Chapter 16
From DALpedia
Posted by: Xorlak on Sunday January 6th, 2008
- Ye Olde Taverne, South Kalvon, Southern Tjed -
Kelmarr wasn't having a good day...
It was bad enough the blasted humans kept staring at him, but the ale was bland and the creaky wooden chair didn't even have a tail-hole. Bunch of bigots, the lot of them.
He took another swig of the cheap drink and returned a few scowls from his dark corner. And they thought he stunk. Bunch of hairless monkeys never had a bath in their lives...
Of course, being the last warrior of the Skunkular, he was cursed to forever be alone, forever be regarded in disdain in this infernal world run by a bunch of tailless freaks. He thought his life sucked before the Dark Empire fell, but now he was a joke without a job. Running around doing petty tasks for morons who hated him for a few coppers or a night's rest.
He deserved better, blast it! A skunk-mage of his talents should be held in the highest respect. They should fear him! The mighty Kelmarr!
He took another swig, feeling the dizzying effects of the alcohol start to take place. The fat barkeep waddled over to him, a greasy pig of a human...
"Uh, sir... I'm gonna have to ask you to leave..."
"Why's that, huh?" Kelmarr slurred, baring his fangs. He stood and grabbed the man by the shirt. "It's 'cause I'm a skunk, ain't it? Ain't it?!" He shook him by the collar.
"Well..." He wouldn't look the skunk in the eye. "... some of the customers are complaining about the smell..."
Kelmarr folded his ears and growled. He pushed the man away. "Your ale sucks anyway." Told him. He should spray them and see how they like that smell. Bah, next time... He stumbled towards the door, uttering curses under his breath.
"I do say, Luciferairion, that this is, in fact, rather pleasant weather we are experiencing right now!"
"Quitely so, Beazlebubudel. And of course it is important to mention the weather to every single person you ever meet during conversation lulls, because, in fact, everyone in the entire world finds talking about the weather an exhilarating and interesting topic that they never tire of!"
"So very true!"
"And indeed, it was a good thing that excessively long essay by John Crocke, written on the cavernous tunnel walls--"
"-- of hell--"
"-- that happened to take the past three years to read--"
"--written in a rather large font on a particularly twisting passage, mind you--"
"-- also happened to lead outside here, where we can experience and enjoy the aforementioned pleasant weather!"
"That everyone finds such an interesting subject to talk about."
"Quitely so. Quitely so. You dropped your monocle."
"Oh, heavens! Thank you."
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Sunday January 6th, 2008
Three full years had passed. Aaron was still alive. He was quite amazed to be both a militant leader as well as a political leader. Sure, he ruled over the Empire in his kingdom, but all of that changed. There are now no Empires or kingdoms to speek of in this age except one... the Kandarinian Soverignity. The Gaian Federation brought together all the infant nations and petty territories to form one great alliance that would stand against Monarchy. It was Gaian's first sort of idea that somewhat resembled a Democracy, ruled by Conculars and Military Generals. They brought peace to the world. Only one thing really stands in their way. Kandarin.
Aaron scratched his cleanly-shaved chin as he sat in a wooden seat in a large room that resembled something of an underground building. A sort of meeting place with brick walls and red overhangs that stretched down the walls with a great big 'G' weaved in golden thread. This was the Federation's meeting place. There was a meeting place in every capital city of the former nations. They were constructed to be secret and hidden from enemy eyes. In the building was a great stone table and a large amount of wooden seats all lined across the table. A few of them were occupied with people, some Generals and some Consulars.
"Welcome, one and all, to the Gaian Federation Assembly," Aaron said after standing up from his char, "I suppose I should start us off since we are in my former Empire. Now that that's been said, I'd like to give the floor to my good friend, Consular Mjord." Aaron then sat back down in the comfortable wooden chair.
Ben stood. "Thank you, Consular Grey. I would like to bring up the matter of Kandarin. They do not seem to be so... Hospitible towards us. It seems as if they are claiming all territory lost by the Dark Empire. Now that the Empire is in shambles without its leader, who is to stop them?"
"The Kandarin are no match for our martial might and brute strength!" Jacobie entered the building, and with him was a small raiding party of roughly 50 lizardmen wearing black Empire armor. "My batallion is made up of powerful A-Class and S-Class lizardmen with outstanding potential in both magic and melee combat. Although there are so few of us, we will surely be a needed addition to the current forces."
Ben nodded. The army saluted in unison, then marched out. Jacobie remained and found himself a seat. Another girl was with him and she sat next to him. "Thank you, High General Jacobie. Well, that is something of a start to our defenses. What about some mages? We'll need more if we're going to stand up to those Necromancer-Cryomancer mages."
"Cryomancers?" the girl blurted, confusedly, "What are those?" Jacobie stood up for a breif moment. "If you'll let me take the floor for a few moments, Consular Mjord?" Again, Ben nodded. "Cryomancers are essencially Ice mages. That's it." Jacobie bowed and then sat down again.
"As I was saying before, we'll need to counter them. Either it's fight fire with fire, or in this case ice with ice, or we counter them with Pyromancers. It would be good to have a few holy warriors when the time comes where we must strike down the Liche king Kronos." Ben then threw the back of his cape behind his seat and sat back down.
At that moment, two beautiful Drannivolkan twins wearing blue mage robes entered the building and made a short bow together. "Consular Jacklyn Varrandel, here." The first one said. She walked further into the room and found herself a seat. "Consular Jelscyn Varrandel, here." The second one said. She walked into the room with her sister and seated herself next to her twin.
"If you would all allow me to take the floor for a bit." A tall man with spiked, cyan blue hair got up from his seat. He had tatoos all over his neck. They were black and appeared to be symbols from some sort of lost civilization... or perhapse just unknown. His eyes were red with an erie, cold stare. He wore dark purple robes with a red inside and black symbols on the outside; ones just like his tatoos. His expression was happy, but calm. There was more to it than that... somehow, beneath the calm and the joy, one could see the sinister Consular standing before them. "My countrymen have learned to adapt to their environment well and are quite 'cold' if you get my meaning. They are very good cryomancers, and know the art well. So either we fight fire with fire, or we just use them to find weakness. Not so much use as ask, perhapse?" The evil-looking consular seated himself back in his chair.
Aaron rose from his chair. "Thank you Consular Seymore. We would be honored for your countrymen to teach us their weaknesses, or if we choose to, have them join the current army of mages. I suppose that settles the matter with the Cryomancers, but what of the undead summoners... the necromancers. What are we to do about them?" Aaron sat back down, waiting for another Consular or General.
Posted by: Ted Der on Sunday January 6th, 2008
Three years since the sailor had rescued him from the dpths of the ocean and now...
Ashes. It had been many years since Akran had visited his homeland and now he realized why he procrastinated the journey for so long. This wasn't home. This was a graveyard. The land was burned and scorned with numerous gaping wounds. The wind whistled through the dry branches and crumbling houses. This was a dead island.
A single tear ran down from Akran's left eye as he remembered his family. His mother and father "¦ and his brother. His brother! Kraaz was responsible for all of this destruction.
Akran quickly got serious. He flicked away the tear as it were a bothersome fly, turned around and cleared his throat.
"Boris."
"Sir?" asked the man, stepping forward.
Take your men Northwest. I'll travel south and we'll meet back here by midday."
Yes, sir," Boris turned to a group of men. "You heard the Captain, let's move out!"
As Boris' men started to walk away, Akran stopped one of them.
"You." The guy stopped. "You stay and guard the ship."
The man stumbled around. He was drooling and had an eye patch on his right eye. His other eye was wondering around blood red.
"Huh?" the guy said, "I can't hear no good "˜cause I cut m'ear off last summer. Whadda you just say?"
Akran shook his head and continued, "Okay, never mind. Just get out of here."
As the retard swaggered away following Boris, Akran Turned to his own group of sailors. They were reliable bunch, about 7 in all. One of them coughed.
"Mr. Garrick," Akran said addressing the man who coughed. He was a tall, lean man with a big bushy moustache. "Sorry to ask this of you, but stay and guard the ship for me aye? I need a good man to do the job."
"Yes Captain. I'll do my best sir.
"Great, let's get moving."
Akran motioned for the rest to follow him and they headed south.
A few minutes passed and Garrick stood there motionless and expressionless until a slow grin spread onto his face and he watched the Captain fade into the distance.
Suddenly, he whipped around and ran up the stairs onto the deck. He slowed his pace and walked briskly to the hatch, lifted it open and ducked through into the hold. In the corner of the room, there was a wooden box. Garrick smashed the corner of it with his fist and pulled out a small object and quickly put it into his pocket.
He made his way up the ladder and back onto the deck of the ship to see if anyone was coming back. The scorched landscape held no signs of life whatsoever. He smirked again and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small glass orb. It glowed red as he brought it close to his face. A voice, barely conceivable about the noise of the waves crashing into the docked ship, started to speak.
"Sssso, are they gone?"
"Yes master."
"Finally "¦ I thought theysss never leavesss."
"Uh, yeah, me too." The man stuttered, his moustache quivering.
"What wasss that?" the voice spoke and it started to get louder. "Are they gone or whatsss?"
"Hmmm, well technically, they left a while ago-"
"Then get a move on "¦ Whatsss you waiting for?" The now angry voice interrupted.
"Yes, yes of course "¦ master." He added.
"USE MY REAL NAME FOOL!" The orb shook violently. Garrick almost dropped it. He looked confused and his moustache quivered even more.
"But you told me not to use your name!"
"Shutsss up "¦" The orb had calmed back down and continued to hiss. "Get on with itsss. Find the Majeuri Spinel. NOW!"
"Yes "¦ umm, Kraaz."
On the horizon Garrick could see another ship just barely coming into view. "Excellent," he said, smiling and putting the orb back into his pocket. "The Gilden Warship is right on time.
Posted by: D. Ein on Sunday January 6th, 2008
- Arctic Region, former Gros Morne -
The deep shaft in front of Nils was smoking, as usual - even though located in the Arctic Region, the searing heat coming from it originated from the very heart of Gaian itself. There are just so many things we don't know about the planet we live on, he thought. Who knew that there existed such forms of life that were able to survive temperatures beyond imaginable? Not only that, but they also survived the extreme temperature change - just yesterday, Nils saw one walking in the snow, without showing any signs of discomfort. Very strange, indeed... It is a good thing, then, that the higher-ups from Kandarin decided to ship some of these creatures off to Shuba - the unofficial capital of Kandarin.
It's strange, he thought. The Sovereign is certainly taking very odd actions... Kandarin is, undoubtedly, in dominance of the world, but its leaders are still afraid of something. The Citadel, in which the Sovereign lives, is no longer affixed to one place. Instead, the chains binding it to the ground were severed, and now it floats in between Kandarin-controlled outposts. That's why the first thing done after capturing a town is installing four enormous anchors for the Citadel to attach itself. There is no telling which town it is in - all orders are sent through the M-Grid, impossible to trace, impossible to know...
--- --- ---
- An undisclosed location -
The floors shook - and the light above the rectangular table flickered on and off, briefly exposing the faces of several people. A calm voice broke the short period of silence.
-"We're moving again. The Sovereign is certainly unsettled by something, considering that we arrived here only an hour ago."
Another voice, slightly feminine but unmistakably male, replied:
-"Why, thank you for that very helpful observation, Shen. The fact that you're the captain of the research division doesn't mean that we're all retards, you know. If your ego is in a desperate need of stroking, why don't you concentrate on looking a bit less ugly?"
-"Quiet, imbecilesss!", a voice hissed from somewhere to the far edge of the table. "You are captainss, not ssome new-hatched childrens! Show ssome maturity!"
-"Enough." The statement was simple and final, and came from the very end of the table. The light did not reach the speaker even when it wasn't flickering. "Now, is there anyone here who is not present?"
-"Sun, captain of the Second Regiment, here."
-"Shen Tsoy, captain of the Third Regiment, here."
Silence.
-"Captain Eldridge of Fourth is missing." A deep, rough voice finally spoke. "My own captain, Flora Goethe, is also currently on an assignment. I am filling in. Onwan, officer of the Fifth Regiment, here."
-"Eris Vasburg, captain of the Sixth Regiment, here."
-"Tin Dao Kaineng, captain of the Seventh Regiment, here."
-"Damien Roth, captain of the Eighth Regiment, here."
-"Ssesk, captain of the Ninth Regiment, here."
-"Cain Ryleh, captain of the Tenth Regiment, here."
-"We'll have to work on attendance, then", the darkness spoke again. "Prime matters first. Sun, what is the status of the Continent?"
-"Going along rather well, General! We have gained complete control of over 70% of the land mass now. Captain Goethe is leading a fairly large number of troops, and we are continuing to expand the Sovereignty's borders. At this rate, the continent of Ariosis can be breached within several months."
-"Excellent. Your Sovereign will be pleased. Continue your reports."
The dark silhouette at the end of the table leaned backwards, retreating further into the shadows.
-"I do not have much to report, General," Shen said. "I am expecting several specimens from the Gros Morne Shaft research station. At that point, I will contact you."
-"As captain Sun mentioned," began Onwan. "Captain Goethe is leading the Fifth Regiment - the attack squads, specifically - in further assaults on unconquered land. The Fifth Regiment as a whole is in its best shape. The morale and physical strength are at their peak. Other than that, I suppose, that's it. Captain Eris, please continue."
-"Right. My Sixth's function was diverted a little, as there are no major targets to assassinate. Since wes double as scouting... Well, just recently, one of our scouts reported that all remaining capitals buildings of the legged nations are practically abandoned. This leads us to believe that they carry out their political businesses elsewhere. Scared of the Hammer, no doubt. Everythings elses is trash, really - just small villages, minor townships... I'd say not even worth conquering, but Kandarin must grows, I guess..."
-"Nothing to report from the Seventh Regiment," Kaineng blurted.
-"The Arcane Regiment is also in nominal condition, General," said Damien. "We are training Cryomancers, just like the Sovereign ordered a while ago."
-"The Necrolyte Regiment iss helping Flora on her crussade, General... We have alssso begun to employ the Ssovereign's Marcher creaturess as bases of operationss for Necrolytess...sss."
-"Thank you, Ssesk. I'm sorry, but it seems as though the Tenth Regiment is also at a loss of reports. Everything is fine with the populace, thanks to the new execution methods. The things that scare people are most often quite effective at preventing uprisings, hmm?"
A short silence followed, and then the shadow at the end of the table spoke:
-"Very well. You are all dismissed."
Posted by: Dude Man on Sunday January 6th, 2008
Despite all that has happened, the conflict with the Kandarin. Duilin has had a great past three years. He's married, he has made lots of new friends and is very optimistic about the Federation defeating Kandarin. But one thing was bothering him right now...
"Duilin..."
"Uhhh?"
"Duilin! Wake up!" Rink's voice hissed.
- Federation Meeting place, Arosis -
"Huh?" Duilin was laying back in his chair, apparently dosed off from the boredom. He hated these meetings, they were so boring. He was a general, he's supposed to be out killing zombies not talking about them.
"Duilin, Aaron just asked about who is going to handle the necromancers." Rink stated.
"So?"
Rink rolled his eyes. Duilin was such a child at these things. What really annoyed him is the fact that Duilin is 40 years old and he's been getting less and less mature. Rink stood up. "If you would all allow me to take the floor."
The small imp, was barely visible due to his shortness, yet he had a booster seat, which was suitable for him to stand on.
"As part of the Helternia Division, we do have a bit of an advantage being close to the older sections of the Kandarinian Sovereignty. General Talonscar, here..." He motioned to Duilin, who simply waved his hand. "...General Talonscar would like to share us with his plans."
Duilin's eyes shot open. He quickly stood up, appearing caught off guard.
"Okay, so yeah. I've been training a group of soldiers personally, to make them better fighters. You see, before the Federation, I traveled with a small group of very skilled fighters and we were able to battle off armies. You know the stories. Anyways, I'm hoping that my teachings will make them just as good as my old group and one them may even be my successor as high general. They're all good friends of mine."
"Get to the point..." Rink whispered.
"Oh yeah, so uh. I was thinking, since I've got my elite squad, and Helternia is so close to older parts of Kandarin Sovereignty--"
"Kandarinian Sovereignty." Rink corrected.
"Whatever. So yeah, I'm thinking my division would be the best for fighting the necromancers." Duilin finished and then stood in silence for a second and then sat back down in his chair.
//Little short on time ATM, so the rest of my characters will be updated tomorrow.\\
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Monday January 7th, 2008
- Ariosis, Underground Meeting Area -
"Heh... this meeting really has no meaning. If we are to fight them with their own weapons, as Consular Mjord suggests, then everything is all in place. My own minnions, be they rebellious little bastards or not, are rather 'in touch' with the dark arts. Necromancy does fall under that area of focus, and I do happen to have a lot of necromancer alcolytes. They are of novice potential, but they get the job done, none-the-less."
"With all due respect, Consular Valimore, you did not even ask for the floor."
"'With all due respect,' Consular THAND, you didn't either!"
"Aye, but I was correcting your mistake!"
"Be that as it may, you made the same one that I did."
Aaron arose from his seat. "SHUT UP!!!" He slammed his fists on the stone table. Him once holding addamantine gauntlets, his hands are very strong, and they shook the ground all around them. "I will NOT have such god-damned disrespect in my country! Either play by the rules or shut you mouths!" The angry Consular then took his seat.
After a short period, another lizardman entered the building. She was large in build and tall, walking into the room and taking a short bow. "General Zabel, here." She then walked further into the room and took a seat on the other side of Jacobie that was still empty. The woman with Jacobie looked afraid of the new arrival and scooted near Jacobie, putting one of her hands on his.
"Dammit, I'm sick of these late arrivals! Be sure to be on time, people! Are we all here at least!?" Aaron gazed around the room and noticed that all the chairs were full at last. He then rested back in his chair.
"I've got something to say, if I could have the floor." A young drow woman in silvermail and a teal green cape asked. "My army of Paladins could take out all of the Necromancers hands-down. I could join up with General Talonscar, and with our combined force, we might be able to wipe out the dark threat. That's all." The Drow female then sat back down in her chair.
"If I may have the floor, I do happen to have six full regiments of battlemages, shared between myself and my twin sister. We are no Generals, but we do lead them in combat, as we are the ones who taught them to use magic. They are trained in Fire and Ice evenly. With their power, we would be able to blast away all of the Cyromancers. Just give us a General and we'll be able to fight under their command."
Ben stood from his chair. "If I might take the floor for a sec, I do see a fine plan forming. If we do happen to take the offensive, we'll have to strike on Terian. The Kandarinian force there controls almost three fourths of the continent. We control a slight bit over one fourth. If they take over the entire continent, then they'll have the advantage, and we don't want that. The advantage would be to gain speed in training their army to attack one of the Federation Countries." Ben then sat back down.
Aaron stood up. "Okay, so here's a good plan. General Nymphadora will combine forces with General Talonscar and attack the Kandarinians' Necromancers. General Jacobie will combine forces with General Zabel and attack the footsoldiers. The Verrandel Consulars will take their forces and attack the Cryomancers. This ought to be one hell of a battle for Kandarin! Any objections, speak now!"
Posted by: Jenia on Monday January 7th, 2008
~Former Island of Romme, three years earlier~
The tour was quite long.
Indher walked all over the place, showing the man who popped up out of nowhere around as if he was some sort of distant relative, explaining every structure, field, tree and river.
She told him pretty much everything. About how she got the idea that she could properly revive the dead and resurrect a nation thought long gone.
About how she got Iduran up first, how she went to Tjed, how he proven to a faulty experiment by fusing with a sword at the first sight of dawn's light・About how she returned and met the dragon, about how the people started spawning at incredible rates, about the constructions plans・
"And...That's about it."
She stopped. They were both on the edge of what was meant to be a plowing field.
"I hope this place grows・And I hope the dragon gets along with the citizens!"
She looked into the distance, in the direction of the town, and noticed something wrong.
"Hey, there's a huge thingy over there, where the fountain is supposed to be! What the・
She left the man behind and raced to town.
As she got closer, the object's view became clearer... it was a large sculpted dragon of stone, but it's facial pattern looked familiar... A familiar voice greeted her.
"There you are!"
It was the old man from earlier.
"Baurus.", Indher sighed, "Explain."
The old man smiled, scratching his chin.
"Oh, there's nothing to explain. The people were grateful to the red dragon for protecting them during and after their resurrection, so they erected a statue in his honor."
Indher examined the statue. It looked quite good, in fact, and did well to improve the scenery. She wasn't sure the dragon would appreciate his statue being in the middle of a fountain, though.
"I see... Very well. But next time, try to tell me beforehand."
Baurus raised an eyebrow.
"I sent three people to look for you."
Indher remained speechless.
~Former Island of Romme, two years earlier~
"Is everyone here? Then let the meeting commence..."
Indher and Elphos sat down, along with various other bearded people.
They were all around a large, round table made of the same polished marble-like stone as the rest of the town.
"The first order of business is..."
Elphos was reading from a scroll-like parchment.
"...Is the outer barrier. It is finished. I'm sorry to report, but there has been a slight miscalculation... I ugh... Confused the transperancy rune with the seventh order repellant rune... The island is now invisible."
Some of the bearded people raised their eyebrows at these, but no one was particularily surprised.
"That's fine." Indher nodded "Go on."
Elphos hasitated a bit, but returned to the parchment.
"The second order of business is the current progress of construction... The Capital's core is largely complete, as well as some of the outskirts. Several farming villages to the north and south have been complete as well. We are still missing a working sewer system and the Glimmer Spire is only one third complete."
A bearded person with an opal on his forehead and a monocle raised his hand.
"Pardon me for interrupting, but what is this 'Glimmer Spire' used for?"
Indher took it upon herself to answer.
"The lower floors are training grounds for the school students. The middle area is a power conserver for emergencies. The higher areas are experimentation ground for graduate rune mages. Other than that, the tower will make a good tourist attraction due to it's sheer height and beauty, if I dare say so myself."
"Tourists? Our land is invisible."
"Details, details! That is unimportant. You have to think ahead and see the big picture! Elphos, please continue."
The bearded man rolled his eyes and sighed. Elphos, seeing as no one objected, decided to do as his master asks.
"Next up... A name for the nation. We have gotten numerous suggestions for a name, among which were New Romme, Neoromme, Cukeeland, Errom, Omaggwatoof... Omgootf... Omgwutphbabq... How do I pronounce that!?"
Some of the bearded people hid their smile as Indher took the card from Elphos's hand and threw it away.
"...Right, I'll go on. Let's see... Biggseatea, Necromme, Vitalia, Shizllenia, Belaa, Phoenicia, Majinrengokusatsugekibakoukenzanshoutenhanya, Greenland, Brownland, Orangeland, Whiteland, Made by Paper Towel Industries Co..."
Indher stops her apprentice.
"You are reading from the wrong side. Now, let us discuss which name fits us, why it fits us, and what flag should we make to fit the name."
All the bearded people raised their hand in union.
"I vote for Phoenicia!"
Indher raised an eyebrow.
"Why Phoenicia? All those names were perfectly good!"
Baurus stood up.
"I was the one who suggested it. I have discussed it with the other counselors already as well as with most of the townsfolk. All the other suggestions were sent before I did that, so they are no longer relevant."
Indher smiled.
"Allow me to explain..." Baurus continued "This land used to be called Romme. Romme, however, is long dead. It was burnt down, destroyed, annihilated even. All we did was rise from it's ashes. Romme no longer exists, so using it as a base for our ideals is ridiculous. What I did was using those ashes we've risen from as a base of ideals... You see, Indher, with your power of perpetual resurrection we are able to do it time and time again. It is now who we are. It is what sets us apart. So I named this land after the mythical creature of old lore that does the very same. Do you have any objections, Indher?"
Indher smiled from ear to ear at this. Baurus took the hint and smiled back.
"In that case, I, Third Counsilor Baurus, officialy declare us PHOENICIANS of PHOENICIA!"
The other bearded men stood up.
"LONG LIVE PHOENICIA!"
Everyone was now standing and wildly clapping. Everyone except Indher.
"That is great and all, but the party will have to wait. I believe we have more work."
"No, actualy..." Elphos whispered in her ear "This was the last on the order of business for today."
Indher sighed, but stood up and proceeded to leave the room while stretching her arms. It was a long day, after all.
Just as she entered the corridor, a woman who Indher recognized as a healer ran towards her in a hurry.
"Lerfina! Lerfina!" she called out to her "It's... It's..."
"Calm down..." Indher stopped her, wondering what the fuss was about "What happened?"
"...The firstborn of the resurrected generation..."
Indher's eyes lit up in curiousity.
A birth? This was undeniable proof that her people were very much alive.
But she couldn't even begin to imagine what was wrong.
"Well?" Indher inquired with a snide smile "Show this human to me."
"That's the thing..." The healer muttered "It's not... Human... It's one of us..."
Indher raised an eyebrow.
"One of... You?"
A smiling woman walked towards them slowly, two small hands visible from a patch of cloth in her arms.
Indher walked closer and examined the patch of cloth in the woman's arms.
In there, she saw the face of a sleeping toddler. With a perfectly human nose, a pair of perfectly human ears, a perfectly human mouth...
And a perfectly Phoenician, bright red ruby glowing faintly in his forehead.
~Spire City, Phoenicia. One Year Earlier~
Roughly two thirds of the Glimmer Spire are now complete.
Indher stood on the 36th floor of the Spire and gazed below her, enjoying the white view of the city outstreched below her.
"It's no wonder the city has been nicknamed 'City of White Marbles'..."
Indher turned her head slightly to see who was it that made such a blatantly obvious statment.
"Elphos? What might you be doing here?"
"Me? I came to inspect the spire's new floor. The students of the school are very eager to hear details about the spire since they are forbidden from entering it just yet."
Indher raised an eyebrow at Elphos's warm smile.
"Eager to hear details? Is that what you do during lessons, Elphos? Tell the kids stories?"
Elphos raised his hands as he got on the defense.
"Of course not! They stay after class to hear those. Classtime is classtime! I'm a Basic Runics teacher, after all. In my position, one needs to have a good responsibility!"
Indher chuckled at this.
"It's good that you realize that, but are you keeping up? Are the kids doing their homework?"
Elphos chuckled right back at his master.
"But of course! The kids are all eager to learn and each and every one of them works dilligently! Some kids find it harder and struggle, of course, but their peers usualy help them catch up with the rest of the class. What about your students, Fernis?"
Indher sighed and shrugged.
"Me? All I have is a small class of prodigies who skipped the lower classes all-too-quickly. I'm teaching Advanced Runics to, what, a single dozen people? Elphos, Phoenicia already has all of Romme's people resurrected as well as many others the locals asked for. Our population numbers more than several hundred thousands... That means I have one student for about every dozen thousands of people! You think people THIS special can do anything BUT intense progress? I know your duties as a teacher forced you to progress faster as a rune mage and, in fact, one could say that you no longer need me to teach you. But the people who come to my classroom are almost at your level already, Elphos. Careful, or you might have competition as an instructor soon..."
A cold chill ran down the spine of the apprentice.
"Ah, well... Well how are the guests doing?"
Indher let out a soft laugh at Elphos' attempt to change the subject.
"You mean Shuichi and Reigratto? Shuichi has been teaching in the classroom just across yours! You should know better than I do how his lessons in Alternative Arcana Geometry go about. I heard that whoever does well in your class walks out of his with nothing but a confused expression on his face! I wonder why... As for Reigratto, he opened a bakery at the Red Dragon square. Gotten quite popular, actualy."
Elphos turned around and made a few steps towards the staircase.
"Let's go down, Fernis. We can talk more on the way."
Indher sighed and the two proceeded to descend downstairs...
~Spire City, Phoenicia. Present Day~
"...And that is why you cannot use a core without an outer shell rune. Theres no such thing as a dummy shell, so you should-NARIS!"
Elphos folded his hands and frowned as the 9-year old child drawing birds and clouds in his notebook was cought in the act.
"Naris Schweffleder, I know the lesson is almost over, but you will still be penalized for doing things not relevant to the subject."
The child turned to face Elphos, his teacher and mentor, with pitiful, teary eyes.
He couldn't say anything. He was obviously overcome by shame and became speechless.
"...I will let you off easy this time."
Elphos sighed, thinking he was being too kind for a man who is supposed to be the first step of young minds to scholarship.
"Everyone! The lesson is over. Your homework is to draw a runeset meant for creating an animal-shaped rock. Which animal it is is up to you. Class dismissed! Not you, Naris, I want to talk to you..."
The kids hastly shoved their belongings into leather pouches and left the classroom, leaving a teacher and a child alone in deathly silence.
"So, Naris..."
This time the child interrupted.
"I'm sorry, Master Elphos! I'm just no good at this! I... I become lost in other thoughts and I find myself drawing irrelevant nonsense before I realize it! I can't help it!"
Elphos shrugged. His failure of a student was on the brink of tears...
"Naris... Do you need help?"
"...Yes..."
"Alright then, can you come to my place on evenings, then?"
"...Yes..."
"Good. Then it's settled. I'll see you this evening."
The child bowed, wiped off the tears and turned for the door.
"One last question before you leave..."
The child stopped and turned, full of curiousity.
"...How are your grades in Shuichi's class?"
"Erm, top notch, Master Elphos. It's just... Easier, I guess."
"I thought as much. Oh well, hurry up home, now!"
The child left and Elphos followed shortly.
But Elphos wasn't about to go home just yet.
He hurried to the set of stairs leading up and came upon a partialy closed door.
Inside stood his own master...
"...No, maggot!" Indher exclaimed "When you place a transducer in-between the revolver rune and the core rune, the energy will go to waste and the product will SHATTER!"
"But, what if place a deflectional rune before the transducer?!" Asked a 12-year old student with a pair of glasses on his nose.
"Then theres NO WAY TO THE CORE, doofus! YOU THERE! Tell your buddy what DO we do to seperate leakage noise flaws from the core rune!"
"Yesh ma'am!" a somewhat older, wrinkly student responded "We inshert two amplifiersh! One doublesh, one halvesh!"
"EXACTLY! I expect the reports handed by tommorow! Quiz on tuesday! Test on thursday! Questions!? Good! CLASS DISMISSED!"
Several young yet odd-looking people left the classroom, bowing to Elphos as they run into him at the entrance but not bothering to do anything else.
"So, Fernis, you've got quite a class, eh?"
Indher shrugged. She went out of the classroom and closed the door behind her.
"Well at least they are learning!"
The two proceeded to descend the stairs.
"So, how's life as a teacher?" Elphos asked with a slightly comical tone.
"You're kidding, right? Theres no way I'd get used to that. I want them to take over as soon as possible."
Elphos chuckled.
"I see. So how are they doing?"
Indher raised an eyebrow.
"How'd you think geniuses would be doing? In the name of all flux, I swear, you ask the stupid questions sometimes."
The apprentice sighed.
"I meant for you to tell me about anything interesting that has happened lately, Fernis."
The master rolled her eyes.
"Then you shoulda said so! Something did, in fact, happen. I'm sure you've heard, the Glimmer Spire had it's 104th and last floor finished."
Elphos showed signs of curiosity.
"What's your point?"
He got a chuckle in response.
"A small group of my students had too much free time on their hands, so they went ahead and worked on a really, really big project. They came to me with it a few days ago so that I could point out their errors, help them make it effective and whatnot. Turns out this thing needs 36 of the higher floors to function. Since I'm interested as well... I've arranged for them to have floors 96-66 for themselves..."
By his expression, it was easy to tell that Elphos was quite amazed.
"What... Just what IS it that they are thinking of doing?"
Indher smiled devilishly from ear to ear.
"A world of illusion set in stone with runes. A world where WE decide what happens... And HOW it happens!"
The conversation was cut as the two reached the entrance of the school building.
"Alright, then." Indher waved goodbye to her apprentice "I'm off to congradulate Baurus for having all his students pass his math exam."
Elphos nodded and turned around.
It was time for him to head home.
Like a breeze, three years have passed...
So much has changed... And yet...
Never before he felt so proud to stand under a nation's flag...
Then again, this was his first (and probably only) time of being among the founders of a culture.
Elphos, now a full-fledged master with his own apprentices, headed home, his plans for the next day still taking shape within his head.
"...We have been seperated from the outside world since we came to be... Is that really okay?"
He shook off the thought. He knew that as long as no ship crashes into their land, they shall be safe...
After all, what are the chances anyone would want to visit a dead land?
After shopping in Spire City's Red Dragon square, Elphos headed for his own house, wondering how he should prepare for the coming child...
Posted by: Ted Der on Monday January 7th, 2008
His name was Royen Beastkeeper, Captain of the Gilden Warship. He stood proudly at the mast, enjoying the wind and the spray of the sea. This was his world, none can beat him. He travelled long and far from across the world in search of a treasure beyond any measure; a treasure capable of forming the greatest army known to mankind. The Majeuri Spinel could grant his wish.
Now, he was being lead straight to where it was hidden. Royen chuckled to himself. Who would have known that possibly the most valuable treasure in history lay on a small deserted island off the coast of the well known island called-
"Sir! Sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but the island is in sight." said the pirate at the helm.
"Yeah I didn't see that. I guess I'm blind," Royen answered sarcastically, "Get there today will ya?"
"Okey-dokey!"
Did he just say what I thought he said? Royen slid down the ratlines and strode over to the dude at the wheel. As he was approaching, the guy said, "Hey you"¦" then waved and winked.
Royen started at him. God, what a fruit.
"First dibs on the treasure!" he joked turning to the rest of the crew. "Swing the lead, lads!"
--- --- ---
- The Dead Island -
The Gilden Warship was drawing closer. Garrick was extremely excited. What would they reward him with for spying? He couldn't wait. If someone was around (which there wasn't), they could tell because his bushy moustache was quivering like it was alive.
"Hmmmm'kay!" he exclaimed as the ship stopped and pirates in row boats where being lowered into the water. Soon the boats came to the beach and they stepped out. Garrick gave a little shudder of excitement and sprinted over to the boats just as Royen Beastkeeper himself was stepping out. Royen was carrying a strange looking bow.
"Hi there Garrick, thank you so much for leading us here," he said politely, "I came here personally to give you a gift." He held up the strange bow. It was a flatbow, but the odd and wondrous thing about it was that along the limbs were stretched out raven wings. The whole thing was a beautiful piece of art.
"F-for me?" Garrick stuttered.
"Oh yes," Royen smirked, "This is just for you." And with that, he latched an arrow in the blink of an eye and shot Garrick straight through the head at point blank range. With eyes crossed and moustache still quivering, Garrick fell backwards as stiff as a board.
Royen bent down, retrieved his arrow and reached into the dead man's pocket. He pulled out the orb, and shook his head. Traitor.
"Don't mess with me mate. I know exactly how all this plays out. An old "˜friend' of mine told me everything"
He stood up and his laugh was echoed by his crew.
"Let's go find us some treasure boys!"
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday January 7th, 2008
(VERY awesome post, Jenia. Just a note, of you want a nation of a few hundred thousand there, the island is likely going to be almost entirely covered by one huge city, since the island itself isn't that big.)
- South Kalvon, Southern Tjed -
Kelmarr lit up another cigar as he trudged through the wide empty streets of this miserable hamlet. He was done with Tjed. No jobs. No money here. There was no way they'd let him near that mysterious capital in the mountains either.
But where to? Certainly not the Dark Continent. That was a mess. Sure, he'd be able to pull a merc job there, but screw that. He wasn't putting his life on the line for the Feds or the Kandies. He thought there was a nation to the south, but he didn't see any other islands on his way in.
That left Ariosis to the west. He heard they had a fair population of non-humans. Maybe he'd get more respect there. Bah... he'd figure it out once he got to the port town, Kesnar.
A grin drew across his muzzle as he bit down on the cigar. Since he was never coming back, might as well rob some humans...
But what? There were too few people to pickpocket. That only worked in dense crowds. He could break into a house or two... But blast it, he'd have to wait for night for that. He wanted out of here NOW.
"Mystical items for sale!"
Hello...
"Discounts on rare enchanted artifacts!" Came the screechy voice of a haggard old woman. Kelmarr's eyes drew to the withered form behind a booth in the middle of the town square, largely ignored by any and all passer-byers.
"Ah! You there, you fine.... young..."
"... Skunkular..."
"Right. Whatever. Would ye like ta take a look at me wares?"
Kelmarr shrugged before walking to the decrepit wreck of a human. That stunk. Worth a shot, at least...
She had piles and piles of junk, claming each one to be "enchanted", "mystical", and/or "ancient".
She thrust a golden apple in front of his snout. "Behold! The mystical apple of Peracles! Will take ten years off ye age. But only if ye eat it at 12:05 AM the day after the winter solstice...."
"I'll pass."
His eyes wondered to a weapon pack on the table. Nothing fancy, except a sword wrapped in a cloth, with the pommel just sticking out... He could tell by that intricate golden handle that the thing was probably worth a few coins...
He knew better than to keep his eyes on it for long.
"Do you buy?" He asked, puffing out a circle of smoke.
"Of course, young man... skunk... skunk-man."
He rolled his eyes and thrust one of his daggers into the table with a *thud*. He had a five or six on him at any given time. This particular one he robbed from a sleeping drunk on the highway. Old, rusty, and useless.
Running his clawtip across the edge where the blade meets the handle, he quickly traced out a rune of light that flashed for an instant before dissipating.
If the old crone really was a crackpot, she wouldn't have any clue what he just did.
"This is the Mystical Dagger of Arubia... forged by the gods themselves. As you can plainly see, it glows with heavenly power."
Sure enough, the blade began to give off a pale green light.
The old woman's eyes brightened. "What do you want for it?"
"100 gold."
"Outrageous! For a glowing dagger..."
Kelmarr shrugged. "Well, what would you offer?" he nearly finished with 'hag', but caught himself. "I might consider a trade for... say... one of those swords over there, if any one of them is sufficiently enchanted."
The old woman refused, and the two began to haggle back and forth. After a moment of getting nowhere, the skunk disgustedly slid the dagger back into its sheath at his belt.
"Very well. I shall take my leave then. Good day." With that, he turned and gave a violent flick of his large, bushy tail, smacking right into the weapons rack. Everything came tumbling down in a heap, and he dropped his pack, losing the contents in the pile of swords.
"OW!! Blast it!!" He screamed, hugging his tail in mock injury.
"You... clumsy animal!! Look at this mess!"
Kelmarr bared his fangs and growled, but then deflated. "I'm sorry. This tail has a mind of its own sometimes. Here, allow me to help you..."
He stooped over and began separating his things from the swords, placing the weapons back in the rack. Quickly, he slid the cloth-covered sword he had his eye on over by the pile of his stuff...
"Good day," he said as he bowed, draping his large tail over his prize to hide it. He spun around and collected his pack, then walked away at a brisk pace.
He slowed after he exited town, pausing to sling the sword over his shoulder. Probably could get a few meals out of it. Not a bad deal at all...
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday January 7th, 2008
- Ariosis, Underground Meeting Area -
Duilin looked at the old drow woman who offered to join with him. He knew of her and saw her a few times, but never actually talked. He remembered that General Nymphadora was in Tjed around the same time he was during to occupation three years ago. He figured she might be kind enough, as most drows Duilin has met have been good friends, yet they have a habit of getting killed.
"So, you listening Duilin?" Rink asked.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm listening." Duilin groaned back.
"Well, good. It's about time. I'm starting to think I should stop bringing you to these things. You never take this seriously."
"Of course I do. I really wanted to make this federation and I helped form it together."
"I'd like to believe you Duilin. But whenever you aren't out fighting, you're with your drinking buddies, getting hammered. You're 40 years old now, you shouldn't be doing that."
"They're not my drinking buddies, they're my team. I try to makes friends with them to boost moral."
"I'm sure." Rink sighed. "Anyways, you better get ready."
"Oh, yeah." Duilin then stood up. "If I may have the floor for a second. I'm all for joining with General Nymphadora, but I'll have to head back to Helternia first to gather my squad. I recommend the two groups will meet at the south-eastern part of Terian. Unless Nymphadora, would like to come with us back to Helternia?"
--- ---
- A random pub, somewhere in the Dark Continent -
A lightly built yellow skinned demon was thrown into a table by a middle-aged but rather well built man, with long white hair.
"N-no. I'm not a bad person! Please! Don't hurt me!" The demon pleaded while getting back up.
There we several wounded people in the bar, with sword cuts across them. Apparently they tried to stick up for the demon, but this crazed man was too strong for them.
"Do you expect me to believe that!? Don't you think I know your kind. Your kind are sick and only live to torture others."
"No. Some of us who live in Gaian aren't like that. I'm different then the evil ones, all I want is peace."
The man stepped forward and brought his sword up, the light shined in his unnatural blue eyes.
"Then rest in it!"
With that the demon's head was sliced off and the man walked to the doors of the pub, he turned around before he exited.
"I am Valos. And I will kill all demons in this world. You can thank me later."
--- ---
- Somewhere else in the Dark Continent -
Sienna had been thinking things over for the past three years. With her new friend Puco, she didn't find it as hard to deal with her problems as she thought it would be. She feels better, but not entirely better.
Her and Puco were laying back on a tree looking, in the forest. Simply relaxing and enjoying the wildlife.
"Puco...Do you think I'm ready to talk to Duilin now?" She asked.
A couple of squirrels chased each other across the path and ran up a tree near by them. The two playfully chased each other all across the tree.
"I know he wants to see me, but would it be healthy for us?" She added. "I mean, he is my brother and I do miss him. I haven't really seen him since he was a child. And now...he's almost becoming an old man now."
"I know he lives in Helternia now. Maybe we should go there? What do you think?"
--- ---
- Helternia, Fort Klawvorn, Mess Hall -
Marshall and Firstman were sitting together at there own table. Seemingly isolated from the troops. They have had trouble making friends, since they were both former Aspyes.
"You know, I think maybe that lizard man might want to be friends with me." Firstman said.
"Why do you care so much? Just let them be." Marshall said to his friend.
"Well, I mean this is boring. I feel so alone here."
"Oh thank you so much."
"Well, man. I always hang out with you, ya know? We need some fresh meat. Whatever happened to that Coriko guy?"
"I dunno. Having some issues with something. He keeps telling me that he can't get on some sort of 'net'."
"Did he join the naval division and is fishing now, or something?"
"I have very little of an idea."
"Well...anyways...Why does that lizard man get accepted better than we do? I mean, he's a god damned lizard man! Blah, they probably only like him because they don't want to look like bigots or something."
"They probabbly like him because he doesn't talk all the time." Marshall hinted.
"Why do you do that?" Firstman asked in an annoyed voice.
"Do what?"
"Do that. You always give hints, or use some big words to slightly cloud what you're saying. Why don't you just say 'shut up' or 'you're an ass' instead of 'secure your oral cavity' or something lame like that?"
"The same reason you're still talking after I gave you a hint to 'secure your oral cavity'." Marshall replied with a smirk.
--- ---
- Terian, A random medium-sized Kandarinian town -
A tall man, wearing tattered robes and a metal mask was walking through the town. People looked at him oddly and children even shouted and ran as he came near. He was used it.
"Yes, yes. Cower in fear, Nex and the Talonscar are here." Nex said as if repeating something he used to enjoy saying a lot.
He was acompanied by two men in wearing full black suits. The Talonscar Elite. Their gems were orange, meaning they were the 'normal kind', but still fairly dangerous.
Nex kept looking up at the floating Citadel, the sky. Untill he saw strolling through the streets was the great god himself, Kronos and all his glory. Yet he wasn't alone. He was with some auburn-haired woman, carrying three swords and had a blindfold on. Interesting. Yet there was some bald, middle aged man. He looked around in his late thirties or perhaps earlier forties. He was wearing a full crimson robe, with light red designs of serpents on them. The man then noticed Nex, and gave him a look. Nex then stepped towards them.
"Excuse me Sovereign, but it appears this...thing is trying to approach you." The captain said, and then approached Nex. "Excuse me, but you're going to have to back away and leave. Now."
"My, don't you look...interesting. What's your name?"
The captain's facial expression changed, to looking rather uncomfortable. What was this guy trying to say. He then changed his expression back to annoyed "I am Captain Tin Dao Kaineng. And I order you to step away from the Sovereign. Such, freaks like you shouldn't even be allowed to be here. I recommend you leave and take your little friends with you." He pointed to the elites.
"Oh? Freaks like me, really? I give you a compliment, and then you just shoot me down like that. Must you be so harsh? I'm hart broken, really, Hart broken." Nex said in his mocking tone. "Anyways, just step aside. I have a few things I wish to say to your Sovereign, an offer if you will."
"I doubt that very much. You aren't the first freak to try and 'offer' something to our Sovereign." Kaineng sneered. "Pah, we're wasting time here." The captain then wiped out a scythe, which was strapped on his back. "I'll make this quick."
"Oh, you have a scythe?" Nex then lifted up his hand and his scythe materialized into it. "So do I." He then held it in a battle ready stance. "And it just loves to spend time with other scythes."
With that, his scythe extended in length, slightly.
"Oh, a fighter now? This should be fun!" Kaineng then slashed his scythe at Nex, but the demon swung his weapon right at his foes' cancelling it out. The captain gave another slash, this time empowering it with energy, giving it a cyan glow. Nex simply gave another slash to cancel it out, but his scythe nearly got knocked out of his hands due to the increased magical force.
"Oh, so you're for real here?" Nex asked. "Good. I honestly love that. You have no idea."
Nex then shot a red lightning bolt at the captain, who was able to summon an energy shield in his hands deflecting the bolt back at the demon, hitting him in the chest.
Nex laughed as the electricity flowed through him. Once it was done, he shot a fireball from the same hand. The captain then slashed his scythe at the fire, knocking it away and then dashed towards Nex and spun around him and made a quick attack at Nex's back. The demon was then slashed across the back, and nearly fell over. He continued to laugh.
"Stop laughing damnit!" The captain shouted.
"Okay, now it's your turn." Nex turned around, his scythe faded away and he then shot a large stream of lightning at the captain, taking him to the ground. Kaineng shouted in pain, but got back up, fighting off the lightning bolts and then shot an energy blast from his hand which smashed right in Nex's face. Snapping his neck back.
The demon seemed stunned, and Kaineng grinned seeing his victory. He picked up his scythe to finish the job and then made a slash across his chest, however the blade was stopped. Nex had a sickle in his hand and had it wrapped around the blade of the scythe which he pulled away, displaying a surprising amount of physical strength.
"How...are you doing that!?" Kaineng shouted, brining back his scythe and then making a downwards slash. Nex then had two cleavers in his hands with he crossed to block the downward coming blade, which he pushed away. The weapons in Nex's hands then faded away and he cracked his head back into place.
"Ooo..." Nex quivered as if he felt an enjoyable sensation run through him. The demon then floated towards the captain at rapid speed and then slammed his fist into the captain's torso, causing him to fly back several yards and crash into a fruit stand.
Nex let out a loud cackling laugh. "Oh, that's a classic one right there!"
The captain got up, and wiped a tomato off of his face and growled in rage. "How dare you..."
//Okay, Ein can continue/finish this. He can control Nex for a bit then.\\
Posted by: D. Ein on Monday January 7th, 2008
- Random medium-sized Kandarin town -
The captain's expression of rage, however, quickly soothed - in a generally unsettling fashion.
-"My, my," he growled through his smile. "Looks like we have a real... hmm, I don't want to use the word "fighter", but nor do I want to say "wannabe", because whatever it is you are trying to be is definitely the wrong thing to strive for."
The captain's scythe curled and twisted, appearing something like an Archimedes' screw.
-"Better hope this one doesn't hit you, boy - maybe it will cut your mask to expose whatever ugly face you hide under there."
Like a silver lightning, the scythe crashed down onto Nex. He successfully blocked the attack - or so he thought. The scythe's curled blade unfolded, and, with a devastating force, ripped right through Nex's shoulder.
-"Not crying yet? How about another one, then? Hahahaha!"
The scythe curled once again - but it did not finish. Realizing that the attack is charged, Nex dashed toward the captain's legs, slashing them at the Achilles tendons with his sickle. Kaineng hopelessly fell down. Nex noticed some faint movement coming from Kronos' side - but he was too busy slicing at the captain to pay any real attention. Finally, the time came.
-"It's a pity, really," Nex hissed, "that all this wondrous flesh has to meet such a wasteful end. Too bad it has to belong to you. Otherwise, I might have given you the honour of being consumed like a real man... not like the wimp you are. Die."
-"You're... sick..."
With a victorious gesture, Nex grasped his scythe, gave it a quick spin above his head, and, using the momentum gained, thrusted the edge down at the captain's chest.
Zink. The silver edge was stopped millimetres away from the captain's heart. Looking up, Nex noticed the auburn-haired woman standing sideways - sideways - to the captain, not even looking at him (through the blindfold?), with her scabbard in her right hand, keeping the scythe's blade away from the victim's chest.
Nex pushed further, hoping to either overpower that interfering little wench or just slice through the sheath. However, before he even started to apply additional force, the captain's strange saviour whipped around, revealing a sword - presumably from the scabbard - in her left hand. The movement was so quick that Nex barely even saw the slash, which blurred into a crescent-shaped shadow. Moments later, the blade of his scythe hit the ground to the left of him, bouncing a couple of times from the force of the slash. The elites, seeing this, tried to intervene. However, the Lich's companion proceeded to throw the scabbard at them. Distracted, the elites did not even see her draw another blade. Using the chance, Nex thought of attacking her from behind - but just as that idea raced through his mind, he found the woman's left sword pointing right at his face.
-"You... wretch... how dare you!"
With all his remaining strength, Nex swung whatever was left of his scythe - his staff, rather - right at the auburn head.
Once again, the attack was effortlessly blocked by the dark, thin sword.
-"It's no use," he heard a voice, presumably from Kronos himself. "Be lucky you're alive. Oh, and you, please don't kill this one. I think he's a rather fine specimen to keep in a cage. Entertaining, I'd almost say... just look at the way he enjoyed all those hits. Definitely my kind of toy... oh wait. Look. Heh. You can't. That's a shame, heheh."
The woman turned the sword down to her side somewhat, letting Nex's weapon slide off harmlessly. She retrieved her scabbard, sheathed her swords, and reclaimed her place by the side of the Lich.
-"Anywho," the grey-skinned Sovereign continued, "I think it's worth reiterating how much of a surprise this is for me. The moment I happen to leave my Citadel for a peaceful walk to the execution stands for that idiot bleeding over there, I get a fine young man here so eager to please me that he almost finishes my work for me. Unfortunately, I couldn't let you do that. You see, executions of this manner are quite essential for me, because..."
The Lich coughed.
-"Excuse me, I'm rambling. Although I certainly admire your pious zeal for your Sovereign - either the current one or the future one (probably the future - I don't recall conquering lands populated with such strange specimens as you yet) - I can't let you off easy, see. It's a pretty major flaw in my security if someone were to find out that I enjoy taking the occasional stroll outside the Citadel with no one but my companion here."
-"That companion of yours is a demon," Nex wheezed. "No normal humans move like that."
The Sovereign's face changed from a somewhat amused grin to a cold glare.
-"You watch your mouth, young man, or you may find a sword skewered through it. I do not approve of having fun made of my subordinates." His looks eased again, but they remained a bit dangerous. Best not to set him off, Nex thought. "Anyway, shall we?"
The Lich proceeded to walk down the terrace. Nex assumed to follow, with his elites trailing behind him.
-"Now, tell me your name. What business did you have in a Kandarin-controlled town?"
--- --- ---
- Somewhere in the ocean between the Gaian and the Arctic Region, a boat in a heavy storm -
-"I think it's staring at me."
-"Nonsense. As long as that egghead over there doesn't lose his concentration, these things are as good as dead! Besides, do you even see any eyes on that thing?"
-"I don't think it's a very good idea to call him an egghead... he just might lose that concentration of his."
-"Whatever. Regardless, you hafta admit - these things look damn cool."
-"Yeeeah... At the top, looks like some sort of a bug, but the rest..."
-"I know... Its skin looks bug-ish, but those legs... Lion? No... something else..."
-"Yeah. And are bugs even supposed to have arms like that?"
-"Look at those claws... wouldn't want that ripping my stomach in half... would you?"
-"Scary things. And the weirdest thing of it all... it's completely metallic. However, it doesn't behave like a golem... Wow. Where did they dig these things up again?"
-"Far beneath the ground. There's lava and stuff."
-"Oh, I see, but - hey - did its abdomen just flicker or something?"
---
At last, they captured him. He maimed, and he clawed, and he destroyed - but eventually, he was overcome. Several more ugly dwarflings brandished their blue glowing tongues, and everything stopped. Then... the daggers dug in.
The daggers of bitter chill surrounded him from everywhere, and slashed, and stabbed, and cut, and pierced his very soul. He was in pain, yet he couldn't move. What was this strange prison of glowing, transparent blue substance?
They kept him within the prison for long. During that time, he could see others - others like him - being surrounded by the blue-tongued beasts and imprisoned, just like he was himself. He watched them squirm from the coldness, he heard their horrid screams through the walls of his strange cell, and yet he could do nothing but watch. His soul bled, leaving nothing but rage behind. A fool's rage, it was - for he, with all his anger, could do nothing but watch the torture.
Eventually they loaded him into a half-shell. He did not know what these objects were, but he saw an endless black extending everywhere, in which the half-shell sat. Somewhere in the middle, the black was sliced by a yellow line, and turned into lava-red upwards. The colour reminded him about the sweet convection flows again, and his thoughts warmed his soul through another eternity of torture. It did not hurt as much as it did the first time - the blue-tongues were replaced by only one, as well as two other dwarves with deformed arms: one long, and one short.
Just when he thought he couldn't bear the sight of the short ugly creatures any more, a sudden surge of power shook his whole being to the very foundation. It felt almost like... his home... it wasn't warm, but there was something about this feeling that struck a familiar chord.
The more time passed, the stronger the feeling became. It filled his soul, emptied by rage, with a new kind of strength - one he has not felt ever since the first dwarf with the claw awakened him. He felt his life coming back... the feeling was very satisfying. Encouraged, he moved his finger ever so slightly, and the prison shattered into small stones. The dwarves charged toward him, and he glimpsed another swing of the blue tongue wrapping around him.
No.
None of them were a match for this new strength. They will all... pay.
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Monday January 7th, 2008
- Ariosis, Underground Meeting Area -
Aaron seated himself back in his chair. "Excellent! Then it shall be done. You may chat among yourselves while I go check if the coast is clear." The Consular then made a quick hand motion towards a young child, perhapse four, to check and see outside if the area was secure; that the Kandarinians or the 'hammer' was not anywhere in the area.
General Nymphadora got up from her seat rather quickly and walked over towards Duilin. She was quite young and agile yet; her long black hair waving a bit from movement. As she reached Duilin, she bowed. "High General Duilin, I have a ship outside that could take us to Helternia. It is rather packed with my paladins, but I suppose you could merely stand aboard the deck while we sail. From Ariosis to Helternia, it would take about one and a half hours or so for my ship to reach 'said destination.' She is quite fast."
--- --- ---
"Let's go, Karma. We're off to Terian. I'm sure General Zabel will meet us on Terian." Jacobie grabbed the young woman's hand and helped her out of her seat. General Zabel arose from her seat. "I remember you from the Arctic Rebellion... yes I remember that well. What's it been, three years or so?"
"Heh... I suppose. I guess I wasn't much help there, but I did at least meet my sweetheart there. Now those were the days... Ah yes, excuse my maners. You remember Karmandalla?"
"The slave girl? Aye, I was looking for her for a while. Please tell me you've found her, I can pay you quite a load of coins to get her services back."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that. She and I are married. I love her too much to let her go."
--- --- ---
The small child returned to Aaron and whispered something in his ear. Aaron then rose from his chair again. "The coast is clear! This meeting has concluded. Please find your way to the exit doors and have a nice stay at Azzkan Endor, Capital of Ariosis!" All of the General and Consulars got up and made their way out of the building.
- Ariosis, Azzkan Endor (capital city)
The capital city outside was magnificently bright and vibrant with color and life. It was beautifully decorated with an abundance of crystals, gold, silver, and oak. The Inns were apparently empty and waiting for some of the Consulars to take residence first before anyone else gets a room.
As Doriana left the building (I'm just going to assume that Duilin is following) she escorted Duilin to her ship. "My ship, the Blue Sancta, is right on the river. The river can take us out of the Continent and then north to Helternia. Let's go then."
//DM, you can finish up the rest of the post.
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 8th, 2008
- Random medium-sized Kandarin town -
Nex dusted himself off, he picked up the two pieces of his broken scythe and they faded away. He then followed along with the Sovereign.
"Everyone just calls me Nex. That's been my only name for as long as I've lived. And trust me, I've been around a lot longer then you probabbly assume." Nex said, in a more formal tone. He then went back to his more devilishly cheerful tone of his voice.
"Oh and that demon comment about the lady, that was actually intended to be a positive comment. Where I come from it is." Nex snickered. "Now perhaps later, my dear Sovereign, we could talk about a few matters?"
--- ---
- Ariosis, Azzkan Endor (capital city) -
Duilin followed Nymphadora to the ship.
"Not bad looking, really." Duilin commented. He boarded the ship and looked around, before reading himself for the ship to set sail.
"So, General Nymphadora." Duilin said starting conversation "You were in one the resistances against the Dark Empire, three years ago. Correct? I think I remember seeing you in Tjed around that time. You know Justinian, right?"
--- ---
- Helternia, Fort Klawvorn, Mess Hall -
"Screw it, I'm gonna go and talk to them." Firstman got up from his seat and walked over to the table with the rest of Duilin's Sqaud (which didn't include Duilin at the moment as he was in a meeting in Arosis).
A large heavily tanned skinned man, wearing armour with a blue shoulder pad, got up and looked at Firstman in the eye and stepped close to him.
"Hey, comrade!" The man said, saying the word comrade like an insult.
"Uh. Hey, how about we just cut the crap and sit together? I think you're being pretty unfair just isolating us because of our past. Like, you let the lizard man in the group."
"Why should Lagart be isolated?" The man asked.
"Well because...well he shouldn't and neither should we!"
"Vaughn, just let him sit with us." Said a dark skinned elf. "Then if he gets annoying, we'll tell him to beat it."
"Why should he? He'll probably try and spread his Aspye propaganda on us."
"No I won't!" Firstman sneered. "Listen, we're part of the same squad so we might as well try and get along."
"Or else what?"
"What do you mean, or else what?"
"What are you gonna do, if I don't let you sit with us?"
"That's not what I mean. Are you trying to talk me into a fight or something?"
"I don't even need to. I should just order you to go sit down, you're only a sergeant. I'm a captain."
"Let's not pull rank here." Firstman said pointing his finger.
Marshall got up and went to Firstman. "Come on, this isn't going anywhere. Just leave him."
"Yeah, listen to your friend." Vaughn said.
Marshall rolled his eyes, this guy was such a jerk.
"No. I'm not done here." Firstman said. "Listen, now you can be immature and just bully me when all I'm trying to do is make friends with you, or you can act like an adult and we can work things out like adults."
Vaughn laughed. "Yeah...that's a good point man. You're a smart guy too. I bet those use of words came in handy when you convinced people to go running wild with the animals in the woods."
"That's not what the Aspyes were about damnit. They were better than that."
"Then why'd you leave them?"
Firstman's facial expression lowered and he clenched a fist but then Marshall stepped in between them.
"This isn't going anywhere. Pat, just sit down. Vaughn, you should to. Then let's just ignore this little episode here."
"Oh, what's your problem, Marshall?" Vaughn said pushing him.
"I don't have a problem. But it's clear you two do, so sit down."
"You're damn right we have a problem here. This little wimp won't get the idea we don't want to talk to him. He needs to learn his place."
"I can handle that, trust me."
"Trust YOU? You're an Aspye too. Why should I trust ya?"
Marshall rolled his eyes. "I'm NOT an Aspye anymore. See me, with the federation? I'm here. Not with the Aspyes."
"Whatever man. Just watch out."
Marshall took a deep breath and then dragged Firstman back to their table.
"You know, it's not even the whole group, it's just him." Firstman commented "That Vaughn guy. Man I hate him."
"So do I. I'm sure the others do actually, but he's a captain."
"Well you and Lagart are captains too. So why do they choose to hang out with him?"
"Simply because they don't trust us, Firstman. They hate him as person, but they trust him as a loyal member to the Federation and he's a good fighter, sadly he might even take Duilin's spot as high general some day."
"You see, that's what ticks me off. Just because he's jacked and knows a few magic spells, that automatically makes him better than the rest of us."
"He practices fighting a lot, and it does take a lot of displine to learn magic spells."
"Well, you've got your summoning magic, and in case you haven't noticed you're a pretty bad-ass fighter yourself. Heck, you should take Duilin's spot as general."
"Yeah, except Duilin hates me more than he hates Vaughn. Lagart would be next after me most likely, yet Lagart has stated several times that he does not want to lead, and everyone agrees that he wouldn't make a good leader."
"You'd make a good leader. Hell, you pretty much lead the Aspyes after Haraldur died."
"Yeah, and the Aspyes fell apart. Does that show good leadership?"
"I guess not..." Firstman's eyes then trailed off to the table with the others at them. "You know, I think that one mage chick might like me."
"No."
"You don't even think a litt-"
"No. Don't kid yourself."
"Since when did you become so much smarter than me?"
"Twenty-five years ago." Marshall smiled.
"Isn't that when you were born...Oh I get it. Real funny."
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Tuesday January 8th, 2008
- Leaving Ariosis, Azzkan Endor -
"Justinian...?" Dori's mind raced backwards until it hit where she last saw Justin... three years ago a bit before the occupation and liberation of Tjed. She could remember everything as though it had just happened. His thin face, his orange hair, his white robes... everything. It brought tears to her eyes to think about him. She was in love with him, although she never had the nerve to tell him. At least not before Sierana dragged him off.
"I... remember him. He was the first man who ever attempted to get close to me. As I recall, I believe he's dead. Either that or in a trance from which his mind cannot escape. I loved him..." Her eyes watered and glistened with tears. She quickly wiped them away. The Blue Sancta sped out of the river and into the open ocean, on it's way to Helternia.
"Please, let's just drop that subject. If there's anything else you'd like to talk about, you can find me in the captain's cabbin." Doriana entered the ship and left Duilin on the deck of the ship. A few moments later, a paladin in crusader armor came upstairs.
"Hello, mate! My name's Geomarcus. Nice to meet cha! The Cap'n asked me to watch ova ya. She's a bit disdraught right abou' now. A bit sad about her past, I wager. Well, if there's anything you'd like ta ask me, I'm all ears."
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 8th, 2008
- Nymphadora's Ship -
"Oh...I'm sorry." Duilin sighed as Nymphadora walked off, but then shrugged it off. He then noticed the crusader approach him.
"Nice to meet you two Geomarcus. I'm General Duilin Talonscar, Helternia division." Duilin introduced himself. "But yeah, Miss Nymphadora seems to be upset about something."
"But yeah, let's just get this ship moving."
Posted by: Xorlak on Tuesday January 8th, 2008
- Southwestern Tjed, highway -
Kelmarr waited until he was a good deal up the road before pausing to inspect the blade. Unwrapping it from the cloth, he could tell right away that the dingy leather scabbard it was in wasn't its original sheath, as the fit was not quite right. No big deal. Not like he paid for it.
The sword itself was beautifully ornate. A gleaming silver blade with a golden hilt, etched with intricate designs. A blood red gem glowed dimly within the handle...
The skunk mage pursed his lips and whistled. He would get quite a bit more than a few meals with this... He tentatively slashed at the air a few times, suddenly unsure if he wanted to sell such a fine piece of craftsmanship. But no... it was much too heavy for him. Knives were his taste, anyway.
He replaced the weapon on his back and then threw the cloth over it, lest some other bandit see the gaudy thing and try to steal it from him. Blast... heavy thing. Ah well, he'd be weighed down in gold for a while after this. Smirking, he lit another cigar and continued on his way. He probably should wait until he was out of the country to sell it. The old hag probably stole it from someone around here in the first place.
He couldn't help but chuckle at his good fortune today. It was about blasted time.
A nearby bush rustled...
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Wednesday January 9th, 2008
- The Blue Sancta, out to sea -
"Alright then, We seem to be pickin' up some speed. Should be there in a matter o' minutes!" The Paladin headed to the from of the ship and looked ahead as the ship picked up it's pace. There was another Paladin atop the mast of the ship with an eye glass, looking ahead of them. A few moments later, he put the glass away and shouted, "LAND HO!!!"
Doriana came back up from her cabin and approached Duilin once again. "Get your squad and load them on another ship. I would take you myself, but as you can see, she's quite full. I will meet you on the southern coast of Terian. Good luck." With that, they sent Duilin off the ship and on to the island of Helternia. The ship turned around and loomed away towards the horizon.
(Way to bored now. I'll update others later.)
Posted by: Ted Der on Wednesday January 9th, 2008
- The Dead Island -
"Hey, Captain, come and look at this!"
Akran looked around and saw one of his men motioning for him to come over to one of the crumbling houses. As he made his way over, something caught his eye. A piece of cloth was lying on the ground, half buried by ashes. Curious, Akran picked it up and brushed it off. It was ripped so it only showed a small portion of a picture. All that he could see was a red eye staring back at him.
"Sir, what did ya find?" asked the man running up to him.
"Oh, it's you Martin. It's nothing"¦ just a bit of cloth," Akran replied, "But it does look familiar. I just can't think of where I've seen it before." He put the piece of cloth into his pocket. "Does it remind you of anything?"
"No, never seen it before in my life," Martin hurriedly said, "but you have got to see this. It might be a clue to your family's death."
Akran told his crew that he was looking for evidence of his family's murderer instead of telling them the truth. He didn't like to trust people too easily anymore. He thought back to his encounter with Kronos. I wonder if he still seeks the Majeuri Spinel.
"Okay, sure, show me."
--- --- ---
"I know where I'm going lad," said Royen Beastkeeper to his first mate, "that gypsie lass told me everything." He chuckled. "Aye, everything. Har, har, har."
Royen trekked across the ashes southward.
Posted by: D. Ein on Wednesday January 9th, 2008
- Someplace at Gaian's south, close to Sovereignty's current borders -
-"Acting-lieutenant Keshel! The town has been taken!"
-"Gooood... Inform the captain, and request that we stay here for the night."
Keshel couldn't believe this. They were on a crusade for the past month, without as much as a two-day break. What's more is that they had practically zero casualties, due to the fact that most of the towns here are peaceful and took almost no effort to capture. They had only encountered a competent military force once, and those were dealt with quickly, anyway. And they call him Keshel the Voracious!
-"Acting-lieutenant Keshel! The captain requested to remind you who was in charge of this operation, and she commands that you collect the forces and move on to the next town."
-"Grr..."
Captain Flora Goethe this, captain Flora Goethe that... so what if she's the captain of the brutal attack regiment? Why couldn't she stay back at the Citadel like normal captains do? Sheesh! What's next, the General herself showing up?
With a heavy sigh, the stocky man headed to the town, and collected his troops for the next battle... or, rather, slaughter... He honestly felt sorry for these little towns.
--- --- ---
- A random medium-sized Kandarin town -
"After this Nex finished explaining his situation to me, I became slightly more interested. It's certainly a challenge to my profession. My "companion", as he amusingly calls her, told me that as of now, he poses no threat to us. Very good... since we need a replacement for a Captain of the Seventh Regiment, anyway, I guess I could stick him in there for now. He almost killed him in a fair fight, anyway... Speaking of whom, Kaineng seems to be adjusting to his new lifestyle as an Augment quite nicely. Since I already have five captain-level Augments with me at almost all times, I decided to donate him to one of my faithful Necrolytes. Which one, though, is another question. Hmm... A contest?
-"M'dear, please take Mr Nex here to the outfitting rooms. Make sure Mr Nex is wearing the appropriate garb, and present him with the Captain's Mark. Thanks."
I think I should stop these unplanned appearances. Such walks with no one but her by my side tend to be rather dangerous, especially if my enemies were to find out about them. Regardless, I'm deep in Kandarinian territory. The chance of attack is quite small... but as long as it's there, I think I'll keep to myself. There won't be much use for this, I suppose... I'll just put the logbook somewhere on a shelf in a library. Good-bye for now!"
---
-"My name is Gwenivere. Learn it now, because this is the first and last time you will be hearing it."
The woman's speech was suffering from a heavy, yet indeterminable, accent.
-"I am the General of the Sovereign's forces, and that is all you will need to know about me. Now, come."
//Assuming Nex follows\\
The two entered a small underground warehouse, of sorts. Below were shelves which contained suits - Kandarinian battle outfits - just like the General's. The suit was quite thick, made of some sort of wool. It resembled a trench coat, but it was a little shorter than that, as well as having slightly wider sleeves at the end, while being thinner at the arm. The suits were coloured all black with red trim around the edges.
-"Since you will become a member of the Kandarinian Sovereignty, you will be required to wear one of these. Additionally, you may have noticed that every Kandarinian employed by the Sovereign in some way wears red gloves. Although under special circumstances, the battle suit may be neglected, as a captain, you must always wear the gloves. That is invariable."
There were also stacks of very similar looking amulets on the shelves.
-"Due to a strong demand for precious metals, Kandarin no longer has its warriors wear armour. Instead, these amulets are used."
Gwen took an amulet and threw it to Nex. The ornament was of a triangular shape, with three spikes (or fangs?) at the triangle's points. A dark red gem sat in the middle, with the Kandarinian symbol engraved on top of it. Oddly, there was no lace on the amulet.
-"It concentrates your aura into a shield around you. Naturally, the stronger your aura is, the tougher your shield will be. If you want one, apply it to your chest."
With the slightest hint of a hurry, Gwen made for the exit. However, just before pulling the doorknob, she stopped.
-"Last thing."
From somewhere in her suit, she produced a familiar object - Kaineng's scythe. Without turning around, she threw it in front of Nex. Up close, a few details were revealed - the scythe was made of a dark, almost black material, which glowed with small lava-orange veins.
-"As a captain, you are entitled to a Thoridium weapon - also known as the Captain's Mark. They are nearly indestructible, and, with enough skill, you can unlock the Thoridium's latent powers to create an exceedingly powerful attack. Kaineng's "coiling shadow", as he called it, was an example."
She then continued walking out the exit.
-"Do try and accidentally kill yourself with it. If it were up to me, I wouldn't let scum like you become as much as a lieutenant, much less a captain."
Posted by: Xorlak on Wednesday January 9th, 2008
- Kesnar, Southwestern Tjed -
Kelmarr never did like larger towns. But since the giant beam of death from the sky started blowing random cities away, he'd gained a whole new reason to avoid them.
It wasn't like Kesnar was large enough to warrant such an attack. But then again, it was a port town, and the Kandies were feakin' insane. He just wanted to get a ship and get the heck out of there.
Besides, it was crawling with humans. Eww...
He wandered up and down the docks for a while, haggling with the merchants and shipowners or whoever sailed in. He just wanted a ride so he could get off this blasted island. Of course, half turned him down on sight, and the others wanted a ridiculous amount of coin. Ugh...
Normally he would just consider stowing away. But with his precious cargo, he figured it best just to pay and avoid infuriating the dimwitted sailors. He'd more than make up the difference when he sold the blasted sword, anyway.
Finally he found a greasy old sailor that let him stay in the cargo hold of some stinking little creaky ship. Ugh... It looked like a shipping vessel with all the nets attached to the sides. He didn't really care. The ship was Ariosis bound, which was good, since he heard that country was a lot richer than Tjed. He'd probably get top dollar for this sword there...
In the dark cargo hold, the only light bore from the many cracks in the wood above and a small port side window. He sat down and leaned his head against one of the boxes, shutting his eyes. Once he arrived, he'd have to find a buyer... he'd have to be careful, but if he took his time, he wouldn't have to worry about meals for a long while...
Posted by: Dude Man on Wednesday January 9th, 2008
- Small underground Kandarinian warehouse -
"Well, I guess I might try on a new outfit." Nex said, he looked at the battle suits. "Hehehe, these might work."
Nex caught the amulet. "Ah, some sort of protection amulet? Well, I suppose a little more magical enhancements wouldn't hurt." Nex clenched the amulet and it disappeared into his invisible pockets (as some people call them).
Nex then caught the scythe thrown at him. "You know you can just pass things to me. It's not like I'm going to bite you... I've got this mask covering my mouth." Nex examined the scythe, it was indeed some impressive work. He may actually use this.
The demon simply gave an overly friendly wave good bye in response to Gwenivere's exiting insult. "And it was just lovely meeting you too, dear."
Nex then gave the battle suits another look. "Now...let's see here..."
--- ---
- Helternia, River Town -
"Ahh...It's been awhile since I've been here." Duilin said to himself exiting the ship.
"General Talonscar." Greeted a guard at the dock. "It's a pleasure to see you sir. How did the meeting go."
"Not bad. Glad I went, I needed to catch up on some sleep." Duilin smiled.
"Of course sir." The guard replied. "We have a horse cart prepared to take you to Fort Klawvorn, whenever you're ready, sir."
"Oh really? I didn't even ask for one."
"Consular Rink requested it for you."
"Aw, how nice of him. Anyways, I'm ready so let's get going."
--- ---
- Helternia, Fort Klawvorn, Mess Hall -
Lagart got up to get seconds on his food. He ate a lot, even for a lizard man. He just loved to eat ever since he joined up with the humans. They made such great food, most of the other lizard men don't like human food but Lagart loves it.
As the lizard man was filling up his plate with various foods, that didn't exactly fit together he was patted on the back by somebody.
"Hey, Lagart ole' buddy. How's it going." Said a human voice from behind him.
"Firstman! Get back here! You're being a fool!" Marshall's voice shouted.
Lagart grumbled and then growled at Firstman behind him. "What!?"
"Whoa, whoa man. I'm just getting some seconds myself and I thought I'd just talk to my buddy Lagart. What's the problem?"
"You not my buddy."
"Because I'm an Aspye, isn't it?"
"No. Because you annoying."
"Then why don't you like Marshall."
"Marshall fine. He just hang out with you all the time." Lagart finished filling up his plate and then walked off to join the others.
"Oh..." Firstman looked blankly into the empty space that was formley filled with Lagart and thought about that. "Bah, what does he know? He's just a stupid lizard man." He then returned to his spot.
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Wednesday January 9th, 2008
- Ariosis, Azzkan Endor -
"Well, well, where the hell did I leave the ship?" Jacobie, followed closely behind by Karma, walked over to the side of the river. His elite lizardmen were waiting for him in a very large, old Dark Empire vessle. He boarded the vessle along with Karma and began raising the anchor. Within moments, the ship took off and left the river.
--- --- ---
"General Zabel!" A low-ranked officer ran up to the General and saluted, "My lady, we've got your ship ready. It is by the river. The men are prepared for combat!" The officer then bowed and ran off to the ship. It was a large, brown ship with small, white sails. On the side of the ship was a thick black line rimming around the rail, and on the rail in white letters, it bore the name The Orion. General Zabel boarded her vessle and rose anchor shortly after Jacobie. She would merely follow his ship as they made their way to Terian.
Posted by: Ted Der on Thursday January 10th, 2008
- The Dead Island - In a crumbling ruin of a house -
On the wall that Martin was pointing to, there was a large painting of a symbol that Akran indeed remembered. He took out the piece of cloth and held it up in front of him.
"Ah"¦ yes," he said, "You see this?"
Martin looked at the cloth and then to the mural on the wall. "Is that one of its eyes?"
"Yes, I think so." Akran replied, "Three years ago I travelled with a man named Kronos. You probably have heard of him now, since he managed to defeat the Dark Emperor."
"The Sovereign of Kandarinian? Yes of course I've heard of him. You actually travelled with him?"
"Yes, for a while. We went to island and there we saw this symbol. It was their flag. It looked exactly the same; the same black and red six eyes and everything. I have no idea what it is doing here."
Akran scratched his chin. "Look," he said, "See the right and left top eyes are missing?" He reached forward and pressed the piece of cloth to the wall where the left eye should have been. Akran quickly withdrew his hand, for the eye started to glow red. The cloth dissolved and left a print of the eye on the wall.
"How did- What the hell?" Martin looked bewildered. The two stood staring at the wall; at the still incomplete mural. "We just need the right eye now." he finished.
Akran snapped to. "Come." he said, motioning to Martin.
They ran back to the rest of the crew and Akran started to talk.
"Okay! Everybody!" Everyone turned. "We need to look for a small piece of cloth. It's about this big," Akran showed with his hands. "And will probably be buried around this crumbling house. Let's get moving!"
A voice came from the crowd, "Why? Why look for it if I already got it aye?"
A figure roughly pushed his way through the sailors. He was followed by a bunch of mean looking, laughing pirates.
"I am Royen Beastkeeper," he growled, laughing, "And I am looking for a stone, Akran, the very same you are I hear."
Akran stared at Royen. Akran's crew stared at Akran.
"Har, har, har! Can't speak? Didn't the lovely Gwenivere tell you? You need the help of another!"
Posted by: Dude Man on Thursday January 10th, 2008
- Helternia, Fort Klawvorn -
Grant Zimmerman was a new soldier in the Helternia division. He just got out of training and was exciteded to get into action, but at the same time he was a little worried that he'd get hurt. He didn't really know anybody in the army, since none of his friends joined. But it's always been his passion to travel the world and have adventures, so that's why he joined.
Grant was about an average height and had clean red hair. He wore the standard armour for the federation soldiers, and currently had a basic sword as his weapon of choice. It was what he trained with.
The rest of the soldiers were all about the fort. Getting briefings for missions and warming up for battle. Marshall and Firstman were walking together, heading towards one of the briefing rooms, where they were to meet up with General Talonscar. The rest of the squad had already left. When the two got there, the rest of the squad were sitting around talking, apparently General Talonscar hadn't arrived yet.
Meanwhile at the entrance to Fort Klawvorn, Duilin's horse cart pulled in and the General exited. He was greeted by the guards and then walked in. Grant was walking along with his face buried in a map of the fortress, when he bumped into the General.
"Oh sorry, sir. I uh..." Zimmerman then looked up at who he bumped into, he noticed the wings and assumed this must be General Talonscar. "Oh, General Talonscar. I'm am terribly sorry, I'll try and watch where I'm going from now on."
"Don't worry about it. What's your name?"
"Grant Zimmerman, sir. I'm a new recruit, just got out of training, sir."
"Nice to meet you. You're doing a brave thing, joining up."
"Oh, well thank you sir. I actually haven't been praised like that before."
"Well, you're welcome. So, where are you from?"
"Rivertown, sir."
"So do you have a position assigned to you yet?"
"Yeah, I've been assigned on guard duty."
"You excited about that?"
"Honestly. Not so much, I'd rather get into action. However they say guard duty is just where I should start."
"That hasty eh?"
"Well, of cource. I mean, I joined the army to travel around and well...battle. Standing around doesn't seem that interesting to me. No offence to the other guards who actually choose to stay."
"I hear ya, kid. I was pretty hasty to get into action myself. I actually fought for the Dark Empire nine years ago, after they released me as a slave. Mostly because of how battle hungry I was."
"Really?"
"Well yeah, that and also because I thought it would be best for my own survival. But I quickly realized it wasn't my place to be with them. I hated the empire way too much to fight for them, so I turned against them and fought for Romme."
"Well that's good to hear, sir."
"Hmm, you know what? There's something about you I like about you, kid. You kind of remind me of myself, just a little bit. Would you like to come with me and my squad on a mission? I'll warn you, it's going to be dangerous."
"I kind of worried about getting killed, but what the hell. Sure."
--- ---
- Small underground Kandarinian warehouse -
Nex had on his new outfit. He kept his mask/helmet and his hood. The robes were slightly different, and had a grey overcoat with red trimming and the Kandarinian Insignia on the back. His gloves were the same, but now red.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
"Hmm...yes...this is indeed...different. I may learn to like this..."
The demon then exited the warehouse and went back into the town. As he walked through he still got a few odd looks, yet he did get a few nods from some Kandarinian soldiers who were already starting to recognize him as one of them. He arrived at a garden where he saw General Gwenivere.
"Oh hello there, my dear General." Nex said in his mocking tone. "So, what shall my first assignment be?"
Posted by: D. Ein on Thursday January 10th, 2008
- A random medium-sized Kandarinian town, gardens -
-"Drop the "dear". I have no affiliation to you," the General answered. "If you're begging for an execution, we always could use a few more Captain-level Augments."
She rose from the bench that she was previously resting on.
-"Whether you like it or not, Captain Nex of the Seventh Regiment, you are now a leader. Captains rarely go out in the field themselves - pawns are both more effective and more expendable. Soldier!", she called out to a nearby spear gunner.
-"SIR YES SIR!!!"
-"What regiment are you from?"
-"SIR SECOND REGIMENT SIR!!! SIR UNDER CAPTAIN SUN'S COMMAND SIR!!!"
-"I see. Get my lieutenant, Wing, for me. He should be around the city square."
-"SIR RIGHT AWAY SIR!!!"
After furiously saluting the General, the troop left. A moment of awkward silence followed, though it was somehow dulled by Gwen's commanding presence. A few minutes later, the soldier returned with a ridiculously tall and skinny-looking character. His arms were so thin that even the tight part of the battle suit hung loosely around his elbows. Despite this, he looked almost frighteningly handsome. An odd axe with three blades, resembling a clover somewhat, was peeking out from behind his back.
-"Wing, Three Blade, reporting." The man's voice sounded unusually gentle. "How can I help, General?"
-"Help 'Captain Nex' here get started on his regiment, if you would."
Wing came up to Nex, inspecting at his face - his mask - with a calculating look. For a split moment, his eyes widened - but he quickly regained his posture. He turned around to Gwen, and gave her a warm smile.
-"Of course, General. Anything else?"
-"That'll be all."
-"Yes, General."
Gwen saluted the two and left somewhere toward the city square. Wing looked at her leaving, and then turned his attention back to Nex. His expression, once again, switched from pleasant to shocked in an instant.
-"Nex? THE Nex? As a Kandarinian Captain? Do my eyes deceive me, or has fate smiled upon our forgotten little town, at last? Well... Regardless, now that you're here. Excellent!"
Wing seized Nex's hand, and shook it vigorously.
-"I'm Wing, entitled "Three Blade" - hence the axe. You have absolutely no idea how long I was trying to find you for! Even though all I had were oral descriptions, I still tried, but ultimately failed. Why did I try, you might ask? Well..."
Wing's warm smile turned to a sinister grin.
-"...let's just say that our 'tastes' in the choice of our food is somewhat similar. BUT ANYWAY," he continued, as if he didn't just say anything. "We can talk about that on the way to the local registrar. You will be recorded as the new captain of the seventh regiment, inheriting all of the troops and equipment assigned to that squad. Feel free to add your own conscripts to the list. That's why we're going there, right?", he laughed.
--- --- ---
- Somewhere around the southern border of Kandarin -
-"Shalis, damnit!"
-"Yes, captain!"
-"Where are you going? I haven't even started to annoy you with my tales yet."
Shalis relaxed. Him and Captain Sun were on familiar terms, something that can't be said for most lieutenants and their captains.
-"Right. Where were you, anyway? You left for almost six hours, the regiment started to worry!"
-"Eh," replied Sun casually. "Shen called. He wanted to set up a meeting. It was me, him, and Flora."
-"Captain Flora Goethe?" Shalis was somewhat taken aback. "Her? I've never seen her in person, to be honest..."
-"Really? She tends to be quite sociable, I wouldn't imagine why. Anyway, Shen received them strange creatures from the Arctics - beautiful things - only one shipload instead of two, too... Wonder what happened to that other load? Anyway, he told me that he could try and..."
The two continued talking to a soothing background of a burning town behind them...
--- --- ---
- The edge of the southern Kandarinian border -
-"YES! FINALLY!!! HAHAHA!!"
They finally got a decent task! Keshel was beside himself with joy. Apparently, some foreign ships were sighted off to the south coast of the Continent. The Fifth regiment was sent in to investigate. A decent enemy, perhaps? At last...
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Thursday January 10th, 2008
- Dark Empire Vessle, out to sea -
Jacobie held Karma by his side and held her hand with his free hand. The occasional gentle splash of water from the open ocean was somewhat calming, as well as the slow currency of the waves far below them. How they rose and splashed against the ship seemed to be calm and loving. The ocean was only being kind to them for just today. At the deck of the Vessle lay a blue crystal that seemed to make the waves around it more calm and smooth, rather than rough and vicious.
"Ah, the open ocean is so calming during this time of day. How are you feeling, my love?"
"How serene the waves are... it's like a feather in the sky, falling softly until it hits the ground. What makes this so?"
"It's the ship. I had a very special friend of mine design it for me. The blue crystal below deck keeps the waters around the ship calm and quiet." The burly lizardman began to feel the softer skin of his wife as he caressed her neck with his hand around her back and over her shoulder. The smooth motion of the ship brought her peace, which was all he really cared about.
"You know, when I first met you, I thought you were just another slave girl, yet when you stayed back when I freed you, I knew you were smarter than the others. Just how much you've grown in three years... I'm amazed at your progress as both a mage and a human."
"When I first saw 'you,' I thought you were just another evil lizardman. You proved me wrong in the very instant you got to the camp. Immediately, I fell in love with you." Karma turned around to face Jacobie and put one hand on the side of his face. She brought his mouth closer to hers and her lips pressed against his. She then let her arms rest over his shoulders as he held on to her.
"I'll always be there for you," Jacobie said after breaking off, "No matter what. Death cannot stop our love." The skies ahead began to grow darker as the ship drew closer to the Dark Continent. The lizard did not need the lookout to tell him that land was ahead. He knew already by the sky that they were damn near right in front of Terian's southern coast.
//Blargh, I'll keep going later.
Posted by: Xorlak on Friday January 11th, 2008
- Fishing vessel, sea west of Tjed -
Kelmarr awoke with a start, hearing a blood-curdling scream on the deck above. What in blazes...? He was on a ship full of haggard old fishermen. To hear a scream like that was totally unexpected.
He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and grumbling. Silence. Nothing but the creaking of the ship and the rasping of the waves. The blackness of the cargo hold was all that greeted him. Ugh. Probably some moron fell overboard or something.
He lay back down and curled his tail over his body, shivering. Blast, it was cold down here. He'd better not get sick from this moldy wreck. He hadn't closed his eyes a full minute before a second scream resounded above, this one closer than the first.
He bolted to his feet, swiveling his ears to pick up any semblance of movement around him. Nothing. The waves returned and the saltiness of the crisp ocean air stung his nose.
Snapping his fingers, a small wisp of flame appeared. He normally used the spell to light his cigars, but it served just as well to light the way. Holding his burning fingers up, he surveyed the cargo hold, now bathed in the dim orange radiance.
Boxes, fishing nets, and whatever nonsense the humans carried around with them surrounded him. He was alone, a feeling that both comforted and frightened him.
Something was going on above.
He paused, holding his breath as foot-falls creaked the wood panels above. His dispersed the flame as he eyed the location of the sound, his entire body tense, before it disappeared with the monotonous creaking of the ship. What should he do? What could he do?
Maybe he should just wait down here. The humans could handle it, right? He sat down again, rubbing the fur under his muzzle. Yeah, it was probably nothing at all.
Then he heard the third scream.
He clenched his teeth, his heart fluttering and hackles raised. Blast it. What in blazes was going on!?
He could very well wait in the darkness, but a nagging feeling told him he should at least check. At least peer out the door to see that the humans were doing something stupid that involved screaming...
Or at the very least... if there was a... *gulp* ... something out there... he'd rather meet it in broad daylight, rather than the dark confines of this cursed cargo hold...
He stood, taking up his pack and his stolen sword. No way he'd leave that behind. Carefully, he tiptoed to the hall that lead to the deck and slowly made his way up the creaking stairs...
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday January 11th, 2008
- A random medium-sized Kandarinian town, gardens -
Nex accepted Wing's handshake. He was slightly temped to put some effort into it and snap his twig of an arm off, just because it looked so easy, but he was feeling a little nice today. Plus he wanted to know why he was so pleased to see him. He had no idea he was already famous.
"Well, it's nice to meet a fan of mine." Nex replied.
So this guy has a similar interest in food as he does? It seems surprising that this composition of skin and bone would have any taste in food. It looks like he hasn't eaten a full meal in his entire life. Although despite him being so skinny, he did indeed look quite delicious.
"So yes, lead the way to the registrar." Nex waved his hand.
Wing lead Nex through the town. Nex had trouble keeping his eyes off of him, he was just so skinny, it was eye-drawing. The demon just let his mind trail off though. He was rather surprised at how easy it was for him to join and for Kronos to agree to what he requested him to do. He was already starting to grow fond of these Kandarins, the Sovereign seems like his kind of guy. There is this 'hard-to-get' female general, and this skinny, yet good looking lieutenant who is a big-fan of his. And what makes this sweeter is the fact that he's heard things about him from other people, which means there must be more fans of his. Perhaps they would be ideal for conceptual demonic experimentation? Or perhaps they would also be interested in some other sorts of experimentation? Nex laughed to himself at this exciting thought.
"We're here." Wing said. "Okay, so just sign up."
--- ---
- Helternia, Fort Klawvorn, Briefing Room -
The briefing room was a simple, yet classy looking room, with log walls and with a finely made wooden chair and some cozy chairs.
"Sorry, I'm late, everyone." Duilin said entering the room. "The meeting went on a little longer then I thought it would."
"Oh, it's no problem General." Vaughn said.
"Uh yeah, no problem at all General Talonscar, sir." Firstman added.
The others gave Firstman a look, but then shrugged it off.
"Subtle." Marshall whispered.
"Anyways. You know how a few of said you've wanted some fresh meat on the group? We'll, this is about as fresh as they get. This here is Grant Zimmerman, he's a new recruit who just got out of training."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Vaughn shook his hands and stood up.
"Is there a problem, captain?"
"Well...I mean, are you sure having a newbie on the team is such a good idea? I mean, Firstman barely matches up to us and he's a captain."
Firstman was about to snap back at him but Marshall held him back and shook his head.
Duilin shook his head at Vaughn. "Listen, I'm general, THE general, and I can allow whoever I want in this squad. Now sit."
Vaughn sat down. "Now, let me introduce you to everyone, Grant." He pointed to Vaughn. "That is Vaughn. He's a real tight-ass, so don't piss him off, because he's cocky and macho two."
Everyone laughed, and Vaughn looked around seeming a little insecure, but then laughed along with them, yet a little nervously.
Duilin then motioned to the black skinned elf "This is Hance, he is our ranger." He pointed to a rather generic looking soldier. "This is Ryan." He pointed to Firstman. "That's Patrick, he was with the Aspyes. So was our other captain, Marshall." He then pointed to Lagart. "This lizard man is Lagart. He's actually a great guy." He pointed to purple skinned woman with a dark indigo coloured hair. "This is Zuhani, she is a demon/drow crossbreed. I've been teaching her how to control blood rage and such, she's very controlled." He then pointed to a blond woman is an earthy coloured robe. "And last but not least, is Sheri, who is our elementalist."
"Anyways. Now that we all have that out of the way, let's get onto the mission." Duilin went to the end of the room, which had a map of the known world on it. "Alright, so Aaron from Arosis, has organized us and a squad with General Nymphadora. We are too meet here." He pointed at one of the south-east points of Terian. "And we are to disable any and all necromancers in the area. Any questions."
The group looked at each, but nobody seemed to have any questions. Until Grant spoke up.
"Yeah, um. How dangerous are these Necromancers?"
"Well, they've been dubbed 'Necrolytes' by Kronos himself; probably just meaning they're not fully trained. Unless they have officers there, this should just be a walk in the park for most of us. Necromancers are usually not skilled fighters themselves, but they summon zombies to fight for them. Zombies aren't that strong, unless you get your guard down. However they usually come in groups, large groups. But don't worry, because I've got your back on this one. I wouldn't want you to die on your first mission. The rest of you guys can take care of yourselves, right."
"Of course." Hance replied.
"Right. Alright, so is everyone ready?" Duilin asked the team, everyone nodded. "Excellent. We'll head Rivertown and take a ship to Terian."
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Saturday January 12th, 2008
- Terian, Southeastern coast -
"General Nymphadora, we've sighted land! I believe it's Terian's southern coast!" Geomarcus walked up to the Drow General and saluted. "Should we ungarrison the army?"
"Yes, tell them all to get out there and start killing whatever's there. These undead should be easy enough to handle, even with a single paladin. I'm sure this'll just be another damned cake-walk." Geomarcus left Doriana and went back into the ship to muster up the men. After a few minutes, they docked and landed on the shore of Terian. To their surprise, Jacobie and Zabel were already there, along with the Drannivolkan Firemages. Aaron was there too, with the Drannivolkan Elites.
"Wow, I suppose we're expected." Doriana got all of her troops out of the ship and went down to meet up with Aaron. He merely waited with his company of ten Drannivolkan Elites. As they saw General Nymphadora approach with Geomarcus swift behind, they made way for them.
"High General Nymphadora of the Drannic Republic, reporting." Doriana made a short bow and stepped to the side to let Geomarcus through. "Lieutenant Geomarcus, here, sir."
"Tell me, Geomarcus, why were you not at the meeting?" Aaron placed his hand on his chin as if to exagerate his impuzzlement. The Lieutenatn did not but simply shrug off the question. He made a swift reply.
"I was attending to my men, lord Grey."
"Bah. I am no lord. I merely lead you on this very day because it was my plan. We all agreed upon it anyways. I am your Consular and nothing more. None have lordship these days. All are free, at least from evil."
"But there were Monarchs who weren't evil, such as yourself, my leige!"
"Tell me, Geomarcus, where are you from?"
"Dranniville, sir."
"Hmm... were you not at all angry when I took over Ariosis and Conquered the lands?"
"Not at all, sir."
"Meh, still trying to suck up, eh? Well then, let me ask you this. Why did you join the Drannic militia?"
"To... to fight back the forces of Ariosis, sir."
"Ah, now I get the truth out atlast. And tell me, who was it that ordered the Ariosian force to Dranniville in the first place?"
"Um... you, sir?"
"Yes. Now, one last question. Seeing as how I asked the Ariosians to declare war with Dranniville, what was the king's response?"
"He... left the crown, sir."
"Why?"
"Because he didn't-"
"Want to see his people suffer. Precisely, Geomarcus. Who was to blame for his downfall? Certainly not the people of Ariosis, they were simply following orders. Why would you join the militia if you weren't angry at the war, if you didn't want to stop it?"
"..."
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Do me a favor Geomarcus. Next time we talk, don't lie to me. Either way, if you were telling the truth in the begining, you still lied about the story afterwards. See to your men. I would like to have a word with General Nymphadora here." Geomarcus ran off to a bunch of people all wearing crusader armor and bore the insignia of Dranniville; the double star and cross. Those were the paladins of Doriana's ship.
"That was quite entertaining, Aaron. I almost couldn't hold my laughter!"
"Meh, I just love messing with the 'higher-ranked soldiers' from time to time. I was still anoyed at the fact that Geomarcus never showed up at the meeting. Has he any idea of the importance those meetings hold?"
"I really don't think he does. If he did, he would have showed up, but rather than that, he just stayed on the ship all day, readin his books. I swear, that kid just gets on my nerves at times."
"Don't let that happen now, especially not before battle. Besides, I think I can feel those necrolytes comming."
"Feel? You and I both know the column of light blocked all senses."
"I don't know, I just have that weird chill down my spine. Like there's something lurking out there, you know?"
"I get that feeling every time I set foot on this god-forsaken land. It's still bares scars from the Empire days, and the Kandarinians are no kinder to it than the Dark Imperials."
"I suppose you have a point, but I don't want to just sit here and wait for them. The army's getting edgy; they want to destroy them. Almost as much as the Consulars don't want war. Shocking, eh?"
"Not really. I'm kind of looking forward to another battle. Haven't had one in three damn years. We need to fight or we loose our strength."
"True, I guess. Well, that's all. Dismissed."
"Dismissed? What, do you have nothing better to do than dismiss me?"
"I suppose not. Go inspect your troops for combat." Doriana walked off after Geomarcus and Aaron merely resumed inspecting and instructing his elites. They were all blood-thirsty and ready to fight; John and Marrik especially. While waiting, they would wave their swords around and practice sword forms. It could get on your nerves quite easily after a while.
"Consular Grey! I want to ask you something!" Jacklyn Verrandel was running towards Aaron. She stopped directly in front of him, trying to catch her breath. Once she did she stood up and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Consular Verrandel? What do you want with-"
SLAP!!!
Jacklyn had slapped the living day-light out of Aaron. The Drannivolkan Elite quickly surrounded her and drew their swords, but Aaron waved them off.
"It's rather alright... ouch... I probably deserved that one."
"DAMN RIGHT YOU DESERVE THAT!!! I should beat the shit out of you right now, but we're at war. I would have done so before, but we were at the meeting!"
"I'm terribly sorry! Honestly, that was before I even allowed Drannivolkans in the guard. I thought you two had gone rogue. Please, I'm sorry!"
"Yeah, sorry doesn't help the fact that you killed my sister and nearly killed me! Do you know how long it takes to haggle with the Reaper to get a soul back? It was nearly a year before I got Jelka back on her feet!"
"You're both alive and well, though! Nothing's that bad anymore!"
"Bah, you really don't get it, do you? Sorry doesn't cut it when it comes to murder!"
"You killed several of my troops by landing on them! And you tell 'me' that murder is wrong!"
"I thought you were about to attack Tjed! How was I-"
"You thought wrong! And because of it, several MORTAL men were killed, not in battle, honorably, but by a bloody airship landing on them! That has go to be the worst and most dishonorable ways to die EVER!"
"Whatever, just shut up and stay away from me and my sister, you got that?"
"Fah! You're the one who came up to me!"
"WHATEVER!!!" The Drannivolkan Female stormed off and inspected her troops. The battle was about to begin. The only thing left was for the pieces to fall into place. General Talonscar would be there momentarily, though, as would be the enemy.
"This ought to be one hell of a battle..."
Posted by: Mikado on Saturday January 12th, 2008
~-~-~ Spire City, Phoenicia ~-~-~
Shuichi was sitting behind his desk, putting his notes and books carefully in his white suitcase. The class was empty and clean, because Shui spend the last hour cleaning it after the students experimented with the transformation and conversation of cores. It was quite a mess, as most of the students weren't prepared for the practical test Shuichi gave.
"And I was sure that I explained everything so thoroughly. Maybe must I go more in depth.." He thought when packing the last statue that he transmuted, and closed his suitcase.
At that moment a young female student came to him, she was eight years old, but Shuichi wasn't sure.
- "Erm.. Master Yoshi?" The girl asked a little ashamed.
The man in a long and light brown coat, that one could say it was white stood up from his chair, and shoved it under the desk and turned towards the girl with a awaiting look.
A few seconds passed before the girl realized that she should say something.
- "Master Yoshi? I'm ... a little confused about the things you taught us the last weeks. You was explaining-"
Shuichi cut into her.
- "-too bluntly, I know my girl, I'll explain everything in more details next time we have a lesson! Oh, be prepared to learn all those infrastructure cores from heart! Ophinis, Zachnisis, Duxchnis!" He said it with a delighted voice remembering all the things he had to learn in the past.
- "No, no! Master, please that's not it!" The girl quickly cried when Shuichi was passing her walking towards the door. He stopped and turned in reaction, with a bright but surprised face.
- "Master Yoshi, the things you explained to us were TOO complicated, I got everything when you explained how the cores reacted with other parts of their structure, but then you began to tell more and more stuff! I couldn't follow it at all!" The girl said it holding her hands tight in front of her. She looked at her master, and startled a bit, quickly bowing and saying - "I'm very sorry master!" apparently just now realizing how blunt her statement was.
But since Shuichi had finally some free in a long time and he was feeling good today he answered totally opposite of what would be expected of him.
"Lack of detail? Is that what you expect of my teachings? You think that explaining only the basics is enough?" Shuichi sighted. - "Very well then. If you'll come to me after class next time I'll have the honour to teach you and your friends, I'll explain things less thoroughly.. as one could say." He chuckled a little from his own joke, and turned to the again bowing student saying thank you a few times.
- "Don't forget to lock the classroom." He said when he was outside and pointed at his desk, where a bunch of keys lay.
- "Eh.. Yes master! I won't disappoint you!" She took the keys, and wanted to bow once more but Shuichi was already gone, leaving her alone in the room.
"Nice kids are those" He though walking the building out. "A little young to teach maybe.. but hey, maybe it's better that way." He made a tired face now. "But sometimes I feel as if they do not grasp my explanations!"
He sighed loudly and raised his head a little, and saw three kids giggling in front wall of the school.
"What can those do at school after school time I wonder.." Shuichi asked himself, and quietly sneaked up behind the kids. When he stood behind them a huge sadistic grin appeared on his face. In front of him three kids were laughing and writing some runes on the walls, in which names and little drawings of themselves had been craved. A kid put his hand on a rune that he just made and an another text was cut into the wall. "Willy 4 ever" it said.
He put his hands on two shoulders of two children, and they flew into the air like cats when they gets scared and screamed like seeing a ghost. When the three of the kids turned, fear and desperation fell on their faces.
Shuichi could see them properly now. These were HIS students, one of the few who "managed" in his lessons, two boys and one girl. The younger boy brunet and smaller than the other boy and the same age of the girl who was gold haired blond and ten years old. The other student was also blond, and he was eleven, he was also halve a head bigger than his friends. They all had huge crystals in their foreheads.
- "Well, well, well. What do we have here? Students trying to find the border of my patience maybe? I want to say that I'm disappointed in you, but I'm not, noticing the fact that I expected this of you, mr. Walker, Junes and lady Angela." He was saying all with a kind voice, but his eyes were burning with will to punish the kids.
- "Ma-master Naga-ayoshi... we didn't expect you to be here.." The older boy responded, the one that Shuichi looked at when saying "Junes".
Shuichi smile became brighter. "Well of course you didn't, otherwise you wouldn't be doing this here? Or are you implying that you would still do this even if you knew I would come?" His eyes were glowing with satisfaction.
- "Never! Never master!" The girl answered fast. "We only.."
- "Were "stupid". Is "stupid" the word you seek?"
- "Not at all master, we didn't expect you to still be on school!" The younger boy joined their explanation with an eager voice.
Shuichi raised a eyebrow, and then began to grin. He took a pencil from one of the boys, and wrote something on the wall, he touched the runic text while turning towards the kids back, the wall changed back to its original form. Almost however, if one would look with a very sharp eye, or just be experienced with runes he would be able to see something in the small bulbs in the wall. "Shuichi fixed this wall" to be exact.
- "Now lets think of a proper punishment, hmm?" Said Shuichi ignoring the fact that the children were tilting their bodies to see what Shuichi did to the wall. "I know!" He slammed his fist into his open hand.
He walked a little forward, and pulled the girl by her hand. "Follow me!"
After some minutes they found not far from school a small field. It was covered with white solid brick stones. Shuichi faced the students as they walked on it.
- "I have created this just for such a occasion. As you may remember or not, during the beginning of your training you were taught how to change solid with rocks who were already transmuted for some part, this made the runes that you had to write shorter and easier, a great thing for starters, and created by me." He paused to underline the fact that he created it and continued as follow "Now I have made this whole area out of these stones, so if you will transmute these you will see that it will take much less work than in our classes."
The older boy smirked a little to loud.
- "What is it Junes?"
The boy was startled a little by the reaction of the teacher on his smirk, and started slowly.
- "Well.. Master we are good in these things, so we don't need this help.."
- "Good?! I can't see that in your grades, but you'll be thankful later... Because you must make me wet with water or let me trip!
The children looked at their master with a strange look.
- "Come on! Don't be afraid!" Shuichi encouraged them enthusiastically.
- "Alright.. let's do this then.." The smallest guy took out a piece of charcoal out of his pocket and sat on his knees down and began writing runes down. The other two followed his example.
Shuichi looked a little disappointed, and walked to the younger boy, who was concentrating himself on the runes.
-"A little complicated, hmm?" Shuichi said to the boy, and as he looked up Shuichi erased his runes by trapping the charcoal of the ground.
-"Whaa-aaat!?" The kid yelled at his ruined runes. "Why did you do that for?!"
- "If I challenge you, that means we are in a fight, and don't think I'll wait for your runes!"
Saying that Shuichi kicked the kid a little back, but he fell pretty hard. "Ouch!"
- "Show me you're no weakling!"
The boy stood up and pushed Shuichi, but he simply stepped away, and pulled the boy at his clothes and let him fall once again, the other boy made slide aimed at Shui's legs to make him trip but Shui caught the boy at his legs, raised him, and released him. "AAAA! Master!!" The boy yelled before he hit the brick.
- "I got the water!" The girl yelled when she completed her water creating rune, but when she activated it, a ball of water appeared in front of her and fell almost immediately only making a small pool water.
- "You won't defeat me with this! The morale of this training is team work!"
The girl rushed at Shuchi, and the moment before she wanted to kick him, the boys bull tackled him from behind. Shui made a salto backwards making the friends dash into each other, but they quickly stood again determined to defeat their master.
Junes rushed with his fist at Shuichi, who caught his fist, then the other boy jumped on his shoulders and made tried to punch him but Shui responded the same way as before. Then the girl pushed the two standing boys making them fall on Shuichi, who almost fell losing his balance, but managed to take the boys and turn toward the earth and make them fall instead. With this motion he also kicked the girl away.
"Neee~!!! Master th-th-that huuuuuurt!!!" The girl began to cry. Shuichi sighted, and the two other boys ran towards the girl. "This a fight Angela.. you can't cry if I only do THAT!"
The girl sniffed a few times, and the group looked angrily at Shuichi, who stepped away a little. They stood in a circle and began to plan how to defeat Shuichi.
"Oi, you can't discuss like that! I'm still here!" Shuichi whispered when he suddenly stood just next to them. From surprise they all jumped back, and Shuichi pointed at the ground, and the kids looked at it slowly"¦
A rune was drawn on the earth, and Shuichi's leg was on it and activated the rune"¦
At that moment spikes came out from the earth around him, the boys managed to evade them, but Angela tripped and.. *Flash*
One of the rocks grew right into her face, Shuichi however made the rocks very fragile and they broke on impact, yet Angela was stunned of the sudden realization that she could died just a second ago.
The boys dashed at Shuichi as if trying to avenge her. Junes made a jump kick and Shuichi caught his leg and used him as a sword to bash walker away, and threw him at Angela. Walker stood up in one motion with falling, and kicked Shuchi in his legs, Shuchi made a dangerous move almost falling, but he jumped on his arms and stood up again, pushing Walker away, but before he could complete that, something pulled him away. A spike.. just like his. He looked at the Junes and Angela, who together copied his rune, smiling brightly pointing at the spike. Shuichi looked at the spike and saw Walker jumping from it at his head.
He fell in his face and held it strongly, while the other kids were drawing more runes. Shuichi bashed his head against the side of the spike, and the boy fell of. He turned towards the others and drew something making a crack in the ground were they were a while ago but only the rune was remaining there.. he turned and three kids were sitting in front of a circle full of runes and forced all with both their hands their energy into the rune. The place rumbled, and from the kids to Shuichi the earth lowered making a huge two metered deep hole.
- "Smart.. smart it is.."
He stood near a wall and across the hole they were running now at him. He took a piece of charcoal out of pocket with his left hand and was writing something behind his back, to Angela looking as if he was just standing because she ran way faster than the boys. When she was just about to attack him, he quickly moved away activating his rune. "WATCH OUT ANGELA!" Junes yelled, but Angela saw it already, at what she was running with full speed, a spike that was growing in her direction. She closed her eyes and punched it with both her hands away from her, at Shuichi. It broke immediately and the pieces flew at Shui's face. He to cover it, which made him open and Junes punched him in his side. "Great Angela, don't repeat a mistake, but use it against your enemy!" He yelled while kicking Junes away, and caught Angela at her legs, throwing them out, making her spin out of the hole. A loud "ouch!" was heard, but Shuichi was already attacked by Junes. Junes attacked with his right hand, but Shui quickly pushed it away with his, and had his left open at Junes and tried to punch him in the face, Junes however quickly ducked, and headbutted into Shuichi's belly, who pushed him away with his leg, and turned looking for Walker.
Walker was sitting writing a spike rune as quickly as he could, but he was alone which made it hard. Shui dashed at him, and tried to kick him in his movement, but Walker simply rolled around Shuichi, and when Shuichi had outrun him and the rune, and turned he quickly activated the rune, even though it wasn't completed yet and jumped back pretty far, expecting something to explode. His expectation came true, and Shuichi was about to jump back too, but he saw Junes rushing right at him, and the rune. So he stepped forwards, over the rune, and pushed Junes away from it, and it exploded. The earth on which the rune was placed exploded right into Shuichi's belly.
-"AH! You IDIOT! I taught you NEVER to activate uncompleted runes, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN OR WHO YOU WILL HURT!" He angrily faced Walker, but he didn't hear him.
He was dashing at Shuichi, and the only thing in his mind was defeating his master. "Showing him that he's not someone to played with!" He ran at Shuichi and wanted to hit him in the belly who was still hurt because of the explosion. "Damn you!" Shuichi yelled, and caught Walkers right arm with his, and pulled him to himself. As Walkers hand was sliding next to Shuichi, he drew with his left arm runes on it, and then caught him at the shoulder. "This rune is incomplete.. want to know what will happen when I'll activate it?" Shuichi whispered, and Walkers eyes were fixed on his arm held by Shuichi, trying to push himself away. Everything froze and stopped moving. Angela who was on the side of the hole with wide eyes, and Junes was sitting and looking carefully at Shuichi, who had just saved his life pushing him away from the explosion. "If I wouldn't interfere... you may have hurt Junes, but you didn't care what would happen right? Well we'll see. Sometimes inactive runes don't do anything"¦ or sometimes they explode or transmute their surrounding dramatically"¦" Now Walker was looking with deep eyes at Shuichi's face, filled with fear. "We'll see."
Shuichi activated the rune, and Walkers arm began to shine blue. Junes gasped, and Angela screamed. Walker yelled in fear, pushing himself away from Shuichi holding his arm.
Nothing happened.
Walker fell on his knees trembling. "This is what happens when someone will play with runes." Shuichi said coldly. "I know what I do, but you don't." He took Walker and put him out of the hole. He turned towards Junes wanting to say that "it's only us two" but Junes had already a rune created. A water rune that is. Activating it, quite allot water began to flow from the rune. Because it was a hole the water would spread itself quickly and Shuichi would be wet in a matter of seconds. Would.
"Too bad I can also use the fact that this is easy material Junes." And he completed writing something on the wall what he started just before the clash. The water began to come close to Shuichi as the whole area which used to be pulled downwards, was pushed upwards ten meters in the sky. The speed with which this happened blew the water away, and Shuichi was standing in front of Junes on a ten meter height platform.
Junes was looking at Shuichi with unsure look.
-"Master, why are you doing this?"
-"Why? Why you ask? You shouldn't play around with runes. Runes are serious business. It isn't fun at all, just like falling from this platform."
Junes looked confused, but he soon found out what Shuichi was meaning, as he walked towards him slowly.. and unexpectedly kicked him the belly.
Everything happened fast. Junes was pushed backwards and fell of the border, yelling his lungs out. His two comrades drew their runes with great speed like never before. A few thin bars appeared out of the wall of the arisen ground, and Junes fell through them slowing himself down, however getting hurt pretty badly.
-"Still alive down there?" Shuichi's voice came from above. "Maybe we should call it even... or should I say my victory?"
-"N-not yet!" Junes cried from below, because his back hurt him really bad now.
"We'll defeat you for sure!"
Shuichi grinned. These kids were really eager to beat him back. Oh well, he had no plans for the moment so he didn't mind extending their punishment a little longer.
He jumped off the platform on the other side, and sneaked once again up to the kids. There they were again discussing their plans.
"I though they learned..." Shuichi complained to himself.
There he stood behind them again. "Hey guys.. didn't I say not to repeat your mistakes-"
- "-but to use them at your enemy!" The kids continued, and Junes and Angela jumped back, so did Shuichi due his reflexes, but Walker stood still, and pointed at the ground.
There was a rune drawn"¦ an pretty complicated one as one may say. Complicated for students that is.
Four walls of two meters height grew from the earth and surrounded Shuichi, sealing him and Walker in a sort of a room without a roof, because the other two ran away.
- "I'll better follow them after I'll finish you, eh?" Shuichi smiled at Walker.
- "Not if things depend on ME!" He pointed enthusiastically at himself and dashed once more at Shuichi. Shuichi was prepared for an attack in his waist height, but the kid instead of tackling him, just run between his legs. Shuichi turned confused, and Walker ran up to the wall, and took out a crayon from his pocket and began to scrabble something on the wall.
-"I won't let you!" And Shuichi tried to grab Walker, but he slipped once more beneath him away, and smirked triumphfully. On the wall was written: "Catch us if you can masty!" Beneath it there was a drawing of a rabbit. When Shuichi stopped reading the boy was already over the wall.
Sight.
Shuichi Sighted.
- "I guess these kids... oh well, I'll just finish them." Shuichi hated seek and catches. He noted a rune down on the wall, a decomposition rune actually, and the wall broke down.
"!!"
Shuichi tried to jump away when he saw the weird way the wall was falling apart. It was too late. It happened.
Behind the apparently very thin wall, an another thin wall was transmuted, and in between, it was filled with water. So when Shuichi broke the first one down, the water fell on him. Not entirely but he got wet, and that meant that he lost. The second wall broke, and revealed three drowned bright smiling kids.
Shuichi didn't knew what to say at first but then he began to laugh loudly.
- "Hahahaah! I NEVER expected you to actually succeed, and be sure that this victory will be written down as a good note!" He wept some water of his face, and came closer to the kids and kneeled down.
"But the lesson I wanted to teach you... was to never use runes just for fun, will you promise me that?"
The kids didn't answer for a while looking at each other, but then raised their hands as a sign of a promise. "We will never ever again master Yoshi!"
"Perfect! Then you are all dismissed!" Shuichi raised his hand back too.
"I'll have to clean this mess..."
He sighted loudly again today, turned, and took out a piece of pergament from his pocket with pre-written runes...
~~Later~~
Shuichi was galloping on his horse to visit his friend Reigratto. When he had some time free, he rode around the island helping people joining talks, joining funs. He was better known in the area near the school, because he spent allot of time near there. He was treated kindly since he was always ready to help, and could perform some significant things with his knowledge of runes. He also spend allot of his time experimenting around the island, and was a interesting topic around children, who were easy amused, and a hero among ladies for his looks.
Some women smiled and waved to him, and he raised one hand, but didn't look at her. "I wonder how Reigratto is doing..."
Teaching those kids reminded him of his home, and the place where he learned using runes properly. When he was poor and he created coins with runes in them, yea that were the times"¦
~~Shuichi - 8 years old~~
The sun shone hot on Shuichi's back, and he was pushed around by bigger people who were walking in the opposite direction that he did. The small roads of the city were crowded, and all kinds of shops were placed on the sides in between the houses. Sometimes someone was selling something in small cars or on a small table at the side of the road, or they were showing something like dancing with snakes, or drawing something. Even if Shuichi would care about it he wouldn't be able to come closer and see it, because they were usually surrounded thickly by people clapping every now and often when the show stopped. But Shuichi didn't really bother with these things, he thought that art is a waste of time, the whole world was based on Mathematics, and everything was exact, and not vague and weird like the people on the sides of the streets.
There was no place in the city for a small and weak boy, even if he knew some tricks he would call "transmutation" but the older people called it "rune casting" or "rune magic". Whatever it was, it made the people evade him, and respect him more. He however used it to play, and to "receive". He decided some years ago when he was abandoned and could not find work that he would become a "receiver". He would receive anything he wanted from people and people would listen to him. Things didn't go out as great as he expected and people caught him and hurt him calling him a "thief" whatever that could be.
However these runes helped him in playing the game with the bigger people. He was respected by people a little older than him, but the people who he used where usually mad, and chased him when they saw him. Shuichi began to feel a little hungry, so it was time to "receive" some food. He could smell the smell of fresh made breed, and saw through the clouds of big people a small sign with a bread drawn on it, a bakery it was.
He slowly entered the shop after he had pushed himself through the hordes of people who were staring in front of a yet another show of art. The shop was pretty small but wide, and in the desk was close to the door. The door was on the left side, and on the right of the shop two chairs were standing, with one sleeping old man sitting on one of them. Only he and the baker himself doing something behind the desk having his back to Shuichi and the man were in the shop. Great.
The baker was a little fat for as far Shuichi could see, and he walked up to the desk and his head was a little above it and started: - "Good sir, can I have a bread?" The man turned and was indeed a little overweight. He had a large moustache and a beard, black hair and small eyes couldn't almost be seen because of his great eyebrows. He looked really nice, and Shui regretted that he had to receive from this man.
- "One bread?" The man laughed a little with a very low but sympathetic voice.
- "What kind of "one bread" do you want?"
- "The one that you just made, the one I can smell."
The man looked for a while at Shuichi, but Shui couldn't see what he was thinking because of his thick haired face, and then turned went futher in the shop, and after a while returned with a thick bread and handed it over to Shuichi. The desk was open on one side, so when Shuichi would flee the man would easily follow him, and even thought he was fat, he looked incredible strong.
- "That will be twelve cents then." The man looked carefully at Shuichi, who took out three coins of different sizes. When the man wanted to take them however Shuichi didn't let them go. "Wha-" The man started, but it was too late. Shuichi threw the coins and allot of smoke appeared. In the confusion the man jumped back, and Shuichi ran out of the shop. Outside he didn't rune however. He knew that the man wouldn't follow him, blocked by various weird things that blocked his door by now. He slowly walked away, and took a bite out of his bread...
~~
Shuichi arrived at Reigratto's place. It was a not big but not small building with the shop build into it. It was really nice to live there, and Reigratto lived quite happily. Shuichi always knew that his backing would come in fit one day. He stepped of the horse, and left it. It was not like anyone would steal a horse from Shuichi in this area anyway, and walked to the house. A very well done door was decorating Reigratto's house, and several silver looking objects made it even more pretty. Shuichi knocked two times on the door, and after a moment the door opened.
A short black haired woman wearing a apron was standing in front of Shuichi.
- "Oh, mister Nagayoshi! I didn't expect you to come! I was just cooking, and-" A nice woman, but always a little stressed. At least when Shuichi came, Reigratto swore the she wasn't like this normally.
- "Don't worry Marry. I won't stay long. If I will stay actually, is Reigratto available? And call me Shuichi, please." Shuichi smiled, but he had said that last line over a hundreds times to her.
- "Oh, yes! Of course! Come in, come in!"
When Shuichi walked inside he didn't even wait for her. He walked into the living room and saw what he expected. A demon looking man sitting in a purple robe reading a book in a huge and fine chair.
- "Good to see you again my friend."
The man rose his head, and a huge smile filled his face.
- "Very good indeed my former master."
"I told you not to call me that, it's very crumbling in front of... her." Shuichi pointed with his finger behind him, meaning Mary of course, Reigratto's wife.
- "Well, what brings you here? You haven't visited us in some months, I though you had forgotten us." Reigratto said with a complaining voice.
- "You know me Rei, I have a busy life and I help lots of people whenever I can help people around me!"
Reigratto smiled.
- "Heh, I sure know, all kinds of rumours go around here about you. People tend to talk allot when buying cakes and pies."
Shuichi bowed forwards smiling with a interested face but tried to answer with a on interested one, but he failed miserably.
- "Soo"¦ what to these people say about me?"
He big grin flowed on Reigratto's face.
- "WELL, the do you say you have quite some talent for being a rune master, and some even say you are very good looking too"¦ (He meant Shuichi's fan girls, as he had some around his age.) However some say that you ride too much around and that you should visit some old friends more often."
Shuichi let him fall completely in his chair relaxing more this way.
- "Hey, it was YOUR idea to settle down in a far off the center place"¦ like a little crowd is THAT bad."
- "It isn't my fault that you wanted to stay with that Indher person so badly. You really should get married too, then you would understand me. Or is this a way of coming closer to this person? Maybe you want Indher to be the lucky one?"
Shuichi blushed a little and sighted.
- "No, no, she's only helping me with my research, that's all. And I'm teaching these younglings, if I would go away they would miss a hell of allot, since I'm one of the very few on this island who actually knows runes properly"¦ it would be a too big change for them so suddenly"¦"
And then something hit him. The thing he needed was so close! Of course, that was the answer!
He was drowned away in his flow of thoughts and only heard Reigratto talking half eared about something with "excuses".
When Reigratto took out a huge cigar Shuichi stood up, and took it out of his hands before he ignited it.
- "You know that is bad for you. I really need to go now, I have lot's of work to do!" He put the cigar into one of his pockets.
- "It seems that something crazy hit you again? It's that isn't it? I know that look in your eyes whenever it happens"¦ well there's nothing to do against it once it begins, I'm glad that I could be in help of something."
Soon he stood outside in front of his horse holding some pies that Marry had handed him, even after he had rejected them. He heard a loud "Come back soon" and he departed swiftly. He was just about to finish his ace.
~~ Night ~~
It was black, the only source of light was the moon and some lanterns who were standing far off by the road. Shuichi walked further in to the park, to a place where he wouldn't be seen. To a place where he could test his newest experiment. He made sure that no one would find him, by placing some anti discovery measures, and he walked towards a giant rock.
He took out with his left hand a small book, a note book, and pulled his right hand out too. On his right hand he had a hand glove filled with all kinds of weird signs. These were however hard to see and the only good to see things were two circles filled with some signs in them in the hand palm and on the top of it.
He opened the book finding the intentioned page immediately, and touched with his two biggest fingers the page. Something shone shortly, but nothing more happened. He now took a deep breath, and touched with his right hand the rock. Immediately all kinds of sign appeared on it, and with the same speed the rock changed into a silver ball.
- "Great."
He hid the book, and he had the same, or at least same looking glove in his left hand. He let the centers in his palms touch, and just like the glove took information from the book, his left hand took information from his right. He touched the now silver ball, and something began to shine red, and the ball was back to it's original state, a round rock.
- "Now for the final test"¦"
He took both his hand in front of him, and touched the rock now. The light flashed and disappeared, if one had a good eye, he would see the rock changing into a ball and backwards constantly. In instance the rock disappeared. Something blue looking like gas was now floating in between his two palms. It was like fell mist, coloured dark blue.
He closed his palms and opened them again. The mist was gone, but the signs on his gloves seemed to shine"¦ blue.
He could feel a great flow of joy coming, and put his hands into his pocket. There he felt something"¦ it was long, and a little soft"¦
The cigar he took away from Reigratto.
He took it out and looked at it for a while. Then he put it into his mouth and lighted it.
- "I guess I deserve something sometimes too!"
~~ ~~ Apparently somewhere else ~~ ~~
Puco looked upwards at Sienna.
"Of course you are ready Senny! He's your BROTHER! If I had one I would play with him aaaaaa-aaaaaall the time!"
She stood up and raised her hands. "I would show him everything I saw, and I would be NEVER alone! And even if he did something suu-uuper mean to me, I wouldn't be mad, and I would forgive him anyway!
The fact the she was born alone and lived alone was very outstanding now. She turned to Sienna.
"Let's go and find him! It can't be far away can it?!"
Posted by: ElderScrollinIt on Saturday January 12th, 2008
// Need to be on more often. Might need your help for this one Xorlak.
Koji floated far above the flying capital, gazing out into the open, Seeing everything around her as if Welkin had never been destroyed. She thought she would never be more happy living on the old Crimson capital, but she was wrong. It wasn't as fun as she hoped it would be. Hence every now and then she floated above, cross-legged, observing the lands below.
The younger Velkens played and chased eachother around in their make-believe Welkin, as if they didn't even care their old homeworld was demolished. "Stupid kids..." Koji thought to herself. She then remembered a time when she was young. Nothing was ever easy back then. She wasn't even 'able' to play with her friends or goof around with them... if she had any, for that matter.
"This is just so boring! I wish I was out there, fighting something! I don't care if I go alone or not, I just want to fight! I've been parched for battle for ages... hang on a sec, I think the sky just got darker... and that smell... oh no." The floating capital was nearing the old Dark Continent. She may have not cared if it weren't for the ships and the people everywhere.
"That can't be good!" She flew back down to the ground and went into the highest tower of the island. Hopefully, she would find Virmir in there. This news was bad indeed. She climbed in through a window and landed on the red carpet of a throne-like room, with no throne. There were plenty of Velkens scattered about in the room, yet it took Koji a matter of seconds to find Virmir among them. She put her first and second fingers on her forehead, in an attempt to telepathically speak to Virmir.
"Lord Virmir, it's Koji. The Island is nearing Terian! Normally I wouldn't care as much, but there are people gathered around the south coast as if they are going to start fighting. It looks like the Federation. Do you think we should help them at all?"
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday January 12th, 2008
- Random forest in Terian -
Sienna took a deep breath and stood up. "I'm a little nervous but excited to about this. Thank you so much Puco, for your help. This will be great."
Suddenly there was a rumbling sound. The trees shook, leaves fell from them and birds flew out.
"What's going on?" Sienna then went to where there was an opening through the trees to outside valleys. There she saw several gigantic spider-like undead monsters. "I think it's a Kandarinian Army. Oh no. We better stay safe..."
--- ---
- Terian, South-eastern coast -
"You nervous?" Duilin asked Zimmerman
"Wha? Oh, no...not so much." He replied with a smile.
"Hahah." Duilin laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "You'll do alright."
"See...look at that." Firstman sneered.
"What?" Marshall replied, while still reading his book.
"Right there. General Talonscar is already treating the new kid better than me."
"Well of course he is."
"What?"
"He's new, like, really new. He's boosting his confidence so he'll do better."
"Yeah...but I mean...never mind." Firstman crossed his arms and looked out of the window of the ship. "How long is this going to be."
"I'm sure we're almost there. Just calm down."
"I'm calm."
"No you aren't." Marshall lowered his book "I haven't said this before, but ever since we chose to leave the Aspyes, you've been acting all well...different."
"Yeah, whatever. It's nothing."
"No, it's something. What is it?"
Firstman lowered his voice to a whisper. "I...don't like the Federation."
"Neither do I, but it's probably the best thing for Gaian right now."
"No, I mean. I hate it, I think this is probably one of the worst forms of leadership we've had. Sure it's working now, but that's because it's new. But it's gonna fall down, and it's gonna make things way worse and the world is going to end in a decade or two, trust me."
"What do you mean?"
"Listen, the only way the world can stay together is with total government or no government. And total government is completely cruel, so that's why leaving the Aspyes was wrong. People just don't understand. You should agree with me on this."
"I understand. It's just that people don't want to be treated equally, or if they are then people won't work as hard. Say if you were given everything you want in life, would you feel motivated to work to get more?"
"Well...maybe."
"You see, you don't know. Now say if you had a neighbour who had a house twice as big as yours and had more stuff and a generally better life than yours. What would you do?"
"I dunno. Steal his stuff."
"Yeah, but with the Federation, we have officials who prevent you from doing that. Well, you are free to go and try, nobody is stopping you. But once you get caught, you can except a good whooping and some time in jail. You wouldn't want that so what would you do?"
"I guess, try and get some better stuff on my own."
"Yeah, and in order to do that you have to work harder. And working harder means you contribute more to society. Envy is just one of the many motivations that help fuel society."
"That sounds kind of blasphemous. Isn't envy bad?"
"So they say." Marshall then continued to read his book.
"Alright, we're almost there." Duilin said standing up. "Okay, we will split up into two groups. Vaughn, Lagart you will lead Ryan, Hance, Zuhani and Sheri. Me and Marshall will go with Firstman and Zimmerman.
Soon enough the ship landed ashore not to far from General Nymphadora's ship.
"Alright, let's go!"
The squad then exited the ship and grouped up with Nymphadora's squad.
//I believe Ein said he'll control the oncoming army, which I think he already started in an earlier post.\\
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Saturday January 12th, 2008
- Terian, Southeastern Coast -
"High General Talonscar, nice of you to join us." Aaron walked over to Duilin and his group. "This is your squad...? I thought it would be much larger than this! Bah, that matters not now, I need to tell you something. The battle is about to start and the men look a bit nervous. It's probably because we haven't had a decent-sized battle in three years. I would like to ask you a favor. Battle just isn't for me. Not anymore, anyways. I would like you to lead Alpha Squadron, my Drannivolkan Elites. I'm tired of fighting. I've already told them to listen to your command. Very well, I'll be taking my leave. Good luck."
With that, Aaron walked off to the coast and boarded a small ship. The ship was big enough to fit ten people, most likely the Elite's ship. He waved good bye as he set off to Ariosis. "I sure hope that man knows what he's doing with a small squad like that. I hope I made the right decision in letting ten more join up with him. Meh, I was actually eager to fight. But no, that's not for me anymore."
And then, there it was. The storming feet, the sound of a march off in the distance. They were drawing close to the field. Duilin made good time, as they were almost upon the Federation soldiers.
"Draw swords!" Nymphadora unsheathed a brilliant silver blade. It shined even when in darkness. Geomarcus followed and got out his broadsword. The rest of the paladins then unsheathed their swords in a massive, unorganized scraping sound. At least her army was ready. Now for everyone else.
"You heard the lady, ready your weapons!" Jacobie was in front of his army and awaiting the enemy with an eager thirst for blood. His single katana Chillrend was with him, and Karma unsheathed her katana Blazuken. She'd changed the name from Burnermaul, and Jacobie changed his from Chillmaul. The rest of the lizardmen unsheathed their broadswords and picked up their hammers, maces, and axes. General Zabel ordered her unit to do the same, and they followed in suit.
The Verrandel twins already had their Drannivolkan mages preped for battle a long time ago. Each of them had their hands ready for a fire spell or a light spell, depending on the type of enemy.
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday January 12th, 2008
- Terian, Southeastern Coast -
"Don't worry Consular, my group may be small, but trust me. They're good. Helternia has a good habit of being the homeland for some good fighters." Duilin said back to Aaron.
"But yes. I'd be glad to lead your squad." Duilin nodded and waved back as Aaron left.
He didn't really understand that man. He was half Duilin's age but he already acted like an old man. It was unbelievable. But he guessed Aaron may have been more of a diplomat, or he simply just doesn't know what he wants. Regardless, Aaron was a fine consular and was a worthy addition to the federation and he was glad to have a kid like him on his side.
"Alright, draw your weapons soldiers!" Duilin shouted to Alpha Squad.
"Okay kids." He said to his own personal squad. "Once the kandies start rushing in. Split up into the groups I told you two. Vaughn, I'm going to trust you and your group can come up with some heroic and creative ways of taking out the enemy."
"Yes sir. I've got my levitation ability pretty well. I can make some pretty high jumps and can hover!" Vaughn boasted.
"Wait, till you start fully flying before you start bragging." Duilin quipted with a smirk. "And Lagart... just do your thing."
Lagart smiled and nodded.
"Okay, Marshall, Grant, Firstman. We're going to fight along with the Drannivolka for a little while. Marshall summon something big, like an ogre or maybe a minotaur. Firstman and Grant, you can do some sword fighting. I'll take the middle ground and do some spell casting and sword fighting too."
He unsheathed the Iduran.
"It's been awhile since I've used this guy. I think I might give him another go today."
"Him?" Grant asked. "With all due respect, it's a sword sir. What's so special about it."
"It's a long story. But this NOT just a sword!" Duilin replied back, almost sounding a little offended.
"Oh, sorry sir."
"Don't...don't worry about. Anyways, let's kick some ass!"
Posted by: D. Ein on Saturday January 12th, 2008
- Terian, South-Eastern coast: about 10 minutes ago -
-"ALRIGHT, GUYS!!!", Keshel shouted to his regiment's squad of about 100 people. "We don't know how big this force is, or how powerful they are! We'll have visual contact in about 10 minutes, make your estimates then! But even when you do see them, assume the worst! We all know we can't depend on our eyes to tell the strength of the enemy anymore. SO LET'S GIVE 'EM HELL!!!"
The crowd roared. Keshel was pleased with the current turn of events... maybe he'd actually have to break some sweat this time. The best part, of course, will be fighting alongside his comrades in battle, for the first time in a loooong while. At that point, he saw Captain Goethe's messenger push his way to the crowd.
-"Dammit," he muttered, "That can't be good."
And indeed it wasn't. The messenger finally got through, saluted Keshel, and began singing his song about the Captain's orders again.
-"Acting-lieutenant Keshel! Captain Goethe would like to request that you send back your squadron."
-"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
-"Yes, sir. She, uh, mildly expressed her wish -" The messenger rubbed a large cut on his left cheek - "that you send your troops back for the crusade. She did, however, allow you to keep the squad's Necrolytes, as they have not been tested in the battle proper yet."
-"Damn you...", Keshel growled. He knew there was nothing he could do, though. "Fine, take them. How many Necrolytes that leaves me?"
-"Fifteen, sir."
The acting-lieutenant's jaw dropped to the ground.
-"Wait a minute. Just let me get this straight. Our captain, with a little less than five years of commanding experience, is telling me that I am to defeat a small army with FIFTEEN people?!"
-"She anticipated your response, sir, and told me to tell you not to take Necrolytes lightly. She would like to remind you that they are the Necromancer Stalkers of Kandarin, after all."
-"Whatever," Keshel groaned. "Just make sure to write on my gravestone that I was following orders. Anyone who takes 15 people into combat against a force possibly twenty times bigger than this is an idiot. In this case, blame the captain, not me."
-"Yes, sir. If you'll excuse me."
The two troopers saluted each other, and the messenger left. He shouted something to the squad, but Keshel couldn't hear him. He sat down, and watched his regiment line up and start marching back to the main force, leaving 15 Necrolytes with their Augments behind. He eyed them as they approached him.
-"I suppose this is it, huh... All I've got is fifteen guys and fifteen metal zombies. How I wish the captain was a little more understanding..."
Keshel noted that these Necrolytes were dressed differently from your average Kandarinian warrior. Their battle suit was a lot shorter, ending up looking more like a jacket than a short coat. For casters, surprisingly, they all had short rapiers as weapons. The biggest difference, though, was probably the fact that they had a black hooded cape on them as well.
-"On the contrary, pan," he heard a raspy voice coming from one of them. "I am surprised she sent that many of us to deal with a normal human force. Two or three would have been enough."
-"Yes," another one replied. "Pan Vladimir over there, in protest, declared that he will fight them without a Khodovik."
Keshel looked at the strange mages.
-"What's that?"
-"A Khodovik? Pan Keshel might know them as Marchers."
The rest of the Necrolytes made disgusted faces at the mention of their creation said in normal Kandarinian. It seems as though they had their own language, or at least their own terms for the undead beasts they create.
-"Pan Keshel does not need to worry," added a third Necrolyte. "Under the command of captain pan Ssesk, we sometimes received training from the greatest pan Sovereign Kronos himself."
-"Although," interjected the first one. "Sometimes I got the opinion that pan Sovereign was just bored with nothing else to do. In either case, we're ready."
--- --- ---
- Terian, South-Eastern coast, present time -
This certainly did not happen often. Keshel was pleasantly surprised with the way things turned out. After a few minutes of scouring the land for remains, almost all Necrolytes resided in their tall Marcher creatures. Each of them also had an army of about twenty zombies which they gathered while taking over the towns, along with captain Goethe's fifth regiment. Keshel himself stayed inside one of the Marchers, to get a better view of the battle.
The enemy was finally in sight...
-"Yevgeny, please inform the other Necrolytes that we're a go for attack."
-"Yes, pan Keshel."
--- --- ---
- Random forest in Terian -
An ordinary patrol... so boring...
Konstantin, himself mounting one of his pauks, was told to circle around the forest in this region. It was obvious that this was punishment for his neglect for his vischy guardian, or, as the non-Necrolyte Kandarinians called it, Augment. Well, the vischy was fine now, so why did pani General send him on this boring job? Besides, his guardian is his property anyway, so what business does she have ordering him around with it? Then again, it IS pani General, so he shouldn't be complaining. Instead, he should be thankful that she didn't turn him into a vischy guardian himself.
Suddenly, he felt a jolt coming from his vischy. It must've found something... Wow, maybe this patrol will turn out to be not as boring as he thought, after all. He stopped his pauks, and climbed off the one that he was on, headed toward the direction of the jolt.
---
The spider-like monsters suddenly stopped. In the newly-formed silence, Sienna could hear faint, muffled moaning coming from a few meters away. The moaning got closer, now accompanied with a strange sound reminiscent of metal scraping against metal. It drew closer, and closer, and closer...
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday January 12th, 2008
- Fishing ship, sea west of Tjed -
Kelmarr opened the door slowly. Slowly...
Intense sunlight blinded him, and he had to look away. Once his eyes adjusted, he poked his head out and cautiously looked out onto the open ship deck, his heart pounding with fear.
Nothing.
Phew....
He breathed a sigh of relief. No horrible monsters here. No fish men feasting on human remains or anything. Just an empty deck on a peaceful fishing boat. To think he was so scared...
Wait... empty?
He poked his muzzle out the door, angling his ears around, searching for sounds other than the waves. Where in blazes were all the sailors? The alchohol-stenched humans that tattooed anchors and their skin and crap... Shouldn't they be crawling around the place, tending to the sails? Why wasn't there anyone on that... steering wheel thing...?
He stepped out onto the deck, pressing his back against the wall so he might peer around the corner. No one. Great...
He gritted his teeth and drew two daggers-- one in each paw. He considered drawing the sword, hoping perhaps that the gaudy thing had some kinda fancy magic to go with it, but he figured it better to stick with weapons he knew worked... Blast it.... couldn't he catch one break in his entire life?!
He took another careful look around the corner. There... There was something on the wooden floor close to the edge railing. A burn mark?
He gulped and slinked towards it, ready to be jumped at any side. Holding the twin daggers to his sides, he leaned over the thing on the ground.
A human skeleton. Scorched? It couldn't have been... it was deteriorated and crumbling, as if it had been there for millennia... the pieces flaking off to dust in the brisk sea winds...
That certainly wasn't there when he got on board...
- New Welkin, Crimson Palace, Virmir's Chambers -
The silver furred fox's ear twitched slightly at the receipt of the telepathic message, but he did not show it in his face. At least for the moment. His eyes were focused upon a scroll and the quill in his hand flowed across the parchment in fluid strokes. When he was finished, he lifted the paper and handed it to Anselm, sitting across from the desk from him.
"Please, leave me."
Anselm's ears perked in surprise for a moment, but then he stood and bowed. "As you wish, my lord."
He turned, the bright metal of a squad leader's insignia pinned upon his chest. Velkens never wore their ranks in battle, but amongst their friends in times of peace, it was a mark of honor. And Anselm beamed it, a small confident smile crossing his muzzle.
Two younger Velkens followed the recently christened squad leader eagerly, shutting the door behind them. None noticed Ko'ji in the window, and Virmir was left alone at his desk.
Virmir slid another sheet of paper to the center of the desk and dipped the quill in ink.
"Riuki, please enter and sit," he said not taking his eyes off his task.
His movements were slow, suggesting age was beginning to catch up with him. The silver white fur that normally framed the Velkens' faces hid their hairs grayed with age as well, but streaks of white were beginning to show through the black fur that framed his eyes.
"We've been over this before, Riuki," he began, a gentleness still evident in his firm tone, "we will not interfere with the land dwellers' wars, nor will we take any more human lives unless absolutely necessary. That counts for both sides. This isn't our world, and we have no right to judge them. Besides, there is no way they could accept us. Not after what we've done to them..."
He trailed off for a moment, then looked her in the eye. "Should Duilin call, then we shall come, as we are indebted to him. But until then, and I pray that it never happens, then we shall remain in the skies. Hopefully we will never have to draw blood again..."
He looked at her for another moment before breathing a heavy sigh, his ears drooping. "... Although we are also all free to choose our own paths in life. And I can see the one you follow here is not for you..."
He leaned over the desk. "Riuki, I hereby release you from my tutelage. You have learned much over the past three years, and there is nothing more I can teach you."
He opened a drawer and withdrew a shiny medallion of winged fox with crossed swords under its paws. He slid it across the desk. "With skills that outrank both a Blade Knight and a Battle Mage, you are from this point on an Elite. An independent warrior, capable of choosing your own path. If it is your desire to join the battle below, then so be it. Just remember, you will always have a home here."
He smiled a soft, fatherly grin.
Posted by: ElderScrollinIt on Sunday January 13th, 2008
- New Welkin, Crimson Palace, Virmir's Chambers (above Terian's southern coast) -
Koji slowly entered the room from the window and placed a paw on Virmirs desk, picking up the trinket and placing it around her neck. She beamed with happiness. "Thank you, my lord... my friend..." She bowed to him and walked over to the window, putting a paw on the sil, then looking back, smiling.
"I'll probably be back here after the battle, to look after my siblings and such... but if I'm not, please... send Helix my love." Koji then turned around and leapt out of the window, soaring into the sky like a rocket. She then flew down from the capital and landed on the coast, right near Duilin and his squad.
"I'm here to help you fight," Koji said with a smile, "it would be an honor if you'd have me at your side." Koji bowed, then unsheathed her sword as everyone already has. She then looked forward and picked up a familiar scent. Unlife. The undead would be upon them in a matter of minutes, if not seconds.
Posted by: D. Ein on Sunday January 13th, 2008
- South-Eastern Terian border -
Keshel eyed the force. It wasn't very large, but several of the individuals in it seemed a little off... Like the one with the strange sword, or the one that just dropped in, consumed by fire. He will have to take one of them on himself, probably. Most likely the one with the sword...
-"Yevgeny, what's the status of attack?"
-"Right now the Necrolytes are amassing their Mertvetzi in an attacking fashion, pan Keshel."
-"I'm sorry, you'll have to be more general with me... I'm unfamiliar with these terms."
-"This is fine. I am not as piously obsessed with calling things by their proper name as my comrades. Mertvetzi, singular Mertvetz, is the name for any creature we control, undead in general. Peshka is name to the ordinary thralls that we raise. Other, more complex creatures, have their own name. I will tell you when it is needed, pan Keshel."
-"Sounds good. By the way, who's the strongest one of this group?"
-"You, pan Keshel. Necromancy-wise, it is pan Vladimir down at the bottom. I believe he is trying to raise a Pauk, a shorter, but more armoured version of our Khodovik."
-"But how? No one's died yet."
-"You will be surprised, pan Keshel, at how many creatures perished here in the past. Under a short layer of soil there is a fairly large bone field in this area. As such, we have the field advantage in this situation. Captain pani Goethe must have known about this, as usually she would send Stalkers with us to provide usable corpses. Even then, we have our vischy guardians in case if the Stalkers are unavailable."
-"That metal-plated thing there? The Augment?"
-"Yes. Words cannot describe their strength. You must watch, pan Keshel."
-"Alright."
Keshel leaned out of the Marcher, looking at the battlefield below. The clouds were unusually thick today, veiling the whole field in a sheet of blackness. This will probably be an advantage for us as well, he thought, as the undead do not need to see in order to hit their target. They've got some strange way of working...
Suddenly, Keshel noticed the one labelled as "pan Vladimir" in, exactly as Yevgeny put it, a shorter, but heavier-armoured version of the Marcher Keshel was on right now. The spider creature shambled over to the group of invaders. Vladimir stood up, exposing himself outside of his Pauk.
-"We the Kandarinian Sovereignty, Order of Necrolytes demand your designation to coming here. An unsatisfactory answer will result in death... as will a satisfactory one, actually. So choose quickly: death or death. The clock's ticking."
--- --- ---
- A random forest in Terian -
The branches gave way as the scraping of metal reached its peak...
A sight undescribably horrible emerged from the depths of the forest. It looked human... in that, it had two arms, two legs, and a head, but there the similarities ended. The creature's skin was entirely covered in small metal sheets, literally nailed into it. Streaks of caked blood coming from below the sheets suggested that the person was alive when... this was done to it. The face was also covered by a flat piece of metal, with four particularly painful-looking bolts sticking out of the corners. Muffled moaning and laboured breathing were coming from beneath that sheet of metal.
The creature moved. Its movements were extremely twitchy, and were accompanied by the sound of metal plates rubbing against each other. It raised its hand, and then, shaking it, pointed it at Sienna and Puco, emitting a chilling wail.
-"Ah, there you are..."
A man came into the clearing from the same dark tunnel that the metal undead. It was obvious that the sight of Sienna and Puco surprised him.
-"Dear, what do we have here? A pani and a panna lost in the woods... Please excuse my vischy, he has no manners."
The Augment backed off a little, while the Necrolyte offered his hand to Sienna.
-"I'm Konstantin, of the Kandarinian Order of Necrolytes. You must be from one of the villages around here... You know, it's rather dangerous wandering around in the woods like this, especially with the panna there. All sorts of vile creatures tend to be looking for food at night. Come to my pauks, I'm returning from my patrol anyway. I can give you a lift back to your village."
Posted by: Dude Man on Sunday January 13th, 2008
- Medium-size Kandarinian Town -
Nex signed himself and the rest of his Talonscar members simply naming them things like Elite 0051, Gleeper 0025 and Steam Demon 0005. He was satisfied with his long list of recruits, yet slightly annoyed with his sore wrist and the massive boredom he's been enduring. He never had to sign up all of his members like this before, they were simply just members, and were recognized by appearance. They were all one big happy, virgin sacrificing, blood ritualizing family.
The demon handed in the sheets and then went back to Wing. "That was perhaps the most mind numbing thing I've done in three years."
"What about before then?" Wing asked.
"Oh, I was floating around in Limbo, pretty much. I hated it. You know what they make you do there?"
"No sir."
"Nothing, they actually force you to sit around and do nothing. At first it doesn't seem so bad, but it gets boring really quickly. Six years I spent in there. I actually pity those who spend eternity."
"Wait, so you've seriously been in Limbo?"
"Yes-sir-e."
"Now, anyways. You were going to talk to me about, what was it? Food?"
--- ---
- Terian South-West Coast, Forest -
Sienna stuttered a bit, she looked still rather frightened by that creature.
"Um...w-we aren't from any sort of village...We are just wanderers." She said.
---
- South-Eastern Terian border -
"Attack!!" Duilin shouted.
Upon his sword, an army of Drannivolka with their swords drawn, swarmed towards the undead army. A large amount of the felines began to fly around Vladimir and dive in swinging their swords.
Posted by: D. Ein on Sunday January 13th, 2008
- South-Eastern Terian border -
-"How cute. Panstwo thinks they can use their little butter knives to hurt me. So-wee."
Parrying several strikes with his rapier, Vladimir retreated back inside his Pauk. Some manner of small wings pulled over the entrance to the beast's insides, securing the Necrolyte inside his creature.
-"Heheh," Vladimir chuckled to himself. "Let's begin the fun now, shall we?"
The Pauk seemed to bend forward a little, taking on a definitely aggressive stance. Making several steps backward, it then charged into the bulk of the enemy. Not expecting such speed from such a cumbersome creature, two or three people were caught off-guard by it. They now hung loose on the spikes protruding from the Pauk's carapace.
Meanwhile, Yevgeny and Keshel continued to watch the battle from their Marcher.
-"Idiot," sighed Yevgeny. "Looks like all his talent is going to go to waste at this rate. That is not how one is supposed to defeat foes - by going in straight forward. Pawns go first."
The wavering line of basic undead began creeping forward. They were getting cut down relatively easily, but they certainly did their job of diverting attention. Meanwhile, another Marcher moved in.
-"What's that guy doing?", wondered Keshel.
-"That there is pan Mikola. He developed a curious technique with his Khodovik. Watch him, pan Keshel."
The Marcher certainly looked different from others - on its bottom, it had a short, very thick stump. It seemed to be made out of mushed-together bone and sinew. The Marcher continued walking through the enemy lines...
(Attack: 1\3)
--- --- ---
- Terian South-West coast, forest -
-"Wanderers? We don't get many wanderers around these parts. Hmm, you're lucky to be found by me, then. Anyone found walking around without a destination is generally thought to be an intruder. After that, you're either killed on the spot, tortured to death, or turned into one of these guys," Konstantin said half-laughingly, patting his Augment on the shoulder. The creature cringed a little. "Depends on how the particular Kandarinian is feeling."
He finally noticed Sienna's scared glances at the Augment.
-"Ah... I see. It took me a while to get used to him, too. That's fine."
The Augment walked away, in those same unsettling, twitchy movements. Meanwhile, Konstantin sat down.
-"I will let you go. However, I must warn you. You are in Kandarin-controlled territory. To reiterate, if you're found by any Kandarinian soldier, you will perish, one way or the other. I am too much of a gentleman to let a pani and a young panna suffer a fate as bad as the Vozvischenie - what others call the Augmentation. Just imagine - white-hot metal plates are applied to your naked body, and once your skin stops sizzling, four painfully long nails are driven into the corners of each plate. This whole time, a Necrolyte is standing by you, keeping you alive and conscious for the procedure. Then comes the worst part... the faceplate."
Konstantin sighed.
-"But enough about that. You've seen the result, and let me tell you, it isn't a very pleasant thing at all. As I said, I can't let that happen. I give you two choices. You can walk free, right now, and stumble into a Kandarinian patrol - and hope that they kill you on the spot, instead of taking you to a town for the Vozvischenie. Or, I can disguise the two of you as prisoners, and get you out of here safe."
Having said all that, Konstantin got up. His spider beasts moved over, and, in a few steps, stopped by him.
-"If I were you, I'd pick the second option. In Kandarin territory, everything has a mind of its own. The Sovereign's Razvedchiks - scouts - are everywhere, and if you happen to bump into one... no amount of running will save you. But either way, the choice is yours."
--- --- ---
- Medium-sized Kandarinian town -
-"Oh, yes. Well, you see... This is the one question that has been bothering me."
Wing stopped to rub his chin.
-"As a non-human, do you get... the feeling? I am talking, of course, about the heart. When you eat their still-beating heart... It feels like their consciousness, their very soul is being added to your own. The effect is such that I cannot resist the temptation of a meal whenever I see it. Good lady General is probably either completely oblivious to this interest of mine, or is simply choosing to ignore it. In either scenario, I must ask you: what is the safest approach to consuming a human... without, say, anyone knowing about it?"
Posted by: Melchior on Monday January 14th, 2008
-Eastern Gaian Ocean, six miles north of Tjed-
The large, makeshift raft floats slowly south; nothing else can be seen from horizon to horizon. On its flat surface is nothing more then a small simple tent, and a cheap windsail, both of which seem to be made of various patchwork cloths. From beneath the tent folds, an amorphous creature peeks out, his pure white eyes scanning the empty horizon from beneath a worn leather cap. As the membrane below his eyes vibrate, it mimics what sounds like a sigh. The voice it creates is relatively high pitched, sounding not quite alto, but certainly falsetto.
"Are we there yet? I really do not like all this water. I am not comfortable around it. Are we close? I am hungry." As he lets out another sigh, his eyes widen as he receives a telepathic message.
<No, Bishop, we're not there yet. I told you it would take awhile, but we didn't have a choice. From what I could tell, that land held nothing but wilderness and death, and the former was certainly not going to explain the latter... and you couldn't explain either. But, yes, we are close, I can sense land in the far distance. At our rate, we should be there shortly, five days at the most. And no, you're not hungry.>
As his eyes relaxed, the blue gel went about adjusting the sails according to the subtle directions he received.
"...Well, I am bored. And you cannot blame me for not knowing, it is not as if anyone has ever asked me before."
While retreating back into the ragtag tent, the sunlight glints brightly off the emerald hilt of the dagger on the gels awkwardly worn belt.
<I know, Bishop, just be patient. We should just hope that we find someone lucid enough to talk to us. If all we find is more ruins... well, let's just hope we don't.>
The large, makeshift raft floats slowly south; nothing else can be seen from horizon to horizon.
Posted by: Mikado on Monday January 14th, 2008
~~ Terian South-West coast, forest ~~
Puco looked disgusted at the creature. Hate for it filled her, but sympathy rose too, for the being that it used to be, a normal human. She wouldn't perish like that, but she won't be some kind of prisoner either.
"Well mister Pani, I see you don't like these methods either, but we don't for sure! I don't want to be a prisoner of the death. Death... I never even though about it..." She looked away for a very short while, and returned her look at the man.
She raised one head, and showed her fist.
"Mister Pani, we don't NEED to flee. You see, we'll just fight back! I'm not scared the one that are ALREADY death!"
She touched Sienna in her leg, because she couldn't reach her side without showing it.
"A-are those REALLY d-e-ead?!" She whispered, without any sound of courage, like she just was posing to the man.
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday January 14th, 2008
- Fishing boat, sea west of Tjed -
Kelmarr circled the disintegrating skeleton, dread filling his heart. What on Gaian possibly could have caused this...? He held his daggers to his sides, eyes nervously twitching about.
There... another one...
And another...
The deck was filled with them.
The entire crew?!
"Gah..." He stumbled back, nearly tripping on his tail. It took all his might not to scream like a little girl. And only because he knew that would summon whatever horrible monster did this.
He stood there and breathed, feeling the sea wind kick up. It was cold, even through his fur. Don't panic... Don't panic...
Then he heard a scraping sound...
Panic!!!!!
He spun around, tail frazzled, and slashed at a wisp of wind directly behind him. He charged his right dagger with flame, and the other with ice, totally unsure what he was up against. Mist surrounded him, and the edges of the ship became indistinct. He clenched his teeth and growled, eyes wild with fear.
Fear... the word... the notion rang through his mind. He spun around again and again as the pale grayness replaced every part of the boat, even the wooden deck beneath his feet.
The scraping sound again... a shadow lurching across the ground...
What.
Do.
You.
FEAR?!?!
It caught him by the leg, quickly wrapping around his lower body. Now he screamed in abject horror, dropping his knives as the coils tightened. Off-white scales paralyzed his body, and a huge serpentine head descended from the mists above, crimson eyes glowing as it smiled...
Posted by: Ted Der on Monday January 14th, 2008
- The Dead Island -
Royen Beastkeeper laughed. "Har, har, har! Can't speak? Didn't the lovely Gwenivere tell you? You need the help of another!" He held up a piece of cloth.
"How do you know Gwen?" Akran asked, puzzled.
"Well, me and my crew traveled to Margonite Island." Royen looked at Akran as if to say 'Duh!' He continued, "She told me everything, after a little persuasion, of course."
"What do you mean by everything?"
"Well, I do know that your name is Akran Drennen and you are searching for a stone," said Royen clasping his hands together, "And I know that we will fight over it, but you will lose, of course. "˜Tis "˜cause you are weak and too "˜fraid to fight the master of the seas! Har, har, har!"
"Ah," said Akran, "I see. You would like to get your filthy hands on the Spinel, I presume?" Akran shook his head and stepped closer to Royen. "You really think I'd let a bastard like you steal the only thing that can help me defeat my brother?"
"I have no intention on stealing it, mate," answered Royen, "From whom would I steal it from? No one owns it, yet."
"So, what happens now?"
"Well, I says it like it is. We could have a full out battle - my crew versus half of yours," Royen smirked, "or we can settle this like two pirates and take it out on the open sea, but I know you wouldn't settle for that either. Gwen told me a lot about you. You fancy her, don't you?"
When no reply came, Royen chuckled and stepped right up to Akran's face. "Ah ha"¦ yes of course," he said seeing the look on Akran's face, "I know what you want." Royen and Akran both gripped their bows tightly. Royen had his feathered raven bow.
"What is it that I want?" said Akran through his clenched jaw.
"We'll play it by your rules." Royen backed up and addressed both crews. "Everyone back off! This is between me and this kid: a duel between two archers." Royen laughed at the sound of it. Turning back to Akran, Royen said, "I'll give you ten seconds head start. Get your ass movin' chump! Har, har, har!"
Akran glared at Royen for one more second, and then took off in the direction of the nearest crumbling building. Royen did the same, but in the opposite direction.
When Akran got to the house, he spun around the wall, and not a moment to soon, for an arrow came whizzing by him almost taking his head off. It thudded into the wooden wall with a cloud of black feathers. What the hell was Royen's bow made of?
"So much for the ten seconds," Akran muttered to himself as he drew an arrow and latched it onto his bow. He waited a few seconds then peeked out from behind the wall. All he could see was his crew running back in the direction of the ship followed by those pirates. "Damn it."
The house he was in was in better condition than the others, and it even had a staircase leading up to a second floor. Passing the mural, Akran tested the first few stairs. They seemed to hold, but he still climbed the rest carefully.
The second floor had no roof, only a couple of broken walls. Akran ducked behind one that would give him a clear shot of the ruin Royen was in. He tightened his grip on the bow string and carefully peeked over the wall. He quickly scanned the scene.
He saw a faint movement to his right so he got his bow ready and aimed it in the direction, still keeping his body protected by the wall. Akran stared down the shaft, ready to fire at anything that moved.
A few moments passed, and there was another movement. It was by the door frame of the house. Akran could only see a foot sticking out from behind it. He aimed, and fired. The boot was pierced and flung across the room. Oh no, a decoy! Akran felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder as a black feathered arrow hit him. He fell back on his back and rolled over. Grimacing, he ripped out the arrow. Ouch!
Akran breathed heavily. An odd sensation spread from the wound across his chest. He tried to ignore it and he sat up with his back to the wall. He took a chance and glanced around the corner. To his surprise, Royen was standing in the middle of the ashes, totally exposed. Ignoring the pain in his right shoulder, Akran drew another arrow and took aim and fired it below at Royen. He didn't move, even though the arrow missed by inches.
Royen looked at the arrow that just missed him and then raised his hands and called up to Akran. "Go on! Try and hit me again!"
So, Akran tried again. He pulled himself together and fired another arrow. It missed again. What is going on? Royen was in plain view. Akran's shoulder was injured, but that shouldn't stop him hitting an impossible-to-miss target, yet his arrows still missed him. Soon there were several arrows in the dirt around Royen, all just inches away from their mark.
"Give up! You can never hit me now!" Royen yelled up to Akran all the while laughing, but keeping a calm composure. "Don't you know that ravens are bad luck?" He held up his raven bow. "Your done, matey."
Does that bow actually make me miss? Akran couldn't believe it.
"My luck will probably soon wear off, so I guess I should be leaving." With that, Royen hurried to the building Akran was on top of to claim his prize - the Majeuri Spinel. He had his piece of cloth ready and everything.
Akran groaned and tried to stand up. He was unsteady on his feet. The wound was making him nauseous. Had Royen poisoned his arrows too?
He heard Royen enter the house. No! Must stop him"¦ Akran tried to take a step.
Below he heard a gasp and cry of triumph. Suddenly the entire structure shook violently. Akran stumbled to the stairs, but fell over. He was starting to lose consciousness. Blackness was closing in around him as the house continued to shake.
Akran vaguely saw, through half closed eyes, Royen running away from the crumbling building holding a shiny object in his hand. That was it. Royen Beastkeeper had found the Majeuri Spinel.
The floor collapsed and Akran was sent tumbling into darkness.
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday January 14th, 2008
- South-Eastern Terian border -
"Alright boys." Duilin said to the others. "Let's take out the Marcher."
"How?" Firstman asked.
"I'll fly above it and charge up a large fireball. Marshall, summon up something big to distract it and hold it off from attacking anyone else, then summon a wyvern and start shooting it at, further distracting it. My fireball likely won't kill it, but it will knock it over. The necrolyte will likely still be alive as well. If he's still alive then Grant, Firstman and the big-monster need to rush in and kill him, really quickly. It's very important that he gets killed quickly."
"Why?" Grant asked.
"Trust me. Alright, let's go." Duilin flew up in the air, until he was about 60 feet in the air. Once he reached the height he began to summon fire into his hands to create a large fireball.
Marshall held out his amulet and shot a blue fog that formed into an ogre and then shot another fog that formed into a wyvern. He hopped onto the wyvern and then flew up in the air and began to circle around the wyvern and the ogre rushed towards the marcher. Marshall had a fire crystal loaded in his MagiPistol, he held onto the wyvern with one hand and shot fireballs at the marcher with his MagiPistol.
The ogre ran towards on of the Marcher's legs and then smashed his club right into it...
---
- Terian South-West coast, forest -
Sienna seemed to have noticeably calmed down a bit. She looked at Puco. "He did say that we'd only be pretending to be prisoners. Then again, I'm not one hundred percent sure if it would be the best idea to trust him."
"Although, I don't know what you'd have to gain, to lead us on and then crush us. But a lot of you Kandarin's are a weird lot...No offensence. It's not like I'm a very normal person myself."
--- ---
- Medium-sized Kandarinian town -
"That my friend..." Nex began. "I'm not very experienced with. Because, if you've noticed I am famous for wounding, torturing, killing and then eating my human victims. You see, if I wasn't famous for doing what I do, then I would be the person to ask. But I don't bother hiding what I do from you mortals because frankly, I don't care too much what you think of me. In fact, I act fairly normal for a demon, so people shouldn't even judge me in the first place. It's been a proven fact that human meat is the healthiest thing for demons to eat. They've got a lot more water in them then demons do, and demons come from a hot place. We get humans coming into Thanatos, a world of fire and brimstone, all the time. Where else can we get our water?"
"Yet sadly, you've chosen an odd path for a human. This is something that will make people think ill of you. However, I don't. In fact I praise you. You'd make a good demon."
"But eating somebody with them knowing, well simply you'd have to learn to kill without people learning. Or do you wish to feast on the dead in the battle field? Well, I suppose you could volunteer to manage the dead. Or work at a crematorium perhaps. And since I like your style so much, I'd even be willing to cover for you if necessary. Say, if I know you're in a room having some dinner, I'd advise people not to bother you. Hmm?"
Posted by: D. Ein on Monday January 14th, 2008
- Medium Kandarinian town -
Wing smiled again with one of his warm smiles.
-"Thanks, Nex. While humans are ordinary food for you, I... like to think of myself as a hunter. I pride myself on the very process of the hunt. The food I get is the reward. Just as nature intended, don't you think?"
The lieutenant came to a stop.
-"Unfortunately, duties of Kandarin call me away. I will keep your suggestions in mind. We will meet again, Captain. Meanwhile, I suggest you go and familiarize yourself with your regiment. Get to know the people you'll be sending to their deaths. It's always good practise to comfort your subordinates by letting them place the blame for their deaths on someone or something other than their own incompetence. Bye-bye."
--- --- ---
- South-Western Terian coast, forest -
Konstantin sighed.
-"Yes, I suppose. After all, you and I are enemies, aren't we?"
He got off the ground. At the same time, all of his pauks but one strode out of the meadow, around the forest.
-"I can honestly say I tried to convince you, so if I hear of your deaths, I can still sleep peacefully at night. Although by your looks... Even if you were somehow more powerful than an ordinary pani out for a stroll, I sincerely doubt your abilities when matched against a vischy. Either way, good luck. You're going to need it in this area, especially with the news I heard of captain Eris' punishment squads mobilized here recently."
Utilizing the spines around the pauk's carapace, Konstantin climbed on top of it.
-"Last chance to reconsider before I move off."
--- --- ---
- South-East coast of Terian -
The Marcher shook its leg in annoyance of being cracked by an Ogre. The Necrolyte inside of the turtle-like shell on top of the towering legs seemed to be completely oblivious of Duilin charging his attack. Instead, he seemed concentrated on driving his Marcher into the enemy midst, albeit without doing much damage. The troops easily avoided the towering legs before they slammed the ground.
Something strange was happening to the cylindrical mess stuck to the bottom of the Marcher. The sinew and flesh pulsated once, and began to contract in an odd fashion, slowly rotating around its centre. It looked like a giant spring coiling itself for some unknown purpose.
Meanwhile, the other Marchers started to move in. Their movements were much more random than the one in the middle, trying to trample as many soldiers as they could. Keshel apathetically observed the fight from the only Marcher still standing motionlessly on a hilltop, some distance away from the battle.
-"Hey, Yevgeny - see that guy up there? The one with the cute little sparks in between his hands?"
-"What about him, pan Keshel?"
-"Do you think a fireball like that one is enough to destroy a Marcher?"
-"Difficult to say, pan acting-lieutenant. Firstly, we cannot really know how much energy that pan can concentrate in a fireball of any size, that depends solely on his skill. Second, although pure bone mertvetzi are highly resistant to flame, it is possible that the attack is meant to knock the Khodovik down and not obliterate the cockpit completely... Pity, though, because that is what I would have done in the flying pan's place."
Yevgeny scanned the battlefield for one last time.
-"I will take my leave of you, pan Keshel. If yonder force is enough to kill fourteen Necrolytes, then it is enough to kill fifteen as well. Unfortunately, I cannot be allowed to die yet. I must report to my superiors on the status of this regiment here."
-"Go ahead, Yevgeny. Meanwhile..." Keshel took out an almost one metre-long blade with a sinister-looking serrated section in the middle. "I'm going to decorate your Khodoviks there with that novice's guts. Later."
Keshel leaped off the Marcher, landing gracefully on the ground below, and charging right into the swarm of attackers. Yevgeny the Necrolyte looked at the dark figure.
-"You do that, acting-lieutenant pan Keshel the Voracious." His face twisted into a markedly evil grin. "You do that."
With those words, Yevgeny's Marcher mutated itself slightly. Four of its eight legs dropped to the ground, and attached themselves as extensions of the remaining four, making the Marcher even taller than usual. The abomination turned around, and began galloping away from the scene of the massacre at a ridiculous speed, granted to it by the extension of its already long legs.
---
Keshel's appearance did not go unnoticed. Several enemy soldiers turned around, just in time to see a dark silhouette in an inhumanly high leap, and perhaps the bleak shine of a long blade. Perhaps they were alive long enough to see rays of light illuminating the horrible jagged teeth of the sword's serrated part, ready to rip the flesh of the unsuspecting warriors.
Perhaps.
But the movement of the Kandarinian manslayer was so diabolically swift that the last thing the soldiers saw - definitely the last thing they felt - was the sword sinking its teeth deep into their flesh, just long enough to disrupt all surface tissue. This was the cruelty of Keshel's terrible weapon: it disabled its victims and left them alive to bleed to death.
Of course, Keshel himself did not dwell on the fates of the fallen soldiers. He continued to carve his way through the horde, now in a state unable to tell friend from foe. That's why they called him Keshel the Voracious, after all. The Necrolytes didn't particularly mind, as Keshel created more corpses than zombies he destroyed.
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 15th, 2008
- South-Western Terian coast, forest -
"You know Puco..." Sienna whispered. "Even if this guy is just leading us on. We could totally take him. Plus, I don't kind of trust him. I don't know why. And there is a battle going on. Maybe Duilin is in it? I think we should go with him."
"We've reconsidered." Sienna said. "There is somebody who I want to meet. I think he might be in the battle."
//I'll update the rest of my characters later. I'm low on time at the moment.\\
Posted by: Mikado on Tuesday January 15th, 2008
~~ South-Western Terian coast, forest ~~
Puco took a battle stance.
"Fine... yet I'm not going to change clothes mister Pan! And do not touch me!"
She looked irritated by the amount of dead bodies around her. She was.
---
~~ Some Kadarian coast ~~
Spull was sitting on his outpost watching the clouds above him. "Why... do they put a guy like ME on a outpost like THIS! It's not like those Gaian dorks will ever attack us... or will they?"
He sat up. He was a small rat like built man, with a long grey coat with various bones decorating it. He was completely bald but very light coloured and skinny.
"I heard that there were some battles... somwhere... they could at least place me THERE. I'm not the best, but I can do SOMETHING!" He looked irritated at his hands. These too were skinny and bones could be seen.
"I can remember her words..."
He heard a female voice in her mind.
"You will go watch the coast on a outpost in the east. And do not call for help if you aren't sure of what you saw... if you'll disappoint me..." A pause, but it got quickly followed up by a soft malicious smirk...
"Whoa!" Spull shrugged. "I shouldn't think about her... it's better than being changed into such spider thingy..."
He sighted and looked around out of boredom. He would do anything for something to happen... anything...
Suddenly he stood up, and put his hand above his eyes to see better.
Yep, he was sure of it.
In the sky far ahead, three huge grey looking dots were flying. They couldn't be a building because these were floating above... water. Guessing of their size, and the distance he realized that these were enormous.
Posted by: Ted Der on Tuesday January 15th, 2008
- Dead Island -
It was Martin who found Akran in the rubble. After Royen took off with the Majeuri Spinel, Akran's crew went to find their Captain. The half that travelled Northwest met up with the rest to search the ruins. When they found him, Akran was in terrible shape. He was losing a lot blood from the wound and couldn't be woken up, though he was still breathing. Everything the crew tried to do to wake him up didn't work. They patched him up and gave him water, but the only thing they could do was to wait.
Martin took command of the ship and set sail for the direction that Royen left in though by the time the crew found Akran, Royen was long gone.
Posted by: Jenia on Tuesday January 15th, 2008
~Dark Continent, Somewhere on the northern beach~
A dark figure in leather clothes and blue gloves strode across the beach sands.
One eye was just red. The other was demonic.
A third of the face's skin was black as was the entire left arm.
The rest was pale white.
The hair above the pale skin was even whiter. Snow white, even. It was calmed and oderly-looking.
The hair above the black area was not as such - it was gray and messed up. That side of the head seemed to completely lack any sort of ear...
-"North, doofus."
-"I know. Don't rush me. You already have enough Etherium for me to delve into your mind. Verbal communication is unessecery."
-"Oh, pardon me, smartypants. I have grown used to it. But I presume you know that too?"
-"Obviously. I also know that you only continue prattling because you don't have anyone else around to hurl your insults towards."
-"My my, it appears that my guidance all these years has made you a bit smarter. Let's go..."
The figure began to glide northward, across the ocean's waters...
~Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia~
A gentle breeze.
It's the top. The top of the spire. Floor 104. The one floor with no walls or roof. At the very middly stands a pdestral. Just above the pdestral floats an orb the size of a baby elephant.
Beyond that, a grand visage. All of Phoenicia and the surrounding islands, easily visible.
A pair of large, golden rings powered by runes float around the space just outside the floor.
"With this..." Indher embraced the orb "I can look and listen to any corner of the land I created. And if that is not enough, it allows me to draw runes unto the air between the rings... We could use some heavenly magicks like this! Don't you think it's wonderful?"
"Yes, yes it is..." Elphos replied with a smile, holding a small cat in his arms. The cat meowed passively and didn't seem to mind it's position much.
"But..." Indher turned around "You didn't come here to look at the marvels of the Spire. You came here to talk to me. What is it?"
Elphos blushed and held up the original book of runes he recieved from his master.
"Oh, Elphos!" Indher laughed "You have a question? Don't be shy. You are experienced, but everyone could use advice sometimes."
"Well..." Elphos's face was still red "I was reading through it again, and I realized theres nothing between glyph 136 and 138. Where is glyph 137?"
Indher scratched her head.
"Oh, the eraser glyph. I can teach it to you, I guess, but not to anyone else."
Elphos raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Why is that?"
Indher shook her head.
"Tch. It's a glyph opposite to the glyph of creation. That means it removes something that exists, turning it into something that does not exist. Don't confuse it with a glyph of destruction... Theres no such thing. This one removes something that exists from existence. Simple as that."
Elphos sighed.
"I still don't understand why you can't teach it widely..."
At this, Indher became mad. She grabbed Elphos by his shoulders.
"Have you lost it?! Imagine what will happen if someone uses it in a form of a ray! We'll have a DOOM BOLT on our hands! Do you know what that means!? DO YOU!?"
Elphos was pale.
"Um... N-No..."
Indher took a deep breathe and slowly let go of Elphos.
"A doombolt is not something we know how to stop. Once launched, it will travel the multiuniverse for all eternity, erasing pieces of reality on it's way. This could literally punch a hole in a planet. The only way I know of handling a DOOM BOLT is with another DOOM BOLT... By making two collide, we stop both bolts which in turn form a DOOM ORB - A permenant scar upon reality itself, one which swallows and erases all it touches."
Elphos grew paler.
"I... I understand now... I don't think I want to study glyph 137 anymore..."
Indher smiled, utterly ruining the mood.
"Now let's check on our students, shall we?"
After descending to floor 85, the two ran into two students from Indher's class.
"Master, master!" one called out "We need help!"
"What is it!" Indher asked, sounding uninterested but going towards the child.
"Take a look at this master..." the student showed her a set of runes on the floor "We can't make powdered materials in the illusory world! It ends up being liquid! It's no good if you sink into earth!"
Indher sighed.
-"You screwed up on the material combination. Add another triangle in there."
-"B-b-b-b-but we don't have any more space!"
-"Use smaller glyphs."
-"We can't write THAT small a letters!"
-"For Red Dragon's sake, you are rune mages! Use runes to shrink a premade triangle and stick it in there!"
And with that, Indher proceded to descend towards the lower floors of the spire...
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Tuesday January 15th, 2008
//Really busy, I'll get more in later.
- Terian, Southeastern Coast -
"Charge them! Tear their limbs apart!" Jacobie thrust his blade in the air as he raced forwards, his lizardmen following by blasting their weapons above their heads and darting out into the field to begin battle with the Kandarinian forces.
"ATTACK!" The Paladins began their battle as well, and their holy weapons were a lot stronger against the zombies. The long-sworded Paladins under Nymphadora's command followed behind her as she gave the command; their weapons slaying plenty of zombies.
Posted by: Mikado on Wednesday January 16th, 2008
~~ Some Kadarian coast ~~
Spull took out his scope, and put it to his eye. He could see that three silver ships were nearing...
- "What... what is this..."
He quickly put the scope back, and jumped on the stairs of his outpost and ran down.
- "I must... report to my miss...!"
When he was down, it appeared that the hight outpost was placed in a wood alike area, and he jumped on his horce which was standing there.
- "Who knows... maybe I'll even get higher rank..." A bright grin filled his face, and he galloped his horse towards the nearest settlement.
Little did he know, that not only he saw the three nearing ships. These could be seen from almost everywhere, and many people on the outpost were now reporting or heading to report what they saw. Maybe it was something dangerous... or maybe only something new?
~ ~Empty room~ ~
A huge emty room. Only a long desk and chairs across it were in this huge empty room. There was an almost sweet sent in it, but it was dark and red in the room. A small red light was shining on the red walls, on the brown table and on the decorated with read cloth chairs. The room was long, just like the table, but not very wide. A long dark blond haired man was sitting on the farest side of the table, with the door on the other side of the table.
He looked at the empty chairs, and at the papers lying on the table near him. The part where he sat wasn't normal, nor round like the other ending, actually opposite it had a oval hole in it, where a huge comfortable chair was placed, and a man in it. This was his desk after all.
But he didn't like it here. He hated the lack of light. He hated the dark atmosphere in the room. He hated the things he had to decide and discuss here. And he hated the generals that would soon fill the seats on the sides of the table.
Why?
Because the country was controlled by these people. The military shouldn't control such prosperous land, and the council alone wasn't enough to control them.
He wondered what would happen if he wasn't here to lead these men and keep order.
He wondered what would happen if he, Heil, Leader of SrebnyRod wasn't aboard this ship.
Posted by: Dude Man on Wednesday January 16th, 2008
- South-East coast of Terian -
Marshall continued shooting fireballs at the marcher. "Come on! I'm over here!" He shouted, as he circled around it on his wyvern.
Duilin continued to float in the air as the fireball in his hands became bigger and bigger.
Meanwhile Firstman and Zimmerman noticed somebody (Keshel) rushing through hacking down soldiers left and right as he zoomed through the battle field.
"Look at that guy, so cocky. I say we take him out!" Firstman boasted.
"Um, you sure that's a good idea?"
"I'm a sergeant. I can handle him."
"He looks pretty strong. I think maybe Vaughn or somebody should handle him."
"Pssh. Listen, Vaughn's just lucky. Once I kill this guy then the whole group will be kissing MY ass all the time. Come on, I'll need a witness so I can brag about this."
'This guy is nuts.' Grant thought to himself as he followed Firstman towards the notable foe...
Posted by: Xorlak on Wednesday January 16th, 2008
- Fishing Vessel, sea southwest of Tjed -
It had him.
Kelmarr could do naught as the giant pearl-scaled snake constricted, squeezing his body tighter and tighter... Oh gods, it had him!
The gaping maw descended from the mists, glistening fangs dripping with a vile clear substance. Slowly, the jaws widened, ready to take his entire head off in a single bite. Kelmarr tried to close his eyes, yet found that even his lids were frozen in abject terror.
Now of course, one must remember that the mighty Kelmarr was a skunk. A civilized and cultured skunk (by his own claim), but a skunk none-the-less. And skunks... well, skunks do certain things when scared to death...
The giant snake paused and sniffed his pray once. Then suddenly jerked back.
- FLASH!*
The sea returned. The boat returned. The sky, the clouds, the hard wooden deck...
Kelmarr fell back on his tail, eyes still wide. What just happened...?
The snake was gone, but in it's place was a silhouette, backed by the sun. A human-looking child floated in mid-air a foot above the ground, rubbing his nose and scowling. His off-white cloak billowed in the building breeze, and his white hair hung in his eyes. "Ugh... disgusting!" he said with an unnaturally deep and refined voice, "... a giant skunk?! I nearly ate a giant skunk?!"
Kelmarr wasn't sure to be relieved or slighted. In fact, he didn't quite know what to think. Was that whole think an illusion? He sat up to a crouching position. His knives were still upon the ground, but the ornate sword was still on his back. He rested a hand on the hilt. "Who in blazes are you?" he demanded through clenched teeth.
The floating child flipped his cape. "Hmmph. I am Melface, Nightmare Demon of Thanatos. Humans call my realm hell, but I assure you, the weather is actually quite pleasant this time of year." He bowed with a flourish, ending with a devilish smile.
Kelmarr found that cause enough to scoot back a few feet. Those twinkling red eyes... "You... served under the great Prince Jayce, didn't you?"
Melface's brow raised. "Ah... so you have heard of me... interesting. Perhaps I won't kill you now." He brought a hand under his chin and contemplated the skunk for a moment.
Kelmarr breathed a sigh of relief.
The maniacal grin returned. "Yes. I will settle for merely watching you jump off the side of the boat."
Kelmarr's ears perked straight up. "W-what?" He blinked. The demon was simply gone, as if he'd never been there. He looked from side to side. Nothing. Did he dream that too?
He felt breathing on his neck. "I said you jump. Now." He turned his head halfway around to see the child-like demon floating over him, a gigantic scythe in his right hand.
"G-g-gah!!!" Kelmarr scooted backwards across the deck. This was nuts! He couldn't even swim!
Melface idly twirled the scythe around. "Do one of those swan-flip things or something," he said, waving the skunk off. Though he was floating, the scythe was large enough that it clipped the wooden deck as he twirled it, sending a spray of splinters through the air.
Kelmarr backed up until he was against the railing... He looked down, seeing the rigid waves pounding against the vessel. He was going to die! Think of something! Think!
"So..." Kelmar sputtered for words, noting the dark clouds behind the demon, "... you-you intend to sail this entire ship by yourself? In a storm?"
Melface stopped spinning the blade. He turned and idly glanced at the rapidly forming storm upon the horizon. Lightning danced around and a fierce wind kicked up. "Hmmm... you have a point, skunk. I will admit, you do have a way with words..."
Posted by: D. Ein on Wednesday January 16th, 2008
//Stop not posting and start posting, people.\\
- South-Western Terian forest -
Konstantin found it difficult to keep his smile on. For people he'd just saved from certain death by the Punishment Squad, they were quite rude to him. And what the heck is that? "Fine"? It's as if they're doing him a favour by letting him save them! Bah!
-"Alright, I won't touch you, panna. Here."
He took out a long chain from inside of the Pauk. It looked a lot like a slave chain, having several openings for heads and hands.
-"Put this on, both of you. Vice-captain pan Incubus is approaching... He's sighted my creatures and, evidently, wants to check up on me. Vice-captains are quite fast! Hurry!"
--- --- ---
- South-East coast of Terian -
A large clearing formed around Keshel, who was completely consumed by his blood rage now. No one dared to approach him. Ripping his sword out of his last victim, he looked around. His sight was darkened by a red fog - he could barely see the enemy. All he saw was a wavering line somewhere a few meters away from him
What's this...? Somebody is approaching to challenge him?
Idiot.
-"Whoever you are," he growled. "I give you my slayer's promise. You will not live to see the light of tomorrow."
With a very deliberate movement, Keshel ripped a fold of cloth from one of the fallen soldiers. He put his blade in the cloth, and slowly pulled it out, leaving chunks of muscle and skin behind. Throwing the blood-soaked fabric away, he turned to Firstman. Keshel's sword, resting on his shoulder, gave off one last glimmer from the clouded sun before once again being plunged into shadow.
-"Die you now, enemy."
Having spoken the almost requiem-like line, Keshel charged at Firstman. In a lightning-quick strike, his sword fell to Firstman's right shoulder...
---
-"Pan Keshel is certainly handling his sword quite well down there, no, pani Cecylia?"
Even though there was no one around the Necrolyte, the soft whisper must've reached its target, for another whisper replied momentarily:
-"He certainly is, pan Mikola. Sort of sad to see a warrior like that in a place like this, don't you think? All things considered, of course... Our true purpose for being here..."
-"Dwell on such things not, pani Cecylia. Pan Keshel is dust to a true vice-captain, and he certainly isn't at a captain's level, either."
-"Speaking of vice-captains... Should pan Onwan not be arriving any moment now?"
-"It is far too early for that. He is probably still more than a fair distance away. Regardless, I charge you to watch, pani... My Khodovik's base reached the maximum number of rotations. I charge you watch."
The Marcher on which Mikola was on began doing something very strange. One by one, it raised its legs into the air and straightened them out. The final three broke, and the whole contraption fell down on the strange mass of tissue beneath the upper carapace. The legs were raised a fair level above the soldiers' heads for now, and they began to rotate slowly along with the carapace, probably pushed by the sinew below...
(Attack: 2\3)
Posted by: Dude Man on Thursday January 17th, 2008
- South-Western Terian forest -
Sienna grabbed the slave chain and, with slight hesitation, slipped it on.
"I can trust this guy. Don't worry..."
--- ---
- South-East coast of Terian -
"Oh!" Firstman sneered "How poetic! Man, how lame are you? You probably spend all your time coming up with artistic lines and then you--" He was suddenly struck in the shoulder.
He looked at the blade and everything seemed to stop for a second.
"Wh-what a...cheap move...you're moving all uber fast, because you're too chicken to get hit. Man you're such a wimp!"
He held his wound, clearly fighting back tears and his dizziness. He felt like he was going to faint. Can't give up though, he always gives up. He's got to show everyone how strong he is.
"You're going down!" Firstman shouted and then ran clumsily towards Keshel and then gave a messy downward slash not directly aimed at any particular part of his body.
"Firstman! What are you doing! Run!" Grant shouted.
---
The fireball Duilin was holding over his head was around 10 feet in diameter, he had to push it double time, because it looks like that Marcher has something planned.
"Just a little more..." Duilin said. He sent a telepathic message to Marshall.
'Come on. You're not distracting it enough, just fly in there and start pissing it off. I don't care if you think it's dangerous.'
Marshall rolled his eyes. It was almost unfair how harsh Duilin was on him. But no time to worry about that. The general is right, if we need to take this thing down, we need to do it now.
With his wyvern, he dived through the air and zoomed towards it flying across the 'base' and began to rapidly shoot at it with his MagiPistol.
--- ---
- Regiment 7 building, meeting room -
This was where the old captain's soldiers were, which were now under Nex's command. This should be fun. Nex stood behind a podium in a large meeting room, with tons of soldiers sitting on chairs listening to him.
"Alright, now that I am your new captain. We are going to make a few changes here. First of all. You must all learn about the Talonscar and be aware of it. Since you are officially followers of the Sovereign, I can't force you to follow these ways, but you must know of them. Second if anyone dies, they must be brought directly towards me. Third, any newcomers will have to go through a painful initiation, involving whips and such. Fourth, any initiation will performed in my prensence so I may see 'that it is done right'. Fifth, there are no exceptions to which newcomers will be initiation." He then picked up a whip from behind the podium.
"And since I am new, I myself must go through initiation. So somebody is going to have to give me a whipping." He said with a complete tone of seriousness in his voice, but then his voice became more joyful. "Any volunteers?"
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Thursday January 17th, 2008
- Terian, Southeastern Coast -
"Blast it, what are you doing, you idiot!" Jacobie rushed to Firstman's aid and leapt out of combat, landing just behind Firstman. He held his left hand forwards and pointed it towards the area where Firstman was slashed. Jacobie's hand then began to glow a light blue as he shot a beam of healing magic towards his ally. After he shot the beam, he turned to Grant.
"Listen, kid, never ever think you're better than an enemy that's ten times your strength and speed. It'll get you killed. Just battle what you can, unlike that idiot right there." Jacobie then grasped his blade in both hands and charged after Keshel, making an oblique flame slash aimed at his neck.
--- --- ---
"Hah, these zombies aren't all that tough! Take 'em all down!" Doriana slashed her blade left and right, hitting a large number of zombies that crossed her path. She mostly aimed for their heads, and when she hit them, she either choped the head clean off or smashed their skulls in.
"That's their *urgh* weak spot! In the head!" The Paladins continued to attack the zombies around them, aiming for their heads. Some of the Paladins threw holy water flaskes that broke on impact at the zombies, making them more vulnerable. As they fought the undead creatures, an aura of light surrounded them. The bright yellow aura seemed to fight with them as the Paladins continued to hold off the enemy.
Posted by: D. Ein on Thursday January 17th, 2008
- South-East coast of Terian -
Keshel growled as Jacobie intervened. Healing in the middle of combat? And this guy calls him a wimp? Unacceptable...
He attempted to parry the flame-imbued slash. Although his standard-issue Kandarinian protection amulet dispersed the magical fires, Keshel misjudged the strength of the attack - his blade slipped, and Jacobie's weapon whizzed right next to his face. A small red line appeared on Keshel's face, producing a droplet of blood which trickled down his cheek. So, a decent opponent, at last...
Immediately after blocking the strike, Keshel riposted, using Jacobie's strength as momentum to swing his own sword. The jagged teeth were aimed at the Lizard Man's knees.
---
The MagiPistol shots did little to slow the rotation, or, for that matter, even get the attention of the beast.
-"Here it comes..."
Mikola sat down inside the Marcher's carapace in a lotus position. Time to produce some corpses...
(Attack: 3\3)
The spinning legs descended down on the attacking troops, taking out tens of soldiers at a time. The sharp ends of the devastating pillars dredged deep ravines in the ground, completely annihilating any living being that came in contact with them.
---
-"Well, would you look at that," said Cecylia out loud, though to no one in particular. "They're actually searching for the Peshkas' weak points. And here I thought that they were easy enough to kill without that... I suppose that is a compliment to me, then. This is just prelude, after all, to a much more devastating finale. I hope the other panowe are ready."
--- --- ---
- North-Eastern Kandarinian Coast -
-"Yes, yes, dammits, I heard already! Three big things floaterin' off the North-East coast! About a billions peoples before you said this to me, um... What's your namer.... Skull? Spull, right. Whatever. Gets out of my sights."
Needless to say, Eris was rather annoyed. As if the General's work assigned to her wasn't enough, now there's this. Black circles begun forming under her eyes as a result of overworking. When she signed up to be the Regiment 6 captain, "overworking" was definitely NOT in the job description. Regardless, a job is a job.
She shadow-stepped outside, and continued to travel in short distance teleports like the first one all the way to the coast. Perhaps those big ships were in a dire need of a welcoming committee...
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Thursday January 17th, 2008
- Terian, Southeastern Coast -
"Wah!" Jacobie quickly hopped over the jagged blade just in time before the serrated sword would have ripped through his lower half. He then used the momentum of the jump to spin around and throw another fire-imbued attack at his opponent, all while yelling at Firstman, "GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!"
--- --- ---
"Uh-oh. That can't be good..." Geomarcus backed up behind the lines of battle to see the soldiers getting killed left and right by some sort of spinning weapon. How in the world were the Kandarinians able to create such a weapon? No matter, he thought. He'd find a way to destroy it; hopefully not alone.
"Take this, vile fiend!" He pointed his silver longsword at the spinning weapon and blasted a beam of light towards it. If it was truly undead, it would have quite an impact, perhapse even disable it for a short time. Geomarcus wasn't as powerful a mage as he was a warrior, but he knew some light-enhanced attack spells.
"I hope that did something," He said to himself under his breath. After the blast, he jumped straight back into battle, swinging his sword eleganly as he fought his foes.
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday January 18th, 2008
- Terian, Southeastern Coast -
"No, damnit!" Firstman shouted back at Jacobie. "I know what I'm doing! Leave me alone!"
He picked up his sword, and then dashed towards Keshel. He lifted his sword and then ran past him while slashing it across his waist, hoping to cut his foe in half...
---
"Marshall get back up here!" Duilin shouted, as he held the giant fireball over his head.
Marshall hoisted his wyvern up and flew away from the Marcher.
Duilin then did a few last minute charging into the fireball. By now it was almost twenty feet in diameter.
"Catch."
The half demon general then gave the fireball a mighty downwards throw and it fell towards the Marcher like a meteor...
Posted by: Xorlak on Friday January 18th, 2008
- Fishing Vessel, lost at sea -
Melface stroked his chin as he contemplated the approaching storm. Kelmarr took the opportunity to fetch his daggers and return them to their sheaths. The sea began to rock the boat violently, and the fierce wind flapped the sails hard.
"Hmmm..." the child-like demon finally said, his feet touching the ground at last, "I'll tell you what..." He flashed the skunk another one of his devilish grins, and Kelmarr could not help but gulp again. Melface pointed a pudgy finger at him. "If you can keep me from getting wet, I won't kill you in a horrible, painful way."
"W-what...?"
Melface sat right in the middle of the deck and folded his arms. "If I get wet, you die. If you keep me dry, well then, we'll see..."
Just then, a wave slammed into the side of the boat, spraying droplets dangerously close to where the demon sat. Kelmarr's tail frazzled and his eyes nearly escaped his sockets until the water settled.
This kid was freaking insane!
Melface's grin grew wider, and his eyes flashed a hint of red. "Better keep the boat afloat..." he taunted. He winked, sending Kelmarr stumbling backwards.
Posted by: Melchior on Friday January 18th, 2008
Hero's Fall, The City On The Edge Of Forever
The jagged narrow path shoots out from the mountain like a finger pointing accusingly into the nothingness beyond. Below, the clouds swirl along with the twisting winds, masking the further emptiness. The winds emanate from the apex of this terrible cliff, as a man stares out into the distance, his yellow cloak, seeming both tattered and flawless, dancing wildly in the wicked torrents.
"I see you found me Balthasar." As the man in Yellow speaks, the howling winds fall to a whisper. He does not turn to face the finely dressed man, who fights for every foothold as he walks down this oblivious trail. Instead, the man in Yellow looks up, taking in a sky that mirrors the solemn clouds below. "It's a shame to see you like this. More then you were, yes... but so much less as well. Was it worth it, surrendering yourself to that vile leach? To lose your mind and will, your body and soul? Turn back, Balthasar."
The face of the finely dressed man curls in anger at the mention of his name. He continues forward, his steps slow but deliberate. "I've come to put an end to your madness, King. Even now, we are scattering your forces and your false prophets are being slaughtered." Bright green flames rise from where his eyes should be, rising with his anger. His hand draws over the emerald hilt on his side, awaiting his grasp.
"Madness? Dear boy, I see clearer now then you ever will. Even now," The man in Yellow responds, "Your lord lies dead in his throne, and no one in his court lives to mourn his passing. Turn back, Balthasar. Greater men then you have fallen before me, and greater men yet live whose dooms I will seal. Turn back, Balthasar, your weak resolve is not welcome here."
The finely dressed man stops to speak, halfway between the base of the path, and the man in Yellow. "How your delusions got you this far, I'll never know, but this must end! You are treading a path no mortal can handle, and we will all pay the price of your pride. Sweet spirits... YOU ARE NOT A GOD!" At the last word, the finely dressed mans foothold shatters, and, grabbing wildly for a handhold, he dangles from the jagged path.
The man in Yellow is suddenly above him. "And you are no longer a man. You are an empty husk, and you were burning yourself alive long before you were given that parasitic toy. The gods you know are aeons dead, and I will stand on their ashes. No one can save you. You have chosen your abyss, boy, now go to it." The fires fade from the man's eyes, and he falls.
Western Gaian Ocean, Three miles North-northwest of Tjed
"... like your opinion on what we should do."
<Wha-what?>
Bishops pure white eyes widened under his worn leather hat as he stood on the edge on the makeshift raft. "OH! You are awake. I am sorry if I woke you up, but I could not understand what you were saying. I do not think you were dreaming well. I recommend you have better dreams. That will help, I think."
<...That's foolish. I don't dream. Now what is it that you wanted my opinion on?>
"If you say so. If you do not dream, I would think it would be hard to tell if you are happy. I like to dream of food. You should try it. But yes! The boat! There was a small boat that came by, and it was heading to that land over there. Also, there is land over there." Indeed, off in the distance the coastline of Tjed peeked over the horizon.
<Wonderful! So there is some intact civilization around here. What did they say, Bishop?>
As the gel went about adjusting the sails habitually, he spoke in a quiet, embarrassed voice. "I could not get you to say anything to me, so I hid in the tent. I was scared, and did not want to be eaten."
Jasper did it's best to sound reassuring, but it realized it didn't know how. <Well, if it happens again before we reach the coast, try getting their attention. ...I promise I won't let anyone eat you, Bishop, as long as I'm around. I won't... sleep... again, anytime soon.>
The gels eyes relaxed happily as he entered the tent once again. "That is good to hear. I am glad to have you as my friend, Jasper."
<...>
Outside, the wind rose softly, and whispered of storms.
Posted by: Jenia on Saturday January 19th, 2008
~North Dark Continent~
A lone figure glides over from the waters of the ocean to the beach.
"He is nearby, I'd wager."
"It matters little unless we actualy find him."
Several houses came into view, as well as a large fortress floating in the sky.
"I doubt that will be a problem."
The figure glides over to one of the townspeople, who turns around and jumps away in shock and horror.
"Where is Kronos?" The figure asks.
"Wh-wh-wha...!?"
"WE WANT TO KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE SOVEREIGN, FEEBLE MAMMAL!"
The man stares at the figure for a bit, and then points at the flying fortress.
"Uh... Throne room?"
"Thanks much." The figure bows slightly and turns away to head in the direction of the fortress...
Posted by: Ted Der on Saturday January 19th, 2008
-In the open seas somewhere-
"Gwen!"
Akran woke with a start and sat up. He was alone in his cabin laying on his bed. Somebody had brought him food, but it was cold on the table next to him.
He tried to think back to why he had shouted out Gwen's name. Then it hit him Oh no! She was in danger.
Akran scrambled to his feet. He grabbed his bow by the door and strode outside. "Get to the Kandarinian Sovereignty! Now!" he shouted to his crew.
A few turned around and looked surprised, but the rest continued to work busily. "Hello?" Akran cried, bewildered.
Just then, Martin jumped down from the upper deck and came up to his Captain enthusiastically. "You're awake! Oh thank God!" he said, hugging him, "Just in time too."
Akran tried to pry off his (rather feminine) first mate. "Okay, okay, thank you, I guess. Get off!"
Martin recoiled with a frown on his face.
Akran looked around at the busy people bringing out cannons and preparing for ... something. He asked, "What am I just in time for?"
This made Martin beam again. "We found the Gilden Warship and we're catching up fast!"
Thud. Someone dropped a cannonball. The Captain could see Royen's ship in the distance. There was nothing but blue water in every direction. He already caught himself formulating strategies. Akran realized he would have to put off his venture up North for a while.
//my first post without using MS Word//
Posted by: D. Ein on Saturday January 19th, 2008
- Terian, South-Eastern coast -
The flame was again absorbed by the protection amulet, and this time, Keshel was ready for the attack. He blocked and parried, pushing his sword diagonally at Jacobie, in an effort to knock him back. He completely missed Firstman coming from the side, though - noticing him only by a jarring pain from his shoulder down to his hip. The bastard cut him...
It was all over. Everything around him, in Keshel's mind, was dead. Everything.
Without thought, without pain, and without fear, the manslayer swung around for a devastating downward slash. The serrated blade broke Firstman's sword, and continued flying at a superhuman speed toward his chest.
--- --- ---
- A Northern Kandarinian town -
The grim Citadel slowly came to a halt right over the small town's city centre. The imposing structure dropped its chains down to the specially prepared anchors in the town square, which was cleared of all buildings at the time of conquest by the Sovereignty. After the chains were attached by the people below to the anchors, the Citadel lowered slightly, its bottom-most tip floating about three meters above the ground. At that point, a large teleportation glyph burnt itself in place right below the Citadel. Four Augments were the first (and so far, only) ones to teleport through the portal, standing guard around it.
And in a few minutes, all was once again still in the small port town.
--- --- ---
- Shuba, the unofficial Kandarinian capital - former location of the Bandervil ruins -
Ash was very, very confused. He was new to Regiment 3, and it probably showed - because he had no idea what was going on.
The central chamber that he was in contained several long glass cells, in which strange creatures were floating, submerged in liquid. Several people were standing around each - mages, by the looks of it - holding their staves next to the cell walls. The cells were arranged in a circle around a desk, which was occupied by Martin's captain - Shen, the Magistrate. It looked as if Shen was conducting research - but that was very questionable. The captain was just sitting there, staring down one of the creatures in the cell.
-"Um, sir... I'm Ash Archer... I'm new in the Regiment..."
-"Archer?", Martin heard a calm voice. "Shouldn't you be in the Sixth Regiment, if you're Archer?"
-"...Sir, that's my last name..."
-"That was a joke."
Shen paused, and looked over to Ash. The captain was a man in his late 30s. He had a very tired look on his face, which was bespectacled by tinted eyeglasses. His most unusual feature was his hair - it was mostly brown, except for two grey streaks going from his temples backwards to behind his ears and ending at the neck.
-"Ash," he continued. "If you're going to get anywhere in this Regiment, you're going to have to know exactly what you're here for. I assume somebody sent you an invitation?"
-"...you did, sir."
-"Oh? That I must've, then. What, if you care to remind me, was your specialization?"
-"Pyromancy, sir. I was transferred here from captain Roth's eighth Regiment by your request."
-"Ah, yes... the Pyromancer. You'll have to excuse my poor memory. Have a seat, son."
Ash complied, pulling up a chair next to the Captain's desk.
-"You see these creatures in the cells?", Shen pointed to the glass tubes. "We discovered them in the Gros Morne Chasm. The first one was found some time before the Cataclysm occurred, but that was just dismissed as a fluke of nature. The creature killed a Kandarinian crewman, letting two others escape. It tried to climb out of the shaft we dug back then, but it was later apprehended by several of our Cryomancers, which you can see around the cells."
-"Yes, sir, but what do you need me for?"
-"The creatures - which we dubbed Destroyers, because that's all they seem to have a mind for - have a very puzzling property about them. Notice how that Destroyer over there has small veins of lava seeping out of its abdomen, but without warping the skin of the creature itself. The lava comes from within the Destroyer's core, which we haven't, as of yet, studied. Back to the point: the Destroyer's skin is a metallic compound that we've never seen before. It seems to have strange reactions to fire and heat, which is why we needed a Pyromancer to help us."
-"I'd be delighted to help, sir."
-"Good. Glad to have you on board. Now, go talk to somebody else for your task. I'm busy."
With those words, Shen resumed his fixed glare at the frozen Destroyer.
--- --- ---
- Swan Creek, a town South-West of the Tower of Heaven's Bane: Regiment 9 Headquarters -
-"Czernn! Usseless pile of boness, get out of there! Czernn, damnit!"
Ssesk was banging his scaly fist on a heavy wooden door. There was absolutely no light coming from under the door, although it was relatively bright outside.
-"Czernn, I don't care if you don't feel like working today, but there'ss an asssignment that you have to do! As a Kandarinian lieutenant - no, as the Regiment 9 lieutenant - you comply! And don't give me that crap about writing poemss! I read one, it suckss anyway!"
Still no reply.
-"CZERNN! Alright, that's it. I'm coming in."
Ssesk legged the heavy door, knocking it down to the floor...
--- --- ---
- Terian, South-Eastern coast -
The fireball hit the spinning Marcher, completely destroying the top part of the carapace. Subsequently, the marcher's legs ripped off, trampling many more unlucky soldiers. Just after the top half was burnt by the fireball, the bottom was pierced by the light-based attack from Geomarcus. The Marcher was officially in a state of severe disrepair.
Mikola, struggling, climbed out from below the ruins. Well, they certainly did it. They took down the Khodovik, almost killing Mikola himself in the process. Shall he use his vischy? Looks like he'll have to.
A ripping sound just behind Mikola announced the arrival of the vischy from its cloaked state. The creature twitched its head upwards until it seemed that it was looking right at Duilin, and made a loud wail...
---
-"Oh my," Cecylia continued rambling. "Looks like pan Mikola had to reserve to using his vischy. That means that we're going to have to get to the finale fairly quickly at this point."
--- --- ---
- South-Western Gaian Coast -
Konstantin barely attached the chain to his Pauk when a small explosion somewhere nearby heralded the coming of the 6th Regiment lieutenant. The sinister shape appeared some distance away, between the trees, and closed in on the Necrolyte. Soon, the figure exited the woods. The sun shone rays of light on a snow-white suit of armour, reflecting off long dual blades...
-"Pan Incubus...!", Konstantin gasped.
-"How many FREAKING times do I have to tell you, you necrophiliac scum, do NOT CALL ME THAT!"
-"I'm sorry, pan Hannibal! Please forgive me!"
-"You'd better be sorry! And that was just a one-time thing, anyway!"
//If you're confused at this point, look up "Incubus" on Wikipedia\\
Hannibal sighed.
-"So anyway," he continued. "I see you caught some vermin sneaking around."
-"Yes, pan lieutenant. They were in the woods, savaging a defenceless... sleeping... Kandarinian citizen, pan Roth."
Hannibal's eyes lit up, but then the insult got to him - and turned him even angrier.
-"HOW DARE YOU TOY WITH ME?! I'll---!!" Roth took a deep breath. "Ugh. Get the hell out of my sight. You're lucky I'm not a captain. Otherwise, they'd already be looking for your corpse."
-"Yes, pan lieutenant. I'll be off now."
The last Pauk set off, with Sienna and Puco chained behind it. Once the forest was out of sight (and, subsequently, Roth), Konstantin spoke again.
-"Sorry about that, it was necessary. I've learned a lot about the KAF staff... You see, Hannibal himself is normally a very placid person. If I got him mad, he wouldn't try to think about where you two came from in the first place, and, as such, we got him off our back. Now we just have to get back to the town I started my patrol from, and we'll figure our way out from there."
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday January 19th, 2008
- Fishing Vessel, lost at sea -
Think... think!
Kelmarr frantically looked around as the boat rocked. The sails! He had to get the sails down or the intense winds would capsize the boat. He scampered to the mast and started fiddling with the overly complex knots. Blast it! A spray of mist slammed over the sides and nearly knocked him off his feet.
"I felt a drop," the demon taunted in the background after another wave slammed the ship. What was he going to do? He had zero sailing experience. How in blazes was he to save the ship, let alone keep giant waves from splashing over the sides?
"Screw it."
He drew a knife and began slashing the ropes, the sails snapping above due to the release in tension. Still the boat rolled, feeling as if it would capsize at any moment. He gritted his teeth as he caught a glimpse of the child-like demon behind him snickering.
That's all this was to that thing. A joke. Just a huge freaking joke. Like the rest of his life...
He ran to the rudder-thing at the back of the ship. He'd seen one of the humans pushing and pulling the huge leaver and figured it must have something to do with the steering. Behind him, the demon was laughing.
He took the rudder in his hands and clenched his teeth. There was no way he'd make it. He was going to either die by the ocean, or by that dream-eating freak. He wasn't about to give the demon any sense of satisfaction by watching him struggle.
A wave approached on the horizon, sprawling upwards and out as it drew near. As it slammed into the ship, he pulled the rudder with the wave, rather than against it. As a result, the boat careened to the side and flipped clean over. Coldness surrounded him as he plummeted into the icy depths...
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Saturday January 19th, 2008
- Terian, southeastern coast -
"NO!!!" Jacobie leapt forward to try and block the attack by making himself a human (or rather lizardman) shield. Keshel's blade hit Jacobie's crimson armor hard and crushed it, forming an opening while the blade still pushed forward at him, ripping at his scaled skin. It tore into his flesh. He used his sword to force off Keshel's and finally knocked himself back, away from the manslayer.
"GOD DAMNIT, RUN OR DIE!!!" Blood poured from the gash in Jacobie's left shoulder, and tears of pain rolled down his eyes. He grabbed his katana tightly and thrust it forward with all his might at Keshel, with the intent to kill him before he can kill everyone else.
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday January 19th, 2008
- Terian, southeastern coast -
"I know what I'm doing, lizard man!" Firstman sneered again. Not even showing gratitude to Jacobie just saving his life. Frankly, he looked rather annoyed that he was butting into his fight.
Firstman shoved the bleeding lizard man out the way. And lifted his now broken sword ready to smash down a quick killing strike with the broken blade on his head
---
"What the hell?" Hance was sniping down zombies from a burnt tree when he noticed Firstman and Jacobie fighting some nasty looking Kandarinian warrior.
"What is it?" Vaughn asked, while slashing away at zombies with a fire enchanted sword.
"Firstman's doing some rather brave fighting, along with a lizard man. But he seems to be pushing the lizard guy out of the way so he can get a hit."
"What a twerp. I outta beat the shit outta that guy."
Lagart sighed and continued fighting off zombies, along with the demon/drow Zuhani while Sheri stood back and shot lightning bolts and summoned chunks of earth to fight off the zombie hordes.
---
Duilin looked down at the vischy, and then looked around for Firstman and Grant. But couldn't see them.
"Damnit. I told them to attack as soon as I took that marcher down." Duilin muttered to himself.
He drew the Iduran and then dove down. On his way down, in the corner of his eye he could see Grant running towards them. Well, at least he's giving in an effort. He can cut him some slack, he's new.
When he got close enough to the vischy he gave a downwards vertical slash at the creature.
Posted by: D. Ein on Sunday January 20th, 2008
- South-Eastern Terian coast -
//Post cleared with DM\\
A full-strength direct thrust... A very powerful attack, but equally easy to divert. Keshel simply whacked Jacobie's blade to the left of him. The strength that Jacobie put into the attack has a strong potential of backfiring on him, because of the immense momentum with which the blade was travelling - the likeliest outcome was Jacobie falling to the ground, unable to restrain his strength in time.
Having calmed down a little, Keshel regained his senses. With the corner of his eye, he saw Firstman with his broken blade running toward him. Another swift movement later, the same hand soared up in the air, spraying a cascade of blood over both Keshel and his opponent. The shock of losing his hand paralysed Firstman for a few seconds.
-"W..Wh... my hand... where... what...."
A nearby "thud" reminded Firstman of the situation, but that did little to help. Keshel swept his hair back with a heavy sigh, and looked down to the left side of his chest. The wound on his side turned out to be less serious than he thought it was at first, allowing him to continue moving with the same agility and strike with the same strength that he boasted under normal conditions.
-"If you give up now," Keshel said without looking up. "You will spare yourself a lot of suffering."
At that point, Keshel realized something. His body tingled, as if it was submerged under warm water. Although still throbbing, his muscles lost some tension, and loosened up. His mind was now clear of the mindless desire to kill that consumed him only a few minutes ago. Everything was becoming crystal-clear.
It's the promise, he heard a voice inside of him. A slayer's promise is not an empty phrase. It drove him near-insane after he uttered it, but now that the promise was nearing completion, he was entering a state of nirvana. That's the Stalker Academy for you, he thought.
Meanwhile, Firstman caught a hold of himself. He remembered about the dagger he stuffed in a hurry down his sock specifically for these sorts of situations. While Keshel appeared to be distracted, he pulled the dagger out. Although he didn't fight with his left hand that well, stabbing someone in the chest doesn't take much skill, even in his left. With that thought, he charged at Keshel, dagger outstretched in front of him.
Didn't work.
Obviously.
That never works.
Firstman's left arm was cut off almost at the shoulder this time. Keshel looked as if he didn't even move a muscle, standing in the same pose as before, resting on his bloodstained sword. He looked at Firstman with an almost understanding look.
-"I wouldn't want to die here. Fortunately, I'm not you."
Keshel made a final move as if about to stab Firstman through the chest, who, at this point, was barely standing. In mid-air, though, Keshel's stab somehow transformed into a...
...a downward slash.
Firstman's left shoulder, complete with most of his upper torso, peacefully slid down to the ground.
---
The Augment patiently waited until Duilin's attack reached it, and then made a surprisingly quick movement with its hand. Starting at around where its cheek would be, the Augment made a vertical slash down to its stomach. A black fissure appeared in the air in front of it, which instantly rematerialized to show Duilin his own back. If he proceeded with the attack, he would end up stabbing himself...
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Sunday January 20th, 2008
- Terian, southeastern coast -
"You... BASTARD!!!" Jacobie used all of his might to swing his body around and made for a horizontal slash at Keshel. His body was weaker from blood loss, but he gave more strength than normal. His magic likely kept him alive. Fortunately for him, Karma was behind him and cast a healing spell before the arm was lost. "Take this!" Karma jumped into the fight as well, her ice katana slashing from the other side.
--- --- ---
"Hah! It worked." Geomarcus was filled with joy as he saw the marcher had burst into a state of disrepair. He then returned to the battle with the zombies as he struck them down with his light-enchanted silver longsword. Decapitating zombies wasn't really that enjoyable, but he seemed to be glad to rid Gaian of these creatures of darkness.
Posted by: Dude Man on Sunday January 20th, 2008
- South-Eastern Terian coast -
Duilin felt that something was up. Was that HIS back, in front of him? He looked behind and saw the Iduran's blade coming towards his back. In a move of both defence and shock he pulled his sword back and held it close to himself.
"Wow..."
Duilin tried a different approach and then summoned a fireball in his left hand and then smashed it into the ground creating a wave of flame that spread in a six foot radius around him, intending to catch the Augment in it.
---
Grant somewhat caught up with Duilin and then turned around to see if Firstman was behind him, but he wasn't.
Marshall landed his wyvern near Zimmerman.
"Where's Patrick!?" Marshall asked sounding worried.
"I don't know...I think I lost him..."
"No...Firstman..." Marshall looked through the battle field, and couldn't see Firstman anywhere.
"What's wrong!?"
Marshall ran through the battle field, dodging any projectiles flying near him. "Firstman!"
And then there he saw him, laying in pieces on the ground, next two a lizard man and a Kandarinian warrior fighting.
"No!!" He then fell to his knees and buried his face into his hands. Firstman was his best friend, he knew him for almost five years. He didn't even know magic or anything too special, but he was able to survive so much, get out of so many battles alive and well. But now he's gone...
Posted by: Mikado on Sunday January 20th, 2008
~~ Swan Creek, a town South-West of the Tower of Heaven's Bane: Regiment 9 Headquarters ~~
~ ~ Emo paradise (Czernn's room)~ ~
A loud bash was heard as the door was kicked in, and a stream of light entered the dark chamber, revealing in the chamber a man sitting with his back to the door at a desk.
There was no light in the room before, and the stream of light that came from outside was the only way to see anything. The room was cold, and vey empty. Or maybe it only looked empty because the light shone only on the desk, and nothing else could be seen.
The man spoke with a sad and soft voice, but very understandable at the same time.
"That... is such a waste of a good door."
His voice echoed in the chamber, meaning that it was big and empty. He slowly turned his pale white face, and looked at the Lizardman. Where he was looking and how he felt was unknown because his eyes were fully black, not showing any emotion whatsoever. Except sadness.
Starting with a deep breath he spoke.
"Sff..., I see..., soo who has the will to call me into action, moj drogy dowodco smierci.
He tilted his head slowly to the left, watching Ssesk with his empty look.
~ ~ Emty Room, Silver Root ~ ~
Heil looked at the single, but huge window in the court. It was covered with a thick courtain.
"Why would anyone close the window...?"
Heil stood up and walked to the window, and opened it. He looked outside and he saw two ships flying beneath him.
"Soon... we'll reach this unknown lands... I wonder what we'll come across..."
Someone knocked on the door.
It must be the generals. He quickly closed the window and hid it behind the courtain, and while walking to his seet he yelled "Please enter!" and the big door, or maybe even a small gate opened.
Nine red clothed people walked in, and took their respective seets along the table.
When Heil sat down he looked if all the generals had assembled.
"Well... we all know that we are nearing foreign terrain. This shall be our discussion for today..."
//2 more post to go before Silver Root reaches coast.
Posted by: Jenia on Sunday January 20th, 2008
~Near Kandarinian Citadel, Northern part of the Dark Continent~
The Citadel was surrounded by human guards, and the figure glided over to one.
"Halt!" the speargun-equipped guard said.
He had odd gloves and an amulet worn.
"What is wrong?" the approached figure asked, the eye on the black side of his face closed.
"The Citadel of the Sovereign is beyond here! Unless you have business..."
"We have business, mortal. Now let him through."
The guard took a few steps back, as did a few others.
"Wha-wha-what was that?" the guard asked after coming to his senses.
"Worry not, my dear friend can be grumpy at times. In any case, I must make haste to the fortress..."
"Wait!" the guard stopped him "You can't go just like that! The Augments won't like your smell and attack!"
"Oh, is that all?" the figure smiles faintly "My dear friend... Could you please warp the air around me? I wouldn't want to disturb the locals..."
"Just killing them would have been easier... But, fine."
A small ripple began to surround the figure as it approached the portal leading into the Citadel...
The guards stood by and watched the figure slowly move away...
"Did that just happen?" one of the guards asked.
"No, it didn't." another guard gave him a pat on his shoulder "We really should be getting more sleep if we experience hallucinations like this, fellas..."
Passing four augments which acted slightly confused, the figure entered the portal.
"Why were they running around like that?"
"Hell if I know."
The figure found itself inside the citadel, facing a gray rock wall.
"Seems familiar..."
"It's because we made those stones out of a mountain so that those mortals could gather it with more efficency."
The figure was surrounded by torches and statues of gargoyles. There were no windows, and the cieling was quite high.
The there were two servants running about trying to get the statues cleaned and didn't really notice the new presence.
The figure shrugged and jumped back into the portal.
It reappeared in a large room full of ceramic bathes full of fresh oranges.
"Oh...Kay..."
"Even I have to agree with you this time."
The figure returned to the portal and reappeared in a room with many corpses hanging from the cieling, puddles of blood on the floor and a pipe organ at the very end of it.
"Pipe organ room?"
"That's more pleasing to the eyes than oranges, anyway."
The figure made a few steps, slipped in a puddle of blood and fell back into the portal, reappearing in a completely empty room with polkadot-pattered walls of black background and white spots.
"...Eyesight-torture room?"
"He must've been bored while we were away."
The figure got up, sighed, and stepped back into the portal, reappearing in what appeared to be a toilet. A single guard sat on a wooden pot, apparently answering his call to nature.
"Uh...Definetly not here."
"You sure got him with his pants down..."
Going back through the portal, the figure found itself in a glamourus room full of Kronos's Pictures painted on expensive canvas, busts and statues made in his image and even a rug portraying his face on the wall.
"Hey, why doesn't he place the rug in his bedroom?"
"And have people constantly walk all over his face? Don't be stupid."
The next destination of teleportation was a smaller room with a bed, a schedule of including times and names as well as a collection of pink teddy bears.
"His wife?"
"More like daughter. I bet the names are her dates! Pah..."
The next room was seperated into two parts - One was filled with tiny lungs and kidneys, and the other was mostly empty, except for a few coins on the floor.
"...No comment..."
Another teleportation led the figure to a room full of random body parts with random other body parts growing out of them - usualy tentacles.
"Did he try to reinvent the beholder?"
"I never studied mortal anatomy and somehow I still think that THIS shouldn't stay bent the way it is."
With a sigh, the figure arrives in a room full of white underwear packed into compact lumps by black rubber bands.
"And what might this be...?"
"Is he even aware of what is going on in this fortress?"
With a loud yawn, the figure stepped through the portal again to find itself in a large room.
Larger than the previous ones, anyway.
Atop an ivory throne decorated with a bright red gem sat Kronos looking extremely bored with the two Kandarinian banners on either side of the room.
"Ah, there you are, sir Crow-Nose..." The figure gave a refreshing, kind smile.
The eye on the black part of his face opened up and, with a diabolical flaming crimson gaze, began to rapidly scan the room.
"I should thank you..." a darker voice echoed thruout the throne room "You gave me the head start I so much needed. However, I have passed the point where I can make real progress eating souls one by one. So I realized we should return the favor..."
Dark mist began to surround the one called 'Kerig' and the black side's eye's gaze grew firece as it focused on Kronos himself.
"I can now use him to fuse with any magical or beam-based weapon you have and empower it, or perhaps use it as a large soul-vaccuum. I hope you can see for yourself what good is that for... Lest I'll have to demonstrate."
The disfigured being frowned.
"Stop being so rude, Welly! Favors should be repaid KINDLY!"
The echoing voice quited down and the mist dissipated. The eye on Kerig's black side closed.
"If you insist... Kerig."
Posted by: D. Ein on Sunday January 20th, 2008
- Swan Creek, R9 headquarters -
-"That'ss more like it.... I received orderss from the very top, Czernn, for you to train two Necrolytes. DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!"
The Lizard Man's yelling was very strange in pitch. In contrast to his normal deep voice, Ssesk's screaming was ridiculously high.
-"I know it issn't the most exciting job out there, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT! And that jussst happens to be you!"
--- --- ---
- South-Eastern Terian Coast -
Even though the enemy was killed, Keshel was still in the middle of a battle. He leaped back from the two slashes coming at him, though Jacobie's weapon hit his foot as he was about to retreat. Wincing, Keshel looked up.
There were two of them now... One's a healer. Makes sense to go for that one first.
Using the strength regained from the completion of the promise, Keshel dashed toward Karma, trying to spear her right in the stomach. Unfortunately, once landing on his injured left foot, he realized the extent of the damage - but not before embarrassingly tripping on his own foot and falling down right next to Jacobie.
---
In battle time, the Augment somehow increased its speed considerably. With another movement of its hand, the two portals vanished - just to reappear, with another ripping noise, at the creature's lower torso. The portion of the blast coming at the Augment disappeared inside the black hole, collapsing the portal behind it.
-"Now, flying pan," Mikola growled through clenched teeth. "Time for a counter-offencive."
The Augment raised its hand, and drew it back, as if to launch a Ki attack at Duilin. Thrusting it forward, however, it ripped another fault in the fabric of space. Duilin's attack, concentrated in a crescent, came right back out at him...
--- --- ---
- South-Western Kandarinian town -
-"Well, we're here," announced Konstantin. He hauled his end of the chain off the Pauk, and headed toward a building decorated with the ninth Regiment insignia. "I'll be right back."
He called over a nearby guard to hold the chain while he is gone. Obviously, this was done not to arouse suspicion. The guard threw several cautions glances at Sienna, then at Puco, but other than that, did nothing out of the ordinary. The heavy chain was obviously a burden for him, as he was holding it with both hands. It looked like his back was about to snap from its weight.
A couple of minutes passed, with unintelligible murmuring coming from within the building. Then came the surprised voice of Konstantin.
-"Captain Goethe ordered this?! That can't be! N-No! Stop! Aaaahhh~~!"
A very loud "thump" shook the walls of the small building, followed by silence. Suddenly, elephantine footsteps announced the coming of someone - or something - big...
The mountain of a man that appeared from the comparatively dwarf-sized doorway looked like he could kill with nothing more than a glance. At about seven and a half feet tall, he was easily as high as an ordinary Lizard Man - and certainly a lot more meatier. In addition to his standard battle suit, he looked like he had several thick, flat surfaces stuffed under his clothes - most likely plates of armour. Upon his back resided a truly gigantic single-bladed axe, which looked like it was chieseled out of rough stone. He had a deep tan, as well as a majestic spiked Mohawk.
-"I am Onwan, Lord of the Ntouka tribe, and the Lieutenant of the Fifth Regiment," he said. His voice was deep, but with a hint of finesse - certainly not what one would expect from a massive brute. "My apologies, but my captain, Flora Goethe, asked me to apprehend you."
He took the chain from the trembling guard, who looked like he just made in his pants, and wrapped it around his enormous fist.
-"We must now go. Please do not try to do anything that would endanger your safety - as I'm sure that Necrolyte told you, these woods are not the safest place at this time of day."
--- --- ---
- Northern Kandarinian port town -
-"I attempt to escape from the world, yet the world goes out of its way to find me nevertheless," Kronos moaned. "That is you, Weloss? I assume the beam device you are referring to is my Hammer... Right now, just tell me, what is it that you want in exchange? Regardless of the answer, I will need some time to contemplate the matter. I will contact you when I made up my mind."
Posted by: Dude Man on Sunday January 20th, 2008
- South-Eastern Terian Coast -
Duilin moved his arm across himself and created a golden bubble of wind energy, and the flame smashed into the shield, and both the shield and the fire died off.
He then eyed the Necrolyte. It was obvious that the Augment was an undead, and likely being controlled by the Necrolyte, as he seems to commanding it. Perhaps he should take him out, somehow. Doesn't even necessarily have to be lethal.
Duilin sheathed the Iduran and then began to charge lightning energy into his hands. He pressed his hands together and then created an orb out of it, about the size of a softball. He held the sparking blue orb over his head and then dashed around the Augment and then towards Mikola. He was a couple feet away from the Necrolyte when he threw the orb right at him.
--- ---
- South-Western Kandarinian town -
Sienna looked at the giant man in horror. She simply had to get out of here.
"Puco. What do we do?" She whispered.
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Sunday January 20th, 2008
- Terian, Southeastern Coast -
Jacobie backed up as Keshel tripped and fell to the ground. He took his blade in both hands and made a downward cleave as hard as he possibly could, right for Keshel's neck. Meanwhile, Karma backed away from Keshel as he moved towards her. She held her katana close by and backed up into a guarding stance.
--- --- ---
"Oh my... He's dead." Doriana had killed all of the undead around her and finally stumbled upon the scene, blade sheathed, at Firstman's side.
"We'll need to give him a proper burial. Poor human... such a waste of life. Well, these things happen. I have a magic sack of coins that grows as more weight is put inside of it. My money means nothing right now, I'll just dump it out and put him in the bag." She did indeed dump out all of her gold coins, but it was only a few, perhapse ten or eleven. Then, she began to load Firstman into the bag.
Posted by: Mikado on Monday January 21st, 2008
~ ~ Conventional room, Silver Root ~ ~
When everyone was ready Heil started to speak.
- "Well ladies and gentlemen, today we have came to discuss the newest event, we have arrived at new land. It was a long while since we left Amitri and I suppose I have no need to recall what we did wrong back then"¦"
He halted his speech, waiting for anyone to object, but as he suspected no one replied so he continued.
- "Mishios spies reported that the foreign country is divided mainly into two pieces. A good one and a bad one as they say. Whether the good one really is good and vice versa is unsure of, but it isn't relevant as we strive for the good being of our folk. We have prepared our people on both possible outcomes, war and peace, what will happen"¦" He put his elbows on the table and leaned on them. ""¦ is entirely our choice."
- "And their of course." A short haired woman replied. She said it with a polite tone, but everyone knew that she was very disrespectful, even though she wasn't a full general but only a major general.
- "And their of course." Heil answered. "However I doubt that we'll be attacked on arrival. I don't expect an arriving party either." Someone smirked. It was a young person, but not much could be seen of him because he sat partially in the shadow., he was also just a major General.
Heil looked at him, and when the person saw that he immediately stopped smiling and sat right up. Now a little of his face was shown. Or the lack of it, for his face was empty, and his head was bald. A little token was seen in the middle of his head.
Heil continued.
- "They sure have noticed of our arrival, it's hard not see three big ships floating at your country." Another smirk, another look. "I DO expect some kind of answer from"¦ the Kadarian Sovereignty."
- "Kandaranian Sir Lord Mocarny, Kandaranian." A sly voice replied. A long haired handsome man was the one who spoke, it was he Mishio, who was in lead of the spying mission on the foreign grounds. "We know that their technology is far less than ours, however they are more fixed on Mysticism there"¦ Magic in their language." He looked seriously with his thin eyes at the rest of the generals. "So if they would attack us in the worst case, we wouldn't have much to fear. For no one can throw from the earth anything up to the clouds, but dropping something from the clouds to the earth is no problem."
Heil looked at the man, he was a full fledged general, and he was known for his abilities to spy and sneak. He also had allot of won battles in his history as he was a genius tactic.
- "Indeed, and that is not what I fear. What I fear is, that if we won't make the best contacts, we may end up in war, which always ends in a loss for both sides. My proposition is to keep things silent about our"¦ higher technology, for men fear what is unknown."
"With all respect Mocarny Heil,"¦" A blond haired medieval woman spoke. She was a great woman, very loyal AND a great warrior. Something that was rare these days. She was fairly new, and she was only a Major General, but Heil was planning to give her a higher rank pretty soon. ""¦ Mocarny Heil, they already saw our higher technology, they have seen our ships and still do so. We will not be able to keep that fact silent to them."
- "Pshh, tha was pretty damn obvious feminine human!" The comment came from the farther side of the table, a relative new general, a black haired man with his hair gelled backwards. "Don't ya think if he'll say someth' that he'll think of tha'?"
- "It did not appear so obvious to me, general Smiech." The woman tried to say this with a controlled voice, however her eyebrow twitched and Heil could see that she was annoyed.
- "Well, it should be appear'n obvious to ya, feminine!"
- "We should not have be being waste times for not important importantless cases without importance." A low voice came from a long person, he was the longest in the group and looked really studied. "We are being sorryfull for our interuptions, however we needs to going keep because we can have be hitting the shores every moments now, Mocarnies."
- "Oh for crying our loud, PLEASE stop talking like that, you stupids! If-"
Heil interupted
- "Don't start needless wars general Smiech, I fully agree with general Tron, let us continue on our case"¦"
~ ~ Swan Creek, R9 headquarters, emo room ~ ~
Czernn slowly stood up, and and turned. He wondered why his captain was such a noise, and started slowly.
- "So basicaly, I, a high empowered lieutenant am going to teach some kids how to summon death and learn the paths of pain? Can't you put someone, who wants to do that?"
Czernn sighted and lowered his head.
- "Since when do lieutenants have to babysit?"
~ ~ South-Western Kandarinian town ~ ~
Puco looked at the man, not really impressed by his size, but at his equipment. Apparently she had met more giant alikes in her past.
- "Meee... I... have no idea?"
She raised her hand to scratch her head, but because of her strength she accidentally broke the chains which she didn't put on properly in the first place.
One sweat dropped, and she looked with big eyes at her now free hands, and then at the giant.
- "Eeeeh... we don't have much choice?" She suddenly stood back into her boxing stance.
- "I didn't like that other dude anyway, and aren't we supposed to find your Oni-san? Well I doubt THIS big meany will help us!" She smiled a little now. "Maybe I'll get to test my newest powers out!"
Posted by: Ted Der on Monday January 21st, 2008
- I don't know where -
"My lord... Garrick is dead."
"Hmmm... who killed him?"
"A pirate that goes by the name Royen Beastkeeper, sir. He is in comand of the Gilden Warship."
"Ah,the man who is called 'Boss' by the race of 'Geeks'. Find him and ... bring him here. He might be useful to us."
"Yesss sir!"
Posted by: Jenia on Monday January 21st, 2008
~Northern Kandarinian port town~
"Pursue?" Kerig looked at Kronos with a surprised right eye "Not at all! All we had to do is turn a little to the-"
"Not now, Kerig." Weloss interrupted.
"Kronos, it is good of you to ask. I wa-"
"Hey!" Kerig interrupted his companion just as he was interrupted mere moments earlier.
"We are returning a favor! Asking for anything in return would be rude!"
"Inefficent! I will-!"
"RETURN! FAVOR!"
Dark mist began to surround Kerig and angry mumbling filled the room.
"...Fine. Kronos! All I ask for is a safe haven for this idiot for as long as I grant you my aid. Is that fine with you, Kerig?"
Kerig smiled warmly to what appeared to be no one in particular and nodded, then proceeded to stand there and observe Kronos.
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday January 21st, 2008
- Phoenicia (the former island of Romme), North-west coast -
Tweet tweet tweet...
Kelmarr blurrily blinked his eyes open, staring at the blue expanse above him. Above a sea gull fluttered, waving wide circles high in the sky. He watched it for a moment, trying to piece together what had just happened, when something fell from the gull's rear and landed square between his eyes with a splat.
"GRAAAHHHH!!!!"
He leapt to his feet, arms flailing, then stumbled over. He crawled to the ocean's edge just a few feet away and dunked his head in the drink, bubbles rising as he cursed underwater and rubbed his face clean. He pulled his head up, fur soaking wet, and snarled. "Blasted bird!" He found a rock and threw it up into the air, but missed by several hundred feet.
"Ow..."
His arm hurt... Ugh, everything was sore...
Just where the heck was he?
He sat down, trying to get the infernal sand out of his tail. Ugh... It was everywhere. He gave up and proceeded to dunk himself in the cool beach water. What island was this? He thought for a moment it might be Tjed again, yet by the sun he knew he was on the northern coast, and he knew the storm could not have taken him that far...
He shuttered when he remembered that nightmare demon. Folding his ears, he peeked his head above the water and looked around. No sign of that thing anywhere. After a moment he threw both hands in the air and screamed a triumphant "YES!", water splashing around.
"Ow..."
Still sore... He hobbled out of the water, immediately feeling the stolen sword on his back... Phew... His knives were still there too. But his pack? Where was that? Blast!
He looked around in vain. Blast it... How about his coin sack? Blast it! Gone too! Arghh!
He calmed down after a moment. He still had the sword. Perhaps he could sell it here, wherever this was. He'd still make out with a huge profit. And he was still alive, so that was a plus.
Forests lined the beach on all sides, in addition to the occasional display of jutting rock. But in the distance, he could see something jutting above the treetops. Towers, perhaps? It was worth a shot. Fur dripping wet and tail hanging low, he truged into the forest, towards whatever-that-was...
Posted by: Ted Der on Monday January 21st, 2008
- In the middle of the ocean somewhere in the triangle between Ariosis, Romme, and the Dark Continent -
"Ah-" Twack!
One of Akran's crew stumbled back with a black feathered arrow sticking out of his head. He reached up to feel it, but didn't quite make it. He flopped over the side of the ship and hit the water with a splash. All around him there were sounds of a violent battle going on between the two ships. Martin was at the helm making sure that their ship stayed with the Gilden Warship.
Akran's ship, the Shadowshot, had a slim body with a jutting out bow. It's dark gray sails were worn, but still strong and went well with it's maroon coloured body. The ship was definitely built for speed. In fact, Akran had to order that they drop some canvas because they had to stay at speed with Royen's very much larger, Warship.
Martin was an expert at the wheel and skillfully made the Shadowshot swerve back and forth making it harder for the pirates to aim. Meanwhile, Akran was dodging arrows and pirates trying to get to Royen.
Smack! Akran was thrown back as he collided with another man. He quickly drew his dagger, spun around the man and brought the knife to his throat.
"No, please don't kill me!" cried the pirate.
"Where is Royen?" asked Akran pressing the blade into the pirates flesh.
"Ah! N-no, please! He is in his cabin!" the pirate gasped.
Akran threw the whimpering man down on the deck and sprinted to the edge of his ship. He crouched down and waited for Martin to bring the ship back closer so it would be easier to jump. Suddenly, the ship gave a jolt and Akran was almost thrown overboard. The Shadowshot instantly started to turn right for the Gilden Warship. He braced himself for the collision.
CRASH!
The pointed end of the Shadowshot burst through the side of the Warship sending splinters and debris everywhere. Akran was thrown from his ship and sailed right through the opening in Royen's. He hit the floor, rolled and hit the wall. The Shadowshot kept coming so Akran had to scramble to hit feet. The ship jolted again and Akran was flung to another wall, but managed to keep on his feet.
Dust and splinters skewing his vision, Akran stumbled up the stairs to the deck. Somehow he managed to crawl up, but he was coughing and rubbing his eyes. He looked up and saw that the entire Warship was tilted to the side. It was sinking. He could see pirates scrambling to get off the ship. Some just dived into the water, while others jumped on to the Shadowshot. Through all this commotion, there was something that was missing. Where is Royen?
"'Ello Akran," came a gruff voice from above him. Royen put his foot on Akran's back and drew an arrow to his temple. "Good bye, mate. You're breakin' my heart."
Posted by: D. Ein on Monday January 21st, 2008
- Swan Creek, R9 HQ -
-"Since I became captain, and you lieutenant," Ssesk sighed. "Are you forgetting that these people are some of the few you can truly fit in with? We wouldn't want them to die out, just for the sake of.... race diversssity....."
The Lizard Man handed Czernn a map.
-"The location iss marked as "Mournbury" on the map. There will be a small headquarters there. You are to rendezvous with two fairly young Necrolytes - Joseph, a fairly ordinary rookie, as well as Ekaterina - a gifted Necrolyte, as I'm sure you yourself will... disscover...."
Ssesk walked out of the room, pausing at the door.
-"Don't disappoint me, Czernn."
--- --- ---
- South-West Kandarinian town -
-"So," sighed Onwan. "Captain Goethe was right, after all. You are a little something, aren't you? Gentlemen?"
Ten tall-capped Cryomancers made their entrance from the buildings around. Unlike ordinary ice mages, their weapon was a dark blue gauntlet on their left hand. One 6th Regiment Stalker was also present.
-"Looks like your guests of honour will not accompany us peacefully. Could you coerce her to to come with me, please?"
The Cryomancers slowly backed away from Puco, holding their left hands in front of them. Small veins of azure glowing liquid lit up on their gauntlets, and some sort of a dome-like shield made of sky-blue mist appeared around the two captives. Meanwhile, the Stalker sat down on the ground outside the shield, and began charging strange circles in the sand.
-"If I were you, ladies, I wouldn't touch the mist. It is rather cold."
--- --- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
//Footballs aren't orbs, DM. At least your stupid American ones.\\
Duilin managed to out-speed the Augment in his movement. The metal zombie already made a move to rip another fault to absorb the sparkling attack, but the movement was too late. Mikola, however, was a little more vigilant. He quickly drew his blade to deflect the orb. The blue energy collapsed when it hit the Necrolyte's sword, albeit with a bright flash. Mikola was staggered by the phenomenon, clutching his face and screaming.
-"My eyes! My eyes!!! Ahh! The facemask, it does nothing!"
Then something strange happened. The Augment stopped midway in creating a portal, and the incomplete fissure slowly rippled back together. It looked around curiously, while producing loud inhaling sounds from behind its mask.
In the newly formed silence, Duilin's hair slightly wavered in the wind toward the Necrolyte's guardian...
With something of a gasp, the Augment spun around, facing Duilin directly. It made a stabbing movement with its hand at the warrior, who was a few feet away.
Rrrrip...
The flying hand vanished in a tiny rift, reappearing right next to Duilin's head. The unhumanly long metallic finger seemed to be heading directly at Duilin's temple.
---
The Lizard Man's attack hit its target a little lower than it was supposed to, but it did the job nevertheless.
-"What a deed you just performed," wheezed Keshel. "Watch your ass, lizard. Just a matter of time before I come back!"
With those words, the manslayer's blade dropped...
---
The message was loud and clear, as it rang through the Necrolytes' minds. Coming from Vladimir, the de facto leader of the task force, it cut through their thoughts, like a cold knife through the fiery chaos:
-"Don't resurrect him."
--- --- ---
- Gros Morne Citadel -
-"I find your request difficult to perform, Weloss," Kronos sighed, without taking his head off his elbow - or, for that matter, looking up at all. "I thought that my fortress was the ultimate safe haven. And yet, here you stand before me."
The Sovereign finally raised his head.
-"As long as Kerig is in the Kandarinian-controlled territory, no live blade will come near him. Here..."
A barely audible rip echoed through the chamber.
-"I've got an Augment following you. This way I can keep my eye on you two, and protect you from harm at the same time. I will also let you know of my reply through him when I have decided. Now, please - leave me to my days of quiet contemplation, which I longed for so long..."
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 22nd, 2008
//I didn't say football, I said softball.\\
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"Whoaa!!" Duilin exclaimed in shock. He swerved his head to avoid the metal finger. With a look of annoyance he then stabbed his sword right at the Augment's head, aiming between the metal plates.
--- ---
- South-West Kandarinian town -
"Puco. We have to get out of here." Sienna whispered. "Try and teleport us out of the mist. We'll fight our way out."
She was ready, over the past few years she's been training and she even had her skills 'evolved' by Puco.
Posted by: Mikado on Tuesday January 22nd, 2008
~ ~ South-West Kandarinian town ~ ~
"Neeh~..."
Puco didn't expect THAT. She opened her eyes wildly at the mist that was nearing.
"Miue... !! I don't think I can do that! These guys are in the way!!"
After though of a strategy she touched the earth, letting spikes grow out of the earth, but not in the Cryomancers and neither at her, just in between them right into the mist.
Temperature transfer, this thing should succeed. She could change the temperature of the the mist via the poles... at least that was the plan.
A little longer... done!
"Sienna, I lowered the temperature of the mist, do your thing!"
Saying do you thing, she had no idea what, but she was too busy giving the mist a nice temperature.
~ ~ Swan Creek, R9 HQ ~ ~
Czernn bowed a little.
"I shall not depress you more than myself moj kapitanie."
He had nothing to take, why should he take anything anyway with him?
"EY! Emobait! Dun' forget me!"
Czernn didn't expect that.
He turned and looked at his desk, and the skull that was lying on it... spoke.
- "Wha... how did you get alive?"
- "IDIOT! You're a NECROMANCY! Taking death stuff to life is yer SPECIALITY!"
- "I can't remember having you brought to life..."
- "Hey! HEY! What are youdoingtom-"
Czernn put the skull in a black bag.
He turned and wanted to walk out... but the light was so bright...
"This is a pain... too bad pain hurts."
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 22nd, 2008
- South-West Kandarinian town -
"Yeeeaa!!" Sienna then jumped forward and then nearly disappeared into thin air. She casted a camouflage and speed increase spells on herself.
At a lightning fast speed she ran in a circle around the Cryomancers throwing the razer-sharp cards at their necks...
--- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Marshall approached Doriana. He said nothing but helped her put Firstman into the bag. When he was in the bag he took a deep breath and then sighed.
"He was...my friend." He said softly.
Posted by: D. Ein on Tuesday January 22nd, 2008
//DM, Duilin is a few feet away from the Augment. He couldn't've just stabbed his sword at the Augment, he's too far away. The reason the zombie was able to do that was because it can create portals.\\
--- --- ---
- South-Western Kandarinian town -
One of the Cryomancers snickered.
-"Heh," he said. "Nice job, Onwan. They fell for it."
Just as the cards reached the mist, a chain lightning united all Cryomancers' gauntlets, and the mist turned into a solid dome of ice. With a "zing", the cards struck the ice wall - but failed to cut through even a quarter of its width.
-"Don't thank me," said Onwan grimly, who was leaning against a nearby house, his arms crossed on his chest. "Captain Goethe was the one who suggested this course of action. She assumed that the captives will attempt to disperse of the mist by using glyph magic, nowadays the most common. However, as glyph magic would require them to be very close to the mist, the resulting ice wall would've captured them inside. As for the earthern spines, which served to reinforce the shield... That was unpredicted by either me or captain Goethe. Deus ex machina, I suppose."
He turned to the sand-charting Stalker.
-"Scylax, are you done yet?"
-"Yes," came the hushed voice. "Secondary protection barrier is in place, Lord Onwan."
-"Good... that should slow them. Begin the third phase."
-"Yes, sir."
The Stalker came up to the outer layer of the ice wall, and began charting another glyph on it. (1/2)
//Considering that the ice shield was set up in two posts, and the secondary shield in one, by logic it should take Puco and Ophelia at least 3 posts to break out\\
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 22nd, 2008
//Sheesh, then just assume he dashed forward or something.\\
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"Whoaa!!" Duilin exclaimed in shock. He swerved his head to avoid the metal finger. With a look of annoyance he dashed towards the Augment, untill he was up close. He then stabbed his sword right at the Augment's head, aiming between the metal plates.
--- ---
- South-Western Kandarinian town -
Sienna clenched her teeth, as she turned back into her visible self.
"Alright, that's it..." Sienna took out several cards from her deck and then her hands glowed with a dark purple aura. She crossed her arms and held them close to her face and the aura around her hands began to glow brighter.
Posted by: Melchior on Tuesday January 22nd, 2008
- North-northwestern Tjedian coast -
"So... Um... Do we... Do we just leave it here?"
As he speaks, Bishop slowly circles the worn raft, sitting safely twenty feet from the waterline. The gel moves with an awkward grace by quickly compressing and contracting his mass into a rhythmic spasm, leaving a strange trail as it drags over the sand. His pure white eyes furrow quizzingly as his gaze sweeps back and forth, from the raft, to the sea, to a worn road off in the distance. Suddenly, they widen.
Jaspers voice seeps into and through the gels consciousness in an almost chiding manner. <You certainly aren't going to be taking it with you.> Soon, though, the voice softens, returning to the reassuring manner that the gel is more comfortable with. <It will be fine, don't worry. This beach doesn't look very heavily traveled, and no one would have any need of that raft that I can think of, or even the skills to use it.> Using subtle controls, Jasper directs Bishops gaze to the road a ways away. <We should head that way. Roads are a good sign, following it will take us... somewhere, certainly.>
As the gels eyes relaxed, they took on a hopeful gleam. "I do hope that 'somewhere certainly' has food. And someplace dry, as it is going to rain soon, I think." With that, Bishop faced the road, and super condensed his body. As he released the potential energy built up within........
Hop!
Bishop leapt forward a good two feet before landing and, using the energy of the impact, bounced again. Using this method, he quickly accelerated to a respectable speed, not quite as fast as a run, but more of a 'trot'. With the ocean to their right, the two followed the road westward.
Posted by: Mikado on Wednesday January 23rd, 2008
~ ~ South-Western Kandarinian town ~ ~
- "Glyph? I don't even know what it means!"
Some meters of the Cryomancers Puco was standing, covered in sand, with a huge (for her) hole next to her.
Smiling brightly ignoring the fact that she ruined a perfect surprise attack she spoke:
- "I look like cat, so I can dig like one!!"
...
Cats can't dig... she forgot that one.
- "Anyway, I don't know what you are talking of, but it doesn't sound good to me!"
She bashed her left feet in the earth, making the ground shake, maybe even someone with weak balance fall, but that wasn't her trick. The upper layer of the earth around her, and around the cryomancers began to break. This created lots of rubble and it flew in the air, and Puco couldn't see her surrounding good, whether it hit the runes in the earth or not, or let the ice break and the cryomacers triple, she didn't care.
She rushed at a ridiculous speed at the nearest shade of an enemy and roll jumped him with full strength (Bone breaking).
Posted by: Xorlak on Wednesday January 23rd, 2008
- Phoenicia, forest -
Something wasn't right. Wasn't right at all...
Just where the heck was he? Kelmarr ran a claw through his spiky headfur. Blast, he needed a smoke. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a soggy cigar. Great. Just fantastic.
Replacing the cigar (who knows, it might dry out later) he sat on a log and curled his tail around his left side. Green boughs shadowed him from above, thick enough to block out all but thin streams of sunlight. Still through those cracks in the trees, those towers... those spires were visible.
Definitely not Tjed. But where else? He'd been in taverns all around, and knew a decent amount of Gaian geography just by listening to drunk morons complain about each other. Ariosis: Rich country. Dranniville: Cat people. (He'd been asked if he was from Dranniville a couple of times... Ugh. Come on, just look at his tail. What an insult. Morons...) Helternia: Birthplace of some sappy hero... Those were all too far away from Tjed for him to crash land after such a short trip. Just how long did he drift in the ocean?
Was there another island he didn't know about? That couldn't be the case. If so, why didn't Tjed trade with it? Why did he never hear drunk merchants talk about it in the bar? It's not like he just crash landed on some invisible island or something.
Hmmm...
In any case, if he did find some backwater hick island, he may be able to sell the sword without any chance of getting caught. Probably not as much as some rich nation like Ariosis, but hey, he had to work with what he had...
He stood and made his way towards the city once more. Hopefully it wouldn't be infested with humans like everywhere else. Blast it.
Posted by: D. Ein on Wednesday January 23rd, 2008
- South-westen Kandarinian town -
Onwan was visibly impressed by the crashed ice wall. He watched indifferently as Puco's foot struck the secondary protection barrier, which also contained all of the raised rubble inside.
-"How's the glyph coming along, Scylax?"
The Stalker was adding finishing touches to his glyph, which was now floating in the air just over the secondary ward.
-"It is done," he said, shielding his eyes from a quick flare from the symbol. "We can begin." (2/2)
-"Make it so."
Scylax bowed his head lightly, and turned to the floating pentagram. It seemed to be glowing around the edges.
-"The ward is completely isolated," he said before continuing. "It's going to take a lot more than a mild earthquake to break something that cannot be broken by physical interference. The destruction of the ice shield certainly threw a wrench in our plan, or so I thought at first. Looks like it won't matter either way, though."
The Stalker brought his face close to the glyph, and, after taking off his facemask, blew lightly on it. On the other side, a cascade of incredibly potent knockout gas flooded the ward-sealed enclosure.
-"Don't bother closing your mouths, ladies," he whispered into the glyph. "This gas is courtesy of our Regiment 4's Lieutenant, Vandrin. That man certainly knows his ways around chemicals... It will take action upon touching your skin. So unless you want to willingly suffocate yourself, don't fight it."
//Notice how I said "knockout" - in other words, I'd very much prefer it if both Puco and Sienna were hit by the attack. I have a cool story thread planned, don't worry, your chars aren't going to die.\\
--- --- ---
- South-eastern Kandarinian coast -
-"Heh," coughed Mikola, who was regaining his eyesight. "That, my winged friend, is a very, very major mistake on your part."
The Augment created a portal just in time before Duilin's sword hit it, letting the sword stab the ground a few feet away. Both portals closed shortly, but the Augment was quick to create another one to its right. The initial blackness from the rift soon faded, to reveal...
...Duilin's beating heart.
-"It looks to me as though you've never fought a Necrolyte before, pan," Mikola sneered. "Otherwise you'd know not to get this close to a Vischy. As I'm sure you can see, they have an annoying tendency of opening a portal right inside you in those situations."
With another demoniacally fast movement, the Augment made a stab at the heart.
Then, something went wrong.
Its long claw stopped a mere millimetre from the pulsing flesh. The zombie made another twitch, and fell to the ground in the grotesque fixed position. Slowly, its limbs relaxed, and lowered down to the ground - as if it was being released from some oppressive power constricting it.
The Necrolyte himself was nowhere to be seen, at least in the first few moments. Then, a weak moaning a few meters away announced his presence.
Mikola was pinned to a nearby tree by a dauntingly long, barbed spear. It looked like a very large version of the standard Kandarinian ammo for spearguns, with several strange marks on it. There was something else, though... There seemed to be small white cracks in the Necrolyte's body spreading outward from where the spear made contact. About 30 zombies in the vicinity of Mikola and Duilin dropped dead for no observed reason.
-*cough* "What the hell.... is this...?"
The white cracks seemed to be doing their deed, though - the Necrolyte's head soon limply dropped to the side. Suddenly, his body burst in flames, burning a fiery glyph in the tree. The glyph liquefied the surface upon which it was burnt, turning the tree into a sort of a wavering curtain. Soon, a dark form emerged - a hooded man holding a dangerous-looking apparatus on his shoulder.
-"Hello... bird."
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Wednesday January 23rd, 2008
- Dranniville, Port Arakissnav -
Aaron found himself a nice bench to sit on as he waited for his guardian to escort him to the stronghold to the south; known as Fort Gadowran. The Drannic port flooded with Drannivolkans and elves trading among the endless rows of markets. The Drannic insignia, the double star and cross, fluttered in the breeze on a flagpole near by. Aaron looked above at the flag, tranced by the beauty of the blue doublestar, the gold cross, and the purple background.
A few moments later, to large-looking Drannivolkans walked up to the former Emporer of Ariosis. They both bowed and greated him.
"Hello, lord consular," the first began, "I am Marrik and this is Bradly. We are here to escort you to your stronghold now."
"About time." The young consular got to his feet and pulled out his sword, letting it sit by his side in his hand. "What manner of creatures are south of here."
"There be loads o' wyverns, me lord," Bradly started, "and tons o' bloody scavenger birds too. We best be careful and be watchin' tha' first step, me lord."
"Very well. I know that the wyverns will not hurt us unless we hurt them first, so just keep your guards up. Meh, you are 'guards' after all."
"Indeed, sir. I'll take point." Marrik walked to the head of the three and Bradly in back. The two guardians weilded large, blade-tipped spears. They set out on the path to the south of the port. After a minute or so of walking, smoke could be seen from above the tree tops in the forested paths. Not a good sign to be sure. Could be the smithy, or perhapse the great hall fireplace. None could be certain.
However, after a bit more walking, their fears had been realized. The fortress was under seige, but not by the kandarinians... but by rebels from the first war of Ariosis. None thought they were even around anymore. The battle was still raging on as Aaron pushed through the gatehouse and entered the stronghold. It was nearly all in ruins, but the guard was still holding up.
"Damnit, I thought I disposed of them four years ago!" Aaron walked into the midst of the battle, and as he did, the rebels fled back to the woods. The main castle was still intact, but the stronghold outer wall was extremely damaged, and rubble was everywhere.
"Lord Aaron! You've come at a rather unexpected time... what are you doing here?" This came from an average-sized Drannivolkan soldier who came up to Aaron and saluted.
"I've made this stronghold my base of opperations. It's all here in my writ. I'll show it to you as we enter the castle. After all, your men could use a break. Have the mages generate a barrier."
"A BARRIER!? But sir! You know how anoying barrier generation can be... and how unstable it is for land AND air units!"
"Of course I do! I realized how unstable they were when the Dark Empire invaded! However, it's time that we errect another one. I feel that our mages have grown more knowledgable after the past three years."
"Hmm... Alright, lord. I'll have the men get right to it. You two!" The Drannivolkan pointed at Marrik and Bradly. "Tell the mages that consular Aaron demands a barrier be errect within the hour." The two Drannivolkans bowed and ran off into the castle, most likely to the mages' quarters. The Drannivolkan then turned his attention to Aaron once again.
"What do you plan to do about the rebels, sir?"
"Absolutely nothing. Nothing can penetrate a barrier... however, the only fault is that nothing can leave it either."
"Indeed sir. It's quite the measure you've taken."
"Rebels are weak. It's not them I'm worried about."
"It's the Kandarinians, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Well, let's start planning on how we'll get my plan into action. I'll tell you all about it after we get inside."
"Of course my lord."
- Terian, southeastern coast -
"I'm sorry for your loss... Geomarcus! Get this back to my ship and place it on the deck. Be careful, I don't want the god-damn Kandarinians resurecting him while he's in there." Geomarcus walked over to Doriana and lifted the large bag.
"Don't worry, General. It's a straight shot to the ship. I'll be back in a jiffy."
"No, you wont. I'm sorry Geomarcus, but I want you to guard it, along with the ship."
"*sigh* Yes, General." With that, Geomarcus was off.
--- --- ---
//Not sure if this'll be okay with Ein. If not, post it as a miss or something.
"I don't think so. You wont be able to come back if you're fried to ash! Take THIS!!!" Jacobie put two hands together and immediately shot a small beam of fire at Keshel's body.
Posted by: Mikado on Thursday January 24th, 2008
~ ~South-westen Kandarinian town~ ~
"Holy..."
Even though she escaped outside the ball of Ice she was struck into an another one!
Things happened quickly, puco let all her power to her fist but the gas already entered.
If only... it wasn't gas.
She tried to freeze the air isolating Sienna and Puco... however it seemed that the gas was very heavy, and it was entering quickly... to quick, to fast to guard.
Puco felt the foreign gas touch her body...
With her last strength she punched the second layer of ice, making a hole into it,
but it was too late,
she breathed the gas, and felt light,
too light,
some gas leaked because of the hole,
did,
it,
matter?
Thud.
~ ~ Swan Creek, R9 HQ ~ ~
Czernn left the room and walked slowly towards the main hall.
"I have to get some kind of transport... it's way to far off to go there on my own..."
He entered the dark hall. All kind of weird objects were making the hall look really obscure, but Czernn wasn't bothered by it, didn't he live in a room without any light?
Some soldiers were walking around, and the hall was more empty than usual because everyone was leaving for some kind of mission. Czernn stood in the middle in search of some... ah, yes. There were two of them.
- "Chodzie wladcy smierci" He spoke softly, however the necromancers heard him and quickly walked toward Czernn, bowing deeply.
- "We are in your command pan Manteia!"
He raised his hand somewhat unenthusiastically and began to speak.
- "I need to go to a certain location, and I need a transport... now."
The necromancers looked at each other and bowed once more.
- "We have a carriage that was meant to transport pan lieutenant in command Lokiwa..."
They gulped.
- "It is ready pan Manteia, allow us to guide you towards your destination."
Czernn rised an eyebrow. Or he did do something that looked as if he did, for he had no eyebrows to raise.
- "Necromancer," He pointed at the taller one. "please get some other transport for pan Lokiwa, and..."
He looked at the other necromancer.
The necromancer looked back, and realized he had to say his name.
- "I'm Motylek, pan Manteia."
- "Pan Motylek lead me to this carriage, I have been... asked to leave quickly."
- "I shall pan Manteia, follow me pan Manteia!"
He turned and walked quickly outside while the other one bowed mumbling something with "wish" and "Pan Manteia" and left.
"Sheesh... such stress for them, I guess their still necromancers. Will do them good to actually breath."
He followed his new driver outside... the sun was shining bright.
In Czernn's eyes.
Posted by: Jenia on Thursday January 24th, 2008
~Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia~
"Hey, Indher, take a look at this..."
Indher gave out a loud sigh.
"Are you using the orb to spy on someone showering again?"
Elphos went red.
"D-Don't be silly! I'm looking into the forest."
Indher sighed again.
"Oh, and what is it you see? A bird? A squirrel?"
Elphos grumbled.
"Well... It kind looks like a squirrel... A really big, black squirrel with knives..."
Indher pushed Elphos away from the orb and took a brief look.
"What the... Elphos! Inform the townspeople that theres a stranger on the island! Call Shuichi, too... He'll take care of things by the time I get there..."
Elphos nodded and ran down.
~Gros Morne Citadel~
Kerig nodded with a bright smile and stepped back into the portal.
"Where should I go next? Oh, who cares. Might as well wander around for a while..."
Posted by: D. Ein on Thursday January 24th, 2008
- South-Western Kandarinian town -
//I'm going to be a bitch and assume that Ophelia is knocked out as well. I'm sure DM will forgive this minor transgression... He can't post today. Also, amazing post there, Mikado!\\
-"Phew," Onwan sighed. "That girl was really something there... Vent the gas if you would, Scylax."
The Stalker tacitly nodded and backed off from the ward, as did all the other mages. Scylax added some small lines to the large sigil on the ground, and the ward seemed to pull itself out a little - as if making a tube. When he finished, the tube erupted on the other end, shooting a concentrated jet of gas into the skies. The ward finished its existence by vanishing into thin air as Scylax wiped the sigil off the ground.
One of the Cryomancers came up to Puco, and poked her with a stick.
-"Well, she isn't moving," he said. "Best if we disarm them while we can... and tying them up wouldn't be a terribly bad idea either."
-"Not necessary," grumbled Onwan. "That gas knocked them out for a fair amount of time, much more than we need to get them to where they're needed. Captain Goethe will certainly be pleased."
The enormous lieutenant picked Sienna up, and threw her over his shoulder. Scylax did the same with Puco, while the Cryomancers wandered off back into the town. Thus, the pair walked off into the distance...
--- --- ---
- South-Eastern coast of Terian -
//That's fine, Drannic. I was trying to get rid of him anyway =) \\
Keshel's body burst into flames. The smoke, oddly, had a dark red tint to it - the same phenomenon that Duilin was observing in the dead Necrolyte as well. The strange vapour quickly whithered out of its concentration in the wind...
---
Ein put the large ranged weapon on his back, hiding it below his cape. He looked around, quickly scanning the battlefield, and then shooting another dark glare at Duilin.
-"I remember, back in our first, ah... encounter, I asked you to define evil, bird. Due to the inactivity of the Aspyes, I can no longer safely call myself one... so here we are, stuck in a dilemma. There are undead beings crawling all around us, and I just saved your life from that twitchy freak. Can you still call me evil?"
While Ein was talking, several zombies crept up behind him. He only noticed them when it was too late - when two swords and an axe were already flying at his spine. Contrary to all expectations, he did not panic. He simply held his left hand out to the side, revealing a shirtless chest covered top to bottom with basic glyphs, scratched right into the skin. Several of them on his arm lit up, blasting a fiery wave around him. The zombies were knocked back, and one was set on fire.
-"Those that abuse the very powers of life and death should not be allowed to exist." Ein half-turned to Duilin. "Are you getting all of this, bird? Or is your avian brain too small to comprehend even the most basic of matters, such as this?"
With those words, he clapped his hands together. The glyphs went crazy - every single little line on both his arms burst in a cascade of light, sending a lightning shockwave forward. The zombies were cut clear in half, their remains sizzling with small white sparks.
---
-"Pan Mikola has fallen, it seems..." Vladimir's whisper did not hold even a gram of regret. "Are we ready to unveil our final Mertvetz?"
-"We are ready, pan Vladimir."
A hushed murmur of agreement echoed through each Necrolyte's mind. After it settled down, Vladimir spoke once again.
-"Remember that we are not here to win. We are here to weaken. Once the enemy is weakened, Kandarin will capture his homeland, enslave his men, and reign across all the world. Now then... begin."
---
The chaos at the battlefield stopped for a few seconds - and then everything went even more haywire than before. All of the undead creatures fell apart, even the newly deceased Gaian Federation troops. The Necrolytes also exited their Marchers, using their Vischys to get around the battlefield quickly and defend themselves from attack. Soon, the little group of the 13 surviving death mages huddled below a growing mass of bone - carefully arranged into some sort of structure... or... creature...
(1\3)
--- --- ---
- Gros Morne Citadel, Northern Kandarinian town -
"Agh. Looks like I couldn't hold off from writing in here, after all. Those two strange, strange fellows just visited me again - Kerig and Weloss. They proposed an interesting offer... to imbue my Hammer with some sort of an enhancement. At first, I wanted to scream, "Why the hell not?! Get to it!!", but then I realized that Weloss might as well just be toying with me. As such, I got several of my faithful Stalkers to create a passive aura around the Binding Glyph, coming from a little soulstone I attached to it. The aura is rather weak, which shouldn't set Weloss off - but even if it does, I can just say that it is a part of the device.
In any case... The purpose of the field is to collect information on Weloss. If anything goes wrong, I mean, I can just pull the plug. If not... well, good for me. The proposal certainly sounds interesting... Now, just to wait until those slow idiots are finished casting the damn thing. Ugh. I should get them to train better Stalkers."
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday January 25th, 2008
- South-eastern Kandarinian coast -
Duilin looked around in confusion, he wasn't exactly sure what happened, but he knew he almost got killed.
"It's...you. I definitely remember you." Duilin said to him, sheathing his sword and crossing his arms. "Yeah, I heard about the little falling apart of the Aspyes." He replied. "What a pity." He added mockingly.
"But yes, I am willing to accept your help. But you better give me more respect than that if you want mine. But you may be glad to know that a couple of your Aspye friends actually joined me. I think you might know one of them, Marshall Royle."
"General!" Called a voice from behind.
"Speak of the devil..." Duilin said softly.
Marshall, followed by Grant, approached Duilin, panting from the run. "General, the zombies, they all just fell apart. Something...odd is happening."
Duilin turned around and saw that some sort of creature was forming together.
"Hmm..." Duilin rubbed his chin.
"What should we do?" Grant asked.
"I'll worry about that." Duilin then put his right middle and index finger on his right temple and sent a long ranged telepathic message to Vaughn.
--
'Vaughn, get your ass to my location. And bring the rest of the group with you'
'Right away sir. But it appears that Ryan and Firstman were killed in action.'
"Damnit..." Duilin muttered. 'Well, you see what's going on? I don't like it. Just get over here now. We'll grieve latter.'
--
"Wait..." Marshall stepped towards the familiar looking cloaked man. "Ein?! Is that you, Ein?!" He said with a lot of surprise. "My god. It is you! It's been...what four years!? Wow, you've changed a little. I thought I got tougher. But look at you, you're as big as a house!"
Posted by: Mikado on Friday January 25th, 2008
~ ~ Swan Creek, R9 HQ ~ ~
A huge carraige was waiting on the road, it was decorated with red pieces of metal, maybe they were an other colour a long time ago. Other than that the carraige was black but a cean eye could only see that, for the carraige was covered in dust and sand. It was a mighty carraige indeed, one that lost its long glory.
- "I'm sorry for the looks of the carraige pan Manteia, it as war antique as one could call it."
- "Do not feel troubled drogi Motylek, I have no needs for rich looks, in contrary, I dislike to draw attention..."
A silence followed as they entered the cart. Czernn went into the carraige and at the last moment that he turned he cought a glimpse of pan Motylek summoning something like unlife horses and attaching them to the front.
Czernn sat down with his back to the front looking through the back window of the carraige.
- "Where to pan Manteia?"
Czernn gave him the map over his back without turning his head.
- "Please... ride slowly."
Posted by: Ted Der on Friday January 25th, 2008
- Somewhere South of the Dark Continent -
Royen let go of the bow string, but the Gilden Warship was sinking. He missed by a mile as he lost his balance and stumbled back. Akran took advantage of the opening and thrust upwards with his dagger.
"Argh! Wha-?" Royen looked down at the blade sticking out of his chest. He let the Raven Bow drop onto the sloping deck. Royen stood there, staring.
"Akran!" cried a voice from the Shadowshot. It was Martin. "Come here quickly! Your on the wrong ship!" His crew was shoving the last of the pirate bodies off the side of the ship. They had won.
Water was rushing up the stairs and Akran knew he had not much time left. He yanked his dagger back out of Royen, who collapsed on the deck, and shakily stood up.
"Here!" Martin threw a rope at his Captain. Akran grabbed it and let his crew pull his up on to the Shadowshot just as Royen's body slid down the wet deck into the water.
Back on the safe deck of his ship Akran looked around. There were about twenty of his men still left. The seven who had died were nowhere to be seen.
"Lost to the sea, poor blokes." said Martin who seemed to guess what was on Akran's mind. Akran just nodded. Then something caught his eye. The bow that Royen prized was floating on the water just ahead. He walked over to the front of the ship and used a paddle from the rowboat to retrieved the weapon.
As soon as Akran grabbed it his right hand started to burn and the fiery sensation spread up his arm. He was frantically trying to drop it, but he couldn't. Martin came over to see what was the matter.
"STOP!" Akran yelled, "Don't come any closer."
Dark black lines were creeping up his arm - cutting his flesh. They kept crawling up even though his blood was trickle down. His eyes started to burn red and with his other hand he frantically rubbed them.
"AHHHHHH!" Akran screamed.
Then, all of a sudden, the pain stopped.
- Clang*
He let the bow drop. Akran took his hands down from his eyes and looked at his arm. The lines ran all the way up across half of his chest. He could see because the black lines had burned through his shirt, leaving it all ripped and smoldering.
Akran felt a strange sensation of power. He flexed his arm. Man, it was strong! Slowly, he picked up the bow again. He felt a grin spread slowly across his face. He turned towards his crew who were all staring at him intently.
"Let's go North. I feel as though we should have gone a while ago now." he said calmly.
Posted by: D. Ein on Friday January 25th, 2008
- Kandarinian South-Eastern coast -
-"Hello, Marshall." Ein decided to completely ignore Duilin. "Well, fighting off wild beasts and undead monsters for three years does have its perks."
He looked at the creature being build some distance away.
-"Ah, yes... it's one of those..." He scratched his chin. "I've fought those creatures before. Normally, I'd kill the Necrofreak creating it before he finishes the spell, but there's 13 of them - and all with those puppet things hanging around them, there's no way a spear would get close to him."
Another creeping zombie rode Ein's lightning into oblivion, which he casually let off.
-"I'd love to get reacquainted, Marshall, but right now we have more important things to do. Their puppets are on the inside, so there is no point attacking it at this time. I suggest retreating to form a strategy." (2/3)
//I absolutely cannot post anything else right now. Sorry.\\
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday January 25th, 2008
"Alright, then. You probably know best." Marshall replied. He then turned to Duilin "You hear that General?"
"Yeah, I got that." Duilin turned and looked at Ein. "I'm going to put my trust in you for this. But I've got my eye on you, so don't try anything funny."
Lagart, Vaughn, Hance, Sheri and Zuhani arrived and joined up with the group.
"There you are. Okay guys, this is Ein." The general said pointing to the cloaked man. "He's going to help us out. But apparently whatever this creature is, it's dangerous. So we need to get out of here and then devise a plan."
Posted by: Ted Der on Saturday January 26th, 2008
- The Dark Continent: South-Eastern coast -
The crew was looking at Akran strangely. He would pace back and forth on the deck and feel eyes on him, but when he turned around, the crew would quickly turn away. It didn't matter. Those fools knew practically nothing anyway.
Akran was testing out the strength of his new arm. It did not only feel stronger, but a strange tingling came from the dark lines whenever he flexed. He tried to shoot some birds with the Raven Bow, but it felt strange. He wasn't used to the feel of it yet.
"Um, Captain?" said Martin nervously approaching Akran. This was the first time someone spoke to him since the battle with Royen.
"Yes, Martin?" answered Akran sighing. Just tell me the news already!
"We see land up ahead."
"What? Already?" Akran ran up to the bow and looked for himself. They couldn't be at the Kandarinian Sovereignty already. Martin jogged up beside him.
"Look." Martin pointed to the land. "Is that a fight?"
He was right. It sure looked like there was. There was smoke was rising and Akran could hear the faint sound of a battle. The lines in his arm tightened. He felt burning strength from his fingers to his chest. Hell Yes!
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday January 26th, 2008
- Spire City outskirts, Phoenicia -
Well, blast... he was coming up to a big city... a huge city... Possibly the biggest city he had ever seen. He could see towers and spires and all sorts of white marble structures jutting up to the heavens. One spire was particularly large, a testament to grandeur as it poked at the clouds above. This was major... some massive urban network. He could smell the magic in the air, sustaining such a conglomeration of impossibly tall structures and knitting them and the people together like some well-oiled machine.
Why didn't anyone know about this?
As the forest cleared, he came to a village of sorts set up at the edges of the city. Some refuge for the dregs of society, no doubt. Merchants were in the streets, yelling about their wares and whatever nonsense they did.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared.
Of course, stop and stare at the skunk. Blast it. Wherever he was, the locals were exceptionally rude. Ruder than the average human villages. Children ran, grown men walked away. People whispered and pointed before disappearing behind locked doors. Real nice. Thanks.
He stuck his hands in his pockets and grumbled, ears folded and tail hanging low. Entirely human, of course. Just like everywhere else. Ugh. Never mind not having any money. He wondered if they'd even accept coin from him, or if he would have to dodge old women beating at him with brooms.
Well he was here, and he had to make due. Just sell the blasted sword and get out. Should be able to make a few hundred gold easy on this thing...
Posted by: Mikado on Sunday January 27th, 2008
~ ~ Spire City outskirts, Phoenicia ~ ~
Shuichi was walking the streets again this morning. He got a message that something unusual came to the city.
He didn't see action in three years, and he was quite enjoying it. But it's not easy to turn fate away, and he wondered what it was walking through the crowded streets.
Suddenly people began to move quicker, as if walking away from something. It was hard to pass by, and he couldn't see why but it didn't take long before the street became way emptier.
Shuichi halted.
"Hey... a walking Skunk..."
Was this the thing that the guy that Indher sent to him informed him off? It must be, seeing a walking Skunk IS pretty unusual after all.
Shuichi tried to act casually, but it was hard for he was almost the only one walking in this street now. After looking a little weird and coming close enough he gave up, and faced the Skunk.
- "I'm sorry for the behavior that you just faced," Shuichi bowed casually. "but we don't see Skunks that often, and even if we do not walking ones." He meant this as a joke, but whether it was seen as one was a question...
~ ~ Swan Creek, R9 HQ - Mournbury ~ ~
Czernn felt a little ill from the ride even though they were riding quite slowly.
He wondered what the necromancers would be like and fell a sleep... or something that looked like it.
~ ~South-westen Kandarinian town~ ~
Puco was unconscious.
"Nice to meet you again Catgirl, dying again?"
The voice was silent, almost a whisper but Puco could hear it really well... or rather feel it.
"I'm not dead am I!?"
Her voice was filled with fear.
"You're never dead. You can't die. The cataclysm locked your existance... or not existance should I say."
"Oh, come on! You know what I mean! The pain..."
"Yea... the feeling that you get when your body tries to die, but you can't die by physical means..."
"=D"
"Their only taking you... but do you think they discovered your power?"
"What power?"
"... to nuke down a country..."
"I can't do that!"
"No, but you're a gun loaded with atomic bomb for someone who CAN use you properly..."
"Erm... what are atomic blobs again?"
"Bombs. It are... oh nevermind, you'll never understand it anyway. Just hope the don't know."
Posted by: Xorlak on Sunday January 27th, 2008
- Spire City outskirts, Phoenicia -
"Hmmm... if they don't walk, how do they get around... fly?" Kelmarr brought his hand to his chin a moment and smirked at the blond human. Of course, this guy was a total moron (like all humans, basically), but hey if he played him right, he might find a good price for his sword. Judging by his fancy robes, this guy had some money...
Kelmarr flicked his tail and a bunch of dried beach sand fell to the street. Now to make up a quick story...
"The name's Kelmarr, rare weapons dealer. Traveling the world in search of items worthy of adding to my collection..." He praised himself inwardly. Blast he was good. He even got the snooty rich-guy tone down. "Also... may consider letting go of one or two of my personal prizes... depending on the price, of course. Do you know of anyone interested in such things?" He thumbed to the ornate sword sheathed upon his back.
His eyes shifted around a moment, unable to keep them off that huge spire in the background. He couldn't resist asking, "Also... just where am I?"
Posted by: Mikado on Monday January 28th, 2008
~ ~ Spire City outskirts, Phoenicia ~ ~
Shuichi smiled at his words. "Well I did made one fly one time..., but that's probably not the point."
"So you are interested in rare weapons? Oh, I didn't expect that, no offense, but don't really look like one." He laughed silently.
"Well bad luck mister, the inhabitants of this island are not really interested in any sort of that stuff, for this is Phoenicia a country hidden in the mists." Shui tried to make a mysterious impression by adding the "hidden in the mists" part, and he was quite fond of this.
"Well Kelmarr the collector of the rare weapons, the normal people who live here can be a little suspicious of you, however there are a few people that could be interested in any deals. Selling as well buying."
"You probably would like to go to some kind of magician of sorts. Well here on Phoenicia the art of Runecrafting is honored. You probably would like to sell this to a master, and a not crystal bearer." Shuichi pointed at the foreheads of some people and they had crystals placed into their foreheads. "There are five people on this island that I know of who aren't given such crystal. You are one of them, and a man of red, which is magic enough however I doubt that he'll sell or buy anything.
That leaves three, and all of them are runecrafters. Two masters and one student, the student is well... a student, so I think you would like to meet the two rune masters of this land. One is the mighty Indher, not fully human and part of the council that rules this island. The other master is a humble guest researching the area around."
Shuichi paused.
"I have been asked to recieve you, so I suppose you may want to be introduced to them. Well let's start with the nearest one."
Shuichi bowed once more, and when he rose he spoke with a soft but concluding voice.
"I'm Shuichi Nagayoshi, the second rune master on this island."
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Monday January 28th, 2008
- Dranniville, The Gadowran Stronghold -
"Everything is in place then?" Aaron waited for the mage to respond.
"Yes, my lord. All is in place for the ritual." The mage placed a Large Blue stone on the ground in the castle building. "One more thing before we start, though. Aren't you on the council of the Federation?"
"Yes, I am. However, that isn't important right now. What 'is' important is that the barrier be set up before the Kandarinians arrive on the scene."
"Oh, yes. Sorry, my lord." With the assistance of nine other mages, the first mage rose his hands high and the blue stone began to glow a darkish blue.
"When is the stone going to form?"
"It will form when it has enough power. At first, it will explode, and in the wake of the explosion, a shockwave-like barrier will appear. The barrier will then spread out and cover everything in the area. We've designed it to just enclose 'round the stronghold."
"Right, continue." This time, all of the mages rose their hands up high and the glow around the stone got brighter and bigger.
(Barrier Stone at 20% power)
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday January 28th, 2008
- Spire City outskirts, Phoenicia -
Hidden in the mists? Great. Just his luck to land on some reclusive hidden peace-loving island. Ugh. Well, still it may play in his favor after all. Reclusive mages may pay a good deal for random artifacts delivered to them. Judging by the nature of this island, they probably didn't get out much...
Kelmarr blinked and tried to mock the bow the best he could, additionally holding his tail out in a wide arc. 'Mighty' Indher, eh? Great. Another full-of-herself mage. He wasn't sure what to think of the 'not fully human' part. He hoped she wasn't half demon. Ugh... he'd had enough of demons for a while... He rolled the name around in his mind for a moment, but no, he certainly never heard of anyone named "Indher" before... Guess he'd find out.
"Ah... I dabble a bit in runes myself. After you, Mr. Nagayoshi," he said, still keeping up the polite charade. He then took to following the robed human. And blast, Shuichi wasn't kidding. They were too far away to notice before, but the entirety of the islanders did have some odd colored jewel in their forehead. What that meant he could only guess. It could be anything form some ancient tribal tradition to some form of maniacal mind control...
Posted by: D. Ein on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
//Due to the time I've missed, I'll assume that Onwan and Scylax are already at their target.\\
- Southern Dark Continent town under siege -
The large wooden gates practically burst open as Onwan smashed his fist on them, letting him and Scylax pass through. The town, although showing signs of recent warfare, was relatively peaceful. It seemed that Kandarin has already taken this town, except for a medium-sized fortress in the middle. It was protected by high walls, which, despite all the Kandarinian attempts, still stood.
-"Oy," Onwan called a nearby soldier over. "We have prisoners here. Captain Goethe wanted them."
-"...right, those two. Load em up into that cart over there. How long are they out for?"
-"About half an hour left. Make sure, though, that you get them to captain Goethe first - they are not ordinary prisoners. A normal prison will not hold them."
-"Right." The soldier made a half-hearted attempt at a salute. "Sorry, sir. I've got to get going."
The troop instructed the cart's driver for directions, and got in the back together with Puco and Sienna.
---
-"OK, thanks. This is far enough."
The cart stopped, letting the Kandarinian soldier out with the two prisoners over his back. Before him stood an imposing black building, which looked more like a brick of charcoal than anything else. The fifth Regiment's insignia was painted just above the door arch. The building alone seemed to be warding people away from itself - there were no idle soldiers to be seen anywhere around it.
-"Screw it," the Kandarinian said to himself. "Facing a captain? That likes a house such as that? I'll let someone else handle this."
He hesitantly walked inside, seeing several other Kandarinians in a lobby-like area. One of them, a rather burly native-looking individual, looked up.
-"Whut?", he mumbled.
-"Umm..." The soldier with the prisoners didn't exactly feel easy inside. "Two prisoners... um... can you manage?"
-"Whuteva. Givem'."
Glad to be rid of the troublesome captives, the troop rushed out of the grim building. At that point, one of the other Kandarinians noticed the burly soldier taking Sienna and Puco over to a row of cells.
-"Wait up, Gornar. Those are the prisoners that captain Goethe mentioned. Here, put those thingies on them."
"Those thingies" were two amulets, much like the standard Kandarinian protection ones - but with a black gem instead of a red one, and much less opulent-looking borders. Gornar placed one on Puco's left arm, and another on Sienna's right. The teeth on the corners of the triangular shapes dug into the soft skin, embedding themselves on their targets.
-"The soulstones in those will be eating up much of their Ki, so they shouldn't be able to use magic while the amulets are on them. Unfortunately, the amulets will eventually fall off... Damn. Useful things, they are. You can lock 'em up now, Gornar."
-"Ugh. Whutev'."
The burly man put the girls behind a large cage, slamming it shut.
//They can wake up at this point. Feel free to control the NPCs, just don't do anything ridiculous - the amulets are there for a reason =P\\
--- --- ---
- North-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Eris looked at the imposing objects flying in the sky, now directly above the land itself. Well, while their flight over water could've been seen as a neutral passage, this was trespassing. Eh, what the hell. She hasn't had much fun lately anyway, what with all the damned paperwork coming with the title of a captain. Might as well...
She felt her protection amulet, and popped the gem out with a single movement. Her gem was purple, and began to glow a little once she removed it from the rest of the amulet. Its glow seemed to stretch out in a thin aura, pointing toward her. Eris threw the stone some distance away, rolling it under a leaf. She eyed one of the ships right over her, and squinted a little. Suddenly, a black cloud of smoke consumed her, and in a purple flare, she vanished...
//Up to you where she appears, Mikado - somewhere in the ship\\
--- --- ---
- Mournbury -
-"When is he finally going to get here....?" Joseph moaned. "Pan Czernn is really taking his time."
The other Necrolyte sitting on the bench next to him - Ekaterina - said nothing. She was quietly polishing her nails with what seemed to be a chunk of Lizard Man's skin.
-"Come oooon, pani... You never talk!"
-"Just not to you. Now please, be quiet and wait for pan Czernn. Silence sounds better than your voice."
Joseph could only sigh.
--- --- ---
- Northern Kandarinian town, Citadel -
"At last, the idiots finished casting their spell... Honestly. Who takes this long to perform an action this short? Oh well. Using my ties to the Augment I sent with Kerig, I made it reappear in this world. Unfortunately, the Augment can't talk... the result might be a little funny."
---
Suddenly, with a loud, audible "rrrip", the Augment appeared in front of Kerig. It used its metallic finger to scratch some letters into one of its plates. The finished word read: "Yes."
--- --- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
-"Well, gentlemen," Ein started, "It's a very good thing that we retreated when we did. Why don't you look up to the battlefield?"
The scene was quite desperate, at that: A large beetle-like creature was dominating the field, killing multiple soldiers with single blows. (3\3) Its most significant feature was probably a prominent crest of spines on its back, which, one by one, was being retracted into the carapace.
-"See what it's doing? If it will suck up all of its spikes, your entire legion is as good as dead. So I suggest moving before a scene of desperate escape turns into a scene of a bloody massacre. At this point, folks, I have no ideas how to defeat it. 13 Necrofreaks together with 13 puppets is a bit much for me, as I've never had to face more than two at a time. Then again, we do have a fine crew here... so long as bird doesn't screw it up. Any suggestions?"
//Good god, Xorlak, I feel your pain with juggling several storylines...\\
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
- Southern Dark Continent, Kandarinian Prison -
Sienna rubbed her eyes.
"Wh...what happened?" She slowly got up, something was stinging on her arm. She went to pull it off. "Aaaeekk!" She shrieked from the pain. "Okay, not pulling that off."
She rubbed her eyes again and looked around.
"They, locked us up. Oh no..." She then sat back down. "Now, I'll never be able to see Duilin. This is just great. As soon as I'm ready to give a full apology and ask to join him, these damn Kandarinians lock me up!"
She got up and then ran to the bars and grabbed them and started pulling on them.
"Let me OUT!"
The burly man walked toward the cage. "Hullo pretty lady. You angry?"
"What does it look like muscle face!? Let me out of here!" Sienna shouted. "I'm trying to find my brother."
"Oh that to bad. Lots of people want to meet lots of other people. But they no get to see them."
"Well...it's been three years that I've been trying to come to my senses, and I don't even really mean you guys harm. I just want to see my brother."
"Well, I'd like to help. But I no care." The burly man smirked.
Sienna spat in his face. "Up your's brute!"
The burly man roared and then smashed at the cage, Sienna shrieked and then fell to the floor. "Shut up, wench! Or else I'll eat you!"
"Your mother must be proud." Sienna sneered. She then dug into her deck of cards and then attempted to charge her magic into them, but was unable. "What? Oh great, it must be this thing on my arm. It's draining my magic energy. I'll need to get this off somehow..."
--- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"I don't like the way this guy talks." Vaughn said, acting tough towards Ein. "Sir, you want me to put him in place? He's not giving you a lot of respect."
"Shut up Vaughn." Duilin snapped.
"Uhh..."
"Ein, I don't think we'll need to run. I'm a High General, so I probably won't screw things up. I've probably got a better chance than you do. But yes, we do have a fine crew here. Vaughn is actually a very good fighter, I think he'll do good on killing a necrolyte or two. Yet, I sense your power is actually stronger than his."
Vaughn's eyes shot wide open.
"So I can put my faith in you, that you'll probably be able to do a good job here. First we need something to face off this thing. So, Marshall start summoning a minotaur. It won't be able to defeat it, but it'll be able to fight it."
"Yes sir." Marshall held his amulet and it began to glow (1\2).
"So, if those Necrolytes are inside that beetle, we are going to have to get inside it. I don't know exactly how to get inside it, but I assume you do. The best idea I can think of is just simply flying onto it and smashing it up. Have you learned levitation magic?"
Posted by: D. Ein on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
-"That won't work," Ein answered. "A direct, in-your-face approach never works with Necrolyte creatures. What happens is they simply repair the damage immediately after it was dealt... if there was only one of them, sufficient damage would overload him. But that's the whole big thing - the number - which worries me... there are thirteen of them... Even then, although I can fly, in a way, I don't need to - I am able to open a portal right inside of the bug. The question is, what do we do once we're in?"
He started pacing back and forth.
-"Necrolytes themselves aren't very tough. The most they can defend themselves with their puny poking sticks is from a completely green soldier. Their best - and only - defence is the twitchy creature that almost killed you. They call it the "Vischy". Kandarinians call it "Augment". I, myself, like the name "puppet", because that's exactly what they are - they're metal puppets. You noticed the way they twitch, I'm sure - that's because whatever is inside that metal shell is not completely dead. It takes a Necrolyte a good third of their power to keep that thing under control..."
Ein finally stopped and looked at the rampaging beetle again.
-"And as powerful as my weapon is, it is useless against the puppets. They seem to have an increased sense of space in a two to five meter radius around them. They will sense the spear coming, and open a portal, just in time... and shoot the spear back at me. No good. But... I do have one idea..."
He sighed and sat down on the ground. It was obvious he was debating with himself over something.
-"Through a combination of several glyphs... and a new one that I invented myself... it is possible to shut down all thirteen Necrolytes without worrying about the puppets. Watch."
Ein took out one of his spears, and began tracing the edge with his left hand. A relatively insignificant part of the intricate system of glyphs seemed to flare a little.
-"This one will stop the spear once it touches another portal."
Another glyph went up in a little wisp of flames. Ein cringed, but continued to draw his index finger across the metal shaft.
-"This one gives it an... explosive property..."
The last section was a whole patchwork of patterns right on Ein's chest. It looked like the largest and most complex one of all. The black scars of which the glyph was made filled with a pure white glow, which trickled like a liquid down Ein's hand onto his spear. A large section of the projectile was now made of shining white light.
-"And this here," Ein gasped, "is ol' Ein's home recipe... It will completely lock away the Necrolyte's powers, burning them from inside out... Difficult to explain... just..ah... I need to get it inside..."
Posted by: Mikado on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
~ ~ Southern Dark Continent, Kandarinian Prison ~ ~
"Niuuu..."
"Niuu..."
Head. Hurts.
"Niuuuuuuu..."
Puco opened her eyes, however instead of a blinding white light she expected to see her sight is filled with blackness.
She was... somewhere, somwhere dark...
Then she remembered what happened. "Wha-!" She stood up, and felt her arm. "Hurts..."
Yes it hurt, that meant she felt.. she was alive!
"Yay!!" She jumped a little in the air and saw a Sienna being pushed away.
"Sienny? SIENNY!" She hugged her. "We live!!"
~ ~ Mournbury ~ ~
"... pan ..."
"paan...."
"... mant-teia..."
Czern woke up from his dreams.
"Wha..." He said with a sleepy tone, however his mind was as sharp as ever. Or as dull as ever. One of the two.
"We have arrived Pan Manteia, it seems the ones you were to meat were already here."
Czernn stood up and hit his head, for the the carriage was pretty small. Outside the open door his driver stood.
"How do you know about my partners Pan?"
"It... was hard not to pan Manteia, they neared the carriage as soon as they saw it and asked whether pan Manteia was inside."
Czernn rised his hand, he understood.
He stepped out of the cart, and felt the sun shine way to bright and a cold breeze outside.
"You may leave now."
"Yes pan Manteia!"
As the carriage started to leave, Czernn walked towards the pair of necromancers.
"Hello, I'm Czernn or better known among us, pan Manteia."
~ ~ North-Eastern Kandarinian coast / Silver Root ship ( Pistis ) ~ ~
At the table now only five men were discussing for the other generals had left after two hours of a meeting.
Heil was still sitting on his chair, and in front of him two people on each side of the table were sitting.
The blond girl, Mishio, Smiech and the low voices and long black character named Tron.
Some dark fog appeared across the table.
"It seems... it's time to see what our hosts will be like."
~ ~ Spire City outskirts, Phoenicia ~ ~
As they walked Shuichi spoke of various things like the school, town hall, red dragon square and the fountain there.
However he had need to show this guy to Indher. He would love to "examine" him himself... however he doubted that Indher would be happy if he would do anything to her guest.
"... and I guess Rune Magic is the most powerful magic isn't it? I mean... oh, wait you said you knew some of rune magic? So I have no need for explaining its beauty.
Shuichi smiled and looked at the Skunk now walking backwards.
"Maybe once we will introduce you to Indher we can talk about some rune stuff, and you said you are interested in magic stuff? Well I have a small collection if I may say..." He giggled.
"In this island everything is traded with goods for other goods for non crystal bearers... so if you..." He lowered his tone imitating the mystic voice that Kelmarr spoke with "...even want to sell something for the right price..." He giggled and continued on normally. "... then I and Indher are the only one worth talking with."
He stopped in front of a huge Spiral tower.
"Well this is where she usually is, a really nice place to conduct research and spying on people. She probably already saw us coming... oh, there she is..."
Posted by: Ted Der on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Akran had the ship stop a little further down the coast. It really wasn't that far away, so someone should have seen it. After all, it was a decent size, but apparently the soldiers seemed more interested in the huge... well it looked like some sort of beetle.
On the shore, Akran took Martin and 15 other crew members with him. He was quite satisfied that the men he picked were pretty decent fighters, some of them knew a little magic, but most of them were very skillful with the sword. All of them were rugged and could easily be mistaken for pirates, but its not like they weren't, for they had all done their fair share of pirating. The other 4 stayed to guard the ship.
The group of 17 in total - Akran leading - made their way to a large group of soldiers who stood away from the rest and that beetle monster. Quite a few of Akran's crew glanced nervously at the creature.
Akran's arm was really tingling now, almost glowing slightly. He had always wondered what it'd be like to work out one arm until it was twice as big as the other, and know he knew.
As they neared the soldiers he noticed that there was a very muscular man showing the others something on his chest. Was he some sort of leader? Akran and his crew carefully approached them.
"Hi there gents," shouted Akran cheerily, they were still 20 meters apart. "May I ask what the hell is that thing?" he pointed over to the giant beetle monster.
Posted by: Jenia on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
~Kronos's Citadel~
Kerig was just finished lecturing Weloss on the immorality of harassing gargoyle statues when an augment revealed itself, scratching a "yes" into it's front plate.
Kerig smiled pleasantly at the augment and turned around to a maid which was pretending to be polishing the statues but was warily watching him from the corner of her eye.
"Excuse me..."
The maid jumped, gasping.
"Is...Something the matter?"
"N-Nothing! I was merely surprised!" the maid seemed to have gotten her bearings.
"Alright, then. Could you please, uh help me get back to the throne room? I haven't quite grasped how the portals work and I haven't mastered phasing through walls yet."
The maid gave Kerig a silent stare for a moment.
"Get on with it, mortal."
The maid bower slightly and led Kerig to the portal.
She did something he didn't quite grasp of, and proceeded to step away.
"Please step in." She said with a slight bow. Kerig returned her bow and did as he was told, reappearing in the throne room.
"Yoohoo! I got the message! When and where do we start?"
~Glimmer Spire Base, Spire City, Phoenicia~
-"Is everyone ready?"
-"Yes, Runemaster!"
-"Remember, you don't shoot until I say you do, even if it attacks! Any questions?"
-"No, Runemaster!"
-"Good. This could be a battle or a diplomatic encounter. We cannot take risks, but it might be the latter. Unless it shows signs of harmful intent, I expect you all to be on your best behaviour! Alright, class, follow me!"
Like a millitiary squadron, Indher's class of elites slowly walked out of the Glimmer Spire's large entrance, followed closely by Elphos.
They instantly ran into Shuichi, who was already giving their guest a tour, as it seems.
Indher stopped, and her class stopped behind her. They all stood in an orderly yet bonky manner, as if trying to imitate professional soldiers.
"Shuichi!" Indher called out. "You already met the outsider, it seems..."
Indher's voice was grim. She looked at the skunk and got a certain sense of deja vu, but was quick to brush it off.
"I am Indher, Runemaster." Indher introduced herself in a stern manner "Founder and Head Runemaster of the Phoenicians. You may call me Lerfina if formalities bother you."
Her eyes narrowed. She didn't like the feeling she was getting from the skunk one bit.
"Outsider! I demand to know your intentions and how you found this place. I also need to know if you came alone. Think before you speak, for your future weights heavily on your answers..."
Indher already formulated a simple plan -
If he is caught lying about anything, she will have him executed.
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"What never seen a giant zombie beetle before?" Duilin asked back with a smirk. "We're trying to kill it, so don't get in the way. You best leave, unless you think you can help." He sized Akran up and down. "You seem like a half decent fighter."
He then looked back at Ein, who finished with his glyph sketches, it was a little confusing for him to pay attention to, he preferred the simple 'create a fireball and throw it' method of spell casting. He nearly felt sorry for those who had to result in glyph writing or summoning magic. Apparently it's actually genetically impossible for most humans to learn most ways of magic without some sort of enhancement. Vaughn was one of the few unaltered humans who decently knew elemental magic.
He wasn't sure how he could help. He scratched his head for a bit.
"I got nothing."
--- ---
- Southern Dark Continent, Kandarinian Prison -
Sienna sighed and knelled down and patted Puco on the shoulder.
"Yes. We are alive. But we're locked in cage. I thought of trying to cast a spell to break the bars, but apparently something is preventing us from using magic. My best guess is that it's these things on our arms." She explained, and then tapped the odd amulet thing attached onto her arm. "I'm not sure what we can do..."
Posted by: Ted Der on Tuesday January 29th, 2008
"Aye, that's right." said Akran. He looked at the beetle thing. Man his arm was tingling. He could take this thing!
He casually took his black feathered bow from his back and felt the grip with his fingers. He breathed deeply, feeling an energy growing in him and suddenly, quick as a flash, Akran drew an arrow and sent it whizzing towards the beetle. The power of the raven bow and the power of his new arm made the arrow into a blinding white spear of light streaking towards the demonic monster. As it flew it grew... but then...
"What the hell?" Akran yelled, surprised as the arrow suddenly disappeared. "Where did it go?"
Soon he got his answer because it then reappeared out of nowhere and was flying straight toward them, and it was no ordinary arrow.
"Ahhhhhh!" screamed Martin and ducked down to the ground. The rest of the crew followed suit. Akran spun around to where the soldiers were. "Oops." he whispered, shrugging apologetically, then threw himself down on the ground too.
Posted by: Mikado on Wednesday January 30th, 2008
~ ~ Southern Dark Continent, Kandarinian Prison ~ ~
"Oooh~, that would answer why I feel a little weird now..."
She remembered her 'dream'. Did they know about her nucly thingy? S
She wondered. "What are we going to do now eh? I hope they will do with us whatever they want and let us go quickly..."
~ ~ Glimmer Spire Base, Spire City, Phoenicia ~ ~
Shuichi took a step back from both wondering why Indher was acting like this. Wasn't this just a normal walking skunk? The chances that this would be anything special were one in the thousand or fewer... but he didn't want to mess with her, he needed her help to catch Puco and no skunk would get in his way.
~ ~ Where you are ~ ~Interact if you want ~ ~
The sky is empty... at least it looks like that for you, but something is odd. A small thing but it annoys you, a black dot filling the sky even though it's small. Small, small, the crow is twice the size of a normal crow and its dark wings stretch out even further.
You see as it flies and turns, it doesn't fly forward like it should, like you want it to, but begins to fly circles... around you.
As its red eyes shine you feel you got bad luck.
Posted by: D. Ein on Wednesday January 30th, 2008
- Low-Southern Border Town, Prison -
Suddenly, a funnel of flame washed through the streets, getting inside the building as well. The Kandarinians, taken by surprise, were blown to the back wall, and knocked out cold. Some shouts were coming from the street outside.
-"They've activated the weapon!"
-"Run for it!"
-"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
-"I'm burninging~!!!"
Another wave of smoke and fire pulsed through the town, clearing most of the Kandarinians off the streets. The pulse originated from the fortress in the middle, which appeared to have deployed some sort of a machine - a metal sphere with many pipes coming out of it and leading down to below the walls. Small hatches were opening in the sphere, letting out tongues of flame. Some device in the machine whistled a shrill warning tone...
The walls around the fortress drowned in another devastating fiery sweep, this time taking half the house away with it. The prison doors, too, were cut off by the flame.
However, something strange was happening to the sky - the sun suddenly started shining a lot more through the clouds, making distinguished rays of light coming down onto the fortress in the middle. (1\5)
--- --- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
-"I could've told you that shooting a projectile at it wouldn't work... say... That's a strange bow you've got there. Last I saw it was in that dolt Royen's hands, when he sold me smuggled Kandarinian spears. What happened to him? And why is that bow covered in feathers, anyway?"
--- --- ---
- The Citadel -
-"Not now, I'm afraid," I mumbled. "A certain town is being quite resistant to our forces. Things that resist too much pose no interest to me. Why don't you go do something else for about ten minutes, and then come back? The Hammer should've cooled by then."
--- --- ---
- Pistis room -
Well... this certainly wasn't what Eris was expecting. She materialized on a table... with people looking at her. Ah, at least that saves the trouble of looking for them.
-"Your ship is being a little bit of a distraction," she said to the people surrounding her. "Would you mind going backs to wherever the hell you comes from? Sovereign isn't exactly seeing guestses right now."
--- --- ---
- Mournbury -
Ekaterina deeply bowed.
-"Yes, pan Manteia. I am Ekaterina. I just finished the Advanced Necrolyte Preparation, and was sent to look for a Necromancy master to learn from in the field."
-"In other words, you're a damn overachiever," Joseph hissed. "I am Joseph, pan drogi. I apologize, for my portfolio is not quite as exquisite as Ekaterina's. I graduated on the top of my class in Standard Necrolyte Preparation. As a mark of honour, I've been sent to accompany you and Ekaterina on the mission assigned to us. I'm sure you've gotten the message about our next destination?"
Posted by: Xorlak on Wednesday January 30th, 2008
- Glimmer Spire Base, Spire City, Phoenicia -
Blah, blah, blah... the human just kept blabbing on and on about nothing. Kelmarr just kept nodding his head, pretending to be interested, but even his facade was starting to wear thin.
His eyes widened when they reach the spire's base.
"Holy crap... Lerfina...? Is that really you?" His tail frazzled as she started demanding answers from him, and he took as step back. "Gah! Relax! Don't you remember me?" He held his hands out so she wouldn't smite him with some spell, as the cat-like woman looked like she was about to do. "It's me, Kelmarr! I helped you summon the giant-doom-god-thing at the base of The Tower of Heaven's Bane!" He touched his claw-tips together meekly and his tail drooped. "Well... sort of helped..."
It wasn't like he was nervous or anything... Not like he... er... had a crush on her or anything from three years ago... No, not like that at all...
He cleared his throat and ran his hand through the spiky tuft of white fur atop his head. "I thought you were dead! That giant-monster-thing was insane!" He looked at her dreamy-eyed for a second and then shook it off, realizing he should probably start answering questions... "Right. Anyway, after the fall of the Dark Empire, I became a treasure hunter, traveling the world in search of exotic items..." He held his paws wide for dramatic effect. Treasure hunter... yeah, that work. Should impress her.
He blinked a few times, then shrunk back under her gaze... "Okay, okay... I was on a boat, when it was attacked by a demon. Washed ashore here alone. Only survivor. Don't think the demon followed..." He rubbed the back of his neck as his tail flicked around and he did a half-glance back the way he came. "At least, I'm pretty sure..."
Posted by: Mikado on Thursday January 31st, 2008
~ ~ Silence ~ ~
"So the dices are rolled, are they not? What shall follow?"
"The end. Again."
"Indeed my friends, this place will be cleaned, this world, this hell."
"Just like the other ones?"
"Indeed my friends, just like the other ones. The pawns are set, our only enemy is time, but time can also be defeated, just like we can."
"Let us play the game"
~ ~ Pistis (Council Room) ~ ~
"Ey! Fema-"
Smiech didn't get to finish his sentence for Heil raised his hand.
"We have no intention of leaving even if we could. You can't wash away an unwanted island, no matter if it flies or not."
"I guess you are a captain class then, coming like this?" Mishio added.
~ ~ Mournbury ~ ~
Czernn listened to their invitations. "Whether you are a good necrolyte will be seen in the action of battle."
He raised his eyebrows when he heard of his mission. "Wasn't it only teaching stuff to these kids... oh my..."
"I have received no further information except for the fact that I was to meet you here... I must slap my informator for this I guess, at least if I was hight enough." "Tell mnie where and what is destinied to nas?"
~ ~ Southern Dark Continent, Kandarinian Prison ~ ~
Puco looked at the open broken door with big eyes.
"This is nay good Sienny... we better leave..."
She was still chocked. Why not, she was a child.
Posted by: Jenia on Thursday January 31st, 2008
~Citadel~
Kerig paused for a bit.
"We will wait here."
Kerig nodded and stepped away from the portal as to not halt others entering the room and sat down near a corner's wall, the black mist swirling around him.
~Glimmer Spire Base, Spire City, Phoenicia~
Indher raised an eyebrow.
"You...? Helped me...?"
At first, she had no idea what he was talking about.
But then, it all came flowing back to her.
Being captured and questioned by that lizard in the dungeon below heaven's bane, choosing no less than a hundred of Retan's best mages and crafting a runeset so grand and complex that she succeeded in summoning a theory and bind it to this world through the body of the dark emperor...
"...You are that creep who sold me to Retan, aern't you?" she finally said with a sarcastic smirk "...Kelmarr."
According to her memory, he was weak willed and would be easy to keep in place and manipulate. She turned around and nodded to her students, signaling that the skunk was not an enemy. Some gave out a sigh of dissapointment and some wiped the cold sweat from their forehead, but they all gathered around in a curious cirlce to watch what further transpires from the encounter.
"Treasure hunter, you say?" she approached him with a mischivous smile and her hands folded "Attacked by a demon?"
Indher wondered what kind of demon was it. The typical, fire breathing winged humanoid? Or... Something else?
"Alright, I've decided that you will stay on this island until I have guarantee that the demon you speak of really didn't follow."
She turned around and waved her arm ferociously, as if trying to imitate the thunder of a ruler.
"Spread out! Trap any man or woman other than the ones you know who lacks the forehead jewel! If that demon survived, he WILL be dangerous! I don't have the time nor patience for needless revivals!"
The students all bowed, gave a slight yes and an attempted solute and ran to Elphos who proceeded to assign the students search locations.
Indher began walking back into the Glimmer Spire.
"You will be going up there with me, Kelmarr. Tell me about the crew of the boat and the demon. I also need to know how urgent would returning to the mainland be for you."
Her tone was still stern, but wasn't as cold as before. She seemed to be pouting, however...
Posted by: Dude Man on Thursday January 31st, 2008
- Southern Dark Continent, Kandarinian Prison -
Sienna climbed out of the cage. "Whatever it was that just did that, I don't want to wait around for it do it again." She picked up Puco and put her up on her shoulders. She then casted a speed spell on herself and then began to dash through the prison to escape.
--- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Marshall continued to summon up the giant minotaur, it would just be a little longer.
"Yeah, so are we still doing this thing or not?" Duilin asked. "I'm thinking of just flying up there myself and fighting it head on. It's going to come our way soon enough."
Posted by: Mikado on Friday February 1st, 2008
~ ~ Some deserted island ~ ~
The room was visible, yet empty. It appeared to be some kind of empty storage building with some bad quality hanging lamps hanged on the ceiling.
In the middle of the light there was a triangle formed table. Three people were sitting at each flat side of the table.
Two men and one woman. One man had long dark hair and looked pretty womanly for a man, his companion was clothed in black and wore a large, a really large and long black hat. The woman had long black, or maybe more purple hair and a sinister smile was filling her face.
- "Sooo... are we all set? It seems that Silver Root has made contact with the Kandies..." The woman started while moving a small figure on the table on which a huge map was lain. All sorts of figures were lying on it, indeed everything was set.
- "So who will we infiltrate now? Creating total chaos and Armageddon can be done best from inside of a huge imperium..."
This time the long hat spoke.
- "Hmm... we have better connection in Silver Roots than in the Kandarinian Sovereignty so I guess we'll start with them? Soon the undead will be ours too and massive wars will start... and the rest? Well they are close to corruption without our help..." He smiled.
- "I see... I never imagined that creating the end of a world was this easy..."
- "It ain't. It's just that this world is already covered in blood and war, we need only to push it a little to its end.
Chaos shall reign, and the damned will be sealed by mother earth... just like the beasts of the elder days..."
- "We may even use the most evil of all, for their destination is the same as ours."
- "Aren't we evil then as well?"
- "We don't rule with strength... we rule with malice. Fear is our weapon and the Loyal our shield, we are the only one that... can take this world by the way it should be taken...
With a broken sword and a mind of steel"
- "We may want to reforge that sword. The crow has left its nest."
~ ~ Tjed coast ~ ~
An old fisherman is catching fishes clothed in green looking poor. Probably no children and a death wife, and a golden ring is hung on his neck. Only one with perfect eyes could see the golden shine from the ring under the dirt, lucky or unlucky... crows have good eyes.
You see as a huge black crow nears the man... it is suspiciously huge and really flying close to the earth...
Flying right at the man the man tries to hit it with his fish, however only a fool tries to hit a bird.
The crow rises with furious speed, and descends withing moments. You see the man looking up, and you know that was foolish. The crow pecks him in his face and while the man rises his hand to cover his bloody face the Crow flies further down taking the ring and breaking it of its chain and flies away.
You see the man holding his face screaming in pain... then he falls on his knees apparently noticing that his ring is gone.
He cries.
He cries.
He's miserable.
His only beauty lost... to a crow?
That is foolish...
with that you leave the man in his misery.
Posted by: Xorlak on Friday February 1st, 2008
-Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia-
Kelmarr let out a sigh of relief and took to following Lerfina back into the massive spire. Phew... the way she looked at him, he thought she would summon another gigantic death god or something...
"Er... um... yes, m'am." He followed along meekly, suddenly not feeling quite so sure of himself. Blast it, how did he get into these messes? He just wanted to find a place to sell the stupid sword and get out. Ugh. Now he was going up for some interrogation.
"The sailors were..." NO!! He was NOT sleeping in the cargo hold of a fishing vessel! He cleared his throat. "Well, it was an upper class transport vessel. Of course I wouldn't be riding in anything less... Anyway... While in my... cabin below deck, I heard the crew above screaming." He put a hand on one of his daggers and walked a little taller. "Naturally I went up to investigate, but I arrived too late and found the crew's flesh had all been melted off and nothing remained of them but skeletons...
"The demon itself resembled a human child, at least most of the time..." He shut his eyes and shuddered before shaking it off and continuing. "It conjures up pretty powerful illusions. Naturally I saw through them, and we did battle. Unfortunately a storm capsized the ship before I could kill it and I awoke on the beach front here..."
He thought about her second question a moment, and things started clicking... "Hmmm... Although I am a very busy skunkular, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay here a bit. I did loose my money when the boat flipped, though. Luckily I have all my enchanted weapons. Perhaps I will need to sell one to get by for a while. Like, I don't know, this sword on my back. Could do without it, I suppose. Know anyone that may be interested?" The edges of his muzzle curled in a smile.
Posted by: D. Ein on Friday February 1st, 2008
//Wow, I'm gone, and DAL stops. Cool.\\
- Southern border town -
The fortress in the middle of the city continued to angrily spew flame over the streets, though no one was present to burn down. All of the Kandarinians left the town, and set up camp around the city's outer walls. A few of them dragged some of the city's citizens out, for the sake of taking their rage out on them. The shine over the fortress increased still, this time definitely cutting through the clouds. (2/5)
--- --- ---
- Mournbury -
-"You were not informed, pan Manteia?", Joseph asked quizzically. "The assignment came from... not our captain, actually... The fifth Regiment's captain, Flora Goethe, requested that we make our way to the South-Eastern coast as soon as possible. There, we are to meet up with her task force, and command them to repel some intruders that invaded the Kandarinian soil."
-"Yes," Ekaterina added quietly. "It is also expected to be a rather large task force... In every manner possible, I presume, as it is Regiment 5."
-"Well done on stating the obvious. Now, pan Manteia, we've prepared three transports..."
Somewhere from beyond the blooming trees of Mournbury, three undead wyverns shot up into the air. They circled the hamlet once, and landed near the Necrolytes.
-"We best get going now."
--- --- ---
- Pistis room -
Eris hopped down from the table, and took on an imposing stance before the council.
-"You seems to know an awful lots about me... Knowing my rank alone without ever havings seen me is too muchs already. You should be awares that at this point yous probably have a powerful weapon aimed right at your armada. Trusts me, it can slice all three of your pretty floating things right in half."
A little more relaxed now, she drew up a chair and seated herself in front of the council table.
-"Now, let's start from the beginning, shalls we? Who are you, where did you come from, and how do you know about my rank?"
--- --- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
The beetle paused for a second, as its last spine was drawn inside of it - and then fired the whole row of spikes right up into the air. They made a long curve before raining down on the remaining troops, impaling many of them on the spot. The Necrolytes inside didn't seem to bother even using their bodies before wrenching the still-bloodied skeletons out of the corpses, and adding them to the creature.
Posted by: Mikado on Saturday February 2nd, 2008
~ ~ Some deserted island ~ ~
In a dark storage building only lighted by old lights, a triangle shaped table was placed. At that table three people who sinisterly were planning the end were sitting.
- "I wonder whether the Kandarinian will get along with Silver'Rs?" The sly woman asked with troubled tone.
- "Don't worry Ray, even if they will soon we will have them in our might and then we will decide all. Now the long haired man was speaking, his eyes shining blue.
- "I cannot wait to see this world turn into chaos... and save all worthy." The long hat man had a light and free tone, and his round glasses hid his eyes behind red glass.
- "I wonder, I wonder still, who is that crow that you speak of?"
- "That... crow that you spoke of before, what is it? I know you mentioned it some time ago but I do not remember its importance.."
- "I was wondering too."
- "Well my friends, let me tell you a tale..."
~ ~ Above the seas ~ ~
Its wings are black, its wings are huge. Black feathers fall behind it.
The crow flies with speed unseen, and proceeds to the far away land.
Something shone in the deep, and at that moment the crow dives down as if trying to catch a fish. The golden ring still in its mouth it flies into the water...
A long pause.
Did it drown? You hope so.
However it is just a wish for the foolish.
Soon the crow rises out of the water, with almost the same speed as before, turns and continues its destination. A golden chain was hanging next to the ring now.
~ ~ Mournbury ~ ~
"I see, let us go then panowie i panie." He slowly came closer to the unlife beasts. He sure disliked such creatures... they flew to fast for his taste.
For he didn't mount on such things allot he had some trouble on getting on the beast and felt uncomfortable on it. When he looked at the other two beasts his new pupils were already sitting on them.
"Well..." The creatures stretched their wings, and began slowly to raise.
"Show me the ways to the unznane, and I follow you because I have nothing else that can do...
Niech ogien nas nie pochlonie, lecz smierc go owinie."
~ ~Silver Root ~ ~
Heil smiled.
"I see, then we should be careful shouldn't we?"
He raised his hand. "I'm Heil, the Mocarny, or better know for your lands, master of this country named Silver Root. My rank would be something close too... the rank that Kronos has to the Sovereignty?"
Smiech was looking down on the woman who sat next to him, and turned his head with a "Hmpf" while Tron was eying him looking very frustrated by the way that he treated his guest. Heil ignored them.
"Our knowledge?" ROKUSHIO was now speaking.
"We are travellers, a moving island not fools. We will not land on a place if we have no knowledge of it... Our scouts or maybe spies have already scanned your and your enemies lands some time ago."
He looked at her with his handsome face his long blonde/red hair as if sparkling.
"We have no intention of war with your men, however in trade for shielding our civilians we may aid you with your troubles. It is however you want it, but do not underestimate us, for you are alone on this ship now and escapin-"
Heil let him stop by rising his hand again, showing that intimidating the captain was not the answer.
"We came from far bringing things that never have been seen here. However I guess you did not enter this ship with friendly intentions, is the war going dark that you have such a need for violence?
~ ~ southern border town ~ ~
Puco was smiling brightly on the back of Sienna, having apparently lots of fun.
"Yeaeaea! Letsa goo!"
She clapped her hands once, and put them on Sienna's shoulder, she could feel the enhancement on her body for Puco made time go slower for them or them go faster. Whichever way it was done, Sienna gained now even more speed than before.
"We .... are going... faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast!!"
Puco clinged tightly on Sienna to not fall of.
"Let's go Sienny! Jump over the walls! Jump over the houses! Weeeee~!"
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday February 2nd, 2008
- Southern Border Town -
No matter what, Sienna could always count on Puco to lighten the mood. Whether they were in a deep serious conversation or running away from some fire-shooting-thing, Puco always had some cute thing to say.
Sienna quickened the pace, realizing that she casted a spell with that thing on her, odd. She jumped over a house, just like Puco wanted and then zoomed up into the air over the walls of the village. Faster and faster she moved until they were fairly far away from the house. She stopped leaving a skid mark in the grass. She turned around and looked at the village.
"You think this is far enough?"
Posted by: Mikado on Saturday February 2nd, 2008
They did move incredible fast, however they weren't out of the city... and suddenly something went wrong...
Puco's arm started to hurt. She grasped it screaming... it was the amulet.
She forgot about it? Did it stop her magic... or delay it!?
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
The magic that she cast was now eating her... the spell was reversed! The pain... but she only cast it, but what happened to her Sienny now she had two spells cast on her?
With fear in her eyes she looked crying at Sienna.
Posted by: Ted Der on Saturday February 2nd, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Akran got up from the ground, a little dizzily. He stumbled forward as a series of coughs hit him. He looked around. What the hell is this place? His crew was rising to their feet too. One of them stepped towards him.
"What are you doing?" asked Martin, "You really think an arrow will do anything to that?" He pointed behind Akran.
Ignoring the question, Akran slowly turned around. "Argh, god!" he cried, seeing the giant beetle thing. "W-what the fu-"
He stopped. His eyes widened even further as he looked down at his right arm. "OH MY GOD! M-my arm..." He was starting to panic. What the hell is going on?
Someone was talking to him. Akran looked up. The guy had a bunch of tatoos on his chest and looked like a seasoned fighter. Was he talking about a bow? Akran looked frantically around and saw the raven bow on the ground. He picked it up.
He took a deep breath and rubbed his face. He tried to keep calm, but a slur of questions just poured out of his mouth, "Where am I, what the hell just happened, and what in god's name is... is... t-that" He raised a shaking finger towards the monster which now looked like it was sucking the skeletons out of the soldiers around it.
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday February 2nd, 2008
- Southern Terian -
"It's okay...just..."
Sienna started talking very, very slowly.
"...calm...down...everything....will...be okay..."
It appears that her speed spell was also reversed by the amulet on her arm. But she didn't even notice it just yet.
Posted by: Mikado on Sunday February 3rd, 2008
Storage building
- "Gaian is a magical world, a more magical world than anyone now living can imagine, a sin, a scar in the universe. How long Gaian existed is unknown, but I believe that Gaian is the start of all magical source.. To explain to you how great Gaians past is, I dare to guess that it has hundred more past than the Essylian Realms..."
The others opened their eyes brighter listening closer now.
-"To actually remember the tales of origin one must be over hundreds of years old. Only to remember the vague legends, we can only guess how long ago the events happened if we choose to believe them.
Then in those time, Gaians existence was already settled, and the world was a dark place for magic covered it. Creatures of evil lived back then, demons on can call them but the demons of today are angels compared to them. Maybe men didn't exist back then, maybe they did, we don't know, but those creatures surely did.
These times are called the Elder Days, and we call the beasts of those times the Elders. They clinged to their existence based on demonic magic, and when time passed and magic was gradually being forgotten these beast kept holding their ground. Now their are sealed in the earth still holding their secrets and sleeping waiting to be awakened.
Apparantly one... has awakened. I have no idea why, but to be awakened he must be in the later layers, thus closer to the earth waking up easlier but it is still a wonder... I'm amazed. To ever meet a Elder..."
He began to laugh.
- "Maybe he's sealed as a crow which sealed his magic in, making him easier to wake... but when he'll awaken fully... we... will... meet... THE SURVIVOR OF THE CREATION OF MAGIC! Magic that we know now is only an echo of the magic of their times!! It is less than one percent of power!! If he'll awaken... the magic that we damn will raise!! Not only WE but EVERYONE will gain magic skills for the echo will be more powerful! More! MORE! We have to get him on our side... then ... MAGIC WILL BE OURS, AND WE MAY PURIFY THIS WORLD!!"
Muhahahahahahah... a sinister laugher echoed of the walls...
Posted by: Xorlak on Sunday February 3rd, 2008
- Glimmer Spire hallway, Spire City, Phoenicia -
"Is that the tailed one we were told about?" Francis drew his hood over his head, ducking back into the dark hallway.
"It must be. How many sentient creatures do you know with tails?" Charles muttered, placing his hands in his robe. The two ducked down and whispered in the shadows.
"True. But we were told he would be gray... And his arrival seems early."
"Fool! He's white and black. White and black make gray. It's code!"
"Ah!"
The two paused when footsteps echoed throughout the hall. After the echoes faded they placed the cowled heads together and continued whispering.
"But why would he go straight to the rune master? It's as if he's begging to be caught..." Francis scratched the stubble on his chin.
"No, he is purposely making his presence known to avoid suspicion! There is a higher genius at work here."
"Ah!"
Just then, the jewel stuck to Francis' forehead slipped off and clattered upon the floor. "You fool!" Charles yelled at him as silently as possible.. "If we are to pass as proper Phoencians, we must keep the jewel affixed to our foreheads at all times!"
"I know, I know!" Francis nervously removed a tube of some paste from his robe and applied it to the flat side of the blue crystal. He then stuck it on his forehead and held it there with his fingers. "It just slips off sometimes..."
"Stop sweating so much. Just relax. I will make contact with the tailed one. You return to base and report to Sir Hans.
Francis nodded, still holding the jewel to his forehead. The two stood and parted ways, their robes flowing as they walked.
Posted by: Mikado on Monday February 4th, 2008
~ ~ Glimmer Spire hallway, Spire City, Phoenicia ~ ~
Shuichi followed silently.
~ ~ Dark Road ~ ~
A clan of occults were passing by, over two hundred black clothed figured slided on the road. Many rises their heads when seeing the weird men pass by, but quickly hid them and walked away almost running, for they felt that the group held no good.
On the front one clothed figure looked bigger, it was probably the leader. One of the lesser ones came closer to him.
- "Far yet?"
- "No, we will arrive within an hour, after walking four days I do not walk anymore."
- "Me neither... and when we'll arrive, then lot's of work awaits us."
- "Yes, but we did ask for help to create the ultimate creature... and the master agreed to help us. I guess that over hundred of his men will be available... that makes quite an army. Summoning hundred demons..."
- "And merging them together..."
- "Creating a creature that can be compared to the Elder... well maybe not, but it will still be uncontrollable."
- "Then his part comes in... making it controllable... I wonder what he'll do?"
- "He said he would make a wischy out of it, whatever it may be..."
As if they didn't have feet, they slided on...
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday February 4th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"Okay, this is getting boring." Duilin yawned. "Marshall, sick your Minotaur on him."
"Uh...okay." Marshall replied, just as he finished summoning the giant bull-man.
The minotaur roared and lifted it's hammer above his head and then charged towards the giant beetle and then smashed his hammer down on the beetle's back...
Posted by: D. Ein on Monday February 4th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
-"That," Ein sighed, "is annoying. Why don't you prove to me that you're not a Kandarinian spy before shooting another arrow at that thing and having it conveniently rebound back right in my face?"
Regardless, Ein knew what he had to do.
-"I think I know what we can do now. Marshall, summon something for me to fly on. Duilin, go aggravate it so that it fires off another volley of spikes. Oh, and Marshall - be sure that it's something I can etch a glyph on. Thanks."
--- --- ---
- Southern border town -
The clouds completely vanished, revealing what seemed to be a pillar of light, forming right over the fortress in the middle. (3\5)
Several soldiers who still hadn't made it out of the city rushed past Sienna and Puco. A few of them stopped to take a closer look.
-"Hey," one said. "What the hell're you doing with those protection amulets? Who gave 'em to you? Giver' here!"
He tore the amulet off Puco's hand, while another one took care of Sienna's.
-"Now get out of here! This city is on a trip to hell, and unless you're hitching a ride, you do not want to be near it when it goes!"
--- --- ---
Eris awarded Rokushio with a scrutinizing look.
-"You says you do not want a war with us, and yet you send spies into Kandarin. If yous are here with peaceful intentions, why did you not just come to the Citadel, knock nicely, and ask whatever questions you needed answered?"
She leaned back in her chair.
-"Besides... There's no need for war with peoples like you. As I repeated several times now, one blast of the Sovereign's Hammer will down your ships with relative ease. But even then, right now that isn't necessary."
The captain sighed a bit.
-"The problem with firsts impressions is that you only get one, Mr. Heil, and you aren't making a very good one. I can just stabs you in the throat right now, and do off with those generals of yours here. As you yourself pointed out, I may have entered your ship with hostile intentions, and here you are telling me that you are the Sovereign of these ships. Now, why don't you tell me exactly what I will put in for my report to my Sovereign about this incident? Three ships ruled by peoples hard with logic are invading the Sovereignty with their spies? Help me out here."
Posted by: Ted Der on Monday February 4th, 2008
"Alright, I think I got my head straight," said Akran. He still didn't know exactly who this guy was, but at least he now knew what had happened. "Aye, I guess I should introduce myself."
Martin looked relieved that his Captain started to act normal. His head was resting on an angle and he was grinning stupidly.
"This here," continued Akran, "Is my crew. That there, is Martin."
Martin quickly snapped out of it as he was being addressed. "Hi sir!" he said saluting the stranger.
Akran shook his head apologetically. "My name is Akran Drennen. We just came back from fighting Royen's crew - the, uh, guy you just mentioned actually." He held up the Raven Bow with his abnormal right hand. "...And you were talking about this? This is the bow I took from that pirate after we sunk his ship."
He looked down at the Majeuri Spinel which was roughly carved into the grip. Maybe he shouldn't mention that. Instead he grinned proudly and said, "I thought of the name myself..."
An ugly thought struck Akran and he quickly said, "Wait. You two weren't friends with him, were you?" He laughed nervously, glancing back and forth between the tattooed man and the winged man. They looked pretty tough. "I mean, heh, you knew him, but weren't chummy, right?"
Martin helped Akran to change the subject. "Maybe, um, we can help out here with this, uh, situation with that 'annoying' thing over there?" Martin said pointing to the giant beetle.
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday February 4th, 2008
- Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia -
Just as Kelmarr finished his last sentence in his chat with Indher, a cowled man walking down the hallway slammed directly into him, and the two toppled to the ground. His sword went clattering upon the floor.
"Oh, dear me! Sorry, sorry..."
The robed man helped him up and retrieved the sword as Kelmarr grumbled. The skunk dusted himself off a few times, though it wasn't like the floor made him any dirtier. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine... just watch it next time."
The man nodded and then went on his way, pausing to bow to Indher once respectfully.
Kelmarr *harumphed* as he scratched his headfur. Moronic student or something... Kids were like that, never looking where they were going, blast it. He slung the sword over his shoulder and continued walking.
Posted by: Mikado on Tuesday February 5th, 2008
~ ~ Silver Root ~ ~
Even though Rokushio/Mishio had to cover his face with his hand to hide is grin when Eris spoke of defeating them, Heil spoke with a concerned voice.
- "I see. Well I'm sorry for that then, just report to your leader that only one ship is entering his realms, and that we wish, no, I wish to meet him, for leaders speak better with each other than generals with leaders..."
At the same moment the two other ships were sinking... they lowered as if flying inside the deeps of the sea... to be hidden to keep the civilians out of the war...
Posted by: D. Ein on Tuesday February 5th, 2008
- Pistis council room -
-"He will want to hear my word before yours, Mocarny. And as I said, you did not makes a very good impression. Those two stifling their girly giggles do nothing to help. I can not guarantee your seeing the Sovereign."
Eris swiped her hand over her empty amulet slot, and a dark-purple shadow appeared out of the floor. It grasped the captain, pulling her into the dark abyss, and vanished.
She rematerialized down on the ground, just where she dropped the stone from her amulet. Angrily jerking it out of the soil, she stuffed it back inside its slot, and made away back to her outpost.
Posted by: Jenia on Wednesday February 6th, 2008
~Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia~
Indher patiently listened to Kelmarr while trying to figure out what is going on when some suspicious cowled person slammed into him.
She stopped and took a look at the source of suspicion.
"Wait... Cowl?" she muttered at first, but then accusingly pointed at the shady person.
"Hey you! What's up with that cowl!"
She took a moment to think about what she just said.
"I don't remember giving any man obsessive with cloaks premission to come in here!"
Probably a curious child, she thought to herself. It really was the worst time to sneak into the Glimmer spire to check it out...
"I ask that you identify yourself... Unless you want to experience resurrection again, that is..."
Indher didn't really mean any harm in this one case - she would have him sent away with a warning as soon as she has his name.
Posted by: Dude Man on Wednesday February 6th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"Finally." Duilin sighed. He jumped into the air and then flew towards the beetle, he slowed down as he shot lighting from his hands at the beetle.
Marshall held his amulet and it glowed as he shot the familiar mist from his hands which formed into a wyvern. "Wyvern's have a fairly strong hide so you should be able to etch some runes on it without causing too much damage to it. It's not actually alive or anything, but it might react in 'pain' just to let you know that it's taking damage."
Posted by: Xorlak on Wednesday February 6th, 2008
- Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia -
Kelmarr turned around and sighed. Blast it, now she wanted to interrogate the moron who slammed into him. Ugh. He folded his arms and watched as the man spun around, shock on his face as he lowered the hood, revealing a blond haired young man with a green jewel centered in his forehead.
"Apologies, ma'am. I didn't realize... I mean... well... I'm new here..." He bowed slightly. "My name is Charles Vangauld, first year rune student under Professor Hesney."
"Maybe you should watch where you're going, kid." Kelmarr grumbled from behind Indher. He instinctively reached for a cigar, but remembered they were all ruined. Blast it, he needed a smoke! That was gonna be priority two on his list.
The young runecaster looked at Kelmarr with a hint of anger, then it vanished as he bowed to him. "Again, sorry sir, it was my mistake..."
Posted by: D. Ein on Thursday February 7th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
-"As I said before, I don't want you interfering before I know you aren't a Kandarinian spy," Ein spat. "Besides, these memory lapses of yours seem a bit dangerous for a combat situation."
He quickly mounted the wyvern, which soared up way higher than he wanted it to. Then again, that did give him more time to spend on glyph creation. Using a dagger he wore on his belt, he began to lightly trace a rune into the wyvern's scaly back, as to not alert it.
Meanwhile, the beetle creature easily snapped the attacking minotaur in half with its massive mandibles. Duilin's attack proved to be a little more effective, but not by much. Its only visible effect were minute chippings of bones bursting in small fountains from where the lightnings hit. The dents were quickly mended by the corpses of the dead soldiers. However, the purpose of the attack succeeded: the beetle's attention now appeared to be focused at Duilin instead of the escaping troopers. Its spines slowly pulled into its body, one by one, preparing for an attack. (1\2)
--- --- ---
- A fair distance away from the South-Eastern battle -
-"The battle is almost over, pan Manteia," Joseph shouted through the howling winds, while tightly gripping his undead mount. "Captain Goethe asked us to clean up whatever is remaining after the dust settles!"
-"No matter how small the force may be," Ekaterina added, "pani Goethe insisted that we use all power at our disposition. She certainly wants them off the Continent; or so it seems to me, at least. She's a strange one, she is. Come to think of it... have either of you two panowe ever even seen that captain? The mission objectives were delivered through a courier, carrying a signet-sealed scroll..."
(1\4 posts until arrival)
Posted by: Ted Der on Thursday February 7th, 2008
- South Kandarinian Ocean -
The sky darkened around the ruins of the Gilden Warship. A sort of hissing was coming from above. Suddenly, shadows of translucent flying creatures came down from the clouds and circled the ship. They were the Malanos - spies of Kraaz. As they saw the dead body of Royen floating on the water a piercing shreik came from them. The beastkeeper's beasts were angry.
--- --- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"Well how am I supposed to prove that, eh?" replied Akran, "By just telling you that I am not a spy, will you believe me?"
Akran tightened his grip on his bow. Is nobody ever polite any more? "As Martin just said, we will help fight against this evil. I don't know what else we can do to prove to you our alliances." He watched as the winged man started to shoot lightning bolts out of his hands at the creature. He didn't even know his name.
"Maybe you could tell us your name? ...And then we could help fight this thing." Akran glanced back at his crew. They have never let him down in a cobat situation. He chuckled. "You don't expect us to just watch, do you?"
Posted by: Mikado on Thursday February 7th, 2008
~ ~ Silver Root ~ ~
Mishio sighted.
"I wonder how she could see my smirk trough my hand? It is almost as if this all was a roleplaying game, and someone decided to have his character know everything he reads, and defying with that all sense and logic."
Heil laughed.
"Hmm... that would be really weird wouldn't it? But don't worry, she was just a captain, only Kronos is of our concern."
Smiech tilted his head.
"That feminine crap is not wut worris meh. I wunder about the hammer..."
Heil felt a dislike to him, but he didn't show it.
"Do not worry, maybe we don't have much information about it, it won't take long untill we will. And then we surely will find a defense against it.
//no offense xP
~ ~ A less fair distance away from the South-Eastern battle ~ ~
Czernn looked up to the sky. This was the only thing that didn't move.
"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. However I heard she is quite a pani... unfortunately ja don't fall for people stronger than me..."
He wondered how this battle would look like. Oh, he would be glad to stand on the soil again, oh so glad...
Posted by: D. Ein on Thursday February 7th, 2008
//Offence taken. Unless Mishio completely buried his face with both his hands, a grin would still be visible. Next time you're next to a mirror, look at yourself smile while covering your mouth with one hand. The sides of your cheeks go up and your eyes squint, so unless Mishio took extremely drastic measures to hide his smile (which as I gathered from your post, he did not), Eris would have to be blind not to see it.\\
- An even more so less fair distance from the South-Eastern battle -
-"You look a bit green there, pan Manteia," Joseph sighed. "I understand air travel is not for everyone, but unfortunately our town is the nearest to this location - so there is no way to use a portal to get here."
-"Bloods and solids," Ekaterina blurted. She had a very glassy-eyed expression on her face.
-"....what?"
She immediately snapped out of it.
-"Wha... huh? Did I say something?"
-"Yes... you said something about blood being solid. What was that?"
-"I... don't know..."
(2\4)
--- --- ---
- Regiment 6 headquarters -
-"Hello... Yes, this is Eris. Hello, Wing. ... What? I did not takes your axe. Find it yourselfs. ... Stop screaming at me, Wing. I don't want to talks to you. ... What accent? Bes you prefer I talkses this like? Thought so. Get me the General. ... Right. Yes, hello, General. The object over the coast - I've been insides it, talked with some people. They don't seems to be aggressive, but I found them to be somewhat lacking with basic logic. Makes me wonder how they built that ship. ... Yes... yes. Heil, yes, that was his name. How did you...? Right, sorry. In any direction, how do you wants me to proceed? ... Wha...? Hannibal? What's he got to do with this? ... I see. I understand. Thanks."
Posted by: Dude Man on Thursday February 7th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Duilin noticed they were making some good progress. He was wondering if he could actually make a big enough blow to actually do some real damage, since he wasn't going all out right now. But probably whatever this beetle is going to do is going to hurt unless he does something to protect himself, but still keep attention.
"Hmm...I have an idea."
Duilin spread his arms apart and clenched his fists. He began to summon air magic energy around him to charge up an 'attack'. (1/2)
Posted by: Coriko on Thursday February 7th, 2008
Druid awoke to darkness, the same darkness that has plagued him for three years. He closed his eyes but remained awake. He listened to what was happening in the room. There was a liquid, most likely water, dripping from the roof. He figured that there must have been storm last night while he slept. The dripping continued. There was no chance the roof would be fixed since they were prisoners. Prisoners on his own land!
Druid summoned a ball of shadow energy. The binds that held Druid to the wall were almost indestructible and turned his magic against him. They were made out of an ancient material, as old as the universe, common to all worlds. It was used by demon hunters to bind their prisoners while they killed them or "deported" them back to hell. He grimaced as the energy seared his hands. The pain was intense. All the cuts on his hands reopened. The orb of shadow energy vanished as Druid de-summoned them. He couldn't get angry. Druid took a few deep breathes to calm himself. He then turned his attentions to the other noises in the room. He could hear the inmates of other cells. Some were immersed in a restless sleep while others lay asleep like a log on their stone bed. The heavy breathing of one inmate could be heard above most of the others. He didn't snore but he was a mouth breather, or so Druid thought based on what he heard. The deep gasps of air in and puffs out. He was dreaming, a man's only escape from this hell. Druid dreamed. Nothing pleasant. No escape from the current hell that was his life. No, he relived every agonizing moment of the takeover.
Three years he had been in this prison. It all happened so fast too. Druid was amassing his army and planning on world domination. He was the head of his own empire and everything was finally going well. Then it happened. When he summoned his island he brought along a "little" something extra. Druid always wondered how Silas was able to travel from their home dimension to this prison world. Silas was able to manifest all the rage, hatred, anger, violence, malevolence, and loathing he possessed into another body. What he created was an empty shell of pure wickedness and shadow energy. Silas traveled in a weakened state because he was just the mind of the beast. That is why Druid could so easily destroy him back in the desert; he was always smarter and more cunning than Silas. The being of pure malice and shadow energy was trapped on their home world, underneath the capital city, destined to spend eternity there. However that magic only lasted as long as they were on their home world. As soon as the beast realized its bonds were broken because of the change in location, it sprung out of the island.
This creature of pure iniquity destroyed his entire army in a matter of minutes. It quarantined the island as well. This meant that anyone from the island not standing on their native soil was killed instantly. Kain never stood a chance, however his death was quick compared to what Druid and Baird were suffering through. Anyone who tried to leave the island died and no one could travel to the island from the outside world. They were trapped.
Druid tried to fight the beast along with his generals. Both Druid and Baird were beaten half to death. The beast only keeps them around for torture and information. Onan and Yuri fled after Baird was knocked unconscious. Their location is still unknown and for all he knew they were dead. He and Baird were kept together but neither knew why.
A door opened. It was the door. The door which lead to hell, pain, and torture. The screams escaped that door and caused the hair on the back of Druid's neck to stand on end. The agony attacked his soul like the hound of the Baskervilles. Now there was demon Druid didn't want to see again. Baird would be returning soon. Every morning they took him in there. Baird was the only person Druid talked to and so they tried to pump him for information. Their captures did this everyday for three years. They had sawed off his arm and he had countless scars. Once Druid was free of his binds and free of this prison, he would replace Baird's arm and heal him to the best of his ability. That is if he ever got out.
Posted by: Mikado on Friday February 8th, 2008
// you shouldn't, it was a joke =P yet if you feel offended, sorry
~ ~ End of the black road ~ ~
Somewhere of the road a huge church alike building was placed. It had a cold aura around it, and it felt unholy. All windows were replaced by huge metallic plates. A cold breeze was felt.
"Here... the check point that the master gave us. The necromancers should be inside, otherwise they are late..."
The leader went forward, and the group followed apparently not taken away by the dark aura around the place. There was a small and thin path leading towards the entrance of the church, and red roses grew on both sides of it. They looked like wall, holding all visitors inside, trying to eat them with their sharp spikes...
They reached the entrance.
No sound was heard from inside, but the clouded feagure didn't feel like it was anything unusual for they too, came here without sound.
Slowly he opened the doors...
~ ~ An even more so less fair distance that one almost can't call it a distance from the South-Eastern battle ~ ~
Czernn tilted his head.
"Maybe you feel also troche sick? Necrolytes should be hidden i buried in the earth after all, and nie flying open in the blank skies..."
"Ciekawe, ciekawe... why did you become Necrolytes actually? Have wy any special reasons to do so?.."
Posted by: Ted Der on Friday February 8th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Coast -
"Hmph. Now what?" asked Martin as the guy they were just talking to flew up into the air.
Akran sighed. "Well, let's see what happens."
"Hey Captain! Look!" One of Akran's crew was shouting and pointing. Akran couldn't see what he was pointing to at first, but then he saw it. A storm was coming from the direction of the ocean. Only one patch of sky was dark and it totally blocked out the sun casting shadows that were creeping along the ground towards them.
The crew was shocked. No one moved. They all just stared as the darkness surrounded them at an incredible speed. Surprisingly, it wasn't even raining. Someone screamed as black figures swooped down from the clouds. The shadowed beasts started to circle the battle field. Flash! Lightning came down and hit the ground sending dirt flying everywhere.
Akran knew who these creatures were. They had come after him now just like they had come after him 3 years ago. This time they came in the form of a rainless storm. Luckily, he knew their one weakness. Their greatest offense - lighting - proved to be the most affective against them.
This was great for Akran. He could use this light to his advantage. It was only going to be difficult when they change into their solid forms.
Flash! Another lightning bolt came down quite near the crew. A few of them who were archers started to shoot arrows at the Malanos, and a the couple who knew magic helped. The familiar tingling sensation rose up Akran's arm as he got his bow ready.
//Feel free to control any of the Malanos. Arrows and lightning will work against them.
Posted by: Jenia on Saturday February 9th, 2008
//Hey Ein, you didn't forget about Kronos, right?\\
~Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia~
"Tch, new he says..."
Indher turned away, not really caring if the man lurks around or not.
"Well in case you didn't here, we have an emergency right now. I suggest you go home. Kelmarr, hurry up."
She hurried up the flights of stairs leading up and didn't really seem to get tired.
"We are going for the roof, Kelmarr. I hope you don't have a fear of heights..."
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday February 9th, 2008
(Offense taken in a silly forum RP is, well... silly. Heh...)
- Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia -
"Huh? Me? Of-of course not..." Kelmarr swatted the air, puffing out his chest. What the heck were they going to the roof for...? He thought she just wanted to ask him some questions. *Gulp*... this was some insanely high tower...
He followed, though the gap between him and Lerfina widened a bit. He suddenly wasn't quite so sure of the runecaster's intentions. Well, not suddenly, but still... He scratched the back of his head and fingered the hilt of the ornate sword at this back, flicking his tail back and forth with each step. Geez, what an ordeal...
Posted by: Dude Man on Sunday February 10th, 2008
- Southern-boarder town-
Sienna rubbed her arm as the amulet was removed. She then looked around and realized she passed out. "Wha-what happened?"
She picked up Puco.
"Well, thank you stranger. I better get out of here." She then ran off with Puco, using her speed spell, this time without any odd side effects.
She exited the town and kept running until she was a far enough distance from it.
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday February 11th, 2008
- Phoenicia, Forest -
"Mmmm... delicious..."
Melface floated over the rapidly decaying body as he wedged a toothpick in between his teeth. That was quite the tasty soul. In fact, it was one of the tastier humans he could remember for a while. A lot more magic-infused than average... he wondered why. That one seemed little more than a peasant.
The child-like demon leaned over and floated parallel to the ground, his off-white robes flowing around as he studied the skull. There in its forehead was a gleaming yellow jewel. Interesting... With pudgy child fingers, he plucked the stone out of the thing's head as it crumbled to dust. The jewel still kept its yellow sheen it his hand. He turned it over a few times before shrugging and placing it in his pocket.
With that, he vanished.
Posted by: Ted Der on Monday February 11th, 2008
- Far, Far Away From South-Eastern Kandarinian Coast -
In a windowless, very dark room stood a black-cloaked man holding a small orb in his hand. He stood there making absolutely no noise. Then, from under the hood came a contented hissing - much like a cat would purr. The figure was watching something in the orb.
Through the eyes of one of the Malanos, Kraaz could see everything. He watched as his minions summoned up a rainless storm over the ruin of the Gilden Warship. It's dead captain was floating just a few meters away - no Majeuri Spinel in sight. A red flash of anger burst from his eyes as quickly as it faded, leaving the room back in it's darkness.
"Go to the Southern Kandarinian coast." He whispered, irritatedly into the orb.
Instantly, the Malanos obeyed, bringing their storm with them. He watched as they quickly sped North. The coast neared and suddenly Kraaz found himself looking at a battlefield where a gigantic Necrolyte controlled beast slaughtered many of those pathetic humans - the race of which he no longer belonged.
"Find Akran alive ... kill everyone else."
... ... ...
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Coast -
"Ha!" Akran yelled as he shot down a flying shadow creature. He was combining the light that came from the lightning with the Raven Bow to kill the Malanos. It looked as if he was shooting bolts of lightning back at them. Kind of odd looking, but effective.
He saw the creatures fly down and circle the beetle, but didn't attack. He didn't know if it was because they saw no profit in doing so, they thought it was too massively awesome to be destroyed, or maybe they weren't physically capable of defeating it.
Akran was starting to wonder how the two guys he met were handling the beetle, because it was kind of hard to spot them with all of the Malanos flying around. It didn't help that they were both up in the air. Wait just a second... did that mean they were safe from the lighting attacks?
Flash! Another lightning bolt hit the ground, annoyingly close to Akran. He felt it's charge crawl up his spine. Damn it!
"Die!" he yelled and shot another arrow.
Posted by: D. Ein on Monday February 11th, 2008
//Xorlak: that was there mainly to attract attention. Then again, I really didn't believe that something that could've been done in a comment like this one had to be done through breaking character.\\
- South of the Kandarinian border town -
There were scatterings of Kandarinian soldiers left and right of Sienna's path. They were setting up camps, regrouping - licking their wounds, in other words. The beam over the city finally began taking shape, and searing some buildings around the main acropolis in the middle. (4\5)
Sienna and Puco found themselves on a hillock just south of the city. The Sovereign's Hammer was illuminating the area with an intensity very rare for the well-named Dark Continent. The light revealed a lush forest south of the city, made up of tall trees hiding the sky with their canopies. Most of the soldiers remained in positions in the area around the now-burning settlement, although some groups left to enter the forest instead. Those were generally seen with caravans of slaves captured in the city.
- South-Eastern Kandarinian border -
The beetle fired its spikes up high into the air, completely missing Duilin, but instead falling on the retreating Gaian Federation troops. The gaping holes left in the creature's carapace began to close up to form another row of devastating spikes, but not before Ein took the situation in his own hands.
He pressed one of the symbols on his left arm with his right, forming somewhat of a small wave of light around himself, while urging the wyvern down. The summoned beast made a circle in the air and, in a dead fall move, threw itself right at one of the holes in the beetle. The glyphs on its back continued to form, even without Ein - who was right behind his wyvern, also in a freefall to the ground.
Meanwhile, the glyph seemed to form a perfect circle - just as Marshall's wyvern reached the opening in the beetle. The poor reptile exploded violently, and although it didn't deal too much damage to the attacking beetle, it caused a turmoil with the Necrolytes inside. Their concentration was momentarily broken - just long enough for Ein's spear of light to enter the small space inside, shattering as it hit an Augment's portal...
The deadly shards lodged themselves deep in the Necrolytes' flesh, and quickly got to their business. The seemingly small cuts began leaking strange glowing white liquid, forming deep cracks in the warlocks' skin. Just several seconds later, the beetle collapsed to the ground, revealing thirteen motionless, half-dissolved bodies - and their Augments, free from the oppressive grasp of Necromancy.
The silence of the scene of massacre was broken by Ein's wails. The largest glyph on his chest - the one he used to create the Necrolyte-killing spear - was producing a torrent of blood. The disabled Ein tried to crawl toward the small Federation group, but fainted before reaching even half of the way there, with the dark shadows of the Malanos circling around him.
- A completely unfair distance from the South-Eastern battle -
-"Eh, it's the family business, I suppose," Joseph replied. "We were always interested in the Sovereign's Necromantic workings. Unfortunately, he did not grant his gift to anyone before the Gros Morne era of Kandarin. When he did, my entire family became devoted to Necromancy. It was like a religion, almost - with the Sovereign as the patron god.
"Myself, I was a different case. Even though it was clear that I had neither the talent or the interest in Necromancy, they all kept urging me: do it, consecrate your soul to the Sovereign, and you will gain the power to control life and death... Eventually, I gave in for the sake of stopping the nagging. I, however, refused to be turned into a full Necrolyte - like yourself, pan Manteia, or pani Ekaterina there. Unlike you, when I am struck, I will die - die completely. I suppose it's partly because I'm slightly dubious as to why exactly we go through with such a task - killing ourselves and then being reborn through our own power. Sure, the result is near-immortality, but really - who would want to live forever?"
-"My story is not as colourful as Joseph's, pan Manteia," Ekaterina spoke, albeit after a short pause. "Four years ago - when I was thirteen - it was determined that I am a gifted abstract thinker. As everyone knows, the split-personality aspect of Necromancy needed to directly control a Mertvetz is greatly boosted by an abstract mind. Because of this ability - the ability to think for several people, so to say - the creatures I had the potential to conjure were deemed to be infinitely more complex than that of my fellow students. After completely resurrecting a person in my first month at the Standard Necrolyte Preparation course - without absolutely any loss of flesh, blood, or even memories - I was immediately sent to the second year of Advanced Necrolyte Preparation. Completing the four years that were given to me, I am now here, ready to apply the skills I was "taught" by those individuals generously awarded with the title of "teacher" by the Sovereign... It is without an exaggeration that I say I was better than them at everything."
-"But all that, of course, is what I am expected to say, I'm sure. You, pan Manteia, could probably guess all of that after I told you that I am a graduate of the Advanced Necrolyte Preparation. To be perfectly honest, without all the useless information and the icing on top - I like it. I like being able to raise someone's mother from her grave and make her dance like a marionette. The sense of control, it... it appeals to me. Being able to command hundreds with but a thought is, to someone like me, my innermost desire."
-"We're almost there," Joseph informed his companions. "Before we land, though - pan Manteia, why did you become a Necr-"
-"...idiot...", Ekaterina cut him off. "Listen to yourself, pan Joseph. The pan's last name is Manteia, why do you think he became what he is?"
(3\4)
Posted by: Mikado on Tuesday February 12th, 2008
~ ~ Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia ~ ~
Shuichi didn't comment, he just quietly followed. The thing he heard weren't good, apparently the skunk... well... was a little different from what he introduced himself... or maybe not. Anyway Indher made a fuss (like always) so he just would follow, this way the skunk wouldn't be able to do anything funny, if he would of course. Why would he? Only a demon tailing him...
tailing... hehe...
wait...
demon?
...
what kind mess is this...
~ ~ South of the Kandarinian border town ~ ~
"Eeh~" Puco looked at the light.
"It's flashy... Sienny, what is that light..."
She looked like in a trance and the light was reflecting in her eyes.
~ emo ~ under ninethousand... distance from the South-Eastern battle ~ emo ~
Czernn just looked at them, with his face not showing any expression. His empty eyes didn't move during the whole story.
He just wondered... was he really like them? They dead or not... but was he alive? Was he dead? Or was he even less?
Less than dead... his existence was his curse... Manteia... he should be dead one hundred years ago.
Should.
"Yes, just as moja pani said, I'm a manteia.. it's also in my blood to control life. But Isn't it ironic? Even in the end, and I mean the ultimate end, the one who controls so many lifes... not only using spells but i power...
a necromancer nie can't bring himsiebie back."
He paused, sighted and looked down at the earth.
"A curse, or a gift?
Dependant to each other.
Our/nasz bare skin jest shown,
our/nasz bare skin jest touched,
touched by maybe soft hands,
maybe very soft,
but not so soft jest...
ten knife they are holding."
I can see it... I can smell it...
"Let us prepare ourself... how will you fight?"
Maybe an obvious question, necromancy... but the tone he said it in showed that it was a question asking for more... a deep tone, a deep though, a deep strategy... a deep eye.
~ ~Silver Root ~ ~
The two massive ships were now underwater, and inside them portals were opened to let people freely move from one ship to an another... only the gates to Pistis were guarded.
Posted by: Ted Der on Tuesday February 12th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian border -
"Oh no, not the guy we just met!" shouted Martin.
Akran looked around just in time to see the man with the tattoos fall to the ground. Blood was spurting everywhere making a real mess around him. Worse yet, the Malanos were descending upon him, sensing that their victim was an easy target.
What could he do? There were too many of them to take out even if all of his crew weren't fighting for their lives and could help. Akran started to sprint towards the injured man, but then stopped himself. Something was holding him back. His arm tensed. A brief thought that he should just leave him to the Malanos flew through his mind. After all, he was so impolite ... and, well this made for a great distraction so he could save himself.
NO! What the hell was wrong with him? He couldn't leave him to die! Akran cleared his mind and rushed over to the fallen man.
"Hey! You shadow shit, come for me!" Akran yelled at the Malanos, "Free target here, come and get some of this." He started shooting arrows at the creatures.
All at once the Malanos turned towards him, their red eyes focused on his. Uh oh, bad idea. Thunder sounded in the sky above him and it darkened even further. A wispy, translucent image of a cloaked head appeared above the Malanos. It breathed in and smiled. His brother Kraaz had found him.
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday February 12th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian border -
"Oh, up your's!" Duilin sneered at the beetle.
He then summoned up his air shield, which he intended on using on himself but he quickly flipped around and shot the bubble like shield at his troops, he was unable to protect all of them however and the shield mostly just bought the rest of the troops some time to duck for cover because the shield was broken after the first few spikes struck it.
The half demon general then faced the beetle again, just in time to see it fall apart.
"Well, what do you know. That Aspye did it." He looked around to see where Ein was. "Hmm, where is he?"
He looked down on the ground and saw a fainted Ein on the ground. He landed next to him and picked him up.
"He's officially gained my respect. My trust will be if he keeps this up." Duilin said, as he flew back to the ground.
--- ---
- South of the Kandarinian border town -
"I think that might be the same forest we were in before." Sienna said pointing.
She stepped towards the forest.
"Yeah, alright. It'll be best if we go through here. I don't want us to be spotted by anymore Kandarinians."
With that she entered the forest, still carrying Puco.
Posted by: Coriko on Wednesday February 13th, 2008
"Back in your cell you pansy ass mother-****er!"
Druid heard the cell door swing open. A thud, followed by coughing and wheezing.
"Not so tough any more Mister Grand General!" The guard laughed. "And you!" The guard stepped over Baird towards Druid. "Well, you are just pathetic!" He laughed some more as he thumped his hairy knuckles against Druid's mask. The stench of his rotting teeth hung around Druid's face like a relentless thunder cloud bent on destruction. The decaying food and rotting gums was an odor Druid disliked almost as much as he disliked the guard. He was almost glad the masked covered his eyes because he did not want to see this ugly brute's face.
Druid heard the guard spit, most likely on his mask, before he turned to leave. Baird grabbed his pant leg. Not because he as pleading for the torture to end. No he grabbed his leg as a means of fighting. Baird was weak and couldn't summon any magic and this was the best he could do. The guard kicked Baird in the face, hard. Druid heard a nasty crack, which echoed throughout the entire jail. The door swung shut and the guard walked away laughing.
"Tomorrow" The one and only word Baird said barley a whisper. He used to share all that transpired with Druid. The guards thought this was them planning their escape and they would just torture him more. So for the last year all he would say was "Tomorrow". He meant this as in he would muster up enough strength to fight back. After this he would arduously pull himself onto the stone bed and pass out until they pulled him back into the torture room.
Druid hung there and only thought of his tormented friend. He was stronger than Druid. He just hung there day in and day out on the wall. No sight but he could still hear. He could touch anything, but he didn't need to. Everyday they would pull Baird into that room and drain him of energy and life. Not for information anymore, but to keep him from rebelling and breaking out.
So Druid hung on that wall and waited. He listened to the soft breathing of Baird, he didn't even have the energy to take deep breathes. Druid slowly drifted off to sleep, to dream. Not of freedom or a daring escape plan but to relive that day three years ago. Over and over. It was killing him slowly from the inside, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Posted by: Ted Der on Wednesday February 13th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Boarder -
The image of Kraaz laughed and disappeared. He knew where Akran was now and would send more minions. Akran ran over to the two men. Hopefully no one knew that they were here because of him.
"We gotta get out of here quickly!" he said, "If the Malanos change into their solid forms..." his voice trailed off as he shuddered. "Well, trust me, we do NOT want that. Hey you, winged bloke, is there a healer we can take this injured man to?"
Posted by: D. Ein on Wednesday February 13th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian border -
-"I'm... I'm fine..."
Ein's chest stopped bleeding. He wiped off the remains of his blood with his cloak, and stood up.
-"This particular glyph is interesting in that it requires so much power to use that I need to sacrifice some of my own life to use it. It is called Mond war lauern - don't ask me what it means, I don't know, I just copied it off the book."
He loaded his modified spear gun with two spears, and pushed them into the bowels of the mechanism. He used another spear to trace a glyph in the earth below, resembling a pentagram with several lines added onto it. After the image was complete, he pricked his finger with the tip of his spear, and dripped a few drops of blood on the glyph. Having done that, he lowered the spear to about 30 cm off the ground level. The droplets of blood inside the pentagram suddenly spurted several stalks of some red plant, it seemed - which wrapped themselves around the spear, sinking into the metal like it was sponge.
-"That was a technique I picked up after visiting Eris' tribal homeland. Her people practise some sort of nature-magic, which comes in very useful in certain situations. Then again, their most powerful spells require actual human sacrifices - so I decided to learn only the bare minimum."
Ein paused to look at the modified spear.
-"This is one of their stronger spells. That plant - Sanguis Veneficorum, they call it, which, I believe, translates to "The Poisonmaker's Blood" - is some sort of unearthly conscious vegetation that uses living organisms as vessels. I wonder if we could get one of those black things up there on our side..."
He aimed his contraption at the closest Malanos, firing off the two unenchanted spears first. The creature used two lightning attacks to counter the spears, but paused for a second afterward. At that point, Ein fired the hexed spear at the creature.
- Directly in front of the South-Eastern battle -
(4\4)
-"Well..." Joseph sighed. "My arsenal consists of just a Khodovik and, on top of that, several Peshkas. I don't even have my own Augment yet... I suppose pan Manteia simply doesn't need one."
"I have a different way of using Necromancy in this case," Ekaterina added. "I recall pan Sovereign using it once. As for exactly what it is... well, we're already here anyway. You'll just see for yourselves."
The three wyverns landed on landed on the brown soil, just behind a hill, hiding them from the rest of the battle. The undead creatures whithered into dust as soon as they touched the ground. Ekaterina and Joseph crouched to the top of the hill, and then, lying down, spied the battle from afar.
-"Can't really see much," Joseph complained while trying to make out the battle through a spyglass. "I can see the remains of the Zhuk - I suppose bratja Necrolytes fell already. Doesn't matter, I guess, since Gandara is only a few hundred miles north of here."
-"Blood," Ekaterina whispered after sniffing the air. "A fair amount of panowe died. Good... That means there will be a lot of material to make our Mertvetzi out of."
She crawled back down to Czernn, and dusted herself after getting up.
-"Shall we make our entrance, pan Manteia?"
- Forest entrance -
The forest was, if at all possible, even gloomier than the city. The dark canopies of the trees hid what little sky there was. Even the Hammer's rays barely penetrated the thick cover of leaves and conifer, manifesting only as the occasional streaks of light pouring to the ground and vanishing among the thick trunks. The normal scent of the forest wasn't there - the air was stale with the heavy odour of mould. Upon closer inspection, the lower parts of the trees turned out to be blighted, explaining the brown carpet of leaves on the little forest road. The leaves were disturbed, as if several people had walked through them recently.
A little further down, the disturbance in the leaves pointed to the side of the road, finally vanishing in the darkness veiling the forest. There was shuffling coming from the shadows, as well as grunts, heavy voices, and the occasional whimpering.
Posted by: Xorlak on Wednesday February 13th, 2008
- Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia "“
Kelmarr's mind began to wander as he followed Lerfina. Blast, it was a long way to the top... He took to watching the cracks comprising the block walls as they climbed staircase after staircase. What was such a huge tower used for, anyway?
They passed a huge set of windows, and the skunk felt compelled to pause for a moment to take in the sights below. The city sprawled below, the people moving about like ants. He hadn't been in a structure so tall since the Tower of Heaven's Bane! With that dreadful tower gone, he wondered if perhaps this was the new tallest building in the world...
He turned to follow Lerfina down the windowed hallway before she noticed him lagging behind. That was all he needed, for her to start yelling at him... She got pretty scary when she yelled at her lessers, and he didn't want to find out what it was like to be on the receiving end of her berating. Even now she walked tall with her head thrown back, some sort of big shot... His eyes trailed to her shadow following her. Even it was imposing. Hips swaying, sholders held back...
Wait a second... two shadows?
He blinked a few times. Odd... there was only one light source-- the window to their left... In fact, the shadow directly behind her-- the imposing one-- was blacker, yet he didn't see any other light source up ahead...
He stopped dead in his tracks... He could have sworn the shadow turned its head around and looked at him...
"Uh... Lerfina..." he said worriedly, not quite sure if her response to his interruption or this... whatever-it-was would be scarier... "Your shadow..." He pointed weakly, even then not quite sure what he was seeing...
Like a cat burglar caught in the act, Lerfina's second shadow spread its arms wide and stopped, bending its knees as if ready to jump into hiding. It looked both ways, and then with immeasurable speed, bounced across the floor like a rubber ball.
Kelmarr gasped as the thing drew close and found his back to the window. With a sucking *pop*, the black ooze blasted out of the floor and tackled the skunkular knife mage right in the chest, sending him right through the glass window with a huge crash.
Kelmarr screamed as he fell dozens of stories towards what surely would be his death. The ooze clutching his chest took solid form, an avian head and glimmering crimson eyes boring into his soul.
"Re . . .vIvE . . ." The thing screamed into his mind. A raspy whisper that blocked out all other sound. "rE . . . ViVe . . ThE . . ."
- CRASH!*
Kelmarr and the shadow-thing slammed into a luckily placed cart of hay, collapsing the wagon and sending bits of straw flying across the street. Townspeople screamed as glass shards began to rain from above.
He had no time to ache in misery, lying on his back in the hay. With a practiced reflex, he drew a dagger and plunged it into the thing's neck.
It shrieked so loudly that the skunk man was blown clear off the cart. He flipped on his landing and landed square on his fluffy tail. Ow...
Gods... what in blazes was that?! It took flight, spreading two black wings and spraying feathers everywhere. A crow? A raven? Whatever it was, it dove and tackled him again.
Pinned on his back, he wrestled with two blade-like talons, taking one in each hand. It had four limbs! No, not some bird... it was a griffin!
The thing snapped at his face with its beak. "Re . . . ViVe . . . MaSt . . ." He moved to the side and it struck the handle of his sword. Much to his surprise, it grabbed the handle and began tugging on it. Kelmarr took the opportunity to retrieve his knife from the monster's black feathery neck. Black blood pooled down his hand and dribbled upon the chest of his leather armor. He raked his feet up under the beast and kicked it off of him, sending it flying back into what was left of they hay cart.
Eyes wide and utterly freaking out, he fought back the soreness and stood, drawing a second dagger. Why did it attack him of all people? Blast it!
The black griffin shook off the hay that it landed in, returning to its feet and spreading its wings menacingly. It was about the size of a large dog-- scratch that. Very large dog. It opened its raven beak and let out a blood curdling screech. Nearby window shattered from the soundwave, and townsfolk ran for their lives.
Kelmarr slowly stepped in reverse, tail frazzled and teeth clenched as he held his daggers battle-ready. Only one word could escape his mouth.
"Great..."
Posted by: Coriko on Wednesday February 13th, 2008
-Shaad Oenn-
There was no such thing as time in their prison. They did not know when one day ended and the next began. Tomorrow to them was when the guards would cart off Baird and the end of the day was when he got back. There wasn't anything do except sleep for Druid and so he lost track of the days. He knew only the changes in season because of the temperature in the cell. This allowed him to keep track of the years, and they were currently at three.
Baird had been pulled away before Druid awoke. He wasn't rested so it must have only been a few hours since Baird got back the first time. The door to hell was opened and Druid could hear Baird being returned to their cell. The guard was laughing as he usually does. He opened the door and threw Baird in. Baird grabbed his pant leg like he always did, however something was different. Druid could sense it.
"You want to dance you cock loving"¦" The guard never finished his sentence because Baird had summoned an orb of shadow energy and punched a hole right through his stomach. The guard gasped and collapsed. Druid could hear Baird's heavy breathing because this took a lot out of him. He slowly grabbed the door and pulled himself up. Shouts of other guards and inmates filled Druid's ears. He struggling to free himself and help his now doomed friend.
The guards rushed in and started to fill Baird with ten thousand volts. These guards were adept at lightning magic and were electrocuting Baird for his little revolt. Druid struggled to free himself of his binds. He knew it would do no good. Baird wasn't going to die; they weren't allowed to kill him. However they were going to continue to severely shock him.
"Get that one too, he is disrupting my fun." Druid heard as the guard came over and started to send the electricity through his body. Druid screamed in agony as the guard laughed. He knew Druid was powerful and sent double the amount into him as he sent into Baird. Druid tried to break free of his binds. The binds restricted his movements and the guard laughed in his triumph.
Druid started to yell in agony, losing his self control. He didn't care, the pain was too fierce to contain. He summoned orbs of shadow energy but the binds which turned the energy against him only cause him more pain. Druid's yell grew louder. The guard stopped laughing. The ones torturing Baird stopped and his body collapsed in relief. The guard shocking Druid was scarred and put all his energy into the assault. Druid's summoned shadow energy orbs grew brighter and the binds were illuminated. A small crack appeared in his left bind. Druid felt it, the escaping shadow energy. He ignored the pain and put all his energy into the orbs. His yell turned into a laugh, this deep blood curdling laugh. The guards recoiled in fear as the crack grew and his laughter continued getting deeper and louder.
Posted by: Ted Der on Thursday February 14th, 2008
//I assume Ein tells Akran his name because, quite frankly, I'm tired of trying to find other ways of describing who Akran's talking to.\\
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Boarder -
A piercing shriek came from the Malanos that got shot. Akran had to cover his ears. The creature writhed in the air and smoke started to rise from it. All of a sudden it stopped. It turned around to face the other Malanos and started to shoot lightning them. The others, realizing what was going on, fired back. In seconds, the possessed Malanos fluttered to the ground, life energy depleted.
"W-what?" Akran cried, quite bewildered. "Did you make that thing attack the others?" he asked Ein.
If he answered, Akran couldn't have heard him because then, all of the Malanos started shrieking so loud that Akran had to cover his ears again. They must have realized that the humans had a very effective weapon.
To Akran's horror, he noticed that the Malanos were changing. Black pieces of cloth were falling down from each one into little piles on the ground. When there was nothing left except the mounds of cloth on the ground, the screaming stopped, and soon, the pieces of cloth started moving. About twelve, very tall cloaked creatures rose up out of the ground, electricity and sparks zapping around them.
Akran felt his jaw drop. About two years ago he faced one of these things and only just managed to escape with his life. He looked around. Where the hell was his crew? He hung his head in despair.
"Twelve, angry all new Malanos against... how many of us?" Akran asked out of the side of his mouth to Ein.
Posted by: D. Ein on Thursday February 14th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
-"Pfft," Ein snorted. "There's only one dozen of Malanos and there's four of us. We outnumber them four to one! Besides, there are several things I haven't tried yet. First off, that last attack was a bit too strong - I suppose I shouldn't've shot it with three spears at once. Let's try that again."
He applied the Sanguis Veneficarum to another spear, loaded it in and fired it at a Malanos' abdominal region. The spear pierced the creature though without dealing it much harm, and falling uselessly behind the target. The Malanos didn't mind much, but suddenly began to cringe. Its wound closed up, covering itself with red stalks. Another glass-shattering wail came from the dark shape, and some sounds resembling death gasps.
-"Give it a few seconds..."
Sure enough, in a few seconds, the Malanos crawled back up to its knees, then stood up. Red sprouts were grasping the area that it was struck in, more popping out of its skin. It made another strange noise - like the normal Malanos scream, but somehow, sickly-sounding - and shot a lightning attack at another nearby Malanos, who seemed to have no idea what's going on.
Posted by: Coriko on Thursday February 14th, 2008
-Shaad Oenn-
BANG! Druid fell to the ground as his binds shattered. He was resting on one knee as he continued to laugh. The guards slammed the cell shut and locked the door which only enticed Druid to laugh harder.
"I have to admit the magic negating binds were a nice touch," Druid slowly stood up but his head remained down. "But any material can be broken if it is worn down enough, especially if the person in the binds if as powerful as myself. I will admit it did hurt a little." With that Druid laughed and raised his hands up for the guards to see. They froze in terror when they saw the bloody and scarred hands. His head remained down as he continued to speak. "Now," his voice dropped an octave, he was serious which was not good for the guards. "You fellows have been very bad. Treason, false imprisonment, assault, and torture." Druid wagged his finger at the guards to mock them; the blood was dripping out of his palm and was forming a puddle on the floor. "Tsk tsk tsk! Daddy's home and he is not happy!" He raised his head. His eyes were mimicking the deep red colour of his shadow orbs. They looked like they were smoking as some of the overload of shadow energy was escaping out of his eyes. He pulled his arms into his chest and pushed out firing a huge blast of shadow energy through two of the guards, killing them instantly. The third guard's arm was caught in the blast and was ripped of. He collapsed grabbing the bleeding stump.
The jail's bar door melted open so Druid stepped out and walked towards the guard. The man looked up with tears in his eyes. "I am a compassionate man." Druid walked forward and snapped the guard's neck. "What," Druid said innocently, "I killed him to end his suffering. Now"¦" He trailed off as he turned to Baird. He felt a pulse, which was good. He lifted Baird over his shoulders but collapsed from the weight. He had been hanging from a wall for the past three years and his energy rush was over. Druid propped Baird against a wall and sat down himself to catch his breathe. He looked around the dank hell hole that had been his home. The ruined state made him smile. "I'm back." He said quietly but with confidence.
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday February 15th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
"What the hell are these things!?" Duilin questioned. "Whatever they are, I don't like them."
Duilin drew the Iduran and lifted the sword up, and enchanted it with lightning magic. He then pointed the blade at one of the Malanos' and then fired a bolt of lightning at it. With a loud crack and several sparks flickering through the air the Malanos died.
"Heh. Alright, who's next?"
--- ---
- Teh forest -
//Yes, I'm aware I typed 'teh' instead of 'the'.\\
"Hmm, there are some odd sounds coming from over here." Sienna said to herself. "I wonder what they are. Maybe I'll go check it out."
She walked over to where she heard the odd sounds, still carrying the sleeping Puco.
"Maybe I could also stop thinking out loud. I'm sure if anyone was listening they'd think I was pretty odd. Oh well."
Posted by: Jenia on Friday February 15th, 2008
~Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia~
As Indher turned around to tell off whoever was bothering the skunk, it was already too late. The shadowy thing latched onto him and he appeared to have... Jumped out the window?
"...Crap."
It must be the demon that was following Kelmarr, she thought.
No, it had to be. Why else would a black, shadowy thing be around?
"...I'll just revive him later. That is, if I can."
The roof wasn't too far now. She hastened her pace, and found herself on the roof soon after.
She reached out and touched the large ball in the center of the floor, and whispered -
"Where is Kelmarr...?"
She seemed to have blinked, and proceeded with an odd monologue while wearing a mask of conviction.
"I see. So he is alive. I could just use the shortcut down and help him, but this is a good time to test it...Alright! Echo Kelmarr!"
The large orb responded to her last two words with a gleam, allowing her voice to be heard in Kelmarr's general location.
"Kelmarr" she said "I'm going to blast it. Move out of it's way."
She proceeded to place both of her hands on the orb and gazed ominously into the rolling mists within it. The two golden rings floating and spinning just above the Glimmer Spire began to shine. A devlish smile spread across Indher's face.
"Hehehe... Voice command is neat. I'm glad I thought of it. Now... Divine Judgement!"
The clouds above Phoenicia began to gather above the tower, as if pulled into a certain gravitational center. The point of gathering quickly became a black orb with the occasional burst of white lightning lighting up it's surface. Indher's smile grow wider as she let go of the orb and began drawing something with her finger in the air. The lower circle responded, and thin-lined runes of light began to draw themselves within it's limits. The second circle soon followed.
//Note: This would normally take at least a 3 post charge, but in the interest of keeping things going I'm going to fire it now. My condition which causes my infrequency of posting is to blame,\\
The cloudy ball of lightning and thunder descended into the top circle and enveloped it. Some of it was spilled, for some reason, and was absorbed into the lower circle. A massive amount of chain lightning was fired all at once into the orb Indher held only a few moments ago.
"Hehehe...HAHAHAHAHA..." Indher's eyes brightened up with an infernal, crimson gleam and her demonic blood boiled as she bore witness to the power trapped within the orb.
"And now, you will feel Indher's Divine Judgement! This is what you get for causing trouble in my house, fools!"
The orb made twizzling sounds, and released all of the energy trapped inside, somehow directing it at the shadowly creature attacking Kelmarr.
With a covetous expression, Indher watched the explosion that followed...
Posted by: Ted Der on Friday February 15th, 2008
Wham! The Malanos that got hit with the lightning was shot back fifteen feet. It recovered, smoking and writhing, but much more aware of what was going on. It tried to glide forward but started to slide down into the ground. It wailed and tried to grab a root to save itself, but it too, just passed through it's fingers. It sunk into the ground, leaving no trace behind, and all the while screaming like mad.
The Malanos with the red plants tried to attack the other ten creatures, but after what happened to the first, they were ready. They deflected the lighting with their hands, making it even more powerful, and sent three streaks of lightning back. The first hit the possessed Malanos making it explode in a puff of smoke and cloth, the second missed Akran by inches, and the third shot straight toward Ein.
The others collectively started to charge some sort of lightning attack up.
(2/12 down)
Posted by: D. Ein on Friday February 15th, 2008
- The Forest -
(5\5)
The darkness revealed a small clearing in the thickness of the forest. There, two Kandarinian soldiers were discussing something.
-"Whut'r we s'posed to do wit' that there," the larger one asked. He was pointing to a girl (a slave, by the looks of it), chained to his wrist by a fairly thick chain. "Sov'rgn prob'ly gets anuff slavegirls anyway, why'd I got to drag her "˜round?"
-"Be quiet, Ludvik," the thinner, taller one replied coldly. "I hope I do not need to remind you that I am from the General's own Regiment. I outrank you. Besides, she insulted me "“ she is getting just deserts."
-"Guh"¦ You's call a pitiful attempt at escaperin' an insult? The way I sees it is you deservesed it. Can't yer wait to get back to yer wife? Why'd you even go for a civilian? All she didder was try to break free once you grabbed "˜er, don't see that as an insult, myself. And I thoughts they did discipline there at first Regiment. Yous apparently aint one of them disciplined "˜uns, Sigrun"¦"
-"I said be quiet, Ludvik. It does not matter what you think or what you do not think. It was an insult, and I say so. Why can you not be nice and obedient and listen to your superiors? Besides, I "“"
He was cut off in the middle of his sentence by a sudden gust of wind. The normally placid sky was really getting turbulent now, the clouds almost pulsing to some sort of a grandiose rhythm. The temperature soared "“ and seared "“ with another gust of wind. The air was saturated with a low monotone hum. The Hammer's song in deep bass began "“ the beginning to the ultimate end for everything in vicinity.
The hum progressively lowered in pitch. One could feel the very waves of the sound shaking one's organs, and making the loose leaves dance on the ground. A layer of dust about 10 centimeters thick was suspended over the earth due to the strong vibrations. The light, too, grew in intensity. Eventually absolutely everything was shining brightly, reflecting the light coming from the holy pillar "“ brighter than the sun.
After getting to a certain point, the tone just seemed to"¦ die down. In but a second, the hum simply vanished, leaving everything in dreadful silence. Sure enough, in a few seconds, all hell broke loose.
The super-massive shockwave that followed blew several trees right of the ground, setting them on fire as soon as they rose more than several meters off into the air. The air, though "“ the air "“ it was everywhere. Everywhere. It was wailing between every single little piece of dirt, roaring high in the skies, and squealing in everyone's ears. Sienna was instantly floored by the maelstrom, although the larger soldier remained seated. The taller one took cover as a molten fireball from the annihilated city nearly beheaded him. The entire sky was dotted with the airborne chunks of molten metals and stones, raining down on the forest. Somewhere in the distance, a relatively large piece landed on dry wood, instantly going up in an inferno of flames.
In less than a minute, it was over. But the results were more than visible "“ the city simply vanished. In its place, there was a smooth layer of glass "“ the result of tremendous temperatures on the sand surrounding the area.
-"Strong "˜un they fired off this time"¦ Musta bin' one of dem solar flares. Now"¦ hey, wha?"
Ludvik felt around his belt, looking for something. Meanwhile, the previously innocent-looking girl withdrew her hand from behind her back, and, with a yell, made a stab for Ludvik's chest. The dagger struck the target, but succeeding in nothing more than drawing a drop of blood "“ the Kandarinian protection amulet stopped the metal sliver from going any further than an eighth of an inch into the skin. Seeing this, the girl's expression turned from enraged to terrified "“ as Ludvik's shifted from nonchalant to enraged.
-"You"¦ little"¦ BITCH! I can't damn BELIEVE you woulda done that while I tried to let you off easy! DIE!!"
The Vanguard's heavy foot crashed into the girl's stomach, lifting her off the ground and knocking her down backwards. She cringed after the first hit as Ludvik approached her.
-"I sees now why Sovereign wanted to blast yer damn city off Gaian," he said as he lifted the girl up into the air by her neck. His eyes were fixed on her tear-swollen face. "You just don't goddamn get the point until sumone like me comers along "˜n' shows it to you"¦"
Ludvik proceeded to land hit after hit on the girl, as Sigrun watched quietly. A thin, satisfied smile cracked his face.
- South-Eastern Kandarinian battle -
Ein tried to dodge the lightning, but failed. //one of my pet peeves with this RP - how the hell do you dodge a lightning?\\ It struck him into his glyphed chest, sending him back several feet until he hit a tree, and fell down, smoking.
-"Ow... Well, these Malanos certainly know how to make a man angry..."
He loaded his contraption with another spear, this time imbued by lightning. He aimed for a Malanos' head and released the trigger...
The lightning attack being charged in an orb above the group of Malanos suddenly struck a bolt right at the incoming spear, throwing it back at Ein, who barely moved out of its way.
-"What the hell?!?! Now how is that fair?!"
Now extremely angry, Ein quickly sketched a glyph on the ground below. Without waiting much for it to complete, he dipped his hand into the glowing sand, pulling out an orange-sized fireball.
-"Dammit, was going for a lightning orb. Oh well. Will do."
Like a professional pitcher, Ein swung the fireball at the nearest Malanos, adding a nice spin to it. The same thing repeated, though - the lightning sphere deflected the attack with another blast.
-"It's no use. Folks, I suggest we get the hell out of here. In case you haven't noticed - which you haven't, because you don't have a surface-penetrating optic system on your weapons like I do - three very dangerous-looking folks just landed over that hill there. If you don't want your legion to be reduced in half by those floaters over there and then halved again by the three freaks - we have to get the hell out of here. Please tell me you have some sort of a water transport."
Posted by: Mikado on Saturday February 16th, 2008
~ ~Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia~ ~
Shuichi was apparently forgotten...
This... is too weird. He didn't really wonder what happened, but in a few seconds he was left alone. Then again he heard weird noises and all kind of stuff happened. "I'll just follow Indher"
When he reached the roof... he could only see a powerful blast and flash.
"This is too complicated!" He yelled holding himself to not fall from the explosion.
~ ~Ze Forest ~ ~
"NEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEE~ ~!!'
Puco fell of Sienna and screamed loudly. Not a scream of fear, nor one of being amused. Just one of... overreaction? She screamed end fell on the earth, and then she saw a man kicking a younger girl.
"Wha?" She didn't see the lost city, because the chaos around her overwhelmed her enough.
She did know one thing. Kicking girls is no good!
"Hey fatty! Stop kicking her!" She yelled moving her arms angrily around her.
~ ~ South-Eastern Kandarinian battle ~ ~
...What was this? These two knew what they were talking about for sure, and he even began to like them but that wasn't the problem. He was here to teach them... what did they expect of him, teaching two already good necrolytes while he felt weaker than them?
Czernn as always was feeling his low self-esteem, and he felt unsure however his face didn't twitch and noone could read his feelings. That was his strength after all, being unpredictable and all.
- "Ooo... an another massacre? Fights only to weaken the enemy, i now we should take care of the rest... okropne..."
He clapped his hands.
"Let nas move... show me what wasze panstwo can do, and I shall cover wy. You kill, kill, zabijaj, kill and kill. Search for the strong and them challenge them. If oni shall fail then nas will finish all of this...
Ja said that I shall cover wy, so do not be worried, the small fry will not leave this place in the radius of..."
With that he halted, stretched his right hand, and held it to his right, and a blue looking bird who was flying above them suddenly landed on it. A normal bird...
On touch with his body the bird began to ... decay and grew. It beautiful blue was now fading towards black and became dim and lost its power. However the bird looked more powerful now, and with a keen eye you could see the lines of the bones, now twice as big, thought its body.
Czernn lowered his arm and the bird flew away, high into the sky. You could swear it shone, it lighted.
He looked upwards. At the sky... I wish I could fly in them now, instead of being tied to these blooded earths.
The bird changed course and flew right at the battle, with speed not seen in a bird, nor in anything else with wings. From where it came couldn't be said, but it could be said it was dangerous... very dangerous.
A few soldiers looked up at the bird, and tried to run away or guard with their shields but it didn't matter.
In a few seconds three man had lost their face, being stung by the iron peck of the bird.
"... jeden kilometre."
They didn't see it, but in one kilometre radius around Czernn all kind of animals became black and furious... just waiting to tear something apart that seemed but a little suspicious.
~ ~ Black storage building ~ ~
- "Our infiltrators made contact."
Ray said this with an amused voice looking at the chess looking map.
- "Soon they eliminate our ... enemies in Silver Root."
- "What about the unlife masters? Have we infiltrated them yet?" The long hatted glassed man asked softly.
"No Chaud, not yet."
The white suited man answered.
- "We have men plenty on their grounds... but the infiltration of the military hasn't started yet."
- "When will it start Frederic?"
Frederic took a cigarette out of his pocket. It was slim, and it looked like it wasn't packed with nicotine...
- "As soon as Heil is eliminated, and that will happen at a crucial point. We need to make the Kand's think that Silver Root has enormous power... it has maybe, but not enough. We need them to think that they may be the force that they need to conquer the rest of Gaian. We need to make them believe that making an alliance with them will give them sure success. All hope will be put on Silver Root. The Sovereignty will only this once have someone to rely on. Maybe that moment will be short, for soon they would try to absorb Silver Root or they would just see them as "some alliance", but there will be a moment that they will feel that with them they will conquer Gaian without problem. On that short moment, on the most crucial day, Heil shall fall. The sovereignty shall trip, and fall on our knifes. At least, that is our plan."
- "How will we gain this?" Ray asked with a curious tone, but her amusement rose even more.
- "Our men are already spreading the word in the villages that with the alliance of Silver Root things will be better, and that kind of stuff. Maybe it won't be accepted at first but after a while the whole country will whisper. Whispers and hope is a knife that is overlooked by many and once they pass it to take the sword, it can hit their backs..."
- "The normal people will be easy for their minds are simple..." Chaud continued for Frederic.
"...but the lords of these countries won't. The influence of the normal people will be small but still will be there, and once the parasite will settle... I personally will convince them."
Ray laughed.
"Personally? What a ironic way of using that word."
~ ~Crow ~ ~
A dark night, the sky is deep blue. Some solemn stars flash in the sky, and give a glassy effect over the thick and green wood. Where the wood stops, where an opening lies a castle is placed. Some thumbs of old trees are lying around it for the opening is human made, the castle is build on remains of death trees... and men.
The castle isn't really that big, or high it's just that impression that you get when seeing the towers. The stones are light brow, maybe the colour of sand with a little tone of green. It's almost completely made from towers, standing close to each other with some small buildings in a church form connecting them in between.
The castle is made from stone and the tower's roofs are brick. On one of these towers you see a black dot... a black crow.
Its red eyes penetrate you confidence and it rises and falls again flying down... and down... ignoring the towers and going to the middle of them, where a huge building is placed, not touching the ground being built into the walls filling the empty space in between all nine of them.
In the huge hall one window is open. A bright light is flowing out of it and noises of dance and laughter escape from it.
Inside a huge ball is held, many dance on the floor and some guards stand on the sides. Opposite of the window the king is dancing. He's middle aged and has a small beard. You see that he is surrounded by five ladies, however that doesn't catch you attention. On his left arm he has a beautiful bracelet, it actually resembles a miniature crown, and as you look at the king you begin to feel something... as if you love him, you want to serve him, you want to make him happy...
A loud scream from the crow breaks this feeling, and with rage you turn towards the window were that crow sits. But just like you, everyone around suddenly halts looking amazed at the crow.
Its red eyes shine painfully deep in your hart and around its black neck a golden necklace lies and around its right leg a ring is placed, just like a leg bracelet.
The king suddenly laughs. His laugh is painful, and only to hide his fear. He expected this moment, he expected and feared, ever since he found his bracelet. Someone to take what he had found, the bracelet with the magic power. The power to make everyone love you.
"I knew you came, and from you appearance you have stolen even more Reliqs. However you won't gain this one, for it's power is fully active in this hall! I shall slay you, and with that I'll take your treasures!" His eyes were filled with greed, and the women around him looked at him with faces full of admiration. He raised his palm and yelled something like "Kill!" and you hear people drawing swords.
You suddenly notice that way more soldiers are here than you expected. Actually two third of the guests are armed, and those who aren't still wish to follow the kings command. All soldiers are equipped with long sabres, except one cloaked figure next to the king holding a equally long gun now pointing at the bird.
"Shoot" You hear the king whisper and a loud shot is heard. But the crow isn't there anymore, but flies at full speed at the king. In a second it already passed half of the enormous hall but a sword almost hits it. Immediately the crow raises evading the cut easily and with the same speed it pierced the head of the soldier. The crow gets right trough it... however no blood stains on it can be seen. Everything is absorbed in it's darkness... in the darkness of its feathers.
A yell of rage you hear, a shot twice. But as men try to hit the crow it just evades and cuts them instead. Its peck is deadly and its claws a blades. The crow flies at enormous speed at the guards, penetrating the one after another coming closer to the king.
The king in his fear yells something at his cloaked sharp shooter and an another shot is heard.
That had to hit, it was right into the bird who flew to fast to turn.
But then you see something fearful. The bird is already near the cloaked figure and with its razors it opens his chest holding a bulled in its mouth.
Ladies scream, men yell. Children cry and glass breaks. The bird cut of the hand of the king, and flied high to the roof, now holding the bracelet as a crown on its head. With speed faster than the fastest river you have seen, it slices across the king turns again, and before the king manages the fall into two parts it hits him again. Blood flies everywhere, people panic.
You try to escape but people push you around. You fall on the ground and see someone falling beside you, on the body of a dead child... someone tramples you, but you try to stand up.
The birds penetrates everyone, and just broke some armours cutting across the fragile human bodies. It flies right at you. Blood covers you sight.
The crow slaughters everyone who ever saw the bracelet in the castle, and flies of from the collapsing building in the morning. Blood drips of it, but none can be seen on the wings. Everything is absorbed in the deadly black of the feathers... as if a hole in existence... and in that hole, two red eyes.
~ ~Silver Root; Pistis ~ ~
Tron was walking through the empty roads of Pistis. It was night and moon shone along the roads.
- "We have finally discovered it..." he mutters into himself. "... but Heil must are at the other ships, just great at his nights! We must hurry... who is next... we guess..." He closes his eyes impatiently.
- "...Smiech."
He quickly walks towards the place where Smiech lived, however he meets him sooner than expected. Smiech was at a nearby park throwing rocks at birds.
- "Stop these! We have important messages!"
Smiech turned his head non-charmingly towards Tron.
- "Wa is ye problem freak?"
- "Do you remember the missions that Heil gave us? To check corruptions in our governments!"
- "Big whut, you probably found some crap. Who gives a nut, it was your job. Just kick the asses out and don't annoy my face."
- "You fools! We found something VERY important, just look at these reports!"
Tron gave Smiech a piece of paper with some tables drawn on them.
- "Corruption in yer goverment, so whut? It's onl-"
He halted looked at the notes more carefully...
- "This!? Is it a joke! No, you are always too serious... "
- "You see? The cases are more dangerous than we expected! The other Generals are busy, or have to low ranks! If these would be announced, then the economies would collapse. We left a massage for Heil, but we should go out as quickly as possible!"
Smiech knew that this was no cause of humour, and that this was the time that he would proof his being a General.
- "To think that our land is being infiltrated... do you have the location?"
- "Ah, at least they are what we think that the locations are. Once we'll arrive there we will know for sure... these communications if drawn back go back all at one places-"
- "I dun care! Let's hurry and go! This is a case of hours, I got a special ship home... let's leave!"
At Smiechs home they found a beautiful, car looking, ship. It was for two people and quickly the left the ship... they flew off the Sovereignty, into the sea, into the sea of islands trying to pinpoint the location of the ones that infiltrated Silver Root... Something was getting big, and it wouldn't go unnoticed!
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday February 16th, 2008
- Hte Forest -
Sienna ducked down and shielded Puco from the shockwave of the blast.
"What was that!?"
She got back up and then noticed Ludvik and Sigrun. She watched them for a little bit and then noticed the big one hitting some slave girl.
"I can't let them do this."
She cupped her hand over Puco's mouth and ducked back down.
"Shhh...I have an idea. Just stay here."
She then took out the 'Ophelia' mask from her pocket and put it on her face. Maybe she could scare them or something. She then stood up and casted her camouflage spell on herself, making her mostly invisible, and approached the two men. Since their focus was on the slave girl she was able to get very close to them without them noticing.
She then gave a very loud terrifying shriek that echoed throughout the woods.
--- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian battle -
Duilin was able to block most of the lightning attacks struck at him, by countering them with Air Shields and lightning bolts of his own.
He then looked at Ein when he suggested retreat.
"What do you mean? I don't see anyone or sense anyone." He then thought for a moment. "Then again, nobody's been able to sense people ever since Retan was killed. So I'll take your word for it. I don't want anymore of my men killed. We've got a ship, it's small but it's fast. The rest of the troops have their own ships, I'm sure they'll manage."
He then cups his around around his mouth to make a loud holler. "Fall back! Return to the ship!"
He then motioned to Ein. "Come on Aspye, follow me." He then took off for the ship.
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday February 16th, 2008
(Undodgeable lightning would be against the rules. Therefore, lightning is dodgeable. Heh...)
- Glimmer Spire base, Spire City, Phoenicia -
Kelmarr's ears perked at the voice seemingly coming out of nowhere. "Huh? Lerfina...? Is that you?" Get out of its... what the heck was she...?" He looked up and his eyes widened. "Holy freakin crap!!"
The rings high above at the top of the spire cracked with electricity. Kelmarr turned tail and ran. The blast from the explosion was strong enough to sweep him off his feet as he made a mad leap for cover (in slow motion), ducking and rolling into a side alley. He cowered behind a dumpster as flames swept past.
When it was over, he meekly poked his head around the corner, finding the vicinity in a charred state of disorder. Holy crap... He timidly stepped out of the alley. To unleash such an attack in the middle of town... she was insane! Do not get on her bad side, he noted to himself. The blast didn't seem to level any buildings, but all the ones facing the street were badly blackened, bits of debris strewn everywhere. As for the monster... it was nowhere to be seen.
What in blazes was that thing, anyway? He rubbed the back of his head as he walked towards ground zero. It couldn't have been the demon that attacked him on the ship, could it? No, that one was sentient... this one had only one thing on its mind... What was it after? Did it actually want the sword?
Nah... probably not... But still he should get rid of the thing as soon as possible, anyway.
Posted by: Jenia on Saturday February 16th, 2008
//Of course. Then again, not everyone can dodge lightning... Also, yes, Mikado. In this mess, he was forgotten - or rather, Indher didn't notice he was following in the first place as she expected him to go with Elphos.\\
~Glimmer Spire, Spire City, Phoenicia~
Indher sighed.
"That was quite... therapeutic."
She calmed and the sky began to clear.
"Alright, now to bring him up here..."
She approached a small premade set of runes at the side of the tower. Within it was a small, empty circle. Carefully, using her nail, she drew another circle within it.
The runes glowed a bit, having been activated.
The runemaster skipped back towards the orb.
"Echo Kelmarr... Kelmarr! A circle on the ground level should light up. It will transport you to the roof if you step inside."
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Sunday February 17th, 2008
- Southeastern Terian Coast -
"Blast it, I was out for a bit... Wah!? My army's nearly gone! Karma, are you alright!?" Jacobie was apparently knocked out of battle by some means, along with Karma. She slowly got up and held on to her forehead. "Ouch..." She said.
"Glad to see you're alright. Let's get with the others. C'mon!" Jacobie grabbed Karma's arm an ran towards Duilin and the others. He gripped his katana more tightly and looked out into the field. "How do you suppose we kill those things?"
//I'm a little confused. For right now, I'll just post this. It should be good enough, at least until I get my head back into the game! <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />
Posted by: Xorlak on Sunday February 17th, 2008
(Apologies. That comment was directed at Ein, Jenia. Heh...)
- Glimmer Spire base, Spire City, Phoenicia -
"Gah...!" Kelmarr looked around again. That voice out of nowhere was beginning to freak him out... "Y-yes ma'am." Blast it, what the heck did she want to do up there? And more importantly, why didn't they just use this in the first place instead of going up all those stairs? Ugh. Crazy women...
He stepped into the glowing circle and immediately became disoriented as light flashed around. Sheesh, maybe the stairs were better! With a bright flash, he was suddenly standing in a circle in a different location, Lerfina before him waiting. He teetered dizzily from the teleportation, feeling as if he'd loose his breakfast right there.
Posted by: Jenia on Sunday February 17th, 2008
~Glimmer Spire top, Spire City, Phoenicia~
"Aaaaaaaaall-right!"
Indher rubbed her hands together, mentally preparing to get to work.
She motioned for Kelmarr to come over as the circle behind him had lost it's glow.
"Just a precaution, you see... This shortcut can only be activated from here."
She wasn't about to tell him of her training plan which involved climbing all the tower's stairs once a day.
"See this large globey thing, floating up here? It's pretty much a information gathering center. Well, it is also a tool usable in many ways, but right now we are only going to use the information gathering capability..."
She approached the orb, it's rolling mists peacefully sliding infinitely into themselves.
"Place one hand on this and think of the demon that was with you on your ship. If he is anywhere in the vicinity of the island, the orb will show his location to us..."
It really was a pity the orb's power didn't extend too far beyond Phoenicia, she thought... still, with a radius enough to go half the way to Tjed, it's range should be big enough to find the monster that came with him... That is, assuming this wasn't it.
Posted by: D. Ein on Sunday February 17th, 2008
- The Forest -
Ludvik paused, throwing the unconscious girl down to the ground and taking the metal brace off his fist.
-"'N' who're you to be commanderin' me around? Sigrun, mind if I...?"
-"By all means, Ludvik. I will get the striped one next to her. Just listen - she is practically screaming for me to put her out of her misery. Quoth Malleus Maleficarum - "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"."
The larger Kandarinian drew his weapon - a hammer with four heads, stacked on top of each other, and heaved it over his shoulder.
-"Dun' givva damn if you're small. Dun' intrude. Die."
He swung the weapon down and sideways at Puco, while Sigrun unsheathed his own weapons - a set of Kamas. He leaped at Sienna and slashed the obsidian blades down at her shoulders.
- The Gros Morne Citadel -
-"Keeerig," I yawned. "My Hammer fired off. Get Weloss to do whatever he wants to do."
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Ein rushed after Duilin.
-"Damn bird," he muttered quietly. "Orderin' me around..."
As he ran, he thought he noticed something in the corner of his eye - something on the ground... right by the wrecks of what used to be the beetle creature. He stopped to look, and found one of the Necrolytes still breathing. He swiftly picked her up, and resumed running after Duilin. Who knows - maybe they'll be able to beat some information out of her?
Meanwhile, just behind Ein, the remains of the beetle began to move...
---
-"Dzienkuje barzo, pan Manteia," Ekaterina said quietly. "We'll get on it. Joseph, shall we?"
-"That we shall, dear pani," Joseph echoed, and began raising the fallen soldiers in the area for cannon fodder. Meanwhile, Ekaterina sprinted over to the remains of the beetle, half-bending to avoid being seen. She leaned close to the bones, putting her entire body in contact with them. The bleached carapace started to crack in several places, eventually breaking up into pieces. The chips adhered to Ekaterina's entire diminutive body, forming a suit of armour of sorts. Even her face was covered by a kind of an expressionless white mask. She ran forward to the retreating Gaian Federation army, and stopped a few meters away from them.
-"Good evening to you, panstwo," she said. "Surely you aren't leaving after killing 13 of my bratja? I thi-AAH!"
Her speech was interrupted by the lightning blast from the Malanos behind her. They fired off their lightning orb right at her back. The attack shattered the bone armour... which instantly regenerated into its former shape.
-"One thing I hate more than intruders... is being interrupted while taunting the said intruders."
With those words, Ekaterina leaned backwards - WAY backwards - while chanting some sort of a spell in tongues. Her spread arms were shaking, almost in a spasm-like way. After several seconds, her entire bent body was raised by some unknown force into the air, while she continued to whisper the incantation. The spell reached its climax, it seemed, as the Necrolyte's body straightened out like a recoiling spring, and she slammed her palms together in a finalizing clap.
The bones scattered all around the battlefield shot up into the air, twirling in a vortex over Ekaterina. After the vortex sucked up every single bone on the battlefield, it collapsed down right on the Necrolyte below, concealing her in a twister of dead body parts. Then, the dust settled...
The layer of bones around Ekaterina grew at least five times, completely hiding her behind the bone armour. Her appearance was now much like Kronos' in his fight with Gorus, except instead of wielding a sword and a shield, she had an enormous three-headed flail. She effortlessly threw it over her shoulder.
-"Now, let's deal with these annoying insects the way they are meant to be dealt with - we swat them."
She raised the huge weapon into the air and gave it a good spin, increasing the momentum. When it was spinning so fast as to form a small twister over her, she slammed the spiked heads right into the bunch of Malanos. Even though they tried to deflect the attack with their lightnings, a mere spark was not enough to ward off such a large object moving at such a speed. Six Malanos perished immediately.
(Malanos left: 4\10)
- The end of a black road -
The doors slowly creaked open, letting the travellers inside the grim building. Inside, several hooded individuals greeted their guests.
-"Welcome," the closest one said. "I trust you are here for the... Naivischy?"
Posted by: Ted Der on Sunday February 17th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Boarder -
"I'll follow in my ship!" Akran shouted ducking as lightning bolts hit the ground around him, "I have a boat over here."
Akran sprinted East towards the Shadowshot. He saw his crew in the distance waiting for him. "Argh! Cowards. They'll probably have some sort of excuse why they didn't help me out. It better be good."
Martin shouted out to him as he approached. "Akran! Where were you?"
"I was a little busy with all of those Malanos you left me to deal with on my own. Maybe I should be asking you that question?" replied Akran.
"We uh..." started Martin looking towards the rest of the crew for help. All of them shrunk back.
"Never mind," interrupted Akran, "We have to get going." Just as he ran up the stairs and on to the deck, a black squirrel jumped up and bit him on the arm.
"Ah!" Akran cried shaking the squirrel off of him, "Where the hell did that come from?" The creature ran away back towards the battle field. "God damn..." he muttered as he rubbed his arm. "Get this ship moving!" he ordered in added frustration to his crew.
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday February 18th, 2008
- Ye Forest -
Sienna seemed to move like a blur right out of the way, of the kamas and reappeared behind Sigrun.
"Leave this woman alone and run home. Now." She said pulling out a card from he her deck. "You want to try me?"
"You think a girl is gonna scare me!?" Sigrun sneered turning around and swinging his kamas.
Sienna sighed. "Have it your way." She swiftly leaned backwards to avoid the swinging blades, and then swung a kick tripping Sigrun off his feet. Before he fell to the ground, she kicked him again causing him to fly into a near by tree, cracking the bark.
"You little bitch!" Sigrun roared, and then ran back at her.
Sienna's hand holding the card glowed a dark violet, and she tossed the enchanted card at the oncoming fighter, the card shredded right through him.
Sigrun was petrified suddenly blood started to gush out of the left side of his chest, and he fell lifeless to the ground...
--- ---
- South-Eastern Kandarinian coast -
Marshall rode toward the ship on a Wyvern he summoned, trailing not to far behind Duilin.
Lagart, Zimmerman, Vaughn and the others ran along with Ein.
"I dunno why we have to run." Vaughn sneered to Ein. "And I especially don't like our general taking advice from some Aspye who just shows up. I got my eye on you, barbarian."
Lagart noticeably rolled his eyes.
Duilin arrived at the ship. "Get ready to head back to Helternia." Duilin hollered to the sailors on board. "We're making a retreat." He stepped onto the ship, he dusted himself off, and waited for the others to catch up.
Marshall arrived quickly, he hopped off his wyvern which returned to it's magical blue fog state and then was sucked back into Marshall's sapphire.
"You're friend seems interesting." Duilin said to him, leaning against the opening doorway of the ship, with his arms crossed.
"Ein? Yeah, he's a pretty great guy." Marshall replied walking up the docking board.
"I'll be the judge of that. He's a very good fighter actually, maybe some day he might get better than me."
"Really?" Marshall stopped beside Duilin.
"Yes. I remember fighting him those few years ago. Although I could have killed him, he put in a lot of effort. He indeed has some of my respect. But I don't trust him."
"Fair enough I guess. He doesn't trust you. I'm sure he hates you actually."
"I don't blame him. I'm not fond of him either. But regardless, I see a lot of potential in him. Perhaps you could persuade him into sticking around with us for awhile."
"Yes sir. I'll do that."
"Thanks. Now get in the ship."
Posted by: Mikado on Monday February 18th, 2008
~ ~ Tnguasdbge Forest ~ ~
Puco screamed and hid herself under her arms instinctively. The blade hit hit her arms... and shattered. Two of the four blades were in pieces.
- Why you-!?" Ludvik yelled and tried to hit her once more.
"Or right, the powers..." She smiled a little embarrassed forgetting her strength. An another attack flew at her head, but Puco jumped back and countered. She ran along the handle towards the face of the man and caught it with both her hands.
"Now I can test this little new thing..."
She froze all water inside his body... and controlled it. The result was devastating.
With enormous speed hundreds of Ice spikes pierced the mans skin from the inside. They grew around him, changing him into a huge spikes ice rock.
Puco jumped back and looked at the man. "Wha...."
~ ~ South-Eastern Kandarinian coast ~ ~
- "Easier said nisz done..."
Czernn sighted and run higher on the hilltop trying to catch the situation.
So basically on the huge field, remains of dead necromancers were fighting the little bit of soldiers left. Most of them were withdrawing, but organisation of a huge army is hard, so half of the soldiers were being panicked or going berserk.
These soldiers were weak however, at least they looked that way. The strong looking ones were all close to each other, retreating near a ship. Some thunder crap was there too, but that would be taken care of by Ekaterina, so Czernn didn't bother about them.
Wait, wait, wait, wait. So the weak ones are still fighting, while the strong guys are fleeing?
This is one heck of a crappy situation...
Czernn searched his jacket for something, and took out a small bag full of green seed.
Joseph was near so Czernn had a excuse for his loud thinking.
- "This jest Nasienie Martwych, simplified, seed of the death. Moze a obvious and unoriginalne name, but effective, very effektivne."
He raised his hand trying to feel were the wind came from. From behind, into the field. Not bad.
He threw the seed into the field, and the wind let it fly. The seed shone with green light in the air.
People began to get confused, what was this?
- "Anyone who has the nieluck breath it... will change into a unlife under moja kontrola."
Why bother casting spells, when you can use already prepared ones?
On the field, people began to change into unlife, three on five to be precise. Chaos broke out, and people started killing each other not knowing who is who.
- "To takes care of them...ale maybe some unnatural power will let those stronger ones nie sneeze it? Doubt it. But kto knows... ja mean that guy has wings. So... now to destroy that ship then..."
The bird on his shoulder screamed.
"Swietnie "
The bird rose and flew at great speed at the ship. It didn't attack it or anything but it dived into the water...
- "Ja can control undeath with unlife. There must be some death guys pod water..."
Slowly, old slimy tentacle looking things began to rise from the water...
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday February 18th, 2008
- Glimmer Spire top, Spire City, Phoenicia -
Kelmarr timidly stepped up to the large globey thingy, scratching the back of his head as he studied the swirling mists around it. He didn't quite want to touch it, but Lefina said so... He didn't want to irritate her any more than necessary.
He pushed his black furred hand through the mists and rested it upon the warm surface of the orb, clenching his teeth as he tried to focus his attention on an image of that child-like demon on the boat. He wasn't sure how it worked. Probably some residual magic left from the two coming in contact was traceable or something.
Images flowed above the orb, melding together into a bird's eye view of the former island of Romme. The view zoomed in near the central western coastline, off the shore a ways in a thick, lush forest in the shadow of the mountain in the center of the island...
Posted by: D. Ein on Monday February 18th, 2008
- Forest -
As both the soldiers lay dead, the girl finally began to regain consciousness. Tilting her head just a little upward, she mouthed the barely-audible word:
-"Wa...t..e...hh..."
- South-eastern Kandarinian coast -
Ekaterina continued clobbering both the Malanos and the retreating troops while Joseph decided to give up. Ekaterina was using too much unlife for him to get any anyway, so he quietly walked back to Czernn, with nothing to do.
---
-"Okay, guys, seriously, this is no time for heroics," Ein shouted. "Don't try to retreat to fight that thing there. The thirteen Necrolytes combined were nowhere the strength level as the one... the one in the distance..."
Ein felt a chill ripple through his heart as he recalled seeing the accompanying Necrolyte's dead, expressionless eyes.
-"Just get on the damn boat and run the hell out of here!"
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday February 18th, 2008
- Le Forest -
Sienna took off her mask, and returned to normal. She pocket the mask and took a deep breath. She then noticed the girl trying to talk. She knelled down and held her head up, and she began to regain breath.
"Are you okay?"
--- ---
- South-eastern Kandarinian coast -
The rest of the crew boarded onto the ship and it took off, through the water. Back on Helternia.
"General, may I ask you something?" Vaughn said stepping towards Duilin.
"What?" Duilin responded.
"What are you listening to that guy for? How could you even trust him?"
"I don't, exactly. But he's friends with Marshall, and Marshall is with us, so it's clear he's not going to try anything." Duilin answered. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"No sir." Vaughn shook his head, and then went back to the group.
Marshall sat down next to Ein. "It's good to see you're still alive." Marshall said. "I was unambiguously apprehensive about your whereabouts."
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Monday February 18th, 2008
- Terian southeastern coast -
"Damn, I guess the best thing to do is retreat. Follow along, Karma!" Jacobie boarded the same vessel as did Duilin and his team. He sheathed his katana and ordered Karma to do so as well. She politely slid the enchanted blade back into its sheath and handed it to Jacobie, who then placed it on his tasset.
"So, Duilin. I know this seems a bit forward, but... do you think Karmandalla and myself could join forces with you and your squad? My entire army was killed during the battle before and well... What's a General without an army?" Jacobie then bowed quietly to Duilin and Karma did the same.
"We are both pretty good fighters," Jacobie remarked, "and it would be nice to join up with an elite squad rather than a regular army. So then... what do you say?"
- Dranniville, Stronghold -
"How is the barrier comming, captain?"
"It's slowly starting to form around the edges of the stronghold. In a few more minutes to an hour, it will be inpennitrable."
"Good, carry on then."
"Yes, my leige."
(barrier at 40 %)
Posted by: Ted Der on Monday February 18th, 2008
//Mikado, which ship was being attacked by the tentacle thing?\\
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Coast -
The Shadowshot crashed through the waves in its hurried retreat. From the deck of his swift ship, Captain Akran Drennen could see that the battlefield was in chaos. He could barely see who was fighting who as a couple surviving necromancers, soldiers, and a giant bird all fought against each other. Akran considered for a second that he should try and save the last remaining soldiers (they seemed like the 'good' side to be on), but as soon as the thought flickered through his mind, the large beetle creature started to move again. There was no way he was going to try now. His crew couldn't afford any more casualties.
Akran scanned the deck. The few who were injured were injured pretty badly. He had lost two great swordsmen and an archer for their limbs had been shot off with lightning from the Malanos. A harsh as it sounded, Akran had to agree with the rest of the crew: this was a considerably small price to pay for the rest of his crew's lives. They all wondered how they had gotten away so easily with their lives. The Malanos were deadly creatures. It must have been all of the confusion, Akran told himself, that had let them escape.
"Oye, Akran!" Martin called from the prow, "We're catching up to another small ship. I think it's the ship that you told us Ein and that winged fellow escaped on."
"Great, follow it." Akran replied, "Also put up the white flag so they know we are not a threat to them." The young lad up in the crow's nest instantly obeyed.
He had been considering for the longest time which side he should join. While it might be an easy decision for most, he had a difficult time with it. The main reason was because he had met Kronos a while ago and, for some reason, felt a certain connection with him. Kronos hadn't treated Akran with the same disrespect that he treated most people he met. He also couldn't hide the fact that if he joined the Kandarinian Sovereignty he'd be closer to Gwen... (Oh yeah! Hadn't he had a dream that she was in danger? It all seemed somehow less important now.) In the end though, he decided that he had to deal with his twisted brother, Kraaz, and the only possible way he could think of how to do that was to join the Gaian Federation.
Akran paced the deck glancing up at the ship they were following. He wanted to find out if they could help him.
Then something caught his eye. He looked around. Had anybody else seen it? Splash! There it was again! This time he could swear he saw a tentacle of some sort splash in the water ahead of them. Not another monster.
"Signal the ship up ahead," called Akran to the crow's nest, "I think we may have company!"
The young lad in the crow's nest waved a large red flag as a warning. (Or however ships usually communicate. I think smoke signals are a little dated, even for this time period.)
Posted by: Mikado on Tuesday February 19th, 2008
// Both >;D
~ ~ South-eastern Kandarinian coast ~ ~
Two ships were remaining... All of the other soldiers were being infected or dead.
So what was left... chasing the other two, right?
- "Hej Joseph, ty see the ship that hasnie went away yet? //Ted der's\\ Go near its water... there are allot, and ja mean allot, of unsmierc under the woda (water). Use ich to halt the ship, the statek. Ja will take care of the other statek..."
Right. So the commanders didn't even notice his attack. Leaving the other ship for Joseph to handle, the water around Duillins ship began to move... something was underneath it...
- "Ekaterina! When ty finished the few remains of the field, come i help mnie take care of this statek. Albo help Joseph. Wszystko jedno. "
He ran towards the closest coast towards the ship...
Flash.
Suddenly a few green tentacles thick as a tree grew out of the water. On closer inspection one could see that they were made out of ... death bodies. The green was the color they gained when they were rotting on the bottom of the sea.
The skulls and half rotten faces were laughing at the members of the ship, and the ship was surrounded from both sides.
Meanwhile, troops that fled during the battle in other directions were teared apart by several undeath wolves...
~ ~ Church of death ~ ~
"Yes indeed, we have came for your what ever is called..."
The men entered the church. The place had over nine hundred men now.
"Give us... the human offers..."
Posted by: Ted Der on Tuesday February 19th, 2008
//OK, I'm getting confused. Does someone think that the Shadowshot is a threat? Even with it's white flag? And what is a statek? ...an unsmierc?//
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Coast -
WHAM!
The tentacles hit the side of the ship making it rock violently. Akran had to hold on to the side to keep from losing his balance. Very funny indeed.
Splash! The young man who was in the crow's nest just moments earlier fell from the jolt of the ship. He was now at the mercy of the beast.
Not Jimmy, anybody but Jimmy! "Use your arrows lads!" Akran yelled in frustration to his crew, "Shoot their funny little heads off!"
Akran took out his Raven Bow and started to shoot beams of light and feathers at the twisted smiles. The arrows didn't seem to do much damage, but it make the tentacles retaliate, thus slowing them down. Hopefully this allowed for enough time to escape.
The Shadowshot was a small, narrow vessel, and Martin sure knew how to handle it. The boat dodged in and out between the larger tentacles to avoid damage. Everyone got drenched as water splashed over the sides from the constantly rocking ship. As arrows flew around him, people screamed and water clouded his vision, Akran wondered if the other ship was being preyed upon like they were. Slowly, but surely, he could tell they were getting off track.
"Keep up with that ship!" Akran called to Martin, "We can't lose them!"
"I'm a little busy, if you haven't noticed," came Martin's reply.
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday February 19th, 2008
- South-eastern Kandarinian coast -
"Well..." Duilin looked at Jacobie and his friend. "Well, I've heard some good things about you two. Plus I saw you in battle during the fall of Retan, Jacobie. So yes, you may join." Duilin clasped his hands together. "Now then..."
Suddenly the boat began to shake.
"???"
Duilin then rushed up the stairs onto the deck to see what the matter was. On the deck and all around the ship he saw the strange undead tentacles.
"Tentacles!? Gah, I HATE tentacles!"
Duilin drew the Iduran, which began to glow with a white light. A tentacle then landed near him, barely missing him. A half rotten skull on the tentacle began laughing at him. Duilin gave a horrified looked at it and then slashed the sword down on the tentacle.
"Everyone! Get out here and help me fight some tentacles off the ship! They're slowing us down!" Duilin shouted down the stairs to the others.
Posted by: Mikado on Wednesday February 20th, 2008
// Statek = Ship, unmartwy = undead
~ ~ South-eastern Kandarinian coast ~ ~
The tentacles reacted at the moment they would get hit, but it stunned them for a short while... for if you killed on piece of it, an other head came instead of the death one... they looked ... infinite.
Czernn was standing at the coast with Joseph next to him.
"Aha... can ty summon some unmartwi? I'll control te little tentacles some..."
The tentacles bashed at the ships, and they moved dangerously. Now tentacles were blocking of the front as well the sides... the only way out would be the rear, but what ship would possible ever move backwards? The heads began to eat the wood... eat the blades of those who attacked them... eat the men.
The tentacles in front of Duillin splashed in two... or it seemed that it did... quickly several heads connected each other again, and the tentacle flew right at his face.
What wasn't noticed that an another tentacle from behind was about to eat his back.
Posted by: Jenia on Thursday February 21st, 2008
~Glimmer Spire top, Spire City, Phoenicia~
Indher smiled.
"I see... So he made it after all. Perhaps that shadow was his spawn? In any case... Kelmarr, I thank you for your cooporation. Please remain here until he has been dealt with..."
She sighed and began formulating a plan.
Should they move to kill?
No.
Why kill when one can capture and study? And if someone dies in the process, she could just revive them again.
Won't be a big deal.
"Echo Elphos... The thing is near the west coast, in the forest. Do try to bring it alive if it is reasonably practical!"
She snickered at what she had just said.
"Echo Shuichi... A demon thing was spotted near the west coast, in the forest. I know you like to study that stuff, so get to it! Elphos might need help."
She put her hand away from the orb and sat down.
"Now... We wait."
~Throne Room~
Kerig stood up as Kronos had materialized the binding glyph for him.
"Hey, it really is pretty! But there are some many excess parts here that aern't even used for actual binding but-"
"Who cares! Just reach out already!"
Kerig sighed and reached out with his blackened hand.
Dense, black mist began to pour from within his sleeve. It circled around the hand and then floated towards the glyph, eventually enveloping it.
With the mist now connecting Kerig to the now hard-to-see glyph, Kerig pouted.
"...And?"
"I'm done. What did you expect, a light show? You'll get plenty of it when I fire. Speaking of which..."
Kerig turned to Kronos.
"Yes, that's right! When does Welly start sucking the-"
"FIRE! When do I FIRE!"
Posted by: Mikado on Friday February 22nd, 2008
~Glimmer Spire top, Spire City, Phoenicia~
Shuichi tilted his head.
- "Hey, you don't need to use that sphere if I'm standing just behind you! Anyway, why should I go? This is more your case than mine, so you not going must mean it's dangerous. I'm not going if you won't."
Demons... he had enough data on them anyway. Come on, almost everyone is a demon or something.
Posted by: Ted Der on Friday February 22nd, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian Coast -
Suddenly the Shadowshot halted. Everyone was flung to the floor. Silence followed as Akran's crew slowly got to their feet. A weird gnawing noise was then heard.
"W-what's that?" Martin stuttered. Akran looked over the side. The tentacles were eating his ship!
"Ahhh!" Akran yelled, "Shoot the tentacles! They're eating the ship!"
A bunch of men rushed to the front of the ship and started to hack away at the slimy creatures. They retaliated quickly out of harms way. Fortunately this let the ship move forward a bit. The crew, now realizing how they could escape, all took their swords and waved them from the sides at the tentacles. Many of them were hit, but had to regrow their heads which gave the Shadowshot time to move.
"HA!" Martin shouted in victory as he took the wheel and swiveled it around breaking free from the remaining tentacles, "On our way then, aye captain?"
"Sorry, a little busy at the moment!" Akran countered, shooting away with his Raven Bow. At last! They were finally getting away from the South-Eastern battle. Hopefully the ship ahead knew what it was doing and where it was going.
Posted by: D. Ein on Friday February 22nd, 2008
- South-Eastern shore of the Dark Continent -
-"Goddamnit!!", Ein shouted. "Why won't these people just let go?! It's all your goddamn fault for provoking the Kandies! Be thankful they didn't send a captain your way, or else we wouldn't even get this far into the water!"
He threw his weapon on the ground, focusing on his skin-carved glyphs instead. Swiping his hand over several of them, he conjured a fairly well-formed (for Ein's standards) fireball, blasting off a tip of the tentacle. The tip regenerated near-instantaneously, sprouting several other tentacles from the breach.
-"This is going to take forever," growled Ein while tracing his central chest glyph over with his finger. "If we're going to do this at all, we'd best do it right. I'm going to get rid of these things so we can finally move on."
With those words, Ein lunged for his weapon, hastily drawing a spear out of it while narrowly avoiding a squirming tentacle. He fought the perverse-looking thing off, forcing it to withdraw and attack another target. Using the time he'd been granted, he quickly created another glyph on the wooden floor of the ship. After crossing the final circle of the symbol, he collected a glowing orb just off the wooden surface. It looked to have been made of the same substance (?) as the spear he'd inbued to kill the Necrolytes previously. After a quick stretch, Ein threw the orb at the tentacle.
The whole squirming contraption suddenly fell to pieces, releasing the ships - while Ein fell to the ground, bleeding from his chest... again. The bleeding stopped a lot faster this time, allowing Ein to remain conscious. After dusting himself off, he rushed to the back of the ship.
-"Finally! Now, we have to get away from here as far and as soon as possible! They can still send a captain!"
With those words, he leaped over the edge of the ship, diving underwater.
There, he found the keel of the ship. After several minutes' worth of work, and a few quick dives to the surface for air, he covered quite a large area of the rudder with his glyphs - which immediately started taking on the colour of the deep greenish blue, same as the surrounding waters. Seeing this, Ein rushed to the surface, and climbed back aboard the vessel.
A strong jerk from underneath pushed the ship forward at a scary speed, cracking the masts almost to the point of breaking. Quickly, the continent was finally out of the view...
Bit more relaxed, Ein made his way up to the cargo compartment, where he threw the previously unconscious Necrolyte... who was currently trying to scratch her way through the hull with her nails.
-"Alive and awake, I see." Ein's quiet approach made the Necrolyte spin around in surprise. "Good. Don't worry, you don't have to escape like that... We're going to take you back there anyway. Whether it will be in chains or in several boxes is up to you - just answer a few questions for me."
- Forest -
The girl coughed a few more times, gasping for air. From her incoherent whisperings, it seemed like she was asking for water...
- Throne Room -
-"Ooh, heheheh, an active one, aren't you, Weloss?", I giggled in a completely unmanly way. "Unfortunately, I can't fire the Hammer several times in rapid succession. Wouldn't want it to break. Although... We could fire off a smaller beam, just to see how it works... What sayeth thee?"
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday February 23rd, 2008
- Duilin's ship -
Duilin strafed to the left avoiding the flying tentacle but was then strangled from behind by the other tentacle. He shot a lightning bolt from his hand at the other one, blowing another chunk off, but again it regenerated into more tentacles. He grabbed the tentacle around his neck trying to rip it off, but there was no luck.
However, Ein's spell caused the tentacles to let go of Duilin and he was safe. He coughed harshly for a little while, but got his breathing back.
"Good work, Ein." Duilin congratulated him. He then noticed Ein had also done some magical enhancements to the ship. "Hmm, I don't recall giving you permission to mess around with my ship." He said to him. "I know you're just trying to help, but I'm sure if any captains come at us, I'll be able to handle him. I'm aware that the Kandarin Captains are very powerful, but I'm the High General of Helternian Army."
He then took a look and noticed that Terian was out of sight.
"Although, this little modification is nice. So thank you anyways." Duilin added.
Not to long the ship arrived back at Helternia. One of the few nice places left. Although it wasn't as nice looking as Tjed or Arosis, it was still a homely place. The continent, or rather island, only had a few settlements on it. At last the ship docked in Rivertown.
--- ---
- Forest -
"She needs some water." Sienna looked around. "I think there's a pond or something nearby. Puco, maybe you could try and heal her while I get her some water."
She got up and then left to get some water.
--- ---
- ???? -
"No! Leave us alone!"
"Never! BACK TO HELL WITH YOU DEMONS!!"
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday February 23rd, 2008
- Glimmer Spire top, Spire City, Phoenicia -
The skunk grinned innocently, displaying the tips of his fang-like incisors as he placed a hand behind his head. "Haa, well actually I have a few errands to run, so if you'll excuse me..."
He began to shuffle backwards as Shuichi began to argue with Lerfina. Best to sneak out now while they're distracted. Kelmarr decided that it would probably be safer to get out of the crazy-lightning-strike-death-cat-woman's sight before she started telling him to do more things. He certainly did not want to get caught up in some demon hunt.
- Phoencian Forest -
Well now, he was full.
Melface leaned back on the tree branch, listening to the leaves rustle in the wind. Ugh. If only it were dreary, it'd be perfect. Of course the sun had to come out and shine on an otherwise perfect day. Lousy Gaian weather...
He'd probably stay here for a while. He rather liked the taste of the magic-based souls here. He reckoned a few decades of this would evolve him into a rather fearsome demon warrior with catastrophic powers of darkness. And possibly doom. Ohhh... the thought made his body tingle!
Resting his head in his hands, he looked up through the green boughs at some black bird. Some sort of raven, with red glowing eyes...
Well that was different.
"WhErE . . . ?"
Huh? He scowled at the thing and met its stare. "Where what? Are you trying to intimidate me, little thing?"
"kEy . . . ReViVe . . . KnOw . . . WhErE?"
"Tell me what created you and why you were sent, else I shall consume you soul. And speak in coherent sentences, blast it." Actually the thing smelled horrible. It wasn't a mortal, or a demon for that matter. Some wisp of blackness... It didn't have a soul to eat.
The raven opened its maw and cawwed so loudly the leaves from the tree blasted off. Spreading its wings, it dive-bombed the child-like demon. Melface disappeared in a flash and the tree split in half from the impact.
He materialized some twenty feet away, hovering above the ground with a gargantuan scythe slung over his shoulder as the tree collapsed on top of the little monster. "You miserable wisp! How dare you strike at your better!" His face contorted into a scowl. He should be able to see the thing's life energy under the tree, but could not. Definitely not a demon or a spirit...
The branches upon the ground exploded and a much larger creature burst into the air. A black griffin soured skyward, its raven head screaming as crimson eyes bore down upon him. Melface jumped out of the way as the ground exploded from some unseen attack.
Flying upward himself, he brought the scythe to his side as he twisted around an orb of blackness the monster sent his way. Blast! If it had a mind, he could get in it and scare it to death like he did all his victims. But as it stood, it didn't even have that!
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Saturday February 23rd, 2008
//My posts might not be as frequent anymore. I'm just super busy again. I'll post when I can though!
- Rivertown, Helternia -
"Is this the place...?" Karma asked Jacobie quietly.
"I think so," He responded, "It's Helternia, alright... I haven't been here before, but it looks like everyone says it does. Nice and normal. Not too many places like this around anymore." Jacobie helped Karma off the ship and onto land. He looked around the coast for a bit.
"Well, it's not as nice as Ariosis, but it's a hell of a lot better than the arctic!" He chuckled slightly at his own joke, then stretched and followed behind Duilin, Karma following behind Jacobie.
"Thanks for letting us on, by the way. I'll do my best, and I know Karma will, too. She's a bit shy, but a damn-good healer. I'm sure we'll make a good addition!" Jacobie bowed, and Karma followed after him, however hers was a bit more timid.
Posted by: D. Ein on Saturday February 23rd, 2008
- Duilin's ship -
-"My dear friend," Ein hissed with a forced smile. "Have you ever fought a captain before? Have you? Because if you haven't, if I were you, I'd thank me for getting you away from that place as fast as I could. I had the... occasion of training with a person who was recently promoted to a captain rank. Let me tell you this: at the time of our parting, she could single-handedly slay a squad of 30 men without as much as being seen. Her weapon is at least eight times smaller than mine, and yet the gods gifted her with incredible dexterity: she could hit anything eight times over a mile away, while I would strike but once - and after several minutes of careful aiming. Why am I telling you this?"
Pausing for a second, Ein smashed the Necrolyte tied up in front of him on the cheek with the blunt end of a spear he was holding. The force of the impact managed to draw blood, spraying it on the wall behind.
-"Because then, only after two years of nonstop rigorous training was she even considered to be worthy of examination for a captain's promotion. Those ten individuals are not to be trifled with. Trust me. You can pin any rank on yourself, puffing your chest and ordering people around - but that doesn't make you strong. High General, Supreme Marshal, Emperor of Everything Possible - those are just words. The question is -- do you have the strength to back those words up?"
The Necrolyte spat blood in Ein's general direction. That was enough to once again gain his attention. With a brief "excuse me", he turned to the captive, drawing his spear back like for a golf swing - and with a whizzing noise, crashed the metal right into the Necrolyte's temple. This time, the strength of the swing almost bent the metallic shaft of the projectile. The victim's head fell limply to the side. Seeing this, Ein turned his attention back to Duilin.
-"Don't get me wrong: I know all about your successful defeat of the tyrant's hatchling, Jayce. Obviously, I will not idly dismiss you as an incompetent amateur, barely strong enough to swing his own weapon. I never said you were weak, you proved yourself otherwise on that battlefield there. What I am saying, though, is that a captain is simply stronger. Your super-shield that you used to capture the Draken and hold him off long enough for Draven to finish him? Useless. How can you shield yourself against a projectile that doesn't really exist, and materializes only when it is inches away from your throat?"
After kicking the Necrolyte around a bit to bring her back to a conscious state, Ein continued.
-"I'm not trying to be smart here. I'm simply asking you put your trust in me for matters concerning the Sovereignty's inner workings. I spent no less than a year in training there - long story - as well as haunting their captured towns for the last three years. I know my way around their military infrastructure. Anywho... back to more pressing matters."
Ein knelt in front of the Necrolyte's blooded face, slapping her around slightly.
-"Now, do tell that there man everything you've told me."
-"Cecylia," the Necrolyte coughed. "Is name. Sent by captain pani Flora Goethe. Ordered to repel intruders. Pan Ein killed bratja Necrolytes... I wake up in this ship."
With a sigh, Ein stood up.
-"Unfortunately, that's all I could beat out of her. I don't -"
-"Khekh, khekh, khekh..." More blood spilt on the wooden floor. "Pan Ein should know that you aren't going to extract anything out of me like that. Then again... Pan Ein is known among Necrolytes for his exemplary stupidity... You there, pan krilaty..." //krilaty = winged\\
She looked at Duilin. Her eyes were stunningly clear, despite her rather grave state.
-"Why don't you come down here for a second? We'll show you a secret that pan Ein seems to have forgotten..."
Posted by: Dude Man on Sunday February 24th, 2008
- Duilin's ship, docked at Rivertown -
"I have earn this rank." Duilin stated. "I've been fighting since you were a child, and since most of those captains were too. No, I have not had the honour to fight them, but trust me all I'm worried about is a fair fight. But I won't be mad at you or anything. Just, notice that we 'good guys' have some badasses too."
Duilin then looked at the Necrolyte. "I can barely understand what she's saying." He said. He then knelt down, to eye level with her. "So you have a secret? Well, I would honestly love to know what that secret is. So, why don't you tell me, and then maybe after that you can tell Ein here the information he wants." Duilin gave her a stern look. "Hmm?"
Posted by: Mikado on Sunday February 24th, 2008
~ ~ Island ~ ~
An hard crash.
The enormous doors swung open with a hard crash. In the midst of them a single figure stood, he was a little short with a huge smile filling his face. Two swords were lying on his back, shining in the light that entered the dark building.
A breeze entered.
- "I see. So ya are the dudes that are responsible for the corruption, eh?" Smiech asked with a trembling tone, not trembling of fear but of anger. He was walking closer towards the triangle table, were Frederic was sitting with his back to him and the two others eyed him.
- "Oooh... so a little general found out?"
Ray had a sinister voice, and she held her hands under the table.
- "Indeed it was us, and now you found out we need to eliminate you." Chaud had a more formal voice.
Frederic didn't turn.
- "Don't go being cocky, eh? I'm here to kill you guys, he!"
He began to run, and drew one of his swords with his right hand. A few metres. A few metres were between him and the white suited guy, Frederic.
- "Nah, YOU don't get cocky."
Ray put her hands on the table, revealing a enormous gun she was hiding. "Die."
A ear breaking bang, but Smiech evaded.
He ducked while running to evade several more shots. "You won't hit my like tha' bitch!"
But then a black red flame ignited above the table, and disappeared as soon as it appeared. However it left three huge spears flying, and they were pointing at Smeich.
"Pierce." Chaud's voice was definitive.
The spears rushed at Smiech with speed of a bullet. Smiech dashed side ways evading one, he heard an another shot and felt and incredible pain in his left foot. Confused and in pain he was hit by both the spears in his right shoulder.
- "This... won't stop me!!" With rage he stood up, and ran at Ray. He deflected several more shots, and ducked when he saw the flame summoning maces now.
He threw his blade at the table, but it got deflected by the maces and more gun shots.
- "It's over fool, we'll kill you sitting!" Ray was laughing but when she looked at were Smiech was she only saw a pool of blood. Here eyes widened, and she looked upwards. There he was, Smiech.
Now only to aim... and shoot. What!? An another guy was there too! He was holding a purple ball... it looked made of electricity.
- "Crap!" Frederic spoke finally when Tron smashed the ball into the midst of the table.
He jumped back and the others followed him. At first it seemed that nothing happened... but then a flash and an explosion.
You could feel the earth around the table rise, and dust was flying everywhere. The flash was eyes blinding, and pieces of the roof were bashed into the earth digging in for several feet.
Pieces of metal were flying everywhere, and the sun shone into the building. It didn't get lighter however, for the thick dust made the place even more dark.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
More shots, more blood. Tron was gliding backwards, guarding himself against the punches of Frederic. Both didn't use any weapons nor powers. A high punch from Frederic, but Tron caught it and threw him to himself. With his other hand he loaded a purple ball, and bashed it into Frederic's neck. Frederic however kicked Tron in his stomach and the attack missed. Then the ground under them exploded and both flied out of each other. Once more. Earth was flying everywhere. Ray was shooting, even though she couldn't see properly in the dust.
The purple balls were shining bright enough she though.
Tron loaded even more mini balls between all of his fingers, and threw them into the direction of the shots. The all exploded like granates mid way, being hit by more gunshots. Whether Tron was guarding against the shots with the balls or the shots were to stop the balls was unknown.
Explosions filled the room, and darkness was surrounding Smiech.
"Eh..." He cough blood a few times, and looked in front of him. A vague shade of Chaud was moving towards him. "He probably doesn't see me well too..." But I can use my power...
"This is my chance... the last hope." Smiech felt his body hurt but it didn't matter. He sniffed a few times, and drew his blade dashing at Chaud. He could sniff the area around him, his eyes weren't important as long as he could smell.
The slash was aimed at the head... *clash*
A sword reflected the attack.
- "How..." Smiech was broken. "How could you guard..."
And another sword dashed into his side...
- "I can summon objects as you see... and I can give them a single command. Whether I know what happens or not, they do it. I commanded the sword to "guard" so it guarded. Swords don't need to see nor have any other senses."
Smiech felt sudden hotness around him... Black and red flames surrounded him, and revealed twenty swords around him all pointing at his neck.
- "I can summon within two metres... so being a short range fighter is you end. Kill."
The swords dashed at Smiech.
All of them.
Would he die?
Die? Disappear? So long he fought for safety of his country.. and now he was to die??
die???? die??????????????? DIE?????????????????????????????
He dashed. Rised his hand. His last sword, was infront of him. Flash. Clash.
He smelled blood, he heard flesh. He felt someone being pierced by swords... but was it him? He couldn't tell. He only dashed forwards. Through the round glasses of Chaud he could see fear.
He couldn't talk, and just dashed forward. Clash. He didn't have a leg anymore. Oh well, he didn't need it to pierce that man. Flash. He saw his hand flying in front of his face. Five swords pierced his bag, cutting it in two.
A little more... only ... a little...
Everything was red. Red. RED. DASH.
DASH forward. DASH forward! FORWARD! FORWARD DASH!
A sword pierce his face. He couldn't see. He didn't need to. He fell.. into the body of Chaud...
- "AAAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAAA-aAAAAAAAARRRGHhHHH!"
Chaud felt the cold of steel in a long time... the death body of Smiech was lying on him with his sword into his stomach.
"No! NO! Nooo-ooh!" He took on of the swords, and cut Smiech of him.
"What... is thiiiiSSSSS!??" The took out the sword, and blood rushed out.
"WhaaaAAA-AAAAAAAA---AAAaaaaT!!!"
Tron could finally see what happened.
He saw Chaud bleeding, and for a short moment a smile was seen on his face. But then he noticed Smiech. Lying in pieces on the earth.
In pieces...
on the earth...
- "Smiech... what... what?"
A Shot it him in his side, and he saw the white suited man in front of him.
Red and black flames appeared around him, and soon he was chained to the earth.
- "You'll see him in heaven."
The man began to glow... glow, and grow. He grew and rose. A gaint sword was standing now in his place. It was bigger than the roof and standing in its hilt.
- "Byee~!" Ray said it with a childish voice, and pushed the blade. The blade fell, and even though Tron struggled, and got free... it as to late. The blade bashed him into the earth...
...
Frederic morphed back, and was standing with Ray in front of Chaud, who was looking at his wound.
- "You made a fuss about nothing."
- "Not nothing... this scar won't leave me anymore... these generals are worthy of their names. Making me use a object I summoned... what now?"
- "They though they stopped us, but no. I'll take this as a sign. We are moving out. Let the operation start!"
He walked out, and so did Ray. Chaud only looked at his wound and at the blade that pierced him.
That night all over the country rumours were spread. Rumours of Silver Root, both good and bad.
But maybe the versions were different, but the meaning was equal.
The two giant countries fighting... the one who Silver Root would join with would become the winner. Whether this was true or fake was unknown, it were just rumours after all. But fear fell over the peasants of the Federation while the people of The sovereignty felt better.
For the rumors said that Silver Root would join with the sovereignty, and bring darkness on the lands.
Hope and fear. Both were now freely flying across Gaian...
Somewhere... a crow screamed.
~ ~ South-Eastern Kandarinian Coast ~ ~
Czernn sighted and squatted down.
- "If ja counted right, only about fifteen lub something managed to escape. Well if oni came with a huge army here, leaving with these nummers, it seems that they lost."
He looked at both necrolytes standing in a field full of corpses.
- "Now so many died, so few fled, what do my do now?"
With a short breeze all bodies changed into dust. If someone was still alive to see it, he would doubt that Czernn is but a normal person. His empty eyes were deep... and he looked like a statue that was invincible.
At his desk back in his base an another letter of invitation to become a captain appeared. And once again his maid burned it, just like always, as Czernn asked her to...
~ ~ what forest? ~ ~
- "Wait!!"
Puco raised her hands and clapped.
- "Puco can make water out of air!" She frozer the water in the air added some minerals from the earth to it, and soon she had a flying ball of water around her.
- "Here you go Nee-chan! Drink drink drink it!"
The ball flew towards the mouth of the girl who started to drink.
- "And only Sienny-chan can heal!"
~ ~Church of death ~ ~
The robed men went to the center of the church and began drawing a huge circle... soon... soon...
... over ninethousand demons would be summoned.
Posted by: Jenia on Sunday February 24th, 2008
~Glimmer Spire Top,Spire City, Phoenicia~
Indher shook her head.
"Then, I'll go, and YOU watch this guy."
Well, someone did have to do it. Completely forgetting the shortcut and ignoring Kelmarr's words, she dashed down the stairs.
~Forest in the outskirts of Spire City~
Elphos and three of Indher's students jumped as soon as they heard what sounded like a tree falling. They were all carrying handmade charms for negating demonic powers, but they all knew that there was very little they could do about brute force.
"I'll distract him, you draw a seal around us."
"But, Master Elphos! You have never died before! Shouldn't we..."
"I'm NOT going there to die. Now get to it!"
The three nodded and split, beggining to draw a large circle on the ground.
Elphos proceeded to venture towards the noise.
And what he saw shocked him - A mere child wielding a simple yet heavy-looking farming tool against a demonic, winged monster.
"Kid, look out!" he called out as he threw a lightning bolt at the black monstrosity from a rune he had tatooed on the back of his hand.
Something about the child seemed weird to him, but he didn't think now was the time to ponder these things.
~Throne Room~
Kerig smiled pleasantly. It has been a while since he enjoyed conversation with someone other than Weloss.
"Ah, Crow-Nose! Don't be silly. Weloss' energy doesn't heat up things. In fact, it might freeze the-"
"Only at over 1%, Kerig. And I'm not even using 0.01% of my power yet. In any case, Kronos, I can hold back, if needed... Though I'd honestly rather not unless it actually poses a problem."
It was not obvious on the outside, but Kerig could sense it by the rumblings deep within him -
Weloss was growing impatient...
Posted by: Mikado on Sunday February 24th, 2008
~ ~ Glimmer Spire Top,Spire City, Phoenicia ~ ~
Better than dying I guess...
Shuichi miraculously appeared in front of Kelmarr.
- "You are the reason why I don't have to fight, so you better stay here. If you behave properly you won't have to deal with this demon either, mister rare items dealer."
Posted by: Xorlak on Sunday February 24th, 2008
- Glimmer Spire top, Spire City, Phoenicia -
Kelmarr sat down on the wall at the edge of the tower and folded his arms. "Fine..." He said, grumbling. At least he didn't have to wait with the crazy cat lady.
- Phoencian Forest -
"Huh?" Melface turned as a bolt of lightning snaked past him. The black griffin was focused on its mad dash, so was promptly struck by the spell head on. It flew out of the sky and crashed into a tree.
"Fool!" The child looked back and yelled with an unexpectedly deep and refined voice. "Mind your own business, humans." With that, he dropped to the ground and ran full force at the stunned black griffin, scythe raised above his head. A downward cleave split the ground in two along with the tree, but by then the griffin soared in the air once more.
The monster screeched again, and a swirling orb of violet energy burst from its mouth. Melface sneered and cut the air horizontally, the impact with the orb sending it spiraling back towards its creator. The griffin flapped its wings once, then smacked the energy with its foreclaw, sending back a second time. The two hit the ball of destruction back and forth a number of times until at last the griffin was struck with its own attack, and crashed into the ground.
With a series of short hops, Melface took the scythe in both hands and jammed the point of the blade square into the monster's head like a pickaxe. A bright flash lit the area and the black monster dissipated with a puff of smoke and midnight feathers.
Melface turned to the human who cast the lightning spell, heaving the scythe upon his shoulder with a single hand. Blast... he was too full to consume them all. And it would be a waste to kill them when he could just eat them later... They would put up a fight, anyway.
The child-like demon grinned, the pupils of his eyes twinkling red. "And now I take my leave. Good day, gentlefolk."
Then he was gone, as if he were never there. In his place sat an adolescent off-white-furred fox, head angled to the side and grinning mischievously. With a serious of short bounds, the animal ducked for the thick underbrush...
Posted by: D. Ein on Sunday February 24th, 2008
- Forest -
The girl savagely leaped at the water ball, drinking up nearly three-quarters of it. She took some of the remaining water and poured it over her face, washing off some of the blood and grime. Looking slightly more refreshed, she sat down next to a tree.
-"No words come to mind to express my gratitude to you for saving me... Just... thank you... May I know the names of my saviours? Mine's Lily..."
- Duilin's Ship -
-"Good..." The Necrolyte seemed to smile a bit. "Now, as I'm sure krylaty pan is aware, all Kandarinians have a standard-issue protection amulet to replace heavy metal armour. If krylaty pan wants to find out the secret, then he'll have to take mine off."
This time, she smiled at Ein.
-"Or maybe pan Ein wants to do it?"
-"Keep hissing, snake," Ein spat. "Duilin, don't touch her. That amulet might bite off your hand or something. Let me do it."
He knelt down in front of Cecylia, drawing her bloodstained clothes apart to reveal the protection amulet, with its teeth sunken deep in the pale skin. Ein carefully pulled it off...
...revealing a deep hole in the Necrolyte's chest. Right where the heart should be.
-"Wh-what the hell?!" Ein was visibly taken aback by this apparently new discovery. "They didn't - didn't do that the last time I killed one of you!!"
-"But that's not all, good pan Ein. Why don't you be a man and reach into the hole?"
-"And have something bite half my hand off?! Like hell!"
Cecylia sighed.
-"Honestly, if I wanted something to bite you, I would've done it the second you took that amulet off. Now, put your hand into me..."
With a disgusted shudder, Ein reached inside, pulling out a black gem.
-"This is your secret? What is this?"
-"That, pan Ein, is immortality. Kill me all you want - I will be back, again, and again, and again... Speaking of which - I heard they found pani Amaya's corpse and made a Necrolyte out of her. You ought to come visit sometime, pan Ein--"
The Necrolyte was cut off by a swift sweep of the spear to the head. Ein continued clubbing her until he made sure she wasn't breathing.
-"Damn bitch," he muttered. "Wouldn't've gotten any more information out of her anyway. Wait, wha-?"
The black gem turned to dust in his hand - as did the dead Necrolyte's body.
-"Oh...........kaaaaaaay....."
- Throne room -
-"Alright, Weloss, if you're so itchy to fire it off, shoot it at some small remote farm. I want to see the effects of your proposition."
Posted by: Coriko on Sunday February 24th, 2008
-Shaad Oenn-
Druid waited in the shadows till it was safe to pass by. Thud thud thud thud. The beast's army marched by. They were on full alert now that Druid and Baird were free.
After Druid had rested he lifted Baird and started to head over to the door. However the door had been barricaded by a large group of guards. One single guard thought that instead of confronting Druid he would go to get reinforcements. The guard had returned with twenty other guards as reinforcements and they blocked the only door out of the jail. They were keeping Druid trapped till the Beats arrived to decide his fate.
Druid was too drained of energy to fight his way out. He sat in that hallway just outside his cell to think, Baird still unconscious beside him. Drip drip drip drip. Druid looked up to see the water leaking through the roof. He saw the pool of water on the ground had not grown at all. Druid tried to think but the incessant drip drip drip.
Then Druid had a brilliant thought. He hurried over to the puddle to observe the habits of the water. From the roof it dripped and collected in this puddle. For three years it dripped. For three years the never ending drip was all that Druid ever heard. So why such a small puddle? He put his finger in it but there was no hole for it to drain out of. He did see a small but steady stream of water flow from the puddle.
He crawled alongside the stream of water. There would have to drain somewhere otherwise the jail would be flooded. He moved alongside this minute rivulet on hands and knees hoping for freedom.
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday February 25th, 2008
- South-Eastern Terian, Forest -
"Oh, silly me." Sienna laughed. "How could I have forgotten about that."
She then sat down next Lily. "My name is Sienna. This is my friend Puco. We're travellers. We're trying to find the general of the Helternian Army, Duilin Talonscar. He's my brother. Well, half brother, apparently we only share the same mother."
She laughed.
"Sorry, I'm rambling a bit. Anyways, you look hurt, let me heal you. Don't worry, just relax. It won't hurt a bit."
She held Lily's hand, and it began to glow a light green and the glow flowed through Lily, healing her wounds. "It's a simple healing spell."
"So, how did you get here? What's your story?" She asked.
--- ---
- Duilin's ship -
"Wasn't that a little harsh?" Duilin questioned.
Marshall sighed, he remembered how hart broken Ein was, when Amaya was killed, and now she's a Necrolyte. He stepped next to his friend "Are you going to be okay Ein?" He asked.
"I guess she must have touched a soft spot there or something, which I understand. But you still shouldn't have done that though, Ein. If she'll be back, killing her just simply let her go, it would have been better if we kept her in captivity. I have methods on interrogating immortals. So please don't do something like that again."
Duilin crossed his arms and paced by Ein, and continued to talk.
"I know you don't have to follow my 'orders'. But if you really wanted to get revenge on her then it would have been best to not kill her."
The general uncrossed his arms, and looked back at Ein. "Well, now that the ship is docked, we should be heading off.
Posted by: D. Ein on Monday February 25th, 2008
- Duilin's ship -
-"Like hell," Ein snarled. "Necrolytes aren't mortals. They also, as you assumed, aren't immortals. They aren't people. Interrogate a chair all you want, it still won't tell you anything."
He sighed, then headed up outside of the cargo hold. He needed some fresh air... and besides, they were already on anchor, leaving the ship. They should be relaxing to mead and song soon enough... for the first time in weeks, it seems. He also needed some new clothes - a bare, heavily tattooed chest isn't going to get him anywhere in a polite company.
-"Come, Marshall," he yelled in the general direction of the ship. "Let's find us a tavern. We need some catching up to do."
- Forest -
Lily relaxed to the pleasing tingling sensation of the healing spell scattering across her body.
-"Thank you once again," she sighed. "I don't have that exciting of a story... Me and my parents are running from Kandarin. We left our town when it was taken by the Sovereign, and we've been travelling ever since. No matter what place we would've stopped at, it was quickly conquered. It's like one of us had a bad star over us - no matter where we went, trouble quickly followed.
"But this time was the worst. I mean, we've seen things... massacres... but it was never this bad. They never used the Hammer on a town as small as that. I've heard... stories about that weapon before... Entire capitals vanishing in a flash of light. But we must be miles away from the city, and it still tore trees around us. That power is just... unholy. It should not exist. Only the gods should be able to control Sol.
"And now I don't know whether to be happy or sad. My parents were taken by Kandarin shortly before the city was burnt down. Are they still alive? I hope so... but the one taking them... the one giving the order... was captain Flora Goethe. I saw several similar orders like that - for taking people into Kandarin against their will. Is she looking for someone?"
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday February 25th, 2008
- Rivertown, Helternia -
"Regardless Ein, you still released a prisoner." Duilin said. "Now you can all take a quick break. I am going back to Fort Klawvorn, I want to all to meet me there in two hours." And then with that he exited the ship and headed through the town.
"Don't worry about him." Marshall said to Ein about Duilin. "But yeah, I'm up for a drink or two...maybe more. I just lost a good friend of mine in that battle." He said sadly, and then lead Ein to the local tavern.
--- ---
- South-Eastern Terian, Forest -
"Oh, that's too bad." Sienna said sympathetically. "So the Hammer? I assume that must be that giant beam of light, we've seen destroying cities."
She looked to Puco. "Maybe we should help her find her parents. I'd like to find Duilin, but she really needs our help."
--- ---
- Rivertown, Tavern -
Marshall and Ein sat down at the bar of the Tavern. Marshall motioned to the barkeep to bring them some drinks.
"So, Ein. What have you been doing these past...what was it, three...four years?" Marshall asked his old friend.
Posted by: Coriko on Monday February 25th, 2008
-Shaad Oenn-
The stream of water flowed back and forth on the stone jail floor. It weaved in between pebbles and rocks into crevices and back out. Druid crawled alongside it intently for a few minutes. If he ever lost it he would double back and follow it closely. Sometimes it weaned down to just a trickle and Druid had to have his face centimetres from the floor to follow it.
After several arduous minutes of following this rain water Druid found out where it lead. He followed the water till it slipped under a big metal door. Druid raised his head and stumbled backwards after he saw where he was. This huge door had window. It was huge and metal with huge metal bolts and a huge metal door knob. There was rust around the hinges of the door. He studied the door and all the evils that were trapped behind it. Druid took a deep breath and twisted the handle and pushed open the door, entering into the foreboding darkness.
The door opened to horrors of unspeakable evil. Children hung from walls drained of blood, women lay on tables eviscerated, piles of limbs lay in corners. Druid threw up, not from the visual stimulation but the stench. He had to cover his mouth and nose. He felt the little stream trickle against his foot. He knelt down to see it drained into some sort of sewer gate.
"BAIRD!" Druid ran back to his friend. "We're getting out of here." He picked up his friend. His legs gave out a little but he was able to stabilize himself before the two teetered over. Druid moved as fast as he could towards the tunnel. He laid Baird down and lifted the gate up. It was very heavy and Druid struggled but finally managed to pull it open. Druid grabbed Baird and they made there way into the tunnels. He couldn't see because t was dark however he had a feeling he didn't want to. He trudged through the thick waters that rushed in the sewers.
Druid and Baird emerged several blocks away from the prison. They crouched in the shadows till it was safe to pass by. Thud thud thud thud. The beast's army marched by. They were on full alert now that Druid and Baird were free. Baird was waking up. Druid knelt beside him in the shadows and explained the situation. Moments later the two huddled in the dark. Another group of soldiers thundered past. Thud thud thud thud.
"What now Druid?" Baird asked his friend perplexed at the spontaneity of his leader.
"We go after the Beast!" Druid ran from behind the shadows to the group of guards. He caught them by surprise and half were dead before they realized what happened. Baird watched as his leader skilfully finished of the battalion of soldiers. Druid returned holding armour and weapons. "This isn't to hide," Druid addressed the perplexed Baird. "We are not sneaking into their camps to ambush them for it would be suicide. We are going to find any allies we can and raise a resistance to take down this monster. W may not need it but it is always good to have backup. This armour and weapons will protect us until we are back to full health. Now, we must find you a doctor. Come on." Druid threw on his armour and ran off behind some buildings. Baird put his on and followed closely after.
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Monday February 25th, 2008
- Rivertown, Tavern -
"Oi, drink all you want, guys; Drinks are on me!" Jacobie walked into the bar with Karma and took a seat on a stool in front of the bar counter.
"This ought to cover it." Jacobie took his pouch of coins off his belt and emptied around fifty large, gold coins on the counter. "Fifty large pieces. That's more than generous on my part." The barkeep took the coins with a large grin on his face.
"Quite kind of you, sir! I'll keep 'em comin'." He then grabbed a two tankards and filled them up for Ein and Marshall. He left them on the barcounter and nodded at them, then filled up another for Jacobie. He grabbed the tankard and chugged it in less than five seconds.
"Bah, what is this light stuff!? Get me some heavy mead!"
"Right away, sir! The barkeep took the tankard and filled it up with a more orange-gold liquid. It was a fine batch of Northern Mountain Mead. Jacobie took the tankard and sipped it to taste. He then chugged it all down just as quick as the first tankard of ale and slammed the tankard down on the counter.
"Now that's what I was lookin' fer. Great stuff! Give me another!" The barkeep took the tankard from the lizard and filled it again with the Mountain Mead and let him have it again, and again he swiftly glugged down the mead. He put the tankard down and got up, stretching and cracking his back a bit.
"That oughta do fer me. Awrighty! Let's get going Karma." The lizardman bowed and then left the tavern. He held onto Karma's hand and caught Duilin before he reached the Fort; Fort Klawvorn.
"General Duilin, did you happen to catch a glimps of General Doriana's ship? I don't know, but I have that feeling that she might've not made it... Maybe it's just me... or the mead..."
- Terian, southeastern coast -
The army was dead... no amount of holy magic could have even hoped to stand up against the power of the undead and the almighty captains of the Kandarinian Soverignty. The corpses soon began to rise once again as the Necrolytes rose the dead and used their bodies for their own purposes. The only ones who were still alive were Doriana, Geomarcus, and Firstman... atleast he wasn't touched by them. They escaped the continent just after Duilin's ship had. With only ten good fighters left, excluding the leaders, there wasn't much chance left for them...
Geomarcus still held the bag with Firstman in it. "Firstman will have a good burial; I will see to that!"
"Please, Lieutenant... don't talk about burials right now..." Doriana could only look at her feet. Her army was all but wiped out completely, with the exception of eleven soldiers.
"With all due respect, General... these things happen. This is war. You must understand that these men were willing to die for our cause-"
"What is 'our cause' anyway? What does that mean to you, Geomarcus? To me, it doesn't mean jack-shit! I only lead this army because Aaron wanted me to!"
"I understand how you must feel but-"
"Just forget it, Geomarcus. Drop it. You're horrible at making me feel better, alright? Shut up and stear us to Ariosis."
"... y-yes, general..."
- Dranniville, Gadowran Stronghold -
"Alright, now this is more like it. The barrier looks like it's generating quite nicely!" Aaron stood and observed as the barrier continued to enlarge and tighten together like a great blue orb. It shocked around its self like a great big field of energy.
"How much longer, then? Looks damn-near done!"
"We're just over half-way, sir. This is nothing, nor will this barrier hold anything..."
"Bah, whatever. Keep charging, anyways!"
(Barrier at 60% charge)
Posted by: D. Ein on Thursday February 28th, 2008
- South-Eastern Kandarinian border -
-"Oh," Ekaterina sighed. "They all ran off. That's no good..."
She jerked her flail from another broken Malanos, and started heading back over to Czernn and Joseph in the distance. On her way, she noticed some movement somewhere to the left... The bulky armour did not allow her to move as fast as she normally would, but with some effort, she turned around to see thirteen people shambling over to a nearby docked ship.
-"What do we have here? Some rats trying to escape? As I said... that's no good..."
Having said that, she charged at the group, swinging the monstrous three-headed flail as she ran...
- The Forest -
-"Oh, no, I wouldn't dream of asking you for doing such a thing... Please, you've saved my life - let me repay the favour. It's unlikely that my parents would be in any danger, because... because..."
She looked around herself, and, after a moment of contemplation, whispered:
-"Eh... I'm afraid... I didn't tell you the whole truth... My parents are... were... well-respected scientists of the Sovereignty. If Kronos were to capture them, it's highly unlikely that he would kill them right away. They're probably held in a comfortable, but locked-down, hole. There's a certain job they were assigned to do, and... well... after realizing the potential of its power, they tried to destroy the project... but they were caught. Before everything else, Kronos will want them to finish that project. He wouldn't dare do anything el--"
Lily was cut off by a rustling nearby. Whatever made the noise probably became aware that it was spotted at the moment, and dropped the hiding act completely.
- Screeeech...*
The too-familiar sound of grinding metal, laboured breathing, and blood-chilling moans ripped the peaceful silence. The branches moved apart, revealing...
-"It's an Augment! Run! Dear god, run!"
- Helternian Tavern -
-"Eh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that..." Ein said casually. "Just generic resistance against Kronos, I suppose. I lurked about their captured towns, managing to snipe a soldier here or there. Killed a few Necrolytes... Apparently, to no effect... Damn, it's the captains I really have a big problem with."
Ein chugged a while tankard of ale, and slammed it back down on the table - finishing the combo with a majestically loud BURRRRRP.
-"Marshall, I shall not be over-exaggerating when I tell you that this weapon here -" he patted his ranged contraption - "can blast through two walls of solid rock, if the spear tip is hard enough. After changing the spring to salvaged Thoridium and putting heaps of enchantments, glyphs, and a whole lot of other magical crap all over the case, it can fire a standard spear so fast that they won't even hear it coming. I'm serious. The thing goes faster than the sound it produces, it's rather incredible."
He signalled the barman for another drink.
-"...And yet, no matter how many times I've tried, I couldn't kill a captain. There were two times when I had the chance, and yet none of them succeeded. The first time was a while ago, about two months after Kronos killed Retan. He was one of the first captains to be put in charge, actually, and one of the most faithful servants of the Lich - the air sorcerer, Damien Roth. It was in one of their captured towns. Apparently, Roth was testing out a squad of his air elemental mages by taking over a small village. I held my breath as soon as I noticed him. It isn't every day that you see a captain crawl out of whatever dark, damp hole they like to hibernate for days in. I picked a good vantage point in a patch of forest on a mountain, lay down on the ground, and waited for an opportunity - actually, one that I myself masterminded.
"Soon, the time came. A message came to his M-Grid orb, telling him to meet Hannibal - his brother - on a thin, isolated forest road. He was to receive top-secret orders from the Sovereign himself. Surprisingly, he took the bait - hook, line, and sinker - and went to the designated meeting spot. With a light heart and a diamond-tipped bolt in my weapon, I pulled the trigger.
"Quite obviously, his entire body was nearly ripped in half. As I said, there is no way he could've heard the spear coming because of its speed. So I wait until his body stops twitching on the tree he was pinned to, and go down to retrieve my bolt. Just as I close to him, though...
"His whole body turns to dust. Just... gone. The wind, it saved him, somehow - I don't know what degree he knows air magic to, but it's enough to pretty much grant him invulnerability. That's not the creepiest part, though: just before vanishing, I could swear - I even rubbed my eyes - he looked up right at me."
He wet his throat with more ale, motioning for yet another one.
-"The other time was a big fish - why, no one other than the General herself. I somehow made it to Shuba, the unofficial capital of Kandarin. Kronos had his ride parked there at the time, and Gwen was giving some inspirational speech to her force of them soldiers... So I was all like, you know, why not. It was dusk, hell if anyone noticed me. And my eye there helped a bit, too." He pointed to his mechanical eye. "Zoom, surface penetration, night vision... Everything a sniper wants. Anyhow, I climb into a tree in the forest nearby - longest shot I've done, it was. Whole eight miles. I scan the area, find the big fish flapping her gaping mouth, waving her arms like a maniac... must've been a pretty important speech. So I take aim... another diamond head, full ice enchantment... and pull the trigger."
Another chugging.
"The damndest thing is that it happened at the very moment that I heard the click. She just... you know... moved out of the way. Just moved. Like a millionth of a second before I put the trigger to the final position, she just took a step to the side. Big deal, I thought, a coink-a-dink. Fine, fine. I wait for her to finally shut up, and she goes into the... *hic* Citadel. I've been watching her for a while, see... so I know that every day at... one, two.... eight... right about eight in the evening, she appears at the very top of the Citadel, looking at the sky. Looking? Blind? Don't ask me. I don't even know myself. Maybe she just like the winds that blow all the way up... you know... there. BARMAN! More beer, godsdamnit!"
The third tankard swiftly slided over to Ein, who immediately consumed its contents in a vibrant display of splashing, missing, swearing, and wiping.
-"So she's all, like, standing there... I load the s-shpeargun... Put them glyphs on the... the... *hic* spear... Whatever, she wasn't moving at all. Wasn't moving, I tell you. I s-s-shwear. Totally still. No co-coin- no, coindefense... coincidence. Right. No coincidence there. So I find her pretty *hic* head, looking to the sky, all sad-like... And I firesh the spear..."
With a *thump*, Ein slammed his elbow on the table, landing his chin down onto it.
-"The damn General, Marshall, the freaking General herself. I shwore I had a clear shot. There was *hic* nowhere she coulda ran, nowhere she coulda stepped... no... no people move that fasht. No normal people ever move that fast. A demon, I tell you! A witch, she is! Burn the witch!"
He half-turned his head, just enough to look up at Marshall.
-"The second the spear went off, I saw her... she blocked it. She blocked the damned thing. Faster than the speed of sound... nobody moves that fast. She blocked it with her little thin butterknife of a sword, like... she knew exactly where it was going to hit. How... I don't know... So she just *hic* makes a look like she's looking right at me, and... she... she...
"She waved her goddamn little finger at me. Bad Ein, she mouthed. Big no-no. So tell me - with a freaking blindfold, how did she see me eight miles away? Eh? Even more important, why was I *hic* fighting off freaking Stalkers and Necrolytes for the next half year? Huh? Why, godsdamnit? Why? Why didn't that shpear hit her?! WHY?!"
After calming down somewhat, he put his hand under his chin, resting it on the table, and looking directly at Marshall.
-"S-Sho... what happenshed to you while I was *hic* running wild, chasing stupid re- res- resurging... resurrecting Necrolytes?"
Posted by: Dude Man on Thursday February 28th, 2008
- Helternian Tavern -
Marshall was quite impressed by Ein's story. He noticed him guzzle down a lot of ale, while Marshall nursed through a couple of them, he wasn't a very heavy drinker at all.
"Well, I made a couple friends one of them I came pretty close to actually and well, he died in that battle. His name was Patrick Firstman, he was kind of arrogant and foolish at times but he was my friend."
Marshall then guzzled down the rest of his beer. And motioned for the barkeep to bring him another.
"Anyways! So yeah I also met this fire-shooting guy named Coriko, used bows and lit them on fire with his magic. Quite a remarkable guy, I think you met him once. Oh yeah, and apparently there are more summoners out there like me. I met this General named Wilham, who is now a High General in the federation. So the four of us travelled around the world looking for tablets that held the key to finding their secret hideout and had some ancient history about the old Terian Republic. We fought some monsters and such had a few adventures, nothing too special. And after that we just continued with spreading the revolution until well..."
Marshall guzzled down half of his ale.
"It just got boring! I just woke up one morning and thought, 'What's the point?' I just no longer cared about spreading this new way of life. And well...I don't, I really, really don't anymore, Ein. Firstman he did...but the Aspyes just all lost their motivation or just simple agreed with the federation's ways a lot better so we all joined with them. I do like the Federation though, sure we don't have full freedom, but I got to thinking. If the revolution was successful, we'd all be fully free and have full power over ourselves. And well, wouldn't that just lead to a world full of Retan's pretty much? Either that or we'd all become lazy and unmotivated simply because we don't have the rewards of being better than anyone for harder work."
Marshall finished off his ale. He was noticeably drinking a lot more.
"So that's why I'm with the Federation now! Firstman never got it! He was a fool...but.."
He then buried his hands in his face and started to cry.
"But I m-miss him...He was almost like a brother to me. Y-you know what I'm gonna do man? I-I'm gonna make him proud man...He never liked...uhh...that one tanned guy, Vaughn, he's a jerk you know that? Juss...juss look at him..."
He turned around and pointed in a seemingly random direction.
"Aww...he ain't here. Well, I know he's gotta be here. I'm really smart you know that?" He started laughing. "No, I think I've drank too much that's it. I think you did to. I love you Ein."
He turned to the stranger sitting next to him.
"And I don't even know you, but I love you too."
Posted by: Coriko on Thursday February 28th, 2008
- Helternian Tavern -
Coriko smiled into his glass of ale. He finished his sip and returned it to the bar. He brushed the hair out of his eyes and turned to his old friend.
"It's been a while Marshall, I didn't know you still felt that way about me."
Coriko smiled and watched Marshall's reaction.
---
- Shaad Oenn -
Druid and Baird rushed into an old house. Most citizens were evacuated from their homes and relocated to work camps. It wouldn't be hard to win back their loyalty because the Beast treated the populous horrifically. Baird and Druid sat down at the table and looked around their surroundings.
"We'll camp out here for now, but we must be ready to move at any time. Get some food and rest. We will confront the Beast soon. I'll fix your arm after we've rested."
"Alright." Baird silently grabbed some stale food. It was better than anything he ate in the prison. The two sat in silent contemplating their next move.
Posted by: Jenia on Friday February 29th, 2008
~Phoenicia Forest~
"Ah!"
Elphos felt stupid and began chasing down the furry thing by jumping into the bush.
...To no avail.
"Darn, I lost it. HEY! Thing! Come back here!"
Elphos begun feeling fear creep up on him - fear of Indher burning down the entire forest just to get rid of this pest.
~Throne room~
"I guess that could be arranged, though I do not see the point..."
The blackness connecting Kerig to the glyph began to glow slightly...
~Random Farm to the South of the Black continent~
Good ol' farmer John comes out on another bright sunny day to till the fields or milk the kangaroos or some other fun pastime.
"Shiver me timbers!" farmer John exclaims "Haven't seen such a pleasant day in a while, eh Mary?"
"Cluck! Cluck!" said Mary the flightless bird known as an chicken "Cluck Cluckity Cluck!"
"I sure do, Mary!" John responded with equal enthusiasm, planting a kiss on Mary's head.
"S'odd, Mary!" John took off his farming hat and placed it in his farming pocket "S'uddenly issa gotten cold, eh? Let's go back... In...?"
A cloud in the sky turned black. The next moment, all of John's livestock (including Rosswell Reinbach XVI the kangaroo) were dropping to the floor with blank expression on what one would call their face.
Farmer John soon followed. His last words were -
"Mary... I knew those vitamin supplements were sleeping pills in disguise...!"
Posted by: Mikado on Friday February 29th, 2008
~ ~ South-Eastern Kandarinian border ~ ~
Czernn looked at Ekaterina rushing into a few people fleeing.
"Oh... ja see... nas better not leave ona alone... let nas go pan Joseph."
Czernn "dashed" behind Ekaterina. He didn't really move much but for some reason he glided really fast over the earth.
"Let nas bury them so that nas can raise them once again..."
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday February 29th, 2008
- Helternian Tavern -
"Wow! Coriko! It's you! Holy smokes. Well, look who I bumped into." Marshall motioned over towards Ein, next to him. "It's Ein!"
"Yeah, except um, Firstman got killed in battle. So yeah I'm kinda...yeah." He finished off another ale and sighed.
--- ---
- Forest -
Sienna gasped.
"Okay, get back." She said to Lily. "I'll handle this." She took out her deck of cards which began to glow with a dark violet aura. She then barraged them at the augment.
Posted by: Ted Der on Friday February 29th, 2008
- Helternian Tavern -
"Am I late?" Akran sat down next to Ein with a sigh, "God damn, you did give us a hard time following you." The rest of Akran's crew scattered around the tavern looking for single women and card games.
"How did you enhance that ship's speed so drastically... oh." He trailed off realizing that Ein was plastered. "Well, it looks like I have some catching up to do! Barman, how much beer for this?" Akran pulled out a red jewel and slid it down the table.
The barman took it and gasped, "Man, if I can keep this, you and your three pals can drink for free."
"Aye, well give me a beer then!" Akran said and looked down the bar. Three friends? He recognized the old guy, but didn't know who the other guy was. Akran took a sip of his ale and turned back around.
Suddenly, Martin came up to him. "Akran," he whispered, "Should I ask him for his autograph?" He nodded in the direction of the man talking to Marshall.
"Why would you do that?" Akran asked, looking quizzically at Martin.
"Oh my god, don't you recognize him?" Martin shook his hands with excitement, "That is Cliffe Onan! He is totally, like the best actor ever!"
Akran went back to his drink. This was not very interesting, at least not to a straight man, but Martin was his friend so he should show interest. "You mean like a stage performer?" he asked taking another sip.
"Yes of course, silly!" Martin continued, bouncing up and down. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Doesn't he like have the cutest ass ever?" He cried leaning over to get a better look.
Akran winced and leaned further over his drink. Don't know him... don't know him...
"I'm going to so go over there and ask him. Be right back." said Martin, apparently thrilled about the idea. He scurried over to the 'actor'. "Excuse me," he asked, "yes, um, can I pretty please have your autograph?... on my rear?"
Posted by: D. Ein on Friday February 29th, 2008
- Helternian Tavern -
-"'Scuse me," Ein mumbled. "I'll be right back."
The strange, lurching feeling in his stomach pushed Ein in the general direction of the washroom...
- The Forest -
The enchanted cards vanished in a black rapture, opened by the Augment. It continued hobbling over to Lily, who was hiding behind a tree. Meanwhile...
-"Yeeees, Boris, just a little closer..."
A Necrolyte some distance away was talking, seemingly, to a tree.
-"Portals... good... save those little things up for later. We should have a use for them later on. Now... just get a little closer to her... and bring me her heart. Just a little closer..."
- Throne Room -
-"Looks good," I said. "Now, all I've got to do is select a bigger target..."
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday March 1st, 2008
- Phoenicia Forest -
"Elphos!" Came a voice sounding very much like Fernis. "You failed! AGAIN! What is wrong with you? You can't do anything right!"
Mist surrounded the man, the outlines of the trees becoming blurred in fog. He suddenly found himself very alone.
"Unfortunately, you are expendable. That's why I sent you. I've quarantined the area so the demon can't escape. I'm sorry to say, these demon-scorching flames will burn away your soul as well, so there won't be any chance at revival. Oh well, you were never much use anyway. Ta ta!"
The mists burned orange as the horizon lit up in flames. A circle of fire, rapidly descending upon the man...
Posted by: Dude Man on Sunday March 2nd, 2008
- Forest -
"Get OUT OF HERE!" Sienna shouted stepping in front of the Augment.
She pointed her hand forward and shot a series of white glowing rings of magic, which should slow down the Augment's movement considerably if it hit.
Posted by: Jenia on Sunday March 2nd, 2008
~Phoenicia Forest~
Elphos was startled.
Fire? So quickly?
The flames surrounded him.
No...
Elphos began to sweat. His breathing was heavy from the heat.
This...this can't be happening.
They were coming closer. Soon, they would envelope his body, and there'd be no escape.
Something is wrong... AH!
Just as he felt the tinge of flames, he raised the charm he was given earlier, and the flames retreated, circling around him, as if afriad to approach the oddly shaped talisman.
"Ha!" Elphos called out "I came prepared!"
...Crack.
"...Huh?"
Elphos turned to look at the charm. A crack had appeared on it.
Apperantly, it couldn't withstand the powers of this particular demon for long...
"Damn you, thing! I'll win this still, you'll see!"
Elphos crouched, hoping to draw runes to create a barrier, but then he remembered that runes cannot be drawn in patches of grass.
"...Damn."
Becoming desperate, Elphos removed his robes from the upper part of his body. He took the small bottle of ink he carried with him and dipped his finger in it has he began to draw runes on his own bare chest.
Meanwhile, outside the illusion, the apprentices were working hard (despite generally being klutzs) on finishing the demon sealer...
Demon Sealer 3/5
Posted by: Mikado on Monday March 3rd, 2008
~ ~ Forest, the ~ ~
This was a moment to react quickly. Puco wasn't good at those.
- "IeeeeeeEEE~~!"
The scary-man used portals... how can she defeat that? Nyuu~~...
When in doubt...
Blow the ground into pieces!
Puco punched the ground really hard, and at that instance the whole area rumbled, trees nearby flew into the sky along with tons of sand. Hoping that she didn't hit Sienny she took the girl, and jumped really, REALLY, high.
If you have eyesight over ninethousand you could see a few silver threads made from ice in her hand.
- "Please, chan-chan, don't be afraid! I'll safe you for sure!" Puco was pretty enthousiatly, for the sky was her strong place.
She sure wasn't your average girl.
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday March 3rd, 2008
- Elphos' Nightmare -
"Watcha doin'...?"
"Finger painting?"
A small girl from the city stood before him, totally unconcerned of the ravenous flames. The jewel upon her forehead glimmered in the orange glow.
"Can you save us, Mister Elphos? Hmmm?" Another kid just behind her spoke up. Another nodded, and another, and another... a half dozen children surrounded the man, eyes expectantly looking up to him for guidance. The fire closed in...
Suddenly one of them screamed. The flames seemed to envelop her body as she was plucked into the air as if the fire itself turned into a hand and grabbed her. She disappeared, wailing as she kicked about. A gargantuan flaming snake emerged from the inferno, licking its chops at its recent kill.
The fire snake looked down upon the tiny, tiny man, glistling eyes a simmering green. The remaining children crowded around Elphos, tugging upon his arms as they cried. "Save us! Save us!"
The monster displayed its burning fangs and descended...
What.
Do.
You.
FEAR?!?!
Posted by: Dude Man on Tuesday March 4th, 2008
- Helternia -
"No. I didn't see it now that you mention it." Duilin replied. "Maybe she sailed off somewhere else. I didn't see her ship get attacked or anything. Then again we were in a bit of a rush to get out of there."
"We'll look into that later I guess. Right now there's some stuff I gotta do. Follow me if you wish."
---
//I'm just gonna jump ahead. Things are getting boring.\\
- Fort Klawvorn -
Duilin arrived at the fortress, everything seemed to be running normally, except a few people looked a little uneasy.
"Um, general?" A guard said approaching Duilin.
"Yeah?"
"There's somebody here, he claims to be an old friend of yours. He was a little violent earlier around one of our demon soldiers but we separated them and he calmed down a little.
"Really. Did he give a name?" Duilin asked. He was somewhat expecting Draven, he sort of had a bit of racism against demons.
"No, sir. He hasn't talked much, he just wants to talk with you."
"Okay then, lead the way." Duilin was a bit curious about who this guy is.
Posted by: Coriko on Tuesday March 4th, 2008
Coriko coughed and almost choked on his ale. He cleared his throat to regain his composure. Coriko then turned to this man.
"Excuse me, you want me to sign where? I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not him, sorry."
---
Baird awoke to some gentle nudges by Druid. He tried to swat him away but he had no left arm, the Beast had ordered it's removal during his torture sessions. He grumbled, swore under his breathe, and then tried to return to sleep.
"Baird get up. I found a doctor. He is going to create an arm for you out of shadow energy. So get up so we can get this over with. I need to jump start the shadow energy in your arm so we can make it. This may hurt..."
Posted by: Ted Der on Wednesday March 5th, 2008
- Helternian Tavern -
"W-what? But you look just like him..." Martin's face fell. "Sorry, I thought you were that actor, Cliffe Onan." Martin stood there a little awkwardly. He cleared his throat and said, "Um, so you busy, can I sit down?" *wink*
--- --- ---
Akran leaned over towards Marshall filling in Ein's gap. "Hey, you know that winged guy and Ein - they are all part of that Gaian Federation right? Do you know what they are doing here, 'cause I'm interested in joining them."
Posted by: Dude Man on Wednesday March 5th, 2008
- Helternia Tavern -
"Einz not with tha Federation, but me an' that winged guy are." Marshall slurred. "You bess talk ta him, at the fort. It's about ten miles that way." Marshall pointed north. "Or, about forty-hundred-thousand-million miles that way." He said pointing south. "So, it's your choice really." Marshall burped, and then laughed a bit. "I miss Firstman..."
--- ---
- Fort Klawvorn -
Duilin arrived in the command centre of the fortress.
"Why did you let him in here?" Duilin asked the guard.
"We didn't he just came in. We have him under heavy watch, but he's really powerful, we're worried about fighting him. He might flip out and blow up the entire fortress."
"Hmm..."
Duilin continued to walk with the guard, until they arrived at the door of the High General's Office. Behind the door there was some rambling and shouting.
"My office!? You let him in here." He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm going in by myself. Nobody follow me." He opened the door and stepped in and then closed the door behind him.
The lantern in the room was unlit and the curtains were closed, so it was dark in the room. A few beams of light were shining through the bit of window uncovered by the curtains. There was a figure pacing back and forth behind Duilin's desk. He could make out that he had long hair and was wearing a jacket of some sort. He was rambling in tongues.
"Who are you?"
The man stopped rambling and then looked at Duilin, but said nothing. The two looked at each other for a moment, but it was too dark in the room.
"Open the curtains." Duilin commanded.
The man nodded and did so. The light shined on his face, normally it would burn his eyes for being so instant, but the man didn't seem to even be bothered by the sudden light flushing into the room. He had familiar looking white hair, and was wearing a purple and black coat. He remembered somebody who seemed to like those two colours, and had the very same hair style.
"Valos?"
The man turned around, it was indeed Valos. But his familiar inhuman red eyes were gone and replaced with shiny blue ones.
"Hello Duilin."
"What happened to your eyes?" Duilin asked.
"That's all you have to say? No 'You're alive?' or 'How did you know to find me here?' or anything like that. You ask what happened to my eyes?"
There was a brief silence, as Valos neglected to answer the general's question.
"Pfft. I had them fixed that's what. Had one of the best white mages in the world fix me up, removes the demonic genes that poisoned me. So thus my eyes are better."
"Right. So you mind answering those two questions you expected me to ask now?"
"Not at. So yes, I am alive. In fact, I never really died, I was simply teleported to Thanatos, and Pheonix released my body. I was able to fight my way out, though. That was three years ago. I've been training ever since, and ridding this world of the demons that now plague it."
"Ever met up with Draven?"
"I believe he fell in battle against Retan. So now I'm on my own."
"Oh, poor you. So, why exactly are you here? To try and kill me?"
"Well, in a way yes. But there is another reason. You see, there are greater demons out there, which I can not kill myself as sad as it is to say it. I recently discovered that they have allied with the Kandarinians. In fact, one of them is now a captain."
"Go on..."
"Well, you see. With Draven gone, and the fact that the Kandarins have sided with the worst bunch of demons there could ever be, that leaves you and the Federation as the only possible allies I could have. I may be willing to work with you considering you're half human, which is the true superior race."
Duilin sighed, not feeling like arguing with what seems to be a newly recruited bigot. "Okay, so who are these demons? How strong are they?"
"Many of them are weak: they're human-shaped, generic red skin and horns. Some of them a bit stronger but I'm able to take on one or two at a time, they're also human shaped but wear black suits. There are also ones that steal the bodies of animals and sneak into places. Some really nasty ones are these giant minotaur like demons with metal plates and steam pipes all over their body."
"Sounds like a bunch of freaks too me."
"Oh, I wouldn't be calling them 'freaks' if I were you. Because you see, they're actually all members of your, ahem, family."
"The Talonscar!?" Duilin said loudly, as if a past fear he had just snuck up on him.
Valos laughed. "Yep, and Nex is even leading them. He's the one we need to kill. Not even me and Draven together were able to defeat him. We got close though. But now he's even stronger than before."
"I don't remember Nex being that much stronger than me in the past."
"He's gotten a lot more powerful trust me. He's almost invincible."
"That's ridiculous. I've come to know that nobody is invincible, they just act like they are. Haraldur, Abodahon and Retan had their weak spots and so will Nex. So yes, we will help each other in defeating the Talonscar, but we will move at my pace, I will be in charge of this mission."
"Yes, but don't expect this alliance to last. In fact, as soon as Nex is defeated. You're next." Valos warned.
"I'm actually expecting that. So no worries."
"Excellent." Valos grinned. "I have to say Duilin, I wasn't expecting you to be so willing to ally with me, considering our past rivalries."
"Yes, but you have to remember the only reason we were enemies is because you with the Talonscar. And also, what are brothers for."
Valos glared. "We are not brothers. I refuse to accept that freak, Abodahon, as my father and neither should you."
Duilin sighed. "Valos, you can't simply refuse family. I hate Abodahon, just as much, if not more than you do, but he is our father."
"I only acknowledge my mother's blood line. She was human. We have different mothers and therefore we are not brothers."
"Fine then."
Posted by: Coriko on Wednesday March 5th, 2008
- Helternia Tavern -
"Sorry, but I actually want to catch up with my good friend Marshall. I haven't seen him in three or four years."
"Or, about forty-hundred-thousand-million miles that way. So, it's your choice really. I miss Firstman..."
Coriko watched his friend in his drunken stupor. He turned back to this man who insisted on hitting on him.
"Well I guess I can talk to you for a bit, however I must let you know I am in a committed relationship with a woman named Kylessa. She was from an aristocratic family from the same town as me, but she left before it was overrun with the walking undead..." Coriko trailed off for a moment. Coughed and recovered his composure. "So how do you know Marshall and Ein? And what did Marshall mean by he misses Firstman, did he leave the Aspyes or something?"
---
Shaad Oenn
Baird sat in a chair. Druid had his hands on Baird's chest and the doctor had his hands on Baird's arm stump.
"Alvright," the doctor said with a heavy accent. He was visiting Shaad Oenn from a different country back in their home dimension when the island was transported. He stayed on the island as a doctor healing the sick in refugee camps. More evidence of the Beasts' destruction. "Drew-weed, send a strung pulse of zee shadoo energee throoogh Baird. I vill den mold zee shadoo energee into an arm. It vill be zee same as your other arm, no extra strength or anyzing of zee sort. It vill conduct zee shadoo energee better thooogh. When redie, vire!"
Druid sent a pulse of shadow energy into Baird he screamed with agony. The doctor guided this energy out of his arm. The energy flowed out of the arm and between the doctor's hands wildly. "KEEP ZENDING ZEE PULSE!" The doctor screamed. He then started to move his hand backwards, controlling the flow of the energy. A lot still escaped but he controlled enough to make the arm. He smeared some of lotion on the shadow energy which seemed to harden. The doctor then started to slice of bits of the hardened shadow energy and started to sculpt a hand. Druid watched in amazement but kept his distance as to not cause any troubles. Baird had a look of pain and anger on his face. It was excruciatingly painful for him.
"When this is over Druid"¦"
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Wednesday March 5th, 2008
//I'm just going to make a quick edit...
"Right... I'll just head into the fort and check it out myself. I'll catch up later. Karma, let's go." Jacobie walked off and wandered into the fortress. It was quite bigger than a few of the forts at Ariosis, but Fort Gadowran is larger. Still, it is a nice building for defence. He walked further into the building and examined the Helternian achitecture.
"Not half bad. I'll try to make myself more comfortable." Jacobie walked into a room just a short ways into the fort from the entrance. The door was marked "guest dorm" and inside the room was a large matress on an elegant oak bedpost stained to a mahogany color. There was also an empty armor rack and a sword holster that could hold up to five weapons. And last, there was a simple coat rack and a dresser, with a candle lamp on top of it. The dresser was oaken, just like the bedpost, and was quite large.
"Nice pick for a dorm," Karma said as she entered behind. She proceeded to take off her cape and hung it on a hook on the coat rack. Then she took off her boots and placed them on the floor next to the coat rack. Jacobie untied his crimson armor and retied them around the armor rack. It was a bit large, but still fit. He then took off his black leather greaves and placed those around the armor rack as well. Underneath his armor,he had on black mythril, which was as comfortable and smooth as a cotton shirt, yet hard as a red dragon's hide. He also had on black, baggy pants made of cotton.
"*yawn* I'm tired... I hope Duilin knows I'm using this room. Meh, he's more than smart enough ta figure that out. What m'I worrying about? I should get some sleep... I seem ta be ramblin' a bit too much..."
"Heh... you could say that again. Let's both get some sleep." Karma walked over to the bed as did Jacobie. She climbed in first, then threw part of the blankets on the other side so that Jacobie could get in as well. He got in and Karma threw the covers back over him. She then scooted over to him and placed her arms around his scaly neck.
- Dranniville, Fort Gadowran -
"Grr... this barrier takes so long to set up!"
"Just be patient, sir. We're doing the best we can."
"Bullshit! If you were doing the best you could, then it'd be done already!"
"Sir, if I might say-"
"You may not. Get the **** back to work on the barrier! NOT A SOUND FROM ANY OF YOUR MOUTHS 'TIL IT'S DONE!!!"
- everyone* "YES SIR!!!"
(barrier at 80%)
Posted by: D. Ein on Wednesday March 5th, 2008
- Tavern\inn in Helternia -
-"Yesh," Ein sighed, coming out of the washroom. His face was reddish. "Just go ask someone else. I think I need to crash."
He threw a coin to the innkeeper, who took the hint and sent a small key flying toward Ein. The latter caught it, and, with barely a grumble, headed upstairs.
//Ein's inactive for now, probably till the rest of the chapter.\\
- Forest -
-"Aaah!", Lily squealed in surprise as she was taken to the skies by Puco. Cleansed by the Hammer, no clouds were to be seen in the stretch of azure atmosphere. It was almost like a fissure in the sky between two walls of dark clouds - or a cut - but in the process of healing itself, it seemed. The dark storms from either side of the rapture once again began crawling to the hole, maybe two hours away from plunging this area of the Continent back into perpetual darkness.
-"I'm not... used... to being... this... high... in the... sky...", came Lily's wheezing voice. Puco must've pushed a bit too hard, and was now flying in the lower stratosphere of Gaian, where the air was rather thin.
Meanwhile, the Augment on the ground hissed at the airborne pair, and appeared to have lost all interest in Ophelia. It turned around with a bit of a spin, opening a portal as it went - and vanished in the swirling abyss.
//Drannic - you do know that my Necrolyte is currently running toward Doriana's group, right? Probably not with the intent to spread the message of love and peace, either. Although you can never be sure anymore.\\
Posted by: Ted Der on Thursday March 6th, 2008
- Helternia Tavern -
Martin's face brightened and he sat down next to Coriko. "Strawberry cocktail please." He said to the Bartender. The man gave him a funny look, but obliged.
After receiving his bright pink drink and sipping noisily through the paper straw, Martin turned to Coriko. "So, let's start with introductions. I'll start," Martin said, shifting in his seat more comfortably and sipping more of his drink. "My name is Martin, and I totally sail with the best crew In. The. World. And Akran... oh, his such a nice captain. I mean, like, I'd totally do him in a second, but I wouldn't want to ruin my reputation and position."
He laughed and drank more pink drink. "But yeah... I first met him three years ago. Before then I was in a crew captained by a guy named Larry. One day we were sailing just South of the former Kandarinian Sovereignty and we saw a totally, crazy sight, alright. I mean mind blowing!" Martin raised his hands in excitement. "We saw a dragon! It was, like, HUGE, and it was baring down upon a small sailboat. Well, we thought we could save the boat right, but we were so far away. All we could do was watch.
"The small boat didn't have a chance. The dragon plowed it over and the man in it got thrown into the ocean. A creepy hooded figure riding on the dragon laughed and flew away. It took us about ten whole minutes to get to the wrecked boat and another five to get the body up on our deck and... Guess who it was."
Martin guzzled his drink, but didn't wait for an answer. "It was Akran! And I gotta tell you, that guy can't be human. I mean, it was totally like fifteen minutes before we rescued the unconscious man so we assumed he was dead... but he wasn't! I have no idea how, but he woke up."
He put his empty glass on the counter and sighed in disbelief. "Then later, he became captain of the Shadowshot once Larry died in a tragic incident involving the Malanos and ever since then, Akran had been trying to find some sort of stone. Just earlier today we found the man who had it. That's where Akran got that crazy-ass bow" Martin pointed to Akran's back were the Raven bow was hanging. "Something is evil about that thing. I mean, after he took it, Akran got super muscular in only one of his arms, which is a little of a turn off for me. He's also been acting strange ever since."
Martin stretched his arms and ordered a refill to his cocktail. "But yeah, whatever. I don't know much about Ein and Marshall, just that we met them at the South-Eastern Kandarinian battle, which you can probably find out more about from Marshall. I kinda, uh, missed most of it. I think Akran wants something of them... something to do with joining the Gaian Federation, but what do I know? Anyway, enough about me, what's your story?"
Posted by: Mikado on Thursday March 6th, 2008
~ ~ South-Eastern Kandarinian border ~ ~
Next to Doriana the ground exploded... and a white hand rose out of it spurting blood everywhere, and aiming at her neck shot at her.
- "This should take oni down..."
Czernn was standing about ten meters from her.
Posted by: Drannic_Lord01 on Thursday March 6th, 2008
//Sorry Ein, wasn't paying enough attention. Rawr, I need to focus more... Also for time's sake, I'll just say the necrolyte boarded behind the back, so that she wasn't seen.\\
- Ocean, East-southeast of Terian -
"General Doriana!" One of Doriana's men came racing up to her, breathing rather heavily, after running from the back of the ship.
"What is it this time?"
"I believe something is chasing us... I can't pin-point it with my senses..."
"No one can, Largo. No one's been able to for quite some time. They can if they're nearby, though they have to be quite near..."
"Even still, ma'am! I think there's something behind us!"
"Damn it, let me go check..." Doriana walked agitatedly to the back of the ship. Sure enough, a Necrolyte jumped up from behind the back of the ship. She was swinging a heavy flail, and in bulky armor.
"DAMN!!!" Doriana, quick as a flash, pulled out her broad silversword and made a downward slash upon the necrolyte.
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday March 7th, 2008
- Forest -
Sienna grinned for a moment as he saw the Augment go into the portal, suddenly it was wrapped around the rings of energy from the slow spell, and it stopped inside the portal and was pushed out.
She then whipped her enchanted cards out again and then threw the entire set through the air, the cards flew in all different directions towards the undead creature, glowing in a dark violet glow and becoming razor sharp. The encumbered Augment was still able to create a portal to protect itself from some of the cards, yet most of them made it to the Augment yet most of those were blocked by the metal plates over it's body, and only a couple were able to dig into the unarmoured spots on it's body. However, while it was distracted by this Sienna, empowered with a speed spell zoomed towards to slowed Augment and grabbed it's arms and legs.
The augment was pretty much damaged all of it's body, meaning that it could be healed if forced too. Sienna's hands glowed white as she 'healed' the augments limbs. She pulled the limbs together and skin and flesh began to grow connecting them.
"Gotcha!"
The Augment was still alive, but it likely wouldn't be able to go anywhere. As the undead beast was mostly motionless on the ground, Sienna held up her cards again, which had regenerated back into a full deck. With lightning speed she threw a series of the razor sharp cards through the Augment's unarmoured neck, until it's head was (un)clean off...
--- ---
- Helternia -
"So, do you know where Nex is?" Duilin asked.
"He's in one of the major Kandarinian cities. I don't know what it's called, but I know where it is." Valos replied.
The two exited the room.
"General Duilin, sir." A messenger came up to them. "Jacobie and Karma are staying in the guest dorms."
"Thanks. Let them know I might have another mission coming up soon." Duilin said to the messenger.
"Yes sir." The messenger saluted and then left.
"So, Duilin tell me. How is it that you didn't know that the Talonscar had returned?" Valos asked.
"I sort of did actually."
"Clarify."
"I had some sort of 'vision' where the ghost of Pophin visited me and warned be about them, and also gave me an apology, before his ghost 'died'. I wasn't sure if it was real or not though. I thought it might have been an affect of my demonic blood taking over."
"Wait, you mean your demonic blood took over? You don't look like a full demon to me."
"My body is able to control it. This angel named Aegidius enhanced my human side with light magic for me to be able to combat my demonic blood. The outcome was me being able to transform into a full demon or a full super human. Both forms are fairly powerful."
"Can you transform at will?"
"No. Although the super human form seems to come when it's needed. I've only transformed three times, twice into a super human and once into a demon lord. I haven't transformed since I fought Retan."
"Interesting, so maybe this time my advice might not be so harsh to follow this time. Remember how I told you how to transform into full demon? Now you have no worries in doing this."
"I guess not. But I'd still like to be careful."
"Pah, I guess you're just too inhertiably good. But remember this, if you think I'm mean just wait until we fight Nex, so don't hold back."
"I won't." Duilin assured. "Hmm, now may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Why did enslave my sister Sienna after my village was attacked?"
Valos stopped and smirked. "Oh yes, that crazy wench. She was quite fun to toy around with. How'd you figure out about her?"
"Answer my question."
"Oh, it's just the simple pleasure of taking something so vulnerable and molding it into the most perfect and loyal killing machine."
"You're sick you know that. How could you do that too a little girl?"
"I could probably explain that to you for about an entire hour, but your mind is too weak to even comprehend my motives. And once I'm done explaining it, you'd just say that I'm crazy. So my answer is, I'm crazy."
Duilin grunted in annoyance. He'd get back to this subject later.
Posted by: Coriko on Friday March 7th, 2008
- Helternia Tavern -
"About three years ago I was on a mission with a man named Wilham. It was a long and arduous one but we completed it and were returning home. Well Wilham stepped through the portal first and I could hear him tell me to come through. Yet just before I went through the portal winked. No one thought anything of it. So I stepped through and ended up on a continent or island called Ctiadyd, which I later found out, was on the other side of the world. And to top things off I was surrounded by people brandishing weapons." Coriko took a breath to take a swig of his ale and then continued his story.
"Well I tried to talk my way out of it but they took me as a prisoner and I was taken to their capital. This is where I saw Kylessa. She instantly recognized me and told them to let me go. Like I said before she was of noble birth and her family left Asgarnia before the town was destroyed. They founded a new civilization in Ctiadyd with them as the rulers. So we instantly hit it off and started dating. She showed me around the island. Oh my god if you could have seen it. Mountains that touched the sky, lakes as clear as glass, and wildlife that I had never seen before. I stayed on the island two years with her and her family. We are engaged as well." Coriko grabbed the chain that hung around his neck and pulled it out so the man could see. There was a ring with a stunning array of colours.
"I carved two of these out off a gemstone I found on the island. I have one and so does she. But I told her I couldn't marry her till I found out what happened to my friends, Marshall, Wilham, and Firstman. So I left the island and sailed to the last place I saw them. However I didn't find them, which I had expected. So for the last year I have been tracking them down and only by chance did I come into this tavern and there Marshall was. I have also been keeping in contact with Kylessa via messenger hawk. Her father raised many and so we correspond through notes. Oh, how I miss her." Coriko paused with a sense of longing. "Oh, I'm sorry I don't mean to bore you with my life story. Can I get you another drink to make up for it?"
---
-Shaad Oenn-
Baird sat in a chair feeling his new hand. He could move the fingers, simultaneously and independently. He could clench into a fist and then release. He could summon orbs of shadow energy. He could also summon the orbs with his other hand too which meant he had his powers back. "This new hand is incredible!" Baird exclaimed to the doctor.
"Yez, I am, vhat you call, a jeneous. Drew-weed come over "˜ere!" Druid went to the doctor's side as requested. "I must now depart Drew-weed. Pleaze for dee love of dis coontry, KILL ZEE BEAST!!" With that the doctor turned and scurried out the door. Druid watched the elderly man scurry away and then went to his friend's side.
"How are you doing"
"Energized! Lets go kick his demonic ass!"
Druid smiled, "well you may have energy but I still need some rest. Plus we need a plan of attack. You work something out while I take a nap." Druid went to one of the bedrooms of the house. It was a dark room. Dust covered everything but Druid didn't care because it was dark, and that was all he needed. He collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantly. He tossed with thoughts of the beast's takeover, but found solace in the thought of that creature's soon demise.
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday March 8th, 2008
- Helternia, Rivertown Tavern -
"Hey, hey. Coriko." Marshall tugged on his friend's shirt. "Wilham, did you hear he's one of the High Generals in the Federation now? He's got some pretty awesome stuff at his disposal actually."
Marshall patted Coriko on the back.
"Well, I think for about the second or third time in my life, I'm drunk. I'm off to bed before I do anything stupid." Marshall pointed his finger at Coriko and smiled. "Know your limits my friend."
He then got up and staggered towards the room he rented.
--- ---
- Helternia, Klawvorn -
Valos and Duilin were in the briefing room with a map of the known world on the table. Valos was marking the areas of the Kandarin Towns he's been in.
"This one is where I saw Nex." Valos said pointing to one of the marks he made. It was fairly close to the former location of Bandervil.
"Interesting. I think that might be where I confronted our father." Duilin stated.
"You mean, Abodahon the Demon Lord?" Valos snapped.
"Yeah." Duilin paced to the other side of the table. "Okay, now how well guarded do you say this place is?"
"It houses the largest regiment in the Sovereignty." Valos replied. "And well, I'm sure you've heard of the power of the Kandarin captains right?"
"Yes, go on."
"Well, Nex killed the former captain and the Sovereign had him take his place. That means that it's very possible that Nex may be the strongest of the captains."
"Maybe the former one was weak?"
"It's possible that he could have been the weakest of the captains, but regardless all of the captains are very powerful. There is no doubt that Nex may be stronger than both of us combined."
"Well, we'll have to either get stronger or not fully rely on our strength."
"That sounds unlike you. From what I know of you, you're pretty hack and slash brute-force warrior."
"True, true. But I also have my motivational skills and of course I have my own generals."
"Oh yes that's right. You're in charge of an entire army, good ole' High General. One step closer to Draven aren't you?"
Duilin ignored Valos' statement. "Although this guy does get on my nerves, he'd be very useful to plan some good tactics for us." He opened the door, where there were two guards on the other side of the door. "Get me General Chaud."
Posted by: Jenia on Saturday March 8th, 2008
//Sorry Xorlak, I have been out of focus lately... Can't write right =[\\
~Elpos' Nightmare~
Elphos shook his head at the sight of the children.
For a fleeting moment he wanted to help them, but then realized that they couldn't be there, and therefore, are not.
Though it pained him to do so, he did his best to ignore their pleas and the snake and continued to paint on himself.
Then it came.
What.
He was startled and paused.
Do.
He shook his head and returned to painting.
You.
He told himself he must'nt listen.
FEAR?!?!
All of a sudden, all the flames and children vanished. And so did the trees and the sky.
Everything was dark and Elphos could see nothing but his brightly illuminated self.
Two large, brightly shining red eyes loomed above him.
Elphos gulped. He knew those eyes. He had never seen them, but deep inside, he knew them. There was only one such pair of brightly shining crimson eyes.
With a shaking hand, Elphos barely managed to finish drawing on his body, which was then wrapped in a bright blue light.
He turned to look at the crimson, sparkling eyes in the darkness. Under them, a toothy grin was visible.
"Theres no mistake... You look exactly how I imagined Retan is."
Elphos trembled. Retan couldn't be here. The hysterical sociopath and winged, black tentacle monster he heard so much about was still in the dark continent.
Why would he run into him here.
Gulp.
Elphos raised his hand and pointed at the eyes. He was still trembling, but he spoke nontheless.
"R-R-Retan! I am sh-sh-shielded! Y-y-you can't h-h-h-hurt me! G-g-g-go s-s-s-someplace else!"
Deep inside, he began praying he won't have to suck his fire breath. Or cold breath. Or Acid breath. Or dark-powered plasma death. Or even minty-fresh breath. He heard Retan has so many types of breath attacks that he lost count of them all.
Posted by: D. Ein on Saturday March 8th, 2008
- Waters South-East of the Continent -
-"Alas," Ekaterina said, taking the full hit of the broadsword, "I am no longer on land. This makes things harder for me."
The slash disrupted some of the bone arrangements, but didn't do much other than make a small cut in the thick layer of armour. That event seemed to entertain Ekaterina a little.
-"You're going to use that to cut through this shell? Good luck, pani. When I was still testing this ability, they had to use a cannon repeatedly to crack this. And even if you do have a cannon, you'd be foolish to fire it on a ship... Gods know what a stray cannonball can do."
The flail resumed its path to the side of Doriana's head.
Posted by: Mikado on Sunday March 9th, 2008
Chaud was sitting at his desk when someone knocked.
- "General Chaud? General Chau-"
- "Come in."
A soldier entered slowly the enormous room. The size of Chaud's office always amazed him.
- "What is it?"
- "Er- erm High Genera-"
- "I'm on my way. Sheesh can't that guy just come here? Oh, no. Ignore he fact that my body is older..."
- "Yea..." The soldier was amazed at the disrespect Chaud had. Should he agree or object.
- "Go back doing your job, I'm already going..."
And Chaud left, locking the door behind him. He walked quite a length and finally he arrived in front of Duilins office.
- "I really can't wait until..."
He knocked twice and entered.
- "Hello my High General? How was the battle? Did you take a orphan with you?" Chaud looked at Valos.
--- Puco ---
"Oh? Sorryy!!!"
Puco quickly pulled the threads, and soon they were falling down. From 1000 meters.
"Ooops..."
"WaaaaaAAAAAAAaaaaaa~"
And they were falling, with 100 metres a second.
Quick Puco, quick, think! What can soften the fall? Ice? No. Fire? No. Muffin? No.
Wait. Yes!
Puco took her breath to yell.
"SIENNA!! GET OUT OF THERE!!" Her voice echoed a few times and the leaves rumbled.
And holding Lily in one, she took out a small box with her other hand and tossed it under her.
"Muffin summon spell!"
And with a small "poof" a giant squishy muffin appeared under them. Puco bashed into the muffin as if it was a pillow while the muffin slatted into the ground...
Posted by: Dude Man on Monday March 10th, 2008
- Klawvorn, Briefing Room -
Duilin really didn't like having to call on this guy. He was so rude to him all the time. Yeah he's younger than Chaud, but Duilin's had more fighting experience than him, so he should just accept the fact he's a higher rank. It's not like Duilin is some young kid anymore. He's a full grown middle aged man now.
As soon as Chaud stepped into the room he knew he was going to say something sarcastic.
"General Chaud this is, Valos a member of the formerly existing Crimson Empire. He's informed us of the return of a demonic group known as the Talonscar. This one demon named Nex has become a captain in the K.A.F."
Duilin pointed where Valos marked the city down.
"He's also given us the location of where his regiment's city is. It's apparently the biggest one. If we could take this city out it would greatly weaken the Kandarinians. We just need a good plan, seeing how our army isn't very big. So you think you could work your magic?"
--- ---
- Forest -
Sienna with her speed spell still on dashed quickly out of the way. She turned around and then noticed Puco summoned a giant muffin.
"What?" She looked at it oddly. "That's...weird..."
Posted by: Xorlak on Monday March 10th, 2008
- Elphos' Nightmare -
"Oh? I believe I can. In fact, I can hurt you a great deal..." Tendrils of blackness emanated from the amorphous Retan-thing, encasing Elphos in a small prison. Above, the crimson eyes loomed just above the toothy draconic grin-- the only elements of the face visible in the blackness. Slowly the visage descended, the maw widening in anticipation...
"Surrender yourself to me, little gnat. Reject all you love and become my slave, or I shall devour the flesh from your bones..."
Posted by: Jenia on Tuesday March 11th, 2008
~Elphos' Nightmare~
Something just broke within Elphos.
He stopped trembling. His jaw dropped. His pupils shrunk. His face went blue.
"Aaaaaaaaaaand if I become your slave you'll let me go?"
Meanwhile, back in the forest, outside the nightmare...
"I'm done here!"
"So am I!"
"Me too!"
"Let's turn it on!"
"Ooh boy, this is exciting!"
Demon Seal 5/5 - Complete
The darkness around Elphos vanished.
He found himself back in the forest, on sturdy ground, standing in simple grass.
He sighed a sigh of relief.
"Phew. Took them long enough."
He raised his head and took a moment to get his bearings, recovering from his frightening experience. As soon as he was done, he looked around for that child.
"It's no use hiding anymore, kid. This place is sealed. Your powers don't work here and you can't leave until we break it."
Something sounding like Indher calling Elphos' name reached his ears.
"Heh, I hope she won't be an idiot and waltz inside. With her demonic blood she might get stuck inside, too..."
Posted by: Coriko on Tuesday March 11th, 2008
-Helternia, Rivertown Tavern-
Coriko smiled at his friend as he staggered towards his room but soon returned his focus back to the odd man who seemed to have a crush on him.
"I'm sorry, what were we discussing?"
---
-Shaad Oenn-
Druid tossed in his stolen bed. He tossed and turned restlessly. The walls shook every time a group of soldiers would march by. After a few minutes of this Druid got up to see what Baird was doing. Druid was just about to enter the main room when the door broke inwards, splintering into pieces. Druid ducked back into the room behind a wall. He slowed his breathing down and strained to hear what was being said.
"I am Jonoton Oburts! I am with the BeastCorps! We know the fugitives Druid and Baird are residing in this hovel. Please give yourselves up or we will be forced to take actions to subdue you!"
Druid laughed at this and had to come out from behind the wall. He put up his hands with a big smile on his face. He didn't see Baird anywhere in the room. The members of the "BeastCorps" turned to him. They pointed their bolt guns at him. Druid looked this Jonoton Oburts up and down. A scrawny, short, pale man looked back at him. He had on the same armour as the other guards and carried a bolt gun along as well. Druid had a huge smile on his face, "Well Jonoton, I must admit I find that a mighty big claim. From where I am standing you are a small boy who wandered into the big boys sandbox. Go ahead and point your rustic weapons at me, but I guarantee that in five minutes you will be dead and I will be walking out that door."
The guards shuffled and looked uncomfortable. Some glanced at the door making sure their escape route was free. Others looked at Jonoton for advice. Jonoton remained firm. "Well," Druid took a step forward and all the guards took a step back "it's going to be a shame killing you. You may have been a good leader in my army."
Jonoton, outraged, charged at Druid. Druid avoided his clumsy punch and grabbed his arm around the wrist. He then slammed his other hand into Jonoton's elbow breaking his arm. The other soldier's charged at Druid at this point as Jonoton collapsed to the ground. The first guard to attack Druid tripped and then flipped him over his shoulder, into the wall. The next guard ran at Druid with a sword. Druid grabbed the soldier's arm and twisted it. The soldier dropped the sword. Druid then used the guard as a shield when the remaining guards opened fire. The body did a good job as a shield. Once the fire ceased Druid picked up his human shield and threw it at the guards. Two of the soldiers were knocked over, the third rolled out of the way. Druid fired a blast of shadow energy at him which blew off his head. He then picked up Jonoton's bolt gun and walked to the trapped guards and but a bolt in both of their heads. The guard from the wall ran at Druid from behind. Druid spun around and delivered a lethal kick to the soldier's head. The rest of the guards had already run off to get reinforcements. Druid turned around and saw Jonoton, who was still clutching his broken arm.
"I didn't realize you were still alive. Well I was wrong, not five minutes, two." After that he fired a bolt between Jonoton's eyes. The body fell limp. Druid looked around at the six dead bodies and sighed. He opened the door to the other room. Baird lay on the bed sleeping. "GET UP!" Druid yelled.
"What? What's wrong?"
"We need to go, you'll understand when you see the other room." Druid then headed for the front door.
Baird jumped out of bed. Ran after Druid but stopped in the main room. "OH! How did I sleep through that?" He then followed Druid outside.
A large group of guards was running down the street. "Secure the fugitives for the beast!"
"Oh CRAP!" Druid and Baird bolted in the other direction.
Posted by: D. Ein on Wednesday March 12th, 2008
- Gandara -
-"The human offers? This fast? The master will be pleased, then, as to the speediness of your task..."
The priest(?) snapped his fingers. At once, two huge doors behind them cracked open, revealing a mob of people.
People, people, people. Everywhere. All chained together, all confused and scared-looking. People, as far as the eye could see - the enormous building, whose end could not be seen, seemed to be filled with nothing but people.
-"I pray this is enough. Please begin."
- Forest -
The softness of the muffin did slow the fall rather effectively, but left Lily in a state of shock - probably from the sight of an enormous muffin underneath her. Regaining herself, she hopped off, dusted herself, and smiled to Puco.
-"Thank you! That creature there must've been after me. Where did it g-- ah."
The bound Augment didn't really struggle on the ground, just kind of lying there. In fact, since it couldn't use its hands, it wasn't able to even teleport itself out.
-"Shouldn't we... do something... about that?"
Posted by: Mikado on Wednesday March 12th, 2008
~ ~ Gandara ~ ~
"It's... enough."
Outside the church several crosses were places by other shaded figures. Each cross looked dirty... and sad. If you listened you could hear cries coming from it, and blood flowing out. The smell of death was surrounding the church...
"We are protected from the demons... or whatever will come out of what we'll make..."
Several shaded men started writing with pure gold runes around the people. The people had fear in their eyes, some fainted and some cried. Panic, panic, panic. You could hear, smell, feel it.
"Isn't this just a great feeling priest? Soon the most powerful will be ours..."
~ ~ te Muffin ~ ~
Puco sharpened her sences.
- "Unless the controller meany is asleep, we shouldn't do nice things."
And she looked around her for the necromancer...
~ ~ Klawvorn, Briefing Room ~ ~
- "Everything is magic compared to you."
Chaud took the map, and sat down.
- "Nex it is?"
- "Yea."
- "So this will be... a stealth mission... great."
He sat quietly for a few minutes there, and then he started.
- "The seventh regiment base is near the walls... I got a plan my friends."
"A sniper will be sniping random soldiers from this cliff here." He showed a small "X" on the map. "He'll snipe soldiers from the seventh regiment, and they will think it's a attack. They probably ring the bells for the weaker soldiers, Nex won't be bothered."
"The gates will probably be controlled, and you and a few soldiers will go into a trade caravan. The other soldiers will detonate a ignition bomb a few meters of the gate and the base. They start attacking and they will take the attention of the guards. I doubt that they'll think that checking the carriage is more important than a plain attack. In the worse case, Sniper will snipe them down."
"Since the direct line from the attacked wall to the gate meets further on the base, it will look as if you are panicing and fleeing, BUT you will be coming closer to the base. Sniper in Kadarinian suit will infiltrate the base and start killing silently from the inside, causing a ruckus."
"Then you start acting. The main hall on the second stage, that is a perfect defense point. Go there blasting things up. Sniper will cause more panic by yelling things like - "A captain level opponent! Flee if you want to live! Only the best will survive." Soon there will be panic, and from what I heard of Nex, he'll come looking what is happening."
"Send you main troops on different points shown by a red "x", since as strong as they are, they don't compare to you nor Nex, and will be useless. They'll secure the area. Maybe your friends here will aid you, or not, but don't underestimate this captain."
He took a breath, and lighted a cigar.
"This sniper that I'm talking about... it needs to be someone you can depend on... and maybe someone who can help you fighting Nex unlike normal soldiers.
It just happens so that in your absence a small genius grew." He took out a small file out of his pocket and threw it to Duilin. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's the best stealth soldiers of the whole military. Look through his file, you'll be impressed. Nobody scored like this in three years."
He took a deep breath from his cigar.
"His name is Repins Tnelis. And the bombs and disguises... he can take care of them. He's great for this mission, and surely for the panic causing part. You would be a fool not taking him with you..."
Posted by: Ted Der on Wednesday March 12th, 2008
//Sorry for not posting. It's actually harder for me to post on holidays, believe it or not.
-Helternia, Rivertown Tavern-
"Nah, it's okay. I don't need another drink. I think the day's events are getting to me," Martin said while wearily rubbing his eyes. "Thanks for talking with me. Not many people do, because, well... you know."
Martin stood up and stretched his arms. "I should head back to the ship. If you're not busy later, you could always drop by..." he said slyly and smiled. "Well, I'll talk to you later." Martin started to walk towards the door, but stopped and turned briefly before leaving. "That Kylessa... she's a really lucky woman. Hopefully you have found who you were looking for and can return to her soon."
With that, Martin turned, nodded to Akran (who was trying to pay for a room while failing to keep two ladies under his arms) and walked out the tavern door... alone.
Posted by: Xorlak on Wednesday March 12th, 2008
- Phoencian Forest -
A large number of swear words emanated from a bush near Elphos along with a great deal of rustling. After a moment, the tantrum subsided.
"Clever trick, I'll give you that..." A shadow rose from the bush. "Though you are hardly in a position to issue threats..." The child-like demon strode into view, the scythe dragging behind him. His eyes burned murder. "Release me... now!" He leapt into the air, flinging the sickled blade above his head. "Now NOW NOW!!!" With a sideways slash, he aimed to remove the human's head...
Posted by: Coriko on Wednesday March 12th, 2008
-Shaad Oenn-
Druid ran down the deserted street. The sun seemed to be hiding behind the hovels. The steady and unyielding march of the BeastCorps followed closely behind. He and Baird split up a while back and from the looks of it he got away free. Then again why wouldn't he? Baird was a big shot shadow mage and was close to Druid, but why settle for ground beef when you can have steak. Druid ran on.
Occasionally a shot would fire over his shoulder. He would then duck to avoid falling debris and run faster. There was three or four battalions in pursuit. He wouldn't have been surprised if the entire army was back there. Druid took a hard left and then a hard right. He hoped that would throw them off. He ran along the street for a bit and turned right again. He hoped to have lost his tail. Druid turned once more, and was greeted with a dead end. He stopped to catch his breath. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. The soldiers had found him, and were coming to collect their prize.
Druid stood up tall and held his bolt gun out towards the opening. His arm fully extended and his head held high. He stood there and waited. He waited. He waited. Druid's arm stood strong but he was starting to get nervous. The thumps had stopped. All he could hear was his own breathing.
BOOM
Druid was thrown forward, along with the wall from the building behind him. The army had snuck up and blown out the wall he was infront of. He landed and rolled to try and avoid the debris. He spun around, bolt gun ready to fire. However his arms fell and he swore under his breath. As the dust started to clear he could make out the distorted form of the Beast!
Posted by: Jenia on Thursday March 13th, 2008
~Phoenicia Forest~
"Whoa!" Elphos ducked to dodge the scythe "Idiot! We Phoenicians don't stay dead!"
Elphos kept carefully stepping back while dodging the scythe.
"Give up! You are powerless! The worst you can do is make me feel slightly unpleasant!"
Elphos didn't like the idea of pain. Or dying. He was still shaken from the earlier scene, but he kept his wits about.
He then stepped over some writings on the ground...
"Phew! Out of the seal!" Elphos sighed in relief, finally out of harm's way.
A familiar voice reached his ears.
"Hey, I see a demonic seal!"
It was Fernis - his master, who's arrival he awaited for what seemed like forever.
She approached with caution yet curiously and bent down to look at the drawings.
She cackled a smile and stood up soon after.
"A bit rough, but that's what I'd expect from begginers..." she said "They didn't notice they could compress the athemal glyph. Would have taken them four times less time to draw it all."
She then turned around, to face the demonic child still within the barrier. Her eyes lit up. Her smile was vicious. She was obviously plotting something nasty.
"Too bad for you child..." she taunted "...Now that I am here, even if the barrier is put down, you have no chance of escape. I am Indher, creator of the immortal race of Phoenicians, guide to their elders and the Runemaster of the Glimmer Spire. One might say I'm related to you... A distant relative, at best. I've told you my story, now you tell me yours... If I like it, I might give you a range of choices wider than suicide and execution."
Posted by: Dude Man on Thursday March 13th, 2008
- Forest -
Sienna returned to the scene. A giant muffin was in the middle of the forest, what an odd sight that would be for any passer by.
"Okay, so do you think we should get moving now?" She asked the others.
--- ---
- Klawvorn -
"Repins Tnelis?" Duilin asked. "Oh yes, I've heard of him. Quite a skilled man he is, I was actually thinking of inviting him into my squad, but I thought I was hogging all of the best guys so I didn't."
Duilin turned to his brother.
"So, Valos. Does his plan sound like it will work?"
"Yeah." Valos nodded.
"Okay well, we better get everyone involved grouped up and work this plan out then." Duilin said. "We'll make our move tomorrow."
"Sounds good. I could use some rest anyways." Valos said. "Do you have a bedroom for me?" He asked.
"Yes I do. But first we have some things to talk about."
"What?"
"We'll talk after we're done with Chaud." Duilin replied, he then looked at the general. "Actually, if that's all maybe you could get this plan on paper or something, and get that Tnelis guy. I'd like to know him a little more before we head out."
//Chapter ends in 3 days (March 15th, Saturday)\\
Posted by: Mikado on Friday March 14th, 2008
~ ~ Klawvorn ~ ~
"Done already."
When the two spoke, he wrote the whole thing out. Formations and plans, plus some extra things. Even a simple soldier could see that if these formations were formed the weakest could defeat the strongest.
Chaud stood up and left the papers on the desk. He walked up to Duilin, took the sheet of Repnis saying: "I'll be needing this."
He walked towards the door and turned his head.
"Well I hope you won't mess up my plans, it would be a waste huh? Valos mister, please keep an eye on him, he tends to fly to high from time to time." With a grin he left.
"If you'll die, you'll suck, so don't." This was his way of showing that he didn't wanted Duilin to die. For whatever reasons.
Somewhere else a message was said, and one received and answered.
"I'll come as quickly as possible!"
And Repnis Tnelis was walking quickly towards the room of the High General
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday March 14th, 2008
- Klawvorn -
Duilin rolled his eyes at Chaud's comments. "I won't die." Duilin assured. He then looked at Valos. "Okay, I want to get back on the subject of Sienna."
"Why? What does it matter?" Valos asked.
"Because she went insane because of you. She tried to kill me and my friends. She was helping the Dark Empire."
"Well, it's a harsh world. Lots of people go insane. Take me for example." Valos smirked.
"So, because you had a shitty life, you make sure others have one too?"
Valos rubbed his chin and then nodded "Yeah, pretty much."
"You make me sick."
"Thank you." Valos replied. "Now, if you excuse me. I'm going to get some rest." He got up and left the briefing room.
It looked like Duilin was going to have to give this conversation some time, he really needed to figure out why Valos enslaved Sienna like that. He wasn't sure if Valos answers were truthful.
Posted by: Mikado on Friday March 14th, 2008
Repnis passed Valos on his way to the briefing room.
He knocked trice.
"Erm, Sir? Was I called?"
Posted by: Xorlak on Friday March 14th, 2008
- Phoencia Forest -
Melface hissed as he floated off the ground, striking at an invisible something in the air with his massive scythe. The runes burned brightly, and he was forced back.
"Tch! You bare no relation to me. A wretch with as impure blood as yourself bares no hope of even causing me harm."
He floated back like a ghost then tried ramming the invisible barrier, causing him to spin wildly backwards. "Out! Let me out! Now NOW NOW!!!!"
Posted by: Dude Man on Friday March 14th, 2008
- Klawvorn -
"Repnis. It's good to see you again." Duilin greeted. "Now, as you probably already know, we're going to be going on a mission tomorrow to attack a Kandarinian Base. I thought I'd just get to know you a little better, that's just the way I am. Plus I'd just like to know your past experience and such. Just give me a brief history on your military carrier and such."
---
Valos entered his room. It was nothing fancy, just a simple guest room with a bed, a desk with a drawer next to it and a wardrobe.
"Nicer then the last few places I've slept." Valos commented.
He sat down on the bed and took off his boots and kicked them off next to the door and laid down. This was a good day, things are falling into place. Soon, he'll get his revenge on the Talonscar and then he'll be able to settle the score with his brother when he shows he's stronger than him. If Valos can kill Nex then Duilin will be no problem.
But should he turn against Duilin?
Yes of course he should, Duilin and his friends have been haunting him ever since they set foot on the Crimson Palace all those years ago. It was their fault all those bad things happened to him, really.
Well enough crazy thoughts, time for some sleep.
//Chapter ends tomorrow.\\
Posted by: Jenia on Saturday March 15th, 2008
~Phoenicia Forest~
"It appears this little rat doesn't understand the position it's in..."
Indher laughed softly at the child's futile attempts to strike the barrier.
"Very well. I came prepared. I picked up something on the way..."
She took out a small, round and pitch-black onyx.
"It has never been tested. But I assume the process of being sucked inside is... Painful."
"Wait!" Elphos stopped her "Why don't you employ the spheroid capturing device left by two demons?"
"You mean, the one made of two hemispheres, one white, one red?"
"Yes, that one!"
"I'd have to modify it into a master capturing device first. Until then, these black onyxs will do."
She outstretched the hand holding the black onyx, and black fog began to surround it, slowly expanding around it.
"...Go."
The black fog moves into the barrier, surrounding the child-like demon, and began to close in on him.
"...Soon, everything will turn black for you. Farewell, child..."
Posted by: Mikado on Saturday March 15th, 2008
~~ Klawvorn ~~
"Yes, sir, Yes!" Repins awnsered.
So the powerful high general chose him? He felt very proud.
"Once I entered the military I was placed in the frontal warroirs sir. However they said I was a good for nothing, and the sword was too heavy for me, while a knife too small. I was a below avarage soldier, when I was sent on my first mission. A few riots were going on in the north, and we had to defeat a small group of rebels to silence it. I was only sent because my commander felt bad for me, me not doing anything. I was placed in the back, I didn't need to do anything dangerous, sir."
"But something went wrong, and we were attacked from behind. It was a horror sir. Dead everywhere. It was a Kand's trap! I moved more forward only to meet my comrades as zombies. We had only one fourth of our army left, and no way out. I took a small bow and I decided to kill the necromancer, for then the army would fall. I shot and succeeded. The necromancer fell, and the army too. I was seen as a hero, and it was only a matter of time before I arrived in the assasins team. I've assasined not only high ranked soldiers, but caused whole cities to fall. Not with sheer power, but just with my tactics, sir."
"This is all sir!"
Posted by: Dude Man on Saturday March 15th, 2008
- Klawvorn -
"Alright, alright. Sounds good." Duilin nodded. "It'll be a pleasure doing this mission with you. We're gonna be heading out tomorrow morning so get some good sleep, soldier."
After Repins left, Duilin sat down on one of the chairs and looked out the window. He hoped he could get some sleep, there was a lot on his mind. After several minutes of just sitting there thinking he got up and walked through the hallways whistling some random tune.
He was hoping he'd find Sienna soon. He was worried about her, and she's the only person from her old family left. She was a fairly skilled fighter too, she put up a good fight for Duilin and would make a very good alley. He needed more people with that sort of skill now that Zeros', Zion and the others are all gone. He then headed up into his bedroom, which he shared with his wife Bell.
It was going to be an interesting day tomorrow...
Posted by: Mikado on Saturday March 15th, 2008
~ ~ Forest ~ ~
"Ah..." Puco nodded, and took the girls hand and both jumped of the muffin.
"Let's go! We need to help Sienny find Duiy-oniichan!"
And with joy they continued.
Posted by: Xorlak on Saturday March 15th, 2008
- Phoencia Forest -
Melface's face contorted in an absolute feral scowl as he repeatedly slashed at the black fog. "You will pay! You will pay!!!" Slowly the fog engulfed him as his eyes burned crimson. After the blackness dissipated, there appeared to be no trace of the child-like demon...
To be continued...