Vaude

- Lord Raiden, currently addressing mixed news to the humans within Raiden's villa - Raiden listened attentively as Alderon expressed his concerns, eyes locked on the speaker except to gauge the audience's reactions. He agreed with all of them, especially Soran and the king as he spied them the most out of the two groups. Surprise, skepticism, ruffled pride, and doubt were only natural. However, while it was highly unjust to overrule the humans' desire to remain for a longer period than a day over the action of one or two, neither Alderon nor the rest could see what he saw, nor understand what he understood -- not yet, at any rate. "I have considered it largely and understand your desires and concerns. If I could have it any other way, I would, but Shiva has most likely discovered your flying vessel and has put me into an ultimatum. She assumes what she is doing is for the best of her people, but in a way she is right. The past is repeating itself, and I do not like these freak coincidences on the night of your arrival, actions which have not happened for centuries at the least. Three lives more beautiful than gold or any flower were taken over pettiness. "Also, King Alderon, it is not my intention to plague you with false accusations, but bring your eyes to the truth," rebutted the lord of Mystras. "I have firm confidence that there is a bad apple or two in the bunch, and I greatly intend to root out the problem before it becomes serious." His eyes drifted in search of Midnea, and if he spotted her he would have certainly locked eyes with her for a second or two before continuing. "The unity of our worlds will happen as we discussed in one way or another, and I will discuss this in length with you, and your guardian, if you wish. You may mete out the information you will have gathered to any of your affiliates afterward. "I will allow you all three hours to break fast, do some sightseeing, and pack your things. I can gift little more time than that before the queen grows leery and you must be sent back to your ship." He turned his head to the fey section of the group, chiefly the servants, smiling without mirth and offering a bow of the eyelids to them. "My fellows, you may begin the morning meal. Only the best foods you can find and serve on china will do for our esteemed guests before they regrettably leave." - Jari Coriander and Rufus Contralto, in the forest with Elia's group - Rufus nodded in agreement with the duplicate decision to go to Kilkis Seres. Not only was it the most sound proposition, being the location where the prince was probably carted off to (and not his mountain home, which was odd in his book, but the directions were issued by a child), but he could voice all sorts of dissent towards that one merchant that kept him imprisoned in that lamp. Oh, the thoughts he could think up. He wiped away a tear from the utter joy he brought himself. "I am in concord! Let us gather our wits and rush off in the direction of the capital! Here's hoping your fair prince will have his eyesight restored after that nasty gash of his. There may not be much modern medicine for it where I came from"--he paused in reflection, staring off into the distance for a second as if to recall anything else but could not--"but there may be hope there! Rufus, AWAY!" His subsonic take-off was short-lived, as thirty metres away he stopped and turned around. With a stamp of his foot on a surface not quite there, he made an annoyed face before floating off further into the forest. "Butter biscuits, I should gather the vulpine youth before we leave, should I not? It's only right, I guess. I'll fetch him." It did not take very long to find him, the foxchild having found a berry bush of red edible fruits and gathering them in a handkerchief. Very diligent, that boy, thought Rufus, blinking in surprise and, for a small and almost infinitesimal moment, impression. Nevertheless, he followed the Rufus code of doing things: he quickly acted, and he foolishly acted. "BOY!" he said boisterously, floating near. "AAH!" shouted Jari in turn, tossing more than half of the berries he collected as he rose in surprise. Frustrated by this, and perhaps for several other things, he was quick to respond further. "Look what you made me do! And stop yelling at me, you jerk! I'm doing as you asked, you know!" Rufus locked his jaw tight, blinked stupidly, and bowed his head in an apologetic manner. "Forgive my antics. That was, of certain, rude of me." Jari looked at him with a little less agitation this time but returned to gathering the fallen berries from the forest earth. "Forget it," the foxling stated. "My purpose here is not to yell at thee, but to inform you we are gathering at the capital. The prince has been injured from our recent fight. Perhaps you have seen him?" Jari looked up at him with surprise, then introspection, then realisation. "That . . . was the prince?! The one that had the black lightning? I didn't recognise him!" Rufus laughed nervously and scratched his ear. "Yeah, me too before today!" he answered. "We hath been getting off topic. I'm guessing from your actions that you are desirous of helping and not intending harm! Forsooth, I did not realise it before, but I do now." "Does that mean you're going to stop yelling at me?" inquired Jari with an unsure frown. "Indeed it does," commented Rufus, trying to pat the foxchild on the shoulder but failing. He cursed his incorporeality right then and there in his mind. "Come along and perhaps you can shake hands with the prince! A friend of a friend surely can be met, y'know?" Jari took some time to think on this, more so than Rufus anticipated, but he managed a smile and accepted. "Deal." The two left the spot and returned back to the clearing, carrying with them a handkerchief of ripe red berries. Things were starting to look brighter for Jari, though he could not help but ponder over matters. He once spied on the royal family, following Shiva for several years on the sly and keeping Raiden informed on matters. Can he really go back there without his prior ruse being discovered, either by his familiar actions or by his own conscience? He really could not say, and he was morose all the while as he went back to the mixed company. ((The Infiltrator will come into play in the defense of the gate after one more post for the Knight in Red. It's still a little too early for him to jump in.))

((*cracks knuckles*, all right, everyone. Let the prelude of the timeskip end and the finished product for the party in Mystras with the humans and the fey and the pretty smart ponies that trickle across the sky riding billowing clouds and issuing beautiful rainbow vomit begin.)) - Rufus Contralto and Jari Coriander, with the group in the mountains - Rufus would have been more than happy to reply in favour of Morana's response, quickly drawn away from his interest in Typhon, if only because he was rather oddly a little infatuated with her. However, Jari beat the speedy djinni to the punch by taking her words and using it in his defence. "Yeah!" he reverberated. "My case and the Cyph's are very similar. We foxchildren have had less than luxurious pasts, and most cities think of us as less than a race and more of an animal. However, how can they prove anything else if they never give us a chance? I guess that's one of the reasons why I like you guys. Call me a great judge of character, 'cause I am, but you don't seem bigoted." He smiled wide at the entire assembly, a canine tooth jutting forth from his grin. Rufus, however, was there to pounce upon him in a storm, leaping in front of him with an angry countenance right in Jari's. The foxchild yelped and fell backward. "Not for a thousand and a thousand days would I go against lady Elia's words for or against, but if you are to be part of our merry band you must prove your worth! Earn your keep!" Jari stiffened and sputtered out, "But I was going to pay you all I have!" "Not enough, not enough!" piped Rufus. "You look like you have a good nose. Find something for Mistress Morana to eat! She looks famished. Hurry, hurry!" The foxchild flinched in worry and ran the other direction, back into the forest to do as he was bidden. I swear, he thought to himself, I run into the craziest of demanding people! But at least they will protect me for the moment, right? Ech, I don't even know anymore. ~~ The next morning ~~ - Lord Raiden, within the dining or grand hall within his villa - The entirety of Raiden's villa was summoned to the grand hall where the feast had been hosted, including the servants and guards from all shifts. Some stood half-dead on their feet, eyes drifting steadily beneath sleepy lids as they rubbed their orbits free of the seven o'clock sunlight and slapped their own faces to keep awake. Others were spunky and full of another day's pep, ready to continue their age-long duties with renewed vigor. Others still were panicked, having secret knowledge of last night's events. The mysterious death of one of the guards of the treasury, as well as the aggressive attack on one of the gatehouses, created quite the stir among those who have spied it or heard rumours, some saying Alastor, Raiden's right-hand man, had participated in the protection of the city. Only murmurs of the present could be heard, however, and the past was left in the past. An exhausted Raiden stood apart from the crowd comprised of, separately, humans and fey with the possible exception of Midnea. He had seen better days, having taken little time to clean himself up after the multiple-hour travel time. Traversing that much distance was straining for someone who had to be quick. Trickles of people would most likely enter the room late, but he accounted for that as well. Those within the room would be messengers to those who did not enter. "I apologise for summoning you all so early," he started out with a strained voice, "but I have urgent news to reiterate to everyone here. Much has taken place over the course of twenty-four hours, some causes worth celebration and others worthy of silence over fallen comrades. It has brought me much shame to let such negative actions happen to our fair city for as long as they have. However, I do not regret having met our new friends from below, a remarkable bunch that has made the journey over the oceans of sky and water to reach our kingdom." He nodded in the direction of the humans, especially Alderon and, if he were there, young Arthur with whom he had conversed for a time. Others too caught his eye, including the red-cloaked assassin in the far back who requested a walk, but he soon continued. "It is for that reason I regret saying that, just as suddenly as you came, you must leave. I will start with simpler matters first. I have been in counsel with the queen last night and much has been discussed for the first official time since Mystras' town origins. An arrangement has been made regarding potential solutions to the problems below, rectifying the world's issues with famine and lack. However, one of her conditions was the eviction of humans from the entirety of our world, at least, for a time. While I would enjoy the company of many of you, many of us will not be able to meet for what could be a few years. And now for the more, ah, pressing matters. "There has been two disturbances last night, both, I am assuming, has been caused by one of your company. One of my estate's guards has been murdered, her throat cut by a hasty but practised hand, and my vault has been looted of important artefacts of important nature. Furthermore, this member of your party has been spotted assaulting and murdering at least two guards at a distant gatehouse. Getting in or getting out, I cannot say for certain, but he was unmistakably human and will no longer be travelling with you." This was not the whole truth, of course, but it remained a truth, according to The Infiltrator's eyewitness report. Ripped flesh exposed the monster within, and the red armour was unmistakable according to him, no matter the change in livery. Raleigh, the aforementioned person in the red cloak, was very much disgruntled by the thought of it all. First lay the thought of the two leaders they know of in this world reconvening and saying that the human group would have to leave. Second lay the notion that because of two discrepancies the rest have to pay, including herself. They just got to this new, unique, and marvelous place, and now they will be evicted just as soon as they went in. She searched the company around her with a curious glint in her eye and very little movement in the head, wondering who was missing from the current party of humans that could have been involved with such practices besides herself. She came up with a blank, but from what was said it was definitely a "he" and was practised with sharp objects. It was too bad that narrowed the killer to 80% or more of the people she knew, if there was indeed one person that did this.

This new piece of art does not fail to impress either! Good work on that one as well. I love the costumes especially! A pic with all of the survivors? *counts the character list*, whoa. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT, STAR! All set. =) Thanks for the edit! Now, to pass out on a bed like Rip Van Winkle after drinking with some knobbly old men bowling in the mountains. Good night, all! *whump*.

- The Infiltrator, pausing in the passages within Raiden's villa - The copycat was like a sleuth as he maneuvered through the ancient pathways of Raiden's villa, the shadow on his shoulder more than giddy with a grin that seemed to shine brighter and brighter. He felt for a strange moment or two on edge, even though those two should have been the only ones navigating the hidden tunnels. Was it Nihil playing his dark tricks early or was it something else? Whatever it was, it disturbed him to a great degree, and while it took little time for him to push his way closer to Midnea's chamber the sensation proved stronger as time progressed. Finally, it clicked, and his pace ground to a halt. "What's the matter? Something up?" asked Nihil with a purr not so soothing. "I sense . . . conflict. The Raiden you know may be cautious, but I am more so, and I am registering a lot of spikes of activity by the sensory nodes I placed throughout the city. One was short and unnecessary to check out, but this one involves someone familiar. I have little doubt it is the great confidant." "The sourpuss? Oh, what was his name?" yawned the shade nonchalantly. "Alastor? Yes, that's him. Is he going off the deep end or what?" "I know not, but something has him on edge enough. Into your lamp, djinni." "You really aren't any fun at all," Nihil pouted, but the grin never left his face even as he slowly seeped into his lamp. "Ah well. As you wish, master." The Infiltrator stood still until the lamp was entirely calm and devoid of any hints of magic. Once it all was over, he cursed under his breath and plodded into the nearest secret entrance into the halls, removing a five-foot vase and its attached tiles to access the floor. He quickly allowed it to slip back into place to not show his egress and walked over to the villa's entrance, slipping outside. So much craziness had occurred within the last few days after so many years of stagnancy, and he had no doubt that it was caused by the great plan, but that was not enough information. It was time to check what was happening in more depth than merely acting according to plan, and to his amazement it came to him in the shape of a very well-informed guard. "One of the extinct race has come back?" he commented towards the guard, ensuring with his free hands that his mask secured his features. The other held the lamp with an iron grip, perhaps embarrassingly so if he had remembered that he was carrying the awkward thing. "I have not a moment to lose, if that is the case. Thank you for your aid, sentry, and rest a while. I will be all the reinforcements they need for the time being, and the bells will bring in the rest." With a deep Mystras bow, he surged forward in the direction of the town. In the back of his mind, so many questions churned. The resurgence of an extinct race at this time was not in the great plan and was far more than coincidence. Unless the guard was lying, he had a great inkling of its cause, and he had a greater inkling that he was correct in thinking such. - Rufus Contralto and Jari Coriander, watching in horror in the mountain range - Jari felt downright horrible, feeling as if everything he did had arrived too late, but he yelped and leapt back as the Cyph at his feet erupted with disgusting parasitic tentacles that creeped every which way. Changing into a fox and scurrying away helped put some distance between him and it before he stayed put. The glass phial once in his hand plopped to the ground once he transformed. No matter how many times his instincts told him to run, he, most regretfully, found that he could not, lest he lose what could be his only chance of aid. Besides, he needed at least one of those sleeping pills, as nervous as he was and as short of money as his pocket was. Alcohol could not quell his fears enough to sleep peacefully, and this way he can escape a killer headache. Rufus practically leapt out of his skin upon Typhon's actions in equal fashion, but, having no ability to transform, simply floated upward and pleaded, "Please don't get close! Who knows what will happen!" to everyone. In the end, however, he was just like Mikhail: surprised. Out and about in a brand new (Edgar) suit of armour was Typhon. Will the mysteries never cease? Rufus kind of hoped they would not! "Z'ounds!" he piped, summoning up the courage to approach the bugman and circle him with abundant amounts of interest. He was back to his jovial moods again. "However did this astounding transmogrification of body work? He astoundingly recovered to full form, and more besides! How many times have you done this? Answer me, youth! This is all for science!" Perhaps he was a little overbearing, but Rufus was exceedingly curious. In the meantime, Jari sloughed off his fox form and returned to his appearance as a human. "This is getting weirder and weirder," Jari muttered to himself, but he righted himself, swallowed his pride, and gave a decent bow to Elia. "I owed you an explanation before . . . that . . . happened, milady." He looked up at her, trying his best to look as sincere as he was. "I'm from Mystras myself, but I am no longer welcome there. I am seeking protection from a rather dangerous individual until I reach safe passage. My coinpurse doesn't have much, but I'll make it worth your while. I don't eat much and keep to myself. You won't even know I'm here half the time!"

Great! I'll post for the Infiltrator to head out into the open air and he will come running faster than you can say "I am Oz, the great and powerful."

Dang, you made that picture, Star? I'm really impressed! I thought you found that as a source of inspiration for Helios, but I never would have guessed that you drew that well! No problemo, and thank you for the allowance! I'll get my post up for the gang of humans and Raiden tomorrow, though I will try to do an interluding post tonight for The Infiltrator, Jari, and Rufus. As a heads-up, the Infiltrator will come running to assist in the destruction of the Knight in Red. I greatly crave a fight. Endless, would you mind having the guard that was hanging out with your new character Dawson alert The Infiltrator in some way or fashion? They would probably meet halfway, considering there may be a lot of disruption and a lot of clanging bells from the Knight in Red's antics. Attacking a gate inside or outside and chomping a face like an ophidian of no small size is pretty major.

Helios is really pulling at my heartstrings right now. Such time has passed and such horrors had occurred, and he is forgetting what his friends sounded like. That poor kid has underwent a lot. As for Monster Hunter games, here's a special treat for you that I may or may not have shown you previously, Endless: This sounds great to me, and I'll make an attempt to set the stage for the humans and others inside Mystras (with exception of the Red Knight Manhunt) either this weekend or next week, depending on when the timeskip happens. I look forward to the RP's upcoming new part! Concerning this losing-a-hand stuff, I really can imagine Raiden tempting Jynn with power. "Together we can rule the entire -- *puts a magnifying glass over a map for Jynn to see* -- tri-state area! Or you can have Mystras in my stead as I get to bigger, better things. Y'know, like the entire kingdom! I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it. Blueberry-apple pie, son?"

You'll find out at the end of the RP~! Nah, you were right on with that guess. Raiden's the father figure, though he's not much of a father. It took him two thousand years to find out about him, and it will take two thousand more years before Raiden and Jynn will throw a pigskin (American football) between them. As for Odin, he's like a past personality or name that was discarded in favour of a fresh start. The book is a reference for the two to follow each other's past actions, requiring a lot of memorisation and a lot of ciphering to prevent others' eyes to see what really is going on. (Also, no offense to the old girl, but MIdnea would not be able to pick up on that.) Moving on to The Infiltrator, well, that's actually is something you'll find out at the end of the RP~! The sounds of imminent danger: scraping cords on marble floors and wooden beams, followed by the sound of a drawn pull cord. Shuffle. Grind. Plug. Click. Death. What established guardian of ancient secrets would not tremble in fear and awe over the power of a reading lamp? =P

- Rufus Contralto and Jari Coriander, with the odd party after Jimba's defeat in the mountain range - Rufus was slow to realising what was going on behind his back, more introspection loitering around in his mind, but the shouts of Typhon's name snapped him out of it. He rushed over to the witcher and his friend from above, looking as if he were lying face-down and studying the twitching man with both interest and horror. He had heard of this kind of thing before, but without a history of the bug man it was almost impossible to tell whether it was a physical condition or a magical one. Thankfully he had some knowledge of medicine, though where he got it he had no idea, not yet, anyway. He did not take into consideration the mutation, however, missing it entirely and instead only seeing the main symptoms. "What I can do spans restriction of the magical element and verbal communication," he stated to Morana solemnly, his joyful expressions and mood gone just as suddenly as he gained it. "If this is magical in any way, I can most certainly affect him, but if physical, like grand mal seizures, the most I can offer is insight. I'll try to slow the process if it is indeed of arcane origin. You all hold him down until he stops spasming, and then we can move him to this Mystras place." With a hand outstretched, Rufus attempted to calm the Cyph's changes, imagining it to be like a fever and cooling the body with a surge of cold water. If it had any effect, the mutation would progress for a longer period of time, elsewise nothing would change. "I might be able to help!" Jari exclaimed breathlessly, deciding to intrude after wringing his hands from the sidelines. He rushed over to Mikhail's side and offered a glass phial filled with three black balls the size of walnuts. They were ugly things coated in chocolate, but extremely effective sleeping pills. "Calming pills that slow the body's system. They're herbal and magical, but they work quite quickly. You're a witcher, right? You can tell if it's poison or real. Try it and use it on the boy, please! I don't want him to die if I can do something about it!" "Little do I know about witchers or anything, but should we trust him?" Rufus asked overhead, not entirely sure of the youth and espying the fact that he had a fluffy set of tail and ears. "It might stop soon enough with or without his 'medicine.' " ((Edit: I changed around some word errors like "ringing" to "wringing."))

*begrudgingly hands out the bag*.

Ooh, very nice! I was needing to locate some sign-up information, and the updated information on the characters would be very useful, very useful indeed. Thank you for doing that! Poor Baxter. As much of a Category 5 hurricane in a building as he is (he trashed a perfectly good drinking place), both Rufus and I will miss him. Midnea should be glad that she will come out alive after coming between two men and their favourite book. She burned it to cinders! Nihil is unlike others in that he cannot be swept away in such a manner and would be fully intent on being felt, but if this is a bad idea in all respects I'll have The Infiltrator change his mind and slip off to wherever Soran is. They had not much time to talk, and from the looks of things it might be good timing to converse with him. I could imagine it being a little funny, however, to see The Infiltrator walk into a dining hall carrying a reading lamp. "It's my weapon of choice," he would say. That sounds so Yev. =P If this ever comes up in the RP, I'd go out and grab a whole movie theatre's assortment of snacks just for the occasion, even the Swedish Fish. Especially the Swedish Fish. And the Skittles. Mmm, Skittles. On second thought, I'll grab it all ahead of time just in case.

And then there was Maxis. =P I'm very curious as to what is going on here with Maxis' latent memories and abilities, and his origins as well, though I have my guesses as to what is going on with him.

All right, I think I'm all set with my lesser characters at the moment. Raiden will come up later. Also, Unversed, care to have a nightmare excursion with Midnea in the next half of the story? I'm guessing Midnea retired for the night and this can be possible, but if not I can move on to a different possibility of integrating Nihil since his introduction on the second page, *wink*. Also, DUST! That game had an amazing soundtrack and number of involved people. I was really impressed with it, even if I have not played it yet. Now I am really curious about the depths of Jynn, Rabs, and Yevgeni and how things will progress with them as characters. Jynn is now blinded in one eye and will probably have a killer scar that will make even Saizo from Fire Emblem Fates jealous, Rabiyu has an intricate backstory that now has a horror element, and Yev craves something with that newly found dagger. Furthermore, Cerberus now has magical weapons freshly stolen from a vault, which will no doubt come in handy in a fight. I am really intrigued with this new segment of the RP. Good job so far, guys! I have no doubt that you will continue to impress me. In the immortal words of the EVE community, " o7 " (I salute you).

- Rufus Contralto, at the end of the fight in the mountains - Rufus blinked in great surprise and ceased his magical cancellation, the power turning within himself and making it instantaneous. This surprise was not due to Jynn's crushing electric blows -- that would have been understandable from someone as potent in electric control as Jynn, even though the black lightning was a shock -- but it was more the incarnadine spear which punched through Jimba's tough hide. It looked liquid, yet solid. Was it blood? Maybe it was iron control, or perhaps it was something different? Whatever it was, it looked material enough, even if magical in nature, and when it seemed confirmed that Jimba was deceased he quickly whooshed down to visually inspect it before flying out of danger's way near the ground next to Morana. Who knew what this mysterious substance could do to a genie, though he ensured himself that it was indeed arcane blood from the way it moved and looked. "Whoever did that did us a huge favour," he muttered under his breath, looking at the still carcass of Jimba. What a frustrating man he is, thought Rufus. Even now he is still standing. At least he's not shouting and screaming, but I greatly desire to shove him over and call it square. Quickly, however, he pepped up and graciously received Morana's compliment. Such was Rufus: wild and inconstant in terms of seriousness. "Many assortments of thanks, milady, and you have done a fine job as well, might I tell!" he piped joyfully. "Only do I wish I could have done more physical. Had I what I think I had, I would have had him right where I wanted! Bif! Boom! Pow!" He stalled himself for a moment, deep in thought, before looking at everyone around him. Several new people were around, and he coughed into his hand, quite forgetting to introduce himself. "Pardon my chattering teeth. Rufus is my name, and equalising is my game. Who might all of you be? Being a raconteur, I wish to engrain them into my memory for regaling future generations with this quality scrap." - Jari Coriander, entering the aftermath of the Great Jimba War of some forest somewhere - Jari watched closely as everything came to a close, wincing once the giant behemoth of a Fey died on his feet, pierced through by some sort of strange weapon. He turned around the tree with his head spinning. He was still unsure regarding who was the good guys, and whether the survivors would treat him with some fairness or a swift death. He had no skills to back up on, excepting his minimal practice with the weakly enchanted dagger. However, considering all that was being said by the members of this strange group, they seemed friendly enough. He watched as a Wendigo communicated with some weird sort of floating man. He eyed the flying little girl as she took off somewhere north. He eyed the bugman and the witcher as they probably shared looks, and the fairy and young elf if they were anywhere close by. They did not seem like a connected bunch of any sorts, and he assumed it was perfectly all right to jump in. Even his instincts told him this would be fine, so he revolved around the tree and ensured that he would be recognised by these strangers by raising his voice and holding his hands above his head. "Before you all head your separate ways, I want to say two things: congratulations, and I need your help." The words left his mouth sounding rather alien, and Jari felt a surge of nervousness rush to his face, paling his young face. He almost turned back and into the forest again, but he knew that would have been downright stupid and stayed put. Whatever would happen was in their hands now, not his, and he waited for a response. - The Infiltrator, within Raiden's villa in the reading study - Raiden had left for his meeting with Shiva, and the Infiltrator paced around the study within Raiden's fine establishment. He recently changed into Raiden's finery, washed his face, and removed the grease from his hair. He made quite the presentable double for Raiden in the meantime, but the only other person in the room noticed the difference. "You play quite the part for a double," Nihil chuckled in the background, taking a form in a dark corner of the room. The lampshade oozed darkness, contaminating the room and siphoning more and more light. Within the corner a grin shown bright, all teeth and each of them menacing and sneering. "I was wondering when you would show up," The Infiltrator groaned, breaking away from his routine and falling into one of the armchairs. "If I wasn't desired, you would not have been here," the other voiced. "True. I need your power and your aid, but not in the form of a wish." "Aww, how unoriginal. And here I was hoping that the copy would have some sense of individuality." "I am not here to argue with you," commented The Infiltrator with a grimace, "but rather loan your abilities. You have a potent effect on people, and it is about time we cash that in on a nuisance." "Is this about the little girl that burned your book?" the shadow purred. "She seemed rather nice. You shouldn't attempt such a thing." "This is more than a petty vendetta. This goes back far longer than you would know, though perhaps you have had a taste of what she usually does. These . . . rituals?" "They seemed harmless enough." "They are not. However, you were not caught, and can you recognise her face?" The darkness wrapped the entire room right now, leaving only the glaring white teeth as a beacon of Nihil's location. With a swiftness few could master, Nihil disappeared and popped in front of The Infiltrator, making him jump uncomfortably in his seat. The shade grinned widely. "I was not caught, and I can recognise her easily. The lamp contains all of my magical properties, as you probably have attempted tapping with your search magic. But let's discuss price. You cannot assume I will do something for nothing, and I particularly crave . . . excitement. I desire trouble, chaos, mayhem, and that is not in Raiden's great plan. However--" "A simple enough price, but location is key. I will trust that to you, but I think it fair to warn you that if you go beyond scaring or lie about location I will use my one wish to wish for you to be destroyed." "That is such a common threat nowadays, it seems," Nihil chuckled, "but I find it fair that my price is two things and not one. I must mess with you too to make things fair. One party, the other party, and a third party." "My other must be rubbing off on you if you are harping on about fairness," said The Infiltrator with a smirk. "Let us visit Midnea in her sleep." The darkness withdrew from the room with a hiss and was siphoned into a gathered mass above Nihil, which the creature gobbled up gluttonously with his forelimbs. With an afterward grin, he propped himself onto The Infiltrator's shoulders, more ethereal than heavy. "After you," burbled the shadow, "Spoilers: I'm going to have so much fun." "Spoilers: me too," confirmed The Infiltrator as he ascended, snared the lamp, removed the shade, and sprang to the rafters, entering the walls through a secret door. ((EDIT: put Jari's post in with the previous ones.))

- Rufus Contralto, fighting Jimba alongside everyone within the vicinity - Rufus watched with succinct and odd pleasure after seeing the number of hits Jimba obtained, and yet he still did not know when to lay down and die. It baffled him how much a being can endure and live through, but Jimba took first place in survivability in his book. Worse yet was the fact that he pounded his fists into the ground and changed the entire surrounding terrain . . . with his fists! Seriously, thought Rufus, how did this dude not blow all of this world into obliteration? I hate to say it, but with such destructive capabilities he really needs to perish so that others may live. Unfortunately, I am powerless to stop him. The situation worsened when some fell through the ground and into abyssal chasms, and others rose atop large pillars of earth. Finally, Jimba looked up to him and noticed him, quickly catching on exactly what he was and what he was doing. Still, Rufus had nothing to fear. The man could throw as many boulders as he wanted at him and Rufus would come out unscathed -- drained of magic, but unscathed. Rufus stayed in place with all of his focus centred on Jimba, catching sight of Morana and Jynn as the boulder crumbled into shards of rock and they mutually assaulted the battered and bruised behemoth. He tried his best to continue his magical negation. However, he could not shake the thought that Jynn reminded him of someone. That reckless and almost feral style, that control over lightning, that menace -- why did it remind him of arenas? ((Cookies and dinner mints to whomever catches the reference, *wink*.)) - Jari Coriander, heading north of Mystras and near the earth-rocking event - "I don't know why I'm doing this. I really don't," said Jari in foxspeak as he slunk ever closer to the disturbance of explosions and shouts near the mountain path curving north of Mystras. Jari had his suspicions that trouble was underfoot a long while back and his gut instincts were to turn tail and run the exact opposite direction, but the curiosity that burned within him was far too great. Moving cravenly from tree to tree under the guise of a fox was simple and quiet enough with his padded, tiny paws, but to his mind it was horribly difficult, and he stopped every once in a while to judge the situation and speculate as to whether or not he should run. Why was he so interested in this commotion? Shouldn't he be more interested in his own life? Regardless of every worry he had, he trudged forward. Finally he could see the cause of all of this commotion, snarling black electricity and raining showers of rock pounding the distant battlefield. It seemed like an assortment of people were trying to fight one person, but the fight was break even. He could smell the thrill, the excitement, the burnt skin and the boiling of blood, and he recoiled from it, turning behind a tree trapped in one of the greatest clouds of fear he had ever been in. The closest he ever got to a fight was with Alastor. However, this was so raw, so real, that the snacks he ate almost surged up the entire length of his esophagus before he swallowed it back down. "Get a grip. Get a grip. Get a grip, Jari!" he whispered in repetition to himself. "You come from a long line of foxchildren that fought in wars. You can get used to this like your ancestors. You can stomach this. Besides, you can . . . yes, that's true. I can," he voiced in continuation, shifting from fox to his more human appearance. The scents of the overall fight were minimal now to his nose, but to his ears the sounds were still horrible. "This . . . this might be important. I should go on and watch, and, besides, the victor might be able to protect me . . . or kill me! Eagh! Why am I even doing this?!" He stayed in place as the battle went on. He figured that he needed to see this, be it to find out how to better protect himself or to aid a future employer. While he still feared for his life, the more he looked out into the battlefield, the longer he gazed and the calmer he became. Perhaps this really was not wholly bad.

Good choices one and all. The only one I haven't seen was Budokai, and Sly Cooper really needed an ending for a grand while, though it was good for its episodal nature. The series had been continued in 2011/13, however, which makes me wonder if they are making another game sometime which will tie together loose ends before Sony shifts to other things. Sounds good. I'll get my plots squared away for Part the Third. I'm looking forward to it!

No lies were mentioned in the making of this film just yet, but it was a hidden factor, which is very close, *wink*. Misdirection is a great tactic for writers and keeps readers involved, but hopefully future events with my characters will continue to attract some form of positive attention. In addition, you're very welcome, and good ideas regarding Mystic and Sora's Baby. In regards to Samurai Jack, it is one of my all-time favourite shows. Genndy Tartakovsky and the rest of the writers for the show did phenomenally with their work, and he played a part in Dexter's Lab, too, if I remember right. Unfortunately Samurai Jack never officially got an ending, as it was cancelled in the middle or near the end of the fourth season, but this year they are making a final season on Adult Swim which will resolve the story! Most of the old writers assisted in the storyboarding, I think, so hopefully it will be just as good as, if not better than, the original. Also, funnily enough, I can envision these two as Dexter and Dee Dee, too. Maxis: "What does this button do?" Ivany: "Don't touch that!" *nuclear explosion*. Maxis: "I'm all right!" Ivany: "*sigh*, yeah, I know."

Apologies are in order for my long delay in posting, Yuffie and everyone else. Hopefully my current posts will be satisfactory.

- Brenainn Loth, quelled the rebellion with unlikely allies but too late - Brenainn puffed his breath, the spell sapping him of a decent amount of his magic, but he smiled through it all. It was a success. Alongside the strange familiar, he managed to capture the leading rebel and put an end to the current conflict, though the stream of cusses really did not help the continuation of his mood. "All right, that's enough out of you," he voiced to Mack, willing the root to branch up to touch his Adam's apple. Paralysing fibres would make it a little bit harder for him to speak. The half-elf focused on Fierro instead, looking him over with interest. "Instead, I would like to speak with you. You're not as violent as the other, and I feel horrid for whaling on you with my staff." Rabiyu's movement through the hall caught his eye, and he looked up to find her very displeased, or as displeased as he had ever seen her through that face of stone. "That's not good in the slightest!" he piped, readying a weak mind-numbing sigil and placing it on Fierro. Furthermore, he let the bind spells go and Yggdrasil's root descend into the hole from which it sprouted, leaving a disabled Mack to be ensnared by The Penitent One. "Let's get out of here post haste!" Dragging Fierro to his feet, whether or not the sigil was in effect, he started towards the exit. Every so often he looked over to Rabiyu with a look of concern. Hopefully she was not beating herself up too much over the success of the rebels. They tried their best, after all. As for The Penitent One, well, he looked over to her as well, but she was an odd duck and still summoned. What kind of person or creature was she? Regardless of his internalisations, he was very impressed with her. She certainly was not normal, but had quite the prowess in battle. - Kaspar the Grey, begrudgingly following Falling Boulder into battle - Kaspar watched as the two Earth Greys conversed over battle tactics, his breath coming back to him with each passing moment. Mid-commentary, a surge of recuperation came back to him when he siphoned some magic from the earth, and while he still had a lot of magic to recover it soothed his supplies wonderfully and invigorated his muscles. "I will come too," Kaspar answered to the two, even if Falling Boulder flew off in what seemed like a berserkergang trance. "I still have a bone to pick with some gods, and if I can free some fellow clanmates while I'm at it, well, that makes it even better." He gave a quick smirk at Tolan, propped himself up, and rushed in the direction of the makeshift prison.

Strangely, the more I read the events in this RP, the more I visualise Henry being Aku and Vark being Jack from Samurai Jack. "Long ago in a distant land, I, Henry, the armored master of darkness, unleashed an unspeakable evil, but a foolish samurai mercenary (Vark) wielding a magic sword (Ryuki) stepped forth to oppose me. Before the final blow was struck, I tore off into the air on a griffin and onto Overworld, where my will will be made law. Now the fool wants to have a rematch, and undo the future that is Henry." Let's hope this doesn't have to wait until the end with a final season after 10+ years.

Yep, two Raidens, or at the very least The Infiltrator looks like him. =P More fun lies ahead in this regard. As for the situation with Jimba, do you mind posting for him? Sora's Baby hasn't been on for a while now. I'll give her a poke regarding this.

This made me crack a grin, and is probably my favourite comic from Awkward Zombie. =P Also, why do I have the faintest suspicion Henry will snatch the swordsman's longsword and name it Mercurius?

- Rufus Contralto, in the mountains near Mystras pitted against Jimba with practically everybody in the vicinity - Rufus fought and fought hard as he strained his concentration on the behemoth in front of this strange entourage. The man not only had impressive physical prowess, but great magical prowess as well. Nevertheless, Rufus had abundant stamina of his own, gained through hundreds of years of biding, and he was not going to lose to a muscle-bound lout, not when he finally had a chance to perform one of his life-long dreams: to be of assistance. The rockfall was a minor issue for him with his intangibility. However, his concentration slipped upon the lifting of forest ground over Jimba's head without any aid of earth magic, or what seemed like lack of earth magic. What crazy strength was in this guy's muscles to make him more powerful than any giant, stripping either a dirt sheet from the ground complete with roots or rocky terrain of no small amount of weight? Even anti-gravity and lightening magics could not perform this, or so he assumed. Again, it was difficult to say as to whether or not he actually came from someplace else. Thankfully, everyone seemed to survive being crushed, and Morana swung her skeletal tail in Rufus' defense, for which he was grateful. Flashing a thankful grin at her -- however that looks -- he soared into the sky just above Jimba's head like last time and performed something akin to a dance, full of tight rotations and wide leaps. "One, two, three, four, you're the ugly on the floor." Wiggle, wiggle. "Five, six, seven, eight, you will never get a date." Pout, pose. "Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, someone club him with a helve while I cancel every lap of magic in his aggravating body!" With that awkward rhyme, the potency of his cancellation magics increased profoundly. Jimba would have a hard time even summoning the will to break out of the magic, or at least that's what he hoped. Furthermore, perhaps he again arrested the Punisher's attention with his annoying diatribe. Pinned with slowness, silenced by arcane magic, disabled via bomb, and sledged in the back by a down-strike shockwave of a blade, and arrows in whatever direction -- Jimba would most probably not last long in such duress, and Rufus hoped it would end within a minute. - Raleigh Marin and Lord Raiden in Raiden's Villa - The female assassin emitted a look of surprise as she listened to Curvis' tale and desires. Perhaps she should not have been surprised. It was a sad but common story where the tragic death of a father or mother would rattle a family from the bottom up, but this was the first time she was empathetic with someone who came from such a background. She looked down at her food in hesitation and picked up her fork, a small chunk of fowl still skewered on it. "A Sourati doctor, huh? A good dream, that, one worth protecting in the upcoming days and one I aim to witness, if neither of us die first. I'm sure your family would be exceptionally proud if you become your own person and help them through their troubles." I'm one to talk, thought Raleigh to herself, lowering her fork to her plate absent-mindedly. There's nothing my family would be proud of if they saw me now, if I even have family anymore. "I will take my leave now, Curvis," she stated, rising to her feet and looking at him with a somber smile. "Please enjoy the meal. It is delightful. Milord Raiden, is it?" Raiden looked up from his food on the other side of the table, patting his mouth ceremoniously with a napkin before speaking. He was quite happy with Arthur's response earlier to taking as many flowers as he liked, and still smiling over the thought of making that young man's day brighter. "Indeed it is, red-cloaked mistress. Does something trouble you?" he asked good-naturedly. "Are the gardens open for us for the night? I find a walk most agreeable to me." Raiden looked stupefied by the girl's question. Just where did she pack all of that food down in that scrawny body of hers, and why would she want to walk after engorging herself that much? Nevertheless, he smiled and spoke, "That is an open possibility for you and for any others. However, I request that you do not attempt to leave the premises, and that you take an escort." A request, huh? Most likely an order, she internalised, but she gave her thanks and headed off towards the main entrance of the villa. Raiden signalled a guard to follow, and the two exited in the direction of the walkway surrounded by citrus trees. "That is my cue as well," Raiden stated, also rising, yawning, and stretching his arms wide. "If anyone wants to find me for further discussion, I will be in my study." His eyes flicked up to the upper wall, finding a faintest tell of movement, and headed off to where he designated. -- -- -- "The feast and mingling went better than expected," said the Infiltrator inside the study, resting in one of the armchairs. On his face resided a grinning, snaggle-toothed mask that had seen better days, the same one that was worn when he broke into Isopolis. "Indeed it was," said Raiden in the other armchair, looking into the fireplace. "You look pale. Did something happen to Shiva? I saw her owl from my roost." "She is fine at the moment, but I will be frank: there is great potential for issues." "Let me see the letter." Raiden surrendered the letter in a smooth motion, raiding it from his pocket and handing it to his companion. The Infiltrator's eyes fluttered through the slits of the mask as he read the letter. "This . . . does have potential for issues. Do you think it is a trap? I doubt it, personally. It seems she really wants to talk, especially if she wants there to be the meeting place." "That is what I think as well, but that goes without saying," Raiden responded. The slightest of grins made itself visible and disappeared as soon as it hit air. "I must ask the following: do you want to flip for it or have you a decision made for the both of us?" "I will be frank," asserted the Infiltrator, pulling off his ceramic mask and setting it on the table. Now there were two Raidens, one in purple and one in blue, each looking at the other. The one on the left, in royal splendour, showed interest. The one on the right, in spy's garb, showed a knowing grin. "It," continued the Infiltrator, "has been longer for you to meet her than it has me. You go." "Then we share the same wish," voiced the other, folding his hands on his lap. "I thank you." "Just tell me all about it when you get back. Every little detail." "With certainty. Every little detail." ((Edit: small grammatical issues and added sentences here and there. The gist remains the same.))

- Lord Raiden, passing the time with Arthur as he finally enjoys some food in his villa - The lord of the villa emitted a kindly smile toward the young and pleasant knight. He was so vibrant and full of youth, an aspect he especially enjoyed from the younger and less long-lived fey. Everything was new and everything was free of worry slaved by centuries of doubt, plus young love, while common enough, was beautiful. Raiden could see that Arthur cared for the princess and knew an apt way of displaying his affection. "I know of one flower that would be perfect for her. The amaranth is known in these parts as the undying flower. You can stamp it, burn it, leave it in the cold, and cut it, but so long as the roots or the flower bud is not shredded they can stand the test of time, growing to fullness in five days and lasting forever. You see these flowers, young knight?" he asked, putting to attention the bulbs of beautiful red flowers in tasteful blue vases on the dining table. "I give you full permission to take as many as you see fit to her. In fact, I beseech you: take them to the lovely daughter of King Alderon." With that, Raiden started snatching up some close-by foods, including a brace of breadsticks and some sort of vegetable pudding, and delved into them with relish.