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 Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:55 am
The first place General Labyrinthite had been inclined to take his recruit to had been his home, so that he could offer any of the additional rooms for temporary board if needed while they discussed things but then, he'd gotten another idea that was simply better.
Taking them into the subspace that housed the negaverse was easy, a simple trick that came to him like breathing. Automatic and without thought. The image of the Hall of Shadows was burned into his mind from all of his ventures into the depth of the Rift during both the great youma hunt and his personal endeavors. The shifting walls of the trapped were no less creepy than the first time Tanzanite had introduced it and the reward that lay behind it.
"Welcome wolf pup, to the Hall of Shadows," Labyrinthite introduced, stepping forward into the walkway confidently, despite the way the hands stretched and reached for him. "You cannot come here or to what lies behind it, yourself," he explained, arm extending behind him to gesture to the door that awaited them. "You must be accompanied by a general, such as myself, or a daring captain. Do not let the hands come in contact with you, lest you wish to join the collection of lost souls."
Whiskey eyes drifted across the shifting, groaning walls before settling on Wolfeite's face. "Beyond the door lays the Rift, home of the youma."
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:49 pm
It was an entirely new world.
Wolfeite stood beside Labyrinthite, his eyes sweeping over everything in front of him with the same hunger that had been in his gaze during his initial corruption. Nothing about this was anything he could have imagined, even in his wildest dreams, and it was...intoxicating.
"This is...quite impressive," he murmured, glancing to his left, then to his right. "I never...thought such a place existed."
Wolfeite's dark eyes moved to Labyrinthite's face.
"I want to know more about the youma," he said quietly, restraining in the eagerness he felt.
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 9:14 am
Labyrinthite grinned in kind, taking a step forward towards the door he was so familiar with, it made an appearance in his dreams from time to time. "There is still much to discover," he replied, head held high and back straight as he reached the door and pulled it open.
He stood back, gestured for Wolfetite to venture forward first before following and letting the heavy door creak shut behind them.
"You cannot come here alone and I do not recommend it anyway. The youma that inhabit these wastelands are not just the monsters you see roaming the street from time to time." The ones that they called to the surface for energy gathering means were often mindless and only concerned with feeding. "The ones that are here, they vary in types and strengths." He began walking across the ruined ground, feet leading him to the same place as always.
Where a skeleton tree lay in the midst of the wasteland, lonely save for the six-eyed four-winded raven youma that cawed at them upon their arrival. As always, it was there like it was awaiting General Labyrinthite.
"That," he began, pointing at the bird that regarded them curiously, each set of eyes blinking at a different time so it was always staring at them, "is classified as a feral youma. They take the shape of creatures and often do not talk."
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 3:33 pm
Still so much more to discover.
He wanted to know all of it; wanted to drink it and learn of this place's secrets, learn of its methods and ways and everything else that went on down here. Wolfeite followed Labyrinthite's gesture and stepped through the door, his eyes roaming freely across the place.
There were monsters here. He liked that.
The raven on the tree was given a curious look, Wolfeite's gaze rising to meet it. There were several pairs of eyes; it could have been normal, perhaps, but there was something twisted and dark about it that he found very appealing, along with the Rift in general.
"Are they ours?" Wolfeite asked. "Can we do things with them?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 12:06 pm
"You're wrong," the raven chirped and the general's head snapped up to look at the youma. "Just because my appearance suggest feral behavior, I am not of the feral variety."
It was the first time he'd heard the bird speak since he first noticed it's lingering presence whenever he was in the Rift. It startled him, but his expression remained blank, he couldn't show Wolfetite that he'd been caught off-guard. "My mistake," he apologized, a slight incline of his head in acknowledgement.
"I was unaware that it could speak, this one is actually of the humanoid variety. Which, considering it's restraint when around starseeds makes more sense," Labyrinthite corrected himself. "For the record no, they are not ours but they do serve our cause. The simple minded can be used as tools but others," his gaze flicked between his recruit and the youma before settling on his companion's face. "They are not to be trifled with."
Angering one of the stronger, wild youma would go poorly. "At your level, you have no authority over any of them, as you promote you'll be able to exert some command over them. When you reach captain you could even find yourself a personal youma." Which he had yet to do, but the lack of one did not bother the general. Not when had a whole village he could explore where others could not.
"They are "yours" and will follow your orders above all, outside of Metallia herself and her general-queens. Be advised that trusting them is foolish. A former General did so once and his youma turned against him." Bischofite's had turned against him. "If you are foolish and too much chaos is pushed into your starseed, or you indulge in eating too many starseeds or energy orbs then-- then you will become just like them and lose yourself."
General Labyrinthite found half-youmas to be living half-lifes and that becoming a youma, greater or not, was the worst fate a soldier could suffer. "Be respectful and they will leave you alone. If you are not, they will not treat you kindly."
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 4:38 pm
Wolfeite did not show any outward surprise at the bird suddenly speaking except for a raise of his head a bit higher, a flash of something across his darkened eyes. A sense of intense curiosity was growing in the lieutenant's mind the more he learned about the Negaverse and all its secrets; a powerful, intense desire to learn everything he could about it swept across him, burying him in its undertow.
There was a slight feeling of irritation that he could not have one of his own youma just yet. Wolfeite's eyes narrowed, but he made no comment, not yet, and just listened; if he was not yet at the level in which he could control one, then he would just have to rise higher. It was that simple.
He wanted one. He would get one.
"That is good to know," murmured Wolfeite. He did not trust anyone at all except himself; it was quite easy to follow that set of guidelines, and his gaze swept across the youma once more, another hunger curled in his stomach, strong and fierce.
The youma were fascinating to him. Wolfeite turned his head towards Labyrinthite.
"What else is down here?" he asked, low voice slightly muffled by the bandanna around the lower half of his face.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 2:36 pm
"There is much that is unexplored," the raven commented, extending it's left set of wings to preen and clean itself, "by those that follow Metallia."
Labyrinthite bristled beneath his calm, impassive outward demeanor at the raven's comment. It was true, but he didn't like the idea that some youma-bird was trying to undermine him before his newest lieutenant. "The youma, they get restless the more you pry into what's theirs," he explained, not a blip of his irritation bubbling to the surface.
"You must earn our respect," the bird-youma agreed, folding it's wing back against it's side. "He has," it told Wolfetite, all six eyes turning to look at the general. "Or at least the respect of some of us."
"Well, yes," the general agreed, wondering how long the creature had been observing him. "There is a village down here where I am recognized as a full citizen and have been since I was a young lieutenant." It was one of the few things he was openly proud about. There hadn't been anyone else that had been afforded the same rights. He'd been special.
"Here in the Rift we have the barracks, it's where those of us in Spec-ops sleep when we are gathered for specific missions or training excursions." He turned away from his skeleton tree and pointed to the crumpling building off to their right. "Near the barracks are a field of towers and pillars that serve as training grounds for those of us that wish to use them." It'd been one of the places he'd trained when he was under someone else's tutelage. "Ascendant-General Alkaid has found herself a fascinating area, but the details are fuzzy to me. There was also a door that was once chained and shut, but is now opened."
It was the primary reason he approached specific areas with caution as there were wild youma even he couldn't control. "There's much to be explored Wolfeite, perhaps next time I will take you deeper. For now, we should go to the barracks."
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:04 pm
Quoth the raven, nevermore, Wolfeite thought sardonically, giving the bird a narrowed-eye look. But he was interested in it, in the way that such a creature could speak, could think for itself. He'd never heard of such a thing before - youma - monsters that could be tamed, could be ordered.
His eyes cut towards Labyrinthite, impressed, in spite of himself, by the calm demeanor. Wolfeite was becoming more and more curious about this man - the one who'd recruited him. He wondered briefly if the power he radiated would soon be his as well, the hunger pulsing throughout him like a wave.
"A village of youma?" Wolfeite asked. He glanced around as though he could see it from where he stood, though he was listening very intently to what was being said to him. The mention of a chained door brought with it all sorts of prospects, and Wolfeite tried to tamp down on the desire to go everywhere all at once.
He gave a nod to Labyrinthite, the very picture of a dutiful Lieutenant.
"I'd like to see the barracks, yes."
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 11:16 am
The raven had been watching him for some time, Labyrinthite knew, and there was a part of him that was bothered by the knowledge. Especially once it began talking to his recruit. He didn't show his unease, it would be in bad form, but he resolved to return to the skeleton tree and have private words with the youma.
"Yes, a village of them," he replied, glancing over at the dark haired man. "We had to prove our worth,complete challenges they issued to us. I had been the victor, a proud moment from my days as a lieutenant, but I'd already touched a piece of the greater youma - the strongest type of youma there is - and they feared touching another piece would compromise my starseed." It'd been an influx of chaos that wasn't controlled at the time. "Instead, I earned a place there. For a while, it was a place I would frequent."
He hadn't gone back in some time, but he thought he might be willing to visit if he brought a willing companion.
Labyrinthite regarded Wolfeite with a blank expression, but carefully none-the-less, as he responded as he was expected to. The general wasn't stupid, keener that he often let on and he knew an act when he saw one, but his wolf pup was behaving and that was what mattered.
He would deal with insubordination when it came.
"This way," he ordered, slipping in front of the man and heading towards the large structure.
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 4:52 pm
An entire village of youma sounded utterly interesting. He wanted to learn more about these youma; wanted to burrow deep into the knowledge of them, discover all he could of their existence, whether or not they could be tamed, whether he could make one loyal - or more.
But all in good time, Wolfeite reminded himself, watching Labyrinthite carefully.
All in good time. He has more to show me.
"What occurs when a youma touches your starseed?" Wolfeite asked. "Do the youma serve any purpose other than to serve Metallia?"
The knowledge was necessary, needed. He craved it, every single scrap of information that was being provided to him, tucked away and saved for future reference. Wolfeite glanced around at his surroundings once more, his narrowed eyes moving back to the general.
He followed after, still dutiful.
"How large is the Rift?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 3:18 pm
"Youma will not come for your starseed," he said in a matter-of-fact sort of way. "Not while you are Wolfeite and not Archer." The other man's name was said quietly as the general moved across the barren floor of the rift. "But make no mistake, venture too far into the rift, disrespect the youma who populate it and they will not hesitate to kill you." There was a pause while he considered whether or not he had the proper information to answer Wolfeite's question.
"I do not know what happens when they touch your starseed," he admitted because he had never experienced a youma attack. Outside of the monkey who carried him up a tree on the day where he received the scar around his ankle. "I assume they simply take it from you like I could." If he wanted.
"They collect energy for us." Perhaps a simple explanation for it all. "When needed they fight for us too, when you earn the right to call for one." Command was a gift given with rank. Then, his recruit asked him another question that he didn't have a proper answer to.
"I do not know," this admission was quieter than the rest and the general stilled, head snapping to look at the expanse that laid before them. "There are many unexplored parts of the Rift. Know that it is vast lieutenant and to venture in unprepared is to walk straight into the arms of death."
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:19 am
He wondered whether he could convince the youma to come to him as Wolfeite; though he knew what Labyrinthite had said, about not being able to control them until he was stronger. It was a trifle matter, an easy thing to overcome, not even an obstacle, really, but a stepping stone.
He could overcome everything to get what he wanted.
A nod was given to Labyrinthite's explanation, Wolfeite smoothing fingers along the hem of his uniform in an idle gesture. "The youma are feral creatures, then, of their own accord," he said, committing this information to memory. "We should make sure to keep their respect."
For now.
It did not, somehow, surprise him to learn that Labyrinthite did not know all, because there was simply too much information. Wolfeite, however, was going to learn all of it, and then he would far, far outstrip the others; he would take what was being offered and make it greater, bigger.
He gave another nod.
"Will you explore more of it, then?" Wolfeite asked, his voice low with curiosity, with suppressed eagerness. "There is still so much to see."
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2016 7:16 pm
"To a degree yes but they, like all of us, bend to Metallia." It was important to note that the entity ultimately controlled them all. She granted them with the power to be more than meager humans but she always had the threatening power to take it all away and without her, they would crumple into dust.
Labyrinthite could never forget the terrifying sight that had been General-Queen Tanzanite depowered, stripped of chaos and kept alive merely through Metallia's will.
It was a reminder that haunted him more often than he liked to admit and he was thankful that he'd only seen what was left of Aree once, when they were shown what would happen to traitors - even if it had been your subordinates that had committed the act an not you yourself.
An ever present reminder to stay in line and to keep those under in line as well. The reminder made him turn and look upon Wolfeite with quiet scrutiny.
"In time," he answered carefully. "It has been a slow process, lest we upset the delicate balance between youma and officer."
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 7:13 am
Metallia.
A strange name, Wolfeite mulling it over inside of his head, letting the syllables of it sift through his mind. He didn't want to think about the idea that someone could take his power away, the faintest flicker of annoyance crossing his face that was quickly dispelled.
She will not take anything from me.
Instead, he gave a slow nod of understanding, moving instead to the more applicable and pressing topic of the youma, Wolfeite's dark eyes moving around their surroundings once more. He had a terrible, pressing desire to simply immerse himself in the Rift, pick it apart seam by seam, learn every single fraction of information possible about it.
"Do you have you own youma, General?" Wolfeite asked now, gaze calm as he looked at the man beside him. "Is one allowed to have more than one youma under their control?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 1:42 pm
"No," Labyrinthite answered immediately, a quick shut down of a simple question. "I do not need one," he stated more plainly.
I do not trust them, was the unspoken reason. He'd seen how they'd turned against their handlers. What happened when one was permanently destroyed and how it nearly destroyed the soldier it'd been attached to. It was not a vulnerability he was willing to accept.
But he would not tell Wolfeite that.
His recruit did not deserve to have answers given to him freely without prodding. Besides, he was strong enough without their aid and while he did not look down upon those that used youma for strength. "As a personal youma? No. They can only have one."
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