"Moscow" : David, Yu
Soviet Connection - Michael Hunter [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6mFNznjmbM]
Ella, Devon, Teri, Garm, and the Bruisers began moving through the city: the Authors and Ella didn't freeze to death in the cold for [http://ddowiki.com/page/File:Chord_of_Reprisals.png] some [http://ddowiki.com/page/File:Scarf_of_Warmth.png] reason, although they found that Mother Russia was still a harsh mistress in winter. David, this is Ella here with the authors, Garm, and Caim's kids. We hear your contact point on the Kremlin, and we will be inbound after confirming a black smoke signal.
Since they weren't familiar with Moscow's street layout, the loosely packed group worked on finding a map for the city as well. It wouldn't help them if they got lost any more than they already were, after all.
Deep Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
It was a good thing that Ryan decided to his axe as a pit detector, because there was seven more pit traps of varying types, including some which looked like they were made to trap a leg in them along with extremely thin wires crisscrossing the path at oddly-spaced intervals. It was hard to tell where those wires went, but they looked a good bit stronger than spider web lines.
After that, though, Rugal felt a slight amount of give when he stepped next. Since he was so concerned with the traps, he may have had a chance to pull his foot off in time. Kalastryn, though, might not have been as lucky when she felt her footing give way. In addition, the group could have sworn they heard someone in the forest whisper about fed bait? Wed mate? It was hard to hear exactly where it was or what it was coming from.
[color=c200]"Rugal, I haven't seen trapping along this level since Eberron. These aren't made just to cause pain; no, these are all made to kill."[/color]
Kala, it's your call if this trap [http://www.angelfire.com/hero2/vietcong/images/punji_bear_trap.bmp] worked or if she caught herself right before it and hit one of those lines in the air.
Kalastryn was indeed... not so lucky. A crude bear trap or something similar slammed shut on her ankle and punctured holes up her calf as she fell over in pain. She was fortunate that it wasn't one of those pits from before. she took a deep breath, almost a gasp from the pain. knelt down and pried it open, blood trickling from the punctures on her leg. "AGH... damn this hurts. Don't worry about healing it Slindis I can do it myself." She said, well understanding her self sufficience and the fact that paladins can't throw down a lay on hands whenever they damn well feel like it. To the groups surprise, had they not known either that she was a necromancer or that she was able to summon her persona without an evoker... she summoned Demi and was granted and assumed the shroud of the master vampire, becoming as close as possible to someone already dead. Her eyes glowed orange and a reddish black aura, almost like steam, enveloped her.
Then a blackish cloud surrounded her at her feet and lingered. Somehow it was closing her wounds, despite the fact that to the rest of the group it looked FAR less than inviting to touch or step into. It was her death aura, treating her like the undead monstrosity a necromancer can become, it somehow healed her through the negative energy of death and darkness. She took a stance in the air about 3 feet above the heads of the rest of the group. "Well, there's no way in hell I'm touching the ground again if I can avoid it." She said in a tone that clearly displayed annoyance, but also with a hint of sarcasm. As for the whispers... "Anyone else hear that? Where is that?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Frozen Moscow Annie, Cadolbolg, Constance, David, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Yu
Snow in the Summer [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtR7EkF9vl8]
(after the Shadow Zone hit, before meeting Devon's group)
Teri blinked in confusion when the transition to the Shadow World hit, and looked around in a panic once she realized what had happened. Thankfully, Garm and Ella were right were she was, and she walked to her two friends, doing what she could to prevent the cold from blowing too much into her robes as she approached, [color=0E59E4]"Man, if I had known that we were going to enter a winter wonderland, I would have prepared better spells... Toyotama-hime, come on out. We might need your help soon enough. Cold is our specialty after all..."[/color]
The Cleric hit her arcana card with Sadei (staff form) and the Persona [http://imgur.com/q7mjRI9] appeared before Garm and Ella, holding her trident in a defensive position as Teri shifted to Ocean Stance. However, at Ella's declaration of acting as therapist again, the Cleric could only slump her shoulders. That girl certainly knew how to figure out if something was wrong. Either way, the group began their walk, and eventually ran into Devon, Ton Ton and Cadolbolg, who both gave chilled waves,
[color=15650D]"Good to see you all! It is rather cold here..."[/color]
Cadolbolg only shuddered at the mention of the word "cold" and huddled closer to Devon's neck, clearly unhappy with the current circumstances, "I don't like it! My blood feels all slow and I don't wanna fly in this weather. Lei Zhenzei doesn't like it either..."[footnote]Cadolbolg is weak to Ice and Wind, so this place is a hell hole to the little guy and his Persona.[/footnote]
Garm tilted his head to the side at the complaints and gave a small wag of his tail, [color=365D60]"Really? I hadn't noticed too much. Perhaps it is because I grew up in snowy areas like this. Either way, it wouldn't do good to sit here too long. Now, does someone have something that smells like David West? I might be able to help us find him if we do..."[/color]
In the meantime, Toyotama descended to the tiny turtle dragon baby, and placed a single claw on his brow as Teri chanted a spell, and the little one shuddered only a little less as the Cleric incanted, [color=0E59E4]"Guard the little one from Frost and Fell."
"Anyone else need the boost?"[/color]
Code:
Teri cast Protection From Energy on Cadolbolg, giving him Cold Energy based protection for 96 points of cold damage. This does not affect general weather conditions, and will last for 80 minutes or until the entirety of the damage is absorbed.
12 seconds until the next casting of a 3rd level spell.
At the sight of the undead being Kalastryn became, Caim almost went for his blade, but Angelus held up a hand, "Wait, she still smells the same. That is no imposter, Caim. Put your blade away. Now.... Someone aside from Melethia is missing from our number. Where is Jenny?"
No sooner had the dragoness made note of their fellow Dawn member's disappearance, Jenny's panicked cry filled the air, "No! NO! NO! NONONO! NOT AGAIN! AKANE!? ANGELUS!? ANYONE!?"
Angelus' head shot up in the direction of where Jenny's cries were heard, and charged off in Jenny's direction. Her hand went to her Evoker to be ready to summon her Persona, but instead saw that an Tarot Card [http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120720031759/megamitensei/images/c/c9/EmpressCard.jpg] floated in front of her face. Slashing at it with Kingsblood, a blue mist accompanied the summoning of...A new Persona? [http://imgur.com/cyV26fw]
"I am Thou, Thou art I.
From the passion in thy soul, I rise.
I am Echina, Mother of Monsters.
Burn all who would threaten your mate and brood."
A woman, half serpent and half mortal, bearing red scales, vermilion hair, golden eyes and sharp talons at the end of each tapered finger. Her tail, or rather, tails, split down the middle to almost resemble legs, and her wings spread to mimic the ones the dragon was born with. As soon as the new Persona descended, Angelus felt her senses sharpen to what was proper of her draconic half, and she knew where the Gardevior was to be found. It didn't take much longer for Angelus to find the Pokemon, curled in defense on the ground. Giving a small maternal "hush", the dragoness picked up Jenny, and began to hurry back to the party, doing what she could to console the crying Pokemon, "Jenny, it's me, Angelus. Come here, Echidna and I got you.."
Meanwhile, back with the main party, Caim watched wearily as Ryan and Kalastryn tried to comb around for traps with varying means of success. That's when the idea came to him. His Persona had a spear, and Slindis said that this sort of thing was really bad, then he might as well try to help along.
Code:
"Odin, help us!"
Summoning his Arcana Card [http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120720032847/megamitensei/images/f/f8/TowerCard.jpg] with a thought, Caim swiped though the card with his family blade to summon Odin [http://imgur.com/IMUDyc4] into the fray. The cloaked man gave a small nod to his wielder, and at Caim's gesturing, swept his spear around the floor of the forest in a similar manner as Ryan did, Odin's pair of ravens hovering nearby the Persona as it did so. Here's hoping this idea worked out...
Frozen Moscow : David, Yu, Cadolbolg, Constance, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Annie
Russian Theme - Call of Duty: World At War [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfW1bkPI8Kc]
Once the team was back together, having all regrouped at David's position, he began to remind them of their objectives because why not?
"Alright...We find Deadshot, then we work on a way of getting out here. We all know first hand how quickly the shit can hit the fan out there. Everyone stick together and don't wander off. This place is basically Deadshot's Hell so let's make sure we don't let it become ours-"
*Crack!*
David froze for a moment before drawing his weapon and quickly taking aim at the source of the sound.
"...Case in point...I don't think we're alone..." He asked before the sounds of moment around them began to be heard.
A skeletal hand broke though the ice covering the ground beside them before the frozen remains of a E.A.T.T.F. soldier pulled itself up and stood lopsided before glancing at them.
It seemed to be frightened of the group, slowly backing away from them before several most bodies began to break out of their frozen graves, quickly starting to increase in number.
Despite being a Zombie Army, the soldiers seemed to be scared out of their wits, staring at the group and looking ready to run to the hills at a moment's notice, Hell, a few of them even did!
"...This is...New..." David remarked as he looked at the group in front of him, They looked more like frightened children then a fighting force.
The moment was broken by the sound of the radio on the uniform of the "C.O." began to crackle to life with a message: "The Enemy is in straight ahead. You have your orders to take them out." Spoke the commander, causing near universal dread to fill the un-dead soldiers. "...It's them or you, Soldier. I am giving you a direct order: Take. Them. Out. Over."
With that message, the group began to (Reluctantly) attack, despite having no weapons, no support and no chance of winning.
Deep Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
Rugal froze for a moment as his foot nearly fell into one the the traps that Kalastyrn was unlucky enough to set off.
Letting out a nervous sigh as he was able to stop himself before falling for it, he slowly lifted up his foot and placed it down on the solid ground beside the trap instead.
Once he was sure of his footing, he then glanced back to check up on Kalastyrn, a little surprised at her new form, but he had enough experience to be used to such things.
"...You can fly?...Alright, Just see if you can see Melethia from above and be careful, I have no reason to think that the air is any safer then the ground here..." He said as Ryan and Odin began to work on checking for traps, though he had to admit, the sheer number of them was staggering!
"...Okay...Nice and slow..." He said to himself as he found himself blocked off by trip-wires at all sides.
"...Alright Slindis, I take it back, though I don't think the designers of these traps had a quick death in mind." He said as he did his best to avoid the wires, while his training over the years did make him more flexible then someone his size, in the end, his large frame was far more of a drawback.
Jenny meanwhile was starting to come down from her panic attack after Angelus consoled her. "Yes, Yes, Let Angelus do all the work for you. ~Would the baby like a bottle?~"
"...Okay...*Sniff* Sorry...Just...I wasn't ready to be back..."here"..." She sniffed as Angelus began to carry her back to where the group was. "Okay...You are put me down. I'll just slow you down." she warned before the Dragoness put her down. "Alright...Now I-" She was going to start before Kalastyrn cried out after getting her leg caught. "...Ohhhhhh..." She groaned nervously, now frightened of even moving, though for good reason, for fear of someone getting hurt because of her. "Alright...I'll be right behind you, Step where you step and all...that..." The pokemon then said before staying close to Angelus, stepping on her footprints on the forest floor and not daring anyplace else.
Akane | Angelus | Caim | Cz | Jenny | Kalastryn | Melethia | Ryan | Rugal | Slindis | Som
Though silent for a great heap of the events that had occurred, she was not altogether frozen. With the panic around her, the dragon taking tot he skies, and the elf girl vanishing into the shadows of the forest, Cz felt more uneasy than she had ever been. She followed Rugal closely after her awakening, but said nothing for a long time. Her robes and feet touched the ground as softly as a summer's breeze, and her raven black hair bobbed against her bare back. Only now did she remember that her evoker was no longer with her, so calling out Veles, that ruthlessly efficient angel of mechanized death was not an option. Not that there was any sunlight for her to use when she popped out anyhow. Cz thought to herself silently as she observed.
She observed Jenny's return, and took soft note of her vastly degenerated mental health... and Cz frowned. Marred by an abstract unhappiness. There was darkness here, but more so than the physical blackness that shrouded the forest between the trees. Drawing snaking paths through the trunks that led into a pitch blue void. There was the darkness of humanity here, the fear and insecurity of a mortal mind. A fear of mortality, of loneliness. Cz shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the goosebumps on her arms staining the unblemished smoothness of her skin. But what right had she to be so full of light and judgement in such a dark place?
Simply, she had none.
Now it was apparent that she was little more, if not less, than the same as these people with who she traveled, touched by the darkness and stricken with a deep unconscious fear of the dark. All things were afraid of the dark. Not blackness, but oblivion. The fear of nothing, not knowing. And when she stared into the forest, marred by blue black pitch, she saw that fear of uncertainty staring back at her with fangs made of steel and spikes. Poison dripping down its fangs like saliva and the soft creak of their hinges like a mocking laugh at her own mortality. It was daytime, and yet the sun shone darkly. It was night, and the moon penetrated the eaves of the trees with little effort. Darkmoon, Darksun, blackness everywhere, Cz thought bleakly. Living was to be meek, to be afraid of death. It was a painful, tedious experience.
She turned her head to Jenny, finally finished with her long-winded monologue about absolutely nothing and said very bluntly. "You look disturbed. Did something happen?"
Even I lost track! Location: Dark-Light | Shadows - Highlights | Black - White Time: Distorted
Statcowski sat in his redwood chair and pushed back on his table with his feet, balancing his weight on the hind legs of his four-point chair. A ruby die sat lazily on the desk before, a "19" glistening in its blood-red crystal face. He thumbed his hat nervously and tugged at the leather. It was the same blood-ruby-red as the die, and the rest of his old robes that he wore now. In fact, all of his belongings had been salvaged from the other side by a very haggard looking Nessaj and Armageddon who he had supposed earlier might have perished on the other-side and been wiped out of existence for all of eternity. But as it turned out, for better or worse, the two were a tenacious pair and his fire was only suppressed by the Stone of Dark rather than smothered by it's ruthless coldness. Red Mage paused and smiled to himself. It had been a long time indeed since he even thought about himself with that name... Statcowski... How long had it been since he had turned so serious. What felt like eons ago he could lazily defy laws by sheer ignorance, and join his fried Black Mage in bloody antics... how long ago did he enjoy dressing up as a girl and calling himself Deborah? Now there was a real blood-and-bones Deborah walking around as the "Blue Sorceress" or something like that. He didn't appreciate that very much at all.
"19," he said under his breath. It was almost akin to a sigh. "I'd like to wait for a 20 before we acted... a 19, we won't get anything done with such a high DC modifier staring us into the face."
Red Mage put the dice back into his coat pocket and played with his hat again. His room was empty, very empty. It seemed almost desolate even. But he knew the others were but a blink away. In this endless expanse of nothing, there was nothing. There was his worktable, and his chair, and a bed to rest on when he became tired, but nothing else. An infinite flat expanse of peaceful solitude. But in the horizon he saw the darkness was rising. An ephemeral evil coming to invade even his place of security and solace.
He rolled the dice in his hand and felt the surface of the die again with his thumbs. "19" it stood against his skin like goose-flesh, cold and hard. It was enough, it had to be enough. There wasn't enough time to be waiting around and doing nothing. Not anymore. He stood up and shifted his existence back into the commons that Deborah had conjured for them. A very archaic looking square filled with grass and tall trees surrounded by archaic brick buildings. It was somewhere in Boston, he recognized from his rampage in the Real World two years prior.
Like always, Deborah was sitting under a blue ash tree. He had his redwoods and she had her oaks. Her robes were a brilliant blue that shone in the fading sunlight like sapphires, and her hair was still the same midnight black that seemed to take all the light in the room and give none back. She looked up with her blood-red eyes and licked her finger before thumbing past another page in her accursed tome. He had killed her two years ago, yet she was sitting here with her stupid curves and her stupid eyes and her dumb damn red pouty lips staring him in the face, and mocking him. Her return was disturbing not only to him, but to everyone else as well... people who had died, and died for good, where coming back. And now Statcowski... no, Red Mage felt as strong as ever. As if his vigor had returned to him... had he been truly revived?
"Can I help you with something?" Deborah asked before giving a small pause and adding, "nothing dirty though, I just washed."
Red Mage nearly spat on her in disgust. He walked up to her tree and leaned on the soft trunk, hating the soft smell of the wood and leaves. He missed his redwoods already. "19. I think we are ready to begin."
Deborah closed her book (which Red Mage saw was actually "Fifty Shades of Grey" hidden within the cover of an alchemical text) and looked up at Red Mage, tugging her coat so that her collar was just a little higher than it was. She spoke softly, moving her ruby red lips deliberately, "We have been ready for a long time Red. It is only you with your luck and predictions that has held our operations back."
Red Mage nearly kicked her. Her smug smile was infuriating. He wanted to destroy her. "I have the most experience in dealing with this sort of thing... this continuity causality nonsense that the Writers have broken us into. I decide when we go, and I decide that we go now."
"But BlackHarte has you beat by almost half a year of existence."
Red Mage grimaced and kicked the book out of Deborah's hand with such force that it shattered the tome into a flurry of cream colored pages.
"Alpha is reforming her body already, and T cannot be far behind," Red Mage leaned back onto the tree and relaxed.
"You mean Alice and Tabitha. Both Alpha and t are other characters in this game, you know?" Deobrah responded coyly.
Red Mage frowned and ducked his eyes under the brim of his hat, "I know... I just don't like speaking their names. It makes me uncomfortable."
Deborah laughed.
"Gather the others... we pay the Writer a visit very soon. Our "White Knight" will be arriving soon."
"You mean Haku-"
"Don't speak his name. Not yet."
Deborah smiled coyly again, her eyes narrowed lazily, "The White Mask, then."
Seeing the party get back together placed a calming smile on the natural Persona master's face. Yet this peace did not last long as undead came to life and began to surround the group, yet Yu whom readied his weapon noticed the uncertain actions of the enemy that they now face. "This is different from what I have seen ... they almost seem sure that they don't want to attack u-" Yu was saying before a voice crackled to life, demanding that they attack the group.
"Okay, I think that is our culprit. Either behind just this or this entire world ... Deadshot. Only a guess though." Yu admitted as he turned around to the group. As the group was being attacked, Annie's Persona scattered the enemies around like a whirlwind of energy. Yu gave her a thumbs up, acknowledging her about her depth of experience of Persona usage now. Yu himself readied his blade as a couple of enemies surrounded him.
Still, the smile of Yu did not disappear. Holding out his hand, it instantly crushed his arcana card and immediately Izanagi was summoned behind him. Following this momentum up, Izanagi knew what to do instantly due to it's connection to Yu. One swipe of his giant blade and the enemies were now free-falling in the air. "Zio!" Yu followed up and a bolt of lightning was sent towards the falling enemies.
The attack connected and most died instantaneously, Yu followed up to defeat the survivors. Yu then looked towards the others to see how they were doing, he was worried that these enemies were different from the ones they have fought before.
The roof of the Rising Dawn was almost bare bones of life as usual. It had gotten more life as the Wanderer moved in and built his humble shack near the edge of the metal roof. With the Wanderer out of action and in another world in the medical bay, the only life on the roof was the close couple of the ship, Alpha and Storm. With SID the Wanderer's robot butler also outside watering his master's herbs and plants, the two were enjoying the unusual windless day on the roof.
Storm was cleaning one of the guns turrets that was up here, while Alpha laid on top of it snoozing away. Suddenly sitting up she sneezed loudly and wiped her nose. "Heeey, you okay up there. Is it too cold~!?" even Storm heard it and said with concern, she shook her head at the remark. "
Code:
[color=nvayblue]No, I just felt something weird.[/color]
" She gave a smile before actually getting back to work on the turret, making sure it is in working order.
The Lone Wanderer & "Mr. Demon frowny pants".
Location: Old Church Ruins | Purgatory.
The battle between the Lone Wanderer and the smaller Demon was short lived. Even though bullets, explosions and his large amount of skills were used, the Wanderer had a large metal hand wrapped around his throat. A husky dark voice sighed in the helmet of the dark Demon. "You seen now human, you are not meant to be here. You never were, I was made to guard this spot into the deeper levels of this place" It said, lightening it's grip around the Wanderer's throat.
"I can give you gold ... full gold bars ... caps, a card ... money, a-anything ya want!!" He was yelling and squirming while in the dark knight's solid and ultimately firm grasp. The Demon didn't even need to launch an attack and it's athletic skill was off the charts. Preparation was something that the Wanderer didn't have. "Now, leave or I will send you to the afterlife." The dark voice responded in a annoyed tone.
"Ah go ... fuck yo-" Was all the Wanderer said before simply vanishing in the Demon's hands. Looking side-to-side once, the Demon could not find his annoyance, he sighed simply before vanishing into the darkness again, guarding the place he has guarded for a unknown number of years.
Medical Bay/Lab | Rising Dawn.
Opening his eyes from travelling beyond the darkness, the Wanderer leaned up and rubbed his head feeling like he was shot. Slowly looking to the right and window of the private room he stayed in, he confirmed in the real world again. Slumping back instantly he was glad to be out of that world. "That was close ... that thing was too fast." The Wanderer said annoyed with what happened, mostly blaming himself for the result.
"I'll prepare next time, but for now ... " He said as he turned to his left and fell asleep, dreaming of a far better place.
The next step. Author Shaun and Shorn the Wizard.
Location: Lightning Hawke | Airspace above DC | America
Time: THE time!
The Lightning Hawke, the much smaller version of it's bigger brother the Blackhawke was sailing through the American air. A window was rolled down and two figures sat in the pilot and co-pilot seat. It was the Author, Shaun and one of his more latest characters, a wizard going by Shorn. The Wizard had not been in the field of this crazy and weird world before, but his first job was on the way and he was going towards the meeting spot of fate.
The Wizard Shorn knew nothing much about this event, but his Author knew more then his knowledge and his three 'brothers' combined, he has gone through much too. The Wizard's locking gaze was focused outside on the in-coming city of Washington DC, intrigued about this society but not overly excited to gain him attention, his Author had given him much information before this trip.
Looking down, the Wizard noted his robes, they were certainly not going to blend into the crowd, yet Shaun told him not to worry and that it was "All part of the plan" as he said. Holding his book and his sword in it's sheath he was starting to worry about integrating into this world. "You haven't told me yet." The Wizard started the conversation, "Hmm, about what?" The Author said back, keeping his hand on the wheel but scratched his lightly grown goatee and mustache.
"The stone around you neck, I can tell it has a large amount of magical energy inside and around it. It even glows." The Wizard said back tearing his gaze away from the outside city and to the stone hanging around his neck. Shaun's face turned into a light smile, "This ... I think I said it before, but this little thing has caused a whole load of trouble that you don't know about." He said with a serious tone, a tone that made the wizard instantly drop the topic.
Soon the ship slowed down into a hover, looking outside the Wizard saw a large white house, that was right below the ship. "We are surely lucky they cannot see us." Shorn remarked as he got up from the seat. "Cloaking technology of angels my friend, you know how to get in contact with me mate." Shaun said back but saw no one, he rolled his eyes as he began to travel back to the moon base.
Outside The White House | DC | The United States of America.
A large crowd made it easy to do a small distance teleport down to the ground, Shorn had kept his hood down, fearing that he would look suspicious to the many guards that were around the area. Yet a area remained open from the crowd and only two people stood in the opening. Walking out of the crowd and into the opening which was right next to the fence, there was a rather large bodyguard looking away from the fence and into the crowd, the other was staring towards the fence and towards the house.
The instant the wizard came near, the bodyguard stepped in front. "Going anywhere little man? I suppose some stupid n-" He was saying with his deep voice, the guard stopped mid-sentence though noticing the clothing of Shorn. His hand moving for his gun a voice called out and a quick gaze glanced over a shoulder. "Let him through." It called out, immediately the guard stopped and stood still.
The Wizard nodded and walked to the side of the man, looking sideways he spotted a formal suit lined with symbols and glasses. The presence of the man demanded respect and the strength could be felt near him. "Judging by your looks, either you came out from a S&M shop or you like to dress up just like me." A smile came from the formal man's face.
The Wizard was confused with the words of the strong man but responded with a unafraid voice. "I'm neither of those, I wear these for the tactical gain." Shorn responded with honesty, this gained the man to look at him with concern. "I'm actually no-", "Not from around here? Wouldn't be fucking surprised with that, especially with that airship crew and shit. Luckily enough they haven't interfered with my operation from before ... but they met and worked for Burt motherfucking Reynolds. Good enough for me ... but the question is, are you like them?" He interrupted and turned to this cloaked and robed short guy, who would probably mistaken for a terrorist around here.
The only thing Shorn could do was nod. "Good, work for me as one of my officers and I'll make sure no one questions you here." The man responded, "Agreed, I work as a tactician and the name is Shorn." The Wizard instantly agreed, remembering his Author's words to agree no matter what. "Even damn better, call me The Boss ... and ... " The Boss started to talk but placed his foot on a higher ledge and raised his open hand.
"Help me makes this country great again!"
Little did the Tactician Wizard knew that the version of America The Boss wanted would be something incredible to anyone.
To be continued on the next arc of Dragon Bal- ... Avatar Adventures~!!!
Moscow: Annie, Cadolbolg, Constance, David, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Yu
Everything that happened had happened so quickly that it was hard for the Cat-Ear Wearing Vampire to keep track of the events as they unfolded before her. Between the briefing, the search for Deadshot in Club Escapade and now the frozen wastes of a once great city, Constance Sorrowfeld was left wondering whether this was all a dream that she would wake from. It was the harsh biting winds that made her keenly aware that this was real and that she would not be waking from this situation any time soon.
Trudging through the snow, a shining glittering reflection caught the Sorrowfeld Princess' interest and caused her to break away from the group to investigate. It was a storefront of some sort, one that had somehow survived the devastation that had been wrought upon the remainder of the city. Looking through the window, Constance caught sight of the object that had caught her attention, a brilliantly jeweled orb that caused the light around it to dance and shine.
*CRASH!!!!*
At least it used to until it was crushed under the weight of one of Yu's flying and frying opponents. Turning around, Constance realized that the group had been set upon by a number of Shadows though it seemed that they were taking care of the enemies rather quickly.
"Whoops!" Constance blurted as she entered the fray, Bast right behind her and ready to shred any Shadows that got in her way.
"Moscow" : David, Yu
Soviet Connection - Michael Hunter [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6mFNznjmbM]
Devon and Ella were about to follow up after Narukami's blast, but then Devon got a small smile on her face as she started talking to the undead. [color=00c863]"Look, is it really worth it dying a second time against us? It won't be painless, and I'm one of the nicer ones among all of them...[/color]
As she said that, she turned to Annie. [color=00c863]"Annie, should we let these soldiers meet their end or let them choose?"[/color]
((Complaints about me missing you should be attached with what in specific was missed.))
Deep Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
You know, when an area's usually crisscrossed with wires, one usually would think it's a Bad Idea to go and hit them. It was right about the time where the Arrows and explosions started flying in where that became painfully apparent. Caim in particular felt the pain of a young tree with spikes lashed to the tip of it impale itself on Odin. Ryan's sweep also brought a weighted spiked board crashing down on him, only giving him a moment to react.
Since Rugal was turned around for a bit, though, he saw the same dead elves from the spike pit behind them with scimitars and moaning ghat the group was all Dead Meat.
Kal, since these are zombies, they WILL be healing from the death aura you have going.
Cz, Jenny, and Angelus' reunion was interrupted by a sudden attack by several cloaked creatures, descending from the treeline above.
Before most of them had even hit the ground, they had threw around a few necrotic spells, notable for being able to cause more or less the same amount of pain no matter how little contact they had with their targets.
Cz took a step back and gave a cold hard look to the new assailants. Her eyes darted from one to one, but could not count them. Their shadowy forms blended into the darkness between trees and into the chaos of the foliage itself. In essence, to her, they were invisible, innumerable, and invincible. She placed a hand on Jenny and squeezed her, not particularly caring where she was grabbing. Cz needed to reaffirm her existence, and her place in this world. It was a disorienting feeling to have vision lost to her, blurred and marred by the dark.
"Personas... summon your personas. I don't have my evoker!" Cz screamed, whirling around and ducking onto the ground, trying to force her eyes to comprehend the sight in front of her. Alas, it was too dark, and she was still not used to seeing the light.
Dreary. Dreary was a word that I find could describe Red Mage's demeanor. Statcowski. I don't think I have ever seen such a man be so serious. It makes me very uneasy to be around him. Though, I must admit he has his appeals. As a spellcaster he is unmatched, his wits and strength eclipses graduates of any Mage's College. He is too unstable, I think. Too unstable. Letting him loose would cause untold amounts of death. They said, and by 'they' I mean his author, that Red Mage was incompetent and jolly. They said that he was easy to get along with. Someone with opinions and ideas that would make even the darkest soul laugh. I don't think I have seen him laugh since I got here. I was born to be somber, peaceful, and darkly. I am an arcanist, my power comes from reading. Unlike other spellcasters, I cannot prepare my spells beforehand, and I cannot conjure whatever I feel like. I can only evoke what my book is telling me. Yet isn't it such a wonderful power? To fill the world that I found empty with life, color, and sound where once there was nothing? I too get bored. Everyone gets bored after a while, no matter what they do. I leaned back and let my head rest against the blue ash tree and breathed deeply. There was the song of starlings in the sky, twittering away in the air of an early Cambridge summer. The square was quiet, there were no students, no visitors. Well of course there weren't, I hadn't called any into being. Something bothered me about Red Mage, not just his strange seriousness, not just the look of bloodlust that returned of late to his emerald eyes, not just the way he adheres to those dice of his like God, but more akin to a strangeness of proximity. He is so much like me, I was born of the same blood as he, and yet, why are we not alike? Are we not brother and sister? It seemed simple to me that we should have been closer. But he was cold, his heart harboring no love for my presence. And every time I looked at him, re returned my acknowledgement with some painfully angry glare. The bark of the blue ash tree scratched the back of my head as I shook my head. I didn't understand a lot. I don't even think I understood how I came to be. One second I was dying against the floor of an airport, and the next thing I knew, I was lying under silk sheets as naked as the day I was born. Woe be woe, I should be touched by this descent into dark not. Unjustly so that scholars of ages past speak to me, through ink on paper their soul lives on, but through who should I live on? I closed my eyes, they were heavy and i couldn't open them again. I paused and breathed in, the soft nibbling smell of freshcut summergrass tickled the back of my throat. The murmur of the wind brought simple conversations to my ear. The world was building itself without me. How darkly it is, to rise without a master. I smiled, my lips tight, and I waited. Someone should be here soon to get me, after all, we are leaving very soon. But until then, I thought, I think, I should take a rest and go to sleep. Tic, tic, tic, and time passed. timed passed for me, for thee, and for them. I dreamed sweetly.
The only sound in this place was that of Red Mage's own. His own footsteps, his own heartbeat, his own raspy breath. The place was cold and filled with darkness. The void between imaginations, the void between worlds. He doubted even lords felt comfortable passing this place. Luckily he wouldn't have to stick around long, in quick time he saw the glimmer of golden-blue and approached it quickly. He found himself running, his feet slamming into a hard floor that didn't exist and propelling him through the void as fast as he possibly could.
"Philemon!" he cried out, brandishing his redwood staff in front of him to summon a guide light writhing with magical energies, "Philemon! I'm making a request, I'm sending in an extra person to join that group of yours!"
The die in his pocket still shone "19," a simple number that now filled Red Mage with more and more hope. things might fall into place better than he could have expected/
He brought his staff back and pulled something out of nothingness. A golden-haired youth in oldtown robes, his powder-blue eyes shining with a great fury. Saved from the darkness, no longer cursed as undead, a young merchant displaced from his home, now wielding a persona of his own, a great Lancer that felled the Stone Dragons with a spear of sunlight under the Old King Gwyn. Ornstein! Dragonslayer Ornstein! Leader of the Princess Guard! Now a merchant boy's familiar of midased gold! Gugnir! The Great Spear!
"Take this one! Take this one and put him to use!"
Frozen Moscow : David, Yu, Cadolbolg, Constance, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Annie
Between Yu's lighting know and Bast being able to effortlessly swipe them away and don't even get me started on the 25 foot persona, Devon didn't have to do much to convince the undead soldiers to get out of there before they were killed again.
Glancing at each other for a moment, several of the hoard then began to run off screaming, tripping over themselves and rubble as they did.
One figure even managed to get ahead of the pack-
*BANG!*
least he did before an unseen sniper shot blew his skull to pieces in full view of the other retreating soldiers. "Your choices are this: Fight and Survive or Flee and I'll kill you myself. I'm running out of patience, you're running out of men, lets see what runs out first?..." The commander ordered before the fleeing soldiers were forced to march back into battle, cries of fear and full blown sobbing being able to be heard as they did.
The only thing these poor bastards had going for them was the fact that there was more showing up to re-enforce them, only to see the heroes and attempt to burrow back into the ice again.
Deep Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
Rugal hit the ground as the explosions and arrows began flying, hoping that duck and cover would be a viable tactic.
While it did stop him from ending up like a pin cushion, there still were a lot more arrowheads in his back and legs that he could have gone without.
"Grrrrr...[sub]God I miss bullets[/sub]..." He growled in pain as he picked himself up, while Bullets could be just as lethal, their smaller size made them less annoying then arrows, least that's what he found.
Still, it didn't take a genius to figure out that it wasn't the case for the others as Ryan's screaming alone showed how dire the situation was.
As he was on the ground, he got a good hard look at the numerous dead bodies in a pit nearby moaning "Dead Weight".
If this was how bad things were for them, he shivered at the thought of Melethia being in this place.
Once that episode was aside, he then made his way towards Ryan, with a lot of the nearby trip wires having been set off, he was a bit more free to move.
"Alright, just hold on...Shit." He cursed as he saw the black blood, knowing full well what that did to poor S'zami.
Either way, he lifted up the weighted board and threw it aside before shouting "Ryan's Down! He's been poisoned!"
As he was tending to Ryan, Slindis was lucky enough to be able to avoid most of the traps going off, though the fact that she wasn't getting off so easy began to sink in right around the same time a rouge how had camouflaged himself with a cloak on one of the trees shot out at her, aiming to stab her in the back while it was turned.
Jenny meanwhile made a break behind one of the trees to hide from the spell attacks after she saw the incoming assassins(?), holding Cz close as she did. "Hey, Maybe Cz will protect you! Lord knows you can'd do it yourself~!"
"SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP!" The pokemon yelled at random all of a sudden, Cz could be forgiven for thinking she was yelling at her.
That all stopped when one of the Cloaked figures began making it's way towards them, Jenny's heart ready to burst from her chest as she turned them both around, pushing Cz against the tree in an vain attempt to protect her as she closed her eyes while the figure most likely went for the kill...
... *SLICE!*"
The pokemon slowly opened them again to see Akane holding Jake's sword standing over the figure as it lay lifeless on the ground, glancing at the pair for a moment before running off to engage the other assassins.
Frozen Moscow Annie, Cadolbolg, Constance, David, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Yu
Anyone ever play .hack//? It had some sweet OST. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM-NPOpAUzE]
While the party was doing well to ward off the enemy Shadows, unfortunately, it seemed that Deadshot had a firm grip on the soldier's morale. As such, more seemed to come in where the others left off.
Taking the initiative where Devon's rallying cry left off, Garm charged ahead into the field and sunk his teeth into the first undead he could manage, doing what he could to dismember an enemy force if possible. Pulling one of the retreating undead out of it's hole, he gave a firm tug and ripped an arm off with his jaws. Spitting it out with a growl of distaste, the wolf gave an intimidating show of it's teeth and barked to his comrades, [color=356D60]"We can push past these forces! We're not here for them anyways, it's the one with the masked face we want."[/color]
Cadolbolg raised his head after Garm's charge, and called upon his Persona, little limbs shaking from the cold, "Lei Zhenzi, make it a little bit warmer, please? It's freezing!"
At the tiny turtle-dragon baby's request, the enormous dragon-warrior [http://imgur.com/76EbNwS] appeared and held up one of his blades. The weapon caught fire, and upon bringing it to the ground, it shot towards one of the enemy zombies, as well as melting snow in it's wake. After doing so, the Persona began to fade away, and Cadolbolg snuggled closer to Devon's side, still shivering from the wasteland they were in.
Ton Ton was next to follow up, beseeching his Persona while holding onto Devon's shoulder, [color=15650D]"Galahad, protect us!"[/color]
At the Tonberry's call, the Knight [http://imgur.com/lTZrgPF] of the Chalice appeared and held his Chalice aloft, a beam of light concentrating before zapping into another of the enemy soldiers. As the Knight began to fade away, Ton Ton 'sent' over the rings (that means you too, Annie), [color=15650D]"Not to mention that Deadshot giving these commands over the intercom really bothers me... If he's stuck here, why is he fighting us?"[/color]
Seeing that Ton Ton had never been in a Shadow Zone dedicated to a battle against one of his party members Shadows (and that little romp with Melethia was never really cleared up about why it looked like a treasure hoard), so the little guy was a bit on the confused side about the turn of events.
Finally, there was the Cleric among them, who called upon the AI residing in her Tablet, [color=0E59E4]"Dimitri, scan the area with your Persona. Keep an eye out for additional Shadows popping up."[/color]
[color=3897E0]
Code:
"Of course, Your Ladyship. Thoth, commence scanning...."
[/color]
Following that, the Cleric concentrated, holding Sadei close to herself as she burned a turn attempt to cut on her Aura's healing properties. After all, if there was one thing she knew about Undead, Positive Energy did harm to them as Negative Energy did to living beings. Once the feeling of the Positive Energy washed over the party, the Cleric pointed to the group of undead and spoke aloud, [color=0E59E4]"Toyotama, go and give them rest from their duty."[/color]
[color=0E59E4]"He he he, killing with kindness, are we? I like... Get a healing spell ready, we're going to have some fun."
"One Cure Moderate Wounds, coming up."[/color]
And with that, the Cleric began to pray, while the Persona began to float into the fray (as well as taking the wonderful feeling of the aura with her) before placing a hand onto one of the zombies.
Code:
Teri has burned the turn attempt needed to activate her healing aura. At her caster level, the aura heals for 2 points to allies every 6 seconds, and damages undead for the same amount.
She has also cast Cure Moderate wounds, which does 2d8+caster level (as well as varying bonuses from feats/domain and multiplied by .5 on account of equipment) for 31 points of (to an undead) damage to a zombie.
Turn attempts remaining, 7 Undead/[s]5[/s] 4 Fire
6 Seconds till next Level 3 Spell
18 seconds till next Level 2 Spell
Creepy Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
Seriously though, it was pretty atmospheric. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo9k6Mwcrzo]
Caim let out a soundless gasp of pain when the spiked tree struck his Persona, as he was not accustomed to the rules of the Verse: A Persona struck hurts it user as well. Of course, that was bad enough, but the other traps being sprung and the sudden appearance of undead made matters worse. As Caim instructed Odin to release the spikes from his side, his PDA rattled out,
Code:
"You said this was like your old home, right Slindis? Anything of note about those undead who are going to try to eat our faces? Weakness to fire, something?"
As he waited for that answer, the warrior readied his grip on his familial blade before crossing swords with one of the scimitar wielding zombies, the pain still readily apparent on his face as Odin released the spikes from it's side.
As for Angelus, she realized that she was going to be alone in this endeavor. With Cz missing her Evoker, and Jenny scared, this meant that things were going to get messy on her end. Well, at least she thought that she was alone before Akane appeared. After the Kitsune saved Jenny from harm, Angelus readied her blade and called out to her Persona, "Echidna, guard Jenny and Cz from harm and begin an assault on these hell-ridden beasts!"
The Woman-Serpent hybrid did as she was commanded, and her enormous tail created a protective circle around Jenny and Cz before pointing at the other cloaked figures and releasing a barrage of 8 fireballs, an ability Angelus knew to be from her more bestial side. However, this defense was not without a cost. With Echidna being so large, Angelus was beginning to feel the burn of some of those necrotic blasts, and she let out a frustrated cry of pain as the sensation of acid being poured into her veins was felt in her body. None the less, the dragon was determined to protect her friends, and stood firm and ready for the next assault via undead.
Personaverse: Realm Between Realms - Philemon, Red Mage, Lucien(?)
Philemon's theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8N1QIqJAek]
Red Mage, while first in a void of nothing, soon found himself in the Realm Between, the same place where the party was originally placed before being brought into the true realm of the Persona verse. A flurry of blue and gold butterfiles filled the air before Philemon himself stepped out of the nothing, and the platform he addressed the party in manifested under Red Mage's feet (alongside gravity with it)
Red Mage could not see the expression on the God's face, but the tone of his voice was more than enough to led the Mage know that Philemon was not pleased at the sudden arrival,
"You have quite the gal, Mage in Red. I have heard whispers from gods of what you have done, and now that you stand before me, I can see it clearly in your soul. I would know, after all; as I am you.[footnote]Just as Nyarlatothep is the bad in all of humanity, Phil is a representation of the goodness in humanity in the Persona verse. Being as such, he kinda knows everything about all humans that steps in his presence/fall in his domain. I would imagine Persona users also fall in that domain as well, as he grants that power. He also has the ability to replicate human faces, as seen in the ending of one of the Persona 2 games.[/footnote]"
To emphasize the point, the God removed his mask to show that his face matched the mage before him, and then placed it back on his face, crossing his arms before speaking again, "In short, you are not welcome here, Mage; and yet you come here making demands of me. Furthermore, if you wanted to put your puppet among my aides, why do you choose to do so now, instead of attempting to do so earlier, when he was already with the group of the Rising Dawn?"
When Kala was finished healing using her death aura she was very quick to dismiss it to prevent any healing done to the undead around them. Summoning Demi to dismiss her aura and, as it would be beneficial to their enemies more than herself, or in the grand scheme, her group. In the struggle the group had with flying arrows, undead, explosions, and in Ryan's case a no doubt deadly toxin... she felt powerless to help. In her haste to join the fray as an actual combatant instead of a caster, she'd forgotten to prepare other spells for the sake of being able to cast them. She could heal herself in undead form, but in this scenario, that would heal their enemies as well. Demi's eyes rolled at the thought. "So you can't really do much without magic. How'd that plan work out for you smart ass? I mean you've been dependent on it for everything from defeating Kobolds to keeping yourself alive in your own home, so accidentally throwing it out the window at a moment's notice was a top notch plan for sure."
"A good point... no, beyond a good point... *sigh* Tenser's?" She said as her persona smiled through the mixture of darkness and light that was her being. Granting Kala's now Vampiric form yet more changes in shape.
*Tenser's transformation go!*
Basically the ghostly armor the giant mind flayer is wearing, but in her size of course.
Had anyone seen Kala wield a scimitar before, it would have been absolutely pathetic... they'd be surprised she hadn't hurt herself trying to pick it up from the pointy end. Now though? She wielded it almost as well as Caim would one of his blades. Leaping (or flying) into the fray with the cloaked figure poised to attack Slindis parrying the attack in but a moment's notice of injury. No necromantic magic would save them from Kala's vampire form, and she's a lot stronger, faster, and tougher with Tenser's activated then she was before. Whoever it was, a tough time was about to be had for them, As she waited in a stance of defense for them to make the first attack at their new opponent.
Frozen Moscow : David, Yu, Cadolbolg, Constance, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Annie
Devon calls out to the others there after Teri's wave of healing, brandishing her blade. [color=00c863]"Cadolbolg, Teri, Ella, let's cut through these people and get to Deadshot. Mengde, come on!"[/color] Ella pulled out her spear and led the front line along with Cadolbolg's Persona, skewering some of the soldiers with ease.
Deep Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
The Vol ambushers left Ryan alone, considering the Dragonoid already dead as a good number of flankers went and harassed Rugal and Caim. [color=c200]"Positive energy's the only definite! Light energy spells could help if you knew them as well."[/color] Slindis also went to deliver a strong uppercut at one of the ambushers targeting her, leaving Kalastryn to target the other.
On ANgelus' side, though, the ambushers were fading off with each blast, but more took their place. The sheer ruthlessness in the fighting made it clear exactly who's zone this was, however: Melethia. The harsh patterns could only be from that girl... Ad she must have been seeing things, because she could swear she saw some twisted mockeries of the Rising Dawn's crew in the attackers.
Frozen Moscow : David, Yu, Cadolbolg, Constance, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Annie
With Teri's healing aura and the fact the enemy was letting them surrender, The Army seemed to have all the reason in the world to just back off, if not for the Shadow.
As Dimitri went scanning for the leader, it brought him to a figure standing on one of the roof tops above them, shaking his head before moaning "Have to do EVERYTHING myself..."
As the army began to pause and tried to figure out he best course of action, the air suddenly filled with the sound of Automatic gun fire as bullets rained down atop them, breaking their skulls and reducing their number far more then the Rising Dawn ever did. "See, this is why we out-source to Private Contractors now. Least their soldiers can understand basic instructions!" He shouted before using his Wrist Gun's grapple to swing down from the roof to the ground below.
While he had the same body type and face as Deadshot, he was clad in some sort of Black Uniform that wouldn't be out of place in some Neo-Nazi Cult as well as a matching hat.
The strange thing was though that while this outfit was more suiting to a high ranking officer, the patch on his shoulder indicated he was no higher then a Officer Cadet. "So...what brings you to my little patch of heaven?..." He then asked as he lit up a cigarette as he stared at the group, seeming not to care about the fact he literally set an army on their asses.
David took this chance to ask "I take it you are Deadshot's Shadow?" "Oh?...What gave that away, Inspector West?"
"...Actually, That was kinda a guess." "Oh for the love of-...Yes, I'm one of those guys and my source was our local junkie sniper. And?"
"So where is he?" "Why do you care? Want to blow his head off again?"
"...He never let that go, did he?" "Ohhhhhh, not in the slightest Davy Boy."
"Look, just where are you keeping him?" "And I'm asking you: Why. Do. You. Care? Guy's a prick and unlike Baron Von Kill-a-Lot (Rugal), he isn't even TRYING to hide it. Hell, I was there, I'm HIM. The only thing stopping him from blowing one of your assholes away is a bad trip. Then he'd sell your shit for dope. I'm not making this up, He's actually done this before. Not exactly the kinda guy you want hanging around, now is it?" He said with a look of concern on his face, clearly trying to sell the idea that Deadshot was WAY more trouble then he was worth.
Deep Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
"I'm just going to tell you to shut up now, Okay?!" Rugal interrupted, clearly not in the mood for the whole "If I don't make it" Speech as he did his best to stop the bleeding, though his experience with this sort of thing was heavily limited, though the fact he was now being targeted by the attackers didn't help.
"Ah Hell. Just-...Stay put." He said to the Dragonoid before picking up the spike-plate that caused him so much grief and throwing it at one of the members before grappling with another, trying to throw the figure into one of the exposed pit traps.
Least he was before he realized he was fighting what appeared to be David West as drawn by a political cartoonist.
"What the-" He paused for a moment, giving the imposer enough time to pull out his weapon, press the barrel against Rugal's head and pull the trigger....
And somehow managed to miss competely and hit a tree behind him.
Needless to say, the fight quickly turned in Rugal's favor after that.
Jenny meanwhile was still holding Cz while everyone else was killing and fighting around them, Hell, Angelus and her persona must have gotten hit by like 5 of those spell things and she didn't even fall down! "Hey! Yell Therapy at them! It might be their weakness!" Her Shadow kept mocking, causing her to feel more and more useless, Even if she did get her Persona out, she couldn't be sure if it'd actually help or not.
As for Slindis, her uppercut was more then enough to knock the would-be backstabber on his ass as he scrambled on the ground trying to...Find something?
Whatever it was, he found it, it was a wire that was hidden under the ground which he then pulled, the other end of it rising up around her feet like a whip and knocking her off balance.
Worse still is when the attacker pulled back on it, causing the sharp wire to wrap around her neck tightly like a noose.
The hangman then quickly climbed up one of the trees and leapt back down over one of the branches, causing the wire to lift her up off the ground.
The Mage in Red shifted uncomfortably, stepping backwards on the small platform. His face held his dissatisfaction in his wrinkled forehead. "To think I was so infamous among the transient beings," he closed his eyes and placed a hand on his face, massaging the bridge of his nose as he thought. For a long short while he held himself in deep reflection before opening his eyes and drawing himself to his full, not-so-impressive frame. His red cloak flared in the aetherial winds of the bygone area. But as he was about to speak, a clean well-mannered voice cut through the air as sharply as a knife through butter.
[color=dark gold]"I am nobody's puppet, I had to take care of a few loose ends in another realm,"[/color] Lucieon said venomously. His tongue seemed as sharp as his rapier. [color=dark gold]"That girl I saved, Designation C-Z has something very important to us lodged in her head, and I am loathed to see her damaged anymore. She is foreign to your world and inexperienced. She cannot take care of herself!"[/color]
Ornstein-not-yet-Gungnir gave a curt nod and bow, keeping his grip tight on his massive lance. His golden armor gleamed in the soft blue light of the realm. He spoke with out speaking, his voice likes the soft rumblings of an ancient stone dragon. It is true, he seemed to say.
Luceion tossed his long hair back and brushed his robes clean of dust, [color=dark gold]"Not to mention I smell the stench of a chosen undead in your troupe of heroes as well. A Dragon Disciple as well."[/color] Lucieon frowned, he hated dragons almost as much as he hated undead. Lordran was such a miserable place, all the gold in the world wouldn't buy him a single soul.
"You should know the boy speaks to truth," Red Mage made a sweeping gesture with his arms, "I am nothing but a taxi to this brat. We don't get along very well, but he's one of the few sane ones left. So," Red Mage paused and gave Philemon a good, long, honest stare, "Take him and make him do good, it's the least I can ask for you to spite him."
Luceion looked annoyed but said nothing, remaining in curt silence on his seat upon Ornstein's massive shoulders, though his hands fondled Estoc's handle fondly.
Personaverse Location: Dark Forest | Shadow Zone
Cz was relieved that Angelus and Akane picked up around her to protect Jenny. She felt helpless without being able to call upon her true self hidden in phase space. The world here was too cruel a thing. As each of the phantoms were cut down by fire or steel, another appeared from the darkness to replace it. They still shifted like one great mass, moving in and out, weaving across the trees and darkness to hide their numbers, their strength, and their intentions... at least that was what it seemed like to Cz, who was very visually confused by the meshing of like-colors.
Her body was already oversensitive to its surroundings, so the spell of amplification only made her more uncomfortable. Every passing wind lashed out by a blade or flame made her skin crawl with discomfort, as if a million small insects were marchings up her arms and legs. But she held onto Jenny unflinchingly, and without the slightest shiver. "Jenny, calm down. Look carefully... can you seen anything about the assailants that we can turn against them? You have to have some latent powers that your species has!"
"Jenny, calm down. Look carefully... can you seen anything about the assailants that we can turn against them? You have to have some latent powers that your species has!"[/quote]
"See, even the girl that turns into a Robot is more on the ball then you are! So whom is protecting whom?"
Jenny was still in much of a state of shock and fear as Cz attempted to get her to snap out of it. "I-i-i-My powers are tied to my persona. She'd get torn apart out there!" She answered, though it was hard to tell if Corvus, her persona, really was that weak or if it was just in her head.
Either way, it was clear that she wasn't going to be much help here. "Well, what did you expect? It's YOU." Her Shadow kept jabbing, at this point, it could be said that Jenny's Shadow was just dragging it out at this point.
Avatar Adventure Location: Harvard Square | (Un)Real World
Deborah slept soundly in the shade of the Blue Ash Tree on a nice warm Massachusetts day, Dreaming, and I quote, "Sweetly" as the students of the nearby collage chatted idly all around her.
If she was paying attention, she could hear how the topic changed from a local football game to one about a strange un-clean figure pacing though the grounds.
The sound of grass being crushed underfoot began to grow louder as did the distinct glint of metal in the air.
The next thing she felt was cold enchanted steel barely gaze the top of her head as it struct the solid ash tree behind her, cutting cleanly though it like a knife though butter, causing the plant to topple to the ground behind her.
If she were to open her eyes now, she'd see a extremely filthy man in rags that once resembled a set of jeans and a T-shirt, a thick messy beard, bloodshot eyes with a scar across his face underlining them, twitching and mumbling as he welded a strangely sharp fire axe, standing over here and winding up for another swing...
The second the leader of the opposition forces came out, Yu instantly knew what it was. "[sub]A Shadow.[/sub]" He said quietly with no surprise, yet he remained ever on caution, with his two-handed Katana poised to strike and Izanagi in the same combat position. Then the Shadow Deadshot began to rant about himself, selling out his real counterpart. This started to remind Yu of David's own encounter with his own Shadow, except that ended more easier and depressing then anything he had seen.
Ignoring the Shadow for now, Yu started to look around for the place the Shadow may have came from, for that may be where the real one lies. "Splitting up may be a good idea, one to fight the Shadow and one to find the real Deadshot" Yu said to the people surrounding him, ready for anything, he actually hoped someone might also have a good idea. The blood still pumped within his veins, his adrenaline lingering for more action, Yu was on edge like the many around him.
Yet he wondered, what was this Shadow's real form?
The true form of Deadshot, did the Shadow really sell himself short?
Frozen Moscow : David, Yu, Cadolbolg, Constance, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Annie
"...did you seriously not hear a single word I just said?..." The Shadow said when Yu seemed to ignore him while Annie made a speech on Deadshot's values and loyalty. "Yeah, did you forget the part where he left you and the others to face a evil 20 foot Evil you?...Listen, Deadshot's only lineament is himself. The only reason he's even here is because Philemon said he'd line his pockets, otherwise he'd have gotten out of the city day 1. Don't even try to justify his actions. I was there, you weren't. And now, I've finally getting rid of that mass-murdering psychopath. Am I a good person? No, I just killed 20 men for desertion less then 10 minutes ago. But It wasn't my idea to set off Biological weapons in residential areas for a paycheck!" He then raved for a moment before calming himself down.
"...Alright...Tell you what. I show you the way out of here and you leave. It's taken ages to set this up and I'm so close to finally being free of that asswipe. I can assure you, whatever I am pales to what he is. Hell, maybe after this is all over, I might even join your crazy little crew. After all, I'm Deadshot when he's Sober. It's either this or we end up having a fight no-one can really win. Up to you..."
Frozen Moscow Annie, Cadolbolg, Constance, David, Devon, Ella, Garm, Teri, Ton Ton, Yu
Final Fantasy does a pretty decent Job too [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjqW2SbT0JQ]
Garm, like Narukami, was a bit more focused upon the task at hand rather than diplomacy, and spoke quietly to the glasses wearing teen, [color=365D60]"Do you think it entirely wise to split up, Yu Narukami? I fear that if we divide ourselves, we'll play straight into the Shadow's paws, er, hands. He is a creature trained for battle and in tactics. I am worried that he'll pick us apart if we do so; even should we find the real Deadshot."[/color]
Cadolbolg shook his head lightly (followed by a shiver) at Garm's thought, and added in, "If I'm understanding everything in fighting these Shadow thingys, we need to find the real one so he can accept the Shadow and make this stupid cold go away. We're gonna have to split up, or this guy will keep at it and we'll never make it out alive. And who knows, maybe we can get him from behind if we get the real thing? Father would employ a pincer attack in this kinda situation... I think? What do you think, Devon, Constance?"
Meanwhile, Cadolbolg's pact partner, Ton Ton, was focused more on the verbal side of things, and spoke up when Deadshot asked why the party cared to save Deadshot. Holding his little Lantern aloft, he called out to the Shadow, [color=15650D]"If we didn't care, Deadshot's Shadow, why are we here now? Yes, you have done very bad things, and I don't think any of us are denying that; but coming here to help you is simply, well, simple! We're here because it's the right thing to do! To save someone from themselves, no matter how bad they are, is the right thing to do!
And, hey, if Deadshot really thinks he's that bad of a guy, can't he fix that? If you're still living, then that means you can do stuff to make up for the bad things you've done. It won't make your bad actions go away, but trying to do something to make up for the bad is better than doing bad things. I know the Authors are doing that now, Ms. Annie seems devoted to that path, and pretty much any formerly bad guy we've picked up has learned to put their efforts for the better! I gotta say, it's a fairly decent track record; as far as redemption goes. And, speaking from personal experience, even if you try to do good things, you can really screw up from time to time. But doing good in the world doesn't mean you reach a point of 'Supreme Good' or anything. It simply means you put effort forth to better yourself, learn from your mistakes, and then improve things happening around you. Deadshot CAN change, Shadow, it's just a matter of him putting forth the effort to do that! That's why you're wrong about Deadshot being worthless!"[/color]
After Ton Ton gave his piece about the nature of redemption, Teri found herself in her mind, frozen in her shoes about what to say or do. Usually, this would be the place where she'd give a similar speech as Ton Ton's about the nature of goodness and the power of redemption and love in Jesus Christ, but now? The words felt too hollow in her throat. Even if she helped save her father from his own darkness, even if what she had helped with Devon stopping with her posturing, the Cleric didn't know what to say or do to help bring Deadshot's Shadow down. The most she knew she could do was cast protective aid on her friends or heal their wounds (that is, if she could get to them on time). She didn't know the army man personally. She had been too locked up in her own head and was so concerned with her family matters that she couldn't have seen the problems blossoming around her. In fact; the words from Deadshot's Shadow seemed so familiar because-
[color=0E59E4]"It's how I feel about myself too. I don't feel good enough because I can't save everyone around me. It feels like no matter what I can do, it will never be enough. I can't do enough to make Caim and those I used to write for stop hating me, I can't help everyone despite my powers... I feel useless. It's why I've been working so much, it's why I try to do as much as I can.
In fact, if I'm so useless; does Sadei even like sharing a mind with me? Does Garm follow me because Lupito told him to, or because he cares? Would Jake think all those pep talks he gave me were for nothing if he saw me now...?"[/color][footnote]I know these seem a little irrational, but trust me, when you have these sort of feelings, you'll start pulling all sort of 'what ifs' on yourself. They can be... unpleasant. (and this is pulling from personal experience on my end. Dunno if anyone else has done the same)[/footnote]
Even with the night to relax before entering this zone, the pressure was coming down on the Cleric, and she found her knees going weak as she bombarded herself with insults and self hate; clinging to her staff as she tried to hide the expression on her face before -
[color=0E59E4]"Oh I have had it up to here with this 'I'm worthless' bullshit.
You see that moral thing going on there? You gonna drown in your grief over your dead buddy and not notice the opportunity we have to spread the Gospel through ass kicking? Really? Fucking summon me and turn up the mental link with Dimitri, NOW. [small]Man, I gotta do everything myself...[/small]
And Sadei, tell this dumb fuck that you love her, because she obviously has forgotten that. Oh, and don't forget about reminding Colonel Dumbass that God CHOSE US, not the other way around?"[/color]
Not even fighting the demands, Teri summoned the Persona [http://imgur.com/q7mjRI9] via her arcana card [http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120720031717/megamitensei/images/d/da/PriestessCard.jpg] and did as she was told, allowing a much rougher sounding version of Teri's voice to ring from the Tablet at the Cleric's hip, [color=0E59e4]
Code:
"Check one two, check one two, can the bitchass known as Deadshot's Shadow hear me? Greeaaattt... Okay, here's the Skivvy, douche nozzle, mah name's Toyotama-hime, I'm the glorious Persona you see floating next to the chick in the robes; and lemme tell you something, you're pulling a Sisyphus here. If you don't know your Greek myth, lemme tell you this clearly, what you're doing is pointless. No matter what you do, no matter how much work you put into this shebang, you're gonna fail. Wanna know how I know? I was in your position right now; I had this kiddo here on the ropes, hating herself, trapped her in crystal and all that self loathing shit. I almost had the whole thing in my hands... If it weren't for her Mother and at the time Boyfriend from busting in and wrecking all my plans; and I had some good ones too. No matter what you or your host thinks, someone gives a fuck about your existence. And that's gonna be the key to your downfall right there. So, instead of asking us to leave, how about you realize that you are gunning for a fruitless effort and stop while you're ahead. Your winter world was nifty and all, but really, you're sunk already; regardless of what you throw this party's way. Besides, if you play decently enough with your host, you can get some nifty benefits out of it. It'll vary from person to person, but really, it's a lot easier coexisting than attempting to repress each other."
[/color]
Creepy Forest Akane, Angelus, Caim, Cz, Jenny, Kalastryn, Melethia, Ryan, Rugal, Slindis, Som
He he, job system puns. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpXe6VTjvnk]
After pushing an undead flanker back with his blade, Caim 'shouted' (or as best as a PDA with Vocal capabilities could),
Code:
"Positive Energy? That's the healing stuff you and your student use, right? Odin, the Wheel!"
The Fatherly Persona, after blocking and pushing back one of the attackers with his spear, held up the weapon in question and spun it in a great circle, causing the image of a Wheel [http://imgur.com/znVkloo] laden with weapons to appear for a moment. The Wheel turned a few times before settling on a different blade, causing the familial blade Caim had in his hands to disappear, and a different one [http://lparchive.org/Drakengard/Update%2040/30-timesink38.jpg] to take it's place. With that, Caim began trying to cut down the mockeries of his allies, feeling the charge of his weapon beginning to build before he unleashed [http://youtu.be/y5gahCSiRjk?t=10m42s] a trio of glowing orbs, the combination of those and the healing energy contained both helping him and harm the undead who was riding his hide. Of course, it would be some time before he could manage to do that again....
Meanwhile with Angelus, even if she was a bit disconcerted by the appearance of the Shadows; she knew them to be just that, Shadows. Lobbing a fireball in the fray of another Shadow, the dragon accessed the rings and addressed Jenny and Cz, "We cannot stay here, or else we'll be overrun! I need you two to stick close to myself and Echidna while I push through; understood? Also, I think I have an idea who's Realm of Shadows this is. It was obvious from the start. The traps, the tactics... It has to be Melethia; gods' knows what is causing this in her..."
Reattuning her grip on Kingsblood, the dragon shouted to her Persona, "Echidna, continue your guard, we're going through. And tap into the Pact Bond with Caim, he's the closest thing we have to a starting point!" "Your will is my command... Caim is in this direction."
The woman/serpent gave a solemn nod before lighting another fire in her palm and throwing it at the enemies; as well as beginning to home in on her host's pact partner.
Personaverse: Realm Between Realms - Lucieon, Ornstein, Philemon, Red Mage
Philemon's theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8N1QIqJAek]
A soft sound, almost akin to a chuckle, escaped from beneath the mask, and Philemon kept his stoic posture before answering again, "So quick to judge, Knight of the Princess Guard. I have seen the heart of whom you speak of as I see your's now and I saw several things. I saw a kind heart, one willing to learn, and to change for the better; regardless of his mistakes. A shame you do not have the same within you. I see a stubborn Pride, Anger, Spite and... Fear? How sad. Hatred can gnaw at a perfectly clean soul and limit what greatness it would otherwise offer.
None the less, I see that you spoke the truth of your independence. My apologies, Knight, for the quick judgement. In light of the one next to you, I have every right to be on high alert.
The God gave the smallest inclination towards the Mage in Red before continuing what he had to say, "As for the young woman of which you speak, she is not alone in unfamiliarity in my Realm. Many of the Rising Dawn are new to the rules that control Persona. For example, once you enter my realm, your Persona will be away until you summon it with an Evoker. However, you cannot coddle her forever, Knight. Unfortunately, conflict and suffering is what allows the best of humanity to shine through and to truly grow. A chick may enjoy the safety and comfort of the egg, but if it does not peck it's way out, it will die and never be truly born.
To deny CZ such development is to deny understanding what pleasure or pain is. It denies her the experience of being truly living; even if it is initially unpleasant from the start. Whatever the item in her head may be, so long as you do not seek to remove what is making her 'live', I wish you well; and with hopes that perhaps you will learn to be a bit more tolerant of others... You will find yourself with an appropriate Evoker upon your landing."
With a wave of his hand, blue and gold butterflies covered the Knight of the Princess Guard before he disappeared from the Realm Between. Which of course, left Red Mage alone with the God; who was now staring down Red Mage with that masked expression of his...
Lucieon and Ornstein flashed way into the swarm of blue-gold butterflies, his deep sapphire blue eyes glaring deeply at Philemon. [color=dark gold]"I don't care for CZ."[/color] he said flatly as he vanished into the world of Persona, [color=dark gold]"people are tools. She is a means to and end, and I do not plan on having her broken before I have my use with her."[/color]
Ornstein gave a gruff grunt that mirrored Lucieon's intent.
As soon as the Undead Merchant and his persona had vanished into the realm, Red Mage dropped his 'mask.' His eyes lacked the fiery arrogance that had burned so brightly when Lucieon was present, and his young face wrinkled with worry. He was tired. there were dark bags under his eyes, and his face looked haggard. His cheekbones, naturally high, now stood starkly against his pale skin as a staunch reminder of the tax his work has put on both his body and his mind.
"You know," Red Mage whispered, his eyes faint, barely seeing the figure of Philemon standing before him. Statcowski smiled, "I don't know why I feel so tired. But I do feel like I have some things I still need to do." He turned around to leave, redwood staff in hand.
And for one moment, Red Mage turned back, his eyes sparkling green in a face lacking life, "Take care of those two for me. They're good kids. Really." He vanished into the aether, leaving nothing but a small golden feather behind in his place. A strong feather from a large bird, native only to 15 lands. There was a soft whistle in the distance of the void, where seeping darkness seemed to take root where there was nothing. "Kweh" it said solemnly. "Kweh."
Personaverse Location: Dark Forest | Shadow Zone
Cz was beyond annoyed now. Even with her eyes clouded by the shadows of the forest she could see clearly how utterly broken Jenny was. She got up, her hands guided Jenny behind Angelus, encouraging her with firmness. To think her more of a child than Siz... it is truly irritating. The shadows swarmed around them and cz ducked away, pulling Jenny under the protective range of Echnida's flames. The sweeping heat made her skin dance alight as if she were covered by biting ants, but she endured the brunt of it.
Yet even as they moved, the forest shifted around them. Shifting darkness, sweeping forth from the dark brush, swarming across them, moving in and out of vision and refilling ranks were their friends were cut down. There numbers doubled with each passing moment, and their presence blinded Cz. She felt helpless, dark, lost. And before she knew it, she had lost herself to the road, caught her leg on a passing root. The darkness surrounded her, and she couldn't make out the figures around her. Was it the Echidna? Was it Angelus? Or was it the physical shadows that assaulted them.
There was a glint of blackness, a sword that sung against the nighttime air. Cz knew the answer now and nearly cried out in anguish. The sword was not Akane's the sword was a shadow's.
His voice rang out like a knell of the church bell. A golden lance slammed into the floor, sending lightning thundering in a large radius around Cz. It shed light and banished the several shadows that were upon her. Driving them into the dark of the forest if not obliterating their abstract forms. Lucieon landed a short distance away from Cz and knelt down next to her, placing his hands on her back and midriff to guide her back to her feet. He was firm but not fierce in his handiwork. [color=dark gold]"Come now, quickly."[/color]
Ornstein landed gracefully a distance away, next to his lance. Lightning still radiated from his form, and his lion's masked howled silently at the dark air. he pulled his lance from the ground and aimed it toward the reforming shadows. The Captain of the Princess Guard reasoned his name was now 'Gungnir" in this world, to fit with the theme.
Lucieon held up his evoker dramatically, knowing that it had already served it's purpose, but doing so anyway. Probably in an urge to satisfy his adolescent fantasy of magic-wielding that was crushed when h learned the true, and boring, practical arts of magic. The evoker was sleek, black, and small. To those that knew it, they could almost say it was like a credit card. In fact, those that knew it realized it WAS a credit card. Outstanding credit, a merchant's worst fear... it was almost funny how fitting it was. Unlimited outstanding credit with interest... that was a death sentence. [color=dark gold]"Command Economy! Money Illusion-Misery Index!"[/color] Lucieon cried at the top of his lungs. Gungnir moved forward with his lance and struck out suddenly at the shadows, leaving mirror images of himself to combat the darkness. He was light in the dark, but still weak to it. He dared not engage in physical combat with the shadows. The action did it's job though, the small damage over time left by the electrified mirror images held the shadows at bay long enough for Lucieon to pull Cz to her feet and join up with Angelus, Akane, and Jenny.
The blonde-haired merchant grimaced at the dragon, [color=dark gold]"Your kind sickens me, but let's go quickly now. We have two personas working at out defense."[/color]
The (Un)real World(?) Location: Harvard Yard | Synthesized Reality Time: Half past noon
"The man whose whole life is spent in performing a few simple operations, of which the effects are perhaps always the same, or very nearly the same, has no occasion to exert his understanding" Deborah read coolly as she stood up from her resting place. Her eyes dazzled in the noontime sun... had it always been noontime? Was it not nearly twilight last he had checked? "or to exercise his invention in finding out expedients for removing difficulties which never occur. He naturally loses,"
The blue magi payed no attention to the strange ax wielding man as he came down for another swing. Suddenly, for all he could see, Deborah wasn't sitting under the tree... at least he thought it wasn't Deborah for a moment. It was a raven haired girl with shining red eyes, but she was wearing a green shirt and tight jeans. She smiled at him with her eyes almost coyly, hiding her mouth behind a copy of "The Wealth of Nations." The ax cracked into the oak tree and drew a splatter of its bitter sap. there were no blue ash trees in Boston. Darren felt confused... what was he doing? He felt absurd, holding a fire ax... he felt like he was dreaming, after all, why was there no security?
Confusion afflicted Darren.. or was it Darren really? Who could say? Where were they? Where was this place they were in? Why was the sun shining so brightly behind the hold winter clouds... why were there people outside? After all it was nearly sub zero! Where was the snow!? there were questions everywhere suddenly, he saw everything at once and gathered nothing from the jumble of information. "therefore, the habit of such exertion, and generally becomes as stupid and ignorant as it is possible for a human creature to become."
Darren fell to his knees, thoroughly confused and Deborah closed her book and whistled from the gap between her teeth. Things were coming into focus now... the sun was lighting the square with its afternoon rays... the grass was green, and the tree was a bleeding blue ash tree. The fire ax clattered to the cobblestone floor noisily, and the other students and visitors had been frozen in time.
The blue Sorceress, who had no power of her own, but rather afflicted the notions of text written by other onto the people and environment around her... it was truly a very situational, but devastating power. "the musing of Adam Smith really do make a fun listenin' to doesn't it?" she asked the raggedy man before her softly. Her voice was like that of a chirping bird... or a deathly nightingale. The wind whistled between the gap in her teeth mildly when she drew breath. "Now why are you here?" she asked the scruffy man curiously... she was expecting company... but not from a human. No. She was expecting the Prybatian girl, or the Queen of the Fae. She was expecting the nano-bot girl or the mad white-hatted alchemist with the claymore. Hell, Deborah was expecting a whole host of other people... just not, this, strange, scruffy, looking, man.
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