would be simpler this way." Gram checked his phone, confirming that the equipment he'd requested had been delivered. "As for how we are to go about retrieving the electrum ore, I had a few ideas. I have acquired some diving equipment and information detailing the location of an ore deposit can be found. All that should be necessary is diving down and chiseling away a small chunk of ore. It's a one person job and," he looked at Stormchaser "I think it would be best if Stormchaser went, if you are willing. On the rare possibility of something going awry, your ability to shapeshift into something water breathing could enable you to survive where one of us, in your place, might not. But it is, of course, entirely up to you."
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 30, 2014 1:24:19 GMT -5
Stormchaser had been about to say he was the best choice to go in when Gram beat him to the punch. So he clears his throat and nods "Of course. My thoughts exactly. Would hate for either of you to end up drowing or crushed by pressure depending on just how deep this lake is" he sits back in his chair, eyes on the screen "How big of a piece do we need? Does it matter or not, like the matter of the scarab being alive or dead?"
Chal grins a bit as Storm was trying work out he detail with Gram and sits back to let the two talk. When Storm was done talking she speaks up "You are right, Stormchaser is the best option. We're all in agreement then that my buddy here" gives Stormchaser a bit of a nudge "is the man of the hour when it comes to under water retrieval."
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 30, 2014 1:34:15 GMT -5
"The ritual called for only a piece and, judging from the amount of the other ingredients, a single scarab, ten ounces, a saffron crocus, we most likely don't need very much. A small chunk, no bigger than my fist, would likely be more than enough. As for the scarab, it called for a scarab taken from an Egyptian tomb. Scarabs found in such tombs are usually mummified, placed in there on purpose. A living scarab would have no business in such a place. A dead one should do just fine."
The cars pulled up not too far from the lake, next to a shop selling souvineers from the lake. "Alright. The deposit is some one hundred feet from the shoreline from here, but the floor drops steeply after a dozen or so feet. On the the bottom, directly down, you will find it. It will likely be a pale gold color, so you shouldn't have a problem identifying it."
A man approached, carrying the equipment Stormchaser would need. Gram stepped out, took it, and carried it over to Stormchaser. Among it was a small waterproof bag. "Inside this bag is a chisel. You can use it to chisel away a piece and use the bag to hold it afterwards. Good luck."
