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 Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 3:49 pm
The ghouls finished dropping all the twitching and wide-eyed bodies into the dark hole as the knight rose to his feet and rolled the scroll up, eyes burning with rage as the pit closed. Grabbing his cloak and pulling it around himself, he began towards the outskirts of the city. One of his beasts crackled its protests as the girl came running along, arguing that they should take them both as well.
- "No, if people are making their way back here already then whatever's happening in the North is quieting down. The man's in a fit, others will come to bother us before we can pull him down. We'll come for him again, later." -
Ignoring the girl like she was nothing the knight stepped outside the gates, a sandstorm kicking up around him and his soldiers, concealing their exit. Things would be different next time. The b*****d would suffer.
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 9:23 pm
"Ezzzzzzekkkkkkkkiaaaaalllllll~~" There was an audible thudd, as Samuels bulky frame came into view of Sunstrike's pheriperal vision, if he were even aware enough to take notice. Even in Susntrike's full form, Samuel still dominated him in height, which was a frightening thing really, since Samuel could basically almost be construed as a half-giant.
"This guy here... is he trash too?" Those slitted pupils stared down at Sunstrike, a forked tounge slipping out of that gorilla face, his tail actually swaying with mild excitement.
The shorter one, and the only passably human out of the two, remaine silent for an alarmingly long stretch of time. However, the silence was abruptly broken; his eyes closing in afirmation of his judgement. "Yes. He's trash."
"I KNEW IT!!!!" Samuel bellowed out, pistoning his arm forward, a single thick finger outstretched, apparently aiming to poke the lizard to death.
~~
"Ahh!! G...Guh!" Several harsh grunts left Vahn's throat, as he fell to one knee, beads of sweat dripping off his forehead, and rolling down his shoulder. He clutched at his stomach, before leaning forward and vomitting violently.
"Ah?!" Nahara finally found herslef moving again; admittely after the strangers had departed. She rushed towards Vahn, and timidly pressed her hands against the fighter's back, forced to watch as he retched again, and again. "V-Vahn!"
In simplest explanation possible: his body was forcibly expelling what didn't belong in his body. Vahn's immune system was not like your everyday person's, mostly due to the fact that he's been exposed to more toxins, poisons, colds, viruses and the like, than any normal human's lifespan can really achieve.
And so, his immune system, along with his body, evolved over time, to adapt. The mutations were relatively miraculous to say the least, but Vahn was very much still mortal.
"Damn...that a*****e! He got away!" The fighter managed to pull the words out, his hand flat ont he ground as he tried to steady himself. "I couldn't save them... none of them!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 12:35 am
Sunstrike had been busy trying to stand. He shook himself again, dislodging dust. That's when he took notice...not of the two standing there and pointing at him...but of Hibon, laying there in the dust.
"s**t, kid...Vahn's gonna kill me forrr letting you do that to yourrrself...." It did affirm that neither of those two should have EVER been assigned to follow him. He huffed out of the dirt and wandered over to the body. Collapsing in a seated position, a human seated position, crosslegged, with the boy in front of him.
He checked for a pulse first of all, no sense in reviving the unrevivable. It was weak, and fluttering, but Hibon was alive, there was no doubt that the boy was still here, hrm....how to work this now? The heart...maybe?
He held his hand out and riped a few scales out over his wrist. Blood dripped from the now open wound and he ripped some of the cloth away from the boy's chest. Carefully he inscribed something remarkably similar to what he'd once put on Vahn's forehead in the arena. Then he slammed his palm into the chest of his young friend, hand glowing for a second as he forced the spell through the body.
At first, there was no change, then there was a burning smell, then Hibons eyes opened and he screamed, trying to arch his body against the pain of his arm fusing together again with fire magic. Sunstrike was silent, simply keeping the body down with his hand still keeping contact on the chest. Finally, with a black ring of flame around his arm where it'd been reattached, Hibon passed out again.
"Stupid kid...what did you expect to happen...shoulda just run like the rest of us cowards..." He grumbled softly and then swivled around, finally paying attention to the two behind him.
"Can I, possibly help you with anything gentlemen?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 3:58 pm
"......" Naharastared down at the doubled over fighter, last bits of sickening liquid falling from his mouth, the knuckles of his left hand bleeding; the fist-sized crater underneath showing why. This man... what is this overwhelming emotion...coming from this man? Her eyes which granted her true sight, the eyes of Ava, allowed her to see a person for what they truly were.
There was a steady pulse, that had been gaining out momentum with each passing minute. It was like a heartbeat, that refused to die down, or quiet itself. It pulsed, and pulsed, growing steadily in volume. I can....feel his p-pain... Nahara's eyes closed, as both hands clutched at her breast.
The pain...of a devil....
Vahn's head tilted back, letting loose an unearthly roar of pent up agression and resentment, just as all around them, holes were being torn in the air and ground, misshappen shapes forcing their way through.
~~
G-GAAAAAAAAAHHH!!" The cry tore through, as Hibon found hismelf wrentched back into existance. Mom...Dad... I don't want to go... don't want to leave you! The cry continued carrying through, even as Sunstrike forced the body back down, until he was done, at which Hibon slumped; the pain forcing him back to sleep.
"What the... hell's this shithead doin'?" Samuel was staring down, amazingly just watching, instead of taking advantage of Sunstrike's lowered guard and attacking. In his mind there was probaly no need for such underhanded tactics. It took a few minutes for the big lug of a lizard to actually notice, but his eyes widened when realization kicked in.
"Huh?! You tryin' to heal this guy?" Samuel bellowed down to Sunstrike, as he continued staring at Hibon. "Does this mean he's alive?! No friggin' way!"
A healing spell? ....No Ezekiel remained a mere spectator for the moment, both his hands still stuff into his pockets. This is certainly somethign different ...than a nromal healing spell. Yellowed eyes stared intently towards the black lizard, watching the flames at work. Reversing time? Spatial manipulation? Whatever it is... It certainly is not healing. Never have I quite seen something like this before...
Ezekiel spoke evenly, eyes settled on Sunstrike. "Your very unique, aren't you...Master Mere?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:23 pm
Sunstrike got up so fast the earth clouded up around him.
"Neverrr use that name......I am Sunstrrrike...nothing more...." There was only venom in the voice that issued from the monster. Things turned over alarmingly in his brain at that name...visions blurred his eyes...carried his thoughts. He forced them aside.
"Is he herre, then, my father? Has he told you to come? No....he wouldn't busy himself with scum, when he could do something as easy as pick someone up by himself...must be the otherrr...the wannabe god." Sun spat and hissed, his claws gripping the weapon in his hands.
"You call me unique like you know everything. You know nothing. I can tell by yourrr eyes, the madness...the bloodlust that consumes you, blinds you."
Sunstrike waved a claw at Samuel. "At least he as the excuse of being an animal...what excuse have you, that you'd be drrrawn in as a pawn in this wannabe's game...Ezekiel was it? Some overrrwhelming desire to have a Masterr in charrge of yourr life?"
Barking laughter echoed through the empty street, as Sunstrike openly mocked the other two. Then his wings snapped open and he crouched, ready for attack, orange eyes blazing and tail moving from side to side. "You poorrr souls, caught up in the game like tiny toys, thinking you arre the drriving forrce of your own thoughts...the trrruth is....if you knew how trrruly "unique" I was, you'd prrobably leave while you could..."
Sunstrike knew he was going off on one, he knew that this wasn't right...the other part hammered him for control, told him to drop this and take Hibon and make a run for it. Then darkness swirled through his vision.
The shadows are calling again, Datho Me-
NO! A red eyed man laughed in his mind. A sickend twisted laughter. And he was suddenly, truly Sunstrike again. The passing thought made him breathless with fear...
I hate the dark...
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:27 pm
The same flat face stared at Sunstrike. No rage, no annoyance, no sneering. Not even indifference. Just...cold & distant. This was the composure of Ezekiel. Yet, unlike so many cliche, "silent and calculating" types, he had a more slacker-ish feeling to him.
"I'm the best there is at what I do, but what I do isn't very nice." Was the only reply he offered to the single question that Sunstrike had thrown out to him.
Samuel remained silent through the whole thing, perhaps because extended debates, let alone talking wasn't his thing. So he waited there, with arms folded across his chest, nostrils flaring as his tail moved from side to side impatiently.
"I don't suppose you know where he is?" Ezekiel asked, yellowed eyes staring blankly. "If at all possible, I don't want to injure you more than necessary."
~~
Drop by drop, it fell to the floor.
Drop by drop, it splattered along the ground, creating a larger and larger circular pattern.
Drop by drop, it dripped off his nails, fingers, and knuckles.
And still they came.
~1 Minute Earlier~
"Wa-Wait, Vahn!" Nahara reached out with her hand once more, but Vahn continued walking forward, not stopping even for her.
"It's useless, Nahara." The flat tone of his voice drifted out, the usually loudmouthed and energetic fighter, was now soft-spoken, as if personally wounded. "They're already dead." The fighter came to a halt finally, but kept his back to the girl, as the demons continued advancing, the whole city thrown into chaos, as this was happening everywhere apparently.
Fights were breaking out all over Strata, and the militia was doing it's best to drive them out.
"Look around, Nahara. All these monsters..." Nahara stared after Vahn, having done the best she could with what little spell components she actually had on her. "They're being forced into this plane of existance. All of them are being called...by him."
"Why...Why would someone..." Vahn resumed wlaking forward, not even offering the girl a chance to ask.
"....... You should hurry."
"Why...?"
"If there are any survivors...I need you to take them away immediately."
"But..I can't just leave you alone!" Nahara shouted out, her eyes watering as she clentched her fists.
"Believe me, I understand your desire to fight...However." The fighter stopped once more, turning his head to the side. "I don't have any sort of healing abilities. The only one of us that can save survivors is you, Nahara. So... it's up to you, Nahara." He extended out his left arm, giving her a clear thumbs up.
Vahn... She stared out at him, her heart relaxing and not thudding so much anymore; all from the pure confidence he was exuding out. Somehow... she knew, she knew that everything was going to be alright... because he said so.
The ground suddenly erupted upwards, in a gout of flames and debris. It sent large slabs of the surrounding ground upwards, only for gravity to resume control, and send thems hattering earthwards.
"VAAAAAAHHHHN!" Nahara's voice yelled outwards, as she shielded her eyes from the dust and stray peices, backing away, as she was cut off from him.
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 2:56 am
Sunstrike stared at Ezekiel blankly, before running a hand through the red fringe at the back of his head. He knew what the other creature was talking about, how could he not?
He had a choice here, and it was a painful one. Betray his friend and save the wounded boy behind him...or get hurt....a lot. He kinda had a feeling he knew what Vahn would want...between the two, and he cursed his friend for it, because it only made it harder to do what was right for himself.
"Excuse me for just a moment..." And he turned around and leant down, picking up the prone body and hefting it over one shoulder, before facing the two again. Then he rested his weapon on the ground, putting his weight against it idley.
"D'ya know. I think that guy? The one you're talking about? Yeah, if he's the one that I know...mind, I know a lot of guys so I can't be sure...so yeah this guy, hell, d'ya know...I think he left a coupla moons back...something about needing time to himself, you know how those herrro types get, always wanderrrring off somewherrre when you need them the most...so I s'pose you folks bein herrre is kinda pointless, eh?"
Sunstrike's grin was nothing but casual...if a bit pointy. He was throwing out pure honesty, as far as he knew. Hell, Vahn actually could have left. What did he know really about the guy?
....he knew...he knew through the magic he'd captured from the man, that Vahn was still somewhere...it resonated through him like blood, and something....had just spiked on the Vahn Richter Scale...s**t.
Well, he hoped he could at least convince these two to leave.
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 9:08 am
Vahn had raised his arms, as the explosion initially went underway, rocking the ground and erupting it. It hand't orignated from here, of that he was sure of, but for it to carry on nearly halfway across the city...
"So that guy's already at it...Heh." He started moving forward, right through the billowing cloud of smoke and dust. "Then I'll also..." He broke free of the debris, his right fist extended outwards to strike the nearest demon squarely in the jaw.
"There, I followed as you guys planned...Come on!" The fighter yelled out, intending to draw all the demons in the surrounding area away from the civilians.
"Heh, it's you guys again?" Vahn shouted out towards the misshappen bodies, their masks a dull blood red. "Just thinking about it, makes me realize I have been running into you a lot nowadays!" Vahn raised his left fist up, yellowed eyes narrowed towards the rushing monsters. "In the end, you even helped my brother escape! Geez, such an annoying relationship don't you think so?"
There was no responce, as they all surrounded the single man, claws glistening with blood. Unlike the misshappen bunch that had assaulted Sunstrike, these seemed...more refined. They rettained a more humanoid essence, but it was clearly seen that they were on the road to rotting away just like the Nobodies.
"Fine, do as you like! I already know what happened to you guys. But even with that...I don't have any sympathy!" Vahn shouted out, even as the demons charged at him.
~~
Samuel snorted, clearly not the patient type, as his tail thumped against the ground, cratering it. "Enough of this... I'm hungry." The gorilla face broke out into a grin, as Samuel began walking the short distance towards Sunstrike.
"Suit yourself, Master Mere." Ezekiel spoke, closing his eyes as if he were washing his hands of the matter.
Samuel suddenly pushed forward, that bulky form throttling into gear as it barreled down on Sunstrike, literally aiming to bull rush him over.
Over on the ground, Hibon's right hand began to subtley twitch...
~~
Gunfire rang outloud almost as much as the sound of steel on steel. Whatever thoughts ran through the people's minds, there was one clear resolve that echoed throughout the city: I will protect my home.
The militia had their hands full, as everyone that could be spared had been deployed, and non-combatnats were being escorted to designated safe-houses.
It was into this madness that Nahara ran out, her sandled feet carrying her across street after street, that turned into a literal battlefield. The dying, the injured, the dead; bodies littered here and there.
"36th Squad, report!" A Soldier came ducking in, as apparently the enemy had taken to lobbing projectiles at them from ranged distance.
"We've lost contact with the East block, they got us pinned down!" Another shouted out, his entire left arm slashed, and held in place with a swath of bandages.
"What the hell can pin a whole squad down?" The answer was supplied almost as soon as the question was finished.
It was rather tall, but questioningly hunched over. It's skin was a sickly grey with tinges of brown. It was well muscled, with hideously a out of proportion body. Lanky arms extended down to large hands which held only four fingers, each of which has a claw at the end. Not much of a neck to speak of, but simply a mass of muscle with a "head" on top. The only way the neck can really be distinguished is that there was a spoke which protruded from the spine there, going all the way up to the top of the beasts head. It had two holes in its head which seem to serve as ears for the thing and two, very sunken in red eyes which seem to glow with evil and hate. A nose which was always upturned, exposing the nostrils, rests between them, just a small bit down. Rows of large, razor sharp teeth without any lips made it seem to be grinning evilly at all times. A nicely muscled, but slender chest and torso lead down to legs which resemble that of a goat, with hooves and even a little hair around the tops of them. Finally, a tail slid out of the bottom of the demons spine, ending in a tuft of hair. With the exception of around its hooves and at the end of its tail, the body is totally devoid of hair.
And it was thundering it's way on over towards the defending militia, breathing out a ball of abyssal flames with a snort.
"Holy...mother....of...." The Sergeant raised both his hands, as the ball of hellish flames drew closer.
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 1:29 pm
Vahn Kyonuske ~~ Samuel snorted, clearly not the patient type, as his tail thumped against the ground, cratering it. "Enough of this... I'm hungry." The gorilla face broke out into a grin, as Samuel began walking the short distance towards Sunstrike. "Suit yourself, Master Mere." Ezekiel spoke, closing his eyes as if he were washing his hands of the matter. Samuel suddenly pushed forward, that bulky form throttling into gear as it barreled down on Sunstrike, literally aiming to bull rush him over. Over on the ground, Hibon's right hand began to subtley twitch... ~~ Sunstrike cursed, swept sideways, leg swinging out in the dust towards the charging Samuel. He held his ground and folded his wings, ducked under the grasping arms, threw his weight against a rock hard stomach and chucked Samuel right over the top of himself, using his coiled wings as a spring board to launch the bigger creature into the air. His back protested at the strain and he fell to a knee, panting. Gods...what was that thing made of? Solid rock?!
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 3:05 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 3:29 pm
These people must have been under the illusion that Sunstrike would have been surprised at seeing a full grown UGLY arse lizard, (Sunstrike actually thought of himself as being kind of cute and cuddly....in a spikey kind of way.) stand on air, and...admittedly, they were right.
But they were seriously kidding themselves if they thought he would stand still and be surprised, he''d seen worse in his battles at the Leviathan, and underestimation was never a problem for him, though his enemies always seemed plauged by it. He had crouched low, holding Ezekiels eyes as the silent person stared at him, his one hand dropping down to the ground as the two conversed.
In fact, Sunny had something paticularly nasty in mind for Samuel, and as the hand pistoned down he dove out of the bigger lizards reach.
The other creature would see something inscribed in red on the ground, which would glow, and then explode upwards, straight into the gorilla like face. Sunstrike had planted a fire/earth land mine.
Nahara''s magic was fun to play with, he decided as he rolled out of the way, little bits of debris following him as he went.
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:46 pm
His chest rose and fell with each labored breath, his eyes staring up to a torn sky. His body was sprawled out on the ground, even as a shadow grew larger and larger, until a scythe came spiraling down, stabbing into the ground right where his chest had been. "Chih!" Hopping to his feet, he brought himself up to his full height once more.
"No rest for the wicked." Flinging his hands to the sides, flecks of black blood splattered along the ground, even as the shrill inhuman shrieking started up. Ducking forward into a tucked tumble, he avoided another over head slash, bowling one of them over. "I don't have time to play anymore!"
Placing his weight on one hand, he swerved with his left leg, sweeping two of the demons off their feet. Spiraling with the motion, he eventually spun back onto his feet, in time to catch a blade with the palms of his hands, nearly cleaving him in two. "D-Dammit!" Staring face to face with the demon, he pushed forward, giving it a fierce headbutt, leaving himself open to a slash from behind which sent him staggering forward.
"You guy's are starting to piss me off!" Clenching his left hand, he sent it backwards in an arc, an arc of black flames sprouting from the flecks of blood.
~~
"Eh!?" Samuel stared at the ground as it began to light up, and then...
The explosion blasted directly in Samuel's face, and soon his whole upper body was swathed in dust and smoke. Had the blast beheaded the demon?!
Hardly.
"Agggh.... that hit the spot." Rearing backwards, Samuel spat out a large chunk of the ground, thos big canines spotless, as that gorilla grin stretched out. With a spin, Samuel's tail came 'round, aimign to close the distance between them both, and send him smashing away.
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:51 pm
Sunstrike had just started to get up when the tail swiped at him. There was impact and then...
Crack! Sunstrike and the wall got a bit of personal time. What on earth was this guy made of? Sun got pissed off, it seemed as though rule's had gone out the window here. Not that there had been any laid down, but it was the principle of the thing.
He pushed himself away, shaking to clear his head a little, that had been a nasty blow, and now he saw two Samuels...and he needed to decide real quick which was real and which wasn't. At least they'd moved out from the wounded boy's range.
Unnoticed to Sun a small ball of orange light suddenly came to life and trailed again like a comet through a winding path around his body.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:04 pm
"Aaaaaugh!" Vahn's body went rolling backwards, before coming to a halt, his knees skidding in the ground. "Nngh..." His right eye closed, and a hand wiping away at the blood on his chin, he stared towards the group of masked demons, as he staggered to stand back up, hunched forward.
If they just keep coming, then there's no point in fighting. Breathing in a few rushed gulps of air, both eyes narrowed. Nahara should have fled to safety by now... The demons moved forward, running along all fours like a dog with theirn elongated arms pushign them forward.
"...Guess I should make a run for it too!" Vahn turned tail and ran, knowing he had to withdraw for now, as the demons began frog-hopping towards him now to close the distance.
~~
Samuel planted both feet firmly intot he ground, his weight causing the groudn to crater a bit. His tail began thrashing madly, as his jaw unhinged and widened, a focal point for all the souls he had sucked up upon his arrival.
"Rrraaaaaaaaaaaagggh!" Samuel chomped his jaws, snapping off a large white orb, towards Sunstrike, ina ranged attack.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 3:06 pm
Sunstrike muttered a curse and sprang from the wall, wings opening with a crack as he dove to the right, hoping to dodge the ball of light. A symbol he had left on the wall exploded in the same way the earlier ground mine had done, throwing out magic and debris towards the strange attack.
This was turning into a battle of magic....he loathed fighting with the stuff. Half because of the inevitable, painful shift from one form to another in response to high levels of it, the other because it was way too easy to just take out whatever place the two casters decided to do battle in.
He debated booking it, for the time being...just scooping up Hibon and running, the boy was really close, it probably wouldn't be hard...the only problem was that Samuel was a bloody fast sack of s**t....
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