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 Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:52 pm
Raithe gave the elf a hard glare, not looking at the key she held extended for her. "What the hell do you take me for?" Raithe sneered. "You want to give me the key, then you can toss it to my feet." She brought her sword down at her side, and stood up slightly straighter.
By this time, Ashen had become quite impatient. She should be back by now, but I don't hear any signs of trouble.... he thought, deciding what to do. He had forgotten about the knives in his hands, instead he looked around the corner at the door to the treasury. Just a few more minutes....then I'm going in....
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:42 pm
There was the flicker of a smirk on Rith's carefully featured face - the only premature sign of her intention. She did as Raithe suggested, tossing the key towards the half-elf. It landed smoothly at her feet, sliding along the floor. As it landed, the space around it seemed to pulse as the spell Rith had cast on it activated; a Symbol of Stunning. With any luck, the mage-boy and the rogue would be stunned: no harm done.
Go! The moment Darigaaz saw the key leave Rith's hand, he opened up a dimension door, stepped through, and stepped back out behind Will. Pushing his hand forward, it made contact with Will's back - and Darigaaz cast a Temporal Stasis on the man.
Treva, meanwhile, focused inwards. She concentrated, and cast the same spell three times simultaneously. Her and her siblings each felt the effects of the ward; they would be hidden from sight, sound, and scent from the disguised dragon out in the hallway.
Drawing her weapon, Rith took a step back. The blade was light in her hands, easy to maneuver. And with it, she'd be ready to take on any of these poor fools.
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The Twilight Rose Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:11 pm
Noticing the smirk that appeared on Rith's face for that fraction of a second, Raithe cursed loudly, and went to move, knowing she was going to try something. She didn't get more then a step forward, however, before her entire body went rigid and wouldn't move. What the hell? she wondered. Then she knew it had to be a spell. She gave another mental curse, and tried to force her body to move, but it was useless.
From out in the hallway, Ashen had started to head for the door, when he heard Raithe curse. He knew it had been Raithe who had spoken, recognizing her voice and language with no troubles. Immediately, he sprinted for the door, releasing the spell to transform him back to his draconic form.
He stumbled a bit at the end of the transformation, but arrived in the room a complete young adult red dragon. When he looked around, however, all he could see was Raithe unmoving in a fighting stance, and Will. Was Will attacking her? Ashen wondered. It didn't look like it, although Raithe must have had a spell cast on her, which Will could do....
"Raithe.....?" Ashen asked in concern. He took a careful step forward, looking about the room. Something was definitly wrong here.....
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:42 pm
Will laughed, obvious. That trick was old, infusing an object with a spell. One of his first test was to pick the one single in a home that wasn't to kill him on contact. As simple as using his staff of the pentagon which promptly nullified that spell and... he felt an excessive push, as Will stepped forward, absorbing the weak blow. "Why'd you push me, doesn't anyone know the rules of engagement?" Will's mind was racing, so far he was pretty sure the charade was working. "Will looked over to Raithe. "Hey, are you frozen or something? Well, I'll get you out of that in a jippy." Will rolled up his sleaves, his staff held loosely in his hands. Without looking up, he called to Ashen, in all his scally glory, "OY! Ashen, could you come over here please, there's something we need to discuss..." Will looked down at the ground, the key was still laying on the ground, he walked towards it simply brushing past Darigaaz as if he didn't see him or anyone else for that matter, he picked it up. Speaking more to himself than anyone else. "I wonder why this is so special..."
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The Twilight Rose Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:32 pm
His spell apparently unsuccessful, Darigaaz's body twisted to the side, following Will. As Will knelt for the key, Darigaaz dashed forward, his muscular arms grappling around the mage's body. "Tough, mortal." He hissed, and leaned backwards, the muscles in his legs flexing to keep his own body up, while his torso curved in an arc, Will's head driving straight for the rock-hard ground.
Rith sheathed her blade and dove forwards, grabbing the key with one hand. Her shoulder touched ground first, and Rith tucked and rolled, landing dextrously in a crouch. Quickly drawing her longsword again, brushing her auburn hair behind one ear. If it was a fight they wanted, that's what they'd get. But first...Rith cast another spell on the key. This one without any physical manifestations: it would simply implant the desire in the mage-kid's head that he didn't want to be anywhere near this key.
Then, pushing off against the ground, she took a step for the half-elf girl. A simple jab to the stomach was all Rith did offense-wise, keeping it quick and sharp.
As she felt her mind able, Treva concentrated once more. A different spell this time. Her mouth opened, and Treva uttered a single, blasphemous word. The very sound of it was enough to cripple the most righteous of heroes, and to kill the kindest of lesser men.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:45 pm
After a couple dozen seconds or so, Raithe regained control of her body, and she wasted no time in blocking Rith's attack with her short sword. She simultaniously reached for a shuriken with her left hand and flicked her wrist to launch it at the elf's leg.
Raithe also called out to her partner, not knowing why he was so confused. "Ashen, get the key from Rith!" She yelled, her voice slightly strained as she moved. Her fierce green eyes were sharp and intently focused on Rith's movements, and her feet shifted under her to gain the most balance possible.
Ashen watched Raithe move with his draconic, ember eyes, but what he saw didn't make sense. It looked to him as if she was fighting air. "Raithe, where's Rith?" He answered back, moving further forward more, ready for a fight, but not finding it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:45 pm
Will's neck cracked upon impact with the ground. His eyes dilated, and his neck opened up to spill his thick creamy puss in the direction of darigaaz... except of course Will then turned into a puddle of sticky puss, which hardened in miliseconds cemeting darigaaz in an uncomfortable position. A barrier of glass that shined like the moon on a romantic evening filled with nice meals, gleamed in a box formation over, Rith's body. The spell which the white chic had used, now-simply stuck perpetually with Rith inside the pretty glass box. Though from this beauty a tainted aura could be felt. Will's voice boomed inside the room, laughing, mocking the three. "I suppose this is the best you three have to offer. Without your brothers, you three are but pawns in this little game." Will was content with his current location, and was enjoying the view. "I hope you people don't get paid for this. Oh and by the way, I believe that key belongs to someone. Stealing isn't very nice, so perhaps we can make a deal?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:05 pm
The shuriken struck it's mark, and stuck. Rith made no move to dislodge it from her leg as the glass box formed around her. "A deal?" She echoed. "Tough luck there, kid. That key's long gone." She held up what was in her hand, and it dissipated into a thin dust. Then, she pat the pouch on her hip. "The real one was instantly relocated after I put it in this pouch. None of you will be seeing it anytime soon. Convenient, isn't it?" Rith smiled devilishly. A fail-safe, just in case something unpredictable happened. Rith laughed inwardly at how they had fallen for it. "And by the way, you're not too impressive yourself."
Darigaaz struggled free, squirming to the extent of cracking the barrier around him. He scowled at the disgusting stuff that covered his body. "Here's a deal for you, you never show your filthy face again, and I won't feel the need to kill you." Darigaaz snarled.
Closing her eyes, Treva relaxed her mind. She let the words of reason fill her mind, clearing the fog-like cloud of combat. Insticts faded to logic.
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The Twilight Rose Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:17 pm
((shuriken...))
Will laughed, oh that's nice. I suppose your lives have no worth at this point well, time to seal you three away. Thanks for choosing such a convenient location, no simple-minded losers could get in or out of here through teleportation so.... without further ado, I give you Greater Planar Anchor and Shift." Flowers sprouted from all of the walls, and floor. Pretty bouquets. Then a wall of flowers was formed seperating the three stooges from Raithe and Ashen. Then the room no longer resembled a room at all. More like a jungle, made of bouquets. These plants were rather nice smelling. They were as stuck as an orc in quicksand. This Plane had been sealed so tight that only an essay written by Will in his mind tones could open it. Will laughed one last time at the three, "Next time, hold on to the key. Oh and these are my special plants, they take in the air we breathe, and they don't give any back. Enjoy." Will severed his spells, and knew that Raithe would still be stunned. He quickly teleported to island itself, but not the actual fortress. He decided he needed the exercise and began sprinting to Raithe and Ashen's location. They all needed to go back to Sharn, so they could finally meet the old friend of his.
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Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:57 am
Raithe stood in the room, now devoid of all other life except Ashen. She shifted her weight to one leg and examined the spot where Rith had been. "What the hell...." She muttered under her breath, returning her sword to it's sheath, the sound of it ringing through the room.
Still quite confused, and growing rather angry and frustrated, Ashen finally came up behind Raithe. He caught the words she spoke under her breath, and came to the conclusion that whatever had happened was over. Raising his elegant head higher into the air, he sniffed tentively for any signs of someone's presence. Nothing.
Remembering that Will had interrupted earlier, Raithe turned her attention to where she had last spotted him. He wasn't there. Anger boiled up in her chest as she realized the justs of what had happened, and who was responsible for her not having the key right now. "Will..." She hissed angrily, "I'll kill 'im...."
"I take it you didn't get the key then." Ashen observed, speaking softly to sooth Raithe's temper a bit. Judging by her mention of Will, the dragon figured he had done something, though Ashen had only seen him in the room for a brief moment.
"Come on," He spoke, nudging her back with the tip of his snout. His words were calming, yet demanding. "We'll go find Will and see what he did, then we'll go get the key where ever it is now."
Raithe clenched her fists, but turned and let the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding out. "Fine..." Was all she said, and she walked by Ashen's side as he transformed into his Half-Elf form and they left the keep.
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Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:39 pm
Will spotted them leaving the keep. He quickly sprinted to catch up, and when he felt he was close enough he keeled over and began to pant, taking in as much oxygen as he could. "I take it, that you'd like to thank me for saving your butt." He stared up at the indifferent Raithe, smiling, 'hell knows no wrath like a woman scorn.' Too bad the poet didn't take into account some of these women had a wrath that could kill any human being.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:05 pm
Eclipse stood at the entrance to his place of meditation. No, his home. Eclipse strode through his once proud village remembering the faces that would smile, they tried to hide their true feelings, but their eyes gave them away. There were those who did not see the beast which stood before them, rather the boy who rested underneath.
At the age of 8 his birthday had come around. Cain had been so delighted by the prospect of becoming a true warrior, a ninja. At the age of eight he would be allowed to carry on the missions of his people, doing the world a favor and ridding it of fiends. When a delighted Cain came upon his master, looking old and tired, but wise, he quickly bowed out of respect. The old man smiled at him and spoke that there was no need to call him sensei anymore. Cain bowed and simply said "Yes sensei" of course the both began to laugh. His master said that he had a birthday present. Cain was so delighted, his eyes lit up ecstatic and wide. His master put two things on the floor in front of him. Both were bundles of clothing looking like clothing, but one had a pair of gloves on it while the other looked like it would fit Cain perfectly. Cain wondered if there was to be another boy in the village with a birthday such as his. His master explained that before him laid a choice. His master had come across these gloves which could make Cain lose all of his draconic features and look like a normal human. Cain had almost lunged at the gloves when he spoke this. His master yelled for silence. Cain froze in his pouncing position. Cain looked up to see a rather calm but angered master. Cain moved back into his sitting position. His master said on the other side was ninja clothing which was made to fit his current form. Cain waited impatiently before his Master would allow him to choose. His Master chose the life changing words.
"If you choose the robes which fit you, then you will remain as you look, grow as you are, and remain who you are. You will simply put on these clothes as a sign of honor. That have you have chosen to be, that which the gods have chosen you to be." His Master paused briefly, hopefully allowing things to set in for his young pupil.
"If you choose these gloves, you will no longer remain as you look, you will grow an illusion hiding what you truly are, and you will someone new. If you choose to put these robes on then you will no longer be Cain, you're name will change to reflect that of what you are. Eclipse, Dragon of the Ninja. You will be the Eclipse, which blocks the true nobility you are."
Cain stopped for a moment to truly think about this dilemma. To be someone new or to be whom he is. He liked his name, he liked who he was, but other did not. They were nice enough to him, but none of the children or adults wanted the monster in their homes. Cain ultimately chose what only his 8 year old mind could comprehend. The gloves fit Eclipse perfectly. The shame in his master's eyes had been harsh, but Eclipse had been able to avoid eye contact. His relationship with his sensei never remained the same.
Now Eclipse stared back at his home and memories. His love for the people, and the woman who had accepted him always. Mujitsu. They were all dead. Eclipse may have avenged them, but vengeance left nothing but stains in one clothes. His eyes were all that remained to remind him of what he once was. Eclipse needed help, and he hoped to find this help through meditation. Eclipse entered the rebuilt temple, his home. Eclipse took three steps then collapsed on the floor from exhaustion, and blood loss. Eclipse slept, he slept for 8 hours. He awoke to nothing but an empty temple. Rising from the floor Eclipse knew that there was a way to stop this monster from taking over. Eclipse knelt on the ground placing his legendary blade in front of him. Taking off his shirt, but leaving his gloves on. Eclipse exhaled deeply, as if like gauss one used to cover one's wounds, he ripped off his gloves, to try and make this as painless as possible. Eclipse placed his uncovered hands on the ground; it felt odd having his palms touch something solid again. His hands were extremely white, from the lack of sun. Then he noticed his hands began to form lines that etched into his flesh.
His body began to blacken, his body screaming in agony as if some child was maliciously drawing lines into his very bones. His flesh became rock hard, they became scales, but the worst was far from over. His spine seemed to explode his back creating a very rigid amount of noticeable spikes across the large nerve. His teeth began to sharpen and take new shape, that of a predator destined to rip hearts from their hosts. His eyes became permanent amber, his familiar black slits forming. His ears became pointed, and spikes also protruded from the backside of his muscular arms. Claws exploded from his finger tips, and then the most painful of all his wings. Eclipse blacked out was the stems formed and expanded from his back, free at last. When Eclipse awoke he noticed his body was bloody from the change, very unlike the first time he put on the gloves. Eclipse stood to notice that his entire physique was larger, and his pants and shoes were ripped quite profusely. Eclipse began to flaps his new found wings, trying to gain control. This was different. Very different. Eclipse wouldn't have minded these scales and claws in combat, or these wings. They all seemed like advantages when before they were curses. Eclipse Sat down and folded his wings towards his body again. He took a thing brush and some ancient ink and became to form symbols around his body, if read they told the story of an ancient dragon of death which was deathless. Its defeat was also named, and its rebirth.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:34 pm
Without pausing in step, Raithe took out a dagger from a holster hidden on her thigh and made for Will. "I'll kill you!" She said in a quiet anger. "Because you interfered I lost the key!" She went to attack him, but was stopped by Ashen.
Expecting Raithe to jump right in with the threats, Ashen had been ready to interfear. As soon as she started an attack, Ashen had reached out and grabbed the back of her clothes in his mouth, pulling her off the ground as he lifted his head. Raithe let out a scream in protest, then still uttered threats at Will.
Once she had settled down a bit, Ashen set her down a good distance away from Will. He gave her a stern look, warning her not to try anything. Having delt with one problem, Ashen then turned to face Will.
"Where's the key?" He asked simply, giving Will a cold glare with his fiery eyes.
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Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 6:44 pm
"Now Ashen, I don't like that tone of stare. For all I know it's in a pit, probably a bottomless one. Though my best guess would be in the hands of someone laughing as the three jesters we just saw are suffering for it." Will stood at his full height, but sadly just wasn't as tall as Ashen. "I also think Raithe is suffering from something. I mean since we've known her she's changed quite a bit. Oh, and don't worry I know she's changed. Before she had some form of nobility, now she's trying to kill me over a key. She has no idea why the key is important, or why she actually wants it. It's actually slightly childish." Will spoke affirmatively, and knowledgeably. His tone remained calm, and hinted at no mean of malice or alternate intentions to his words.
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Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:19 pm
Raithe made for another lunge at Will, but Ashen quickly blocked the way with his snout. While he didn't agree that Raithe had changed, and found her logic in wanting the key perfectly reasonable, he knew Will was right when he said that Raithe was acting childish. But Ashen was much to wise to voice this out loud in front of Raithe. The difference between him and Will, however, was that Ashen knew why she was childish. He knew her past, having lived through it with her, and he knew her age, which was just over the widely accepted half-elf age of adulthood. She wasn't simply acting childish, she practically was a child.
Ashen felt no need to have to explain such things to Will, and so he didn't. He could think what he wanted, as far as Ashen was concerned. And he knew Raithe had no intentions of saying anything about her past to him.
As soon as Raithe stopped trying to get around him, Ashen lifted his head once more, standing proudly at his full height, and looked Will straight in the eye. While he wasn't going to explain himself or Raithe to this man, he certainly wasn't going to let him get away with bashing his comrade. "You've only been in our company for not even five days," He growled, "So don't presume to think you know who either of us are." His eyes narrowed warningly, but he simply turned his head to Raithe and motioned for her to get on.
"Come on," Ashen said softly in a draconic whisper, "He doesn't know where the key is. We'll find it another time." With that, he turned his back to Will and put his body between the wizard and Raithe for her to mount. She did so without any complaints, not questioning her partner for a second. Sitting just above his shoulder blades and before his wing joints, Raithe gave Will an icy cold stare as Ashen flexed his wings. Then, with a mighty down beat of his wings that sent up a gale of winds, Ashen took to the air, heading off the island and towards where they had left their stuff earlier.
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