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| Okay, going to ask again . . . Sequal? |
| Yesh! |
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75% |
[ 3 ] |
| No want! |
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[ 0 ] |
| Meh, dunno . . . |
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[ 0 ] |
| Mah pineapple ate mah hamster. |
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25% |
[ 1 ] |
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| Total Votes : 4 |
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 Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:42 am
"Yes, a well planned idea, and it sounds excellent, but I must wonder, what if Algren does not approve of this? The men of the army seem to love him and are willing to die for him, you said so yourself. Even if this messiah appears, and many people come to the messiah, if Algren refuses to accept her and the church rejects her too, you will have the people divided amongst different sides." Asmudius looked concerned but in his head, he was smiling in mirth.
Bane's plan was even more than what Melecus could have hoped for. If this messiah plan did occure as Bane said it would, the resulting disorder amongst the human heiarchy would keep his operations hidden even more than before. However, the idea of a being as powerful as the messiah under Bane's control was not as pleasing to Melecus. If Bane had such a tool at his command, it might danger things. Bane and Melecus already had two different fates in mind for the human race, to fates that would come into conflict at some point if neither yeilded. Melecus had waited far to long to allow anything to happen and Melecus aleady distrusted any demon who did not follow his ideas. Bane must be kept in check somehow.
"And another thing." Said the body of Asmudius as the head turned suddenly. The voice was no longer that of the old demon Melecus, but of the original Asmudius. The eyes returned to their original blue and the hair began to grow long again. "Your plan will fail. Not matter how strong you are or how great the damned girls power may be, you forget, that power is useless on Algren! He will slay that damned girl and he will rule on my father's throne. This world will see his peace. A shame I won't see you when he kills you Bane, you damned traitor!" The body of Asmudius shook violently and the pupils reverted to slits as the blue became yellow once more. The white hair began to shorted and when the mouth of Asmudius moved, it was Melecus who spoke.
"So." The demon hissed. "The brat is still alive in here somewhere!" Melecus chuckled to himself. "Interesting." Melecus was generally amused by this new development.
---
Algren sat in his chamber, alone, a single candle lighting the room. Algren drifted in and out of sleep, his eyes eye, but from some reason, he couldn't sleep. Too much was on his mind. His sister's face and her words echoed through his head. The Emperor's legacy felt like a heavy chain upon his shoulders. He saw Blood cursing him as she died. He saw villages burning and his hands covered in blood. Nightmares gripped him. And then the face of a small, wrinkled woman was there. A face he had not seen before. The little woman smiled kindly at him and spoke.
"well, Algren Midvalley, at last I meet you child. You don't know me and that is good. You have doubt upon you child, dread, fear and well you should, for your days will be darker than any before since the begins of this world. Trials shall befall you Algren, but in the end, you shall save this empire, in a way. But." said the old woman, raising a hand. "you will never sit upon the throne. The peace you desire shall come to pass, but yoo will never sit upon the throne. You have much to do child, doubt not. Take heart and set fire into your convictions again. Peace is what you desire, and peace is what shall be in the end."
Algren awoke and shook his head. confusion took him as he thought of the dream. For some reason, he felt better, the doubt was ebbing away. A knok on his door jarred his senses and in another moment the door flung open and three figures burst into the room. Algren saw that they carried swords and as a untied body, the three rushed him.
---
Gefton walked the halls, his feet falling quietly on the floor as he move. He reached Algren's chamebrs and froze when he saw that the door was open. Fear gripped Gefton and the old man rushed into the room and froze. There was a body on the ground, blood everywhere, and beside that body was another. A third figure lay on the ground and Algren stood ontop of that figure, his bare foot pressing firmly down on the figure's throat. Blood covered Algren's face and chest and a kife, clenched in Algren's teeth, told how these three had met their fate. Both of Algren's arms were in the slings and the man on the floow thrashed as Algren pressed harder, squeezing the life out of him. Gefton stood still as Algren finshed and spat the knife out. Algren looked at Gefton and Gefotn stiffled a gasp.
Algren no longer looked tired and weather. confused and tormented. Algren looked like Gefton remmber. The Algren who had lead troops to war. The Algren who had planned for peace, no matter the cost. The ALgren that Gefton had known before the last battle in the forest.
Algren smiled and began to walk toward the old man, the blood running down his face.
"Gefton, my old friend, follow me to the council chamber. I need you to ring the summoning bell. Since my foes think I deserve no sleep, than I shall grant them none.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:24 am
"Algren will have toapprove of her. If not, we shall inact your plan against him and... replace him. The wrath of a woman scorned is one thing, but the loving touch of another is a powerful tool." He replied calmly. Though he coul not hide his surprise as Asmodius spoke to him an denounced his plans. Still Bane smiled wickedly, this boy had no idea what he had in mind...
"I thought he was dead. Odd that he could force his will on you so suddenly, Melecus..."
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:32 pm
"Odd? Not at all, simply unexpected. But for now let it rest. The matter is of no consequence. I'll deal with the fool in time." bells began to toll off in the distance, and then echoed through the halls of the palace. Tolling on and on and on. Asmudius looked around and then to Bane. "And this bell means what?"
---
Gefton grunted as he strained on the pull rope of the bells, the might iron bodies echoing out across the palace. While Gefton pulled, Algren stood in the center of the Forumn. The lay out was simple. I the middle was large platfrom, raised a few feet above the earth. Sorrounding this were great stones seats, each slightly highed than the one before it,allowing those seated to have a few of the speaker.
Algren walked around slowly, the blood still sticky on his body, his eyes and hair a wild mess. Algren spat and red fluid struke the earth.
"Keep tolling Gefton, wake these fools up!" On the bells tolled and at last two figures, entered the room. Both were children of the Emperor. the stopped when they saw Algren standing there, blood all over his body. Algren smiled at them, flashing red teeth.
"Please be seated heirs. More shall come soon."
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 3:49 pm
"Yes, from first impression that is a definate surprise." Loque admitted, "But now that I have been with you, even for a short time, I can see it makes sense. You were always meant to be as you are now and whoever had bestowed gift upon you knew what he was doing."
"Yes, you saved all of us, thank you." Blaise nodded, "I couldn't have asked more of you both, it was a bit of a dangerous feat. But I find that only you two can face danger and have less trouble with it than most. It's almost as if you're . . . I don't know . . . protected almost. Sounds a bit ridiculous but you can see it."
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:42 pm
"Pardon me, but I can't see some divine being having mercy on a being like me." hrono replied, "We just do what we can, Rosette doesn't hesitate in her choices when it comes to helping people. She can't stand injustice, or something like that. Even if it hurts her..."
Blaise could probably see it now, Chrono had the same worried and confused look on his face. He was worried about Rosette's "time" as well.
"Yeah, I hope whoever it was had a good idea in mind,. That, or he had too much to drink." Rosette joked with Loque. She was still antsy about going to the Order building, but the conversation was a pleasent distraction.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:51 pm
"I suspected you wouldn't be able to see it . . . but it's there." She murmured to herself. Changing the subject a bit from the worrisome she said, "Are we nearly there?"
"No, whoever created Booker had a little too much to drink." Loque said, knowing the younger elf could hear their conversation. Booker turned around and tried to scowl but couldn't hide a smile.
"Well I wouldn't want to know what they were on when they made you." Booker retorted. Loque laughed a bit and took his shoulder, shaking it a bit then ruffled his hair like an older brother would his sibling.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:22 pm
"Nearly there..." Chrono said, running ahead and peeking around a ridge of rocks, "Here..."
The building was much more massive than anyone could have guessed, and it was built right into the mountain side. It was tall and rounded off all around it, and like the stone of the mountain around it, it was dark almost burnt. In some places on the exterior, holes had been blasted right through solid stones walls. Bats flew from one of the holes into the darkened skies. It looked as if it had once been a beautiful manor, the front doors, though ripped off it's hinges, were still a show of fine detail.
"...This is it..."
Rosette stopped short and put her hand on Loque's shoulder to steady herself. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the building shed known for so long.
----
"That would mean that something has happened, and Algren, most probably, is calling us together for some reason. If you wish to come, please join us, but for now I must be off to see what is amiss."
Bane went swiftly to the door and opened it. Viede was standing and waiting with Fiore beside him.
"Sir-"
"I know, I know. Let us be off. Fiore, stay and watch Jacob. Do not let him leave this room, and do not let anyone else in. If anyone comes snopping around that shouldn't, dispose of them."
"Yes, sir." Fiore said, stepping inside the door past Bane.
"Let us be off." Bane said, stepping quickly from the room.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:38 pm
What small relief from the grim mood Loque's and Booker's comments had brought them was short lived as they came upon the rather large building. Loque took Rosette's arm to make sure she wouldn't topple and looked onward to the settlement with a frown.
Blaise stopped and gazed at the building. She couldn't imagine the memories flooding back to Rosette and Chrono. What horrors they had seen. It was a beautiful, and terrible, sight. It was like seeing the wonders of the ruins of once great civilizations and then remembering that it was a great bloody war that put cracks in their foundations.
Blaise slowly took a few steps forward, gazing around. Kaden's attention was caught when she stopped abruptly almost as if she'd run into something. Blaise could feel the hair on her neck and all along her arms stand up.
"They are not happy here." she said softly.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:15 pm
Azmaria put the bags down and went ahead, touching symbols imprinted and carved into the stone around them.
"It's alright Chrono, you should be bale to go by without problems. They weren't that strong to begin with." SHe told him. But Chrono didn't seem to hear her as he too stared up at the old building.
"...I'm surprised its still standing." Chrono said quietly,"After evrything, and its already very old... I wish Satella could see this. This is one of her old houses... She might have enjoyed this a little..."
"...W-Who's... not happy..." Rosette said slowly.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:17 pm
Asmudius nodded and bowed his head.
"Thanks you for the invite but I think it would be most unwise for me to appear there. A dead man alive? Most unwise." Asmudius watched as Bane left and his face feel into a snarl. Bane was useful for now, but Melecus knew that a powerful creature like that would eventually come into rivalry with him. There was no way to avoid it. Melecus turned and looked at the cuty one last time. He whispered to the air for a moment and then was gone in a plume of smoke.
---
Most of the council had gathered. There were the children to the Emperor, the church officials had been summoned. The heads of the military, the mage's council, the royal councilors and any others who the emperor had deemed worthy to sit here. Algren looked around at all of them, the blood still clinging to his body, stares of unease being given from all. Gefton stood nearby and watched them all one by one, looking over faces. The assembled group grumbled and growled, tired eyes looking at the lone man who paced the floor, a smile of bloody red plastered to his lips.
"Well now that you all are here!" Said Algren, his voice oddly giddy. "I'm glad to see all your lovely faces! As you can tell, I got myself all bloodied up to see you here right now! Why you may ask, but should i not be asking one of you why? why kill me? Is it because I am supposed to claim the throne? Is it because I have more trust from the people than you? More power? Better looking? I'm sure the list could go on forever. But I'm here to tell you, I still stand here, strong as ever. Since the most likly reason for this was because of my likely hood on becoming Emperor, wwe will discuss this matter, right here, and right now!"
"You have no such authority to do so, and besides, you must have a second from us to have such a matter discussed." A young man sapt, his face like his father's the Emperor.
"Then I second this!" All heads turned to watch a young man, walking slowly into the room. Robes fell about him in long strands and there was a hush from the audience, followed by a mummer. Algren looked in disbelief at the man. there, standing before him, was the Tornarch, the Emperor's personal advisory. The young man's family had been advising the Emperor for years and this man carried much weight in this room. The Tonarch looked around and then, very slowly, spoke.
"So then, who shall speak first on this matter?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:23 pm
Loque looked to Rosette but didn't say anything. Booker waved his hand a bit in response to what she had asked and Loque glared daggers at him. He shouldn't encouraging the negativity of the situation. Kaden came up behind Blaise and felt a little comething too but not as strongly as she.
"You alright?" he asked, "You're looking a little . . . eh . . ."
"Fine." she said shortly. It was then that the rain began to come down again, supporting the ominous mood. "We should, erm, get someplace dry before we all get . . . sick."
The prospect of going inside that building was none to welcoming to the Lieutenant. She didn't need the rain to make her sick she already felt it. But they had to press on and get inside because inside meant protection . . . more or less . . . but somethings you can't protect yourself against.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:27 pm
"I vouch for Algren as the prime successor of the late Emperor." Bane said coolly from his place in the back of the room. Many heads turned to look at him as well, yet few knew what earned him a place in the room. Many others looked at Viede, his bodyguard and thought he was the one who'd spoken up, but it was in fact the shorter man beside him.
"Above all I have seen here, and I have seen much, Algren shows the most promise as a successor, and has proven himself more than enough to the people and to the rest of you. What exactly makes him unfit for such a position? Other than blood? Ha! The blood you pampered children have has never been spilt for a nobler cause other than yourself."
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:41 pm
Outraged cries spewed from the emperor's children and their heirs. They hurled curses and violent phrases.
"How dare you!"
"You swine I'll kill you!" Ona and on the cries came. Even others began to protest. the merchant guild, aware of Algren's dislike for them, sided with the Emperor's children and began giving economic reasons for why Algren should not be the emperor.
"You are Algren's ally,Bane, of course you sing his praise!" Shouted a son of the Emperor, "There is nothing he can say that Algren himself would not say?"
"Oh really?" Chuckled Algren "Bane is more a man than you will ever be. At least he has shed his own blood in defense of our nation. what have you done?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 9:55 pm
One man rose up to possibly strike at Bane, but Viede immediately pushed him back into his chair.
"We are here to discuss, I will not allow bodily harm to come to him. Reamin in your seat or I will make you." The large man warned coldly.
"You may complain that I sing purely praises of Algren, but I have settled on one choice. What say all of you? You side with the children of the Emperor, but only one child will be able to take the throne. It would be amusing I think to see you all kill each other over who take the throne. So, by all means go ahead and kill each other, ALgren will have the throne anyway..."
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:23 pm
"Silence all of you." Said the Tonarch sternly. "We are here to discuss, not shout, so speak with your heads or not at all. Now then, Algren what makes you think you have a right to the throne. Please explain it to the rest of us and confirm you have the right to control this Empire." Algren looked at the Tonarch and Gefton cursed to himself.
"you son of a b***h." Hissed Gefton. Algren raised his left hand a silenced Gefton.
"Lord Tonarch, you and I were both there." Murmured Algren to the young man. "The emperor and I were talking to a you and several others, this was right before I was about to begin my crusade against the foresters. I was talking to him about the future of the empire and he declared that upon my return, I was to be named the heir to the Emperor."
"Ah ha!" Shouted one of the Children of the emperor. "To be named. you have not been named yet! With the Emperor dead, you have bot been named the heir, therefor you claim is illiget
!"
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