ITT: The Sapphire of Animor: A Medieval (Mis)Adventure!

Tada! It's a new ITT set in a medieval setting! General rules of joining an ITT apply; your character can be anything from a human to a snail and have any sort of abilities, provided they aren't too OP or story-breaking of course, and remember that cooperation and communication are key. Now let's get this party started:

(In a world where castles, kings, knights, and magic are still commonplace, there sits the decently-sized kingdom of Notalot. It's a fairly normal kingdom where the peasants (both humans and non-humans) lead fairly normal lives growing their gardens, smithing, selling their wares, and greeting their neighbors. It's ruled by the king Rutherford and queen Gwendolyn, two fairly normal people, them both being geckos aside.)

(All in all, it's a very normal kingdom where very little seems to actually happen, but not for long...)

(The story opens with a gray and white cat no older than nine running through the streets of Notalot in an apparent hurry. He seems to be trying to hide something in a small sack in his paws as he runs along, and a faint blue glow can be seen through the sack's fabric.)

One passerby in the streets is a small barn owl in a green tunic. He watches the cat curiously, wondering what he could be doing, but he doesn't say anything.

Edited by DrNoPuma on Jul 22nd 2020 at 6:19:00 AM

Eventually, the owl gives into curiosity. He lifts his wings and concentrates, creating a small gust of wind to lift him up from the ground. He then starts to follow the cat.

(After a few moments, a knight (who appears to be an angler fish monster in silver armor) runs up and pauses by those whom the cat passed by.)

Hey! Did any of you see a kid running through here? (He asks. He notices the owl up off the ground.) You there! Did you see him from up there?

Edited by kablammin45 on Jul 22nd 2020 at 12:50:18 PM

Would he have seen my character? He just started flying.

The owl realizes with a sinking feeling that the cat must be in trouble. He should do something to help.

"Sorry!" the owl calls down. "It's hard to make out anyone in this crowd. I'm flying up here just to find my master."

Edited by DrNoPuma on Jul 22nd 2020 at 6:18:04 AM

A mole comes running down the street a short distance away from where the cat and the owl are. He stops and looks around.

"Aah, dang! I lost him..." he says.

Well... (The knight says, standing up straight in a clumsy manner.) It's important that I or someone else finds him! There's reason to believe that this child may have something that could potentially be very dangerous. I'm sure he doesn't intend to do any harm with it, but if he uses it on the wrong thing or in the wrong place, there could be a LOT of trouble.

(He notices the mole approaching.) Hello! Did you see him?

"Ah, pardon me," says the mole. "I was just looking for that little mouse. The troublemaker's always stealing my keys so I can't get into my tool shed..."

Well, if he puts what he's got on a statue, we could end up with more problems than just not being able to get into our toolsheds. (The knight says.) C'mon, let's find this kid.

(Some ways away, there is a small junkyard outside of the main part of the castle courtyard, mostly full of broken tools, furniture, and one area full of broken statues. It's inside the statue area of the junkyard where the young cat is. He seems to be looking at the many discarded statues.)

Broken...broken...broken... (The cat mutters.)

(Then an abandoned cart that seems to have been recently left at the junkyard catches his eye. The statues inside appear to be mostly intact and seem to mostly consist of gargoyles.)

Ooh... (The cat says, climbing into the cart and taking the mystery object out of the satchel. It's a shimmering blue jewel. Looking up at the gargoyle statues, he points between them.) Eeny meeny miney...mo.

(Having chosen a pterodon-like gargoyle statue, the kid begins moving the jewel toward it.)

"Er... statue?" the mole scratches his head. "You looking for something stolen too, sir?"

Having lost sight of the kid, the owl sees the knight talking to a mole. Seeing nothing else to do, the owl descends to the ground and listens to the two talking.

[A lizard in a cloak is wandering the streets. She looks somewhat distressed...]

I suppose you could say that. Somehow, a jewel known as the Sapphire of Animor ended up in that kid's paws. All I know about it is that it brings statues to life if placed on them. (The knight explains.)

(He then notices the cloaked lizard approaching.) Is there a problem, ma'am?

(The cat, a bit hesitantly, places the sapphire on the gargoyle's shoulder. Upon contact, the jewel suddenly latches onto the statue's shoulder like a magnet and begins glowing. Glowing blue lines begin spreading across the statue, which begins to shake.)

(Suddenly worried, the cat tries to pull the jewel back off, but it's now stuck fast. The kid jumps off the wagon and takes cover behind a half-broken dragon statue.)

"Brings statues to life?" the owl says out loud. Then he remembers he was trying to be stealthy. Too late for that now.

[The lizard looks up at the anglerfish knight and nods.] "I heard you mention you were looking for a cat, yes? Possessing something that could be dangerous?" [She points in the general direction she thinks the cat went.] "I was chasing him, for I saw a blue glimmer from his satchel! But he is quick, and clever, and he managed to escape my vision! But, you see, I think I saw him heading that-a-way!"

(The knight looks in the direction the lizard pointed.) Well, the junkyard is over that way, and I know some statues get dumped there sometimes. C'mon, let's go that way!

(He heads in the direction of the edge of the town where the junkyard is, which isn't far away.)

(From his hiding place, the cat watches as the lines continue to spread across the statue until they completely cover it, then suddenly disappear, revealing the statue covered in cracks.)

(The cat slowly starts to come out from around the statue, when suddenly-)

CRACK!

(A pair of pink wings burst from the statue's back, sending pieces of stone flying everywhere. The cat goes right back behind the statue.)

[The lizard follows the anglerfish knight in hot pursuit, grinning widely and... salivating, for some reason.]

"Are you sure we should be helping this guy?" the owl whispers to the mole and lizard, looking at the knight warily.

Edited by DrNoPuma on Jul 22nd 2020 at 6:40:48 AM

A fellow knight, appearing to be an humanoid osprey with silver eyes, notices the conversation. "Hey, what just happened? I went out for supper and all of a sudden everyone else's freaking out!"

Edited by MadameButterflyKnife on Jul 22nd 2020 at 9:46:27 AM

"He mentioned that the blue glimmer is of a gem that can bring statues into animated form, yes? I wish to have this gem for myself..." [Awkward pause.] "...s-so that it may not fall into another's evil hands..."

[She looked up at the osprey.] "A child has obtained a dangerous artifact that is bringing statues to animation! We are to retrieve it before he can wreak havoc, yes? You are welcome to accompany!"

Edited by KungFuCutBug on Jul 22nd 2020 at 9:46:05 AM

The osprey knight's eyes widen. "The sapphire?! Oh no!" She flies towards the junkyard, her sword in hand.

"I suppose. He just seems suspicious to me. Maybe I've read too many stories, but it's usually bad when someone wants to take a magical item from a kid..."

Edited by DrNoPuma on Jul 22nd 2020 at 6:51:21 AM

"The kid in this case is not supposed to possess the magical item, no? So use of force is justified!"

The osprey knight goes up to their anglerfish peer. "Who was supposed to be guarding it?! How did that kid get their hands on it?"