“Shaped like a bell, kissed by sunlight and twilight,” spoke the golem while it marched icily across the platform. “It waits in sheets of the ancients, bringing wind to the wings of that which ignites the world.”
Rainbow Dash blinked. Her ears instantly folded as she made a retching expression. “...the buck?”
With a metallic voice, the golem repeated: “Shaped like a bell, kissed by sunlight and—”
“You call that a friggin' riddle?!” Rainbow Dash's voice cracked. “It's garbly gook!”
“You have heard the Queen's first puzzle,” the golem firmly said, pacing around Rainbow. “Solve it.”
“With what?! A pizza slicer?!” Rainbow gnashed her teeth. “Who does Verlax think she is if a 'puzzle' to her is a snow cone made out of frozen grammatical vomit—?!”
“You have three chances to answer.” Chiiiiing! A translucent scythe of blue frost solidified off the end of its limb, and the suit of armor held it up to Bard's frozen throat. “Or do you forfeit?”
“No! No!” Rainbow hissed through her teeth, waving a hoof. “I don't forfeit! Just... back away from the yodelmeister. I got this...”
The golem lowered its limb, staring calmly in Rainbow's direction. “She awaits your response.”
“Yeah, I bet she friggin' does...” Rainbow Dash paced and paced in a tight circle, panting, shuddering. An iron frown hung off her blue muzzle. “The whole world's dying... Pinkie Pie's waiting in the wings... and Miss Dragon Tiara's giving me the Hazing of the Immortals.” She scuffled to a stop, holding her skull in two tight hooves. “'Shaped like a bell... kissed by sunlight and twilight... it... waits in sheets of the ancients...'” She looked up, gulping as her face twisted in confusion. “...bringing wind to the wings of that which ignites the world...?”
“It would not do to tarry for long.”
“Just gimme a sec!” Rainbow hollered over her shoulder. Catching her breaths, she stared forward, eyes piercing the frosted lengths of the Machine World's cavern. While her mind raced, her vision washed over the frozen bowers clinging to the walls and dormant contraptions of that interior. She saw miniature glaciers of petrified ice covering pendulums and conveyor belts and enormous gears. Then—at last—her vision fell upon the platform located within the central dais. Yaerfaerda pulsed from deep within its icy prison, looming pink and bright above a cylindrical pedestal.
“'Shaped like a bell...'” Rainbow whispered to herself. “'Waits in sheets of the ancients...' Like metallic sheets? The Machine World layer? Bringing wind to the wings... The beacons. Ruby flame... the stuff that keeps me from turning all chaos-creepy'n'dead...”
Rainbow gulped hard.
She turned around, eyes bright. “Is it... the pedestal of flame in the Machine World? Like that which is right in front of m—?”
“Incorrect,” the golem rang metallically.
“Dang it!” Rainbow kicked at the floor.
“The Austraeoh has two more chances left for this question.”
“Right... right... I know...” She stood up and paced around, nostrils flaring. Her eyes traced the floor. For a moment, she imagined she was flying. She envisioned the horizon—how different it looked under a sunrise versus the night's sky. “'Kissed by sunlight and twilight'... 'waits in sheets of the ancients...'” Her eyes twitched, and she scuffled to a stop. “Sheets... sheets of rain?” Her brow furrowed. “Stratopolis... was built by the ancients...” Rainbow's muzzle hung open. “...and it had been to both the dark and the light side of the plane, right?” Spinning around, the mare faced the golem. “Is it a Sentinel?”
“Incorrect.”
“Aaaaaaugh!” Rainbow stomped her hooves, snarling. “Idiot! Stratopolis wasn't shaped like a darn bell!”
“The Austraeoh has one more chance.” Schiiiing! Rainbow didn't have to look to know that the automaton was raising a blade to Bard's figure again. “What is the Austraeoh's answer?”
Rainbow plopped back on her haunches, burying her face in her hooves as she rocked back and forth. Despite the cold, sweat ran down her face and neck. The world echoed with the sound of her muffled breathing, and the pressure of her hooves against her clenched eyelids brought all sorts of distorted color and chaos to her mind. She thought of all of the insanely “ancient” things she had witnessed in her journeys: from the well-preserved armor of Commander Hurricane deep beneath Durandana to the dormant tower lingering beneath Darkstine.
She thought of caves, caverns, tunnels—all of the crazy capillaries that ran deep beneath the surface of the sunlit world, how they swam and teased their way towards the metallic gold layer of the Machine World. She thought of the various continents full of ponies living atop it all in blissful—and oftentimes malevolent ignorance. She thought of remnants of the past... cave drawings... granite etchings... journals...
Tomes. Rainbow Dash thought of ancient books... one ancient book, something envied by Khao and the rest of the Herald. Somewhere, eons ago, Rainbow Dash sat alone in a cave, squatting beside the skeleton of a dead pegasus. She was flipping through the ancient paper sheets of the tome, seeing runes, phrases, symbols. One reoccurring emblem had a unique shape to it—like that of a bell. The top portion had a slice of a solar crest and the bottom part—the dark side—had the feeble outline of a half-circle.
Rainbow Dash's heart skipped a beat, for suddenly she was no longer looking back at the cave, but instead at a time when the same book powered up the core of a majestic airship. And she sat in the warmth of many friends, a jury of noble peers, all sailing east via the power that the book brought, an enchanted wind that carried the living spark of the world further east.
“Innavedr...” Rainbow Dash turned around, muzzle agape. “It's Innavedr.”
The golem's glowing eyes pulsed a bright blue. “... … ...That is correct.” It trotted across the platform without looking. Behind it, the frost encasing Bard's body spontaneously melted in a cloud of vapor.
“Snkkkt—duaaah!” Bard gasped and sputtered for air, twitching and convulsing on the floor.
“Whoah!” Rainbow Dash glided over and held the quivering stallion. “Whoah there, big guy. Take it easy. Even breaths...”
“Mmmmmff... guhhh...” Bard hissed, his teeth chattering as he struggled to open his eyes. Shaking and shaking, the stallion gazed all across the frozen room. “Whoah d-dayum...!” He gulped hard. “Somepony get the license plate of that iceberg that done kissed me!” Gulping hard, he glanced over at frozen-solid griffon. “Dubya?! Dubya-Cee?!?” In a panic, he tried standing up.
“Shhhh! Dude! Chillax!” Rainbow winced. “Erm, I mean—”
“But look at 'em! He's a goddess-dayum frozen turkey—”
“Bard, stay calm...” Rainbow Dash patted his shoulders, staring off at the golem. “I've got this.”
“Whaddya mean, y'all got this?!” Bard frowned, shivering as he gazed across the platform. “What in the Hell is goin' on here?”
“I'm being tested,” Rainbow said firmly, eyes on the automaton. “And the prize is my friends... as well as our ticket out of here.”
Bard shuddered. “Ya don't say.”
“Shhh...” Rainbow stood up straight, wings poised. “Ahem... I'm ready.”
The automaton swiveled about, blue eyes leering. “Second Question...”
Ahhh...now I get it.
Damn, though...I've pretty much forgotten what all the symbols look like.
Innavedr took place over the course of three days and the golem described the rune...it appears as though we're being challenged alongside Dash.
Except we get a clue it seems.
Which just means that if she gets one wrong... chances are we'll have figured out the answer.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
6379769 I had to open the thread Swan Song posted in the group with the redesigned runes to figure it out myself.
Here is the Innavedr symbol, just in case you forgot, just like I did.
vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/austraeoh/images/f/fb/Symbol_innavedr.png/revision/latest?cb=20150513194144
6379799
Ooooooh! Ancient and ridiculously cryptic riddle games! My favorite!
(Watch one of the answers be Shell)
6379769 Okay, I admit I didn't get it til I saw Phoenix Kitten's reply.
Nope, they're real riddles. So that just begs my question: what is Verlax's Plan B if Rainbow Dash fails her test. What is the benefit that justifies this grave risk.
I half suspect the remaining riddles will have other runes as their answer. There are six we know of; Yaerfaerda is too easy, as Dash sees it all the time. That leaves five others, and there are five riddles.
Nah, too easy.
Since this will most likely go on about four chapters, I might as well congratulate RD in advance for passing the test without anyone dying.
I jinxed it, didn't I?
6379833 What?
I forgot what the rune looked like as well. so I went and checked using the thread you posted in the group, I didn't do anything wrong did I?
Well. I'm back.
And after a lightning marathon session to catch up, I can't say I'm too cheerful about it.
Methinks Verlax is a doubting Thomas about Dash being Austraeoh
what is your quest
I seek the Pinkie Pie.
6379902
Are the friends she saves allowed to help?
6379940 It was quicker than opening the wiki on my pos laptop too.
6379884 I remembered someone's comment saying that Innavedr took place over 3 days, from that I simply used the redesigned rune thread that 6379940 posted in the group to confirm my thought.
6379977
6379992 5 year old laptop. Opens everything else just fine, but wikis make the connection chug for some reason.
Also, cute pic. Silver Spoon is best filly.
6379951
They're currently being disabled by chaos metal, so probably stuck and can't help.
6379898
WC reveals he's actually a robot.
6380015 New Steelteeth.
I knew it was one of the symbols right away, just couldn't remember which one. Right now I'm betting each one will either be about one of the symbols or at least her journey in some way.
6380015
I was including Bard and WC. But as far Twi and Rares, I guess I was assuming that their incapacitation was caused by the golem (like the others being frozen), and that them being saved would involve them being "returned" to Rainbow. But I guess that remains to be seen.
6380010
Dang it, this chapter felt so short. But these riddles are definitely interesting.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Hmm, so the first riddle deals with her past experiences involving her travels. That's actually some pretty good information, if you ask me. I thought the riddles would be less specific and draw upon simple acts of deduction, but this first question played with deduction and memory.
Maybe Verlax is being easy on her, if the pattern stays. If the questions are things she should, and only she should, know, then she has an edge in this game.
However, I may be wrong. Maybe Verlax is starting off easy before she uses more difficult riddles. Who knows so far.
6379867 I accept this answer
OMEGLEZ I FINALLY CAUGHT UP :D :D :D :D
6380233
Congratulations!
Only one question per chapter? The anticipation over the next few days is going to kill me!
6379886
And what If her "Plan A" includes Dash failing one or more of these questions?
Not that I'm expecting her to lose any friends here. Though the prospective fifth question does have me a little intrigued. Even if the answer ends up being as simple as Dash herse- Uh, "Austraeoh", rather...
...Or "Awesome".
Every time I think the stakes can't get higher, they do. Goddamn I love this story.
And on another note, I finished FoE: Project Horizons last night and had to lie down for a few minutes. Something I've been invested in for so long was now over and I had nothing to continue on to. It was a weird moment.
And then I realised, between Austraeoh and Appledashery, IC is going to make my heart give out when they eventually finish.
...
A perfectly acceptable way to die. :D
6380350 You aren't alone man...
HA! I TOLD YOU! i TOLD EVERYONE! IT WAS THREE DAYS! What now, kihutaja?
Erm... yeah, nvm, next question please.
6379977 I think it was me five chapters ago.
I totally figured it out way before Rainbow did! I am so smrt! I am so smrt!
6379828 Which reminds me that to this day we have no idea what that thing hovering over the dark side is supposed to represent.
That one that took three days. You mean the resurrection of Jesus. Rainbow Dash resurrected in Eljunbyro.
Eljunbyro had Belle (similar to "bell", so her name is "shaped like a bell").
Kissed by sunlight and twilight. She's kissed by Pilate, the black and white zebra, of course.
She waits in sheets of the ancients, because she's a nerd covered in old books.
"bringing wind to the wings of that which ignites the world." Her purpose was just that.
So, the answer to the riddle is... Mount Rushmore.
6380233 CONGRATULATIONS! Welcome to the front of the pack. Enjoy your stay for however long it lasts. Refreshments are in the corner. Report to Jake the Army Guy for physical training, Swan Song for shipping advice, and Austraeoh Fact Checker for questions about story related facts.(Sometimes takes a while, but he's reliable.) Please refrain from any pointless infighting or "first comment" competitions*. You'll seldom beat RoboRed anyway. (His blood type is Caffiene, I swear. Nice Guy, though.) Apart from that, you are free to comment, spectate, and enjoy the story a you see fit within site regulations. Thank You for flying East Horse Airlines.
*(With the exception of the first comment in a story, but there's a tradition or something for that. I don't know, I've never figured it out.)
6379886
I still believe that the benefit Verlax seeks is a better understanding of Rainbow Dash. Verlax seems to have a thorough understanding of the prophecy, the only real unknown quantity left in the equation is Rainbow Dash herself. In her first encounter with the golem, Dash is impulsive, defiant and her first instinct when she felt threatened was to try and fight her way out of the situation (pretty much Dash in a nutshell). That should tell an immortal being as cunning as Verlax more about Rainbow than the five questions will.
As for the risk, I'm not sure there really is much of one for Verlax. As horrible as it would be, if Rainbow completely failed and all four friends were killed I'm sure she would be completely distraught but I don't think it would stop the element of loyalty from continuing her journey to bring back her remaining friends.
Who knows though... I might just be being way too analytical and it turns out Verlax just really likes riddles.
Oh god, are we really doing one question per chapter? You really like to drag us along, huh?
ilu tho bby
Phew... One down. I have a feeling she will loose the second to last riddle.
6380233 Welcome to the Noble Jury/Lunar Ninth/Jot Rods/Whatever anagram you want to use for the Austraeoh fandom.
I've done some calculations, and Ynanhluutr will finish on October 9th. Assuming that IC starts the next book right away, and that he doesn't post an actual chapter on April 1st, the next book will finish on May 7th.
6381135 No. Ynanhluutr does not have any Os in it.
6381019
Actually it would only be because she rescued her friends that they were put in danger. I think she would be very loathe to "rescue" her remaining friends to such a fate.
Fire and Flame, Verlax would be forfeit.
And in the end, Rainbow Dash would travel a spiral of guilt.
Of course I could see a point where the one who will not speak is released, and only he knows the answer to the riddle posed.
6381402 I definitely agree with you on Rainbow starting down a spiral of guilt and I think it would be understandable if she were hesitant to visit any seeds in the future, but at the end of the day I can't see her giving up.
If she were to avoid the seeds her body would most likely be overcome by chaos before she got to the edge of the world, dooming the ring to be destroyed. I don't think even a grief stricken Dash could live out the rest of her days knowing that there was a chance to save AJ and the others from certain death.
What the fuck... Good thing I'm not the one taking these tests... everyone would be dead
Im very sorry, the moment that arseole demanded answers to questions for ives of freinds, Id have to reply, kill us now, and you kill everything and everyone on this realm. If I decide to play along and succeed, I will hunt you down and kill you first. If I die, we all die, I will not complete the mission until you are dead. The only way for you to survive, aas well as everyone else, is stop £$%&^£%^&^&^&%&&^***(^$$$&£&^££*.
I apologise. I get very annoyed when being that so obviously can cast resurection as an Orision claims to want to kill someone to foce their point. At that point, that person is dead already, and so is everyone else.
I have that much power, I do something far more evil, according to many people. I jus make a snapshot backup of everyone, and drop them into their own little private reals. A quick tweak to make good propagate over evil, and things eventually sort theselves out, with a few living eternity of happiness, and an awful lot in cycle lock, statis. Not for eternity. There is no eternity where there is no time.
Sorry. 8(
Hmmm. HMMM. Wait a minute. I came to check if updated and brain, put 2 and 2 together. Probably 22. Give rainbow back her wind... Eljunbyro... But nah. NOPE. No ghost Belle, Pilate, Roarke, or others. Ooh. But maybe they might establish a communication. That would be.... Like the best.
6380876
6381409
Man, that was the first?