Protectors of the Crystals, a Final Fantasy RP (Dead)

Mr. Omega

ANTI-LIFE JUSTIFIES MY HATE!
Jul 1, 2010
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The strange visuals actually took a bit of time to be noticed by Dagon. He did find it odd that the Ranger had a second face, or that the knight's legs were where her arms should be. "Storm the must be it!" he shouted. He then grasped near where his mouth was on his helmet. "Order coming wrong my words the in are!" He then stopped talking, thinking that would solve that problem.

However, the deck of the ship starting twisting into an alter, one that seemed vaguely familiar to Dagon. But it was missing a lot of ominous fire and artifacts on it. And was outside, not deep underground. "Peculiar how." Dagon said, now with flames spouting out of his helmet. "The hell what? Haven't that since thirteen was I done. Do anymore even be shouldn't I able do to!" He seemed to have forgotten his previous solution.

Before he could think of what to do next, he found himself frozen in a block of ice. The ice shattered a few seconds later, and he found himself staring at his peculiar comrades. "Storm the must be it!"
 

UnusualStranger

Keep a hat handy
Jan 23, 2010
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BLINK.

As they began going, Roderic took a moment to glance back at the tower. This had all fallen to pieces rather quickly. But at least they were going to make it out of here if this ship was fast enough to outrace the creatures. It was then that he was pretty sure he saw something happen. He couldn't be certain, as he had been glancing to look back at the tower they had escaped as it did...something. He couldn't really say what, but he was sure that it was important to some time or another.

Wait...important to some time or another? What am I talking about? It should be important right now! As in, that happened...pretty close to me somewhere. Right?

BLINK.

Roderic turned, his greatsword swinging free as another undead monster tried its hand against him. Foolish creatures, thinking that they could simply take him down. He had been fighting for years, and his flaming greatsword had never failed him, even as the undead knights tried their hardest to ultimately bring his quest to an end. They matched his living ability though, and that wouldn't be leaving him any time soon.

Turning back, he went to wipe his brow of the sweat he had gotten after cutting another...dozen? He had stopped keeping track. But, a bit of a breather would help for a moment. As he sat down, he noticed he was looking at himself wandering the battlefield he had just cleared. That was....

BLINK.

Roderic sighed as he finished yet another day on patrol. Throwing rocks at things that would never try to overtake the city in at least a billion years. Not that it did anything for command though, as they were always damned harsh regardless of if there was a lizard trying to get close, or a damned giant. At least he had a good home to go back to take it easy. His wife claimed that she had a surprise for him this evening, which he was never sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

He halfway hoped that she had just taken some of his money again and had planned something for them both to get out of this stuffy city for a while. As he made his way back, he spotted...something. He made his way over to the alleyway, which seemed to be hosting another one of those tournaments that he found from time to time. While he was far too high ranked and respected to participate in such barbaric action...and his wife would kill him, that didn't mean he couldn't sit back and watch for a bit.

Though, as he made his way over, he noted that one of the fellows looked terribly familiar. If he didn't know any better, it almost seemed like someone was in the ring fighting for him! That was an odd thought...

BLINK.

Roderic slammed his fist into the wall, causing it to crumble to the ground. He had been training for many years to perfect such a task, but now he simply did it to show others that it could be accomplished. Many of the students watched, their mouths agape at what this young monk had just accomplished. Some sputtered how he had set it up, or that there was some mistake, but Roderic only smiled at the students.

They would learn in time that breaking the wall was nothing more than an act of will. That simply knowing that his fist was just an extension of his will would be enough in this world, and help them in reaching the next. One student in particular simply stepped forward and tried to do it with brute strength. He did damage, but put no actual will behind it. Roderic shook his head, and went back to his meditation once again. This time, his vision was a little more troubled. This time, he saw someone else...or maybe it was actually another part of him? The fellow was dressed oddly though. Packing light, like a monk, and looked like....

BLINK.

The Thief blinked. For a moment he could almost sense his confusion as he had just made off with a very nice gift for a very nice girl he had just met. The ring and necklace set were ruby red, and would be a great gift to spring upon her this evening. Besides, it wasn't as if he had to worry about being caught. He'd done this perhaps a billion times, and would likely do it a billion more in the future. It was his life, and there wasn't much else to be said about it.

Thieves didn't get a chance until they scored it big enough to take a break, Roderic mused. Meaning that stealing a nice gift every so often wasn't going to be helping him get anywhere. But, at least he was trying to find someone to share the journey with, however foolish that was.

The Thief reminded Roderic of someone. Someone in particular. Almost like...

BLINK.

Roderic had fallen down. At least, he was pretty sure he had fallen down. He needed to double check a few things. Like...he was on a ship, and they were flying away from an explosion. That sounded closer to the time that needed to be here. Was he really there though? He needed to check something a lot more closely, something to make sure that he would stay where he was. He had to think faster, because he was pretty sure that he had done this twice. Or was this the third time?

Roderic grabbed a knife, and did a quick slice across his hand. He could get it healed later, but right now he needed to assert himself. Prove that he was here, and that he should be here. The sudden shot of pain and blood would help reinforce that. Laying down for a moment, he was pretty sure it worked this time. His presence was...solid. He turned, letting the pain keep his focus. The rest of the crew seemed to be....well, they were possibly all in their own worlds at this point. There seemed to be tons of echos, and things were repeating....or something.

...Hope they make it OK. Well...mostly OK. I think I'm OK. I hope I'm OK. Damn me, if we don't make it out of this I'll....well, I'll think of something.
 

PrinceOfShapeir

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Mar 27, 2011
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As suddenly as it started it was over, the Alexander passing beyond the edges of the vortex. Mira staggered forward to the rail as consciousness and actions once again became linked. She coughed, then barked, "All hands, status!"

"Captain, Alexander's in pretty rough shape! We've got a fucking tree growing on us!"

"Can we fly?"

"We're alright, sir."

"Good." She took another headcount. No one left behind in that nightmare. She looked back, seeing the bizarre sight of the Vortex. A massive storm filled it, with bolts of fire and ice raining from the sky. At the heart the tower glowed white, crumbling and rising and decaying and being rebuilt at the same time. The earth bent and twisted, spurting gouts of magma and streams of silver waters, before receding and restoring the pastoral landscape.

She shuddered and turned away. A wind kicked up, a great storm forming quickly. Rain began to pour from the skies. "Set course for home! This isn't over!"

Mira moved among the team. "Is everyone fit? I doubt any of us are okay after that, but I need you all to be battle ready."
 

Redlin5_v1legacy

Better Red than Dead
Aug 5, 2009
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Gerhard landed on the deck after being launched via Dagon to their destination. After picking himself up from underneath the pile of barrels he had landed in, he rose and looked around him. The last of the assault party were jumping down onto the airship and they rose to make their mistake.

We made it! We ma-

The throbbing he had felt in the tower suddenly exploded into a shrill scream in Gerhard's mind. But it wasn't just any scream.

"No, no... No NO NO NO!!!!"

He looked about on deck to find that the crew of the Alexander had gone. In fact, it wasn't even the same ship. Gerhard felt the wood rocking violently beneath him as the storm crashed against the sides of the ship, sending a massive spray of seawater into his face, drenching him. He stumbled backwards and nearly tripped over a dead body. It was a sailor he knew, that awful cheater Dalvin. Blood was flowing from his neck in a slow trickle. A cannon fired.

"Take cover, it's coming around again!" shouted the mate. He had taken command after the Captain had been choked to death.

What... how... wake up Gerhard, wake up!

The nightmare wouldn't stop, couldn't stop. It was real. More than ever before, it was real. He was here. Somehow the tower had sent him onto the Halygast. The giant arms rose against port, gripping the ship as it hauled its monstrous toothed maw over the broken railing. Halberds and spears jutted out of its face after being thrust in by desperate men to no avail. It was unstoppable and he couldn't feel his mana.

There she was. Jaina, with her bow out feverishly shooting arrows at it's eye as a tentacle arm wrapped itself around her legs from the starboard side. Gerhard launched a bolt at it, begging at the sky for vengeance but the spell froze in midair inches from the arm. She screamed, making Gerhard's mind explode with unimaginable pain as mana surged through him.

Then it happened again. Jaina was lifted into the air and slammed through the deck, vanishing for a moment before being pulled back up. The arm lazily threw her unconscious form into the toothy maw and ripped her to shreds in front of him.

"No no... No NO NO NO!!!!"

He looked about on deck to find that the crew of the Halygast was rallying for another charge at the arm holding their captain. It was already too late, it popped his greasy top off like a cork in a wine bottle. He had been a royal asshole but nobody deserved such a fate. Gerhard felt the wood rocking violently beneath him as the storm crashed against the sides of the ship, sending a massive spray of seawater into his face, drenching him. He stumbled backwards and nearly tripped over a dead body. It was a sailor he knew, that awful cheater Dalvin. Blood was flowing from his neck in a slow trickle. A cannon fired.

"Take cover, it's coming around again!" shouted the mate. He had taken command.

"Shit, it keeps grabbing the ship!" shouted a man as he heaved an axe at an arm pulling at the mast.

The giant arms rose against port, gripping the ship as it hauled its monstrous toothed maw over the broken railing. Halberds and spears jutted out of its face after being thrust in by desperate men to no avail. It was unstoppable, it's arms pulling men apart left and right. A mage blasted one arm off with a powerful bolt of Lightning before being knocked into the captain's cabin by another.

"Jaina! Look out!"

There she was. Jaina, with her bow out feverishly shooting arrows at it's eye as a tentacle arm wrapped itself around her legs from the starboard side. Gerhard ran forward, his blade gleaming in the dim light from the fire in the sails. He swung with all his might, severing the arm before it could touch her. Suddenly she screamed, making Gerhard's mind explode with unimaginable pain as mana surged through him.

Then it happened again. Jaina was launched through the air as the deck shifted dramatically and fell directly into the toothy maw. She cried for help as it ripped her to shreds in front of him.

"No no... No NO NO NO!!!!"

He looked about on deck to find that the crew of the Halygast were laying down their arms. It was already too late, the pirates had taken them completely by surprise. Gerhard felt the wood rocking violently beneath him as the storm crashed against the sides of the ship, sending a massive spray of seawater into his face, drenching him. He stumbled backwards and nearly tripped over a dead body. It was a sailor he knew, that awful cheater Dalvin. Blood was flowing from his neck in a slow trickle. A cannon fired.

If only I had been on shift! Damnation!

"It's over, you can have the cargo. Just end the killing." shouted the mate. He had taken command after the Captain had been slaughtered.

"You can't end the killing. Your ship was meant to die, doomed from the beginning." said the pirate, convulsing. His crew launched themselves at the surrendering men who were killed as they struggled to pick up their weapons to defend themselves.

The pirate expanded dramatically, giant arms gripping the ship as it steadied its monstrous toothed maw over the broken railing. It roared as the pirates too changed into ferocious merpeople, devouring the flesh of his fallen comrades. Jaina and a few of the other fighters held their ground as Gerhard rolled forward, easily avoiding the clumsy attempts of the merpeople around him.

"Jaina! Look out!"

There she was. Jaina, with her bow out feverishly shooting arrows at it's eye as a tentacle arm wrapped itself around her legs from the starboard side. Gerhard rushed the arm, firing multiple fireballs at it until it came apart. Suddenly he was surrounded by Merwarriors who grabbed at him forcing him to defend himself. Jaina screamed, making Gerhard's mind explode with unimaginable pain as mana surged through him.

Then it happened again. Jaina was hauled by the merpeople towards their leader before he could get to them. It laughed as its arms tore her into two pieces over him, sending blood spraying everywhere across his bare chest. She cried for help, her head still screaming as it tossed her remains into its maw.

"No no... No NO NO NO!!!!"

He looked about on deck to find that the crew of the Halygast was going about the deck trying to secure the sails in the storm. It was already too late to avoid the hurricane that had enveloped them, their only choice was to barrel forward and try to get out on the other side before it tore the ship apart. Gerhard felt the wood rocking violently beneath him as the storm crashed against the sides of the ship, sending a massive spray of seawater into his face, drenching him. He stumbled backwards and nearly tripped over an unconscious body. It was a sailor he knew, that awful cheater Dalvin. Blood flowed from his forehead in a slow trickle. A cannon fired.

"What the hell are you doing?" demanded the Quartermaster, slapping the gunner who had fired.

"I saw something! Something big!"

"Just your imagination, get back to securing the mast or you'll wish you had spotted a monster!"

Gerhard threw his head back and laughed. Nothing could live in weather like this, monsters never attacked in weather this foul. He closed his eyes for a moment... A quick nap was just what the doctor ordered...

The ship suddenly moved upwards and sideways, knocking everyone down. Gerhard got to his feet and looked over the side to find that they were no longer in the water.

"KRAKEN!" shouted the Captain as an arm whipped across the deck severing several men in half. Gerhard braced himself and summoned Ifrit. The creature of fire and nightmares turned to him.

"Get rid of it!"

It jumped over the side of the ship, presumably onto the top of the monster preparing to crack their ship in two. A gigantic roar of pain was heard around them as the ship fell back into the water, nearly sinking as the ocean ran over the deck and down into the interior. Ifrit was tearing at the arms of the kraken from the source of it's convoluted body, ripping them out as the water around the two beasts began to steam with incredible heat.

"Jaina! Look out!" said Gerhard, his concentration broken as he saw another Black Mage's spell hit her. It had been intended for the beast but at the last moment curved and struck her.

There she was. Jaina, laying unconscious as the mage ran forward to her aid. Gerhard broke contact with Ifrit. If that amateur had killed her, he was going to...

Then it happened again. An arm ripped through the bottom of the ship, pulling her down through every deck and she vanished as the ship began to dip into the water. The black mage paused and stared at Gerhard, right into his very soul. Suddenly, from underneath, Jaina screamed, making Gerhard's mind explode with unimaginable pain as mana surged through him.

"No, no... No NO NO NO!!!!"

Gerhard looked around. They were in the head together as the lantern flickered softly. She teased him with her leg.

"Come on, what's the worst that could happen?"

"If the Captain knew..."

"He'd be jealous." she said, winking as another layer of clothing was dropped. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever known.

"Come on Jaina, you know he's a goddamn tyrant. If he found out it would..."

"You're just nervous. I know this is your first time..." she said, tugging at his robes.

"You can't end her death. Your love was meant to die, doomed from the beginning." said a voice around them. Gerhard spun around in confusion but Jaina just giggled.

"Honestly, you think nobody can love a salty goat like you? I'm willing to prove you wrong."

He embraced her as the head began to change around them. The walls began to melt into a fleshy orange goo and the timber began to change into black, razor sharp teeth as she sighed into his ear.

"I will always love you."

This can't be happening!

An arm erupted out of the toilet behind her, grabbing her away from him. He held on tightly as she kissed him, blood spilling into his mouth. And then she was gone again, gorily engorged in front of him. She screamed making Gerhard's mind explode with unimaginable pain as mana surged through him.

"No, no... No NO NO NO!!!!"

He looked about on deck to find that the crew of the Alexander had reappeared. Gerhard felt the wood rocking violently beneath him as the storm crashed against the sides of the ship, sending a massive spray of seawater into his face, drenching him. He stumbled backwards and nearly tripped over a dead body. It was that damned Yuke, Dagon. How on Earth could he be dead? Blood was flowing from his neck in a slow trickle. A cannon fired.

"Take cover, it's coming around again!" shouted the knight. She had taken command after the Captain had been devoured.

What... how... wake up Gerhard, wake up!

The nightmare wouldn't stop, couldn't stop. It was real. Somehow the tower had sent him onto the Halygast. The giant arms rose against port, gripping the ship as it hauled its monstrous toothed maw over the broken railing. Halberds and spears jutted out of its face after being thrust in by desperate men to no avail. It was unstoppable and he couldn't feel his mana.

There she was. Jaina, with her bow out feverishly shooting arrows at it's eye as a tentacle arm wrapped itself around her legs from the starboard side. Gerhard launched a bolt at it, screaming at the sky for vengeance but the spell froze in midair inches from the arm. She screamed, making Gerhard's mind explode with unimaginable pain as mana surged through him.

Then all was black, Jaina's scream fading into the distance over the port side... He felt extreme air rushing over him as familiar voices were shouting out. He rose to his feet and shook his head. The migraine had faded and he could feel his mana rushing to his hands, ready to be used. Sweat streamed down from his eyes. Or were they tears?

"Is everyone fit? I doubt any of us are okay after that, but I need you all to be battle ready."

"Nothing a bout of drinking won't cure." said Gerhard mumbled before his stomach turned and he wretched onto the deck.

It wouldn't cure anything. It only staved it off.
 

Doc Gnosis

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Sep 16, 2010
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Nr. i

He felt mana permeating his body, spreading all over and soaking into him like the dry earth below. He felt the strength to fight again, but just as quickly as he had that power the mana left him. Another try was made in getting control over his body. He could feel his right hand and fingers, but the rest of his forearm was limp and felt lifeless. Cold droplets of water hit his leathered sleeved body like icy needles along with something bigger and denser plopping onto him. His golden pupilless eyes gazed through the cracked eyeholes of his mask and saw the old chamber back in Victis. The vision struck him peculiar, and seeing the deck floor of the airship from outside the mask made it doubly jarring. He blinked and checked again, and the differing visuals still remained.

The most reasonable assumption he could gather was that the exposure to so much mana had begun to take a detrimental effect now that he was outside the tower. Then someone came and turn him on his back. He looked and saw another Black Mage, similar to how he dressed and looked, right down to the charcoal grey skin and glowing eyes. The other mage reached into the Black Mage?s robes, and took out his rod and satchels. Thoughts of retribution came, but before he could work to summon one of his Espers, a tower of fire rose beneath him, incinerating his body to a crisp.

? No, wait. That?s not right. He was the one who summoned Belias to begin with, but then why did that man have his things?

Those questions were set aside as a squad of enemies approached him, each cloaked in plated robes and eager to strike. With a gesture of his rod, he directed the Gigas to smash them to a fine paste. The large masked fusion of man and beast marched forward and swung his towering staff at them. Two smaller hands rested in a position, ready to cast spells or swat away interlopers the larger hand and staff could not reach. Ice spells clung to the esper?s fiery fur, but did little to deter Belias or his attack. One of his smaller arms grabbed an attacker by the neck and crushed it like an egg. It was then the squad changed their tactics and went after the one summoning the Gigas of War. The Black Mage ran, trying his best to maintain Esper, but it had been in vain; an Ice spell was slung at his legs stopping him in its tracks. Belias was too far away to save him, and he was cooked by a string of lightning.

? No wait. The Black Mage was part of that squad and this mage somehow used his own Espers against the party. He looked at them, but found them to be just like him: black mages with as dark skin as he, but much lankier and more frail looking than he. He turned to himself and found himself naked?. Wait, what?

The rest of the party marched on to some destination that eluded him; meanwhile the Black Mage paused to get his memories straight. He remembered leaping from the tower to the airship; the landing had left him immobilized. His mask was just out of arms? reach?. then a blank. He looked around and saw himself in a room completely different. The place was smelled like fungi and looked like it made from stone and metal; the various machines and glowing modules serving as the closest thing to light. There were vats charged with mana and? something else inside them. Something developing inside them. Another low infernal hum passed through his ears, but unlike back long ago it did not make him hurt. Only just made him tired.

Another naked humanoid bumped into him - one taller and stronger than him - and shoved him forward. There was no time for him to linger. He saw a queue forming when he caught up, where people were handing out clothes and other objects: robes and pointed hats black as night, and saves as large as he was. The queue looked like it was at an end, and he felt a sense of dread. When his turn finally came, he saw familiar humans and one? peculiar fellow in red scrutinizing his very stance and appearance. They chattered among them in words he could not understand, and then turned back to him. These people gathered around him and shoved him forcefully in the door behind him.

White light blinded his eyes, and soon he found himself back at the airship, still collapsed on the floor, still his apparel in a mess. The damned hum stopped again, and the broken mask sat idly in front of him with a gaze like a judge; his hat beyond his gaze. At this time he found himself back in control and got back on his feet. He took what was left with the mask and fastened it back on his face; the upper left and lower right had looked chipped off exposing his dark flesh, but bad protection was better than none. He would find a new hat later.

An order came out to be on guard in case there were any foes, and immediately the Black Mage got his rod out. ?Standing by..? He spoke to nobody, still staring at the horizon for foes. The skies were shifting their colors, and wisps of light shone in the backdrop among the thunderclouds and pale moon.

Then He came.

A garganuan crab-like being flew in the horizon; lines of raw mana stretching across his body like wildfire with a metalwork that pictured tortured souls wherever he looked. The Black Mage saw a fiendish skull where a head should be, and two small needlepoint eyes peering from the skull?s maw. A low blood-curdling hiss escaped the monster?s mouth as he approached the ship. Immediately he recognized the being: An Esper, known as the Condemner.

?Ye hath been judged.? The words came like the storm?s thunder, all-pervading and final.

And then a beam of light struck the airship. At first, nothing happened. Then the ship trembled and shook violently in the sky. Immediately the Black Mage struck the Condemner with a Fire spell, but found the Esper shrugged the damage, and slammed his massive claw-arm at the airship. The floor slanted forward, and the Black Mage was pushed forward by gravity to the railings; if they weren?t there he knew he would be a goner. He readied another Fire spell and slung it at the Esper. He lamented wasting his mana for summoning his own Espers, but he had to work with what he had. to his surprise his fire spell was joined with a number of other spells. He took a look and to his surprise, saw only black mages. Each one looking like him, but with different features. One had armor plating over the robes; another had a simple tunic and a leather helmet; another still wore only pants and shoes exposing his dark skin to the elements. Those were the only ones he noticed among the group, examination would come later when the Condemner was dealt with.

Another barrage of magic hit the foe Esper, and to the Black Mage?s surprise another esper joined the fray: Adrammelech. Inwardly he was certain the battle would be won; as long as whoever was maintaining the Wroth?s presence was safe, he can whittle away at the Condemner until the foe was no more. A judgement bolt struck the enemy along with another wave of Fire, The Esper hissed in defiance and struck the ship with another beam of light.

All of a sudden the ship was plummeting. Everything was going vertical and the crew fell. By fortune, the Black Mage?s hands grasped the guardrail. He looked down and saw his allies falling to their deaths below him; he looked to his sides and saw more people gripping the rail like him. Another tremor from the Condemner struck the ship, capsizing it. His mask was shaken off his face and fell, as the Black Mage held on for dear life.

Then his hand slipped. Then the other one. The world below grew in size in his eyes as he was in a collision course with the ground below. He fell faster and faster, the ground becoming clearer and clearer, the forces of the storm cutting his bare flesh. All the Black Mage could do is stare and flail his limbs until he hit the ground.

"Is everyone fit? I doubt any of us are okay after that, but I need you all to be battle ready."

He blinked and the Black Mage found himself back on the airship. He was already on his feet, rod already in his hand. His free hand checked his person and found his mask missing. Strangely enough, his head was covered with another hat. He undid the lapels on the robes in hope to hide his face as he stood by waiting for a new foe.

?... Standing by.? He said again, ready for combat.
 

SkyeNeko

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Dec 30, 2010
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Lilianna jumped to her feet, watching the tower fall behind them. The stone fell apart slowly, as if it had been underwater, before disintegrating into light. The airship of course, lost no time in hauling out of there. Was it over? Lilianna gripped the rail, her mace at the ready for anything that might attack.

What she could only describe as a pulse of energy rocked the ship. Everything happened at once. The ship's wooden deck splintered into two, then rejoined and sprout leaves, growing, flowing, and dying, and then growing all over again. Bright fruit dropped from its branches, shriveling up and blowing away before they even hit the ground.

All at once Lilianna couldn't breathe, but at the same time she was invigorated, she felt like her body had died and she existed in a different plane. No, it's not real, snap out of it! She forced herself to take gulps of air. This was one hell of a self destruct mechanism. There was nothing they could do but ride it out.

The knight sat down, clutching the side of the ship in an effort to cling to something real. She closed her eyes and concentrated, meditated, calmed down . The worst thing she could probably do was freak out.

Then, like a dream, the storm stopped. When she opened her eyes, she was in bed. Where was she? Did she black out? She could hear a woman's voice, a gria form stroking her hair. What was she saying? Lilianna tried to turn to see her, but her face was blurry.

The sound of the ocean drowned out her mother's voice, and her warm embrace was replaced by the coarse trappings of a blanket. Suddenly, her voice seemed to return, and she cried out. "Lili! Lili, wake up, you're having a bad dream!" A young girl with red hair was shaking her by her shoulders. By the feel of it, either this kid was really strong or Lilianna had gotten really weak. No, that wasn't right. It was Mira. Was she really dreaming?

Years passed, and Lilianna grew up a knight, remaking every choice as if it had been her first time. Living the exact same life, up to the mission into the tower, and their daring escape on the airship. Only it didn't stop there.

She could see them arriving in Halvor, delivering the news of their discovery to the king. She could see the hard, dark times ahead. She saw the men and women who she fought beside in the tower, their lives carefully intertwined. She could see everyone she had met, and everyone she would meet: their contribution in her life like lines touching hers. She could see her sister, the dragoon hero, toiling on her ship. She could see the beautiful Sabina, so far away in Alexia, her gold hair glowing in the candlelight among her old books and tomes. She could see Silac, bent over as he scribbled short handed notes feverishly. She could see them, and their shared futures. All versions of them, every possibility. Sometimes, Halvor fell to the all consuming darkness, and the crystals were no more. Sometimes, they didn't. Sometimes, Halvor trembled and shook, and it's foundations fell into the sea. Sometimes, they died in war, in famine, in disease. But each time, there was a small ray of hope. A tiny spark of life among the many dead ends.

Lilianna lived her life beginning to end for what felt like an eternity before her sisters voice shattered the visions. "Is everyone fit? I doubt any of us are okay after that, but I need you all to be battle ready."
She couldn't remember what she had seen happen next in her mind, couldn't possibly remember the thousands of responses and their consequences. Lilianna looked around at the dazed members of their party, and at Mira. She stood up with renewed fervor and swung her weapon around in a show of confidence. "You'll have my sword!" she forced a believable smile, hoping to inspire something positive in someone. She wasn't dying here for lack of trying.
 

wilcoblackflame

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Mar 15, 2012
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Helped to the airship by Liliana, Vaila scrabbled across the deck upon landing, the heavy winds making it difficult for her feet to find solid footing. Still, they'd made it. That's what counted. Grasping tightly to the nearest solid railing, she pulled herself up and glanced back at the tower, still on edge. They'd escaped the tower, but any second now that tower was in all likelihood going to cease existing-Oh shit there it goes.

A storm of wild magic. Wild, untamed, chaotic, uncontrolled magic so thick they may as well have swimming in treacle. The ship was growing sprouts and that was actually the least disorienting thing. Snatches of her childhood and years studying flit by, although she was barely able to focus on them. A library here, a museum there, odd smells and sounds she hadn't heard in years from miscellanious recollections.

No, what really captured her attention was the nature of the wild magic to show things in all their potential states of being. Through the eyes of a white mage, one so intimately familier with the state of a body and the use of healing magic, this was no picnic. As she glanced wildly around at the others, she saw their forms in so many states. Sick, healthy, old, young, dying, withered, bleeding, mutilated, butchered...So many states of ill health and injury...and on the other hand..the opposite extreme, individual parts healthy beyond anything her healing magic would ever achieve or would want to. Muscles grown to a huge and grotesque state, shoulders so bulky they entirely swallowed the head. Arms so muscled the spine could no longer support the weight. There was no end to the sideshow of bodily horrors the storm conferred on her sight.

Until her wandering glance of altered states of health crossed the Fat Bird in any case. If you asked her later what she saw when looking at him at that moment, she'd not be able to tell you. But in that moment of seeing the black mage's potential states she felt immensely ill and turned her face away, repulsed far more than with the others, and elected to keep her eyes closed until the swirling chaos of the storm had petered out and she heard Mira's call.

"Ready to...Wait..wait.no hold on." She pulled herself bck to her feet and vomited over the side of the ship. "S-sorry Captain. Ready to serve" She gave a shakey salute but a salute nonetheless.
 

UnusualStranger

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Jan 23, 2010
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Roderic pulled himself up, having seen more than enough of the group to know that he wasn't the only one to have had a very bad time, one in which he got the feeling that no one would be 'combat ready' at this point. In fact, hearing such a thing largely just made him angry. Slipping the bloody knife back into it's sheath, Roderic looked to the captain, and then decided that this false bravado had gone far enough.

"Captain...'battle ready' would imply that we would be able to stand up to anything. While everyone else is going to...pretend that we're going to be fine, I will tell you that if anything decides to land on this deck and fight, we'll be lucky to survive it breathing at us, let alone 'battle ready.'" Roderic said, almost matter-of-factly, only to then pause and peer at Mira a bit more closely.

"...In fact, I have to be damned honest, I'm not even sure if you are the right captain. This facade of 'battle' ready isn't going to fool any of those damn monsters, and if I'm going to be damned honest I might as well make sure you're aware of what I'm seeing from whatever...death overtook us."

Clenching his bloodied fist to almost reassure himself of his existence, he gave his head a small shake. "I'll be ready for whatever, Captain...just don't expect us to stand up to much."
 

Mr. Omega

ANTI-LIFE JUSTIFIES MY HATE!
Jul 1, 2010
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Dagon had gone through his loop a few more times, and with each time the altar got closer and closer, with dark green fire surrounding the structure. Dagon had found himself meditating in the middle of it, freezing again, but hearing a ringing voice. "Get up...You still have work to do... and by the look of things , you have LOTS of work to do..."

He opened his eyes and found himself back in reality, hearing Mira's orders. He spoke with a less bombast than usual as he got to his feet. "I just need a moment to recuperate. I need nourishment. And alcohol." He stumbled down below the ship to try and find something to regain his strength.
 

NeoAC

Zombie Nation #LetsRise
Jun 9, 2008
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As he hung onto the rope for dear life, time seemed to stand completely still for Rowen. He looked around to see if anyone else was on board the ship. It looked like everyone from the raiding party had made the leap. Something was wrong however.

The ship's wood had started to grow out; twisted and gnarly like a witch's forest. the carefully cut planks twisted and turned, showing signs of returning to nature as leaves and branches sprouted. The balloon was torn apart, holes showing up all over, yet there was not sign of the ship falling out of the sky. The ropes however were all decayed and fraying, including the one Rowen was holding onto. He immediately let go of the rotting strand, but it was so much worse.

Everyone on the ship was looking about as healthy as the rope he let go. No matter what color their skin might have been before, it was turning a mottled grey. Patches of skin were sloughing off in front of his eyes, exposing muscle and bone. The horny girl's wings dissolved into a wire frame of what they once were. Captain Highhorse was losing hair like a thirty year old accountant and when she turned, her eyes were hollowed out. The black mages...they didn't appear all that different physically but their clothes were all tattered and looked worn. No one on the ships crew was immune.

Rowen started backing up as best he could but there was nowhere to go. He went to withdraw his pistols but upon pulling them out, he saw that his pristine and polished pistols had degenerated to the point where they were completed rusted and useless. He tossed them to the ground in front of him, and readied himself for a bare-knuckle fight, but there was worse news when Rowen put his fists in front of him. His hands were skeletal in comparison to their former glory, and quickly greying like everyone else. "No....no!" he weakly cursed. His leg felt like it was going limp and his eye felt like it was going to pop out of it's skull. "No....."

"Is everyone fit? I doubt any of us are okay after that, but I need you all to be battle ready."

Was that Highbritches? She can't be...

As he snapped out of it, Rowen finally got the true grasp of his surroundings. No one was dying. The crew were not decomposing in front of him. The ship..was still growing trees...but at least they didn't look as ominous. Rowen grabbed his perfectly fine pistols off the ground and tried to stand up, but there was a sharp pain in his left leg as he did so. "Fuck...well, I might have a broken ankle, so unless we got a white mage who can help me out, I'm probably not going to be able to do much other then shoot...so yeah I'm as ready as I'm going to be."
 

wilcoblackflame

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The man with the pistols was apparently more severely wounded than the rest of them insofar as major injuries went. That at least, she could deal with and was far preferable to the last few minutes in any case.

Crossing the deck to the prone ranger, she bent done and after paying careful attention to the residual mana in atmosphere to make sure it had fallen back to non-hellish levels, prepared to cast cure on the ankle in question.

"You're in luck. I'll do my part or there's no point my being here. Hold still please."

She cast the spell, neatly repairing the bone and torn muscle surrounding it before standing again and looking around, attempting to remain calm via focusing on her work. "Does anyone else have need of immediate attention?" Vaila asked in a somewhat strained voice. The smile was earnest, although clearly forced to avoid dwelling on what had just happened. Still, everyone needs their coping mechanisms.
 

Lambi

Yuki-Onna
Oct 20, 2009
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It was kind of a rough landing when Mira helped Yuria onto the ship, but the most she'd get would be bruises. She still cast a bit of Cure on herself, and as the others got onto the ship, she healed them as she could along with Vaila. Once that was over, she expected the tower to collapse on them, but it simply vanished. Anti climatic, but at least they were safe. Or so she thought before things started to go not so right. For a moment, Yuria got turned into an actual cat, wearing her usual outfit like it was made for a cat, before she turned back into herself.

Then she was at home with her parents, her father seemed to have found a time when he wasn't on his usual travels. She wasn't different in any way, but her parents didn't seem to notice her even when she waved in front of them. "Strange..." she said before the scene disappeared and she was now in school, learning how to become a Red Mage. As quickly as the scene appeared, it disappeared, replaced with another moment from her life. Scenes appearing and disappearing rapidly, and then she was back on the Alexander. It seemed to be alright now, aside from the vortex that had now appeared where the four towers had stood, and the monsters they'd been fighting before were now falling from the sky behind them in mid flight.
 

SkyeNeko

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Dec 30, 2010
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"Captain...'battle ready' would imply that we would be able to stand up to anything. While everyone else is going to...pretend that we're going to be fine, I will tell you that if anything decides to land on this deck and fight, we'll be lucky to survive it breathing at us, let alone 'battle ready.'...In fact, I have to be damned honest, I'm not even sure if you are the right captain. This facade of 'battle' ready isn't going to fool any of those damn monsters, and if I'm going to be damned honest I might as well make sure you're aware of what I'm seeing from whatever...death overtook us."

"Perhaps you should find a different ship to go treasure hunting on next time. I thought it was made clear this is not a cruise. You will not be getting drunk, or just passing out in the billets. Don't care if you don't agree with the Captain, but you better be battle ready until we're safe. The fact that none of us are ready, means we all have to be. Unless you just want to roll over and die." Lilianna flexed her wings. All of the hundred or so on the ship weren't at 100% anymore, and they all couldn't take a break at once. They had to make it back to Halvor. There was no saying what was between here and there. Those towers... did we find them by accident?

To be completely honest, Lilianna wasn't so much exhausted or drained as... wound. Wound up and frustrated. Everything she had seen was running through her head again, but she could only remember certain things... like scraps of a dream.
 

UnusualStranger

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Jan 23, 2010
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"Perhaps you should find a different ship to go treasure hunting on next time. I thought it was made clear this is not a cruise. You will not be getting drunk, or just passing out in the billets. Don't care if you don't agree with the Captain, but you better be battle ready until we're safe. The fact that none of us are ready, means we all have to be. Unless you just want to roll over and die."

"Heh, alright. Well, when we start dying because we wouldn't be getting out of 'battle ready', tell me that again, and we'll see how both of us feel about that. Course, I imagine maybe your duty is to fall for your mission, which is fine for you I'm sure. I'd like to think that most of us need more than a tiny bit of healing before we start going again, as we don't plan on dying after getting out of that particular death-tower." Roderic replied to Lilianna.

"But, you do what you like, and I'll go do something so that when a battle does decide to visit us I don't end up lying in a pile of my own vomit. Perhaps you should...consider the same, as I don't think it would suit you either." Roderic completed, and slipped the knives he had drawn away. It seemed almost like the knight was annoyed as well. Maybe the explosion had...done things that she had seen as well? Roderic couldn't really blame her for that, but then again that didn't change the situation. As Roderic began to make his way to the stairs, he suddenly had a thought.

I'm probably going to need to apologize to her later. But for now, might as well let it all go. Besides, might as well figure out who I've been working with this whole time...and...hm, nice knife you got there, my pretty little dragon girl. Let us see what you have to say about it.

Turning back, Roderic took a few small steps towards the Gria once again, this time with a question to pose. Though he likely should get the cut taken care of, for now he could ignore it, and see if his knife could be retrieved without too much trouble.

"Though, I do have a small question for you. While I'm generally not too particular about losing a bit of equipment here or there on an adventure, I did happen to lose one thing that is a bit more difficult to replace. Did you happen to come upon something while you were out and about?"

Though Roderic already knew the answer, he figured he might as well have a bit of...fun in this situation. Besides, he had little chance to converse with knights freely, so this might be as good a chance as any.
 

Doc Gnosis

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Nr. i

It did not occur to the Black Mage the state of the ship until he saw it after the? distortion had occurred. After sounding off to Mira his gaze went to where the tower used to be, how it was shifting its form and the environs around it. That had changed when a musty bouquet of iron and dirt wafted in his nostrils.

The floorboards looked fused together and oddly gnarled like they suddenly had life return to them. Some parts of the deck were raised unevenly due to the sudden transformation, and had odd growths and large leaves dotting and covering it. Branches and vines wrapped around and through some of the railing and had extended upwards into the envelope, poking holes and letting a strange jet of air hiss below and brush past his body along with the rain. The Black Mage posited in his head that the cataclysm that followed the tower?s destabilization must have simultaneously regressed and progressed the base materials the airship was made of. The wood became a forest, or at least one massive tree; the metal framework and engines became the soil.

A trail of blood drops caught the Black Mage?s eyes and looked to where it went. Judging by his memory he figured the blood must belong to the rogue Roderic. He slowly followed the trail until it led to the stairwell. Some steps were covered in leaves but nothing got in the way of traverse. The trail led further below. His gaze turned to the white mage, keeping the brim of his hat low enough to obscure his face.

?White Mage, it looks like our... rogue needs healing...? The Fat Bird said, a pause came to him that he could not explain. He gestured at the blood trail with his rod to where the stairwell was. ?Why he could not express it is... confusing...? That pause came to him again and a new tangent came up.

"Why none seem to notice is doubly so."
 

SkyeNeko

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Lilianna huffed and turned away from the Elezen.

"White Mage, it looks like our... rogue needs healing... Why none seem to notice is doubly so."
"Who isn't bleeding" Lilianna muttered to herself. She started to walk away when she heard someone walking up to her.
I do have a small question for you. While I'm generally not too particular about losing a bit of equipment here or there on an adventure, I did happen to lose one thing that is a bit more difficult to replace. Did you happen to come upon something while you were out and about?
The Elezen. Again. "Ah. Knives. Yeah, your nickname works. Gods are you still bleeding all over the ship?" She concentrated for a second, healing his hand. It was simple, she wasn't a mage. It left a faint white line across his palm, but it was sealed, and he wasn't dripping anymore. "What makes you think I got your little scrap of metal?"
 

UnusualStranger

Keep a hat handy
Jan 23, 2010
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"What makes you think I got your little scrap of metal?"

Roderic grinned at the nickname that he had gotten at this point. Knives was a fitting name, especially since they used that skill more than any other recently. However, it seemed that she at least cared a tiny bit, as his hand had a faint glow to it as she apparently knew some cure spells. Oddly...nice of her.

"Mm, thanks. I didn't exactly have a cure handy, so my choices were largely to bleed. Thanks again..." Roderic answered with a shrug. Then, went into asking her about what she had found...

"But, it isn't so much about you specifically having a scrap of metal. In fact...what are you talking about? I was just looking to see if you knew about something I had lost was, and since you were in the area which I lost it, I figured I would check with you. So...what did you find? Because if you had it, it would make things a lot easier and cheaper for myself."

"Why none seem to notice is doubly so." Now the mage that was odd from before was being hilarious.

"Well, largely because everyone has been...better. Especially yourself mage. Seems you are a little worse for wear at the same time. Though, to be honest you didn't need the mask, as you look alright without it."
 

SkyeNeko

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"Knives, you don't exactly throw gauntlets around, do you? I saw ya picking up your little disposables earlier, along with some other things. Ya lost something. Equipment." Lilianna cocked her head, putting her hands on her hips and looking around him. "And ya don't carry too much of it. So knives. You didn't answer my question, though... what makes you think I have it?"
"So...then what did you find? I again ask about it because it might be handy for things later. Saving lives, for one. Things that you might consider handy later, just as a side note." Roderic grinned, waving a finger at the investigating Gria. "And I think you underestimate all the equipment that someone can carry. And I could throw gauntlets, but they tend to be a bit heavier..."
"Mmm, nope. Didn't find anything. Sorry."
"Ah, alright. Well, if that is indeed the case, I do think I need to warn you about the glowing item sitting at your back. I can't claim to be an expert in examination, but I don't think that was there before and I would hate that my item mistakenly ended up on your back belt and then somehow set you aflame, because that is what it does."
"You've got horrible lines, Knives"
"And you're not the greatest at....avoiding the truth. So, arn't you going to look it over? Could be dangerous."
"You think I have your knife? Care to prove that?" she challenged.
"Heh, sounds like you are a little defensive there. I didn't realize that you held my knife so closely to yourself. How good are you with knives, if I might ask?" Roderic took a few steps closer.

"I can use one. You seem pretty perky for a non battle ready fighter. Tell me again what youre planning to do to get into the z-o-n-e?"
"If the captain is gonna lie to us, might as well play along, right? Maybe the extra...trees helped me get back into the z-o-n-e. Besides, what the entire crew needs to get into the zone isn't on this ship, so I'll just have to get by on my own merits. I'm guessing you never leave the 'zone'?"
"Mmm... a knight is always ready. For anything." she grinned, leaning against the rail. After that little rejogging of her memory, the Elezen seemed familiar. She couldn't place his face. Just like a dream, she had already forgotten parts of what she saw. "You know, you look familiar. Have we met before?"
"Hmmm....I would like to think I would remember you." Roderic smiled back, wondering if he had to run through the city before. "Sounds a little stressful always being ready. Need to relax sometimes too. Otherwise you go like the captain being married to their work."
"Duty is not a harsh spouse. And who says I don't have plenty of fun?" she grinned, remembering the image of Sabina. She couldn't wait to get back to Alexia... "And Mira isn't married to her work so much as imprisoned by it." she laughed.
"Well, always being ready I would think means never having the time for fun." Roderic replied with a grin. "Though, it is noted on the captain, even though prisoners are not the best to respect all the time. " Roderic finished that wryly. "But what kind of fun are we talking? Being out of all that stuffy armor? Because just out of armor isn't really 'fun'."
"Heh, out of armor is very fun, Knives. Especially with the right people." She took out his knife, striking it off her gautlet to let a few sparks fly, and to ignite the blade. "It can get very h-o-t."

Roderic's grin turned mischievous. "I imagine the raise in temperature is the best part. Well, that and the small part before when the armor is coming off. Guessing you already have those planned out with someone? Or is that part of your fun hunt too?"
"Why, are you volunteering?" she lazily waved the blade around before letting it extinguish itself. She took a step forwards and leaned in. "Sorry, Knives, but you're not my type. And if you want this back..." she held the knife out before walking away. "You'll have to come and take it back some time." Lilianna paused, turning back around as she tucked the knife back into her belt. "Also, another quip about the captain and well have to... physically reconcile our differences. I don't care if you don't like her, but you will respect her."

"Volunteering? Someone's making some big assumptions about themselves." He said with a small grin still there. "And we'll just have to chat about the knife later, as I see it means a lot to you. You are more than free to hold on to it for as long as you like. It suits that fun personality you have." Leaning back against the railing, he let her go with the knife, almost wanting to laugh with how much fun that had been.

If more knights were like that, it would be a lot more fun getting caught.
 

Redlin5_v1legacy

Better Red than Dead
Aug 5, 2009
48,836
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Gerhard watched Roderic and the knight getting chummy and almost wretched again. How anyone could be thinking about socializing was beyond him. The tower, the fighting and then... that... And now the ship seemed to be alive somehow, something to do with residual mana or whatever. More magic beyond his comprehension. It bothered him. The leaves growing out of the mast made a racket as the wind changed direction, sending them flying everywhere onto the deck.

"Well, both of you look perfectly content with the fact we're now flying on a ship that's been altered by magic." grumped Gerhard, making his way to the rail where Lilianna was leaning. He took a moment to look at the vortex behind theAlexander and felt his heart tremor again. He forced himself to look away.

"I don't think we're out of the woods yet." he said, sighing as he watched the landscape beneath them. "Life was easier when all I had to do was fry stupid pirates and occasionally fend off the odd Ahriman attack. I don't understand why all of this is happening but someone had better figure out how to fix those crystals. There are too many monsters out there now."

"That tower bullshit got me thinking..." he said, turning to the knight, "That Cristof guy can't be alone. How many ships like the Alexander are there? Can they stop his... constructs AND the monsters at the same time? Without the crystals, the cities could be hit by both... I think there are dark times ahead."

I wonder if she saw anything. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, reliving their worst moments...

He took out his pipe and lit it, huffing away to try and scare of his internal anxiety.

"All I know is I want some stiff liquor and some goddamn answers."
 

Mr. Omega

ANTI-LIFE JUSTIFIES MY HATE!
Jul 1, 2010
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"All I know is I want some stiff liquor and some goddamn answer."

"Well, DAGON SETH is here to provide." A call came from below, and Dagon came up lugging a pair of barrels on his shoulders and a handful of mugs. "More on the liquor than the answers. But answers can come later." He set down the barrels with a loud THUD, punching the top of the first one open with his fist. He filled a mug with whatever drink was contained it and offered it Gerhard, filling one for himself.

"Such strange events need something to bring us down to earth. Metaphorically speaking, anyway. I'd much prefer we stay in the air." He sat down, leaning against the edge of the ship. "I hope you don't mind. Had a few helpings before bringing these up. I might not be as... verbose as I am normally. But come on! Someone join me!"