City of IF

[dinranwen]

*returns from the Shamless Advertisment thread to post suggestions* IM said there: Quote: C'mon folks let's give Rai something to be mad about!

*raises eyebrow* You really are sucidal aren't ya IM?

Anyway, Crunchy's suggestion seems to be the most obvious and funniest choice, but here some others straight from my twisted shadowy mind:

I agree that out of all the lot Raven needs to be saved.

No Raven=No World Destruction.

But perhaps we can free them all, hmm? It's worth a shot anyways.

So....

In a corner we have a Wild Mage who I'm sure can create a pretty districation say oh I don't know, A Giant Venis Fly-Trap perhaps. (Fake of course, but that should cause panic admist the flies!)

A Gargolye who probably has some influence over tunnels (we are underground aren't we?)...so have her create an escape root.

A druidess (I'm assuming that's Din....) who probably has something in her pockets to snap the captives out of there spell hold. The Socress could probably help her too....

A Priest (does he do anything?) who can help the pair of females set Rai, whathisdragonname, and the others.

A giant golden Frog diety who is very hungry.....well you get the picture.

[Mastermind]

My :2c: :

Richard could cause some random mayhem with his wild magic.

Frog eats flies thing.

The druidess steals the orbs with some magic trick-thingy.

The sorceress help Richard causing panic and destruction.

The gargoyle grab Raven and get out of there.

The priest wakes up all the unconcious people/dragons/drow.

Everyone runs away.

[Idea master]

I shall see about getting a poll up in the near future.

And then I shall write a large, epic battle scene in which the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Then it shall be scrapped for a humor-filled scene.

Then I shall combine the two and add in some drivel, like now.

Anyway! So far, we're agreed on how we're going to save the world, that is, save Raven. But how do we go about it?

Options so far are...

Wild Magic gets it's debut!

The Orb-snatcher Druidess and her cohorts.

Who's the fastest Gargoyle on the block, then?

The Priest is rid of the sword, he can do something!

One Frog, many flies. And the frog is very, very hungry.

Suggestions and such for the next few days, if you don't mind. Then I'll go look for the right Idearium for this chapter. Preferably something in the 'someone else's' department.

[Lilith]

Why not combine the Wild Magic debut and one very, very, very hungry Crunchyfrog..... humor and drivel out the wazoo! Or maybe the Wild Magic could cause Crunchyfrog to go from gold to green and the gender shifting he/she/it seems to have.... oh and the hunger for fly-people-things... :cool: ;) :lol:

[Mastermind]

Or, you could combine all of them.

[Idea master]

I have wrestled with the mighty poll and managed to get it to stay for a little while, just the way I like it.

It shall not be here long, for soon, it will blow away in the wind, much like a Fable that has entered my pocket.

[Crunchyfrog]

Now the last option, I like!

*votes furiously for a chapter filled with action and utter mayhem*

:D

[Idea master]

THE POLL IS UP FOR ONE MORE DAY ONLY!
After that, I'll be watching Lord of the Rings to get some ideas for epic battle scenes. Hmm...how does one create a tunnel out of nowhere?

[dinranwen]

The last option for all the options...is winning.

*laughs madly* Let the chaos ensue....besides I can use a good battle scene.

[Lilith]

*joins in Din's mad laughter* Whooot! Utter chaos and mayhem! Can't wait for the next chapter! And watching the-kicking-of-IM's-ass-by-Rai that will be soon to follow,... that i have no doubt about!

[Idea master]

I drag myself from the realm of sleep, dreams, and Idearium to bring you this chapter. It took me a heck of a long time to even get everyone's role in the battle pinned, so you'd better enjoy it!

Chapter Nine - To arms! To arms!
OR
How to stop a Doom Protocol for dummies

"All right, we need to act fast," Richard said. "Eirra, you can create tunnels everywhere and anywhere, right?"

"Well, yes, but I don't see how-" she got out before she was interrupted.

"Just get over to Raven and get him down a tunnel, the others if you can manage it. We'll provide you with a distraction for as long as it takes."

"Um, beg pardon," Thurgo said, "But what distraction?"

Richard grinned. "To arms, my friends. To arms. A mob lies before us that requires our immediate and violent attention. Let's not deprive them of that any longer."

The others got the message and grinned evil smiles that would send demons running in fear. Richard and Thurgo rolled up their sleeves, while Dinranwen somehow did so without revealing her arms. Cheri brushed her long auburn hair back behind her head and arranged her dress just so. CrunchyFrog eyed the flies with a rather hungry look.

"Ready? On three, then. One, two, NOW!"

-----

CrunchyFrog jumped thirty feet into the air and landed in the middle of the mob of flies and humans. He let out a massive croak, and the bewildered* flies suddenly became human.

This rather depressed the golden frog deity. However, he noticed overtly large flies still hanging about the humans' heads, and they seemed to be buzzing an odd spell. Some of the humans began returning to their humanoid-fly state, and CrunchyFrog realized what was going on. Plague-Flies! They that take the bodies of the living to more easily feed off the dead! Oh, this would be a wonderful** battle that would earn him promotion from a Lesser God to one of the better ones!

CrunchyFrog grinned and let out another, more powerful croak, and his golden tongue darted out. Several Plague-Flies were caught and screamed*** as they were dragged into the stomach of the golden frog. He croaked again and moved on to another part of the mob.

*If flies can be said to look bewildered.
**And filling.
***It was more of a shrill buzzing.
-----

Richard was deeply entrenched, trying to win a battle of the mind. In his mind, he was sitting at a wide table, and his magic had taken form on the opposite side as a large misty mass that changed color, size, and appendages rapidly. "Look, I don't know why, but every time I use you, I get either the wrong thing, transformed, or some other form of backfire! You only obeyed me once, and that was when we were in dire peril!"

"Wrong." The magic had a strangely flat voice. "It was when I was in dire peril. I don't like being used. Think of it more as a friendship, or a transaction. If you want to use my power, then your goals have to align with mine. Otherwise, I may do as I darn well please."

Richard put his hands to his head. "How about we make a long-standing agreement?"

The mist pulsed once. "Explain."

"I want to be able to use your power when I need it or require it. You want to do something in return. How about whenever I use my magic, you alter something, but only after the dire need has passed? In this case, after I've helped with the mob of flies?"

"Interesting. I've never altered the future before..."

"Wait! No! I didn't mean it like-"

It was too late, the magic had seized upon the chance. "Yes, it shall work. Every time you use my power, I shall alter the future accordingly to make you or those around you a better person via some sort of drastic event."

"But if it's too drastic, then I may need to use your power again!"

"Funny how that works, isn't it? That's our agreement, you are now the first Wild Mage to have his magic semi-under control."

"But like you said, it's more of a friendship. I'll try to treat it like that."

-----

Richard snapped back to reality, the whole mental conversation having taken place in under a second. "Let's get to work," he said, and rolled up his sleeves. "Velox Ut Ira, Velox Actio!"

Fire and lightning burst from his hands and was aimed by his will at the humans below, for although they had been transformed back somehow, they still were for the destruction of the world.

-----

Cheri gathered her thoughts and cleared her mind. "I call upon the powers of the world and of nature...To use me as they see fit...To help save the world from those that would destroy it, I ask for power enough to save the world, should they grant it."

Silence. Nothing, for a moment or two. Then a large Presence filled her mind.

I will use you, little one, for you are faithful to me and have been your whole life.

She felt magical power flow through her veins. The nearby plant life responded to the Presence she now contained within her, and vines grew up and around her body, molding themselves to create a perfect outfit. Her hair turned green, and her eyes blazed golden. She lifted an arm and pointed at the orbs the Plague-Fly Magician had extracted.

"Primal forces, heed my call, return unto the mother of you all."

The orbs moved, jumping quickly from the Magician's control to that of Cheri's. The Magician turned and his insectoid eyes blazed from a red that came from blood to a black that came from an answering evil Presence. "Nature, you shouldn't have come."

"Like Hades I wouldn't, Destruction!" The Presence said through Cheri.

"How sweet. However, I have not the time for this. Forces, heed me, return to the one that extracted you! Return to my pawn!"

The orbs stopped midway between the two bickering Presences, unsure of which way to go.

"So that's how it's going to be, eh?" Nature began summoning power from somewhere, Cheri knew not where, even though she was the host body. She began to glow green and gold, the aura encouraging plant life to swell rapidly into over-mature states.

"Yes," Destruction replied, "That's how it's going to be." The Magician became obscured in the shadowy power that was being called forth. Nearby life withered and died under it's touch.

The two titans of power prepared to fight...

-----

Thurgo lifted his hands in prayer. "Oh mighty Light Gods of up Above, I know I am no more than a humble Monk, not worthy of Priesthood. I have ever served You faithfully, and only wished to ascend when I died. However, now in the hour of need, I find I must call upon You, for my own strength is not enough, I fear. If You will grant me a boon of power, I would use it righteously to defend all that is good in this world by smiting those that would rejoice in it's destruction. If You see fit to deprive me of anything in recompense, I shall understand and not mind, for the world would be saved, and that is all that matters to me now. I thank You. Amen."

Thurgo kept his head bowed for a few seconds in respect, then drew his walking stick and moved towards the mob after hearing no reply from the Light Gods. No sooner had he taken two steps than his staff changed into a sword of fire, and a second one appeared in his other hand. He heard a reply then. You have ever served Us faithfully, and We lend you these swords as a token of Our trust. You need not bloody them, merely point at those that require smiting, and We shall do the rest.

Thurgo replied in the same fashion. I thank You, for Your generosity knows no bounds.

Thurgo made a broad arc at the mob, and pillars of fire descended from on high and struck those in front, charring them into so much ash, bones and all. Thurgo set his face and charged forward, letting no sign of fear show on his face as he smote his enemy, one after another.

-----

Dinranwen rummaged in her robes. "Demon scale, Demon scale, always powdered Demon scale and Newt eyes. Where did I put that Demon scale? I should have a few off of that troll-thing...Aha!" Din pulled a vial of red powder out and peered* at it. She then pulled out another vial of blue powder, and a third one of gray powder, and repeated her peering. "I'm not sure which one is Demon, which one is Dragon, and which one is Gargoyle! I guess I'll find out!"

Din mixed the three together in minute amounts, tossed them into the air, and recited a spell. "By my powers as a Sorceress, I command forth a Demon to do my bidding!"

A summoning circle, complete with red glowing runes and interlocking circles, formed in front of her. The runes blazed, the circles whirled, a flaming portal opened up, and an entity formed. What she got wasn't what she wanted. She was hoping for a big flaming demonic entity that would scare anybody who saw it into a gibbering wreck.

What she got was a huge stone statue of a dragon that was, somehow, on fire. It vaguely resembled Surtum in a way, but it was made of the same stone that Eirra looked to be made out of. It turned to her and made a derisive noise that sounded like boulders smashing together.

"Yes, I know, it's probably very uncomfortable. However, if you could kindly go over there and dismember a few dozen humans, I'll end the spell."

The thing screeched again, bobbing it's head in a familiar 'yes' pattern. Din thrust a hand out, breaking the circles, but not dispelling the portal. This way, the summoned creature could go out and cause mayhem and still return home. It promptly did just that, going over to the mob and staining it's stone muzzle with red blood and interestingly colored organs. Din perked up. She didn't have a human spleen in that particular shade of purple...

*Nobody could tell, as nobody could see her face.
-----

Eirra was running. If she had been anything but stone, she would have been tired and out of breath by now. The sounds of battle reached her ears, but she paid them no heed. She had to get to Raven and the others and create a tunnel that would lead them to safety. Of course, anywhere would be safer than near a battlefield. Whatever the others were doing, it was distracting the flies long enough for her.

She got to the unconscious captives, confirmed they were still alive, and closed her eyes, reciting a prayer. "O lords of the earth, hear me, and grant my plea if it pleases you. Of your kind will, create a tunnel that will lead me and all of these living ones near me somewhere safer than here."

There was a rumbling noise, one similar to an earthquake. Suddenly, the earth opened up beneath Eirra, and with an almost inaudible cry, she, Surtum, Rai, Fredrick, Raimah, and Raven vanished into the inky darkness. A second later, the earth closed up after them.

-----

Thurgo whipped his swords about, accidentally pointing one at Din's demonic portal for a fraction of a second...

-----

CrunchyFrog whipped his head about, sensing impending doom. Power from Above was going towards a portal that led Below...and Below was answering with a thrust of it's own. The definition of Apocalypse was upon them! He jumped quickly, putting his own body beneath the two warring powers, and crying out in pain. His feet kept the power from Below below, and his arms kept the power from Above above. Jolts of energy from both sets coursed through his body, bringing about renewed pain. The cry jolted everyone that heard it, allowing the Magician to seize the orbs from Cheri.

"Hahahahah! Your doom is nigh! Now all I need is that perfect sacrifice..." The Magician turned to find Raven, and all the others for that matter, curiously gone. "Nooooo! What did you do with them?!"

Nobody answered him, as they were focusing on CrunchyFrog's golden body keeping the powers of Heaven and Hell separated. "I can't hold it much longer!" CrunchyFrog gasped.

"I'll teleport us away!" Richard replied.

"No, leave me! If they combine like this, then...There's no telling what'll happen!"

Richard nodded. "Where are Eirra and the others?"

CrunchyFrog concentrated. "They're outside a small kingdom...it's far enough away...Go quickly!"

"No!" Din replied. "I can't abandon you like this! I am your High Priestess, there must be something I can do!"

CrunchyFrog smiled. "My dear, I may yet become a god worthy of your being a High Priestess to. It is this kind of sacrifice that garners favor in the higher realms...Everyone, farewell!"

Richard wove the spell, bending his thoughts towards Eirra, and let loose the power. CrunchyFrog considered for a moment as how best to handle this situation...

CrunchyFrog merged the Air and Earth orb, along with the Water and Fire ones and the Dark and Light ones. He kept them like that briefly, then separated them and sent them back to where they had come from. He then pondered how to deal with the power pushing up and down on him...

He pushed upwards with his powerful arm muscles and allowed the dark power from Below to hit him. Briefly, it transformed him into a demonic version of his golden self, before the power from Above smote him. He cried out in pain and exploded outwards, creating a golden shock wave that swept over what remained of the cult and turning them into sand, leaving the plants, earth, and air unaffected.

-----

Far away, Richard and the others stumbled as they appeared in a forest outside a kingdom they were unfamiliar with. Although, with the two dragons there, it was becoming a lot more familiar by the second.

And then they saw a bright golden flash in the distance.

Din wept for the loss of CrunchyFrog, and the others that were conscious stayed by her side, willing to console her should she wish it.

In the end, they all agreed to camp for the night and set out for the capital city the next morning, once Richard had broken the sleep spells laid down by the cult on their companions.

The night was uneventful, and Eirra kept watch, seeing as she was a golem and did not need most physical things such as sleep. A traveler passed by. "Ho, strangers, what be your business in the kingdom of Barrington?"

Eirra replied, "We have none as of yet, for we are travelers as much as you. Many of our kind have ailments or problems of some sort, but for now we travel along, enjoying the company and the journey."

The traveler nodded. "There are few who can say the same in this day and age."

Eirra then made a small inquiry. "In which way would we find the capitol city?"

The traveler eyed up the dragons behind Eirra. "As long as not all of you go there, then you will be fine. The city of Davensford, the capitol, lies but an hour down this road, in the direction that I journey. The king Verick the Mighty and his twin sons live there. Should you pay a visit, let them know that you have the favor of Harold."

The traveler continued, whistling a merry tune. Eirra stored the information away for a later day.

-----

"Eheeheehee! So one king and two sons, eh? Where is it, where is it..." Helga rummaged around, looking for one item in particular.

"There it is, my lovelies! A solitary wedge!" Helga held her prize up and wondered how she could make one item do all that she wanted, and then grinned. She painted one side white, the other black, and poisoned the tip. She dropped it in, watching it bubble away, targeting the city of Davensford, but more importantly, the king and his sons...

-----

Richard awoke the next day and lazily absorbed the energies of the sleep spell that had the others into his own being. With luck, this would result in a few minutes more sleep for himself.

He had no luck.

"Come out and fight like men, you stinking thieves! Back-stabbers! Cowards!" Thurgo's and Rai's joint cry of anger filled the forest, shaking Richard out of his bed and dream-land rather quickly.

Eirra turned around and looked at the newly awakened group, either suddenly from enchantments or instantly from dragon bellowing. "Calm down you lot, we dealt with them a while ago. I have a few tidbits of information that I think you'll find interesting."

The band paid attention. "We're in the kingdom of Barrington, an hour from the city of Davensford, where the king Verick rules with two sons."

Raven sat up. "Davensford, you say? I had m' own guild in Davensford a hun'red years ago, I won'er if they'll remem'er me?"

"A guild of what?" Din suddenly questioned.

"Why, wha' else, m'lady? A guild o' assassins, thieves, an' smugglers. All kept nice an' tidy, though, never did no slaves, and har'ly did anythin' too illegal."

"Indeed," Din muttered after she deciphered what Raven had said. "Well, in any case, that sounds like a good as place as any to go visit."

"However," Surtum rumbled, "My father dwells above here, and my mother just offshore. I think it's time I took Rai to meet them and inform them of our decision." And with that, Surtum and Rai winged off into the horizon.

The remaining adventurers looked at one another, realizing the sudden loss of three people severely cut back on their firepower, especially when two were dragons and one was a golden frog god. However, they turned towards the road. "Which way?" Richard asked, and Eirra led on.

-----

An hour later, the group stood before the gates to Davensford. "Hail, travelers, what be your business in Davensford?" The city guard asked them.

"Oh, not much," Richard replied, realizing it was true and that they continued to travel for the sheer company of it. "Maybe look at the market, the mage's guild, that sort of thing."

The guard shook his head. "All closed today, for this is King Verick's funeral. He died in the night, leaving no indication as to which one of his sons should rule the kingdom after him. The city is split in two as to who should rule. Prince Jeremy is a kind soul who always helps out his citizens, but Prince Joshua is an evil boy, who takes delight in the darkness of men's souls. He is greedy, he is torturous..."

The other guard coughed loudly, snapping the first one out of his rambling. "Don't tell them of that!"

"Er, sorry. Anyway, everything is closed until the issue of the new ruler is decided."

Richard had his mind invaded by an oddly familiar presence. He recognized it after a few seconds; it was his magic. "What is it?"

"This is what you will do. You will find out which one is which, and you will have him declared ruler."

Richard shrugged off the slight interlude and waved. "Well, let's stick around then, the city is bound to liven up once that's decided. Come on, my friends."

Once they were safely in the city walls, Richard began to lead the way to the palace, an odd tugging feeling leading him in the right direction. The others followed out of sheer curiosity.

The palace was huge, stone monoliths leaped into the air, runes of protection engraved into their sides. A domed top capped off the five-story building, with what looked to be later expansions having their own, smaller, domed tops. Small windows and large balconies looked down on the public. Richard found he could get no closer to the palace than the outside wall, so gathered his thoughts and energies and teleported inside.

The group was just in range of the spell to be picked up, which resulted in a very filled servants closet. The sound of an argument filled their ears.

"...Don't care about some bloody law, I'm the elder of us two, I should be declared ruler!"

"But it says right here, and I quote, 'If the heir should be found to be possessing of dubious morals, then another heir shall be found in his stead.' You certainly are that!"

"How can you tell?"

"Cause you stole my bed when I went out to the market to buy a bit of milk for the evening meal!"

"Let me see that...Aha! Here's a passage! 'If it is requested, then a trial shall be put forth, and an outsider shall pick between two likely heirs as to which one shall rule. The outsider may question them and pick the one he wishes to rule, and he shall rule unquestioned.' That'll work!"

"What will?"

"I so request the thingamajig from this passage!"

"Where will we find an outsider?"

At this point, the door to the servant's closet creaked ominously, and in a brilliant display of splintering wood*, gave way to reveal six humans, one Drow, and one Gargoyle all lying on the floor.

Richard looked up to see two people dressed in regal robes, along with a man in full Mage gear holding a book of ancient laws. He quickly picked himself up, brushed himself off, and bowed to each in turn. "I apologize for my intrusion, M'lords, but-"

"Throw him out and have him beheaded!" one of the regal robed ones commanded. The guards, stationed at the entrance, began to move as per the command.

"You shall do no such thing," the other said. The guards returned to their post. "Continue, please," the same regal one said.

"I am Richard the Wild Mage. My magic directed me here to solve an issue, which I believe this was it. I do believe you'll find me a suitable outsider."

The two sized him up. "No," the first one commanded.

"Yes," the second one decided. "You will do. Harold, see to it that his friends are taken care of, and get us ready for this test that my brother so wishes for."

Richard was hurriedly escorted out of the room, and two thrones were hefted in. His friends, still unconscious, were hefted out, and spells were cast within. "Come in," a voice sounded.

Richard pushed the doors open and looked before him.

Two princes, both clad in royal blue clothing and adorned with a plush yellow cape, sat in two simple oaken thrones. Two simple golden circlets adorned their heads, and two small golden scepters were in their right hands.

"Choose," they said at the same time.

Richard bit his lip...

*A sight never before seen.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A long, but content-filled chapter. Rai and Surtum are gone off, probably to live happily ever after, but they won't show up again.* CrunchyFrog gave his life valiantly to save the world from an impending explosion that would make a nuke look like a wet firecracker. And now, we have an issue here. Two princes, alike in appearance, though not in morals, have almost equal claim to the throne. Richard stands between them. How does he choose?!
Suggestions and such welcome.
F12
*Though if Rai wishes it, she may yet be re-written into the story.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

[Crunchyfrog]

I enjoyed reading that chapter very much! Lots of action too!

:clap:

Hmmm, well if Richard listened well enough from inside the closet, he might have got an inkling that the elder one is the evil one, although he cannot tell which one is the eldest.

So he has some information already that he can work with. But he cannot give away that he knows too much.

Perhaps have them perform a simple test... answering questions on a sheet of paper. Or conjour up a scene which both have to interact with.

[Idea master]

Has...has everyone left me? Please come back! I didn't mean those insults about your mothers!

...Or something along those lines. I can't write the next chapter without input, people!

Sure, we know who'd we LIKE to ascend to the throne. How do we go about finding out which one is him? Suggestions, if you don't mind! Or I'll put Stupidium in your water!

[Chinaren]

The last week seems to have been really really quiet. Worse than the great slump of 06 even. :sad:

I haven't managed to put time aside to catch up with this one IM, but I will. Soon...

[Idea master]

How, O how do we save this country from a vile ruler and being doomed to ruin?

Behead your minion of voting just so, and I'll get the results and write the next chapter when inspiration* strikes me.

*Or the moon.

[Masterweaver]

Polls are closed?

[Idea master]

Yep, it closed itself. Apparently, we're going for a stroll to find some commoners, and more importantly, the prince's reactions!

I'll write it soon.*

*Read 'when I bloody feel like it.'

[Idea master]

Right, here's your chapter, now come back!

Chapter Ten - A walk in the park
OR
Eeny meeny miney moe...

"Let's go for a walk," Richard said.

"That is highly irregular," Harold said. "You are to choose here and now which one shall rule-"

Richard cut the senior mage off. "Now, perhaps. Here? No. I wish to take a walk with these two through the city. There is no ancient law forbidding that, is there?"

Harold sputtered incoherently. Richard turned back to the princes. "Come, let us take a walk. It must get awfully stuffy in here after a while."

The princes hesitated for a second, then got up and went to the door of the room. Harold followed them through the maze of twisty passageways to the entrance of the palace. Though he kept his eyes peeled, he couldn't see either one do anything wrong. Oh well, one of them will slip up sooner or later, he thought to himself.

A brief walk brought them to the central market. Thinking quickly, Richard cast spells of illusion on the two princes to make them seem like commoners. They drifted through the market until they came across a man living among filth. "You there, what is your name and story?" Richard demanded.

The man moaned. "Me name be David, an' I be the younger brother o' two witches tha' do 'orrible things ta people and naver get caught. I tried ta give 'em a lecture on morals, an' they cursed me something awful. Na matter where I go er what name I go by, I am to live in the filth and mud, to represent what they think of morals."

"How horrible," one prince said. "Here, I'll give you a room in the palace and some warm food, along with a bath. Then you can work for the crown, once there is one atop someone's head."

"Nay, it won't work, na matter what ya do. I could go anywhere and do anything, an' the curse would follow me. Who are ya to offer me any of those things anyways? Some sorta prince?"

The other prince looked smug and replied to the man's question. "I am, and I will give you a house in the city, more servants than you could dream of, enough gold so that you are comfortably well-off, and a life of extreme luxury."

Richard turned to the prince that had spoken first. "Prince Jeremy, arise as king of this land, and serve your people faithfully ever after, for as long as your reign."

The first prince nodded. "What gave my brother away?"

"The fact that he tried to be like you, but couldn't even do that without overdoing it. True goodness comes not from the act, but from the soul itself."

Joshua didn't look half as displeased as he should have been. "You may have declared my brother the ruler, but only you, I, he, and this man here know that. Once I am the only one left here, I can make whatever story up that I want to."

And with that, Joshua drew a short sword out and stabbed the poor man through the heart. He gave one gasp and fell still. Joshua drew his blade out, now slick with blood, and turned towards the mage. "Cold steel. No mage can win against it, and the spark of life in most things is drained instantly."

Jeremy drew his blade and prepared to fight his brother. Richard gathered his thoughts and energies, and managed to teleport the two princes and himself onto the palace grounds. Guards instantly surrounded the trio. "Bow to your new king, King Jeremy!"

The guards began to bow, which is not the most offensive posistion in the world. Joshua took this as a chance to kill his brother, and lept forward. That was a bad choice, as the defensive runes in the obilisks nearby recognized Jeremy as the new king and decided to protect him. Blue shimmering fields of magical energy surrounded Jeremy, and crackled as Joshua impacted them. Josh was thrown back thirty feet into a stone wall. Something broke, and it wasn't the wall. The guards surrounded the new king and the traitor prince, looking to the king for orders.

"Let him go. I don't want his blood on my hands."

Joshua got up slowly, seeing as it looked like one of his legs was broken. "I swear I will come back one day and reclaim that which is rightfully mine! You will regret this decision long before you die, I will see to it!"

The evil twin prince hobbled to the edge of the palace grounds, cast a glaring look at his brother, and continued out into the city. Jeremy sighed, and turned to Richard. "You have given me my kingdom and exposed my brother for what he really is. For that, I can never repay you, but I must try. What do you want?"

Richard thought long and hard. "I desire nothing myself right now, but allow me to rejoin my companions, and I shall see what I can do."

Jeremy nodded, and turned to a guard. "Direct the mage to his companion's room."

Jeremy was once more led through a maze of twisty passageways to a doorway, only this time, his companions were on the other side of it. They all looked very worn-out, as though they had come to some sort of conclusion. "Guys, wha-"

Thurgo cut him off. "We've been thinking and talking. A lot of things came out into the open."

Cheri continued. "Namely, you got into this to get Raven off of Thurgo's hand."

Raven picked up the thread. "An' seein' as tha's over an' done with..."

"We'd kinda like to stop wandering now. This is a nice kingdom, and it probably owes you by now." Fredrick finished.

Richard nodded slowly. "It does owe me, and I could ask for favors for all of you. You're sure you want to stop wandering now? I mean, Fredrick, you still have that stone attached to your rump, don't you?"

Din held up the stone in her palm. "This stone? I took that off not too long ago."

Richard sighed. "So, what else did you all find out?"

Fredrick sputtered, and Raimah would have blushed. Eirra looked at Richard cloyingly, and Richard grew quite uncomfortable. "Well," Raimah began, "Us ladies-"

Din interjected with a a-HEM.

Raimah continued, with a glare towards Din. "MOST of us ladies have been gunning for one of you men for a while now, and we kinda got it out into the open recently. In some cases, it was the reverse. We've acknowledged it and are willing to see where these relationships lead us."

Richard nodded again. "Cheri?"

She responded instantly. "Thurgo."

"Din?"

She would have glared at Richard, if he could see her face. "Nobody."

"Raven?"

"Aye, nobody as well, lad."

"Fredrick?"

Raimah cut in. "Me this time, I'm afraid, but I'll deal."

Richard turned to Eirra. "So that means..."

Eirra nodded and smiled again. "Yes indeed. And you'll have to live with it."

Richard sighed. "Well, let's go ask our favors of the king, then."

-----

"Most noble king, we have decided to ask these favors of you, if you would be so kind to grant them."

Jeremy nodded. "Who shall ask first?"

"I shall speak for the group, if you do not mind, m'lord. First, Raven, the thief and assassin of a hundred years ago, asks permission to reform his old guild."

"Done, so long as not too many people die for no reason. I guess I'll have to recruit more night watchmen."

Raven bowed and said, "Royalty an' royal business shall always be welcome from you, m'lord."

"Thank you...I think."

Raven walked out then, having much to do yet.

"Second, Dinranwen, the sorceress, asks permission to open a store to sell her magical oddities to the public."

"Done as well. I shall see to it a new building is made for her to do so. She may want to hang about a little while longer so that we can work out the details."

Din bowed and sat down on a bench nearby.

"Third, Cheri the druidess and Thurgo the monk ask permission to form a new faith here, one that honors both the powers of nature and the holy light of above."

"Done. They too might wish to stay to iron out the snags that will come about from forming a new faith."

Thrugo and Cheri also bowed and joined Din on her bench.

"Fourth, Raimah the Drow Priestess and Fredrick the knight wish to form a knighthood that embraces light and darkness, that embodies balence."

"That too shall be done. But with all these new faiths and knighthoods, it's going to be murder on the scales of power in the city."

Raimah and Fredrick bowed as well and joined Din on her bench.

"And finally, I wish to open a mage's guild that specalizes in Wild magic, seeing as I have gotten mine under control. Eirra shall join me there."

"Done. Seeing as you are all asking for residences here, you shall all be honorary members of the city and country. Welcome to Davensford."

-----

The morsels had escaped her grasp! Helga let out a scream that echoed throughout the plains, then sobbed. The first time a meal had ever escaped from her...She cried silently. Then she brightened. These morsels had gotten away, but she could go after their offspring! She pulled an empty bottle down from a high shelf and rummaged for a ladel. Carefully, she scooped some of the brew into the bottle, and watched carefully. The brew retained its unique abilites, and Helga smiled. Ten, fifteen, twenty years hence, she would pour the brew back into her cauldron, and the offspring of the morsels would make for a fine snack. "Oh, you may have gotten away for now, dearies, but Helga will catch you one day! Eheeheehee!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thank you one and all for reading and voting. Yes, there will be a sequel. Just...not now. I hope you all like the ending, it surprised even me. It just demanded to be ended now, and so I let it.
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[Lilith]

*applauds* Nicely wrapped up, IM! And I can't wait to see what you cook up in the sequel which I expect is quite aways away. This is well done and I commend you for that. Congratulations! :D :lol: :P o-) :D :cool: :smile: :) ;) :D

[dinranwen]

*A loud crowd cheers, claps, and hoots in approval* Well done IM! Very Well Done Indeed! *claps her hands also*

I have to say I"m a little sorry to see this end...but To Everything A Season, and to Every Season A Time, eh?

Or should I perhaps to quote Shakepsere, "All's well that End's Well"?

Either way you put it, this was a great tale to watch, to be entrapped in, and to particpate voting in. I simply can't wait for the Sequel.

But if and when it's released, you can bet, if I'm around *winks* I'll be right here sticking my nose where it's doesn't properly belong!

Besides, I have to see what you going to do with my *clears her throat* descendants. Depending on what you do with them, if you do anything at all, I might just have to glare at you. And be forwarned, my glare can be very, very, deadly.

*runs off exicedtly curious to check out the oddities in her promised store*

[Mastermind]

*applaudes*
Excellent work, IM, a masterpiece. I can't wait for the sequel.

[Masterweaver]

Am I supposed to say something? Because mere speech simmply cannot communicate this storygame's greatness....

[Chinaren]

Well done IM. A great job!