| ARCHIVES |
Echoes of Strife | ||
|---|---|---|
| Information about the Story | ||
| Chapter I | ||
| Chapter II | ||
| Chapter III | ||
| Chapter IV | ||
| Chapter V | ||
| Chapter VI | ||
| Chapter VII | ||
| Chapter VIII | ||
| Chapter IX | ||
| Chapter X | ||
| Chapter XI | ||
| Chapter XII | ||
Talk Page
The talk page can be found here.
Echoes of Strife: Gaiden
- Want to write a backstory to your character, but don't want to interupt the story or have other editors edit it? Then go here to add it.
Story VII:Echoes of Strife
To discuss the story, please go to Forum:Echoes of Strife/Discussion 4, or the main forum page, Forum:Echoes of Strife
Guidelines
Read it before doing anything, or I'm using the old method in WoD again:
- The first rule of editing is that you do not talk about the story.
- READ PRECISELY BEFORE ADDING ANYTHING!!!!: Did you know how much loose ends you all make, and how much me, Adam, 8-bit and Yuan has to clean up for you guys!?
- SLOW DOWN!!!!: Don't rush the whole thing just because it's your starring time, did you know that you're basically cramming the whole filth into a person's throat!?
- NO ADD ELEMENTS!!!!!: Stop using web words, like SoB, or whatever, It makes the story crap and degrading!}}
- Remember: Wait for four rounds before having another turn. I got edit conflicted 10 times by the same 2 people. Maybe wait for several people to add to it? I'm asleep when the wiki's most active, and it's damn irritating to only edit the story once or twice a day whilst everyone has just added pages to it.
- Please read through your addition, spelling errors are irritating
- Try to focus on people other than your character. I know it's hard, but try.
- If you do a "MEANWHILE", get back to the other stuff before ending your comment.
- Don't talk about the story.
- Please read through the disscussion page before editing. There may be new things that should be included or avoided.
Chapter XIII
Hearing TSD's exclamation, the Order jumped in surprise. "Are you kidding? Who - and how!?" Aeon said TSD lead the order to Hexed's room, where the Knight's corpse is show lying in the floor, along with the scattered pages of books and records. "He doesn't have any pulse, he's dead." Alain said as the inspected Hexed's dead body. "Such a wound...who - or what pierced Hexed isn't something you see out of the ordinary." Feathin exclaimed. "Wait...the wound..I can feel an intense surge of Light inside, and slowly fading...." Yuan said cautiously. "Such a shame....to be killed by the Light" TSD said, while she shot a look at Yuan. Noticing, Alain stood up, and reprimanded TSD. "It isn't Yuan, TSD." "That's what happened when Dark Cloud went out wandering alone as well." "Don't be stupid. Yuan was with us the whole time Hexed was assaulted." "Are you sure?" TSD snipped sarcastically. "What was that?" Alain said with his tone rising. "Stop this. This isn't helping us. First things first, Hexed is one of our more capable fighters, with his death, the Empire will surely be easier to target and destroy us. Speaking of which..." Faethin said, while looking at Padma. "Don't look at me! I do not seek to kill Hexy! I'm innocent. Tell them! Aeon-" "We should at least give Hexed a proper burial, not only as an ally in the battle, also as a friend." Aeon looked at the order convincingly, whereas the order nodded. Carrying Hexed's corpse, the order buried Hexed near the cathedral, where the sun would shine to his grave. Yuan was chanting a blessing, with Faethin, along with Aeon is digging a grave for the fallen warrior. "Farewell my friend, you are indeed an invaluable ally, not just as a knight, also as a friend. Though you spirit may be gone, your memories shall always be with us. O great warrior, rest in peace." "I've brought his weapons." Alain said, while taking the Gugnir and the shatter remains of the Excalibur with him. "Rest in peace Hexed. Though we may not know who did this, your shall be avenged." "Wait!" Yuan said while the others were taking the Excalibur. "Let me see that sword!" Taking the blade of the Excalibur, Yuan jumped in surprise, as upon further inspection, she noticed that the crystal was gone. "The crystal...it's gone!" "What crystal?" Faethin asked. "The core of Excalibur, it's gone...but, how, and why would someone knew that the core is what makes the Excalibur of the Light?" Hey look at this, before Hexed's death, there's a manuscript he's been reading." Alain walked towards the order, and showed them pieces of the papers Hexed had been reading. | |||
Hexedmagica - Rathalos: World Tour/All Ass Sword TALK - My companions' feelings have been etched upon this body. I'll change this eternal darkness into light! Heaven and Earth! One who matches the gods! CHOUGINGA GURREN-LAGANN! {{{time}}} | |||
"Hexed was killed while reading these. Whoever killed him must not be wishing for this information to be known." Alain said grimly. "The diagrams show blueprints for an "Ultima Weapon"... | |||
"An Ultima Weapon?" queried SCM. "What is that?"
Alain shook his head. "I do not know...The pages are much tattered and bloodstained. I have never heard of such, although there were...rumours...of a store of ancient and dangerous documents kept in the church. Heretical knowledge, tales of wondrous lands and technologies, weapon designs too, perhaps." "From what I can make out though, this device seems to be for transforming Light into Dark and-" Aeon squinted at the manuscript "Something else. Which is then used to create - I can't read it. This bit here though...it's a list of the things required. The Light and Dark of many mages, a catalyst of Balance, Espers of Light and Dark as a focus- This must be what Diablo is trying to do!" "Then Hexed was murdered for reading this? But how could anyone have known?" TSD let her gaze slide over to Yuan again. One of us... "That was not the only document there," Alain said. "Look, here's a book I found nearby. I think it dropped under his bed, the damage to it is not recent. "On the Nature of Light, Dark and Balance"..." Yuan snapped her fingers and teleported the book out of his hands, suprising the Order. "This is an extremely rare and valuable book," she announced. "There are few, if any other copies here today. As the only academic, I think it is best if I keep it." "Why so keen to keep it, Yuan?" demanded TSD. "What if it contains clues to who murdered Hexed, or why there was a surge of Light within the wound?" "This book is an important treatise on Light and Dark, and of little practical use to us," replied Yuan calmly. "The information is likely to be esoteric or nonsensical to one who has not studied the uses of the Light, as I have done. It is also incredibly fragile, and needs special protection. Therefore, it stays with me. Do you wish to challenge me on this?" Without waiting for a reply, Yuan carefully cast a spell over it, and placed it in her bag. "The spell will not protect it inside the caverns, but there is little I can do about that." "Is that all then, Yuan? Anything other items of "academic interest" that you wish to protect?" asked Aeon, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's go and check on Dark Cloud now," said SCM hurridly in the frosty silence that followed. "He may be awake, and I think it's in everyone's best wishes to leave as soon as possible." Nelo stood on an outcropping of rock on the tablelands, searching the skies for an airship. From time to time he tossed a white gem from hand to hand, smiling slightly. Perfect. A better bargaining chip than I could ever have hoped for. I had thought only to have information to give...But now Hexed's death and this gem. He could hear the clamouring of a voice within the gem. Wait a moment. You'll be reunited soon...Perhaps. I wonder what Diablo will do when confronted with this choice? | |||
8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - {{{time}}} | |||
Padma pouted at her airship parked outside the monastery, then let it vanish and turned to Aeon. "Snookums, don't you want to ride in the airship? It shall make my... -our- traveling much easier if we fly in the Golden Fruit Version 2.0...." Padma whined to Aeon, as the remainder of the Order completed packing with grim faces. "We're not lending you our trust, no matter how honeyed your words are. We're leaving through the Elementine Caverns, and you're welcome to leave us at any time. And what's that?" Aeon pointed at Padma's belt, where a miniscule black device lay hidden by the garish magenta and golden silks that flowed around her waist. "This ungainly little thing? Don't ask me; all I know that it clashes horribly with my outfit. It's built into my belt, but returning to more passionate and important matters - snookums, please, please let me take you aboard the Fruit! You will be dazzled by its lavish interiors, its suave designs...." "And the swarm of Imperial minions waiting for us when it docks at Tesendar. Sure. And don't call me 'snookums'". Aeon hoisted three burlap bags over his shoulder and walked towards SCM, who was packing nearby. Padma rushed tearfully over to her flying machine, nearly knocking her butler over as she tore open the airship door. No one paid her any heed. "Is it so wise to let her escaped with our secrets in hold?" Faethin asked. "The charming raven will ever return to whisper in its master's ear." "Isn't there some sort o' magic to keep an eye on 'er?" Nauk whispered furtively to Yuan and SCM. "Some sorta spy magic, or summat?" "There is the Sight spell, which does act as a sort of magic eye that provides the caster a vision of the target's own experiences, no matter the distance." SCM replied. "Ensorcling Padma with it is futile," Yuan interjected in a dead voice. "Sight's incantion takes time, and the casting itself involves a great deal of flashing Light. This is hardly unnoticeable by the victim, who would promptly Dispel the magic." "Padma may be an airhead, but she isn't stupid." Aeon joined the conversation. "She wouldn't take well to us making a spy out of her." At that moment, the General came rushing out of the Golden Fruit, clad in an oversized azure jacket and ordering two parcel-laden servants to follow her. "What the hell are all those?" TSD growled at Padma, who flashed an innocent grin. "I couldn't miss the chance to bring along all my favorite delicacies that I stowed away for my little trip!" she warbled, opening a package's lid and triggering a pungent odor in the air. "Including broasted Behemoth steaks. But I'm afraid I can't have my little Imperial underlings tagging along with me on my Resistance vacation. Bad image, sorry." The twin servants shot exasperated glances at each other, but Padma continued: "Snookums will carry my morsels, won't you, Aeon? PILE IT ON HIM!" "Wait - what the - you're joking -" Aeon's complaints were muffled as the butlers eagerly transferred their burden to him, ran back to the airship, and initiated the takeoff process. "Shall we be going, then?" Padma cooed as the Golden Fruit rose into the air and disappeared behind a layer of clouds. "I suppose we're prepared..." Faethin said dryly. "Odin said the entrance to the cavern was concealed amongst a prominent line of spruce, so that is where we strike out for." One by one, they all departed the decaying monastery, none of them glancing back at the place where their leader had fallen and now lay peacefully under fields of stark white. Only Alain paused under the crumbling arch, staring at the massive bell tower. Then he turned and followed the rest of the Order into the unending mass of forest. (I'll change the archive so Odin recommends that the party take the Cavern route, since the "going into town" suggestion was rejected.) Also, this was kind of a rushed and awkward edit, since I was acting on Yuan's hint :P I wanted to add more, but it's kind of late. Hopefully people won't go through the Cavern really quickly, because I wanted to begin a plot point concerning that location...... hint. ^^ | |||
At the outskirts of the forest the Order made rest, after many hours of hard march. The night was about to fall and a chilly wind from the north forced them to lit a hasty fire with what little fir-wood they could easily find. "I'm freezing!" said TSD, wrapping her cloak around her and sitting next to Aeon. "My components are gonna get spoiled if this wind keeps up!" "Trust me," said Alain, stoically sitting with his legs crossed. "These woods are better left alone during the night." "What is it with them, anyway?" asked Aeon. "The Falae are cursed," Alain said. "The work of the ones I once called my brothers." "Everything is cursed," said Cloud, sulkily. "It's either the forest, the town, the monastery, hell, every place we've been to seems to be "cursed" in some way or another!" "It's called "War", kid," said SCM. "You'd best quiet down if you're just going to make a scene." "Don't call me a kid, you...!" "Peace!" cried Alain. "The last thing we need before these woods is strife amongst us. | |||
Aeon truned over in his sleep and bumped his head on one of Padma's many trunks. "Stupid Padma and her stupid trunks," he muttered to him self, standing up to find a new place to sleep. Truning himself around, he saw the woods and within them something strange. Standing in a small clearing about 100 feet from him was a woman, her hair clothes and skin completley white, with eyes with eyes of a deep, cold blue. Aeon wiped at his eye, thinking the strange person a hallucination from waking so early, but she was still there, with a sinister smile on her face. "This doesn't look good," Aeon said, his hand straying to his sword. As he did this, various other figures like the woman stepped out from behind the trees and began to advance with her. They were men and women, old and young, all completely white save their eyes. "Guys, there are people in the woods! And they don't look helpful!" Aeon was beginning to panic a little as the small horde slowly drew closer. | |||
Hexedmagica - Rathalos: World Tour/All Ass Sword TALK - My companions' feelings have been etched upon this body. I'll change this eternal darkness into light! Heaven and Earth! One who matches the gods! CHOUGINGA GURREN-LAGANN! {{{time}}} | |||
"This is why I said to not go into the woods, said Alain. They are the results of the experiments the rest of my order carried out. We wove magicks into their flesh. The Light we used corrupted them, creating these.. things. They cannot withstand exposure to the Light of day, such is the saturation of Light in their flesh..." | |||
8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - {{{time}}} | |||
"That weakness doesn't do us much good," mumbled Aeon, looking up at the pre-dawn sky. There was no moon. "We had best distance ourselves from these mutants," Alain said quickly. To draw their wrath would be foolish..." "sss...Your sin has already drawn punishment," the ghostly woman announced suddenly, sending chills running down everyone's spines. Her comrades nodded, groaning, and began to draw closer to the Order. "I think we should be getting to the Cavern now..." Kiefcha said in a very small voice. "sss...You... traitor." She pointed a spindly, white finger at Alain, and this one action of condemnation caused the monk's face to become as pale as her entire body. "sss...You dragged us screaming into night. We thought of your order as divine, and you branded us with suffering. We saw your Light as a beacon. You saw in us tools of Light's zealotry. sss... We placed in you our trust. You placed in us disease. I gave you love eternal. You gave me torment undying." "No... I meant only... only to serve..." Alain was crumpling before the woman's gaze, her blue eyes twin icicles through his heart. "Alain, who is she? What wrong have you committed against her?" Dark Cloud asked fearfully, but Yuan placed a hand over his mouth, readying a protective spell. "sss...And you..." The shining monster turned calmly to the White Mage. "We were destroyed in the vain hope of creating a caricature of the Light. sss...So fitting that the failures should destroy the vessel, so that Light unbidden no longer damns innocent lives in its wake." At this, the entire pack of beings let out bloodcurling screams, and the Order broke off at a run, fleeing further into the forest. "Where the hell are we running to?" TSD yelled, crashing through rows and rows of evergreen, the pallid horde a short distance behind. "The Elemantine Cavern is supposed to dispel magic," Faethin yelled back. "Our only hope is that the beasts cannot enter it." The dirt suddenly gave way beneath their feet, and they tumbled down through layers of sharp, blue-green needles, landing at the base of a perfect line of trees. Aeon let out a painful "oof" as one of Padma's trunks broke his fall by catching him in the stomach. "Don't shatter my precious jewlery!!!" Padma cried, as she ran over to Aeon, grabbed his hand, and brought him to his feet with a suprisingly powerful tug. The white humanoids appeared on the cliff at the very tops of the spruces, shrieking as the jumped down to the clearing below. "The Cave! The Cave!" Nauk yelled, pointing towards a gaping hole in the face of a hill directly in front of the Order. They rushed forward into the cavern, pale faces gnashing angrily just outside. The Elemantine Cavern was in almost pitch black darkness. "Lamp. Lamp. Lamp!!! SCM chanted, but TSD whacked him over the haed with her mace. "What part of 'no magic' don't you understand?" "Shut up." Aeon said, wincing slightly. "We need to conserve our energy. We have no idea how long this path goes on, and we have no idea where it leads us. Being unable to access any spells doesn't help either." "Then our only choice is to trudge on-" Yuan began, but a peculiar sound suddenly filled the cave. A faint point of light appeared within the darkness before them, growing steadily and steadily brighter. The sound grew louder and louder, and the Order turned to each other in fear. "Are we gonna withstand this thing?" Nauk asked. "Sounds to me like a giant motor's gonna make us into pancakes pretty soon!" The circle of light was fast approaching, and characteristic chugging and tooting noises enveloped the narrow cave. "Wait!" SCM said. "Protect! Shell! PROTECT! "OH FOR THE LOVE OF ALCHEMY, LET'S JUST TAKE OUR CHANCES OUTSIDE!" TSD screamed, and everyone rushed back towards the entrance of the cave, where glowing blue eyes waited intently. As soon as their feet touched the ground outside the cavern, rings of yellow and blue shields formed around the Order, and a torrent of brilliant light burst forth, causing the pale figures to shrink back from the heat. The Order quickly dived to the side of the entrance, as a large roaring sounding erupted from the Cavern. A very large and elongated form, neither insect nor machine, began circling around the line of spruce, trampling the white monsters and sending many scurrying back into the undergrowth. After all were crushed or had fled, the thing came to a slowing halt in front of the Order. It had a seemingly endless mouth with sharp teeth, a jewel on its forehead which was the source of light, and its body was likewise an endless chain of orange and red spikes and abdomen-like sections. "That was fun," said the centipede-like thing, its mouth twisting upward in a grotesque but joyful smile. "I haven't had vistors in quite some time." The humans before him merely gaped. "Oh, excuse me. I am Doomtrain, Light Esper of Poison and principle guide to the Elemantine Caverns. Haven't had much business as of late, I always seem to lose track of the few tourists that do show up, or maybe it's because they accidentally end up squished underneath me- but look at this!" It inclined its cone-shaped head towards Yuan. "The Pearl Staff! I knew I would be visited by someone of worth one day! My lady, what services may I offer you?" "You could start by telling us where this passage ends up." Faethin interjected. "Ah, charming lad." Doomtrain rattled his teeth. "The full secrets of the Elemantine Cavern, no mortal tounge can tell. Good thing I can be your guide! What say we venture in, my new tour group!" The Esper's face suddenly disappeared, reappearing on a segment closer to the entrance of the cave. "Tally ho!" Everyone looked at Yuan. She stared straight ahead and followed the receding form of Doomtrain back into the cave. The rest of the Order reluctantly followed suit. Once they re-entered the Elemantine darkness, the protective husks of Protect and Shell immediately faded away. "Ah, right. I guess the magic doesn't work in here, hmm?" SCM said innocently. Everyone else moaned and headed after Yuan and her new Esper. Everyone except for TSD, who stood perfectly still, comprehension dawning on her face. She broke out of her reverie and ran up to SCM, whispering furtively in his ear. | |||
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"Hmmph." With a chilly look, 8 swiftly left the command room, not before saying. "The Order are no immobilized statues, they're more like rats. Or pests. Tell me, do you think you truly can capture them? Please do enlighten me." "8! mind your manners!" an elder consult said. "It matters not, let him be. He doesn't have much to play in this story no longer. Eziah, hunt the orders down, and take the commanders with you. Do resort to 'extreme' measures if they do not wish to follow." With a smile, Diablo walked away, leaving the rest of the commanders a puzzled look. | |||
Adam stood on the deck of the airship, looking down at the single figure amongst the stone outcroppings. Nelo...What does he want? What does he know about me?. He curtly signalled for the pilots to bring the airship down.
"What do you want, Nelo?" he began without preamble. "If this is even you..." "Who else could it be?" Nelo replied. "And if I'm not...what matters is what I have. I want you to take me to see Diablo." "What? You think I'm going to let you see him just like that?" "Very well then. Tell him this: "I have Faina's Light. If he wants her back, he must let me help with his "cure". If not...I think the Order will be very interested in this." Adam sighed. "Blackmail. Very well then, I'll take your message, but I wouldn't expect a yes.” "Expect? Oh no, I already know." The Order made their way through the Elemantine Caverns silently, each footstep swallowed up by the stygian gloom. The darkness was broken only by the soft glow of lights along the Esper's body. Only Doomtrain seemed comfortable, sending a constant stream of low burbling and chuckles to an unresponsive Yuan. Finally, Faethin moved towards Yuan and tapped her on the shoulder. "How long, my lady?" His words rang hollowly within the caves. "I don't know." "What do you seek?" "I seek no longer." "Where do we head?" "Oh quit asking Yuan questions, samurai!" snapped Dark Cloud. "Who made her leader of the party? Especially considering..." he grimaced at his still raw wounds. "No one made you leader, either," interjected Alain. "Keep calm. I like not this darkness, nor what it may hide. And the samurai does raise some good points." He turned to Doomtrain. "How long until we reach the exit?" "Well, it depends where you want to go..." the Esper rumbled. "We head towards Tesendaria," said Yuan. "Are you kidding, Yuan!?" SCM gaped. "You want us to walk straight into the lion's mouth?" "This story must end. We can't run away any longer. I want to confront the Emperor, end this battle...while we still have the strength." Dark Cloud gave a bitter laugh. "End it? It's obvious how this will end - with our deaths! Well, I'm not heading into this prettily laid out trap. Make your own way, I'm going back to save Labradia." "Dark Cloud, you can't possibly leave the Order now," protested TSD. "Order? What Order? Your commander's dead, the headquarters are gone, and 6 of "us" aren't even from the actual Order!" Dark Cloud softened his tone. "You are free to accompany me. I won't stop fighting - I'll take back Labradia, build supplies, press back the Empire. Better than throwing my life away on a foolish venture. Are you with me?" TSD sighed, and said. "I'm with you." Kiefcha and Nauk nodded their agreement. "SCM, are you coming?" To their surprise, SCM shook his head. "No. I have to go to Tesendaria. There is someone I must face...But I wish you well." "So, four of you leave. Go wherever you wish," intoned Yuan dully. "Faethin?" "I follow you, as always, my lady," the samurai replied. "As do I," said Alain. "Aeon and I are going to Tesendaria, aren't we my dear?" Padma glared at Aeon until he nodded reluctantly. "Hmhmhm," hummed Doomtrain. "A parting of the ways, eh? In that case, I best leave you at the main exit then...Say, why don't you jump onboard? It will be much so much easier." An opening appeared near the head of the Esper's body, showing a dimly lighted compartment lined with seats. "All aboard!" The Order hesitantly climbed onboard, looking curiously at the upholstered interior. "Welcome to Esper Railway Incorporated. Please sit down, make yourselves comfortable, and enjoy the ride. We shall arrive at our destination soon. Have a great trip! Toot toot!" With a loud roar and clank of gears, the opening slid shut and Doomtrain put on a burst of speed, moving with astonishing swiftness to the pinprick of light which signaled the exit. (The stage is yours, Diablo! ;)) | |||
8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - 04:20, 19 June 2009 (UTC) | |||
Well, I'm taking a shot at bringing this back. We'll see where it leads ^^ Doomtrain's interior was padded with unexpected richness, red seats lined along his rectangular body. Only when the Order took their seats did they realize that Doomtrain was somewhat more narrow that they first thought; each person touched feet with the person opposing them. Faethin and Alain flanked Yuan, throwing peripheral glances at each other, but the White Mage in the middle merely stared dully across at TSD, who fidgeted in her satin red chair. "This is.... very... nice." SCM muttered. He stared at the end of the compartment at what seemed to be a door into the next, adorned with spikes, a grimancing skull, and various intricate patterns. "Alchemy runes," came Doomtrain voice, echoing strangly around the otherwise silent room. "Esper of Poison motif, you know. Very stylish. We've only a few minutes to go. Chugga chugga!" Apparently exasperated with Yuan's vacant stare, TSD rose and consulted the doorway. Padma was rubbing Aeon's hand incessantly, all the while batting her eyelashes, which were quite obviously fake. "Aeon, dearie, I'm quite upset that you dropped most of my precious belongings on our little jog here. I don't know what I shall do without my succulent behemoth stea-" "In case you hadn't noticed, Padma, we were running for our lives from crazy white demons. You'll live." Aeon tugged his hand out of hers. Across from him, Alain was in deep thought. Falae... light incarnate. Destined to bring Light back to refulgence, only to fall from destiny's grasp. And I... and her... and her...... Holy..... "Are we there yet?" Dark Cloud sulked and fidgeted in his luxurious scarlet seat. "Shut up, please," SCM said in a singsong voice. Padma fidgeted in her seat. TSD returned to her seat and fidgeted again. "Shall we discuss favored literature?" Faethin asked, trying to break the muted curtain that had once again fallen over the compartment. "I'm quite partial to the lyrical verses in the anthology An Octet of Various Dreams by Rudacio Jorvan..." BOOM. "CURSES and CANNONBALLS!" Doomtrain's shrill voice rang. "The Cavern! it's collapsing! We've only a short path to go! Hang on!" The Esper's whistle tooted painfully as it accelerated, rubble raining down from the earthen ceiling. Inside, the Order looked through Doomtrain's small windows at chunks of rock smashing into the train's hull. Suddenly, Doomtrain stalled, his wheels grinding to a forceful halt. "I've lost power, chug. You'll need to get out.... wheeze...." They all left the compartment into the almost pure blackness outside. The falling dust had subsided, for now. "I need to rest... taken q-quite a pounding to the head..." Doomtrain mumbled nonsensically. Yuan drew him into her Pearl Staff. "We can walk to the exit," she said, and turned towards the now larger gap of light only a minute's walk away. She had just finished speaking when the cavern began to quake again. SCM looked at the falling ceiling and a spark of thought went of in his mind and the entire Order ran quickly towards the exit, hands shielding their heads. Suddenly, the light radiating from the exit was almost entirely obscured, and the crahing of rocks from the ceiling gave way to a forceful chopping noise. The Golden Fruit 2.0 roared in, lights illuminating the cave, blades buzzing wildly. It barely fit in the cramped quarters of the cavern, but if Doomtrain could fit, so could the helicopter. Behind the craft trailed a rope ladder entwined with beautiful blue bows, now whipping frantically in the soil of the cavern floor. The Golden Fruit stopped just in front of the group, hovering in midmair. Behind the dust-covered windshield, a butler motioned frantically as more dirt tumbled down. Padma took advantage of the Order's suprise and gracefully somersaulted over Aeon, snatching one of her burgeoning trunks as she hit the apex of her parabolic path. From it, she withdrew a curiously shaped, vegetable-like object and threw it in the air. "Hey!!!" TSD exclaimed. That's one of my- BOOM. Naseous green gas filled the cave, almost shutting out the light from the Golden Fruit. Behind the layer of haze, Padma jumped onto the rope ladder and called out gleefully: "My apologies, Twilight twits! I've much enjoyed our time together, but fate calls me away, back to posh lifestyles and exquisite company! To be impeccably, perfectly honest, it was quite a drag paling around with ruffians such as yourselves. Expect for dear Aeon, though! Must fly, I've all the information I need. Toodle-.... HEY!!!! LET GO!!!!" The last few words were yelled in much more coarse and deeper voice than the others. Dark Cloud had leapt up and taken hold of Padma's belt. He expected to tug her down easily, but with suprising strength, she tore his hand away. In her hurry, she dropped her trunk, which landed painfully on Faethin. "NOW YOU'VE DONE IT!" Padma roared. A butler appeared at the door and hastily tried to pull her inside, but was quickly rebuffed. "RAIN OF TORRENTIAL TERRA!" Padma spun her twin swords at an alarming rate, slashing the rock ceiling with extreme force. As more earth poured down, she darted inside the Golden Fruit, which sped off into the light. Cracks spread across the cave in a web-like fashion, creating a sound not unlike breaking ice. From out of nowhere, there was a random, brilliant flash of light. The magic-absorbing magicite lining the walls cracked and crumbled. Stone crashed down in bullets as the Elemantine Cavern collapsed. Aeon opened his eyes to almost complete darkness, save for a candle Alain was holding. By its dim light, he could make out Faethin and Yuan's pallid faces standing next to him. "Are we... still inside?" he asked. Yuan nodded. "Inside, but alive. We could not find anyone else. The exit is not to be seen, anywhere. We'll need to call upon Doomtrain to take us back to the entrance when he has returned to proper strength. For now, we wait." In silence, Aeon thought moodily. "Hey, what's this?" Under the faint rays of the candle flame he could barely make out both of Padma's trunks, mercifully intact despite the barrage of stone. When TSD awoke, SCM and Nauk were looking over her. They were outside, a vast expanse of green flatlands stretched before them, and a plethora of rubble lay behind them. SCM grinned. "I bet you're wondering how we got out? Well as soon as the roof started to collapse, I figured my magic would work, the tunnel's spell being interrupted an all. And the exit was so close, I was able to teleport us out with ease. Unfourtatley, my spell seems to have an area of effect..." As his voice trailed off, his gaze fell upon DC. Dark Cloud has standing apart from them, sifting through the rubble. "Not everyone made it. And he's been like that for the past hour." "I can't believe your idiocy actually saved our lives. Who would have thought?" She lay still as Kiefcha bandaged up some of her wounds. Behind them lay the caved-in Elemantine Caverns, sealed off from the outside world. Within, four of their comrades remained, left with no choice but to forage ahead into the plains, where the Empire's forces and Nelo would soon converge. Sorry for chewing off your ears. As outlined, we have a group split. Please tell me if I forgot to account for someone. | |||
Aeon leaned against the pile of rock behind him with a discontented look on his face. A few feet away, Faethin, Yuan and Alain were huddled around the candle's small light. They had already gone through Padma's trunks, finding nothing but more of her ridiculous colothes, a few maps that may have proved useful outside, and a strange bottle of pills. "You know, burning that thing will only use up our air faster," Aeon said with a slightly angry tone. 'Of all the people in the world to be stuck in a cave with, I get the three biggest light zealots to ever breathe.' He found this to be a cruel irony. "It doesn't matter." Yuan had a very frank look on her face. "Doomtrain will be ready within the hour. Then we will escape." Faethin and Alain nodded in agreement. "And if we don't have an hour's worth of air left?" Aeon's pointed question was met with the same grim faces. Aeon stood up and huffed loudly. "What now?" Faethin was looking at him annoyedly. "You people of the light may be uncomfortable here, but I'm in my element. And I think that if you'd blow out that candle, you'd find me a lot more useful." "Why would we rely on a servant of the darkness for help!? You are nothing more than a herectic!" Alain shouted at Aeon. "I'm not telling you what to do, I'm offering a suggestion." Aeon replied calmly. Faethin, Yuan and Alain all stared at the candle and at each other. Yuan took the candle from Alain and rose. "Fine, but you only get one chance, Aeon." She licked her finger tips and held them over the flame. "Make it count," with that she extinguished the small light, allowing darkness to flood the enclosure. Right away, Aeon felt a surge of strength, and found that he could see perfectly with the small orb in his eye socket. 'Here goes nothing' he thought to himself as he drew Hrunting from his back. He was still reluctand, and maybe a bit scarred, to use the new sword. Aeon let a small amount of his power flow into the blade and began swinging at the rocks. As soon as they made contact with the dark imbued sword, they began to crumble into dust. "Thats the wrong way, Aeon." Came Yuan's voice from the shadows. Aeon stopped mid-swing and moved to the other side of the enclosure, grumbling at Yuan all thw while. When he reached the other rock wall, he resumed swinging, clearing a path big enough for the four of them to fit through. "Grab those maps we found in the trunks." Yuan said to Faethin and Alain. "They may prove useful once we escape." Aeon swung down with his sword, and was met by a torrent of light that came rushing through the hole. He fell to the floor panting from exhaustion, but was soon lifted up by Faethin and Alain. "Perhaps we were wrong to make such hasty judgement about your character. It seems that you are truly here to help." Faethin said, his face still never showing emotion. The four proceded out of the rough hewn hole and into a strange wilderness, with frequent plateaus rising amongst small grassy flatlands. Far away, a river sparkled, a tiny silver snake in the distance. "These are the Rheat Tablelands," Alain said looking around. "Right. And that's the River Amevitai. Cross that, and it's only a few days' ride on Chocobo to Tesendria." Yuan was examining a map. "Give Aeon an elixer so that he can stand and hurry up. This detour may prove benefcial to us yet." With that, she headed up a small mesa. Author Note: Alright! Lets keep the flow moving guys! I don't wanna watch the story die twice. | |||
8 marched down the corridors of the Imperial Palace, getting ready for his next missions. Entering his office, he was greeted by Eziah. "You? How did you get in here?" The young man just stared blankly, "To get past my wards takes on thing, but to..." Before he could finish his sentence the door blew over and the shadowy figure was already clutching 8's throat, "I did not like the way you talked to our Emperor back there." 8 gagged for breath, "You shall treat him with utmost respect. Understand?" As these words ringed in 8's head he tried to fathom how he could be so easily overpowered by someone as lowly as a knight. "Understand?" "Ye... Yes." he managed to let out. Eziah loosened his grip, causing the mage to fall to his knees. In all his years of practicing magic he had never let someone get so close to him, especially someone who wasn't trained in the dark arts. Eziah walked over the mage, but just before he opened the door 8 managed to get a few words out "You... You are more... than a simple solider. What are you?" 8 could actually feel blood rising up his throat. Eziah just chuckled and left the room. Getting to his feet, 8 approached a desk and started writing what he could remember down. That man Eziah, I sensed something within him.
Shuffling through the maps, Alain was making sure their path was the correct one. However, as he studied the papers he noticed somethings that didn't fit. Picking them out he found himself clutching letters, written to someone called Ashley: Dear Ashley:
Alain looked through the letters, they were all in the same handwriting. He decided a little light reading wouldn't hurt as the party made their way to their destination. (Please don't anyone write any of the letters Alain is reading. I'm setting something up here.) | |||
"Enter," commanded Diablo, sitting in the command chair of Archangel. Adam entered and bowed.
"Sir, I have done as you've requested, though I fear you will like it not." "And what does the traitor request?" asked Diablo, leaning forward. "He says that he wishes to speak to you." "Why does he think I will grant him that?" "He says he has "Faina's light", whatever that is." Adam did not notice that the Emperor's face had drained of colour, how hard he gripped the arms of his chair. He silently mouthed the words in shock "Faina...oh Light, Faina..." "Sir, my opinion is that it is a trap. It would be foolish to go down there, this chip he has cannot possibly be wor-" "SILENCE, YOU FOOL!" thundered Diablo suddenly. "Do you know what that...that abomination has?! I can't let him have it. I must have that light, it's all that remains of her." His mind raced, barely noticing how stunned Adam looked at his outburst. The Emperor's outbursts were common, but this time there had been no change in speech patterns as normal, so sign of darkness. But oh, to see Faina again, to hear her voice. The Emperor stared to the side, seeing the shadowy silhouette of his daughter clutching her doll. He had no idea how she had appeared here, as usual. It's alright, he promised her silently. I won't let Nelo have you, the part of you that I have left. We'll be together again, I swear it. Father, mother and child. Even if it's only as a stone, a madman and a hollow doll. The thought amused him. Faina's black eyes gazed at the Emperor and told him nothing. "Emperor?" ventured Adam hesitantly. "Will you really risk it all for just a simple gem?" "That gem is worth more than this fleet combined to me. I will go down and speak to him." He flicked the channel to show the Twilight Esper chained to his device. "But I am not foolish. I will have Eziah threaten the Esper. If Nelo is here, it means he needs my help. It means he is afraid." "How is it that he can be both there as an Esper, and here as a person?" asked Adam. "Do you think it is so easy to capture such as Nelo? He is beyond your ken." Diablo opened up the communication channel. "Eziah." "My lord," replied Eziah. "Have the Esper threatened. Do not harm it...overmuch, but if I do not speak in 10 minutes, kill it." "As you wish, my lord Emperor. Is that all you command?" "Commence moving the equipment to the hill. We begin soon." Diablo turned and smiled sickly at Adam. "Do you not think it time for us to chain the gods?" SCM, TSD, Nauk and Kiefcha crouched over a map spread over the ground while DC lay on the ground a little way away. "Where are we headed towards?" asked SCM. "I had planned to head to Tessandaria, but with my way cut off now...I may as well follow you." TSD responded, "We planned to enter Labradia, but with DC like this..." she turned her eyes towards Dark Cloud lying on the ground. Since his resolution to save Labradia he had barely said anything at all, and had thrown himself to the ground as soon as they had set up camp. Deep lines of pain were etched into his face and he seemed to scarecely notice his surroundings. Dark Cloud stirred. "I haven't given up yet," he said, walking over to their map. "This is my plan. My eventual goal is to save Labradia, but first we must have information and strength." "Lad, you can hardly walk!" protested Kiefcha. "I've seen the look in your eyes. You want revenge, but if you continue on like this you won't save anyone." "Then we head to Labradia first and rest up for a little while. But only a little! I want us to be on our way swiftly." DC traced a path on the map. "Let's skirt the northern wastelands and head straight for Labradia. I will amass my father's troops and prepare them for war. Women and children will be sent here," he pointed at Oreko. "They will not expect us to send them to such a place. After that...I intend to find Nelo and Yuan. If I must beat them to a pulp to get the information I want, I shall." "Someone call my name?" said a familiar voice lightly. "It's not very nice of you to say you will beat your comrades to pulp." The remnants of the Order spun around. "Nelo, you! How is it that you can appear so suddenly?" demanded Dark Cloud. "You mean how can I appear, kill your commander and then make a deal with the other side?" smirked Nelo. Dark Cloud scowled and tried to draw his sword, then grunted in pain and collapsed. "As I thought. Your wounds pain you, do they not? They are wounds given by the Light, and they will never heal. You're an old man before your time, broken, no matter what brave face you may try to put on. Fight on, when your body is wracked with these pains? Like all those with unnatural balance, you were broken as young, and you will forever be broken!" Dark Cloud tried to shake off TSD's arm holding him up and ignored Nauk's whispers to "stop, stop this now you young fool!" "I'm not broken yet. I...refuse...to break. Who are you, Nelo? Is this a game to you? Hexed's death, the fall of all the kingdoms, the Emperor's madness? Are you behind every bloody thing? Will you haunt me all my days?! Answer me!" "I owe no answers to a mere piece. Take your sailor friend's advice and simply stop." Nelo turned to leave. With a cry Dark Cloud threw himself forward. Trendils of Dark and Light extended from his arms and wrapped around Nelo's body. "As I thought, these can stop you. I won't let you escape! I am no piece of yours, tell me what you want, Esper!" "How long can you hold for? Even now, I can see that using this power etches the wounds deeper into you." Nelo spoke truly: the open wounds on Dark Cloud's arms were glowing with light. He sneered. "You are a human. Like Hexed, you grow old, hurt and die so easily." "SHUT UP!" roared Dark Cloud. "How dare you talk about Hexed that way! He trusted you!" "Then he was a fool, like you. So many broken fools. Hexed never deserved command: he was reckless, too young and stubborn. He gave me exactly what I needed and did exactly as I wanted him to. You are less than him. You think you can save Labradia? The world? Oh thoughtless boy-King, this battle is so much greater than you." Dark Cloud stared with hatred at the Esper. He summoned his strength once more. "I am not a piece." To everyone's amazement, the trendils grew and bit into Nelo's flesh. "I hate your kind. You sit there and think that you can control the world. You think us humans worthless. Ever tried being one?" he spat and forced the trendils further. Nelo grimaced in agony. "The one who tried to be human paid for it, and paid dearly. So it has always been." Nelo took a breath. "I am a servant of the world. Of Balance. You can see the world sicken around you, can you not? I am the Hand that will cut away the sickness and restore Balance. That is my goal, and my fate: as the world sickens, so do I. We fight on the same side, do we not? I want to see the Darkness destroyed, you want to see the Empire gone. They come from the identical root. Here." He tossed a card to the ground. "Go to Carbuncle's Peak. Two Espers are there. Capture them and make your way to the Twilight Hill. I will tell you all if you do so. By the Balance, I swear it." Dark Cloud laughed bitterly. "What is your word worth, traitor?" He released the trendils anyway, collapsing again. "Go as you will. You may think you are gods, but I will prove you wrong and find out the reason for this by myself. Even if I have to live in this body." By then, he was speaking to the empty air, Nelo having disappeared as soon as he had let the trendils go. He looked at Nauk, TSD, SCM and Kiefcha. "It appears we shall be taking a detour to the Carbuncle Peaks." Nelo smiled as he moved through the netherworld of the Espers. It was so easy to manipulate humans. All it took was to say exactly what they expected... | |||
Alain shuffled to another letter: Dear Ashley:
| |||
Hexedmagica - Rathalos: World Tour/All Ass Sword TALK - My companions' feelings have been etched upon this body. I'll change this eternal darkness into light! Heaven and Earth! One who matches the gods! CHOUGINGA GURREN-LAGANN! {{{time}}} | |||
Back at the remnants of the Order's camp, Dark Cloud had started to adress how they were going to get to Carbuncle's Peak. "Dark Cloud, you do know that we will need to pass through a lot of Tessendrian territory in order to get to Carbuncle's Peak, right?" TSD questioned. "I know that, but we're a small group, as long as we don't attract unessesary attention and keep away from the main roads, we should be able to avoid any Imperial patrols." Dark Cloud said with a distinct tone of command in his voice... | |||
8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - 03:32, 2 July 2009 (UTC) | |||
"Wait..." Kiefcha said coolly, "We're going to walk all the way from here, across the Amevitai River, across miles and miles of plains and desert past Tesendar and to Carbuncle's Peak?" "Uh, yeah." Dark Cloud said. "How else?" He unrolled a map. There's basically nowhere to go except straight east. Kiefcha rolled his eyes. "You're talking to a pirate. Why hike when you can hitch a ride?" TSD looked suspiciously at him. "Define 'hitch'." "Look," Kiefcha drawled, we aren't too far from Frux. Head down to Labradia, get a quick Chocobo ride over to Frux, and... find... some vessel to sail us to Carbuncle's Peak. "We need to stop at Labradia," Dark Cloud said, resolutely. "My kingdom used to stretch from sea to sea, to Carbuncle's Peak in the east to the present castle of Labradia in the west. Tesendar's ambitious line of emperors drove my ancestors from the east beginning dozens of years ago, and they have never stopped their pursuit." Everyone stared at him somewhat oddly. This was rather unlike Dark Cloud's normal manner of speech... perhaps it was the Light in him? SCM chimed in. "There are still several Labradian colonies that remain situated around Carbuncle's Peak. It's said to be a fortress for whoever seeks shelter within its walls. Tesendrian troops have tried to claim it oftentimes, but gave it up after realizing that they could push westward instead with greater ease. HEY, that reminds me!!!" He held out his arm, and a sphere of light materialized and hovered above his palm. The sphere seemed to contain nothing within, but fuzzy images began to form, until they showed a very familiar looking woman reclining in the commanding chair of a very lavish helicopter. "I cast Sight on Padma when the caverns collapsed and the Magicite fractured!" SCM exclaimed excitedly! Espionage, right here!" "You mean to tell me that despite nearly killing all of us with flying swords on multiple occasions, you had the foresight to Teleport us out of a rocky death AND set a spy spell on Padma!??!" TSD shrieked, half upset, half impressed. "Hey now, easy on that." Nauk said quietly. Don't forget that there are four of us missing who migh' still be in those caves." They sombered quickly. "Yeah," Dark Cloud said, "But we need to use what we have now. Let's take a peek..." They all stared intently at the globe, which showed a rather wide view of the Golden Fruit's main cockpit. SCM made an interesting motion with his had, and sound magically reaches their ears as if they had risen out of water: "BULTER!!!!!!!" Padma screeched. "Stawberry cocktail, NOW!" "Yes ma'am, yes ma'am", a rather short and obseqious worker stuttered, rushing over to the adjacent bar room, which was small, yet absurdly overdecorated. "How I love peons." Padma sighed contentedly, before whipping out a notebook. "And it's been so long since I've composed. Dimwitted Order filth and their uncreative, stifling aura of lameness. Melodious musings, come forth in waves of ink! I shall-" Her ramblings were cut short by a very urgent beeping noise originating from her black and gold belt. "Bother this. Oh, it's that intriguing contact device death Nethy-Rethy concocted out of thin air. My, how that man knows his gadgets!" The pager continued its pathetic beeping, having no effect on its owner. "Him and that perfectly dreadful, unattractive Doctor, horrible case of the gout, quite needs a manicure..." The monitor to the side of Padma suddenly enlarged to display the visage of Netherith himself. His helmet was suprisingly off, revealing his dark brown hair and stern, lockjaw face. "Padma, do you not know how to answer your com device? You've made me barge into your private matters unawares." "Decorum, decorum," a voice cackled. The monitor spanned out to reveal 8 floating in midair next to Netherith, poking a very complicated-looking dial just above his head. Emperor Diablo sat to Netherith's left. "Padma, we have no time for your antics. I trust your mission went well?" the Emperor asked. "Oh, wonderful, wonderful, beyond your wildest dreams!!! The little Order minions bungled along here and there, their leader Hexxy was killed, and even though they were planning to siege your castle, I swooped in with a shower of blazing gold and dumped tons of rocks on them! They're probably all dead! Dead dead dead...." she hummed. "All of them dead?" Diablo hissed angrily. Your orders were to leave the White Mage alive! Every single soldier in my army knows to capture rather than kill any person who exhibits remarkable White Magic talents of any kind!!!" He swiveled in his chair, fuming. How can Yuan be dead?... No, she can't. The machine core would have sensed the release of light, and I have been monitoring it for the past day. She is alive, despite this fool's interventions." "If it's any condolence, sir, I wouldn't place too much faith in what Padma says. Or does." 8 offered sweetly. "No, I don't think I shall. Netherith, inform General Padma of her duties. I have no appetite for explaining technalities to imbeciles." His swishing cloak departed from Padma screen view as he left the Tesensrian room. "Your orders are to return to Tesendar immediately and without diversion," Netherith said. "I know that's redundant, but I want to get it through to you." Padma was busy picking her nails. "Netherith and I are going to Carbuncle's Peak for a short visit. We've some things to fetch, Labradian rats to quell," 8 continued. "The Emperor wants high personnel at the castle without delay in order to guard against a possible counterattack by Labradia, should the puppet king decide to show some spine." "Alright, then," Padma responded. "Although I have already squished its infant prince in some nasty little hole up north. I shall return, posthaste, poems flowing with love for you, Nethy-Rethy! I'm so over that Aeon loser-he's back in the dirt where he belongs. Now, is there anything else before I have my beverage?" "Just one." 8 said. "Fail less. Diablo's as grouchy as they come these days." Netherith turned angrily to him. "Address your leader by his proper title!" "Yes, sir, Commander 8," the Black Mage shot back frostily. "I'm leaving, I need to grab something... special before the ride." He, too, sidled off, yanking several wires from their loose perches on the ceiling. "Padma," Netherith redirected his attention back to the screen and not losing his cool for a moment, "you need to junction your com unit to the mainframe. It will only take a few seconds. Place the unit in the abcess underneath the screen and push the black button." She followed suit, and a less annoying beeping noise began to sound, reassuring rather than pressing. "So, Nethy-Rethy," Padma said steamily. "Just you and me, all alone. Tell, me, you haven't been upset after I eloped with Ser Aeon, did you? Please, forgive my misguided transgression! Love transcends all! I will return, and our fires will be rekindled-" "TRANSFER COMPLETE." A robotic woman's voice interrupted Padma's overture. "You're done. Take it out," Netherith directed. Padma sulkily complied. "Oh, and Padma?" "Yes, love?" She batted her eyelashes, waiting for a profession of forgiveness. "Don't call me Nethy-Rethy." The screen faded into blackness. "A dagger to my heart!" Padma cried, clearly shaken. The butler who had been waiting next to her silently offered the desired alcoholic drink, but Padmabrushed it away in tears. "I AM CHANGING NOW!" she yelled, then regained composure. "I must look my best for Nethy-Rethy." She entered the bathroom, locked the door, and began to- "Turn the damn thing off!" TSD threw herself in front of the sphere and whacked SCM on the head. The Sight spell dissolved. "Empire or not, I won't have us peeping into womens' private matters!" "Geez, sorry!" SCM was apologetic; Nauk and Kiefcha on the other hand looked slightly disappointed. Dark Cloud, on the other hand, appeared grim. "They're headed for Carbuncle's Peak too. We need to inform my father. I'll get him to see the light." In an ancient Tesendrian vault far below the city, 8 walked in muted darkness along a relic-lined hallway, statues of Emperors of the past flanking his path. At the end, he opened a door into a richly lighted room replete with treasures, though all were put to shame by the glistening purple sculpture set in he back, amethyst crystals radiating their own brand of heliotropic light. "I've found you...!" 8 said in a singsong voice. He withdrew his orbs, two of which were full, and eclipsed the statue, which was in the image of a winged woman, in the purple one. "Now for the fourth. And last." | |||
Initiating preparations for super-mega-long post mode! Padma came out the bathroom half an hour later, now with her hair straightened perfectly, and wearing a much less revealing evening dress. Sitting back in the captain's chair she picked up her pencil and pad and started writing down some ideas she had while in the bathroom. About two minutes later she turned to her Butler, "Butler, what rhymes with dismemberment?" The Butler just sighed, "Ember and flint." "Perfect. I can write about how Nethy-Rethy stokes the fires of my heart and..." she froze, like she just realised something horrible, "No. No I'm not FEELING IT!" She hurled her pad at the nearest crew member, who could only reply with a faint Ow. Padma shot out her desk and looked out to the world below. She scoured the landscape, hoping her inspiration would be down there. They were just above the Amevitai River when Padma spotted something on the river bank. Ordering the pilot to lower their altitude, she started to smile. "Butler, we're going on a slight detour." "But Commander Netherith said..." "NETHY-RETHY ISN'T THE BOSS OF ME!" Regaining her composure, she looked at the pilot, who wasn't fazed, and knew that he wouldn't buckle under any amount of screaming. Smirking, Padma left the room for a few minutes. Suddenly the sound of metal against metal could be heard and shortly after Padma re-entered the bridge covered in engine oil, "Oops, fuel line is damaged, got to land for repairs." Running up to the window she pointed to the river bank, "LAND THERE!" As the aircraft lowered to the ground, a sense of calmness appeared on Padma's face. "Home." she sighed. Alain had nearly finished all the letters. Most of them were rather boring, but the last one caught his attention again: Dear Ashley:
Alain put the letter away, only for Aeon to come up to him, "What have you been reading the past few hours?" Alain just averted his gaze, "Nothing. Just studying the map." Considering Aeon himself had the map, he was a little suspicious of the monk. It was almost night time, and the party were approaching the river. In order to cross it they were going to need a ferry, but there didn't seem to be a dock anywhere, and it would take another day to reach Frux. Wondering what to do, Alain remembered something, "Aeon, give me the map!" "I thought you had it." Aeon smugly replied. Before he could do anything, Alain reached into Aeon's cloak and pulled out the map, spreading it out. "We're near here," Alain said, pointing to the fork in the Ametavai river, "And a little village is here." pointing to the meander. "It shouldn't take us long to reach there. Let's go." Before anyone could say anything, Alain had already started his way south towards the bump in the river. Regardless, Frux was in that direction so they followed. An hour later, and sure enough a village was now in view. While it was unclear if there was a dock, it was getting late and the party needed to rest. Yuan had been rather quiet recently and the opportunity to put her feet up might make her a little open again. Outside the village though, Faethin noticed something disturbing, "Isn't that Padma's flying contraption?" The party froze and realised it was. Several soldiers were outside it, furiously trying to repair something. They looked like they were too busy too notice the party, "It looks like we must be vigilant in this village." Inside the village everyone was now well asleep, with not a single person out in the village square. There also appeared to be no signs of an inn or any other kind of shelter. A little further away, a mansion lay rather close to the river bank. "If anyone has a ship," Aeon mused, "It will be the rich family." He then ran off towards the mansion, the party following close behind. The mansion was rather intimidating, constructed out of rather expensive materials compared to the rest of the village. It almost looked like it was looking over the village, a protector of some kind. Outside the mansion was another matter, "Wow, that's a lot of tombstones." Alain muttered. "Indeed, most curious a family should bury its deceased in front of the house." Faethin continued. "It's tradition. The De'Rad family look over Flus, in this life and the next." The party turned around sharply to be greeted to a man dressed in military attire. He must have been in his early thirties, with his black hair tied back in a pony-tail. His uniform was prim and proper, not a speck of dust and nothing out of place. It was then that Faethin noticed the Tesendian insignia. Faethin started reaching for his sword, but the man raised his hand, "Stop, I don't want to fight. Especially here. My business here is purely personal." Before the party could enquire, the doors to the mansion opened and a woman stepped out, "What's going on out here?" She must have been a few years older than the man, with her short blond hair starting to turn a little grey in areas. She was obviously just going to bed, as she was wearing a gown. However, upon seeing the man her face lit up, "Is that?" The man widened up his arms, "I'm home Trish." The woman leapt into his arms and they shared a hug, "Ashley, I thought I'd never see you again." Aeon showed off his lack of social skills by interrupting, "What's going on? Who are you people?" The two of them stopped their hug and turned to the party, "The real question is, who are you people and what are you doing on my estate?" Faethin immediately stepped forward, "Apologies ma'am. I am Faethin. The monk is Alain, the rude night is Ser Aeon, and the young woman behind me is Lady Yuan." He bowed, "We are currently on a travel and were wondering if there was a place to stay." The woman clasped her hands, "Travellers in need? Then you're in luck, for it is the De'Rad way to help those in need." She started walking towards the house with Ashley, before turning around again, "I'm the mistress of the house, Trish De'Rad. And this young man, who I am looking forward to having some talks with, is my younger brother, Ashley De'Rad." The two then went inside. "De'Rad. You don't think..." before Aeon could finish his sentence, the rest of the party had followed Trish inside, having already put two and two together. The inside of the mansion was epic, painted all sorts of vivid colours with all kinds of family portraits on the wall. Most of the paintings had started to fade, showing just how old this house must be. Several staircases lead to all sorts of different rooms, and there were two butlers stationed just in the main hallway. Looking around, Alain could hear the two siblings speaking to each other. Kindly waiting outside the room in question, the party exchanged some looks, "So, that would explain why that contraption is near by." Faethin started. "Indeed. I guess Padma couldn't resist having a little family reunion." Alain stroked his chin, "Although something doesn't add up..." Alain thought back to the letters and decided to take a walk while the party continued conversing. "I must admit, it's hard to fathom these people being related to Padma. Although I guess it does explain her taste for the finer things." Alain was now walking down a corridor filled with even more portraits, and another butler. He had taken out the letters and started reading them again. The general tone and the way they were written implied something was up. Realising he had wandered without realising, Alain headed back to the party but was stopped by Yuan. "Ah! Hello Yuan." Yuan still seemed a little on the emotionless side, "What have you got there?" she enquired. Shoving the papers behind his back Alain just blurted out the first thing he could think of, "Just a story." Yuan shook her head, "You know it too. Something is wrong here. I can sense something in Ashley." Before Alain could respond Yuan walked away, but he quickly followed. A few minutes passed and the party were finally allowed into the living room. It was almost cavern like in its size, with a large fireplace embedded in the wall. Even more paintings hanged on the walls, their eyes concentrating in the centre of the room, where a circle of large chairs were. Trish and Ashley were sitting down in two of the chairs, leaving only two more chairs. Yuan took one, while Alain managed to quickly grab the other, leaving the other two to stand. "Thank you for seeing us Lady De'Rad." Alain began. "Think nothing of it. Being reunited with my baby brother after all these years has put me in quite a joyous spirit." She snapped her fingers and a butler entered the room with a tray of tea. Alain took a cup while the other three refused, "I haven't seen Ashley in nearly ten years." Ashley was sitting rather uncomfortably in his chair, like something was bugging him, "I've already apologised for that Trish. The Empire has been keeping me a busy man." He took a cup of tea, "Besides, I did write back." Alain saw the perfect chance to ask, "Trish? Would these be your letters?" Looking over the letters just handed to her, Trish's eyes widened, "There's no mistaking it, this is my hand writing." She glared at Alain, "Where did you get these!?!" Before Alain could respond, a scream could be heard from the main hall. Running out into the hall, the party and De'Rads were greeted by a rather chilling sight. Standing over the body of a mutilated butler was a man dressed in black with a rather imposing sword, "Ah, there you are." The man sneered. Just being around him made Yuan uneasy, "Something's not right about this man. I sense no light, only a void of darkness." Pointing his sword at the party he approached, his smile widened, "I am Eziah, and I have been sent to kill you. Luckily that idiot general lead me to this village, and from there it didn't take much long to find you lot." He swung his sword, damaging a few portraits in the process, "Once I've killed you, I'll kill everyone in this village, starting with that old lady over there." Upon hearing this threat Ashley stepped forward, grabbing a scythe from a nearby piece of armour on display, "If you mean to harm my family, you'll have to deal with me too." "A lowly general who I don't recognize? Very well, you shall die alongside these maggots too." Ashley took his place beside the party, who didn't seem to object to his presence, "I hope I'm not overstepping my boundaries." "Between an insane killer made of darkness or a Tesendrian general, I'd rather side with the general." Faethin quipped. The fight was just about to begin but before anyone could make a move Ashley spoke, "May we take this outside? I'd not like to ruin my sister's home." Eziah just laughed at the politeness of this statement, but his laughter was cut short as he was charged out the front door by Ashley. "Come on," started Alain, "I think he's going to need our help." Yeah, sorry about the length. And what's worse, I'm not finished. I'm just stopping now so other people can contribute to other areas. We'll find out what happens in Flus when a few more entries are added. | |||
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8bit BlackMage - Beyond the Sky TALK - Why do chemists call helium, curium, and barium 'the medical elements'? Because, if you can't 'helium' or 'curium', you... um... ._.; - 22:54, 13 July 2009 (UTC) | |||
"Commander, wasn't this airship supposed to fly to Carbuncle's Peak anyway?" the captain asked. "The only reason we lagged behind the rest of the squadron was because you decreed so." "Who asked you? Fly the ship." 8 turned and retreated into the airship's largest private room. "Geez..." The captain set his hand on the wheel of the Cirrus, and the craft sped off towards the southeast, towards the pinnacle in the distance, where ancient Labradian families took shelter in a subterranean complex and two Espers slept, awaiting the touch of obsidian. Dark Cloud's party had just arrived by Chocobo in Labradia, after a journey of a day and a half. They reached the stables on the outskirts of Kolona and dismounted, paying the stallkeeper. It was early afternoon, and as they approached Labradia Castle, its spires gleamed proudly in the direct rays of the sun. "Dark Cloud?" SCM asked meekly. "We're just going to barge into the castle and talk to your dad?" "I'm the prince; what else should we do? Sneak in? We aren't lowly vandals." DC suggested darkly. "Might want to look who you're traveling with." Kiefcha said. "My pirating acts aren't exactly.. welcome, Tesnedar or Labradia. Might want to call it notorious." "Okay, so Kiefcha can't come. We don't need to babysit you. I need to go in there, tell my father what's going on with Carbuncle's Peak, and amass some sort of military force. I need SCM to come with me to show the King the Sight spell, and TSD to create a diversion in case we need to get out of the castle for whatever reason." "That leaves me out as well, huh?" Nauk chuckled. "No hard feelins'. Kiefcha and I'll go to some pub and sample the local tastes. I haven't been here in a while, bit too far from the sea. We'll be in The Lamia, a ways up the street, if my memory serves correct. Let's go, mate. I'll treat." They left rather quickly. "Er... okay." TSD said, laughing somewhat. "Lead the way, O fearless leader." The trio trekked across the stone bridge leading into Labradia Castle, flanked by marble angels. They reached the wicket door set into the imposing iron gate at the castle entrance, where two guards waited, steadfast. "Wrelcome to Labradia Castle!" one called out cheerily. "I'm the Prince, son of King Ester," DC showed them his identifying signet. The guard opened the door and began to say something else, but the three simply brushed past him, running down the elaborate steps that winded around the entry courtyard and entering the castle proper. "I guess we're just following Dark Cloud," SCM huffed as the prince led them up what was seemingly the twentieth set of staircases. Finally, they entered a familiar, richly lit hallway. King Ester was seated just as before, looking rather glum. "Father! Father, it's me, I need to tell you-" "Look who's back," Ester grumbled dishearteningly. "Last time you were here, a madman with a flaming sword killed half my guards. I hope you didn't bring an encore." Dark Cloud looked shaken. "No, it's different. The Twilight Order has learned that Tesendar is going to attack Carbuncle's Peak - our ancestors' sacred place! I can show you - SCM, here." "There is no need, child." the King replied in a shockingly cool voice. "I'm already aware of this." "Great!" TSD exclaimed. "Then why don't you assemble some soldiers and take charge?! Get off your - " "Your cluelessness sickens me." Ester cut in. "I know this because Tesendar has already informed me. Labradia cannot fight this profitless war any longer. If your fledgling brains have not already grasped the fact, Labradia is but a puppet state to Tesendria now. We can offer no resistance. I choose to live as a coward, rather than die a vainglorious death in rebellion." "Your weakness sickens me," DC shot back. "You just gave up control of the world to the Tesendrian Emperor? What kind of King are you?" "The kind that would rather have its people live in shadow than not at all, cut down by Empire's blade. A King fit to rule with clarity and judgement, one that knows when to forge ahead, and when to accept defeat, the latter of which you don't seem able to do, son. In your time of need, you turned to darkness. You left us for two years, embracing darkness as a crutch, and your mother died in your absence. I was alone, and so I made the best decisions that I could make. You have no right to lecture. Leave me." DC paused. He could of nothing to say. Ester's words cut all three of them to the quick, and they could not rebuke the horrible truth of their powerlessness. Silently, they exited the royal hall. The King sighed and sturggled up from his throne. He went to the balcony and looked out into the cloudless sky. "What a dark world we live in." Nauk had just finished his third jug of brandy when he spotted a familiar figure across the bar. He recognized her by her silver-blue hair. "Coeur!" he shouted, somewhat brazenly. The liquor had made him rather excitable. The woman turned her head, and broke out into an expression of not digust, but joy! Master Nauk! A pleasure!" she exclaimed in a throaty voice. Kiefcha stared at her slim figure. "Meeting you here just after I have picked up the required part - the gods must have ordained it! Ah, but who eez this?" She pointed at Kiefcha, who blushed. "Oh, a fellow sailor, just a travelmate. *hic* Name's Kiefcha." Coeur's eyes brightened with interest. "Ah, the ruthless pirate who never dies? A pleasure. I am Coeur, Nauk's chief assisstant. I keep him sober, but more importantly, seek always to improve our boats." She shook Kiefcha's hand with a firm grip. "Nauk, I have just purchased the items necessary for a grand imporvement on the Fin. It eez docked in Frux. When I take the shanty back down the canal there and make the upgrade, you shall be amazed." "Coeur here's always been a big help. I'm interested in what this is, lass. Heaven knows I've been away from my Fin *hic* too long, what with scourging around in blizzards for the past week." "Oh?" She blinked her eyelashes. "What have you been up to now?" "Quite a story, quite a story. We're just waiting for some pals to come back - hey, there they are." TSD, DC, and SCM, had just entered The Lamia, looking crestfallen. Coeur greeted them with gusto, but they still relayed what had happened with lack of enthusiasm. "Oh. Well, that ain't good. Us five - well, six, sorry, m'lady - up the river without a paddle. The other four, no idea where they are, got an attack we know of but can't stop." Nauk drained his fourth brandy. "Well, where I come from, a little drink and an old friend always makes things better. Cloud, let's take the shanty down the canal to Frux and get the Cerulean Fin. *hic* We can travel much easier with my baby at full force. Isn't that right, Coeur?" "Indeed," she proclaimed. Kiefcha cleared his throat. "And I may know some people who can help us. Maybe even come with us to Carbuncle's Peak, do some raiding on Tesendrian airships." "Who?" they all asked. Was there still hope? "Oh, you know, some old friends. Pirates." | |||